Rei stood in front of the mirror, her gaze fixated on the reflection staring back at her. She felt a strange dissonance between her mind and the image she saw—a version of herself that she never imagined.
The figure in the mirror was undeniably beautiful, with long, flowing white hair that cascaded down her back like a river of moonlight. Her delicate features were soft and ethereal, almost otherworldly, and her skin seemed to glow faintly under the room's dim light, giving her an aura of mystique.
Rei's eyes widened as she took in the sight of her transformed body. She had a slender, graceful frame, her curves subtle yet elegantly pronounced beneath the loose, oversized clothes that no longer fit properly. Her once-sharp jawline was now softer, her lips fuller, and her eyes—now wide and shimmering—had a depth to them that seemed to reflect a new sense of vulnerability and confusion. She leaned closer to the mirror, almost not believing what she saw.
The long white hair was something that caught her attention the most. She lifted a strand of it with her hand, feeling the silky smoothness as it slipped through her fingers. It was strange—this hair felt like her own, yet so different from anything she'd ever known. She let out a shaky breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she continued to examine herself. Her new appearance was almost like a dream, something out of a fairy tale, with an elegance and beauty that seemed almost unreal.
"What... is this?" she whispered to herself, her voice softer and more melodic than before. She touched her cheek, tracing the line of her jaw and then moving to her lips, which felt unfamiliar. "This is... me?"
She turned slightly, examining her profile, and saw how her body moved differently now—more fluid, more delicate. She felt a mix of wonder and fear; it was a beautiful sight, but also a stark reminder of how drastically things had changed. She took a step back and then forward, still unable to fully grasp the reality of the situation. The reflection moved with her, mirroring her confusion, her uncertainty.
Rei's eyes were drawn to the deep blue of her own gaze in the mirror, almost lost in the surreal image. She remembered the strength and purpose that those eyes once held, now mixed with a new kind of bewilderment. She sighed deeply, feeling both mesmerized and overwhelmed by the face staring back at her—a face so similar yet entirely new.
"Rei, I brought some clothes for you!" Lyria's cheerful voice echoed from outside the room, breaking Rei's trance-like state as she stared at her reflection.
Moments later, Lyria entered the room, holding a beautiful dress in her hands. It was a delicate, feminine outfit, adorned with soft fabrics and intricate embroidery that shimmered faintly in the light. The sight of it made Rei's eyes widen slightly, a mix of disbelief and apprehension crossing her face.
"Lyria… What is that?" Rei asked, her voice carrying a note of nervousness as she glanced between Lyria and the dress.
"What do you mean? It's your clothes!" Lyria replied with a bright smile, completely unfazed. She held the dress up and spread it out, letting Rei see the full detail of the garment. "With this dress, I'm sure you're going to look absolutely beautiful!"
Rei stared at the dress in silence for a moment, still processing the situation. She had never worn anything like this before, and the thought of putting it on made her feel strangely self-conscious. She looked at Lyria, who seemed so excited, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Do I... really have to wear that…?" Rei muttered, still unsure, as she glanced back at her reflection in the mirror. The idea of seeing herself dressed in something so feminine felt daunting, but she also didn't want to disappoint Lyria, who was clearly trying to cheer her up.
"Of course! Why not? It's not every day you get to see yourself like this, right?" Lyria teased lightly, nudging Rei with her elbow. "Come on, try it on! I promise you'll look amazing."
"I don't think I can wear that." she finally said, her voice firm but laced with hesitation. She handed the dress back to Lyria, her expression pleading.
Lyria pouted slightly, her excitement dimming a bit. "Oh, come on, Rei! It'll look great on you! Besides, when else are we going to see you dressed up like this?"
Rei shook her head. "I'm not used to wearing something like that... and it's way too frilly. I don't think it suits me." She folded her arms, a bit stubborn. "Do you have something simpler?"
Lyria paused, then sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright... I get it. You want something a bit less... extravagant." She turned on her heel, already thinking of a better option. "Give me a moment. I'll find you something that's more your style!"
Rei nodded, relieved. "Thank you, Lyria."
A few minutes later, Lyria returned with a different outfit—a more practical, yet elegant set of clothes that suited Rei better.
"How about this? It's less flashy, but I think it'll still bring out your new looks nicely," Lyria said, holding up the new clothes with a more thoughtful expression.
Rei looked at the outfit, and a small smile formed on her lips. "This... this looks much better. Thanks, Lyria. I think I can try this one on."
Lyria grinned. "I knew you'd like it! Alright, go on then—try it on. I'll bet you'll look just as amazing!"
Rei stared at the dress Lyria had brought, taking a deep breath. Despite her initial hesitation, she decided to give it a try. However, as she held the dress in her hands and examined it, a puzzled expression crept across her face. She realized she had no idea how to put on something like this.
"How am I supposed to wear this...?" Rei muttered, glancing at Lyria with a bewildered look.
Lyria paused for a moment, staring at Rei's confused face. Then, she burst out laughing, her voice echoing throughout the room. She clutched her stomach, unable to contain her amusement.
Rei's face flushed with embarrassment. "I've never worn something like this before!"
Lyria continued to laugh, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "Sorry, sorry! I just didn't expect you to look so lost. Here, let me help you."
Rei sighed, her cheeks still red, but she let Lyria approach. "Thanks... I guess."
Lyria smiled warmly and began to guide Rei through the process of putting on the dress, carefully explaining each step. "First, you slip this part over your head, then tie this ribbon at the back like this..."
Rei tried to follow her instructions, her movements a bit awkward. "This is a lot more complicated than I thought."
Lyria chuckled again but with a softer tone this time. "You'll get the hang of it. Just relax and let me help you with the rest."
Despite her initial embarrassment, Rei started to relax a little, realizing that Lyria's laughter wasn't mocking, but rather out of genuine amusement. She allowed herself to be guided, and slowly but surely, the dress started to fit properly.
"There you go!" Lyria said, taking a step back to admire her handiwork. "See? Not so bad, right?"
Rei looked at herself in the mirror again, her cheeks still a bit pink. She had to admit, she looked... different, but in a good way. "Well... it's certainly an experience," she said with a small smile.
Lyria grinned widely. "See? I knew you'd look amazing! Now, let's go show the others!"
Rei, still feeling a bit self-conscious, nodded slightly. "Yeah... okay." She couldn't help but smile back at Lyria's infectious enthusiasm.
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"Hey everyone! Look, look!" Lyria called out excitedly to Orchid and Sandalphon.
Both of them turned their attention to Lyria, and then their eyes widened as Rei slowly stepped out from behind her, holding the edges of her dress nervously. She looked uncomfortable, tugging slightly at the hem.
"Maybe... this dress is a bit too short, Lyria..." Rei muttered, her face tinged with embarrassment as she fidgeted with the fabric.
"Rei!?" Sandalphon and Orchid exclaimed in unison, utterly shocked by Rei's drastic transformation.
"Hey... Sandalphon... Orchid..." Rei shyly greeted them, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Orchid, who had been trying to process what she was seeing, looked utterly shocked, her eyes wide open as she stared at Rei's transformed appearance. She was at a loss for words, completely taken aback by how different Rei looked.
Sandalphon, on the other hand, quickly recovered from her surprise. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she took in Rei's new look. "Rei... You... You look so cute!!" she exclaimed, rushing over to her.
Rei blushed even deeper, trying to avoid their gazes as Sandalphon approached. "I... I'm not sure about that..." she murmured, feeling both embarrassed and a bit flustered by Sandalphon's enthusiasm.
Sandalphon beamed, clearly thrilled. "No, really! You look absolutely adorable!" She reached out, gently adjusting a lock of Rei's long white hair that had fallen across her face. "This look really suits you, Rei."
Orchid finally found her voice, though she was still staring in disbelief. "I-I can't believe it... Rei, you're really cute like this. It's such a big change!"
Rei sighed, still feeling self-conscious but starting to warm up a little to their compliments. "Well... thanks, I guess," she replied softly, managing a small smile as she looked at her friends.
"Rei, Lyria, Sandalphon, are you all in here? I couldn't find you in the dining room." they suddenly heard Halluel and Malluel's voices from outside the room.
"Halluel, Malluel! We're here!" Lyria shouted back to them.
"Wait, Lyria! If Halluel sees Rei right now, then she's going to—!" Orchid tried to warn them, but before she could finish, the twins had already entered the room, looking around.
"Why are you all still in here? I thought you'd be in the dining—!?" Halluel's words cut off abruptly as her eyes landed on a stranger—no, an incredibly cute girl she didn't recognize.
"Woah, who is that!?" Malluel asked, staring at Rei in confusion.
"Oh, you won't believe it, but this is—" Lyria started to explain, but before she could finish, Halluel quickly moved toward Rei, closing the distance in an instant.
She grabbed both of Rei's hands and gazed deeply into her eyes. "You're so adorable... It makes you shine like the gem you are. Your long locks, your fair skin reflects the sun—who could pull their eyes away? I know I can't."
Everyone fell silent, completely stunned by Halluel's sudden outburst.
Rei's face flushed bright red, and she could only stand there, bewildered. "H-Halluel…?" she stuttered, unsure of how to react.
Lyria and Sandalphon exchanged amused glances, trying to stifle their laughter. Orchid, however, looked as if she had anticipated this exact situation and could only sigh deeply.
"Uh... Halluel, I think you're overwhelming her a bit…" Sandalphon chimed in, trying to break the awkward tension.
But Halluel was too captivated by Rei's new appearance to notice anything else. "I can't help it! She's just too... perfect!"