And now, as I stare at it again, cradled in Eris’ hands... that feeling rises once more.
A strange, hollow sadness.
Grief that has no na.
And buried beneath it, deep and burning like a coal pressed into my chest, is anger.
I swallow hard, chest tight.
My eyes don’t leave the dress.
One day, I want to ask Alter what this ant to her, what mory it holds, why it still hurts, and why it feels like it’s tied to sothing she’s lost, soone she couldn’t protect.
I wonder if they are related to Morvena too.
"Oh..." Eris falters as she sees the shift in my expression, her playful grin fading. "I’m sorry... Are you... still feeling those emotions?"
"Nn..." I nod faintly, my fingers fidgeting in my lap.
But this ti, it’s different. Now that I know those emotions aren’t entirely mine... it doesn’t hit as hard. It still stings, still tugs at sothing deep in my chest—but I can breathe through it now.
"Alright... I’ll put it back then," Eris says softly.
"Yeah..." I reply, though part of lingers, eyes still tracing the delicate shimr of the dress.
It’s Alter’s, after all. Her mory. Her grief. I probably shouldn’t wear it without her permission.
Gently, reverently, Eris folds the dress with careful hands. She places it back inside the chest, laying it down like a sleeping mory. The lid closes with a soft click, and she slides the padlock into place before turning the key and locking it tight.
Click. Clunk.
"All done," Eris says, brushing her hands together. She stands up, flashing a grin. "Alright, Felicia. You hungry?"
But then—
RUMBLE.
R-rumble.
"Eh?" I blink.
Eris freezes mid-step. Her ears twitch sharply.
We both whip our heads toward the chest.
It’s shaking.
No—jumping!
Thunk! Clatter! Thud!
Like there’s sothing inside, sothing alive, fighting to break free!
"What the—?!" Eris’s voice cuts off. She throws an arm out in front of , her body shifting into full defense. "Felicia, get behind !"
"E-Eris?!" I stamr, scrambling back, heart racing. My tail puffs straight out in terror. "Wh-what is that?!"
The chest thrashes violently now, banging and rattling as though so monster is slamming into it from the inside.
BANG!
BANG!
"Eris, d-did you put a monster in there or sothing?!" I gasp.
"No!" she barks. "Why the hell would I?!
"Then what the hell is happening?!"
"I don’t know! But that lock is enchanted and reinforced with strongest grade Mythrilsteel, nothing should be able to break it!"
But even as she says it—
CLANK!!!
The chain snaps.
The lock flies off, skittering across the floor like a dead insect.
The chest bursts open.
And from within... a black blur launches out, trailing shadows like torn silk in the wind.
"WHAT—?!" I scream.
It hovers in the air, weightless, ghostlike, fluttering with impossible grace.
It’s the dress.
Alter’s dress!
But it’s no longer just fabric now.
It moves like it’s alive.
Now, it’s twisting in the air, arcs of black light spiraling from its seams, shadows writhing like tendrils of smoke.
And then—fwoosh!
It flies straight toward !
"ERISSSSS!" I scream, terror ripping through my throat.
Eris lunges forward, her hand outstretched to grab the swirling fabric, but the mont her fingers touch it, the dress shatters into black smoke, slipping through her grip like mist.
"No—!" she gasps.
The smoke doesn’t stop.
It wraps around .
In a heartbeat, I’m engulfed in a vortex of shadow, circling, spinning, tightening.
"N-no! Let go!" I cry, trying to run, to move, but my limbs won’t respond.
My body locks up, frozen from the neck down.
Paralyzed.
"Eris! Eris, help !!" I scream as my feet lift from the floor, as the air grows colder, heavier, charged with sothing dark and ancient.
Eris charges again, eyes wide, desperation in her voice.
"I’ve got you—!"
But the smoke lashes out, striking Eris with a force I can’t see.
BAM!
"Agh!!"
She’s flung across the room like a ragdoll, her body slamming into the wall with a brutal thud.
"Eris!!" I scream, tears bursting from my eyes. My voice breaks, raw and desperate. "Eris!!!"
She groans, pushing herself up with trembling arms. Her gaze finds , wide with panic, fury, and fear.
"I’m here!" she gasps. "Felicia, just hold on—!"
But I can’t.
I’m weightless now, limbs slack, suspended in the heart of the storm. The shadows coil tighter, thick like smoke and silk, wrapping around like a shroud. I feel them digging deeper, not just into my body, but into sothing deeper, like it’s rging with .
Swallowing .
Pulling in.
"No no no—" I sob, the terror choking in my throat. "Stop, please—!"
My heart thunders.
My vision dims.
Oh gods... I’m being swallowed alive—!
And then—
Thud.
My feet touch the floor.
The swirling shadows vanish in an instant, coalescing, twisting back into fabric.
The dress.
No longer floating.
No longer haunted.
It’s on now.
A perfect fit.
The dark silk hugs my body like it was tailored just for , flowing elegantly from shoulder to heel.
I blink.
My fingers twitch.
I can move again.
"Eh...?" I whisper, dazed, my voice soft and breathless. I glance down at myself, heart still racing. "I’m... still alive?"
"FELICIA!"
Eris bolts across the room and throws herself in front of , checking my arms, my cheeks, the sides of my head with frantic hands.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
I shake my head slowly, still stunned. "No... I don’t think so..."
"But Eris, look!" I take a small step back and spread my arms wide, twirling once. "I’m wearing it! Alter’s dress!"
And then—Eris stops.
Mid-breath.
She stares.
Frozen.
Silent.
"...Geez," she finally exhales, clutching her chest like she’s trying to slow her own heartbeat. "Holy shit, you scared ..."
"It wasn’t though," I murmur, still trying to make sense of what just happened. "It was the dress. But... I didn’t know it could do that."
"Yeah. Scary as hell," Eris mutters, her voice still shaky. Then she chuckles lightly, tension finally leaving her shoulders. "But... just as I thought. You look amazing."
"Oooh?" I grin a little, tail flicking with curiosity. "Really? I do?"
"Yes." Her eyes soften. "Like—too amazing."
I gasp and dart toward the tall mirror in the corner of the room, my footsteps light as air.
And when I see myself—
I stop.
I freeze.
My breath catches.
"...What the hell."
My jaw drops.
Ti stops.
Just like Eris a few seconds ago, I lose the ability to speak, move, or even think.
Because the reflection in the mirror...
With this dress on...
My beauty has beco—
Unrivaled.
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