Chapter 11 - Clothes

I hadn't anticipated that the itch plaguing my back would be due to a newly sprouted pair of wings.

They were adorably small, just like my petite stature. A shimmering grey hue draped over their delicate frame, faintly luminescent, yet not ostentatious.

I began a slow, cautious attempt to flex them, curious if I could gain lift.

Flap. Flap.

No response.

Well, it seemed that flight would not be my forte, at least not for the moment. I sagged in disappointment.

"Hey, sweetie, what..." my aunt awoke abruptly, her surprise evident at the sight of my new wings.

She practically leaped out of bed to embrace me. "Aren't you just my little angel," she said, a warm smile gracing her face.

"I need to take a quick bath, then I need to look for someone," she said before quickly leaving the room.

Left alone, I slowly approached the mirror, taking in my reflection.

Petite and adorable, just a 7-year-old girl. With jet-black hair radiating the warmth of the night and silver eyes reminiscent of a starlit sky, coupled with grey wings, I looked unworldly.

As if overcome by surreal comic relief, I struck a pose reminiscent of a magical girl, complete with a jaunty leap and a twirling motion.

Damn, this devilishly cute little thing was me. A soft chuckle escaped my lips.

The clearing of a throat broke my spell of self-admiration. "Eehhmm"

Whirling around, I found my mother standing in the doorway, evidently suppressing laughter.

Shit, how embarrassing. Heat rushed to my cheeks, painting them a bright red.

"Since when?" I managed to ask, curious about how long she had been watching my antics.

"From the moment you started those strange mirror poses," she replied, unable to control her laughter.

Her amusement only added to my embarrassment. "Oh, now you look even more adorable when you blush," she said, stepping closer to gently pinch my flaming cheeks.

"I suppose we'll need to find you a new set of clothes," she mused aloud.

Glancing down, I noted the damage my wings had caused to my clothes. The fabric was torn and shredded where my wings had sprouted, a clear sign that I needed a new wardrobe.

Well, i hope my mom know the solution for my clothes.

As the evening crept in, my mother bring someone to my room; a woman who apparently was a dresser for noble families.

"Greetings, young lady," she addressed me in her elegant voice.

Confused, I only managed to nod in response.

"She is one of top dresser for royal family, you can call her Aunt Soya" my mother introduce her to me.

"Greetings, pleasure to make you acquaintance" She eloquently answer my mother.

Without further ado, she opened her bag bringing her measure tape.

"Now, I hope you don't mind, young lady," she made her way towards me, bring her measuring tape to asses my size.

After thoroughly inspecting and measuring me, she turned to my mother, "All is done, my lady. The new dress will be ready in a couple of days."

"All right," my mother answered.

"For now, you can use this," she rummaged through her bag, pulling out an assortment of fabrics. She chose one, and placed it over the torn area of my dress.

A swirl of light enveloped it, and a magic circle appeared.

In an awe-inspiring spectacle, the fabric fused with my dress, mending it almost entirely.

"Although, you'll need to recharge it every few hours, at least until I bring her new dress."

I was thoroughly impressed by her professionalism. Oblivious to anything else, I just continued nodding, primarily concerned about my comfort.

"Thank you," my mother expressed her gratitude.

"The pleasure is mine. I'm always up for a new challenge," she replied with a hint of excitement in her voice.

After she handed the clothes to my mother, a surge of mana was injected into them, causing them to glow slightly. With the assistance of both my mother and the maid, I slipped into the now fused dress.

The back adjusted itself automatically to accommodate my wings.

Tentatively, I tested a few flaps; my dress didn't inhibit my movement in the slightest. It was perfect.

"Thank you," I expressed my gratitude to Aunt Soya.

"Anytime, dear," she responded, a warm smile lighting up her face.

"Well, time to wrap this up," my mother suggested, exchanging a knowing glance with Aunt Soya before exiting the room.

Now, I was alone with the maids. I wasn't quite sure why I'd been left behind while my mother and Aunt Soya had to talk in private. I caught the fleeting looks of concern in their eyes as they glanced at my wings.

Well, there was no need for me to delve deeper into that. Possibly, they just needed to discuss the rest of my attire's design. I figured it'd be best to think positively.

Now left alone, I stood aimlessly, enveloped by an awkward silence.

I surmised that it might be an apt time to conduct a thorough examination of my own body.

After all, I had only inspected my wings initially. I resolved to take a nap on the sofa, all the while carefully assessing my physical state.

I began to feel my body, allowing my essence to permeate every fiber, gradually revealing subtle details.

As I focused on my heartbeat, I noticed a peculiar difference. A new network of veins seemed to be issuing from my heart, pumping out an unidentifiable substance. The veins radiated exclusively from my heart.

Upon closer inspection, I could feel my heart pulsating, rhythmically releasing energy into the newfound veins, triggering a slow, microscopic growth.

A realization dawned on me. Could this be a mana heart? Was my heart now pumping mana? This was infinitely intriguing, and undeniably cool.

After a meticulous scan of my entire body, it appeared that the new wings and veins were the only significant changes.

I hypothesized that I wouldn't be able to freely use my newfound mana until these veins fully extend and envelop my body.

The process seemed strikingly similar to the cultivation techniques I'd been practicing. Both required a network of veins through which essence could circulate.

Perhaps, my cultivation had catalyzed the growth of these mana veins, allowing for an easier adaptation process.

I desperately needed to improve my focus. I remembered hardly being able to concentrate before exhaustion took over and I fell asleep. I let out a sigh.

Post-experimentation, as my body slowly recovered, I realized my mental state seemed to have regressed to that of a child.

I found myself easily distracted by the simple things in life like indulging in a good meal or the random curiosities of the world.

On the bright side, this erasure of my mind spared me the horrific memories of the experiment itself, making it a somewhat positive outcome.

—— Meanwhile, in the living room, three individuals were engaged in a hushed conversation.

"You are aware of what's happened to her, correct?" The professional dressmaker questioned a woman who could pass for an adult version of young Atthy.

"Of course, I am! But no matter what's happened, she's still my daughter!" Her hands trembled in frustration.

"But she's a Celestial. No, she's half Celestial and mutated," the dressmaker pointed out with concern.

"I'm well aware. It's all because of that damned Verdian. That mad magician!" Her tone seethed with anger.

"She could still lead a normal life," she added with a heavy sigh of sadness.

"And what do you think, Claire? Given your experience with Celestials?" Soya queried.

"She's...different. At times warm, at other moments distant. It's disconcerting," Claire expressed her concern.

"She's the same Athy I remember from when we first met. There's no reason to fear her," Claire attempted to assuage the tension seeping into the conversation.

"But...she's affected by trauma and fragmented memories. I shudder to think what that bastard did to her," her face twisted in anger.

"And your husband?" Claire veered the conversation elsewhere.

"He's still on the trail of Verdian. I hope we find him and make him rue the day he was born," she snarled, her face hardening with resolve.

"What about the curious ones?" Claire raised another point of concern.

"We silence them. Nobody should speak of Athy's connection with the Celestials, including our own family," she commanded.

"As you wish, sister," "My lady," they both echoed her resolve in a solemn tone.