Phanessa woke up in the safe zone, the lingering effects of exhaustion fading away as she gradually came to her senses. The crystal-lit cottage was as serene as when she had first entered it, the tranquil energy still humming gently around her. She felt a momentary sense of peace, but it was quickly overshadowed by a pressing concern. The last thing she remembered before collapsing was the debuff that the Abyssal Crystawolf had inflicted on her just before its death.
She immediately accessed her status screen, hoping that the debuff had worn off during her rest. Unfortunately, the status screen still showed the cursed effect lingering with three hours remaining. She sighed in relief when she saw that the safe zone itself had 20 hours left before it would disappear, giving her ample time to recover fully.
As she scrolled through the system menu, something caught her eye—a new message notification. The sender's name made her heart skip a beat: Ilayda Novalie. Her long-time crush, the person who had unknowingly captured her heart years ago. Phanessa felt a surge of anticipation mixed with nervousness as she opened the message.
But as she read Ilayda's words, confusion furrowed her brow.
[IncredibleIlayda]: "Just out of curiosity, would you ever fall in love with a fish girl?"
Phanessa blinked, rereading the message to make sure she hadn't misunderstood. A fish girl? She didn't understand what had prompted this bizarre question. Was Ilayda teasing her, or was there something more serious behind it? A pang of worry struck her—what if Ilayda had met someone on the first floor? Some stunning, aquatic woman who had captured her attention? Phanessa felt a twist of anxiety in her chest at the thought.
Pushing down her insecurities, Phanessa replied, trying to keep her tone light but genuine.
[PrettyPhay]: "I have no idea what brought this on, but I'm already in love with someone... but if she turned into some kind of mermaid, I would still love her, even with her gills and fins and love of anchovy pizza."
She sent the message, feeling a mix of emotions—hope, nervousness, and a bit of trepidation at what Ilayda might say next. The idea of Ilayda falling in love with someone else had stirred up feelings Phanessa had tried to keep hidden for so long, and now they were bubbling to the surface.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the tower, Ilayda stared at the message Phanessa had sent, her heart pounding with a mix of jealousy and frustration. Someone had already stolen Phay's heart?! The thought was infuriating. For years, she had harbored feelings for Phanessa but had always been too afraid to admit it. And now, some other woman had come in and swept her off her feet.
"Who is this soulmate-stealing bitch?!" Ilayda hissed to herself, her thoughts spiraling. "When I find out who she is..."
But before she could let her emotions get the better of her, Ilayda forced herself to calm down. Panicking wouldn't help. And if she really wanted to know who Phanessa was in love with, she would have to ask directly. Besides, there was something more pressing to talk about—her recent, life-altering transformation.
After taking a deep breath, she typed out her message.
IncredibleIlayda: "I almost died; luckily, my boss monster dropped a strange-colored peach, which changed my species into something called a water nymph. Now I have fins for ears and silvery blue scales. So... who's this woman you fell in love with?"
Phanessa's eyes widened as she read the message, astonishment coursing through her. Ilayda had eaten a Fruit of Verity?! The significance of the moment wasn't lost on her. After all, she herself had undergone a similar transformation years ago. Her thoughts raced as she tried to piece everything together, the revelation that Ilayda had experienced something so profound making her heart race even faster.
Taking a moment to calm herself, Phanessa composed her reply. She felt that now was the time to share her own secret—a secret she had kept from almost everyone.
PrettyPhanessa: "The Fruit of Verity is what you ate. When I was 15 years old, I ate a golden apple. The elder lady at the shop said it was called the Fruit of Verity and that the fruits choose those who are worthy. Or something like that. There are seven fruits in total. Anyway, when I ate the golden fruit, my ears elongated and became pointy, my brown eyes turned a liquid gold color, and my black hair changed to a dark forest green color. Intentionally, I became an elf. You know, the necklace I always wear? Yeah, that hides my elf features... And the person I'm in love with... eh, I'll tell you when I see you next."
Phanessa's heart thudded in her chest as she sent the message. She felt vulnerable, baring a part of her past that she had kept hidden for so long. And the last part of her message—it was a confession, even if Ilayda didn't realize it yet.
On the other side of the tower, Ilayda read Phanessa's message, her eyes widening in disbelief. Phanessa had also eaten a Fruit of Verity? And she had transformed just as Ilayda had? The realization that they both shared such a unique experience made Ilayda feel closer to Phanessa than ever before. But there was also that lingering question at the end of the message—the person Phanessa was in love with.
Who could it be? And why was Phanessa being so cryptic about it? Ilayda's mind raced with possibilities, but she couldn't shake the small, hopeful thought that maybe—just maybe—Phanessa's feelings were directed at her.
For now, though, there was nothing she could do but wait. The tower still had many challenges ahead, and they both needed to stay focused. But as Ilayda sat there, her thoughts kept drifting back to Phanessa's words, and that small, flickering hope grew stronger with each passing moment.