Life of Change

I woke up on the morning of the seventh day with distress. I decided; stubbornly according to Makila, to stay in this place since I heard about Ameli's suicide attempt.

I'd been slightly worried about her before, as I didn't know why she hadn't returned. But as soon as I heard what happened, I didn't hesitate to stay by her side.

No, there is no such history among my acquaintances, neither Nadia nor I ever got to that point or even considered it. I was too used by that time to the punches of life, besides being too worried and scared to leave my sister alone. And Nadia would never do anything that was going to make me sad. Not after all we had been through.

But that didn't mean I couldn't understand Ameli's motivations. Especially after hearing about what she'd been through so far.

Ameli is emotionally weak. She put so many illusions and expectations on Auntie Ven that, seeing them destroyed in this way, had been too hard a blow for her.

People take that kind of thing in different ways. They take it head-on and accept it, deflect it onto something else, or, like Ameli, take it in the worst possible way.

Fortunately, her attempt was nothing more than that, an attempt. And Makila, along with Tina and a few others, were making sure it didn't happen again.

While I spent all day with her, playing and trying to lift her spirits, Makila came every day to visit her for a few hours and kept her company, mostly in silence.

Strangely, that kind of approach worked well enough with Ameli to help her gradually open up.

Needless to say, Makila didn't take it well. It made her very sad, but also, she also seemed to be taking it personally, which confused me... and scared me quite a bit.

"Good morning, Nita."

As I gazed at the ceiling, and pondered the whole situation, I heard Makila's voice greeting me, bringing me relief and joy.

I stood up and when I looked toward the door, I froze.

It wasn't Makila. No, well, it was Makila, it just wasn't Makila.

Well... It was Makila, but not the everyday Makila, but the Makila I only saw on certain occasions when we were alone with Mom.

Elegant, beautiful, soft, fluffy ears on top of her shiny, beautiful honey-colored hair. Slightly tanned skin, highlighting her amber eyes that looked at me with mischievous amusement, and her pink lips, curved into a smile that I can only describe as foxy.

At that moment I could only imagine her as one of those kitsune pranksters from manga/anime. One who especially enjoys seeing her daughter's surprised face.

"What's the matter Nita, don't you recognize me?" she asked with a slight teasing tone in her voice.

I was too surprised and somewhat happy... well, okay I was very extremely happy, because of her current appearance. I was frozen, both in surprise and excitement.

Taking advantage of the fact that Ameli was still asleep, I hurried over to Makila so I could enjoy her appearance while I had time.

"Hahaha, do you like the way I look that much, Mishka?"

ABSOLUTELY.

I'm sure she could tell by the smile I knew I had.

Is there any significance to her taking on this look just today? No idea, and it didn't matter. I only cared if Makila would let me touch her ears or her incredibly provocative, soft tail.

Makila seemed to understand my intentions, so she took me in her arms, sat in her usual chair at the side of the bed, and let me enjoy to my heart's content.

They were soft, extremely soft. A little cold too. I guessed that because it was still somewhat early in the morning; it was still winter after all.

I've petted dogs and cats and it happened to them too, so it was kind of funny.

Still, it was a glorious moment. They twitched just as a fox's ears would, picking up the sounds around them. Or they would react with a quick movement if I inadvertently touched them as if I tickled them. It was adorable. And they were all mine. Well, Makila's, but I knew that if I asked she would always let me touch them.

I don't know how long I was like that, but by the time I realized it, Ameli had woken up and was sitting up in bed.

Makila sat me on her lap when she realized I was already satisfied; although she did put her amazing tail in my lap to, I guessed, keep me entertained.

Bless you, Makila, I love you.

Both had been silent for a while. Makila smiled as I enjoyed the softness of her tail, and Ameli... though in a way she seemed to be enjoying seeing me too, there was something in her gaze as if she wanted to talk about something important.

She gave a few sidelong glances at Makila as if expecting something, some kind of response or comment from her.

"Do you want to know?" asked Makila inadvertently.

Ameli was startled at the unexpected words, and, after a couple of seconds of looking at her dubiously, nodded slowly.

"I... I’ve never seen a Vulpan before...I-I heard that Madame Fiana was one, but I always thought it was some sort of rumor or something."

Makila responded with a soft laugh, amused by the comment. "It certainly seemed like a mere rumor, as I had never let anyone see me like this other than my own family and a few people." Makila began to stroke my head gently as she spoke. "But there was a reason I didn't. No, I always thought I had a reason, but not anymore."

I looked away from the softness for a moment to look at Makila, and she returned such an incredibly beautiful smile that it left my mind blank. She looked so incredibly content and happy that I doubted if she was the Makila I knew.

She caught my face in her hands, squeezing my cheeks very gently, and kissed my forehead, before shifting her gaze to Ameli. "You gave me the trust to tell me your story. Now, I want you to hear mine." She said and began to recount her past.

Makila was a slave.

Those words made what my grandmother had said and Makila's reaction afterward make sense to me.

For a moment I felt sorry for her, but I ended up rejecting those feelings. Why should I feel sorry for her? She is happy, she has a family that loves her, and she lives in a mansion that is several times bigger than the neighborhood where I lived in the other world. There was no reason why I should feel that way.

And just when I got past that, Makila dropped the heaviest bomb.

I... had another sister. One who was born after many hardships, but who unfortunately ended up passing away from an illness.

Makila suffered greatly from her loss, something I could understand perfectly well. I was sure I would have reacted the same way if Nadia had died that day. Maybe even worse.

But, to hear it from her, from Makila, that she had reached that breaking point too, was... frightening. It was hard to believe that someone like Makila would try something like that, but that kind of situation tests a person. Will you succumb to the pain or will you accept it and move on? It's not an easy decision, as much as it may seem otherwise. It takes a lot of strength and support from your family to get through it. Unfortunately, some families don't understand that and instead of being supportive, they choose to criticize with exasperated voices and disappointed looks.

My parents understood that, and they were by her side every step of the way, helping her up and guiding her so that she could walk steadily once again.

And now she was offering that same support to Ameli so that she wouldn't walk down that lonely, dark path without a light to illuminate her steps.

Ameli's expression changed at every word Makila uttered. It ranged from disbelief, pain, fear, shame, anger. She cried non-stop when she learned that Makila had gone through something similar to her. That she also had a moment when she couldn't take it anymore and tried to end it all.

Unlike that moment when she met Aunty Ven by chance, this time she had found someone with whom she had a real connection, something in which they were the same. And she expressed it that way.

"I feel so stupid," Ameli said, as she wiped her wet face with a handkerchief Makila lent her.

"You shouldn't. We all have obstacles and enemies in our paths that we must face and overcome. Comparing yourself to the path of others is something you shouldn't do. There are things that for you may be simple to solve, but for someone else, it's like their world is falling apart." Makila said in a solemn tone. She kept her smile the whole time, emanating an aura of wisdom, showing the weight of her many years of experience.

Ameli seemed to ponder those words for a moment, trembling slightly, as if fighting against herself.

"It's so hard not to." She said finally. "I look at everyone else and they make it look so easy. Everyone always looks so...in control. And looking at myself I can only see how weak and pathetic I am."

Makila gave her a sad look. She got up from the chair and, placing me on the bed, sat on the edge, focusing her attention on the girl who was trying hard not to burst into tears once again. She gently took Ameli's hand and shook it firmly. "Comparison is a trap that only leads to despair. The more you do it, the deeper you fall. We each have our struggles. You just have to remember that true strength is not measured by what others see but by your ability to pick yourself up every time you fall."

Tears again streamed down Ameli's face. Makila's words were gentle caresses that comforted her and gave her relief.

"Can I... can I really be strong?"

"Of course you can," Makila replied, nodding with conviction. Her voice was full of confidence. " You already took the first step. You're reflecting on it, you're wishing for it. You can't achieve anything if you don't want it first. From now on, all you have to do is trust that you can make it."

Ameli tightened her grip on Makila's hand, who saw that as a sign of hesitation. She brought her hand close to the younger girl's face and cradled her cheek with a motherly gesture.

I took advantage of that instant to approach her as well and hug her from the side. What she needed most right now was to feel supported, and that was all I could do for her.

"You must accept your mistakes, your flaws, and realize your strengths, which, as hard as it is to believe, you have. When you do that, you will be able to rise as a new you, stronger and better. Patience will be your most powerful weapon. And remember this, you are not alone. I will always be here with you." I hugged Ameli even tighter, so tightly that sounds were coming out of my mouth from the effort. Makila laughed at my innocent actions, and Ameli, infected, went along with her amusement. "And apparently, so did Nita."

We had breakfast soon after in the room, and the rest of the morning Ameli and I spent playing games, while she and Makila carried on a pleasant conversation.

I hadn't noticed it until now, but Ameli was pretty good at dividing her attention. We were playing a game from this world, and sleight of hand game that combined quick, precise movements with something akin to signing. Uh, to understand it better, imagine we were doing hand positions as if we were ninjas. In short, it was a jutsu fight.

"I've been thinking..." began Ameli, her hands moving with quite incredible dexterity for someone who was considered "clumsy" with her tasks. "About realizing my strengths. There's something I'd like to ask of you."

Makila nodded, encouraging her to continue. "Of course, you can ask anything, what's on your mind?"

Ameli hesitated for a moment, though without losing her concentration on the game. It was very hard to keep up with her. Yes, I was a baby, but my dexterity with my new body had improved a lot, especially with my hands. And I couldn't keep up with this girl! Scary...she's a scary player.

Finally, Ameli gathered all her courage and, after completely defeating me, turned her gaze to Makila. Her eyes held a growing spark of determination. "I want to be better. I want to be someone that I... and the entire Baelian family can be proud to have me as their servant." Makila held her gaze earnestly. Her expression was hard to read. "Madame Fiana, I want you to be my mentor. I want to learn from you, to be someone you can trust, and to live up to the standards of a servant in this family."

Makila remained silent, carefully assessing Ameli. After a few seconds of holding her gaze, a soft smile, with a small hint of pride, came across her face.

"I understand your determination." She said, eliciting a growing joy from Ameli, but Makila held up a hand to stop her. "But, I need to know what your true goal is. A maid is best when she has a master to dedicate herself to." Makila glanced at me as she uttered those words, along with the same smile she gave me when she arrived this morning. That teasing expression, with her fangs barely visible through her lips.

Ameli pondered for a moment, before realizing Makila's intentions. She was giving her first lesson at that moment as if she had already agreed even before she asked. The girl rose from the bed, having a newfound determination, and prostrated herself in front of Makila, one hand on her chest.

"Madame Fiana, I formally ask you to be my mentor, I want to dedicate my body and heart to this family. Especially..." Ameli raised her head and looked at me with great determination, the small spark she had in her eyes before had slowly begun to burn. "I want to become the little miss's support."

Makila nodded satisfied. Her plan was successful, and now I had a future servant who would devote herself to me completely.

I was not yet able to understand that, but I could not deny that having Ameli by my side; especially after being taught by Makila, would be advantageous in more ways than one. I could keep an eye on her as she progressed and she would be a great ally as I grew older.

"Good." Makila said finally, "Now that I see what your goal is, and the determination behind it, I accept. I will be your mentor. With me, you will learn the true responsibilities that come with serving this family, so I warn you that I will be strict and demanding. Is that clear?"

"Yes, ma'am! I am willing to accept any challenge and test you impose on me." Ameli replied, her voice strong and full of confidence.

Makila nodded, walked over to her, and put her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Excellent. For today, rest and get ready. First thing tomorrow morning, put on your uniform and meet me in my office. We'll start ironing out the rough edges, and once finished, I'll mold you to bring out your true form."

"Th-thank you, Mistress Fiana. I promise I will do my best to live up to your expectations."

"I'm sure you will." The two shared a look, Makila full of confidence in the girl, and Ameli with her eyes sparkling, full of admiration. "For now, what do you say we take a walk? I think Nita, and you, need to get out and breathe some fresh air."

With those words, we prepared to spend the afternoon in the garden.

Time began to move slower and slower. Or at least it seemed that way to me. It felt like months had passed since winter began, but we were just finishing the first week of the second month, in other words, we were already in the tenth month.

I hadn't mentioned it before, but there had been several snowfalls over the past few days. It was the first time I got to see snow in real life. And it was a lot of fun to play with. It was cold, it was soft, and I loved it.

The entire grounds of the mansion were covered in a beautiful white blanket, glistening and twinkling in the reflection of the suns light. Many of the trees surrounding the garden had already lost all their leaves, and the flowers that adorned the whole place had disappeared, leaving faded bushes or leafless plants that seemed to be asleep waiting for warmer times to come.

Now, there are some important details I should mention.

First of all, Zenya was getting busier every day. For a five-year-old, she seemed to be tired every time I saw her. Lady Grawfalls had intensified her lessons and increased her study hours, causing the girl who once seemed to have an inexhaustible amount of energy to not have the strength to play with me. The good news was that she had one day off a week, no homework, no responsibilities, and no impediments to coming to visit me. And it had been a while since she did, given that I had been in Ameli's room for a little over a week.

Zenya had arrived and attached herself to me like a baby koala to her mama. Behind her, her new personal maid. A girl named Kalda, about the same age as Neth, Sarka's maid.

Kalda was of a race I had not seen until now, one that called themselves "Omerans".

She was tall, very tall. Maybe the same height as Dad, and he was around two meters tall. She was also very thin, with arms and; presumably because the skirt covered them, equally thin and elongated legs. If I had to describe her in any way, I would say she was very similar to Slenderman.

Her skin was a moss green color, contrasting with her short coppery orange hair. Her eyes were elongated and large, with black sclera and iris of a warm shade of green, lighter than her skin, but also brighter. Her ears were the most remarkable feature. They were similar to those of a rabbit in appearance and length, but they protruded from the same area as those of a human, descending to her shoulders. However, they had the same mobility as rabbits, as they could stand up and move in the same way.

She was quite humanoid and quite cute. She spoke little and her voice was a bit high-pitched but cheerful.

Zenya told me a lot about her, seeming very happy to finally be able to introduce her to me. We spent the whole day together that day, even going out to play in the snow, giving me my first experience throwing snowballs.

A very nice memory added to my mental album.

Next up was Makila.

There was no big change from that. All the servants were gathered in the lobby of the mansion, and Makila gave a little speech and reintroduced herself to all the employees in her new... or should I say, original appearance. She didn't go into too much detail, but she did comment that she was of a Teriante race called Vulpan and that, from now on, that would be her appearance.

The only person I saw quite surprised was Sarka, who seemed to fall into deep reflection after the announcement.

Now, remember when I mentioned that in winter there would be several interesting events? Well, that's the third point.

During the ninth day of the tenth month, a family feast is held by moonlight. Unique moon. Huge and unique moon.

This day is celebrated as "family day" in which we thank our parents, siblings, children, nieces, nephews, etc, for being part of our family, giving gifts, and telling stories. It's kind of like Christmas but without all that religious crap.

The point is that it's a very nice event, but not that important. Many people's activities won't stop for something like this, but it's urged to celebrate it for something more sentimental. After all, it is to celebrate your family, that they are healthy and by your side.

But that same day also has some extras.

Dad, after having dinner with everyone, carried me in his arms to the garden. It was quite a cool night, fortunately, and the coat Mom had chosen for me that day was more than perfect for keeping me warm.

We walked to a slightly open area, where we could see the clear sky quite clearly. The huge moon, a soft reddish hue, was full and covered a good amount of the night sky, though not so much as to obscure the vast expanse of it.

Once there, Dad sat down on the ground, and we admired the incredible starry sky in front of us.

I could see millions of luminous points twinkling in so many colors that I couldn't name them even if I lived for over a thousand years. Several groups formed strange patterns, completely unrecognizable to me, who was unfamiliar with this new world.

"Tya, do you see that place, with the big star in its center?" asked Dad, pointing to a spot near the horizon, with a big, bright star in the middle, "That star is called Nexis. And it represents the great sword of Ashana, Olvgeitr."

I narrowed my eyes, trying to find a shape to what he was describing, but no matter how hard I tried, I could only see the big star he called Nexis.

Dad laughed out loud when he saw how hard I was trying to find the constellation, so he pulled me close to his face, cheek to cheek, and pointed out each star one by one.

With Nexis in the center, marking the middle of the sword guard, there were 2 stars on either side, curving upward slightly. "Ago and Velka on the left, Meras and Jaliet on the right." He pointed to the four stars naming each one. Then his finger descended, showing 2 other stars of similar size. "Bardan and Goliati, that is the hilt, and Afito the sharp point with which she executed the unjust."

There was an excited tone in his voice, the same one he used every time he told me one of his epic stories and legends of heroes and great warriors.

"After Nexis, there are 5 more stars, which are the blade of Olvgeitr. Favate is the first, meaning the one who holds, Teremu, meaning the spine, Erget, the severer, Meleth, who brings doom, and at its tip is Danak, the piercer of the sky." He pointed to each of the five stars, which formed a line that curved from the third star, giving a scimitar-like appearance.

I know, I know, it's very simple and was made in paint, but I wanted you to understand well what I had in mind.

Danak...I could only think of someone when I heard "sky piercer" making me laugh. Dad misinterpreted it to mean that I was very interested and amused by his impromptu astronomy lesson; which indeed I was, but I wasn't going to stop him if it brought him happiness.

He spent a great deal of time pointing out different stars and constellations, ranging from a shield, a carriage, a crown, there was even a castle. There were also different types of animals and monsters, including the classic dragon.

Just when I thought there would be nothing more beautiful, a shooting star streaked across the sky, leaving an incredibly long trail behind it. My eyes widened to the max and I'm sure I screamed in excitement at the sight of it.

"Hahahahaha! You thought that was amazing? Then you didn't see anything!" Dad said, drawing my attention to him, now that the trail was gone. He looked at me with a childish expression, like a kid waiting for his joke to run. "Look up, it's about to start." I looked at him suspiciously but did as he asked, and waited.

...

And I waited.

And I waited.

And nothing happened.

Is this old man messing with me?

And just as I was about to look away from the sky, another shooting star, then another, and another, and another, and another.

Hundreds of lights followed by their bright trails streaked across the sky at great speeds, each one a brushstroke of brilliant colors on the dark canvas of the firmament. Flashes of gold, vibrant blues, and intense reds, combined, created a choreography of lights better than any concert of lasers or even better than fireworks. Such an incredible spectacle that I could only describe it as magical. In my eyes, much more than the fantasy world I was living in.

"Long, long ago, there was a race that lived under the protection and blessings of Aeloria, pillar of adventures and good fortune. She loved her children with all her heart, blessing them with great strength, wisdom, and longevity. However, Aeloria was unaware of the consequences of bestowing so many blessings on a mortal race.

As time passed, this race began to slowly decline. Their overwhelming strength waned, their wisdom faded and their long lives shortened. As the generations passed, fewer and fewer members were born, and disease and exhaustion took hold of the few who were still alive.

Aeloria, frightened, bestowed more blessings, in a desperate attempt to save them. But nothing worked. Her children were doomed to disappear.

In a last desperate attempt, that race decided to mix with another tribe, hoping that at least their children could survive, but in a few years, in the middle of winter, the last of them, purebred, succumbed to age, disappearing completely from this world.

Aeloria, hurt and guilty for not being able to protect her children, wept inconsolably for 3 days and 3 nights, causing stars to fall to earth. Having lost what she cherished most, she abandoned her place as a pillar and disappeared from the divine home. None of her siblings could find her again, and she remains missing to this day.

It is said that every year, during these times, Aeloria returns for one night to remember her children and mourn their loss and that her weeping lights up the night in a spectacle that can only be described as beautiful and tragic, reminding us of the deep love and immense sadness of a mother who will never forget her lost children."

It didn't take a genius to know who that story was about.

It seemed to be nothing more than a legend, but knowing that most of it was true, it wouldn't be surprising to think that this meteor shower was caused by her.

As I listened to the story, I kept my eyes on the sky, fascinated by the colors and lights traveling swiftly across the sky. I reflected on Aeloria, and the pain she had to feel, thinking that it had been her fault that the entire Revant race had perished. Would she be lonely? Where was she at this moment? Why had Sathalia, or her pillar siblings done nothing for her? Questions that did not have an answer.

All I could and should do at this moment, was admire the ephemeral beauty before my eyes.

I let myself be hugged tightly by Dad as we shared a beautiful moment.