After they explained to Halluel and Malluel what happened to Rei...
"What!? You mean this beautiful girl is Rei???" Halluel was utterly shocked upon hearing the whole story.
"Rei?? What happened to you?? Did you get cursed??" Malluel seemed panicked, as unlike her sister, she preferred Rei's male form over this one.
"I don't know what happened to me either... But all I know is that this is an Astral ability to change their body at will," Rei replied to them, then explained the archives she had read yesterday.
"Such an amazing ability!" Halluel was fascinated when she heard about such a power.
"Of course you would say that..." Orchid and Sandalphon could only shake their heads, amused by Halluel's reaction.
"Yeah... I was excited before, but now that I think more about it, this is actually a pretty bad situation..." Lyria added.
"If you stay as a female, then we can't do that anymore!" Lyria exclaimed, her voice laced with frustration.
"Do what??" Orchid looked confused, not understanding what Lyria meant.
"Nothing! We don't do anything!!" Rei quickly interjected before Orchid could realize what the two of them had been up to.
Orchid raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, while Lyria giggled nervously. Meanwhile, Halluel continued to admire Rei's new appearance, completely unaware of the awkwardness brewing among the group.
"Anyway, I have to get back to that place and figure out how to change my body back to normal," Rei said determinedly, starting to walk out of the room.
"Wait, wait! Before you do that, we should eat first! I'm sure everyone is hungry, right? So, we should eat first, and you'll need the energy if you want to read those books again," Halluel suddenly suggested, quickly reaching out and grabbing Rei's hand to prevent her from leaving.
Everyone stared at Halluel with blank expressions, fully aware of why she was so eager to delay Rei's so she's doesn't change her body back to male...
"What?" Halluel asked, pretending not to understand their reactions.
"Sigh... Alright then, we'll eat first," Rei finally agreed, seeing the persistence in Halluel's eyes. "I'm going to cook something," she added, making her way towards the kitchen.
As they all moved towards the dining area, Rei stepped into the kitchen and began preparing their meal. However, she soon realized how much of a hindrance her long hair was becoming. Every time she tried to chop vegetables or stir something in a pot, strands of her lengthy, white hair kept falling over her face, obstructing her view.
"This goddamn hair!" Rei muttered in frustration, trying to sweep her hair back behind her ears or over her shoulder, only for it to keep falling forward.
"Rei? What's wrong? I could hear you from outside," Sandalphon's voice suddenly came from the doorway, her expression showing a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Sandalphon? My hair is just too bothersome! It won't stay put and keeps getting in my way every time I move!" Rei grumbled, trying to braid her hair on the spot but struggling with the sheer length and volume.
"Maybe it's better if I cut it and make it short..." Rei muttered, casting a glance at her long, flowing white hair. She could imagine how much easier it would be to manage if it were only shoulder-length or even shorter.
"What! No, you will not cut your hair!!" Lyria and Halluel suddenly burst into the kitchen, their voices filled with urgency and shock.
Both Rei and Sandalphon jumped, startled by their dramatic entrance. Lyria's eyes were wide, and she rushed over to Rei, quickly grabbing her shoulders.
"You can't cut your hair, Rei! It's so beautiful and suits you so well!" Lyria exclaimed, her voice filled with passion, as if the very idea of Rei cutting her hair was a personal offense.
"Yeah, I agree with Lyria! It's rare to see such lovely, long white hair like yours, and it really makes you stand out!" Halluel added, nodding enthusiastically.
Rei looked between the two of them, slightly overwhelmed by their reactions. "But it keeps getting in my way when I'm cooking or doing anything. It's really frustrating..."
Lyria pouted, crossing her arms. "Well, then we'll just have to find a way to tie it up properly for you! No cutting!"
Rei sighed, realizing she wouldn't win this argument. "Fine, fine... I won't cut it. But you two better help me figure out how to keep it out of my face," she conceded, still feeling the weight of her hair swaying as she moved.
"Deal!" Lyria and Halluel said in unison, both smiling brightly.
With the decision made not to cut Rei's hair, Lyria and Halluel immediately got to work, eager to find a hairstyle that would keep Rei's long hair in check. They moved quickly, their hands busy gathering sections of Rei's long, silky hair while discussing their options in low, excited whispers.
"How about a ponytail? It's simple, elegant, and will keep your hair out of your face," Lyria suggested, already starting to brush Rei's hair back with practiced hands. She looked excited, her fingers gently working through the strands as if styling Rei's hair was a long-awaited opportunity.
"Yes! A high ponytail would suit you perfectly, Rei. It would highlight your face and still keep that long, graceful look," Halluel agreed, taking a ribbon out of nowhere—one that seemed to match Rei's new, softer appearance.
Rei wait patiently, albeit a bit awkwardly, as the two worked together. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially now that she had to deal with being in a female body. Still, she allowed them to continue, their excitement contagious.
Sandalphon watched from the side, a soft smile on her face, clearly enjoying the scene. Orchid, meanwhile, looked mildly amused, leaning against the counter with her arms crossed. "You two sure are having fun with this," she commented.
"Of course we are! Rei looks like a princess now; we have to make sure her hair matches that," Lyria replied, her tone light but filled with enthusiasm. She carefully gathered Rei's hair into a high ponytail, making sure it was smooth and neat.
Halluel added a final touch, tying the ribbon around the base of the ponytail with a small, delicate bow. "There! All done!" she announced proudly, stepping back to admire their work.
Rei, feeling the weight of her hair now neatly gathered at the back of her head, turned to look at herself in the kitchen's small mirror. She was taken aback by her own reflection. The high ponytail framed her face perfectly, giving her a more refined, elegant appearance while also keeping her hair from falling into her face. The way the long white tail swayed with her slightest movement added a certain grace to her stance.
Her blue eyes seemed to stand out even more, now unobstructed by her hair. She looked... beautiful, in a way that made her cheeks warm with a slight blush.
"Wow, Rei... you look stunning," Sandalphon said softly, her eyes widening slightly.
Orchid nodded in agreement. "It's quite a transformation. The ponytail suits you very well, Rei."
Rei blinked, still adjusting to this new look. "I… I guess it's not too bad," she muttered, her usual calm demeanor wavering slightly. She could see why they were so insistent on keeping her hair long.
Lyria clapped her hands together, beaming with pride. "See? I told you! You look absolutely amazing, Rei!"
Halluel nodded vigorously. "Definitely! The ponytail gives you that perfect mix of elegance and strength."
Rei couldn't help but smile a bit at their enthusiasm. "Alright, alright. I'll admit it—it's a lot better than having hair in my face all the time," she said, finally relaxing a bit and giving her new hairstyle a small, approving nod.
With her hair now under control, Rei now just need to figuring out how to return to her original form.
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Despite having said she'd find a way, several hours passed as Rei continued to sift through the archives without finding any clue on how to revert to her original form.
"There is still no method to use that power of creation and change my body back..." Rei murmured, her voice laced with worry. She was growing increasingly anxious over her inability to discover a way to return to normal.
"It just doesn't make any sense... If I could use this power when I'm sleeping, then why can't I access it when I'm awake?" Frustration crept into her tone as she pondered the mystery.
She put down the book she was holding and quickly reached for another, determined to keep searching for a solution. Yet, even after scouring through countless volumes until midnight, she still hadn't found an answer.
Normally, she would have returned to her room to rest by this hour, but Rei felt she didn't have the luxury of time. Instead, she decided to stay in the archives for several days, refusing to leave until she found the answer she sought.
During these days, the others would frequently try to persuade her to take a break and resume her search later. However, Rei was adamant and declined every suggestion. She was driven by an intense desire to discover how to return to her original body.
It was more than just urgency—it felt like a compulsion, an inner voice pushing her to continue without pause. Strangely, the sensation she felt while conducting this research was comforting, almost like the peaceful feeling she had when cycling back in her previous world.
"What about this book, Rei? Did you already check this one?" Halluel asked, carrying over several more books to Rei.
The others also tried their best to help Rei, but since they couldn't read the contents of the books, all they could do was bring her new volumes and separate the ones she'd already read.
"No, I haven't read that one. If you can, put it on that stack. I'll get to it later," Rei replied, her focus never wavering as she continued to skim through the pages of yet another book.
Halluel nodded and set the books down, watching Rei with concern. She could see how intensely Rei was focusing—perhaps too much. "Rei, you need to rest. You'll wear yourself out if you keep going like this," Halluel gently suggested.
Rei glanced up for a moment, her eyes showing a mix of exhaustion and resolve. "I can't rest... not yet. I have to figure this out," she insisted, turning back to her search.
Hours blurred into more hours, and days turned into nights. As the days passed, Rei's determination only grew stronger, even as her energy began to wane. She knew that somewhere in these archives lay the key to returning to her male form. She just needed to find it.