I start the trek from the transport station toward my once temporary home near the large forest full of fae… what was it called again? I never really cared so I didn't commit it to memory.

Grandma would probably be upset about that too, but I can't bring myself to care. If she's going to express the sentiment I'm not going to contradict her… we're not family.

Whatever.

Anyway, I'd told mom and Lyra that they could just wait in the moveable dungeon and I'd open up the door when I got there, but they insisted on walking with me.

Definitely not because of the predatory glances Alice gave them when I suggested it.

Nope, not at all.

I sigh lightly. She'll probably always be like this; at least a little rebellious. But I can handle it, probably.

It's not exactly a short walk, but I can't particularly say I blame the splinter eldra – the ones that my partial kin refer to as 'the impure' – for building their cities away from the fae forest. Incursions of magic creatures that range from mischief to literally eating people aren't exactly conducive to civilization.

I'd be shocked that the forest hasn't already turned into a spontaneous dungeon if it weren't for the fact that fae are technically… well, not mortal, but at least favored race of some god, or gods… mom told me about the mad twin gods, and that I should never say their names. Not that she even told me what they were.

Lyra meanwhile is unsurprisingly silent, busy reading another book as we walk. I assume she's actually paying attention though, considering she deftly avoids stones and the occasional root jutting up from the rustic path.

After a few hours of walking and my dormmate occasionally casting a small spell on herself – a stamina charm, from the name of it – we finally get a glimpse of the outermost yurts in the distance. I tried calling her on my u-comm but for some reason she wasn't answering, so she has no idea that we're coming or why… but I'm sure it's fine.

The handful of people we pass on our way into the colony glance at us suspiciously, although I notice that none of that suspicion is directed at my mother. Or at least not very much of it, anyway. It's pretty easy to tell who is 'one of them', considering how similar they look to each other.

I choose to ignore it all. This is pretty normal for me now after all, I get stares no matter where I go. And not just because of my scales either… people who scan me with their u-comms all see the same thing right now, after all.

[Sidra Vossen – Hero of Malevolence]

It doesn't even show my level.

A matter of time later we reach Tristan's home, but he doesn't appear to be in right now.

Huh.

Now that I think of it, there aren't many people around right now in general… and I doubt it's an incursion or anything, I'd probably hear battle sounds by now if it was. Pixies are fast, meaning they'd already be permeating the area by now. And yet they're not.

"Any idea what's going on?"

My mother tilts her head but doesn't look at me. "Community meeting, probably. They do this now and then. It's kind of funny to watch people spread the news, it's like a game of telephone."

Huh.

"What's a telephone?" I ask.

"No idea," she shrugs. "It's just a saying people use for some reason."

"I see."

…

We keep walking for a while, gradually moving toward the center of the town. Or, toward the forest I suppose… the area is more of a half circle butting up against the greenery. And when we get there, sure enough, it's a gathering.

A big one. Lots of people, every single one a forest elf.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

And me, and Lyra.

If looks could cause sunburn I'd have lost my scales by now, but at least nobody is like, trying to chase us off or whatever.

Furious hand movement from the older looking person pulls our attention toward the center – hand movement of which I only recognize a handful of words. Certainly not any helpful enough to describe-

"It's a naming ceremony," my mother softly whispers, clearly for the benefit of both Lyra and myself. "See the children? And the older ones are probably changed, so their names change too. There are… well, customs for it."

"Huh."

Not a moment later, a handful of fae seemingly emerge from nowhere and the old man starts gesturing toward the children as they're brought before him one by one under the thoughtful gaze of three overly large pixie-like things. And one by one, he speaks a single word: a name.

After an absolute gaggle of children ranging from infancy to probably a few years old, he begins doing the same for some of the older elves.

And then, I realize I almost recognize one of them… sort of…

"Neboras," the elder says, and the young man bows gracefully.

…

"Wait, is that Nebora?" I mutter, a few of the gathered glancing at me as though I'd set fire to a wedding parade.

"Hush, dear."

"S-sorry. Sorry!" I hiss back. "But I'm pretty sure that-"

"Very possible. I'll explain it later. Just, be quiet for now. Okay?"

I sigh. "Alright. Sorry."

A number of individuals and a number of glares from the others later and they wrap up the ceremony by gifting the officiating fae a large tray of fruit, which they messily devour right then and there.

…

Now that I think of it, Joy isn't much like them at all, is he? Maybe I had the wrong idea about them entirely because of how civilized he pretends to be.

The gathered people disperse gradually, most stopping to talk – or wave hands – with each other. And of course, they make no attempt at concealing the glances at me and mine.

But that's fine. I'll show them.

I'll show them all.

But for now, I'll settle for what's in front of me.

"Care to explain what the hells just happened with Nebora? Is that normal?"

Mom nods lightly. "Actually… well, yes. Here, anyway. I suppose it's one benefit of being this close to the fae."

…

"And that means what, exactly?"

"Well," she continues, "if there are things about ourselves that we want to change…"

And then she leans in, almost conspiratorially, and then whispers.

"If there are things we want to change, we just need to go into the forest, play with the pixies or whatever we find for a while, or maybe throw the right kinds of gifts or praise at them, and they'll get surprisingly helpful. Helpful as in, if you ask they'll lead you to traps like fairy rings meant for 'mischief'… like changing your height, weight, order stats… even your gender."

"…Like Nebora did. Huh."

"Yes."

I notice from the corner of my eye that Lyra is rapidly taking notes… maybe this isn't widely known information? I wonder if there are going to be any repercussions if that gets out.

Maybe. Not that I particularly care. The colony means nothing to me.

…

…

Huh. Is someone watching me? I feel like someone is watching me, and I don't mean the glares and stares.

Looking around somewhat discretely, I find what I'd been looking for.

Or rather, who.

Shaya.

She's peering around the side of a yurt or some reason. I give her a small wave and she ducks back behind it. I wonder why?

Well, whatever. I jog in her direction anyway, looping around the structure to find… nobody.

Eh?

A finger taps my shoulder from behind and I flinch, resulting in a small giggle from my assailant.

"There you are! Gods, why did you hide? Oh, oh right, sorry. You don't… uh. You don't understand. Ahem."

I take a moment to try to recall some of the cant she's taught me so for before trying again.

"Uhhh… so…"

「Greeting.」

She greets me back and starts into a literal handful of other gestures before trailing off, her expression probably not that much different from my own from a moment ago.

This… might actually be more difficult than I'd expected…

…

Eh, we'll figure it out.

Mom catches up and proceeds to… not help?

"Uh. I um. Mom? Would you-"

"Nope! You're on your own with this one, sweetie."

And then she winks at Shaya, who blushes slightly.

What just happened?

"Hey, why'd you leave me behind? I didn't even know you'd left!"

I flinch again. Hells, I was sure my escape plan had worked!

"Joy!? How'd you even get here?"

"Hm? Oh, Alice dropped me off. Anyway, she said she was going to talk to you about that later, that you had some kind of agreement for her helping you with stuff? She sure seemed happy about it too! But really, don't just disappear again, alright?"

Oh. Alice, she…

Oh gods, he didn't.

Tell me he didn't.

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