“Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.”

  Oscar de la Renta, Dominican Designer

  The rhythmic buzz of the sewing machine filled the small store as Edna methodically stitched Milly’s Gown of Moon and Stars. The old Oriane sat at her workbench, head down and humming to herself.

  As Edna worked, Milly walked around the store in her underwear, browsing the mesh fabrics Edna had recommended for her veil. She was initially drawn to the solid black fabric. Standing at the full-length mirror, she held the fabric up to her face and chuckled.

  Maybe you should try something other than black, Milly. You look like a widow at a funeral.

  A player screen popped up in front of her as she held the fabric.

  Milly swore under her breath and waved the screen away like she was shooing a wasp. It closed, and she glanced back at Edna. Thankfully, the grandmother was completely engrossed in her work and failed to notice the television-sized screen that had suddenly appeared in her shop.

  “Damn it, you’re going to give me away. Why can’t you appear smaller?” she cursed.

  The same screen appeared again, this time the size of a book cover.

  “You could have done that this whole time?” Milly accused through gritted teeth. “How come… you know what? Fuck it, whatever. Just… appear like that from now on.”

  Milly returned the black fabric to the shelf and picked up a crimson one. It reminded Milly of Calista’s hair. She rubbed her fingers across it, as if she were running her fingers through her girlfriend’s hair when they cuddled.

  A description appeared above it, thankfully with the smaller screen.

  Milly dropped the fabric in surprise.

  This fabric is magical! But the Orianes don’t have magic. So what’s a magic item doing in Edna’s shop?

  “It’s not your color, deary,” Edna called, looking up from her sewing. “Try the light blue one. It’ll bring out your eyes.”

  “Edna,” Milly asked curiously, handing the crimson fabric to the grandmother. “What can you tell me about this one?”

  “The crimson? The dye comes from the Redshell Beetles that live atop the local volcanoes. Hardy little things can walk on the lava flows. The fabric is five… thousand… gold? That can’t be right… That’s more than my entire inventory.”

  Edna stared at the fabric as her memories fought against her reality.

  Edna didn’t have magical items back home. It’s another of Cizen’s additions to this world. Somehow, Cizen has overlayed their former civilization with the foundations of the God Contest. Only that overlay hasn’t settled well in the Oriane’s minds. I doubt ‘gold’ was the Oriane currency in their real home either.

  “I… I guess it’s five thousand gold a yard,” Edna concluded apologetically. “I’m sorry, my dear. I… I don’t normally carry things this expensive. My husband must have stocked it before he passed. He never told me.”

  Something tells me this fabric isn’t the only magical item I’ll find here. Cizen must have intentionally made the shops work like the Emporia. He needs the Orianes to have access to magic. But why?

  “Your… um… husband had good taste, Edna. Sorry for disturbing your work,” Milly smiled, returning the crimson fabric to the shelf. Edna smiled back and returned to her sewing.

  This isn’t just about simple fashion anymore. I have the gold – let’s see what I can find.

  * * *

  “All done, my dear,” Edna called, holding up Milly’s dress. The stitching was so fine that Milly could hardly see the initial tear, even with her improved perception. But it wasn’t the repair that caught her eye.

  Edna, a sly smile plastered on her mischievous face, had made another alteration to her gown. The neckline, which before had run shoulder to shoulder without a hint of cleavage, was now an off-the-shoulder style that plunged into a V-neck so deep it reached the bottom of her breasts. Where once it had been a modest dress, it was now, unquestionably, daring.

  “What… what did you…?” Milly stammered. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she pictured herself wearing the dress.

  “I made it what you need it to be,” answered Edna. “Now, did you find the fabric for your veil?”

  In another time, in another place, Milly would have asked Edna to change it back – embarrassed even by the thought of exposing so much of herself. She would have called herself fat. Ugly. Unworthy of wearing such a garment. The mere thought of it would have sent her into a spiral of self-loathing.

  But now, standing here, after all she’d been through, she thought it was the most beautiful dress in the world. She could see herself wearing it for Cally – playing the tease and delighting in the sight of her desire-filled eyes fixed upon her. There was power in that dress – a power Milly no longer felt unworthy to wield.

  Cally’s eyes are going to pop out of her head when she sees me in this!

  “Yes, I found this one,” Milly finally answered, handing Edna a roll of violet colored fabric and her witch’s hat. “Will this work?”

  “It’s beautiful. It matches your eyes,” Edna said sweetly. “But… the price. I’ll only need a yard, but ten thousand gold? That’s more than a top researcher makes in a year!”

  Milly could see confusion return to the grandmother’s face as she tried to reconcile how a fabric that cost that much could possibly be stocked in her little shop.

  “I can afford it,” Milly answered quickly, hoping to spare the woman another internal crisis.

  “Oh… okay, dear,” Edna accepted hesitantly, slicing off a strip of the mesh fabric. “Your mate will be smitten. There’s an air of mystery to a veil, you know, that will drive her wild.”

  More than just an air of mystery. In addition to giving me a five-point magic boost, it has a special ability called Unique Talent Amplifier: Unlocked Fury. It’s not an ability found on the talent web. It lets me spend twenty-five percent of my magic reserves to activate Salem’s Fury whenever I want. This way, I’ll be able to get my power boost whenever I need it – not only when I’m protecting someone else.

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  “Speaking of mystery…,” Milly said, eyeing the dresser filled with bras and panties. “Something seductive, right?”

  Edna gave her a knowing smile, and Milly rushed excitedly over to the dresser.

  * * *

  Milly held the lacey, nearly transparent lingerie in her hand and ran her fingers across the silk. Like her veil, it matched the violet color of her eyes – strong and seductive. Her heart skipped a beat as she pictured herself wearing it, straddled over Cally as she ran a teasing finger across her lover’s breasts.

  She held the bra up to her chest and, with a quick glance to ensure Edna wasn’t looking, snapped off her old bra and donned the Lamplighter.

  It… wow. Have I… have I always had this much to work with? I thought I carried my weight in my legs and stomach but I… I look good. I mean, I look really good.

  Pride in her appearance wasn’t something Milly was used to. It felt uncomfortable, but in all the right ways. She spun around playfully, testing its support and comfort, both of which were exceptional.

  It’s so sheer – doesn’t cover much, does it? Barely leaves anything to the imagination. Or, maybe, it leaves just the right amount. With the plunging neckline of my gown, the violet silk will be visible – just a little bit. And… I think I like that.

  With another peak at Edna, Milly donned the panties and stared at herself in the mirror.

  Between my gown, this lingerie, and my sexy talent, Cally won’t know what hit her.

  “You look gorgeous, Milly,” Edna said from behind.

  Milly jumped in surprise, her arms trying – in vain – to cover herself.

  “I don’t… I didn’t…,” Milly stammered, until Edna held up a hand to shush her. The grandmother handed her the gown and her newly veiled witch’s hat.

  “I saw that little twirl you did. You like the new, more daring look. You’ll do yourself a disservice if you pretend otherwise,” Edna advised. “So own it. Here, put it on.”

  Milly blushed, but didn’t argue. She reached for the dress and quickly slipped it on. She plopped on her witch’s hat and the veil, which ran around the entire brim, cascaded over her face. She was surprised how little the veil impaired her vision.

  “The full brim version is the style right now, even for women with hair as long as yours,” explained Edna. “Well, what do you think?”

  Milly gazed into the mirror and could hardly recognize herself. Although her face was visible through the veil, the fabric obscured her features enough so the Oriane’s wouldn’t see her ‘deformities’. The one exception was her violet eyes, which pierced through the veil like flickers of firelight.

  The Gown of Moon and Stars flowed off her shoulders, hugging her curves and revealing a beauty she’d failed to see in herself until now – the beauty she saw reflected in Calista’s eyes whenever her girlfriend looked at her. The deep V-neck spoke of a woman full of self-confidence and authority, and held an allure that would turn every head in a room.

  This was the witch revealed – power and mystery personified.

  “It’s… its gorgeous,” Milly whispered, tears building in the corners of her eyes. “I… how did you…”

  “It’s just a dress and veil, deary,” replied Edna softly. “All it does is bring out the beauty that was already there.”

  Milly was speechless as she stared at the stranger in the mirror.

  “You take your time,” Edna said with a gentle tap on Milly’s hand. “When you are ready to settle up, I’ll be at my workbench.”

  Milly pulled the grandmother into a tight hug, and let her happy tears flow.

  * * *

  Milly danced her way back to Waterside Inn, giddy with excitement and anxious to see Cally again.

  An orange-haired Oriane – the same Oriane who had seen her on the balcony and fled down the street – walked past her. The man’s eyes, fixed on her chest, practically popped out of his head as he walked past the witch. A second later, Milly heard a loud clang as the man strode straight into a lamp post.

  Milly laughed as he picked himself up and sped away. He looked back at her four times before he finally rounded the corner.

  So much for keeping a low profile. But maybe this is better. I may be able to open doors that might otherwise remain closed.

  Milly strode into the inn and waved to Citron, who, shocked by Milly’s appearance, nearly dropped the two beers she was carrying to the only occupied table in the tavern. In the corner, two massive Orianes – one young, one old – were engaged in a hushed conversation.

  “This mate of yours. Has she had any more of these… episodes?” the elderly Oriane asked.

  Milly sat herself at the bar and ordered a supper plate from Citron as she listened curiously to their conversation – there being nothing else to entertain her in the tavern.

  “She has nightmares. Wakes up every night, screaming of gods and some contest, whatever those are. In the morning, she has no recollection that it happened.”

  The supper Citron placed on the bar was piled high and wafted with delicious flavors, but Milly didn’t notice.

  Did he just say… gods?

  “I know you’ve grown attached to her over these past few weeks, my son. But if she has an illness… well, there are other, less complicated women out there,” the father worried. “You don’t need to sign up for this.”

  “I love her, father. I know it has only been a few weeks, but she’s not like the others. It’s deeper than anything I have felt before. I can’t describe it – this connection – yet what’s between us is as tangible as you are.”

  That voice… I know that voice. Why do I know that voice?

  The father gave a low, gruff chuckle. “Heh. I felt the same way when I met your mother. It’s a strange thing. One day you’re a carefree young man. The next, the bond sets in, and you can’t picture your life without her. Still, a woman with such an illness, and a researcher to boot? Heph, you aren’t setting yourself up for an easy life.”

  Milly turned and stared at the young Oriane.

  It can’t be!

  His beard wasn’t quite as thick, and his hairy arms weren’t as unnaturally toned, and he didn’t have the massive hammer strapped across his back. But his voice – his eyes – were as they had been in the memory orbs.

  Hephaestus. The developer of the God Contest. He’s here!

  ***

  Non-Canonical Aftermath: