The Mirror of Yuletti

Half a cycle later.

There were humanoid creatures with aquatic animal features, these humanoid creatures were people of the Noval clan, a clan of Detrids that are usually seen on the shores of the Great Sea of Asora.

They were surrounding a little girl with caramel brown skin and vibrant blue hair that went well with her blue lashes and her crystal blue eyes that were hidden by her closed eyelids. They had the girl seated down on a short puffy stool as the maids were combing and styling the girl's hair along with dressing her up in clothing.

– "B-bring the black box covered in engravings from the closet, please."

The girl asked for something to which one of the maids went to her closet and shuffled a few boxes away before she brought out the black engraved box and placed it on the table in front of the girl. Once it was there the girl silently stared at the box.

"I-I'll finish t-the rest."

– "Yes, young miss."

Dismissing the maids once they left and she was left in the windowless room she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She had a sickly skin complexion and there were slight bags under her eyes as if showing that she lacked sleep.

Putting one of her hands to her cheek she let out a sigh before opening the box; inside the box were many black metal hexagonal pieces. Picking one of them up she observed them with a look of contemplation, she looked at a wheeled chair the was placed near her then looked back at the pieces in the box.

Pulling off her clothes, with slight difficulty as she slid off her pants, running her hand across her leg that held slight scars she began placing the hexagons on her legs – after both of her legs were covered in the plates she waited for a moment as tiny streaks of electricity shot ot from the side of the plates connected with the other plates and pulled them together; connecting all of the plates forming a cast out of the hexagonal plates.

She felt her legs being more secure but she was sure she couldn't walk with just this. Her legs weren't the true problem causing her disability, it was her spine.

Inside the box remained a few more of the metal hexagonal plates, yet these remaining ones were slightly bigger than those she had placed on her legs. Picking them up she strugglingly stretched her short, child arms trying to place them across her back – she stopped as she tired her arms out, taking a short break before she tried it once more.

For around ten minutes she repeatedly tried to place the plates along her back and spine, to no avail. dropping the plates back in the box she slouched her shoulders forward and sighed. She looked at the wheelchair and thought that she'd rather just roll there on that, but alas, she couldn't.

She was told they were going somewhere special and it would require her to walk there, it was only a few days after she turned into her eleventh cycle and she didn't know where she was going – just that it was somewhere important.

Looking at herself in the mirror once more she tapped her fingers at the pipes that were connected to her neck on a black collar, the liquid in it was still thankfully clear, they had just cleaned it and changed out the liquid last night; it was an annoying thing to always have to do, but it was necessary nonetheless.

There was a knock on her door as she sat there, annoyed about her current predicament.

– "C-come in."

Speaking out, she turned to the door and waited for it to open. When it was opened she caught sight of someone she had been wanting to see for a few days now.

– "Lulu!"

A girl with vibrant red hair and a large forward popped her head into the room. She had a wide smile across her face, openly displaying her joy in seeing the blue head.

– "Karma! H-how are you?"

– "I've been great. I've been waiting to come and see you for a while now, what are you up to?"

Quickly closing the door when she saw her in her undergarments Karma strolled into the room and hugged Lulu before she plopped herself down on the large bed a few steps away.

– "Well, I've been waiting for you to come as well. I can't visit you so I have to wait. I'm trying to put these support braces on my back."

Turning to face her, Lulu held a slight smile on her face as she was looking at the relaxed Karma.

– "Mm. At least you can leave today, do you need help?"

– "I would appreciate it, thank you."

– "No need, I enjoy helping you."

Hopping back onto her feet, Karma walked over to Lulu's stool and took the hexagonal plates out of the box.

"What are these for, Lulu? I've never seen you with them before."

– "They make it so I can walk for most of the day, my mom made it for me."

– "Really? How come you don't use it more often?"

– "Well, I don't like putting it on. I have to put it on myself and putting the metal plates on my back is hard, I get tired. It's much easier for me to just take the wheelchair."

– "So to sum it up, you're lazy."

Putting it bluntly Karma was smirking at Lulu, who was constantly diverting her eyes as if her secret was put out in the open.

– "Well no I'm– yeah, you're right.

– "That's what I thought."

Chuckling at Lulu's behavior she rubbed her hair and watched as the plates she put on her back connected and slightly stretched out which caused Lulu to let out a hiss.

– "Okay..."

Pumping herself up, Lulu closed her eyes as she hesitated to attempt standing; she hadn't tried to stand on her own in quite a few cycles, the last time she did try standing though she was shaking like a chicken, and she fell after a few seconds, those few seconds she spent on her feet left her lower half in pain for the entire remainder of their long days.

Opening her eyes, she felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder, looking at Karma who stood in front of her, she felt her nervousness dissolving.

– "It's fine Lulu, you can do it. Don't worry, I'll be here if you need me."

– "...Ok."

Taking in a deep Lulu put held both of Karma's hands, bent her knees, and slowly rose from the stool – her entire body shaking as she did so. Now up on her feet, she had to take a couple of minutes to stabilize herself and stop her shaking before she could release Karma's hands.

"Ok, ok, ok."

Repeating the word to herself several times, she kept herself calm while straightening out her back until she stood straight up.

Letting out a sigh of relief she looked up into the eyes of the smiling Karma; she was around two heads taller than her despite being on the same cycle – Karma's eyes were a breathtaking sight for her as they were like orbs of fire.

– "Great job Lulu."

– "Thanks..."

Looking away from her eyes and down at her tows, she decided to redress herself. She looked at the clothes that the maids had put on her earlier. Her wardrobe was based entirely on her preferences so of course, they chose clothes that she liked.

When she changed she had placed them on the table in front of her; there were some black shorts, a long-sleeved undershirt, and a large overshirt that was similar to a Pancho of sorts.

Karma sat back on the bed and waited for Lulu to finish getting dressed, pulling out a sucker she popped it in her mouth.

– "Oh yeah, speaking of leaving today. Do you know where we're going?"

As she was pulling her undershirt over her head the question that she's had on her mind for the entire day finally resurfaced to the forefront of her head.

– "Hmm? Your mom and grandparents didn't tell you?"

– "No, I haven't seen any of them all morning, I assumed they were all busy; though that's understandable, they are all very busy or important people."

Lulu let out a large huff as she stumbled for a moment, she wasn't yet used to walking on her own two feet. Falling back down onto the puffy stool – she put on some highly durable, and comfortable, feet wear, black socks that went up to her knees – Lulu preferred to go somewhat barefoot, she didn't particularly like shoes so these durable, comfortable, sleek socks were the best to her.

– "I still think you should wear something more on your feet. Those socks may be really good but I don't like seeing your feet barely protected."

Karma stared at her feet and black socks while relaying her worries for Lulu. She might not have known her for that long but she knew that Lulu was quite weak and vulnerable so she was understandably worried.

– "I know I can be blown away by a gust of wind, but I'll be ok Karma. Don't worry too much, besides these are a lot more comfortable than shoes."

– "... Alright, just be careful."

– "I hear you... I appreciate your worry. Anyway, so where are we going?"

– "No problem. The place that we're going to is the Mirror of Yuletti. We're going to Transcend today."

– "Transcend? Oh, right it's been half a cycle already hasn't it... since that incident."

Thinking of the surprise attack that was launched on their home and the capital city brought unpleasant memories to her mind. She had been heavily injured there, and even if she was able to get them healed quickly the pain from them had scarred her mind.

Lulu had gone through several painful events and she was never able to forget about them, especially when they left visible reminders of them happening, scars; and she had plenty of them, along her back, on one of her arms, her hands, and even her feet.

– "Yeah... anyway ignore what that Concordia girl said and step up to the mirror and see what happens."

– "Oh, Concordia?"

Nellia let out a soft chuckle.

– "Thanks for reminding me Karma. I wouldn't have remembered her words without you~"

– "Ah, sorry."

They both stared at each other before breaking out into a short bit of laughter that lasted for a good minute.

– "Haaa... Anyway, you're right I can only try."

Saying this Lulu rose from her puffy little stool and Karma also rose from the bed – Karma went to the door and Lulu followed after her with a small smile gracing her face, being with Karma was truly joyful.

***

Stepping before the stairwell, Lulu looked down – she hadn't gone down any stairs in quite a while; her mother had a second kitchen and dining room built on the second floor just so that they could all eat together.

Tightly gripping the rails of the stairs she slowly made her way down the steps with Karma patiently walking down with her, holding her free hand.

Getting to the bottom of the stairs she sighed and stabilized herself, still not releasing Karma's hand as she looked up and caught sight of her mother and Karma's mother: Helia Urnfox, a Lieutenant General of the military.

The two mothers were standing by the main entrance, the door was wide open so the sun was only bursting into the room through it due to the windows all being covered in thick blinds.

– "You kids ready?"

Latia, Lulu's mother, spoke to them upon spotting two girls that were walking toward them hand in hand.

– "Yes!"

– "Alright then, let's get going then."

Speaking for both of them, Karma spoke out rather enthusiastically; after hearing the reply Helia lead them out of the house walking out over to a vehicle with multiple small thrusters in the center of its tires and on the back of it as well.

This vehicle was one of those flying ones that Lulu had seen in one of her earlier cycles, this will be her first time riding one of them as her mom didn't own one and she hadn't left the house in more than seven cycles.

Buckling in the girls were on their way to the Mirror.

Bursting over the Bavel estate walls they flew over the streets on both sides of them they could see quite a few more vehicles along with Nyanal's soaring through the air.

Lulu stared out the window, she had dreamed many times in the past to fly out in the sky just like the playful flying cats – she might have loved being in the flying car, but it didn't feel as free as the Nyanal's were.

She could see the forest that sat outside the city and could see the salvaging site of the Dreadnought she had heard her grandmother had crashed with. She had heard that when her grandmother left the estate she had bordered the large vessel and wreaked havoc on it.

Also looking down at the city below them she could see the city that still retained the scars of the battle and then noticed as they got closer and closer to the Brigid Tower she spotted a mass of thick black and gray fog coming from behind it, seeing as she didn't remember it being there she assumed it had a connection with the Mirror.

As she was looking blankly out the window at the fog, thoughts on what the Mirror of Yuletti was and what would happen once she got there began to plague her mind and she just spaced out.

Karma merely glanced at the spaced-out blue head before she also stared out the window at the fog with her chin on her hand, remembering what her mother had told her earlier: "Your results will be one of the greatest, you must prepare yourself to experience isolation, reverence, fear, and all other types of emotions toward you."

Even though her mother told her this she had no idea what exactly she meant; Karma was sure she was stronger than other kids that haven't gone to Transcend yet, but that didn't matter, other people didn't matter either – they already despised and ridiculed her.

The only thing that mattered to her was Lulu's thoughts on her, after all; she was the only one beside her own family that smiled at her.