Chương 3: Chapter Three

I learned that my ears were not the only changes I went through last night. And as I trudged over the Toordor wagons, Evan and Mandy's specifically, those changes where on full display. Most noticeably. Was it most noticeable? Well, it is from my perspective! I was short! Easily a foot shorter than what I was before, and much more delicately bones. I had to roll my skirt up quite high for it to not drag on the ground, then cinch it in place with a rope so it didn't slide off me.

My blouse left most of my shoulders to open air, while hanging past my knees. I'm more of a kid today then I was yesterday! But I was supposed to be an adult! The only other change I could see was that my hair, which had been an auburn brown and wavy was now bright cyan, and straight. If there were other changes, I couldn't tell. Maybe Evan, or better yet, Mandy can help. I had gotten a late start, having to modify my clothes to avoid indecency and looking for whatever changes I could notice.

So when I walked into the square I found it bustling with activity. Not only the people haggling with the Toordor's, but almost every woman was out and about filling tables with food. The final touches for the festival that would kick off at midday. And all those people paused to stare as I walked by. My face burned brighter each time someone stopped to gawk. My face was aflame by the time I made it to the outskirts of the crowd around Evan's wagon.

Mandy was rocking Boyan while feeding him in a chair one of the townsfolk brought out for her as Evan showed off a collection of farm equipment to a group of men. Her eyes landed on me for a moment then continued past before snapping back. I came to a stop as her eyes took me in before she stood up.

"Lyra?!" She exclaimed.

"Is that you?" I waved at her shyly as I felt a knot that I hadn't noticed I was carrying loosen in my stomach. She recognized me. I was surprised by the smile on my lips and even more to find myself engulfed in a hug from Mandy and competing for space with Boyan, who was not happy about it but wasn't about to stop eating to complain. I reached up to hug her back before breaking it and giving Boyan back his space. Mandy was smiling widely as she took my arm and walked me over to her chair.

The conversation around Evan and his tools had died down as everyone looked at me in varying states of surprise. I registered some of the whispered conversation that I had been ignoring until now. It was very… derisive. Evan excused himself from his conversation and came over.

"Evan, isn't Lyra gorgeous? I knew she would go demon. You owe me a back rub. I can't believe you would bet against Lyra." Evan chuckled.

"I didn't bet against our Lyra here dove. I bet to give you a back rub." He looked me over.

"That's definitely not elf. Congrats on your evolution Lyra. Think we're going to need to get you some new clothes." My blush, which had been fading, returned at the comment.

"Yes. Congrats dear. And don't blush at the clothes. It was clear you would evolve, and you would've needed them no matter what. So, our offer. Come with us. We'll welcome you, train you in magic, which you need, and provide work until you are strong enough to find your own way. We only ask that you never stop working to get stronger."

"I…" If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Of course she wont." A gruff voice cut me off causing me to look around. The Mayor was huffing up, one of the farmers that had been talking to Evan only moments ago walking behind him.

"She's a Hindoran, her family's here. And she has a responsibility to the town now that she's an adult." I could see the townsfolk around him nodding in agreement even though most hadn't lifted a finger to help me over the years. I bristled. The only thing the town ever did was lend me a moth-eaten blanket! And then only because I didn't up and die like they thought I should have. Family? Ha! It was all I could do to stop myself from spitting at him.

"I..."

"Be quiet while the adults talk." The Mayor immediately snapped at me. I was way past bristling and rightly pissed off now. As the Mayor started throwing a tantrum at Evan I felt the wind pick up, catching my hair and tossing it back in a cyan wave even as I felt my heart clench. For once my red face wasn't caused by nerves, but by anger. The air around me shimmered as a heaviness descended on the area causing everyone to stop talking save the mayor himself.

Evan, the target of the Mayor's rant, wasn't even looking at him. He was looking at me. Loose dirt and the debris of people gathering in one spot started rolling towards me as though carried on the breeze that was toying with my hair. Everyone looked nervous. Most took a step back. A pale yellow glow wrapped around Mandy and Boyan who had begun to fuss, but he quieted shortly after being covered by the glow.

"Enough." Evan said, his hand dropping on my shoulder. The shimmering, the breeze, the heaviness, the feeling of everything coming towards me. It all stopped. Then the messages began. Attribute Mana Gravity Leveled Up: 1 → 2. Attribute Mana Convergence Leveled Up: 1 → 2. Attribute Mana Saturated Body Leveled Up: 1 → 2. Attribute Mana Inertia Leveled Up: 1 → 2. I gulped and dismissed the messages, turning to Evan.

"You look like you have something to say Lyra. Why don't you say it." He nodded encouragingly.

"First." I said, my voice halting as I turned back to the Mayor.

"I am an adult now. I don't care how I look. So blow it out your ass Glenn! You don't make my choices for me. Second." I glared at him, my hesitancy gone as his attempt to foster debt onto me ignited my rage again. Evan's hand tightened on my shoulder.

"This town did everything it could to kill me outside of outright murder since my parents died. I don't owe this town a damned thing. Which is why I will be leaving with the Toordors." My voice dripped venom as my past eight years of struggles colored the few sentences that squeezed past the filter that normally contained them. But it wasn't enough! It doesn't touch on them throwing me out of my parents' house so that the mayors second son would have a farm a week after the accident.

It doesn't touch on the years of starvation held off by a disgusting fruit that barely kept me alive. The warmth of Evan's hand pressed into my shoulder as I felt my hair get caught in a breeze again.

"I'm leaving." I stated flatly looking at the mayor who was as red in rage as I was earlier. He was stammering, and would no doubt start yammering soon, so I decided to close the topic decisively.

"You should be glad that's all I'll do." My gaze drifted to his second son and his wife who even now lived in the house my parents built.

"Now see here!" He roared pointing a finger at me as Evan stepped forward. Another hand is on my shoulder causing me to look back and see Mandy smiling at me guiding me towards the wagon, her glow dispersing.

"You did great dear. You stood up for yourself against people who have kept you down for years. That takes a lot of strength." She whispered as the Mayor's voice continued to rise as Evan listened patiently, along with every other Toordor in the caravan.

"You said what you want. Now let your family shield your choice."

"My fam…" My voice broke at the word.

"Of course. We offered to adopt you, and you agreed. Now, your dads going to express to the town exactly what he thinks of how they've treated his daughter. And every Toordor will back him." Her smile turned predatory as she looked at the screaming Mayor.

"No one harms a child of Toordor." My mouth opened, but words wouldn't come out, as my vision blurred. The hand that was on my shoulder turned into a hug as little hands found my ears, which twitched escaping their grasp to the delighted coos of… my brother. The mayor's rant finally ended and after a heavy moment I heard Evan's reply.

"Then the Toordor will have no further business with the town of Hindor. Really, it was more of a charity that we traveled all this way, since it seldom paid for itself. So thank you, Mayor Glen of Hindor. You have saved the Toordor much time and resources." With that, every Toordor down the caravan turned to pack their wagons.