The Forsaken Hero

After a half hour of fussing, the elderly woman, who introduced herself as Masselle, finally settled on some colors and fabrics. She brought one to the back room for almost ten minutes while I waited patiently on a bench, legs swinging in the air. Apparently, though elves were a touch smaller than humans on average, that still left me short.

When the door creaked open again, I looked up with a yawn. She returned with a dress draped over her forearm. It was a deep crimson color with a shimmering, glossy sheen. She took a long ribbon of my hair and held it up against the fabric. The color was a little lighter than my hair.

”You really had this color?” I asked, gingerly reaching out and fingering the fabric. It was feathery light and soft, molding to my fingers like satin. ”I haven’t seen any dresses this red.”

She flashed me a toothy grin. ”I have every color, my Lady. Would you like to try it on?”

I nodded, taking the dress slowly so as not to appear too eager. It was feathery light in my hand, reminding me of my cloak. Looking closer, I could make out delicate strands of mana lacing the fabric. So that’s what she meant by having every color.

I slipped into a changing stall and quickly stored my current dress in my spatial ring. The cool draft sent a shiver across my skin, and I raised the dress, searching for strings or laces. They were on the back, so I carefully stepped into it and slipped my arms through the sleeves, letting the dress hang loosely on my shoulders. I reached vainly for the start of the laces, and was dismayed to find them near my waist.

”Would you like a hand?” Masselle called through the door.

I bashfully cracked the door, peeking out to make sure the room was still empty before letting it swing open. She chuckled and took me by the hand, pulling me out into the open. Turning me about, she set to work, drawing the dress snuggly across my lithe figure.

”What do you think?”

I did a little twirl, keeping an eye on myself in one of the full-length mirrors lining the room. The bodice was tight, clinging to my curves, but everything else was...flowing. The fabric shimmered and moved like water, just thick enough to be opaque yet light enough I could barely feel it. Like the dresses I’d seen the other elves wear, it had a high neck, long bell sleeves that all but the tips of my fingers, and a draping skirt that brushed my toes. Gold embroidered flowers crawled on delicate vines up the hem of the skirt, sleeves, and neck, giving it a gentle, elegant feel.

It was the kind of dress I would have given anything to have back when I had sunpurge. But now...? Even though it was far more modest than any of my other clothing, it felt...revealing. It was loose and flowing, but it seemed to stick to me like water running down my skin, clinging to my form unlike any dress I’d have before. Like it was attracted by static electricity or something. Was that because it was magic, or simply a result of so light and thin a fabric?

But perhaps it was a good thing. I didn’t like having weight on my shoulders, and this dress felt no more burdensome than Haven’s astral breeze. It barely even restricted my tail, somehow managing to hide it behind me. The skirt protruded behind me, of course, but unless one was paying close attention, the only sign I even had one was the foot or so that peeked out from under the hem.

”You’ll have to be careful not to move it too much, or the fabric may get trapped on some of the more defined ridges,” Masselle said. ”But, to be honest, I’m impressed.”

”How does it do this?” I asked, pulling the skirt tight. My legs were clearly defined in the fabric, but when I adjusted the angle and pulled it sideways, against my tail, the appendage was hardly noticeable through the cloth.

”Trade secret,” Masselle said with a straight face.

”No, really,” I protested. ”It’s got to be the magic in it, but...I thought you didn’t have demonkin customers?”

”Hmm?” she tilted her head. ”But it must have been weeks ago now that I was instructed to...I mean, it’s not like you’re the first demonkin ever to visit. I’ve been running this shop for almost four hundred years now, and they used to come by almost frequently before the last century or so. Every demonkin lady I know avoids long dresses because of the awkward bulge caused by the tail, so it’s only natural we seamstresses evolved to tackle that problem.”

”Rreally?” I glanced self-consciously at my tail, keenly aware it had started to twitch again.

She laughed. ”Really. You didn’t think you were the only one bothered by it, did you?”

I gripped my skirt, tail twitching. ”No...”

She laid an arm around my shoulder. ”Just giving you a hard time, dear. Now, why don’t you keep that dress on today? It’ll take me some time to prepare the rest, but I’ll have them delivered to your estate as soon as they’re ready.”

”Thank you,” I covered her hand, giving her a tentative smile. ”I really like it.”

”You look beautiful. Make sure to stay near that ruffian, and not just because of the new laws. You’ll be turning so many heads it would make any girl worry.”

”New laws?”

She frowned. ”You haven’t heard? As of two days ago, the Tribunal enacted a crackdown of foreigners and those without elvish blood. I didn’t bother reading all the notice, as I don’t often deal with those kinds, but it seems the city guard is going to be treating you, well, a little more hostile. At the very least, don’t every be out without an elvish companion or escort.”

”I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, shivering. Just when I thought I’d gotten away from commands ruling my conduct, something like this happened. Then again, if this were the only consequence from that demon cult’s actions, I would bear it gratefully.

When we returned to the common room, Aerion was standing with his back against the wall, laughing with Jenna. The mage wore a new dress, made of the same material as mine, only in a light blue color. It also had a deep cut down the front revealing a generous amount of cleavage.

Aerion’s eyes widened slightly when he saw me, and he stood up just a little straighter.

”Looking...beautiful,” he said, licking his lips.

”My Lord?” Jenna peered up at him, brow knit in concern. Coincidently, she happened to lean in, her breasts pressing against his arm. ”Your face is a little red. Are you feeling unwell?” she asked.

Aerion pushed her away, chuckling. ”Just enjoying the view. You look lovely, Xiviyah.”

I blushed, staring at the ground. I felt the urge to tug at my neckline, as I did in my blacksand dress, but the itch went unsatisfied. It was strange, being admired, yet not having anywhere revealing or immodest about to be self-conscious about. It was so atypical of the everyday fashions of this world.

”Careful,” Jenna said, nudging him as she pulled away. ”Even if I were a man, I wouldn’t make a move.”

”Oh? I didn’t take Fyren for the overprotective Father type demon.”

Jenna chuckled, shaking her head. ”It’s not Fyren to be worried about. No, if rumor’s to be believed, there’s another far more...unpredictable soul looking after her. Isn’t that right, Xiviyah?”

My blush darkened. ”L-Luke’s not...um...we’re not like that.”

She craned an eyebrow. ”That’s not what R’lissea–”

”S-She was just teasing me!”

”Careful,” Masselle said, putting a hand on my shoulder. ”Don’t twist your tail up too much. It would be difficult getting it untangled.

I squeaked, covering my face. But even without looking, I could feel their smiles. Masselle was right, too. With how agitated my tail was, it wouldn’t take long for it to wind up entangled in the flowing skirt.

”Alright, that’s enough teasing the poor girl,” Masselle said, giving me a slight push.

I stumbled forward a step, all but falling against Aerion. He steadied me, still grinning, before offering his arm.

”Shall we?”

I took his arm, avoiding his gaze. ”W-where to next?”

”Hmmm, it’s about lunch time, isn’t it? Let’s return to the carriage. Afterward, we can check out that market you wanted. The Wildblossom, right?”

I looked helplessly over my shoulder as he dragged me away. Masselle gave me an encouraging smile and a wave. The last thing I saw before the door swung shut was her whispering what looked like ’Good luck.’

Somehow, despite all the wandering Aerion did before ending up at the Hazelnut Boutique, it took us barely ten minutes to find our carriage again. Though my dress was less revealing than before, I attracted far more stares, and even overheard a few whistles and whispers. But anytime anyone’s eyes lingered too long, Kahlen would glare in their direction, and they quickly melted away.

But that didn’t stop the strange nervous energy bundled in my stomach. Wearing a new type of dress always did that to me, but this time was even worse. Whenever I tried to forget about it, I would remember Aerion and Jenna’s discussion and blush all over again. I didn’t even know if Luke liked this kind of dress. And I certainly wasn’t excited at the thought of him seeing me wearing it. I wasn’t!