Change for the Better

The sunlight hit my face, guiding me back to the waking world. After searching through Finley’s memories, I cried myself to sleep. I could still feel puffiness in my eyes.

I’m weak. I’ve always been a little sensitive, but I should’ve tried delving deeper. I feel like there’s still so much I don’t understand.

There was a knock at the door. I pushed myself off the bed and stood in place. There was a certain someone I was hoping to avoid.

“Lady Velda, it is only me. You have nothing to fear; I have already spoken to Sir Matthias.”

Spoken? About what, exactly?

“That can wait for another day. Please let me in; we do not have much time to waste.”

I opened the door and gave the girl an annoyed look. She ignored my gaze and stepped inside.

“You know, I really don’t appreciate you making yourself at home inside my head.”

“Apologies, but if we are to deal with my— him, accordingly, then I must have a way to send you information and guidance without interference.”

“Mhm...”

I walked over to the mirror beside the bed. I saw Finley’s face reflected in it and turned away.

“Say, Astraia?”

The girl nodded and looked at me quizzically.

“Is there some way to… change how I look? I think it would be better for us all that way.”

The girl furrowed her brow and pouted slightly.

“You want to use mana on something so… unimportant? Why not just erase his memories while you’re at it? You adults never know how to deal with your problems.”

It’s not like I can just get Finley back. Until then, I’d rather make it a little easier on Matthias.

“Pleh. Mother used to say that girls made him dumber, and I am starting to see it go both ways. You know, I peeked inside his head, too. Nothing but ‘Once Finley’s back, this’ and ‘Once Finley’s back, that.’ What a waste of talent.”

So he really never stops thinking about her? Am I even the problem here?

“As if I would know… Oh, that was in your head. Apologies.”

I looked back at the mirror and stared at the face reflected within it. I reached up and removed the goggles, then the ties that held the hair in bundles.

I never needed those things, anyway. They’re just a reminder of their rocky friendship.

“Alright, fine, if you insist. Let me try.”

I watched the girl approaching in the mirror. She held up her hand and waved it over my hair. I watched as it wove into itself and wrapped around my head as a braid, before changing to a light lavender hue.

I blinked, and my eyes became a bright, piercing green. I pursed my lips and looked at the princess’s reflection in the mirror.

“Could you teach me how to do that? I want to try something different.”

“No. This is the best choice... Are you insulting my work?”

The girl frowned with a pout. I remembered the days when I was her age, pouting any time my mom and I didn’t see eye to eye. I smiled and shook my head.

“Alright, alright. I’ll stick with it for now— but you’ll still have to teach me this later.”

I pointed down at her fixedly, and her face relaxed. She nodded and turned to the large window, which let in the bright light of the noontime sun.

“Hey, Princess, what exactly did you come here for? You’re not just here because I slept in, right?”

The girl narrowed her eyes at the distant forest. I placed my left hand on my hip and felt the axe there. I remembered where it had come from and quickly moved my hand away.

“Have you remembered?”

“… Yes.”

“Good. You will not let those memories cause you to falter anymore, correct?”

“I won’t.”

The girl nodded and began to walk toward the door. She stopped at the doorway and turned her head to the side.

“It is time. Muster all that you have within you and exit the forest when you are ready.”

That’s it? No ‘here’s what he’s capable of’ or ‘you can beat him if you do this!’ Just… going headfirst?

“You have everything you need. If you falter, we will be there to help you.”

Mm, right...

I followed the girl through the house. The musty smell from the dust-covered walls irritated my nose, and I took in every sight on our way out.

As I stepped outside, the sun attacked my eyes. The shapes of my two loyal companions faded into view as my eyes refocused.

“Miss Velda, I almost failed to recognize you. I suppose this means things really are changing now.”

Vivian walked forward and stared at me, as if she was trying to find something within my eyes. I noticed that her cloak was gone, and that her stuffed bear had been left behind. There was a determined look in her eyes.

Yes, they really are.

I turned to look at the man standing behind her. His eyes looked as if he hadn’t slept all night. He nodded and turned toward the forest.

“Guess we should head out, then. Are you two ready?”

I pressed my lips tighter and walked with Vivian to join our companion at the forest entrance. Astraia stood far beside us and lifted her hood. As she ran into the forest with quiet footsteps, I walked forward to stand in front of Matthias. I turned to my companions and placed a hand on my heart.

“Thank you both, for staying with me all this time. You can trust that I’ll do everything I can to win this.”

This world may have been made for people like me, but that doesn’t mean I should treat it like a playground. I’ll do everything I can to fix this…

I walked deeper into the forest, with my companions close behind me.