Double bloom

Cheers and applause erupt from all around me, snapping me out of my focus. I hadn’t even realized a crowd had gathered, their eyes filled with awe and relief. A warm feeling spreads in my chest, knowing that these people are finally safe.

I clap my hands, summoning a large buffet in the middle of the street. Tables overflow with colorful, exotic dishes, each one radiating with vibrant energy from my homeland. “Eat, everyone!” I call out. “This food is from my birth land, but I promise you, it is perfectly safe and healthy.”

More applause follows, accompanied by words of gratitude as the villagers begin eagerly grabbing food, their faces lighting up as they take in the sight and smells of the feast before them.

Looking around at the run-down village, my heart twinges. The people deserve better than this. With a second clap of my hands, the broken homes and shabby streets are instantly repaired. Cracked walls mend, roofs straighten, and windows shimmer with newfound clarity. Gasps of amazement echo through the crowd as they witness their village restored.

I glance down at my arm and notice a new rune etched into my skin for the first time. It looks like the rune I received after freeing Daisy, only in reverse. This must be the mark I gained from performing the curses, I think, tracing its intricate design with my finger.

Daisy steps up beside me, her eyes bright with excitement. “That was really something, my queen,” she says, her voice filled with awe.

Grinning, I turn to her. “Nonsense! I saw your fighting too, Daisy. Did you unlock a new ability?”

She looks down shyly, though I can see the smile tugging at her lips. She holds up her arm, revealing a new rune beside her teleportation one. “I… I’m not sure how it happened,” she admits. “But I felt my energy grow, and before I knew it, I had this urge to touch the ground. When I did, a weapon grew from the earth like a plant.”

Curious, she kneels and presses her hand to the dirt. To my amazement, a vibrant fruit tree blooms before our eyes, its branches heavy with glistening, ripe fruit.

We exchange a look of pure wonder. I pluck one of the fruits from the tree and take a bite, the sweetness bursting across my tongue. The flavor is rich and energizing, and I can feel my power surging back almost instantly.

“Well done, Daisy. That’s actually amazing,” I say, nodding approvingly.

Her cheeks flush with pride, and she murmurs a soft “thank you,” still looking slightly overwhelmed by her newfound ability.

Suddenly, there’s a nervous shuffle to our side. “Excuse me, kind lady…”

I turn to see the man and woman we had saved earlier. The man steps forward hesitantly, his arm around the woman as if still shielding her from any lingering danger. “My name is Marco, and this is my wife, Maya,” he introduces.

I smile warmly and nod at them both. “It’s lovely to meet you, Marco and Maya. I’m Lenora.”

Maya clings to Marco’s arm, tears welling in her eyes as she tries to find her voice. “Lady Lenora, we… we can’t thank you enough for saving us,” she stammers, her voice thick with emotion. “If you hadn’t arrived when you did, I don’t know what would’ve happened to us.”

“There’s no need to thank me,” I reply gently. “I’m just glad I was able to help in time.”

Marco wipes at his eyes, his voice cracking as he speaks. “Thank you for healing me. They’ve been attacking me every day for the past year because I refused to let them take Maya.” His voice breaks, and tears spill freely down his cheeks. “I’m just… just a weak fool who doesn’t deserve her.”

Maya’s own tears fall as she tries to comfort her husband, but I can see the weight of his words crushing him. Without thinking, I reach out, offering my hands to them both. As their trembling hands touch mine, a powerful glow envelops us, filling the air with warmth and light.

I feel my energy pouring into them, purifying their souls and unlocking their true selves. It’s a powerful and humbling sensation, watching as the magic takes hold. Their faces glow with wonder as the transformation begins.

Maya gasps, her brown hair growing long, with white highlights streaking through it. The contrast against her caramel skin is breathtaking, and her brown eyes now shine with a white ring around the pupils. She looks radiant.

Marco’s transformation is just as stunning. His eyes turn a soft light grey, his once short hair growing longer and wavier, fading from blonde to silver. His posture shifts, standing taller and stronger than before.

They stare at each other in disbelief, marveling at the changes. Around us, the gathered fairies murmur in awe, gasps rippling through the crowd as they witness the transformation.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have been part of this moment. To watch these two beautiful souls reclaim who they were meant to be fills my heart with a joy unlike anything I’ve ever known.