Back to… Normal?

Not knowing where my mind was, I didn't think it was a good idea to go out again, not to mention I had no idea how to fight that demon…

I lay in bed with Rune snuggled up next to me taking a nap. It was mid-day, but we had closed the shades to darken the room, so the atmosphere was peaceful and easy to relax in. I couldn't blame her for falling asleep. With how exhausted I still was mentally, I almost did too.

'So… I'm no longer attracted to men… I'm even more awkward than before… I act shameless if I'm not extra careful, and I have a body that makes everything I wear look…' I sighed. 'I don't really mind being able to stay calm in front of guys… But… This feels so wrong… Of course, the biggest problem is that I can't fix any of this and there's a powerful demon out there that I need to fight… And it's not like I can ask others for help… Even Airsidh would probably die from one hit… 500 strength… It's absurd… To make matters worse I can't talk with Rafi because of the same coating that's stopping me from changing back… It's like the dragon is just glued together with me…'

I groaned, rolling over, pulling the blanket tighter over the two of us and closing my eyes. 'It's too much to think about at once…'

As Rune felt the air around her grow warmer, she instinctively curled up and clung to me tighter, snuggling her head against my chest. Normally it wouldn't be an issue… But it quickly made it hard for me to fall asleep as it brought my attention to my heightened senses. Touch mainly, followed by scent, and the sound of her breath, and her heart calmly beating. It wasn't that any of them necessarily made me uncomfortable, but the sensory input was overloading my brain. On the bright side… I could now differentiate between peoples scents like a dog… If that even mastered…

'This is so stupid…' I gave her a pillow to cling onto and got up again, pacing back and forth, unconsciously using magic to soften my steps to make no noise to not wake Rune. 'Ok… Think… Dark magic is the key to separating us again. I can't use it… Rafi is M.I.A, and trying to trick a demon into helping me is all sorts of dangerous… No one else can use it besides us… No… That's not entirely true, is it? Lu is actually a vessel for Rafi, isn't she? Maybe she will be able to do something… If not, maybe she can help me talk to Rafi? It's decided then.'

She was in class 1 in the other tower. It took quite a while to find her, wandering around and getting all sorts of stares… Admittedly being alone around a bunch of strangers… And especially in that body, made me a bit nervous… But on the other hand there was an overwhelming sense that I somehow deserved the attention…

Eventually, with the help of a few girls, I managed to get to Lu's room. As I knocked though, no one answered. 'I haven't seen her in a while… I hope she's doing well…'

With no answer I knocked again, sharpening my senses. 'Someone is definitely inside there… I can here her breathing.' I sighed, kneeling down and picking the lock. 'I'm glad I had Mo teach me how to do this… Sorry Lu, but I can't wait any longer…'

I opened the door and stepped inside… But what I saw before me wasn't my sister… I wasn't sure who… Or what it was. "Lu?" I asked, carefully closing the door behind me and locking it again.

She didn't respond, staring back with one eye that had cried a streak of blood and another that was pitch black. Her right arm was covered in black mist and turned a dark blue, with stone scales flaring out of it like a demon. Her clothes were damp and torn, and her body had changed almost as much as mine. She was a bit taller. Her legs were thicker and her waist narrower. Although she still looked like she had the build of a fighter, that was for sure. Her calves especially seemed to have grown out, although her feet seemed the same, aside from the spiraling dark blue marks that painted her skin like tattoos… Her arms had always been large, but her forearms had grown, making her shoulders almost look smaller in comparison. Like her waist, her neck was more slender, and her face seemed smaller as well, although I was sure it was just because the proportions were all thrown off.

"Rafi?" I asked slowly, thinking maybe Lu wasn't the one in control, but again there was no response. 'What's going on…' I stepped closer, but it started to feel like something was forcing us apart, like two magnets. "Can you hear me?"

'Her heart's beating, and she's breathing, but she's unresponsive… It's possible she's inside her own soul, but she could also be having a conversation with Rafi… Of course, I can't join in because of the dragon… Although… This might honestly be exactly what I need right now…'

I stepped closer again, enhancing my body with magic and forcing myself even closer. 'It hurts… It feels like my whole body is swelling up and about to pop…' I grabbed onto her, eventually wrapping my arms around her and pulling myself close, then everything snapped. I heard a sound like cracking glass and a sonic wave shook the room, shattering the window as we both fell to the ground on top of each other.

'Incompatible… Is a bit of an understatement… Don't you think Rafi?' I heard Lu groan and felt her chest rumble as the stone scales broke off her arm and slowly deflated back to the Lu I remembered. My whole body felt hot and then started steaming. I braced myself for more pain, but it almost felt kind of… pleasant? Like stepping out of a sauna into a cool breeze. My body slowly melted, all of my energy sapping away as my muscles suddenly became sore and my bones began to ache. 'That was easier than I thought… Looks like I'm returning to normal… I'll have to talk to the dragon again soon… But for now…' "Lu… Hey Lu, can you hear me?" 'Did she go out and fight the demon I ran away from? But that's ridiculous. What else would cause such a strong reaction though? How long has she been like this? Sense last night? Someone would have noticed if she came back during the day right?'

She groaned again. "Siya… Why are you here?"

'Good she's ok…' Getting the strength together I rolled to my side to face her. "My question first… What were you doing last night… Or today for that matter… When I came in you were crying blood and completely out of it…"

She softly pushed me away and staggered to her feet. "We can talk later… Bathroom."

'Oh… Well yeah… I guess if she hasn't moved for over 14 hours that would make sense.' I sighed, standing up myself and staring at a giant mirror. My hair had gone back to how it was before… But it was still crazy long and tough… Meaning I could actually step on it standing up straight… I mean, at least when I did it didn't get pulled out… But… "Why can't I just be normal!"