chapter 10: shopping, secrets, and sister memories

Four girls, one store, and a bittersweet memory

A sunny saturday, in universe 17.

The cosmix plaza mall bursts with life, sweet scents, glowing shop windows. Ad drones hover in the air, holograms sing cheerful jingles, a vendor sells edible crystals at the entrance, children run between the legs of a mascot robot.

In the middle of this buzz, Dana Noctielle walks.

Simple outfit. Black jeans, red top, a modest handbag. She watches the world, lets the sounds slide over her without shaking her.

She observes the displays, the families, the light shouts.

"I think I’m starting to like these quiet days..."

But suddenly, a crash bags collapsing in a cascade a cry rings out:

— "Watch my edenia lvl.99 dress!"

Dana turns.

A figure emerges from the shopping avalanche.

Tall, elegant, platinum curls, solar shades, violet satin outfit fit for an interstellar gala.

"You saved my bags. I’m Clélya de Tross, my dad is world-ranked hero #10, but I want to be a fashion designer for heroines."

Dana nods politely.

"Nice to meet you. I’m Dana."

Clélya scans her up and down, not hostile.

"You’ve got a sober look but you could pop with a cosmic belt in stellar leather."

She points at a display.

"Wanna come shopping with us?"

Another girl rushes over. Oversized sweatshirt, glowing sneakers, a console-shaped backpack.

"Hi! I heard 'shopping'. I’m Rae, cosplayer, gamer, intergalactic-level otaku. I love doctors in anime."

Clélya sighs.

"She has a weird thing for scalpels..."

"There’s three of us. We need a fourth. Come on."

And finally, as if from another plane...

A shadowy figure approaches.

Black hair, violet lipstick, long gothic coat, fixed and calm gaze.

"I’m Nyxa. I just wanted to buy black candles and violet tea, but... I’ll follow."

Dana watches her.

A soft shiver passes through her.

"She… reminds me of Saphira."

They settle into a round fitting room, mirrored walls, petal-shaped seats, a scent of stellar watermelon.

Each girl pulls out an improbable fashion piece.

Clélya puts on glowing butterfly glasses that flap their wings.
Rae tries an elf-doctor dress with detachable ears.
Nyxa holds a corseted black coat, perfectly tailored.

Dana, meanwhile, stays back, observing, smiling.

"You’re thinking of someone," says Clélya.

Dana lifts her eyes.

"Yes. My little sister."

She breathes in.

"She loved dressing as a queen… and a pirate. Sometimes both. She had a living doll, and... a throne made of lightning chains."

Silence.

One heartbeat more.

"I know. It sounds strange."

Rae smiles, gently.

"Sounds... like a fantasy novel."

Nyxa, nearly whispering:

"Or a real memory from another world."

Dana smiles.

"Yeah she started a war between manga, novels, and cartoons got punished by our mother… but I’m sure she’s still laughing about it."

Sitting on a clear bench, around starry strawberry bubble tea cups, they catch their breath.

Clélya, straw in mouth:

"So? Doctor, stylist, or ex-sorceress?"

Dana, calmly:

"Doctor. and… tired big sister."

Rae, elbow on the table:

"We like you, Dana. You’ve got this weird calm, but you’re cool."

Nyxa stares at her for a moment, then, bluntly:

"You don’t have the aura of a normal human. But you have the soul of a simple woman. That’s rare."

Dana sets down her straw. She looks at each of them.

"And you’re three adorable tornados. I want... to see you again."

As they get ready to part...

Clélya holds out a hand, solemn:

"Once a week? Shopping, bubble tea, and weird confessions?"

"Deal," say Rae and Nyxa in unison.

Dana, hands in pockets:

"But no cosplay for me. And no duels with other multiverses, please."

They burst into laughter a sincere laugh, shared, unexpected that day, Dana didn’t cross a world didn’t save anyone. Didn’t reveal anything but she made three friends they don’t know she can outrun light or that she can speak to gods but they saw that she is someone simple and important Just like that.

End of chapter 10 – shopping, secrets, and sister memories