Veil of the Heir

Browser lacks capabilities required to play.

Upgrade or switch to another browser.

Loading…

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "aldric">> You’re late. In a real skirmish, that’s the difference between standing and bleeding out in the mud. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And in court, it’s the difference between making an entrance and being forgotten. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Hmph. Let’s hope you don’t plan to curtsy your way out of a blade swing. Draw. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "aldric">> Hold the bow like it’s your last hope, not like it’s a damn feather duster. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> It looks easy when you do it. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> That’s because I’ve bled for every arrow I ever loosed. You want elegance? Earn it in sweat. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "aldric">> You’re moving like a noble at a feast. Too slow, too polished. The battlefield won’t clap for posture. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe I’m trying not to look like a brute with a blade. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Then you’ll look very pretty... while dying. Get ugly. Get angry. Then swing. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "aldric">> Frostfang weighs more than your whole frame. But if you can lift it, I’ll let you name my next scar. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That’s either a threat or the strangest honor I’ve been offered. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> You’re in my yard now, Caelan. Out here, scars are the ceremony. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "aldric">> Every cut you take is a lesson. Every bruise, a reminder. Stop flinching you want to be queen, not porcelain. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m still standing, aren’t I? <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Barely. But you’re standing. That’s... something. Again. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "aldric">> Grip tighter. Your sword’s not a dance partner it’s your only damn friend in a kill zone. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You sure know how to inspire loyalty. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> I’m not here to inspire. I’m here to make sure you don’t die looking fashionable. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "aldric">> The way you turned that parry... that wasn’t bad. Almost clever. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that praise I hear, or am I hallucinating from fatigue? <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> You’ll know it’s praise when I stop barking. For now less talking, more dodging. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "aldric">> You hesitated. Again. Hesitation gets you gutted, no matter how royal your blood is. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I was thinking. Calculating my strike. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Overthink out here, and your thoughts will leak out through your neck. React. Trust the blade. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "aldric">> Ever seen a soldier cry on the battlefield? No. They scream, they bleed, then they rise or rot. Learn that rhythm. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I wasn’t raised to rot. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Good. Then act like it. Again. From the top. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "aldric">> You want respect from the guard? Earn it with your blade, not your title. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m not expecting anyone to bow out here, Aldric. Just not stab me in the back. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Then stop presenting your back like an invitation. Rotate your stance now. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "aldric">> You’re breathing too hard. That’s not fatigue, that’s fear. Control it, or it’ll control you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Hard not to be afraid when you’re swinging a blade like it owes you blood. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Good. Fear keeps you alive. Just don’t let it make decisions for you. That’s your job. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "aldric">> Did you polish your boots before training? Gods help me, you really are royalty. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I figured I’d try bleeding in style today. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Keep that wit sharp if only your sword matched it. Again. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "aldric">> Step. Parry. Slash. Don’t think. Don’t blink. Just move. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Easier said than done when your opponent is a walking fortress. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Then aim for the cracks. Even fortresses crumble when you strike the right fault line. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "aldric">> You keep dropping your guard. One day I won’t be the one testing you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And when that day comes, I won’t be the same person standing here. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> That better be a promise, not a poetic excuse. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "aldric">> You look at a sword like it’s going to whisper court secrets. It won’t. It only speaks in pain. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m trying to learn the language. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Then listen with your arms, not your ears. Blade up. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "aldric">> If you fall in the mud, don’t lie in it. Get up, wipe the dirt from your mouth, and swing. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What if the fall breaks more than my pride? <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Then crawl. Limp. Spit blood. But don’t stop. Queens don’t die easy. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "aldric">> Most nobles fear calluses. You should earn them. They’re proof of effort. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And here I was hoping my nice soft fingers might survive this week. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> If your enemies pause to admire your nails, I’ve trained you wrong. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "aldric">> Sword in hand. Spine straight. Eyes forward. That’s how leaders walk into battle. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Funny. I thought leaders had others do the walking for them. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Not in Velmoria. Here, you lead with steel or you don’t lead at all. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "aldric">> Every warrior here bled for the right to be called that. They won’t follow silk and perfume. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I’ll bleed too, if that’s the price. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Spoken like a soldier. Let’s see if your blade matches your words. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "aldric">> I’ve seen lords fall crying in battle. You’ve got more spine than most already. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Did you just... compliment me? <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Don’t get used to it. I expect twice the effort tomorrow. <</speech>> <</if>> [[Sword Training|sword_train_1]] | [[Archery Training|archery_train_1]] | [[Leave Sir Aldric Vornhelm|iron_garden]] | [[Leave Royal Iron Garden|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <style> #training-area { position: relative; height: 500px; width: 300px; border: 1px solid black; margin: 20px auto; /* auto left/right margin centers it */ background-color: #f9f9f9; } #target-image { position: absolute; /* top: 80px; */ /* left: 135px; */ width: 512px; height: auto; z-index: 0; pointer-events: none; } #dummy { width: 20px; height: 20px; background: red; position: absolute; top: 100px; left: 0px; border-radius: 50%; } /* Strike zone lines */ .strike-line { position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; width: 2px; background: green; opacity: 0.5; } /* Left and right strike line positions */ #strike-left { left: 120px; } #strike-right { left: 180px; } </style> <div id="training-area"> <div id="strike-left" class="strike-line"></div> <div id="strike-right" class="strike-line"></div>  <img id="target-image" @src="setup.ImagePath +'train/sword_dummy.png'" alt="Training Dummy" />  <div id="dummy"></div> </div> <button onclick="checkStrike()">Strike!</button> <div id="result" style="margin-top: 10px;"></div> <<if $swordhitCount >= 3>> <div id="leave-button" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 15px;"> <<link "Leave Sword Training">> <<goto "iron_garden">> <</link>> </div> <</if>> <> <<script>> $(document).on(':passagerender', function () { // Initialize variables if they don't exist if (typeof window.dummyPosition === 'undefined') { window.dummyPosition = 0; window.dummyDirection = 1; } // if (typeof State.variables.swordhitCount === 'undefined') { State.variables.swordhitCount = 0; // Clear any existing interval to prevent duplicates if (window.dummyInterval) { clearInterval(window.dummyInterval); } // Set up the movement interval window.dummyInterval = setInterval(() => { const dummy = document.getElementById('dummy'); if (!dummy) return; window.dummyPosition += 10 * window.dummyDirection; if (window.dummyPosition >= 280 || window.dummyPosition <= 0) { window.dummyDirection *= -1; } dummy.style.left = window.dummyPosition + "px"; }, 100); window.checkStrike = function() { let position = window.dummyPosition; let result = document.getElementById("result"); if (position > 120 && position < 180) { State.variables.swordhitCount = (State.variables.swordhitCount || 0) + 1; if (State.variables.swordhitCount >= 3) { setTimeout(() => Engine.show(passage()), 50); State.variables.user_stats["combat_ability"] += 1; } result.innerHTML = `Hit ${State.variables.swordhitCount}! Excellent reflex.`; } else { result.innerHTML = "Missed! Try again."; } }; }); <</script>>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "malrec">> The throne, dear Caelan, is not a seat it is a stage. And everyone who kneels before it is performing. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So no one speaks the truth in this room? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Oh, they do. But only the parts that suit their character arc. Learn to listen between the lines. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "malrec">> You wish to be just? Then learn to lie with grace. Honesty is a virtue, but plausible deniability is policy. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That sounds like corruption with extra syllables. <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Then add them to your vocabulary. They soften the blade. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "malrec">> Power rarely sits on the throne, Caelan. It lingers in corners, whispers in tapestries, and wears the mask of advice. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then why teach me to sit here at all? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Because even a mask needs a face behind it. You will be that face and the hand beneath the glove. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "malrec">> A noble offered you praise today. Did you note the timing? It came after his trade proposal. Flattery is never free. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I thought he was just being kind. <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Kindness, my prince, is a currency. And you are very, very rich. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "malrec">> You wear your thoughts like a stained tabard. In politics, we prefer velvet soft, opaque, and dangerous. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So, conceal everything? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> No. Reveal what you want them to see. Control the narrative, or become someone else's footnote. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "malrec">> Every alliance comes with a leash. The trick is deciding who holds it and which neck it rests on. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You speak like everyone is a threat. <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Everyone is a threat. But threats can also be useful... if you feed them properly. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "malrec">> You signed that decree too quickly. Hesitation would’ve made them wonder what you considered. That doubt is leverage. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You want me to appear uncertain? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Not uncertain deliberate. Certainty is admirable. Mystery is controlling. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "malrec">> There are no true allies at court. Only overlapping ambitions. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That’s a lonely way to rule. <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> No, Caelan. That’s the only way to remain on the throne long enough to make it yours. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "malrec">> The best ruler doesn’t win arguments. They end them graciously, and without fingerprints. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So… like murder, but with manners? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Exactly. And always offer tea afterward. It keeps the peace and the suspicion low. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "malrec">> Tell me, have you learned to speak without speaking? That’s a queen’s greatest gift her silence commands more than speeches. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sometimes silence feels like surrender. <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Then you haven’t learned yet. Silence, wielded properly, is surrender’s perfect disguise. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "malrec">> Look closely into the mirror, Caelan. Now tell me not what you see, but what your enemies fear they’ll see when they look at you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I… I’m not sure they fear me at all yet. <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Then let’s give them a reason. Perception, my dear, is the sharpest sword you’ll never need to draw. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "malrec">> They whispered you were soft. Sentimental. Easy to sway. So I had the steward leak a rumor that you rejected three proposals last week. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Wait you what? I didn’t even hear those offers. <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Precisely. A decisive ruler never needs to explain a decision… especially one they didn’t make. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "malrec">> Never shame a noble in public, unless you intend to bury them. Humiliation breeds vendettas faster than plague. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So what should I do when they insult me? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Smile. Laugh. And then let their wine be poured a little too slowly at the next feast. Revenge should be subtle, and delicious. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "malrec">> A crown does not make you queen, Caelan. A hundred people believing you already are that’s what seals it. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> But what if I don’t believe it myself yet? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Then act like you do. Belief follows repetition, especially when it’s cloaked in silk and authority. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "malrec">> I heard you hesitated before punishing the steward’s oversight. A kind impulse but one we can’t afford. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> He looked terrified. I didn’t want to make an example of him. <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Then someone else will make an example of you. Mercy is a performance. Use it sparingly, or not at all. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "malrec">> You asked for honesty at court? My dear, that's like requesting poetry in a tavern brawl. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So I should stop expecting truth entirely? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> No expect it. But only from those who have nothing to gain, or everything to lose. Rare creatures, those. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "malrec">> The queen once said to me: ‘Trust the whisperers, but not their words.’ Do you understand what she meant? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That I should listen for intent, not content? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Bravo. You may yet survive the court. Or better command it. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "malrec">> The commoners are not your enemies. But they are not your friends either. They are the tide. Control the moon, not the sea. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And who is the moon in this metaphor? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> The story you let them believe about you. That’s what moves hearts. And armies. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "malrec">> You walked into the council chamber first today. A small thing, but nobles notice. You must always enter last. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Why does that matter? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Because when the room turns to face you, you hold it. Let them wait. Anticipation is power. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "malrec">> Even now, as you sit here there are five petitions on your desk, two spies in your staff, and a lover with a hidden agenda. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Which lover? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> Ah, that was the test. And you just told me something very useful. <</speech>> <</if>> <<if !$marlec_chat_1>> [[Have Conversation with Marlec|marlec_chat_1]] | <</if>> [[Leave Lord Malrec Thorne|thrones_mirror]] | [[Leave Royal Throne Mirror Chamber|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<set $marlec_chat_1 = true>> <<speech "malrec">>Sit, Your Highness. We have much to discuss tonight, and I prefer not to be interrupted by awkward silences or fragile pride. You are, after all, to become a queen… not a shadow in a prince’s cloak.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You speak so easily of it. As if shedding my name and body were like changing robes. But I am not ready. I don't even know what it means to be a queen.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>And that is precisely why we begin. Rulership, dear prince, is not born in the womb it is cultivated in the marrow. Queenship, however, carries an older magic, a deeper expectation. One that no man can understand… until he chooses to.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_1]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>You say 'chooses' but what choice do I have? Mother has made it clear: I am the last vessel of her bloodline.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Ah, and therein lies the beauty of illusion. The crown demands duty but how you wear it, how you embody it, can be utterly your own. Shall I tell you what true power tastes like, my prince? It tastes of surrender… and then command.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That sounds like a contradiction.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>All power is contradiction. The queen bows in council yet commands the realm. She offers her hand in peace while hiding daggers in her gaze. You must learn to become both the rose and the thorn.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>But I was raised as a prince. I was taught to stand firm, not curtsy. I trained to fight, not to dance.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>And you shall fight still just with silk instead of steel. A clever queen wages war with a whisper and wins it with a glance. Your sword will be your hips. Your battleground: the court. And your armor… will be the smile of a woman no man dares underestimate.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I cannot smile that way?<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Then we shall teach your lips to lie as queens do.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>You make femininity sound… powerful.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Because it is. The world bends for the curve of a queen's waist if she learns how to wield it. Men have always mistaken softness for weakness. But your softness will be your secret blade.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What of my body? It’s still… mine. And wrong. Some days I look at it and it feels foreign. Other days I cling to it like armor.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>You will lose things, yes. The prince's shape, his proud stance. But you will gain others. Breasts that command attention, hips that sway like pendulums of power. And above all, you will gain sovereignty over yourself.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And the others? What will they see?<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Let them see what you show them. A queen is never seen she is perceived. Would you like a lesson in perception?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I suppose I must.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Stand. Now walk to the window. Slowly. Let your hands trail against the table as you pass. Not like a soldier, like a siren.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>This feels ridiculous…<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Good. Embrace the ridiculous. From it blooms the divine. Now… pause by the drapes. Tilt your head. Breathe like you're being watched, and you like it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I… see. I feel… different.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Power begins with posture. Rule with your hips first, and your heart second.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>But won’t people… mock me?<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>They mocked Queen Verenna before she married three kings and had each assassinated discreetly. They laughed until her corset squeezed their coffers dry.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You speak as if queens are predators.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>No. Queens are survivors. In a world of wolves, we dress in silk and make the wolves howl for us.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_7]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And men?<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Men are taught to conquer. Women are taught to endure. But you… you will learn to convert. To absorb both, and become something the world has no name for.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And what if I like… both sides? What if I want to keep part of who I was?<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Then keep it. The most dangerous queen is the one who still remembers how to be a prince. Let that strength bleed into your walk, your words, your smile.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_8]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>You speak of sensuality as if it's strategy.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Because it is. Do you know why men fear queens? Not because they command, but because they seduce. With glances. With words. With the suggestion of power between their thighs.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That sounds… manipulative.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Politics is manipulation. Your body will be a treaty. Your presence a negotiation. Learn to let others desire your power, and they will never notice you stealing theirs.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_9]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And I’ll have to change everything, won’t I?<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Yes. And no. You’ll change only the parts that block your ascension. You’ll preserve your core but polish your exterior until it blinds the court.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Even my voice? My face? My… sex?<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Especially those. The court respects tradition. Let them see a queen even if beneath the skin, the prince still watches.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_10]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And if I like being watched?<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Then you are already learning. A true queen knows that attention is currency. She spends herself wisely.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And what of love?<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Love? A lovely illusion. If you find it, treasure it but never depend on it. Rule first. Love later.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_11]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I want to rule. I do. But I fear what I must become to do it.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>Then become that fear. Wear it like perfume. Let others choke on your audacity.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You're a dangerous man, Malrec.<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>And you're a dangerous woman in the making, Caelan. Soon, no one will call you prince again not out of respect, but out of fear.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marlec_chat_1_12]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Will I still be me?<</speech>> <<speech "malrec">>You will be more you than you’ve ever been. Unmasked. Unbound. A queen is never a lie she is the final truth.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>...Then teach me. I want to know it all. The walk. The gaze. The power. The seduction. Teach me to become something they cannot ignore.<</speech>> Malrec raised his goblet. <<speech "malrec">>To the queen you were born to be hidden in a prince’s skin. Let’s begin.<</speech>> <<set $user_stats.confidence += 4>> <<set $user_stats.leadership += 4>> [[Leave Lord Malrec Thorne|thrones_mirror]] | [[Leave Royal Throne Mirror Chamber|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "serelyne">> Sit straight, shoulders low, voice steady. A queen does not fidget she curates silence like it’s a blade. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You make ruling sound like a performance rather than a birthright. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> It is both. But only one of those will keep your head above the tide when the court smells weakness. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "serelyne">> You hesitated before responding to the duke. Hesitation invites doubt, and doubt spreads like plague. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I was trying to be polite, not domineering. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Then you must learn the art of command through courtesy. It’s not softness it’s velvet over steel. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "serelyne">> Your posture betrays you femininity is not weakness, Caelan. It is the presentation of grace masking calculated control. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So every gesture must be rehearsed? <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Not rehearsed. Mastered. Spontaneity is for peasants. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "serelyne">> When a man speaks over you, do not raise your voice. Lower it and make him lean in. That is power. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You really think silence can defeat arrogance? <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Not just defeat it. Humiliate it. Quiet queens are remembered longer than loud fools. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "serelyne">> You touched your throat again. Nervous gesture. A princess touches her pearls. A queen touches nothing. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> It’s hard to ignore discomfort when I barely feel like myself. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Then become someone better. Transformation is not erasure it is refinement. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "serelyne">> Tell me, Caelan do you want to rule, or merely survive the throne handed to you? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m not sure I see the difference yet. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Then I suggest you open your eyes. Rulers shape the storm. Survivors drown beneath it. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "serelyne">> Stop speaking with “I think.” A queen knows. Or pretends to. That’s half the crown. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Pretending feels dishonest. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> All power is artifice. Only peasants demand authenticity. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "serelyne">> Today’s lesson is restraint: in gesture, in tone, in vengeance. A queen does not flinch she remembers. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And what if remembering becomes a weight? <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Then you wear it like a crown. Gracefully, and with your chin high. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "serelyne">> Your mind is still loud with rebellion. That’s not strength, Caelan it’s wasted noise. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Rebellion is all I’ve known. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Then let me teach you the power of quiet defiance calculated, unspoken, undeniable. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "serelyne">> You are not abandoning your self you are shaping it. Queens are not born, Caelan. They are forged. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then who am I, once you’ve finished forging me? <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Someone who survives every room she enters. And commands it by simply existing. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "serelyne">> You paused when they called you “my lady.” That hesitation is a crack. Close it, or they will pry it open. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> It still feels like armor that doesn’t fit. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Then wear it until it shapes to you and no one remembers it was ever different. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "serelyne">> Speak with your eyes before your lips. A glance can cut deeper than a sword. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So now even looking has rules? <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Everything has rules. But the queen rewrites them once she learns to master her own gaze. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "serelyne">> The crown does not care who you were. It only rewards who you become. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And if I become someone I don’t recognize? <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Then you’ve finally succeeded. Ruling demands sacrifice even of the self. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "serelyne">> Power is not in shouting. It’s in the pause that follows your silence when they wonder what you’re thinking. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> But what if they see through it? <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Then you smile. Let them see but never confirm what’s real. Doubt is its own kind of leash. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "serelyne">> You cannot lead if you need to be liked. Charm is useful, but respect must be engineered. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sometimes I still crave approval. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Crave results instead. Adoration fades. Control... endures. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "serelyne">> You carry yourself like a question. A queen is always the answer. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> But I still have questions of my own. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Then ask them in private. In public, you are certainty. No exceptions. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "serelyne">> This room will strip you down not your clothes, but your illusions. Are you ready for that? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I don’t know anymore. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Good. Doubt is a chisel. Let it carve the falsehoods away. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "serelyne">> I saw the way you flinched when addressed as “Highness.” That’s not humility it’s refusal. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> It’s habit. I’m still learning to accept all this. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Then unlearn quickly. The court won’t wait for your comfort. It only devours those who hesitate. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "serelyne">> You are not being feminized, Caelan. You are being weaponized elegantly. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That’s an unsettling way to put it. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Good. The most dangerous weapons are the ones they never see coming. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "serelyne">> This voice of yours it must become melody and command in equal measure. Practice until words become music with edge. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I still sound like myself. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> Then it’s time to let yourself evolve into the self you must be. One syllable at a time. <</speech>> <</if>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 6>> [[Attend the first session|serelyne_session_1]] | <</if>> [[Leave Lady Serelyne Virellis|east_wing]] | [[Leave Castle East Wing|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> The incense clung to the air like secrets rose, myrrh, and something deeper I couldn’t name. The velvet of the chamber in east wing swallowed sound. Shadows stretched long from the candelabras, gilding the room in amber and scarlet. Lady Serelyne stood before me in her usual serenity, hands clasped, posture unnervingly perfect, her silhouette sharp as a dagger sheathed in silk. <<speech "serelyne">>Remove your cloak. The weight of it carries pride, and that is the first burden to go.<</speech>> Her voice was quiet, but it rooted into my spine like an order from the gods. I hesitated. <<speech "serelyne">>You did not hesitate when marching into battle, did you?<</speech>> My fingers found the clasp. I let the cloak fall from my shoulders. It hit the floor with a weight I’d never noticed before. She didn’t look at the garment she looked at me. <<speech "serelyne">>Now the boots. With reverence. Not defiance.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_1]] <>

<> I knelt, unstrapping each boot slowly, awkwardly aware of how my legs looked under the velvet scrutiny of the room. As I placed them beside the cloak, she stepped forward, her heels clicking softly on the marble in a rhythm that made my heart skip. She circled me. <<speech "serelyne">>The belt.<</speech>> Her voice was a whisper just behind my ear. My hands shook slightly as I undid the buckle. The leather slid from my waist like a serpent. I offered it to her. She simply nodded to the run -marked chest behind her. <<speech "serelyne">>You must place it inside. Willingly.<</speech>> I walked barefoot to the chest. It radiated cool, pulsing magic restrained, feminine, hungry. I placed the belt inside, and it sealed itself with a soft sigh of wind. <<speech "serelyne">>Good. Now… the ring. Your signet. Your name.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_2]] <>

<> That one hurt more. I hesitated. She saw it of course she did. <<speech "serelyne">>You will not need it where we are going. You will build a new name with your actions, not your crest.<</speech>> I slipped it from my finger. My hand felt strangely bare. I placed the ring into the chest. It glowed faintly as the lid closed again. <<speech "serelyne">>Look at me.<</speech>> I turned. She was close now closer than before. I could see the faint shimmer of runes etched into her earrings, the gloss of rose oil on her lips. <<speech "serelyne">>Now, undress.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I… I thought I already had.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_3]] <>

<> <<speech "serelyne">>No. You’ve removed your symbols. But not your armor.<</speech>> I swallowed. My fingers moved to the buttons of my tunic. Slowly, one by one, I undid them. Her eyes never left my hands. <<speech "serelyne">>Slower. This is not haste. This is unmaking.<</speech>> Each button felt heavier. As the tunic slid off, I felt the cool air kiss my skin. I stood in just my undergarments. She studied me as though I were a specimen. <<speech "serelyne">>Back straight. Hands at your sides. Feet together. Yes… like that.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_4]] <>

<> I adjusted under her gaze. <<speech "serelyne">>You’ve trained your body to command. To take space. I see it in your stance, in the tension of your shoulders. But a queen does not impose. She invites.<</speech>> She circled again, trailing her fingers near me but never quite touching. My skin shivered anyway. <<speech "serelyne">>Posture.<</speech>> I straightened. <<speech "serelyne">>Better.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_5]] <>

<> Then, her hand touched my chin cool, precise and tilted my face upward. <<speech "serelyne">>What do you feel right now?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Exposed.<</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">>And?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…small.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_6]] <>

<> <<speech "serelyne">>Good. There is power in smallness. In stillness. You will learn that.<</speech>> She gestured to a low stool in front of the mirror. <<speech "serelyne">>Sit. Watch yourself.<</speech>> I obeyed, lowering myself slowly. The mirror reflected my half-naked form broad shoulders, tense jaw, confused eyes. Masculinity, still clinging. She stepped behind me, hands resting on my shoulders. Her nails gently dug in. <<speech "serelyne">>You see a prince. But I see scaffolding. Something ready to be rebuilt.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_7]] <>

<> She leaned down, breath hot against my ear. <<speech "serelyne">>What do you want to see?<</speech>> I didn’t answer. My body ached with uncertainty. She straightened and walked to the chest again. Her fingers hovered over its surface. <<speech "serelyne">>Do you want to know what I see when I look at you now?<</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">>A frightened boy, pretending to be a man. A puppet of lineage. But… I also see something soft beneath the stone. Something I could shape.<</speech>> I dared to meet her gaze in the mirror. My throat was dry. [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_8]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I want to be more.<</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">>Then stand.<</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">>Spread your arms. Show me everything. Show me that you trust me enough to be seen.<</speech>> I obeyed, even as shame and heat flushed through me. My arousal twitched, half-stirred by her presence, by the submission. She noticed of course she did. <<speech "serelyne">>Ah. Still ruled by that. How predictable.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_9]] <>

<> Her fingers brushed the hem of my undergarments. <<speech "serelyne">>Shall I remove these as well?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I…<</speech>> She waited, poised, her expression unreadable. <<speech "mc">>Yes.<</speech>> She slid them down with a slow elegance, baring me completely. I stood, utterly vulnerable. <<speech "serelyne">>Now breathe.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_10]] <>

<> I exhaled shakily. The air felt different on bare skin. My hands twitched to cover myself. <<speech "serelyne">>Don’t. Let yourself be seen.<</speech>> I forced myself to stillness. She stepped back to admire the result. <<speech "serelyne">>Now, tell me: What does this moment feel like?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Like… surrender.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_11]] <>

<> <<speech "serelyne">>And what is the difference between surrender and weakness?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>One is given. The other is taken.<</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">>Excellent.<</speech>> She circled behind me once more, her voice low and honeyed. <<speech "serelyne">>This body has been taught to lead, to fight, to claim. In time, it will learn how to yield, how to host, how to ache for approval.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_12]] <>

<> Her breath ghosted over my spine. <<speech "serelyne">>And you will beg for more of this.<</speech>> She stepped in front of me again. <<speech "serelyne">>You may dress now. Slowly. You’ve earned back your undergarments. But nothing more.<</speech>> I obeyed. She waited, then gestured for me to kneel again, hands in my lap. <<speech "serelyne">>Now… answer these questions, my little prince.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_13]] <>

<> Lady Serelyne’s fingers trailed one last time along my jaw before she turned, walking with slow, silken confidence back toward the altar where the rune-marked chest sat sealed. She paused there, her back to me, voice even. <<speech "serelyne">>You have taken the first step, little prince. But disrobing pride is only the beginning.<</speech>> She faced me again, her eyes sharp. <<speech "serelyne">>Your body has only known one path to pleasure one that asserts, conquers, possesses. But a queen must know the other path. The receptive path. The path of yielding.<</speech>> I swallowed. My breath was shallow. She stepped closer, eyes glittering. <<speech "serelyne">>From this night on, you will not seek the pleasure of domination. That privilege is behind you now. Instead, you will learn to receive. To crave surrender not just in posture or word, but in the heat of your own flesh.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_14]] <>

<> Her voice darkened warm, commanding. <<speech "serelyne">>You will not spill from being stroked or worshipped. You will not rut. You will not command another’s mouth.<</speech>> She stepped into my space. <<speech "serelyne">>Instead, you will kneel. You will ache. And you will learn what it means to be filled, not fulfilled.<</speech>> My stomach tightened. Her presence was absolute. <<speech "serelyne">>To this end, you will begin tonight. Your bodyguard, Torin, has been informed. He is loyal, disciplined, and already bound to your service. Now, he will serve a deeper role one you will not control.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_15]] <>

<> I stiffened shocked, but not entirely repelled. Confused. Afraid. Aroused. She reached out and traced a single nail along my collarbone. <<speech "serelyne">>He will not kneel to you. You will kneel to him. You will offer. You will be claimed, not as a prince, but as a vessel. You must understand how it feels to receive and crave… without command.<</speech>> I shivered. My voice barely surfaced. <<speech "mc">>You’re serious.<</speech>> Her smile was velvet and venom. <<speech "serelyne">>This is your calling. You must learn to feel through surrender. And you will learn to please… as a woman must please.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_16]] <>

<> She paused, letting the weight of it sink in. <<speech "serelyne">>You will not penetrate. You will not climax from a man’s service. Instead, you will offer yourself. Mouth and body. You will open, not take. Give, not demand.<</speech>> My breath hitched. A flush of something dark and heady rushed through me. <<speech "serelyne">>You will begin with your mouth. You will kneel before him. You will serve him. Not as a prince but as a student. Do you understand?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Yes.<</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">>And later… you will offer your rear. It is not yet your womanhood, but it will be your training ground. Your softness will be born there, shaped there.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|serelyne_session_1_17]] <>

<> She stepped away, her hand briefly brushing my chest. <<speech "serelyne">>Torin waits in the his chamber. He has been given instructions. He will not hurt you unless you crave that pain. He will not force you unless you beg to be overpowered. But he will take what you offer… and in doing so, you will feel what it means to be taken.<</speech>> I swallowed hard, body trembling. She moved to the door and opened it, light spilling into the shadowed chamber. She did not look at me when she spoke again. <<speech "serelyne">>Go to him. Let this be your second act of relinquishment.<</speech>> <<set $currentObjectives = "Go to meet Torin in the his chember, There are sides objectives with transformations with Maera, Nyssa and Marda also. Also Mistress Veletia will able to give you female underwears if needed">> <<set $currentArc["main_arc"] = 7>> I stood. My legs were weak, my breath unsteady but I obeyed. And as I crossed the threshold into the waiting dark, I knew something had shifted. I was no longer the one who sought control. I was the one learning how to surrender. <<set $user_stats.gender_Identity -= 4>> <<set $user_stats.dominance_level -= 4>> [[Leave Lady Serelyne Virellis|east_wing]] | [[Leave Castle East Wing|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "veletia">> Oh, you poor thing those sleeves are a tragedy, and that posture? Criminal. Come in, darling, I’m about to rescue your future. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Can I at least breathe while I’m being saved? <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Only if you're planning to exhale confidence. Now off with the dull, on with the divine! <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "veletia">> Did you bring that tunic from the battlefield or the broom closet? Because either way, it’s not meeting royalty today. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> It’s comfortable. Is that such a crime? <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Comfort is for bedchambers, darling. Out here, we command with fabric. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "veletia">> Today, we drape you in midnight blue. Sensual, mysterious, devastating. Like a rumor in silk. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I was aiming for ‘competent ruler,’ but sure let’s start with ‘rumor in silk.’ <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Oh, but a ruler who turns heads rules twice. Trust me. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "veletia">> Lift your chin, relax your fingers, walk like the world owes you a bow. That’s how queens move. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Feels more like acting than walking. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Every great performance begins on a stage. Eventually, it becomes who you are. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "veletia">> This fabric was stitched with moonlight, darling. One twirl and you’ll outshine prophecy itself. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Do I get a sword with that or just stares? <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Why not both? Slay with style, I always say. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "veletia">> Try this corset. It teaches posture, mystery, and patience all in one wicked squeeze. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I think it just taught me regret. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Pain is temporary. Beauty? Oh, that’s remembered in paintings. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "veletia">> There’s power in a perfect fit. Threads that embrace instead of armor that hides. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And what if I’m still figuring out who I am beneath all these threads? <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Then let the fabric show you. Sometimes silk knows before the soul does. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "veletia">> That sway of your hips was accidental, wasn’t it? Good. It means your body is listening to me. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Or protesting in confusion. Hard to tell with hips. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Confusion is just transformation in motion. You’re on the right path, my dear. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "veletia">> I dreamed of you last night in emerald, draped in defiance, with a crown of fire. It was divine. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sounds dramatic. Do I survive the dream? <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Oh yes. But only after making half the court swoon and the other half burn with envy. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "veletia">> One last touch… there. Now you’re no longer just a royal you’re a vision. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m not sure I recognize myself. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Good. That means we’ve found something new. Something extraordinary. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "veletia">> Darling, if eyes don’t follow you across the ballroom like sunflowers chasing light, then I’ve failed you utterly. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I was hoping for grace, not gawking. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Grace is the art of commanding a gaze without ever begging for it. You’re learning. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "veletia">> Mmm, this silk clings like a lover's promise. Tell me, Caelan, are you brave enough to wear temptation itself? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Only if it doesn't whisper too loudly in council meetings. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Oh, it will whisper. But that’s half the fun power dressed as poetry. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "veletia">> I see the curve of your shoulders softening beautiful, like dusk melting into night. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You make it sound like I’m vanishing. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> No, darling. You're becoming inevitable. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "veletia">> Step, turn, pause your hips are beginning to sing. Now let’s teach them the whole aria. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I swear these heels are a form of warfare. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Exactly. And you, my dear, are learning to conquer in silence and satin. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "veletia">> Oh, Caelan… in this gown, you don’t enter a room you rewrite it. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And yet I still feel like I’m playing dress-up. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Then play it beautifully, until the mirror stops laughing and starts applauding. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "veletia">> Tell me, sweetling does it thrill you a little, knowing how dangerous you’ll look in velvet and pearl? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Dangerous or ridiculous? I'm never quite sure with you. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Then you're standing at the perfect edge. Now lean into it. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "veletia">> A soft touch here, a cinch there oh, if only diplomacy were as easy as corsetry. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> At least corsets don’t lie to your face. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> They do, darling. They just lie charmingly. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "veletia">> Let them whisper, let them stare because the future queen walks on whispers and drowns them in presence. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You make scandal sound like a royal accessory. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> It is, dear. The crown is heavy but the drama? That’s where the sparkle lives. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "veletia">> A little lace at the wrist, a slit in the right place… balance, my dear, is everything. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> This balance feels like standing on a dagger’s point. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Exactly! Now smile like you enjoy the edge. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "veletia">> When I’m done with you, even the gods will look twice and wonder whose side you’re on. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Hopefully mine. I could use the divine backup. <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Oh no, darling. You will be the divine backup. <</speech>> <</if>> <<if $curr_crotch < 3 && !$female_underwear_1>> [[Ask for Female Underwear|female_underwear_1]] | <<else>> You still dont need Female underwear. <</if>> [[Leave Mistress Veletia Roswyn|dressing_bloom]] | [[Leave Royal Dressing Bloom|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<set $female_underwear_1 = true>> <<speech "veletia">>Ah, my favorite new bloom. So, today’s the day you come to me not as a prince, but as something a little more… delicate?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I… yes. Archmage Moonveil said I’m ready now. I just finished. Now I am having female fold between my legs<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Mmm. So the royal garden now has its prettiest flower finally budding between the thighs. I must admit I’ve been waiting for this.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Waiting for…?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_1]] <>

<> Veletia circled me slowly, trailing a finger down my arm. <<speech "veletia">>To see how silk clings to soft, bare femininity. Now, disrobe for me, darling. Everything.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>E-everything?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>You don’t expect me to measure hips and cheeks and sacred folds through royal armor, do you?<</speech>> I hesitated, then began to undress. My cheeks flushed as cool air kissed new, tender skin. <<speech "mc">>This is… strange. Exposing myself like this.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_2]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Not strange. Natural. Beautiful. You're not shedding armor, my dear you're shedding boyhood.<</speech>> I stood naked. Veletia’s gaze softened, clinical yet reverent. <<speech "veletia">>Turn for me. Slowly.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Like… this?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_3]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Mmm, yes. Look at that curve starting to bloom. The potions worked their quiet miracle.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It… tingles when I move. Everything is so sensitive now.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>That’s because it’s alive. Hungry for sensation. For silk. For heat.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Mistress, please...<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_4]] <>

<> Veletia knelt behind me, hands finding new hips, warm and sure. <<speech "veletia">>Hips are still shy. But they’ll flare in time. Let me measure.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Your hands are so warm…<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>You’ll find women warm in all the right places. There. 34 inches… for now.<</speech>> She moved to my front, lifting a soft pink measuring tape around my waist. <<speech "veletia">>Relax your stomach, darling. We want the underwear to kiss, not strangle.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It's… hard to relax when you're staring at me like that.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>I stare because I admire. This is holy work, Caelan. The birth of a queen.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do you say that to all your clients?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Only the ones I want to keep measuring again and again.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_6]] <>

<> She turned to her rack of silks, choosing a blush pink pair trimmed in lace. <<speech "veletia">>This one. The First Silken Secret. Perfect for your debut.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It looks so… small.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>That’s the idea. It hugs, not hides.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will it… fit?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_7]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Let’s find out, shall we?<</speech>> She held it open. I stepped forward, placing each foot into the silken trap. <<speech "mc">>Gods… it's soft.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Glide it up slowly. Let it caress you. Savor the contact.<</speech>> I pulled the panties up, the snug pressure a thrilling revelation. <<set $key_img_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody["torso"].orig_body + "/" + $userBody["torso"].orig_body + "_" + "bottom_underwear_2.png">> /* <<=$key_img_path>> */ <<set $userBody["bottom_underwear"] to { img: $key_img_path, curr_bottom_underwear: "bottom_underwear_2", curr_body: $userBody["torso"].orig_body }>> <<speech "mc">>Ah…! It’s so… snug.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_8]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Mmm, feel that? That’s femininity wrapping itself around your most secret self.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s… warm. I feel… covered and naked at the same time.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>That’s the magic of silk, darling. It doesn’t hide you. It celebrates you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I think… I like it.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_9]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Of course you do. Now walk a bit. Let me see how it moves with you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Walk? Like… around the room?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Exactly. Hips loose. Let the lace know who’s queen.<</speech>> I walked. The panties brushed between my thighs, each step electric. <<speech "mc">>Oh gods… every step…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_10]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Tell me what it feels like.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Like… like I’m being stroked. Lightly. Teased.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Now imagine stockings. Corsets. Dresses cut to reveal, not conceal.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not sure I’d survive it.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_11]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Oh, you will. And you’ll crave it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Is it normal to feel… aroused?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Perfectly. Your body is new, but it already knows what it wants.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This… this lace on my thighs. It's tickling.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_12]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>It's flirting with you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My… my new lips feel wet. Is that normal?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>That’s your body whispering. Telling you it's ready for pleasures still to come.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Mistress, I’m embarrassed…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_13]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>No, dear. You're radiant. Stand tall. Own that silk like a crown.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I never imagined… it would feel this good.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Transformation is more than potions. It’s sensation. Emotion. Temptation.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And these panties… they’re mine?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_14]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Of course. The first of many. I’ll craft sets for every occasion. Court. Dance. Private audience.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Private?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>For when you wish to tempt a knight… or command a chamber.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You think I could… tempt someone?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_15]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Darling, you already are. You just haven’t looked in a mirror yet.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Mirror?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Over there. Go look.<</speech>> I stepped in front of the mirror. The silk hugged me like a lover. My reflection stared back soft, sensual, startlingly new. <<speech "mc">>That’s… me?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_16]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Yes. And it’s only the beginning.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I look… pretty.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>You look like power cloaked in lace.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My nipples are hard…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_17]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>That’s your body begging for satin.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>There’s a hunger building. Not just down there… everywhere.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>That’s your femininity waking up, finally unbound.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Can I try another pair?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_18]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Of course. Here midnight silk. Barely there cut. Naughty royalty.<</speech>> I slipped them on. Tighter. Riskier. The ache bloomed deeper. <<set $key_img_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody["torso"].orig_body + "/" + $userBody["torso"].orig_body + "_" + "bottom_underwear_3.png">> /* <<=$key_img_path>> */ <<set $userBody["bottom_underwear"] to { img: $key_img_path, curr_bottom_underwear: "bottom_underwear_3", curr_body: $userBody["torso"].orig_body }>> <<speech "mc">>Oh gods…<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Say it, Caelan. Say how it feels.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Like I want to be touched. Explored.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_19]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>And you will be. But first more silk.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t think underwear would make me feel… alive.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>You’re not wearing underwear. You’re wearing invitation.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to wear this forever.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_20]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>You will. And once the court sees you, they'll kneel to your curves.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Mistress… can you teach me to walk like I deserve this?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Oh, darling. I’ll teach you to glide, to sway, to command with a glance and ruin with a smile.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What about other things?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_21]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>After panties come powder. Then lipstick. Then seduction.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I still be me?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>You’ll be the truest version of you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want that. I want more.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_22]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Then undress, my flower. Let me dress you again this time in something daring.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Even more daring?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Royal daring. Court-whisper daring. Let me lace you into a future no one dares to imagine.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I enjoy it too much?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|female_underwear_1_23]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">>Then you’re exactly who the kingdom needs.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And what if I want someone to see?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Then we make sure they’re worth the view.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel… powerful. Sexy.<</speech>> [[Purple Silk Panty|purple_panty]] | [[White Slik Panty|white_panty]] <>

<> <<set $key_img_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody["torso"].orig_body + "/" + $userBody["torso"].orig_body + "_" + "bottom_underwear_2.png">> /* <<=$key_img_path>> */ <<set $userBody["bottom_underwear"] to { img: $key_img_path, curr_bottom_underwear: "bottom_underwear_2", curr_body: $userBody["torso"].orig_body }>> <<speech "veletia">>You should. You’re silk and fire.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will you always be here?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Always. Every lace, every whisper, every new curve… I’ll be here to celebrate.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let’s begin.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Welcome, princess. Time to dress the queen within.<</speech>> <<set $user_stats.gender_Identity -= 4>> [[Leave Mistress Veletia Roswyn|dressing_bloom]] | [[Leave Royal Dressing Bloom|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<set $key_img_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody["torso"].orig_body + "/" + $userBody["torso"].orig_body + "_" + "bottom_underwear_3.png">> /* <<=$key_img_path>> */ <<set $userBody["bottom_underwear"] to { img: $key_img_path, curr_bottom_underwear: "bottom_underwear_3", curr_body: $userBody["torso"].orig_body }>> <<speech "veletia">>You should. You’re silk and fire.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will you always be here?<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Always. Every lace, every whisper, every new curve… I’ll be here to celebrate.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let’s begin.<</speech>> <<speech "veletia">>Welcome, princess. Time to dress the queen within.<</speech>> <<set $user_stats.gender_Identity -= 4>> [[Leave Mistress Veletia Roswyn|dressing_bloom]] | [[Leave Royal Dressing Bloom|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "malgros">> You're back, princeling? Thought you'd melt after one dose of real magic. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I didn’t come here to impress you. I came for what I need. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Need gets most killed. But I admire the stupidity. Ask your riddle, then. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "malgros">> Velmoria’s heirs used to come with swords, not soft eyes and smooth hands. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe this heir brings a sharper mind instead. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Hah! Talk’s cheap. Minds still burn. Let's test yours—ask your riddle. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "malgros">> Seen deer with more backbone. You're sure you're here for firethorn resin? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Yes. I’ll take whatever it costs to become what I must. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> We'll see if you're still sure once the riddle burns you first. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "malgros">> Hmph. You again. Looking more like a princess and less like a fighter every time. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I must be on the right path. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Right path’s still full of traps. Let’s see if you spot one. Riddle time. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "malgros">> Back already? Magic hasn’t eaten your soul yet? Disappointing. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m not that easy to swallow. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Then chew on this: one wrong answer, and you're walking home with scars. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "malgros">> Your shadow’s getting lighter, princeling. Losing weight or losing resolve? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Gaining purpose, actually. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Purpose won’t help you here. But maybe wits will. Let’s find out. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "malgros">> The tower winds brought gossip. They say the prince smiles now. Dangerous thing. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Only fools fear change. I'm not one of them. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> We’ll see if you're a fool or liar. One question. One chance. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "malgros">> Hope you brought a backbone with those lips, princeling. Today's item bites. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I’ll bite back. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Feisty. Let's test if your brain’s as sharp as your tongue. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "malgros">> You still think transformation is a path of petals? It's thorns, blood, and bone. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I know. And I’m not backing down. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Then earn your bloom. Riddle me, princeling. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "malgros">> I should start charging for these little performances. You make a good act. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> This isn't an act. This is who I must become. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Then prove it. Mind to mind. Question for vial. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "malgros">> You’re becoming a regular pest, princeling. Magic vault’s not a bakery. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then treat me like fire, not dough. I’m not here for pastries. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Ha! Sharp tongue. Let’s see if your mind’s just as crisp. Ask your riddle. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "malgros">> Some nobles buy power with gold. You bring only questions and nerves. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Power earned by wit lasts longer than what’s bought with coin. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Big words. Let’s test that noble brain before I hand over venomroot. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "malgros">> You smell of perfume and court silk. This is a place of burns and ash. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Even silk can smother flame, if used right. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Clever. Let’s see if your answers are as tightly woven. Ask away. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "malgros">> Back again. Trying to be queen or just stubborn? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Both. And I won’t stop until the crown fits. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Then earn your lace and thorns alike. Time for your trial. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "malgros">> Every herb you take changes you. Do you even recognize yourself anymore? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I recognize who I’m becoming—and she’s stronger than I ever was. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Bold. Let’s see if your brain still works beneath all that change. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "malgros">> Come to sip beauty from glass again, have you? Mirrors lie, potions don’t. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I’ll shape truth from fire and liquid. No lies in that. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> We’ll see how truthful you are when the riddle twists your tongue. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "malgros">> I used to see kings here. Now, soft footed heirs with dreams in bottles. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe it’s time kings learned to dream... or step aside. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Dreams mean little without answers. Start with this one. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "malgros">> You look different each time. Bit less prince, bit more... something else. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That something else is exactly who I intend to become. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Good. Becoming something costs. Riddle me before I give you a drop. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "malgros">> You brought back the last batch alive? Hmph. Maybe you’re harder to kill than I thought. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You’ll find I’m full of surprises. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Then surprise me with a correct answer. Here’s your riddle. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "malgros">> Ten visits already, and you still haven’t cried. Not bad, princeling. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’ve cried. Just not in front of you. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Smart. Tears don’t buy ingredients. But maybe your mind can. <</speech>> <</if>> [[Ask Your Riddle|riddle]] | [[Leave Essence Valut|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<>>> <<if $ingredientChoices >= $maxChoices>> <<speech "malgros">>You have already selected your three ingredients. Go away thats all you getting today<</speech>> <<link "Leave Essence Vault">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> <<else>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Choose your ingredient (<<= $ingredientChoices>>/<<= $maxChoices>> chosen)</h3> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userItems, null, 2)>></pre> */ <div class="item-grid"> <<for _key, _data range setup.storeItems>> <<set _current = $userItems[_key]["amount"] || 0>> <div class="item-card"> <<capture _key _data>> [img[_data.img]] <<set $reverse_passage_ingredient = "ingredient_selection">> <div class="ingredient_details"><<link _data.name>><<set $selectedIngredient = _key>><<goto "IngredientDetail">><</link>></div> <<link "Pick">> <<set $userItems[_key]["amount"] += _data.value>> <<set $ingredientChoices += 1>> You added 10<<= _data.unit>> of <<= _data.name>>. <<goto "ingredient_selection">> <</link>> <</capture>> </div> <</for>> </div> <<link "Leave Essence Vault">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> <</if>> <>

<> <<set _item = setup.storeItems[$selectedIngredient]>> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><<=_item.name>></h3> <div style="text-align: center;" class="ingredients-main-img">[img[_item.img]]</div> <div style="font-family: 'Papyrus', serif; font-size: 22px; color: #8b5e3c;"> <<=_item.effect>> <<=_item.description>> Serving amount: <<=_item.min_amount>><<=_item.unit>> [[Close the Ingredinet Details|$reverse_passage_ingredient]] </div> <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "maera">> You sneak into a lady’s chambers without knocking now? Careful, Your Grace I might get ideas. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What if I wanted you to get ideas? <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Then you’d best learn to handle them, princeling. I’m sharper than I look. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "maera">> Took you long enough. I was beginning to think the palace swallowed you whole. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe I just missed your face more than I care to admit. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Flattery? From you? What do you want tea or trouble? <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "maera">> You’ve got that storm-in-your-eyes look again. Come here before you sink the whole kingdom with it. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I thought you liked storms. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Only the ones I can tame. And I’m still working on you. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "maera">> You're bleeding again. Did the sword lesson go poorly, or are you just showing off for me? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> If I were showing off, I’d be shirtless and dramatically brooding. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Careful I do know how to swoon. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "maera">> You're late. If I’d known royalty moved this slowly, I’d have started without you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I had to look good for you. A terrible burden. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Oh please, you looked good the moment you started walking like you meant it. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "maera">> You’ve changed, you know. Not just the clothes, or the walk. Something deeper. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that good or bad? <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> It’s terrifying. And I’ve never been prouder. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "maera">> Why are you staring at me like that? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Just wondering how you manage to look that stunning and still boss me around. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Because I’m magic. Didn’t you notice? <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "maera">> Another lesson in etiquette today? Try not to stab anyone with your fork this time. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Only if they don’t insult you first. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Careful. Loyalty like that might make a girl swoon. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "maera">> If you’re here to brood, there’s a corner for that. If you’re here for company, I saved you the good seat. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I came for you. The seat is just a bonus. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Gods help me, you’re learning charm. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "maera">> One day you’ll rule this kingdom. Doesn’t mean you get to rule me. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Wouldn’t dream of it. I’d rather earn your loyalty than demand it. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Good answer. Keep that up, and I might just kiss you. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "maera">> You know, if you keep looking at me like that, I might forget you're royalty. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe I want you to forget. Just for tonight. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Dangerous talk… and I’m not in the habit of resisting danger. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "maera">> That collar’s too tight. Whoever dressed you clearly doesn't know how to leave room to breathe or bite. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then maybe you should undress me next time. For safety. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Careful. I am trained in quick removals. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "maera">> There are rumors going around that the prince has a lover. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Really? And who’s the lucky soul? <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> That’s the fun part they say it’s a servant girl with a wicked tongue and a better smile. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "maera">> I had a dream about you last night. You were wearing less… and saying more. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I can’t decide which part I envy more. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> I’ll let you choose next time we’re both dreaming. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "maera">> You're far too composed. A little undone would suit you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that your way of offering to help with that? <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Only if you're brave enough to let me. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "maera">> Tell me something true, Caelan. Something raw. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I think about kissing you more than I should. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Good. Because I’ve stopped pretending I don’t want the same. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "maera">> Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I just… stepped closer. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I’d stop wondering and kiss you. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Gods, say that again. Slower. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "maera">> I cleaned your linens this morning. You talk in your sleep, you know. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Should I be worried? <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Only if you didn’t mean it when you said my name like that. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "maera">> Most nobles want me quiet, invisible. But you… you always see me. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> How could I not? You burn brighter than any court jewel. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Say things like that again and I’ll forget every line of duty I ever learned. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "maera">> We’re alone. No titles. No duties. Just… you and me. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then let me be nothing but yours for a while. <</speech>> <<speech "maera">> Don’t tempt me, Caelan… unless you mean to follow through. <</speech>> <</if>> <<if $curr_crotch > 2 && !$maera_blow_job_1>> [[Ask for Oral Sex|maera_blow_job_1]] | <</if>> <<if $curr_crotch > 2 && !$maera_sex_1>> [[Ask to have Sex|maera_sex_1]] | <</if>> <<if $curr_chest > 3 && !$maera_sex_2>> [[Have Conversation with Maera|maera_sex_2]] | <<elseif $curr_chest > 4 && !$maera_sex_3>> [[Have Conversation with Maera|maera_sex_3]] | <<elseif $curr_chest > 5 && !$maera_sex_4>> [[Have Conversation with Maera|maera_sex_4]] | <<elseif $curr_chest > 6 && !$maera_sex_5>> [[Have Conversation with Maera|maera_sex_5]] | <<elseif $curr_chest > 7 && !$maera_sex_6>> [[Have Conversation with Maera|maera_sex_6]] | <</if>> [[Leave Maera|maera_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Maera's Chamber|bed_chamber_girl]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<<set $maera_blow_job_1 to true>> <> <<speech "mc">>Maera, I need your help tonight.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>As always, Your Highness, But remember, this is our secret<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>You're restless, my prince, What troubles you?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel... torn, Maera. I am a prince, soon to be princess, yet I crave the touch of a woman. I dream of silk gowns and soft words, yet I am expected to don armor and command armies.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_blow_job_1_1]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>You are more than your title, Caelan. You are strength and kindness, courage and compassion. You will be a queen who rules with both heart and steel.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>"queen." You... you understand, Maera?<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>I've been your shadow since we were children, Caelan. I know you better than you know yourself. And I know you're not ready to let the world see the real you yet.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You've always been my rock, Maera. My confidante, my protector.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_blow_job_1_2]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>And I always will be, Caelan. But I can be more. I can be your lover, your secret, your escape.<</speech>> My heart pounded in my chest. I had dreamed of this moment, of Maera's touch, her kiss. I leaned in, my lips meeting hers in a soft, tentative kiss. Maera responded, her hands reaching up to cup my face, her fingers tangling in my hair. <<speech "mc">>Maera, I want you. I want to feel your touch, your kiss. I want to lose myself in you.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Then take me, Caelan. Take what you want.<</speech>> My hands trembled as I reached for the laces of Maera's dress, my fingers fumbling in my haste. Maera chuckled, her hands covering me, guiding me. <<speech "maera">>Patience, my prince. We have all night.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_blow_job_1_3]] <>

<> The dress fell away, revealing Maera's petite form, her skin glowing in the firelight. My breath caught as I took in her beauty, my eyes tracing the curve of her breasts, the dip of her waist, the flare of her hips. I reached out, her fingers brushing against her nipple, feeling it harden at my touch. Maera gasped, her head falling back, exposing the long line of her neck. I leaned in, my lips finding the pulse point at the base of her throat, my tongue flicking out to taste her skin. I could feel her heartbeat, fast and steady, mirroring my own. <<speech "maera">>Caelan, Please...<</speech>> My hands roamed her body, exploring every curve, every dip. I found the heat between her legs, my fingers slipping inside her, feeling her wetness, her desire. Maera's hips moved against my hand, her breath coming in short gasps. <<speech "maera">>Caelan, I want to taste you. I want to feel you in my mouth.<</speech>> My cock twitched at her words, a bead of pre cum forming at the tip. I stepped back, my hands going to the laces of my breeches, my eyes never leaving Maera's. She watched me, her tongue darting out to wet her lips, her eyes dark with desire. <<speech "maera">>Let me<</speech>> She pushed my hands away, her fingers deftly unlacing my breeches, pushing them down to reveal my hard cock. She looked up at me, her eyes meeting mine, before leaning in, her tongue flicking out to taste the bead of pre cum at the tip. [[Move Forth|maera_blow_job_1_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Fuck, Maera<</speech>> My hands finding her hair, tangling in the dark curls. Maera hummed, her mouth taking him in, her tongue swirling around my cock, her lips tight. My hips moved, my cock sliding in and out of Maera's mouth, my groans filling the room. <<speech "mc">>Maera, I'm going to come. I'm going to come in your mouth.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Come for me, Caelan. I want to taste you.<</speech>> With a final thrust, I came, my cock pulsing in Maera's mouth, my cum filling her. Maera swallowed, her eyes never leaving me, a satisfied smile on her lips. [[Leave her|maera_chamber_map_select]] | [[Lick Her Pussy|maera_blow_job_1_5]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>My turn...<</speech>> She pushed me back onto the bed, her hands going to her own breasts, pinching her nipples, her back arching. I watched, my cock already hardening again, my eyes dark with desire. <<speech "mc">>Maera, I need to taste you. I need to feel you come on my tongue.<</speech>> Maera straddled me, her pussy hovering over my mouth. I reached up, my hands grabbing her hips, pulling her down, my tongue finding her clit, flicking against it. Maera moaned, her hips moving, riding my tongue. <<speech "maera">>Caelan, I'm going to come. I'm going to come on your tongue.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_blow_job_1_6]] <>

<> I growled, my tongue moving faster, my fingers finding her entrance, slipping inside her, feeling her tighten around me. Maera's moans filled the room, her body tensing, her orgasm washing over her. I felt her, felt her come on my tongue, her taste filling my mouth. Maera collapsed onto the bed beside me, her breath coming in short gasps. I turned to her, my hand reaching out, my fingers tracing the curve of her breast. <<speech "mc">>Maera, I love you.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>And I love you, Caelan. My prince, my lover, my soon to be queen.<</speech>> [[Leave her|maera_chamber_map_select]] <>

<> <<set $maera_sex_1 = true>> Maera looked up at me, surprise and confusion in her eyes as she stepped aside to let me into her room. It was so much smaller and cozier than my own grand chamber, which felt almost cold and empty in comparison. A single candle on the nightstand was the only source of light, casting shadows across the walls as it flickered with our movements. <<speech "maera">>What's going on, Caelan?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I couldn't sleep, I just had to see you.<</speech>> she whispered, closing the door softly behind me. <<speech "maera">>What's really bothering you?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It's everything, This... change, this uncertainty. And you, Maera. You're the one thing in my life that's constant, and I'm afraid it'll all just slip away.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_1_1]] <>

<> Maera reached up, her hand gently touching my face, pushing a stray lock of hair out of my eyes. <<speech "maera">>I won't slip away, But you do need to be careful. If anyone finds out about us...<</speech>> Her words trailed off, but I knew what she meant. The risk was real, but in that moment, it didn't matter. I craved the connection we shared, the warmth and passion that could only be found in each other's arms. <<speech "mc">>I know, But I can't help it, Maera. I need you. I need this.<</speech>> Maera's eyes searched my own for a brief moment before she spoke again. <<speech "maera">>Then take what you need, <</speech>> My heart pounded as I leaned in, my hand covering hers. Our lips met in a gentle, tentative kiss that grew more urgent with each passing second. She melted against me, her arms winding around my neck as our kiss deepened. [[Move Forth|maera_sex_1_2]] <>

<> Maera's breath hitched as our tongues danced together, and I knew she felt the same desperation I did. <<speech "maera">>Caelan, we shouldn't... not here.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I know, but I can't stop. I need you.<</speech>> Her eyes searched mine, and she seemed to understand. <<speech "maera">>Then take me, my prince. Make me yours.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_1_3]] <>

<> I didn't need any more encouragement. I picked her up and carried her to the bed, laying her down carefully. We kissed again, our bodies tangling together, our hands exploring every inch of each other. Maera's voice was a breathy moan against my skin as I moved lower, my mouth finding her breasts. Her fingers tightened in my hair, and I knew she was close. I kissed my way down to her center, my tongue finding her wetness, making her buck and whimper beneath me. <<speech "maera">>Caelan, yes, just like that. I'm going to cum.<</speech>> Her words spurred me on, my mouth and hands working in unison to bring her to the brink of ecstasy. When she finally did, her body shuddered and her nails dug into my skin. Her words spurred me on, my mouth and hands working in unison to bring her to the brink of ecstasy. When she finally did, her body shuddered and her nails dug into my skin. My tongue moved faster, my fingers slipped in alongside, feeling her walls tighten around me. She came with a scream, her body seizing, her legs trembling, and her grip on my hair almost painful. I moved up her body, my lips finding hers, my tongue pushing into her mouth, letting her taste herself on me. She moaned, her hands moving to my cock, stroking me, making me harder. Moving up her body, I claimed her mouth, my tongue delving in, sharing her sweet taste. Her hands found their way to my cock, stroking me, making me even harder. <<speech "maera">>I want you inside me, Caelan, I want to feel you fuck me.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_1_4]] <>

<> I growled, my hands moving to her hips, lifting her slightly. I positioned myself at her entrance, my eyes meeting hers. <<speech "mc">>Are you sure, Maera?<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Yes, Yes, Caelan. Fuck me. Make me yours.<</speech>> I pushed inside her, feeling her tightness envelop me, making me groan. She gasped, her body arching into me, her legs wrapping around my waist, pulling me deeper. <<speech "maera">>Oh, Caelan, Yes, just like that. Fuck me, Caelan. Fuck me hard.<</speech>> I pushed in, feeling her tightness clench around me, making me groan in pure bliss. She gasped, her body arching into me, her legs wrapping around my waist, urging me deeper. <<speech "mc">>Maera, I'm going to cum, Maera,<</speech>> [[Cum Outside Her and Leave Maera|maera_chamber_map_select]] [[Cum Inside Maera|maera_sex_1_5]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Yes, Come inside me, Caelan. Fill me up.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Maera, are you sure?<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Yes, Caelan, please<</speech>> I couldn't hold back anymore, my body bucked, and I released everything I had inside her, filling her completely. She responded with her own moan, our bodies moving together in perfect rhythm. We lay there, our bodies entwined, our breaths slowly returning to normal. I leaned down, my lips finding hers in a soft, tender kiss. <<speech "mc">>I love you, Maera<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>I love you too, Caelan. Always.<</speech>> [[Leave Mera|maera_chamber_map_select]] <>

<> <<set $maera_sex_2 = true>> <<speech "maera">>You took long enough, princess.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Don’t call me that. Not yet.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Then prove it.<</speech>> I leaned down to kiss her hungrily at first, then slower, more uncertain. <<speech "mc">>I missed this… missed you.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_2_1]] <>

<> Her hands slid under my tunic, grazing my chest. <<speech "maera">>You feel... different. Softer.<</speech>> I winced as her thumb circled a nipple, too sensitive. <<speech "mc">>Ah… careful. They ache now.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Since when do your nipples react like mine?<</speech>> I sat on the edge of the bed, eyes on the floor. <<speech "mc">>The first draught. The mage said it would start with sensitivity.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_2_2]] <>

<> She pulled me back onto the bed, straddling my lap. <<speech "maera">>You’re still warm. Still you. Can I…?<</speech>> I nodded. She lifted my tunic, exposing my bare chest. <<speech "maera">>Gods. They’re really… growing, aren’t they?<</speech>> I caught her hands. <<speech "mc">>It’s not much. Just... different.<</speech>> She leaned in, kissing down my neck. <<speech "maera">>Different can be good.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_2_3]] <>

<> Her tongue teased my nipple, making me flinch. <<speech "mc">>M-Maera…<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>You're blushing. Never seen you like this before.<</speech>> I pushed her onto her back, taking control for now. <<speech "mc">>Let me remind you I’m still your prince.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Then do it. Take what’s yours.<</speech>> Our mouths crashed together, hands tangled in hair, her legs wrapping around my waist. [[Move Forth|maera_sex_2_4]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Still hard. That’s a relief.<</speech>> I hesitated, pressing against her entrance, feeling how she welcomed me like always. <<speech "mc">>You’re always ready for me.<</speech>> She gasped as I began to move. <<speech "maera">>Don’t stop. Gods, don’t stop.<</speech>> But something was different. My body felt more reactive, almost too sensitive. <<speech "mc">>Why do my nipples feel like they’re on fire?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_2_5]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>What’s wrong?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Nothing. Just… trying to keep control.<</speech>> She kissed my jaw, murmuring into my skin. <<speech "maera">>You used to last longer.<</speech>> My hips faltered, thrusts growing shallow. <<speech "mc">>It’s hard to focus. Everything’s so sensitive.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_2_6]] <>

<> She moaned, but her gaze stayed distant. <<speech "maera">>Feels good. Just… not the same.<</speech>> I paused, buried inside her, chest heaving. <<speech "mc">>Am I… disappointing you?<</speech>> She met my gaze. <<speech "maera">>No. Just surprising me.<</speech>> She rolled me over, taking control, riding me with a slow, practiced rhythm. <<speech "maera">>Let me… just feel you. While I still can.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_2_7]] <>

<> I gripped her thighs, watching her move strong, beautiful. <<speech "mc">>You’re incredible.<</speech>> She leaned down, kissed me deeply. <<speech "maera">>You’re still mine.<</speech>> Our bodies arched together. I climaxed too quickly, surprising even myself. <<speech "mc">>I Maera !<</speech>> She continued moving a little longer, chasing her own end, but didn’t reach it. <<speech "maera">>…You finished already?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_2_8]] <>

<> Guilt hit me hard. I sat up, reaching for her. <<speech "mc">>I’m sorry. I can make it up to you <</speech>> She stopped my hand, smiling softly. <<speech "maera">>No. It’s okay.<</speech>> But the smile didn’t reach her eyes. <<speech "maera">>It’s just… I didn’t expect you to change this fast.<</speech>> I lay beside her, staring at the ceiling. <<speech "mc">>Neither did I.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_2_9]] <>

<> She traced circles on my chest. <<speech "maera">>Still feel like you… just with softer edges.<</speech>> I took her hand, pressing it to my heart. <<speech "mc">>Do you still want me?<</speech>> She didn’t answer right away. <<speech "maera">>I want all of you. Even the parts I’m scared to lose.<</speech>> I kissed her forehead. <<speech "mc">>I’m not going anywhere.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_2_10]] <>

<> Silence fell between us, only our breathing remained. <<speech "maera">>Let’s just stay like this. While we still can.<</speech>> [[Leave Maera|maera_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Maera's Chamber|bed_chamber_girl]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $maera_sex_3 = true>> <<speech "maera">>You sneak in here like a thief every night, and yet you never steal a kiss properly.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I was hoping you'd steal it from me instead.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>You always knew how to make my knees weak, you royal brat.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>You smell different lately. Like moon blossoms and... change.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_1]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>You trying to say I smell like a girl now?<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Maybe. But you're still my prince... for now.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Does that bother you?<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Ask me again after you don’t need me anymore.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_2]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>You’re slipping through my fingers. One potion at a time.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m still me, Maera.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>I know. But you won’t always be mine.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Your touch is changing. Softer, like silk instead of steel.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Does that make it less worth holding?<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>No. It makes it harder to let go.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>I never feared the Queen’s court or the knives in the dark. But this? Losing this part of you? It scares me.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then hold on to me while I still have it.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_4]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Still want me? Even with everything else... changing?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t want anyone else.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Good. Because I need to feel you... before you forget how.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Maera… it’s not just my body that’s shifting.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_5]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Then make me remember who you are. Here. Now.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>You still fit against me like before. But it feels different… warmer… softer.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Is that a complaint or a compliment?<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Both.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_6]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>You’re not as hard as you used to be…<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The potions… they’re working.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>I miss how you used to pin me. The way you… filled me.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Maera, I <</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_7]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Don’t apologize. Just… pretend. Tonight.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Let me mourn you like this… one last time.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It doesn’t have to be the last.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>But it will be.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_8]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Do you think she’ll still let me stay? After you’re crowned?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You’ll always have a place beside me.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Not beside. Behind. That’s what queens demand.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then I’ll be a different kind of queen.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_9]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Not if they carve the prince out of you completely.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Will you still kiss me once your lips wear rouge?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Every kiss will taste sweeter with you.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Your chest... it’s swelling. Like ripe fruit. I don’t know if I want to touch or cry.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_10]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Your voice when you moan now it’s higher. Softer. Are you hearing it?<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>The way you walk… you’ve stopped leading with your shoulders.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And started swaying with my hips. I noticed.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>It’s… oddly arousing. And deeply sad.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_11]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Will you one day want someone who doesn’t remind you of your old self?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Why would I want anyone but the one who knows me best?<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Even if you become a stranger to yourself?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then I’ll need you more than ever.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_3_12]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>If they take everything else from you... let me be the last thing they can’t change.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then be my anchor, Maera. No matter how deep this sea pulls me.<</speech>> [[Leave Maera|maera_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Maera's Chamber|bed_chamber_girl]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $maera_sex_4 = true>> <<speech "maera">>Another dose tonight?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Yes. My chest feels… tight. Sensitive.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>It shows. They’re starting to bounce when you move.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>They used to be flat. Yours. Hard. Like the rest of you.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_4_1]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Do they bother you?<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Only when I miss what came before.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>You’re not hard.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can try <</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_4_2]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>You used to not need to try.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Maybe if I touch you more… maybe you’ll remember how it felt.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>You used to fill me so deep. Push until I screamed your name. Where’s that Caelan now?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to please you. Even if it’s… different now.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_4_3]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>It’s not the same. You’re softer, gentler. Too gentle.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Gods, I don’t want gentle. I want you to fuck me like you used to.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can’t. It’s the potions. It’s <</speech>> <<speech "maera">>It’s not just the potions. It’s you. You’re changing, and I’m still here, aching for the man who’s disappearing.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_4_4]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Come on. Remember what this felt like. Me riding you until you couldn’t breathe…<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>I don’t know how to want you like this. I want to. But I keep looking for him.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m still here, Maera.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Then why do you feel like a stranger beneath me?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_4_5]] <>

<>>> <<speech "mc">>I’m becoming who I need to be… for Velmoria, for the throne… for me.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>And what about me?! What am I becoming, Caelan? Just another court relic? Another maid without a man to love?<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>You’ll be a queen soon. They’ll paint your face, dress your body, teach you how to moan like a lady.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do I not already?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_4_6]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Not like before. Before you made me moan.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let me learn again. As I am now. Let me find new ways to make you cry out.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Try then. But don’t ask me to pretend it’s the same.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m fighting it, Maera. I still want you. I still need you.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_4_7]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Then fight harder. Because soon you won’t have the tools to show me anymore.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>If this is our last time like this… then make it count. Make me feel him one more time.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let me try.<</speech>> [[Leave Maera|maera_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Maera's Chamber|bed_chamber_girl]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $maera_sex_5 = true>> Maera looks up as I push the door open, the hinges creaking under the weight of the storm. <<speech "maera">>Storm’s got you sneaking in like a thief.<</speech>> I close the door behind me, water dripping from my cloak. <<speech "mc">>If I’m a thief, I’m here to steal you.<</speech>> She smirks, but her gaze lingers—my tunic clings differently now. <<speech "maera">>You’re… smaller.<</speech>> I laugh nervously, unfastening the wet fabric. <<speech "mc">>It’s not just the rain.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_5_1]] <>

<> Beneath the tunic, my chest is bare—two subtle mounds pressing outward, flushed and firm. <<speech "maera">>You’re really growing…<</speech>> She stands, stepping close, her fingers brushing the edge of one breast. <<speech "maera">>They bounce when you walk now.<</speech>> I flinch when she pinches a nipple lightly. <<speech "mc">>They’re… sensitive. Too much, sometimes.<</speech>> Her breath warms my skin near my collarbone. <<speech "maera">>Can I taste?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_5_2]] <>

<> I nod. She leans in, licking and sucking gently at the nipple, her breath hot and teasing. <<speech "maera">>Gods, you taste like me.<</speech>> A gasp escapes my lips, my back arching instinctively. <<speech "mc">>That feels… not like before.<</speech>> She chuckles darkly. <<speech "maera">>You moaned like a maiden just now.<</speech>> Her hand trails lower, curling around my shaft—smaller now, softer, even when stiff. <<speech "maera">>This used to throb in my hand. Now it just… twitches.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_5_3]] <>

<> A groan escapes me, heavy with conflict. <<speech "mc">>I still want you.<</speech>> She kisses me, rough and hungry, before pushing me onto the bed. <<speech "maera">>Then show me.<</speech>> She straddles me, grinding slowly against my changed form. <<speech "maera">>Do you feel that? It’s not the same. You don’t press into me like you used to.<</speech>> I gasp as she rocks her hips forward—my shaft barely parting her folds. <<speech "mc">>I’m still inside you…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_5_4]] <>

<> She winces, slowing the rhythm. <<speech "maera">>Barely. It’s like chasing a memory.<</speech>> I grip her hips, trying to thrust, but the depth just isn’t there. <<speech "mc">>Let me try. Just let me move.<</speech>> She leans forward, one breast brushing my lips. <<speech "maera">>Then suck. If you can’t fill me, tease me.<</speech>> I wrap my lips around her nipple, sucking gently at first, then with growing hunger. She moans—but something is missing. <<speech "maera">>You feel like a lover in a new skin.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_5_5]] <>

<> I try harder, fingers moving between her legs, tongue flicking and pressing. <<speech "mc">>Tell me what you need.<</speech>> She gasps, but there’s no release. <<speech "maera">>I need more… I don’t know from who.<</speech>> Her hips stutter—frustrated, she pulls off, breath catching. <<speech "maera">>It’s not you—it’s not working.<</speech>> I sit up, shame burning in my chest. <<speech "mc">>I’m sorry. I—I’m trying to hold onto what I am.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_5_6]] <>

<> She sits beside me, brushing her curls away. <<speech "maera">>It’s not just the size. You move… differently.<</speech>> I study her—face flushed, thighs slick, but unfulfilled. <<speech "mc">>I’ll pleasure you another way.<</speech>> I lower myself between her legs, kissing down her stomach. <<speech "maera">>You never used to ask. You just took me.<</speech>> I pause, lips trembling. <<speech "mc">>Am I weaker now?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_5_7]] <>

<> She sighs, fingers stroking my hair as I kiss her folds. <<speech "maera">>No. Just… gentler. Too gentle.<</speech>> My tongue moves, learning her anew. She moans, body shifting, but her eyes remain closed. <<speech "maera">>Keep going. Don’t stop.<</speech>> I press and flick, circling—her breathing quickens but holds back. <<speech "maera">>It’s good… but…<</speech>> I lift my head, face damp with her. <<speech "mc">>But not enough.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_5_8]] <>

<> She leans down, kisses me, tasting herself on my lips. <<speech "maera">>Not what it used to be.<</speech>> I rest my head against her stomach. <<speech "mc">>Am I losing you?<</speech>> Her voice cracks softly. <<speech "maera">>No. But I’m scared.<</speech>> We lie back, limbs entangled, hearts thundering. <<speech "maera">>I miss being thrown onto the bed.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_5_9]] <>

<> I whisper, ashamed and raw. <<speech "mc">>I don’t know if I’ll be able to again.<</speech>> She gazes at me, tears brimming in her eyes. <<speech "maera">>Then hold me like you won’t vanish.<</speech>> I wrap my arms around her, pressing my soft chest to her back. <<speech "mc">>I’m still here.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>You used to make me scream. Now I hold my breath.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_5_10]] <>

<> I press a kiss to her shoulder. <<speech "mc">>Next time, I’ll try harder.<</speech>> She nods, though her voice sounds distant. <<speech "maera">>Next time.<</speech>> [[Leave Maera|maera_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Maera's Chamber|bed_chamber_girl]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $maera_sex_6 = true>> I stepped into Maera’s chamber, the silk robe clinging to the curve of my hips. Her gaze met mine—curious, hungry, unsure. <<speech "maera">>You’re changing faster than I can keep track of.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Faster than I can understand myself.<</speech>> She crossed the room to me, brushing a dark curl behind her ear, her eyes tracing the lines of my body. <<speech "maera">>Your breasts… they’re fuller now. They bounce when you move.<</speech>> Her fingers grazed the soft curve of one breast, and I shivered. <<speech "mc">>Too sensitive… every brush feels electric.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_6_1]] <>

<> <<speech "maera">>Electric, yeah. But I miss the fire too.<</speech>> I stepped closer, searching her face. <<speech "mc">>I’m still here. For you.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>You are. But you’re… different.<</speech>> My robe shifted slightly, revealing more of my altered form. <<speech "mc">>It’s shrinking. I’m… afraid I won’t be enough.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_6_3]] <>

<> She reached out and cupped me gently. <<speech "maera">>You’ve always been enough. Just not like this.<</speech>> Then she knelt, parting the robe and brushing her lips over me. <<speech "maera">>Let me remind you how it feels… even if it’s not the same.<</speech>> Her mouth enveloped me, slow and warm. <<speech "mc">>It’s different… softer, like velvet.<</speech>> She pulled back and met my gaze. <<speech "maera">>You used to take me. Now you let me lead.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_6_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I want to keep being what you need.<</speech>> Her hands moved to my hips, fingers exploring my new curves. <<speech "maera">>Your hips—they’re wider. Curves I didn’t expect.<</speech>> Her touch trailed down and found me again. <<speech "mc">>It’s so fragile now… but it still wants you.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Fragile’s not the word I’d use, but… it’s different.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_6_5]] <>

<> She leaned in and let her mouth find my nipple. <<speech "maera">>You’ve got these curves now, and a softness I can’t ignore.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Please don’t stop.<</speech>> Her hands wandered over my newly smooth skin. <<speech "maera">>I want to be close. But I’m afraid I’m losing what I loved.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_6_6]] <>

<> I kissed her, desperate. <<speech "mc">>Hold me. Don’t let go.<</speech>> She climbed into my lap, her breath warm on my skin. <<speech "maera">>I miss how you used to take me, rough and sure.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can’t be that man anymore.<</speech>> She stroked my face, gentle and aching. <<speech "maera">>Then be what you are. I’ll learn.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_6_7]] <>

<> We moved together, hesitant but longing for connection. <<speech "mc">>It feels different… less forceful, more careful.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>Careful can be good… but I want fire.<</speech>> She leaned in, lips brushing my neck. <<speech "maera">>Show me how you still want me.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want you so much.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_6_8]] <>

<> Her voice trembled as she paused. <<speech "maera">>I want you too. But it’s slipping away.<</speech>> I cupped her face, pleading. <<speech "mc">>Don’t give up on me.<</speech>> <<speech "maera">>I’m not. But I’m scared.<</speech>> Her hands explored my body, mapping every changed line. <<speech "maera">>You’re still mine… just different.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_6_9]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Different can be beautiful.<</speech>> She kissed me, tasting change and memory all at once. <<speech "maera">>I’m trying to believe that.<</speech>> We found rhythm again, uncertain but united, as the storm howled outside. <<speech "maera">>Teach me your new ways.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Together.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|maera_sex_6_10]] <>

<> Her mouth trailed down my neck, searching for what still remained. <<speech "maera">>Show me the softness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m still here.<</speech>> She held me close, her voice soft against my chest. <<speech "maera">>And I’ll still want you. Even as things change.<</speech>> [[Leave Maera|maera_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Maera's Chamber|bed_chamber_girl]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "nyssa">> You’re late, princeling. The stars don’t wait, and neither do I. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I suppose I’ll have to make your time worth the wait. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Mmm. Promises like that are dangerous. I like dangerous. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "nyssa">> You’ve stepped into my sanctum. Which means you’re either brave… or foolish. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Or maybe I just wanted to see what you'd do to me. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Careful. I love an obedient test subject. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "nyssa">> You smell like steel and spellfire. Gods, you really are becoming something wicked. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that your way of saying I’m enchanting? <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> No. I’m the enchantment. You’re just lucky enough to bask in it. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "nyssa">> If you’re hoping for mercy, I locked it in a rune box weeks ago. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I wasn’t hoping for mercy. I was hoping for your hands. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Oh? Then take off your crown and kneel. I might be convinced. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "nyssa">> You’re radiating tension. Shall I ease it with magic… or something more primal? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Why not both? You seem like the type to enjoy combining pleasure with power. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Mmm, clever and bold. Come closer, Caelan. Let’s see how brave you really are. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "nyssa">> The orb likes you tonight. It’s humming. That usually means arousal… or danger. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then maybe it’s reading my thoughts. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Tsk. Naughty prince. You should know I can read minds. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "nyssa">> You dream of me. I’ve seen it in the starlight. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And what did I do in those dreams? <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> You begged. Shall I make it real? <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "nyssa">> Did you come here for a lesson, or to get on your knees and whisper my name? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I came for both. Teach me, then ruin me. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Oh, Caelan… you might be more fun than prophecy ever promised. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "nyssa">> Remove your shirt. I need to check the soulmarks. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You’ve used that excuse before. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> And yet you never resist. Curious, isn’t it? <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "nyssa">> You're mine, you know. The stars told me so. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And if I told you I don’t believe in fate? <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Then I’d bind you with something stronger. Want. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "nyssa">> You're staring again. If I didn't know better, I’d think you were undressing me with your eyes. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You say that like I haven’t already done it… in my thoughts. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Mm. Then think harder, my prince. You missed a few buttons. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "nyssa">> This room is too quiet. Say something, or I’ll assume you brought me here for wicked reasons. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And if I did? <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Then gods help us both… because I’m in no mood to say no tonight. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "nyssa">> You know what happens if someone sees you slipping into a handmaid’s room at this hour? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Let them see. Let them wonder. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Then shut the door, Your Grace. And let them wonder. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "nyssa">> Do you even know what you do to me when you say my name like that? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Say it again. I want to hear how it sounds in your mouth, breathless. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Caelan... if you don’t kiss me soon, I swear I’ll forget every damn rule I’ve ever followed. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "nyssa">> I should send you away. I really should. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> But you won’t. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> No. Because when you look at me like that, I forget who’s the servant. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "nyssa">> Your hand’s shaking. Is it nerves… or desire? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Both. You always make me feel like I’m standing at the edge of something I can’t name. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Then fall, Caelan. And let me catch you. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "nyssa">> You smell like fire and storm. Gods, it drives me mad. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then come closer. Let the storm swallow us both. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> If I do, I won’t stop. Not tonight. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "nyssa">> I’ve imagined this. You, here. In my bedchamber. Saying nothing… just looking at me. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And what happens next in that fantasy? <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Clothes vanish. Names fade. Only skin remembers. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "nyssa">> You always come to me when the palace feels too heavy. Why? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Because when I’m with you, I remember who I am beneath the crown. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Then let me strip that crown away. Slowly. Gently. Completely. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "nyssa">> If you stay tonight, there’s no going back to how it was before. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then let it change. I’m tired of pretending I don’t want you. <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">> Gods… kiss me before I melt into a puddle at your feet. <</speech>> <</if>> <<if !$nyssa_session_1>> [[Have Conversation with Nyssa 1|nyssa_session_1]] | <</if>> <<if $nyssa_session_1 && !$nyssa_session_2>> [[Have Conversation with Nyssa 2|nyssa_session_2]] | <</if>> [[Leave Nyssa|nyssa_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Nyssa's Chamber|bed_chamber_girl]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $nyssa_session_1 = true>> <<speech "nyssa">>Mmm… look at you. My little princess in prince body. Soon you will be free...<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I I look ridiculous…<</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>No. You look delicious.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But I’m… still…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_1_1]] <>

<> <<speech "nyssa">>Still hard? Still twitching in your little cage of lace? It’s adorable how your princely cock is trying to ruin such a pretty set.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t ask for this.<</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>No, but your body did. It’s begging. Practically drooling. Such a bad little girlcock.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Stop calling it that…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_1_2]] <>

<> <<speech "nyssa">>Oh? Not ready to admit your scepter’s become a sissy wand? Look at it. So needy. So proud.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t want to see it like this…<</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>Then let me show you what I see.<</speech>> Nyssa gently pushed Caelan back onto a cushioned platform, his legs instinctively spreading. She climbed between them, trailing kisses up one thigh. <<speech "nyssa">>Pink lace. Smooth thighs. A cock that leaks just from being looked at. You’re the prettiest contradiction I’ve ever owned.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_1_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I’m not owned <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>Oh, sweetling. You will be. Tell me, does this make you hard? Being called ‘pretty’? Being stroked in frilly pink while your cock bounces like a debutante’s fan?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I… I don’t know…<</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>Yes, you do. Say it.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_1_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It yes. Gods, yes.<</speech>> Nyssa wrapped her lips around his tip, slow and indulgent. Her tongue swirled while her fingers pinched his nipples through lace. He arched with a strangled moan. <<speech "nyssa">>Mmm. Tastes like shame. Want more?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Please.<</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>Please what, pretty thing?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_1_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Please suck me again…<</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>Good girl.<</speech>> She devoured him with slow, sinful bobs, one hand playing with his inner thigh, the other still teasing his chest. Caelan squirmed, hips twitching, his voice soft and helpless. <<speech "mc">>Nyssa, I I’m gonna <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>No. Not yet. You’re going to cum on these. And then wear them. Understood?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_1_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Yes. Yes, please…<</speech>> With a wicked laugh, Nyssa angled him and pumped furiously. His moans rose high, uncontrolled, beautiful. <<speech "mc">>Nyssa !<</speech>> He spilled across the lace, shaking. Nyssa held the fabric up and watched with glee. <<speech "nyssa">>Perfect. Now hold still.<</speech>> She slid the soaked panties up his legs and tugged them snug over his softening cock. <<speech "nyssa">>Your scepter has served. Now tuck it in like a good little princess.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_1_7]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>…Yes, Mistress.<</speech>> She kissed his forehead, curled around him, one leg draped possessively over his body. <<speech "nyssa">>You’re not broken, Caelan. You’re becoming. And every time you surrender, you become more real.<</speech>> <<set $user_stats.gender_Identity -= 2>> <<set $user_stats.dominance_level -= 2>> [[Leave Nyssa|nyssa_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Nyssa's Chamber|bed_chamber_girl]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $nyssa_session_2 = true>> <<speech "nyssa">>Well, look who returns. Still twitching in silk, little prince?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I… I couldn’t sleep after last time.<</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>Awake, needy, and still pretending it wasn’t perfect. Adorable.<</speech>> Nyssa waved her fingers, and glimmering restraints shimmered into the air. <<speech "nyssa">>Strip. Now. Then hands behind your back.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_2_1]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Yes… Mistress.<</speech>> He undressed slowly, his arousal immediate. Nyssa tutted softly. <<speech "nyssa">>Still eager. So easily excited. It’s almost pathetic.<</speech>> She bound his wrists in floating silk runes that pulsed a soft violet. <<speech "nyssa">>There. Now you can’t touch yourself. Only I can.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve been… aching. All day.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_2_2]] <>

<> <<speech "nyssa">>I know. I enchanted your underwear. Every heartbeat sent a little kiss of magic to that needy cock. Didn’t you feel it? That throbbing reminder that your pleasure belongs to me?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I felt it… I couldn’t stop thinking about you…<</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>Good. Now don’t think. Just obey.<</speech>> She trailed her fingers along his shaft, barely touching, just enough to keep him quivering. <<speech "mc">>Please… please let me…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_2_3]] <>

<> <<speech "nyssa">>Let you what, hmm?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Touch it. Or… or finish.<</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>No, no, no. We’re not doing that tonight. You’re going to learn to ache for me. To beg prettily, and accept that you don’t always get what you want.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But I’m so hard…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_2_4]] <>

<> <<speech "nyssa">>I know. It’s beautiful. Look how obedient it is. Not like you. You fidget, you fight. But this? This little scepter would serve me forever.<</speech>> She stroked him in lazy circles, just enough to drive him mad. Caelan gasped, hips twitching. <<speech "mc">>I can’t take much more <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>You’ll take exactly what I give. Nothing more. Beg.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Mistress, please please let me cum.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_2_5]] <>

<> <<speech "nyssa">>No.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Please! I’ll do anything <</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>Then don’t cum. That’s your task. I want you to feel what it means to be ruled.<</speech>> Nyssa whispered a spell the runes glowed brighter. His cock throbbed harder, aching to burst. <<speech "mc">>M-Mistress !<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_2_6]] <>

<> <<speech "nyssa">>Feel it. Own it. Surrender to the ache. Every pulse is me inside you.<</speech>> He moaned through clenched teeth, hands bound, hips frozen. He didn’t climax but his whole body shivered from the edge. <<speech "nyssa">>There’s a good girl. My obedient, desperate little queen-to-be.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel… broken…<</speech>> <<speech "nyssa">>No. You’re being reforged.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|nyssa_session_2_7]] <>

<> She finally kissed him deep, slow, sensual. Her tongue commanded his. His cock twitched uselessly between them. <<speech "nyssa">>Tonight, you sleep tied. No touching. No release. And in the morning… you’ll thank me for every ache.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Yes, Mistress…<</speech>> She floated a thin golden ribbon down his shaft and tied it around the base glowing faintly. <<speech "nyssa">>There. A little crown for your desperate princehood. Tomorrow, we’ll see if it’s earned the right to stay.<</speech>> <<set $user_stats.gender_Identity -= 2>> <<set $user_stats.dominance_level -= 2>> [[Leave Nyssa|nyssa_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Nyssa's Chamber|bed_chamber_girl]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 18)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "jeral">> You know, Your Highness, most nobles wouldn’t notice if their steward dropped dead mid-sentence. But you… you watch. It’s unsettling, but oddly flattering. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Should I stop watching? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Heavens no. Just… be careful. A gaze like yours can be mistaken for affection or worse, favor. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "jeral">> I reorganized the archive today. You had three unsigned royal decrees tucked behind a book on dragon laws. Either you’re hiding incompetence, or you have a secret plan that involves parchment-based rebellion. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe I enjoy keeping you guessing. <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Then consider me very entertained. But also worried chaos looks terrible on royal ledgers. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "jeral">> You spoke quite eloquently during the council today. Almost made me forget they’d rather see you as decoration than decision-maker. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> They underestimate me. <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Which is precisely why you should use me more often. I know what they whisper when you leave. I know which ink to smudge and which names to underline. Give me direction, and I’ll shape the storm for you. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "jeral">> If I may your signature has improved. Less hesitation in the strokes. It’s the first sign of a ruler growing into their skin. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You read that from my handwriting? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> I read everything, Highness. Between the lines, beneath the seals… even in your silences. It’s how one survives in this palace. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "jeral">> You once told me trust was earned, not given. So I earned it through ink, sweat, and secrets. If I fall now, it’ll be because I trusted you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Do you regret it? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Not yet. But ask me again after the next scandal. Or betrayal. They tend to come in threes. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "jeral">> A letter arrived today, bearing no seal. I opened it, of course. I assumed it was poison or poetry. Oddly, it was both. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You opened my letter without asking? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Of course. I open everything, Highness. Including opportunities. That’s why you keep me around… isn’t it? <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "jeral">> If I may be bold… I’ve seen kings lose crowns for less than a misplaced smile. You smiled at me yesterday. Twice. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Are you saying that’s dangerous? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Only if you mean it. Because if you do… well, then I might start thinking I matter more than I should. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "jeral">> I drafted a counterproposal for Lady Serelyne’s new etiquette law. It’s buried in your inbox, third scroll from the top. If it passes, it’ll silence two of her spies. If it fails… I was never here. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You’re playing a dangerous game, Jeral. <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> That’s the only kind worth playing in Velmoria. Especially if I want to stay alive long enough to be something more than just your steward. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "jeral">> Do you ever wonder if all this power, duty, pageantry was meant for someone else? Because sometimes I look at you and think… maybe fate has a strange sense of humor. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I wonder that more than you know. <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Then allow me to be the cruel joke’s footnote the clever one who sees through the illusion and still chooses to stay. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "jeral">> You once thanked me for my loyalty. But I didn’t correct you. What I feel isn’t loyalty. It’s investment. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That sounds colder than I expected. <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Oh, it burns hotter than you’d think. Because if you fall, I fall. And I’ve never bet on anyone this hard before. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "jeral">> There’s something thrilling about serving someone who might one day rewrite the rules that bind them. You’re not a ruler yet, but you look more like one every time you defy expectation. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that admiration I hear… or calculation? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Why not both? One feeds the mind. The other well, let’s just say ambition isn’t always cold. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "jeral">> I overheard Lady Astoria mocking your new appearance. I corrected her pronunciation… and mentioned your recent archery score. Politely, of course. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And why defend me? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Because I prefer you powerful, not pitied. Besides, if anyone’s going to profit from your rise, I’d rather it be me. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "jeral">> There’s a whisper in the kitchens that you’ve grown softer lately. That you’re being… reshaped. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And do you agree with them? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> No. I think you’re becoming more dangerous. Softer edges can hide sharper blades. I admire that. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "jeral">> I had a dream last night about you, on the throne. Your voice calm, your enemies kneeling, your eyes… colder than they are now. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Was it a warning? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> A possibility. One I might enjoy, if I’m sitting beside you when it happens. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "jeral">> Most people in this castle smile with their mouths and lie with their eyes. You’re different. You lie with silence and that makes you unpredictable. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that praise? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> It’s fascination. Dangerous, inconvenient fascination. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "jeral">> I saw the way you looked at Torin today. Intense. Loyal. It made me wonder how much room there is in your world for people like me. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And what kind of person are you, Jeral? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> The kind who’d never die for you… but might kill for you, if you asked nicely. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "jeral">> You dropped a ring today by the marble stairs. I picked it up. Could’ve sold it, hidden it, claimed you never wore it. But I returned it. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And why tell me all that now? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Because I want you to understand: I always notice what falls from your hands… and what you might be about to lose. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "jeral">> The nobles think they can mold you into a queen of their liking. Decorative. Obedient. Predictable. But I’ve read your letters. I know better. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You read my letters? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> I serve the crown. And sometimes… I serve something closer to my heart. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "jeral">> I once thought loyalty was a transaction services rendered, benefits received. Then I met you… and now I find myself defending you even when no one’s listening. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You’re not the sentimental type, Jeral. <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> No. But I am the type who knows when something rare is walking beside me. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "jeral">> If I ever betrayed you, it wouldn’t be for coin. Or power. It would be because you stopped looking at me the way you do now like I matter. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You think I look at you that way? <</speech>> <<speech "jeral">> Sometimes. And gods help us both if I start needing it. <</speech>> <</if>> [[Leave Jeral|jeral_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Jeral's Chamber|bed_chamber_male]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 20)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "torin">> You shouldn't walk alone at night, even within palace walls. Not all threats carry blades… some wear silk and smiles. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Are you worried for my safety, or jealous of who I might meet in the dark? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> Does it matter? Either way, I’ll be the shadow at your back… and the hand that draws steel if they get too close. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "torin">> I memorized every blind spot in this wing. If someone meant to harm you, they wouldn’t get two paces. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You know my every escape… do you ever think about using them? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> Only if it was to take you somewhere no one could ever hurt you again. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "torin">> When the wind shifts, I can hear every loose hinge in this corridor. I lie awake counting them until I know you’re safe. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You don’t have to protect me every hour of the day. <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> I don’t have to. I choose to. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "torin">> Your voice carries differently when you're afraid. Softer. Like you’re trying not to be heard by your own doubts. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You hear that too? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> I hear everything about you. Even the things you don’t say. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "torin">> Someone left a flower at your door. I moved it. Could’ve been a message… or a trap. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And if it was just a gift from someone who cares? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> Then I envy them for being bold enough to leave something. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "torin">> You smiled at a visiting noble today. It unsettled me more than any drawn sword ever has. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Jealousy doesn’t suit your armor, Torin. <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> Neither does silence when I want to scream that you belong nowhere near people who see you as conquest. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "torin">> Your cloak slipped during council. You were exposed, and no one moved to fix it but me. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Did that bother you? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> It infuriated me. Because I wanted to touch you longer than duty allowed. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "torin">> I carved a new rune into my vambrace last night. It’s for protection. Yours. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You’ve etched your devotion into steel… but never into words. Why? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> Because armor doesn’t betray. Words sometimes do. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "torin">> When I was ordered to guard you, I thought it was just another post. Then I learned how soft you speak when you're tired. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And that changed your duty? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> No. But it changed me. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "torin">> If I could take your pain into my chest and lock it behind my ribs, I would gladly. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Even if it crushed you? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> Especially then. Some burdens are worth being broken for. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "torin">> When you took that blade during training, I couldn’t breathe. Not because I feared for the heir… but because I imagined a world without your voice in it. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I thought you didn’t care for theatrics. <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> I don’t. But losing you would be the one drama I couldn’t survive. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "torin">> They call me a shield. A blade. A ghost of war. But when you touch my arm even in passing I feel more human than I ever have. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then why do you always step back when I try to get closer? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> Because if I step forward… I won’t stop until I’ve claimed more than I should. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "torin">> I watched you dance tonight. Not because I was on duty but because every step you took made the world quieter. Like even danger held its breath. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You hide behind duty, but you always see me. <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> I see you more clearly than anyone. That’s what terrifies me. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "torin">> You once asked me why I never smile. It’s because the only time I feel that kind of warmth… is when I think of you safe, asleep, and unburdened. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That’s a lonely kind of joy. <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> It is. But loving you in silence is still better than not loving you at all. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "torin">> You fell asleep at your writing desk. I stood there an hour, watching the candlelight on your face and wondering if I’d ever be brave enough to reach for you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You could’ve touched me. I wouldn’t have woken. <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> That’s exactly why I didn’t. Because I would’ve never pulled my hand back. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "torin">> There are nights when the walls of this castle feel tighter. Like they know the things we’re not allowed to say. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then say it now. Just once. <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> I would burn this entire kingdom down if it meant seeing you free and smiling. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "torin">> Sometimes I wake from dreams where you’re screaming, and I can’t reach you. I check your door five times before the fear fades. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You guard more than just my body, don’t you? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> Yes. I guard every broken part of you like it’s sacred. Because to me… it is. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "torin">> When your voice shakes in council meetings, I grip the hilt of my sword not to strike, but because it keeps me from reaching for your hand. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And if I reached for yours first? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> Then gods help me, I wouldn’t let go. Not even for the queen’s command. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "torin">> If we were born different me noble, you free do you think we’d be allowed to be something more? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I think we already are. Just no one dares say it. <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> Then let me say it now: I would give up my sword, my post, and my name… just to be yours. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 20>> <<speech "torin">> They all look at you like a ruler. But I… I see the scars you hide beneath the silks. The exhaustion in your smile. And the strength in your softness. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And what do you want from me, Torin? <</speech>> <<speech "torin">> Only what you’re willing to give… and maybe a little more, if you whisper it in the dark. <</speech>> <</if>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] >= 7 && !$torin_sex_1>> [[Ask about the session|torin_sex_1]] | <</if>> [[Leave Torin|torin_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Torin's Chamber|bed_chamber_male]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $torin_sex_1 = true>> <<speech "torin">>You ready, Caelan? This is new for both of us.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I... I don’t know. It feels strange, unfamiliar.<</speech>> <<speech "torin">>It will be. But I’m here. I won’t push you beyond what you can take.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Lady Serelyne said... I have to learn... to feel differently.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torin_sex_1_1]] <>

<> I opened the door and stepped inside. He stood by the hearth, shadows flickering across his bare chest. Most of his armor was gone only the greaves remained, a silent symbol of his duty. His storm-gray eyes locked onto mine. <<speech "mc">>I… I’m here.<</speech>> He didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. Torin stepped closer, his calloused fingers brushing along my jaw. I flinched not from fear, but from the sudden charge that surged through me. It wasn’t soft, like a woman’s touch. It was firm. Commanding. Real. Then his lips were on mine, and it was like falling into deep water. I parted my lips instinctively, every muscle tense with confusion. I wasn’t meant for this. I was a prince. I was supposed to command not... melt. But his taste smoke, spice, steel stirred something buried inside me. My knees weakened as his mouth claimed mine again, deeper this time. My cock twitched, smaller than it once was, the potions already thinning my pride. It didn’t feel like mine anymore. I pulled away, panting. [[Move Forth|torin_sex_1_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I’m not ready for this.<</speech>> <<speech "torin">>You came anyway.<</speech>> Damn him. He was right. He guided me to the bed, hands on my shoulders. I sank to my knees not in obedience, not yet but something close. Confusion? Curiosity? Desire? I looked up, breath catching as he unfastened his breeches. What I saw made my throat tighten. <<speech "mc">>I’ve never… done this. Not to a man.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torin_sex_1_3]] <>

<> <<set $user_stats.gender_Identity -= 3>> <<set $user_stats.dominance_level -= 3>> <<speech "torin">>You’re learning.<</speech>> Learning to be what? A queen? A woman? A plaything? I leaned in, my lips grazing the inside of his thigh. The muscle was taut under my kiss. I moved higher, then lower, letting my tongue trace his skin. I imagined how a woman would do this soft, yielding, eager to please. My face flushed at the thought… but I didn’t stop. This is what she wants. What the Kingdom demands. I licked higher, letting my tongue curl over his hip. My fingers wrapped around his shaft it twitched in my palm. A surge of power ran through me. I brought the head of his cock to my lips, kissed it, then slowly took it into my mouth. It was unfamiliar. Thick. Strange. But not repulsive. Strangely… intoxicating. My jaw strained as I tried to mimic what I’d seen from women in brothels. My tongue swirled around his cock, teasing. He groaned, low and deep. That sound thrilled me. I wanted to hear more. I wanted to please him. His fingers tangled in my hair longer now than it used to be. My body pulsed with heat. My hips shifted with need. My nipples tingled, breasts not yet formed, but the skin was sensitive, swollen. My whole body felt wrong and right at once. I was hard… but not like before. It wasn’t about dominance. It was about… giving. Serving. [[Move Forth|torin_sex_1_4]] <>

<> He pulled me to my feet. I stumbled slightly, dazed. My anal hole clenched in anticipation, unbidden. I shouldn’t want this. But I turned, bent forward over the bed, and gripped the sheets. When he pushed into my anal hole, I gasped. My whole body went stiff. The pressure was overwhelming. I bit my lip hard. <<speech "mc">>It hurts.<</speech>> <<speech "torin">>You’ll learn. You’ll learn how good it can feel.<</speech>> And I did. The pain gave way to warmth, then heat. His thrusts found something deep inside me I hadn’t known existed. My cock tiny now, leaking was forgotten. Useless. My breath came in ragged moans. My spine arched. I began pressing back into him, chasing something I couldn’t name. This wasn’t male pleasure. It wasn’t mine. It was hers. The woman I was becoming. [[Move Forth|torin_sex_1_5]] <>

<> I moaned loud, desperate, wanton. My hole clenched around him, greedy. His hands held my hips tight, grounding me in the rhythm. His groans joined mine, echoing in the room like sacred chants. Something inside me cracked. Or maybe something inside me awakened. I wasn’t just letting it happen. I wanted it. [[Leave Torin|torin_chamber_map_select]] | [[Leave Torin's Chamber|bed_chamber_male]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/mc_bed_chamber_img.png'>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 1>> <<set $currentObjectives = "You are in your bed chamber. You need to sleep">> <</if>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Caelan Bed Chamber</h3> <<if $alert_message>> <h3 style="text-align: center; color: red;">$alert_message</h3> <</if>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img src="images/map/mc_bed_chamber_map.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="mc_bed" points="74,379,72,344,74,311,72,248,75,235,79,245,83,265,96,246,120,229,135,226,137,210,141,228,151,230,169,239,182,259,195,270,204,281,212,291,228,302,260,305,291,307,321,306,345,308,369,311,381,315,392,347,397,365,259,423,225,420,196,432,170,412,149,409,110,401" class="mc_bed_chamber_map" data-passage="mc_bed" /> <polygon id="mc_bed_chamber_toilet" points="666,369,665,289,670,260,670,191,670,165,699,165,697,371" class="mc_bed_chamber_map" data-passage="mc_bed_chamber_toilet" /> <polygon id="mc_table" points="451,354,452,340,446,315,437,299,486,291,497,271,551,256,606,273,609,292,611,332,583,356,539,373,454,359" class="mc_bed_chamber_map" data-passage="mc_table" /> <polygon id="mc_window" points="348,278,348,184,354,178,363,147,380,190,381,274" class="mc_bed_chamber_map" data-passage="mc_window" /> <polygon id="mc_wardrobe" points="1,283,51,361,67,368,75,423,64,442,64,498,2,498" class="mc_bed_chamber_map" data-passage="mc_wardrobe" /> </svg> </div> <<set $coming_from_chamber = true>> [[Leave Bed Chamber|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $user_stats.energy = 70>> <<set $alert_message = "">> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 1>> <div id="gif_pop_up"> <img src="images/gif/night_1.gif" alt="Sleeping" style="max-width:80%; height:auto; border: 5px solid white;"> <button id="closeBtn" style="margin-top: 15px; padding: 10px 20px;">Close</button> </div> The morning sun filtered through the tall arched windows of the my bedchamber, casting honeyed light across velvet drapes and ornate stone columns. For the first time in my life, I awoke not as a boy of blood and heritage, but as an heir choosing transformation. I blinked slowly, as if even sleep had been cautious to let go. The silken sheets rustled as I sat up, bare chest rising and falling with a strange, quiet weight. <<speech "mc">> Today... it begins. <</speech>> The words were barely more than a whisper, yet they felt carved into the morning itself. Emotions tangled within me like ivy climbing a wall anxious knots of fear, tendrils of hope, branches of quiet resolve. My body was the same, but my future now felt utterly unfamiliar. Would I still feel like myself a week from now? A month? Would the mirror know me? Images from the night before returned in fragments the Queen’s fierce pride, Serelyne’s piercing gaze, Thalara’s haunting reassurance, Aldric’s gruff approval, and the way Veletia spoke of beauty like it was both art and war. <<speech "mc">> No more delaying. No more wondering. I chose this... I wanted this. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I will become the queen this realm deserves. <</speech>> <<set $currentObjectives = "Go and see the Queen. Its better If I use Privies before going outside. Queen normally at the throne room (great hall) or council chamber.">> <<set $currentArc["main_arc"] = 2>> <<set $day_number += 1>> [[Wake Up|mc_bed_chamber]] <<else>> <div id="gif_pop_up"> <img src="images/gif/night_1.gif" alt="Sleeping" style="max-width:80%; height:auto; border: 5px solid white;"> <button id="closeBtn" style="margin-top: 15px; padding: 10px 20px;">Close</button> </div> [img[images/location/mc_bed_img.png]] <<set $day_number += 1>> <<set $riddleLimit = 3>> <<set $riddleAttempts = 0>> <<set $hasIngredientAccess = false>> <<set $ingredientChoices to 0>> <<set $riddleSuccess = false>> [[Get up From Bed|mc_bed_chamber]] <</if>> <>

<> [img[images/location/mc_table_img.png]] Nothing on the table. [[Move Away from Table|mc_bed_chamber]] <>

<> <div id="gif_pop_up"> <img src="images/gif/lake_1.gif" alt="Sleeping" style="max-width:80%; height:auto; border: 5px solid white;"> <button id="closeBtn" style="margin-top: 15px; padding: 10px 20px;">Close</button> </div> [img[setup.ImagePath+'gif/lake_1.gif']] [[Move Away from Window|mc_bed_chamber]] <>

<> [img[images/location/mc_wardrobe_img.png]] Wardrobe function coming soon. [[Move Away from Wardrobe|mc_bed_chamber]] <>

<> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'map/mc_bed_chamber_toilet_map.png'>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Caelan Bed Chamber Toilet</h3> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img src="images/map/mc_bed_chamber_toilet_map.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="mc_toilet" points="14,497,27,477,36,460,33,436,13,412,3,392,2,364,34,357,58,357,85,355,116,355,130,357,133,367,118,390,90,428,88,440,86,455,99,473,111,486,110,495,100,499" class="mc_bed_chamber_map" data-passage="mc_toilet" /> <polygon id="mc_bath_tub" points="590,267,622,263,615,96,658,45,686,31,698,33,698,267,696,383,610,376" class="mc_bed_chamber_map" data-passage="mc_bath_tub" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Bed Chamber|mc_bed_chamber]] <>

<> /* describe bathing */ <<set _feelings = setup.bath_thoughts.random()>> <<for _line range _feelings>> <<speech "mc">> <<=_line>> <</speech>> <</for>> [[Leave Privies|mc_bed_chamber]] | [[Move Away from Bathtub|mc_bed_chamber_toilet]] <>

<> /* describe toilet */ <<set _feelings = setup.toilet_feelings.random()>> <<for _line range _feelings>> <<speech "mc">> <<=_line>> <</speech>> <</for>> [[Leave Privies|mc_bed_chamber]] | [[Move Away from Toilet|mc_bed_chamber_toilet]] <>

<> <<if $user_stats.energy >= 10 && !$coming_from_chamber>> <<set $user_stats.energy -= 10>> <<elseif $user_stats.energy > 0 && !$coming_from_chamber>> <<set $user_stats.energy = 0>> <</if>> <<if $coming_from_chamber>> <<set $coming_from_chamber = false>> <</if>> <<if $user_stats.energy < 10>> <<set $alert_message = "Your Energy is very Low. Need to sleep">> <<goto "mc_bed_chamber">> <</if>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Castle Serene Wing Map</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/castle.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img src="images/map/castle_map_back.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="royal_bed_chamber" points="166,148,418,148,417,261,165,262" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="royal_bed_chamber" /> <polygon id="mc_bed_chamber" points="165,272,280,272,280,370,167,370" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="mc_bed_chamber" /> <polygon id="bed_chamber_girl" points="294,273,418,272,418,370,293,370" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="bed_chamber_girl" /> <polygon id="bed_chamber_male" points="433,273,538,271,538,369,433,371" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="bed_chamber_male" /> <polygon id="royal_leasure_room" points="432,148,538,148,537,261,433,261" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="royal_leasure_room" /> <polygon id="dungeon" points="435,435,436,421,436,410,441,397,456,381,478,373,501,375,514,383,526,394,532,410,532,420,532,434" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="dungeon" /> <polygon id="stable" points="290,434,291,410,298,393,315,380,335,374,357,375,372,384,382,395,387,406,387,422,388,435" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="stable" /> <polygon id="essence_valut" points="552,434,551,273,621,271,621,259,622,246,633,234,645,234,656,243,663,259,663,271,661,434" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="essence_valut" /> <polygon id="right_tower" points="553,197,552,147,526,125,521,112,519,68,528,64,552,60,554,77,564,76,563,58,583,57,586,73,595,73,595,59,616,58,617,73,626,75,625,58,642,59,655,65,654,111,648,123,648,211,594,166" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="right_tower" /> <polygon id="veil_tower" points="135,155,134,175,141,178,141,199,124,225,107,227,86,226,81,242,73,242,73,227,62,224,62,189,36,182,35,125,28,113,26,67,35,63,55,60,59,78,65,77,67,61,89,60,89,75,98,75,98,61,120,61,120,75,126,78,127,64,140,65,141,112,135,122" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="veil_tower" /> <polygon id="castle_map_front_select" points="59,398,60,384,59,356,60,333,63,320,72,303,83,294,104,288,119,290,134,297,143,307,148,320,151,329,151,351,150,401,150,406,43,405" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="castle_map_front_select" /> <polygon id="court_yard" points="2,403,38,408,149,409,150,433,699,433,700,498,0,499" class="castle_back_map" data-passage="court_yard" /> </svg> </div> <> /* :: royal_bed_chamber royal_bed_chamber [[Back to Map|castle_map_front_select]] */

/* <<=$currentArc["main_arc"]>> */ <> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 3>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Moonspire Atelier — Veil Tower</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/veil_tower_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img src="images/map/veil_tower_mage_map.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_mage" points="380,446,371,420,384,375,374,357,361,365,360,354,371,348,390,308,399,285,406,268,414,271,420,288,427,301,433,313,445,342,455,351,452,357,446,355,436,367,453,415,446,429,447,439,429,452,405,454,386,453" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_mage" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <<elseif $currentArc["main_arc"] == 5>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Moonspire Atelier — Veil Tower</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/veil_tower_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img src="images/map/veil_tower_mage_map.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_mage_1_0" points="380,446,371,420,384,375,374,357,361,365,360,354,371,348,390,308,399,285,406,268,414,271,420,288,427,301,433,313,445,342,455,351,452,357,446,355,436,367,453,415,446,429,447,439,429,452,405,454,386,453" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_mage_1_0" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <<elseif $currentArc["main_arc"] == 6>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Moonspire Atelier — Veil Tower</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/veil_tower_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img src="images/map/veil_tower_mage_map.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_mage_random" points="380,446,371,420,384,375,374,357,361,365,360,354,371,348,390,308,399,285,406,268,414,271,420,288,427,301,433,313,445,342,455,351,452,357,446,355,436,367,453,415,446,429,447,439,429,452,405,454,386,453" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_mage_random" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <<elseif $currentArc["main_arc"] > 6>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Moonspire Atelier — Veil Tower</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/veil_tower_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img src="images/map/veil_tower_mage_map.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_mage_random" points="380,446,371,420,384,375,374,357,361,365,360,354,371,348,390,308,399,285,406,268,414,271,420,288,427,301,433,313,445,342,455,351,452,357,446,355,436,367,453,415,446,429,447,439,429,452,405,454,386,453" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_mage_random" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <<else>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Moonspire Atelier — Veil Tower</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/veil_tower_img.png'>> [img[setup.ImagePath + 'location/veil_tower_img.png']] [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <</if>> <>

<> The Moonspire Atelier — Veil Tower, Midday Soft glows of floating crystals hovered in the still air. Strange flora bloomed in jars, suspended in liquid starlight. Scrolls lined every surface, runes pulsing faintly beneath the floor. <<speech "thalara">> Ah... the young heir finally arrives. Welcome, Caelan. Or should I say Velmoria’s chrysalis. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Archmage Thalara. The Queen said you would guide me. I come ready, if not fully understanding what lies ahead. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Understanding will come in tinctures and time. Here, there are no blades or thrones only vials, steam, and the whisper of changing bones. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Now, look upon this. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|interact_with_mage_1]] <>

<> She waved her fingers, and an enchanted scroll floated before Caelan. Symbols shimmered, revealing three transformation branches. flesh, voice, and form. Each with its own list of mystic ingredients. <<speech "thalara">> These are the reagents required to begin your journey. Moonpetal Extract for soft skin. Velmorian Honey for your voice. Eversilk Thread for... well, we’ll save that surprise. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I thought you’d just hand me a potion and wave your hand. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Oh, child. Do you think transformation so shallow? This isn’t a masquerade spell. It must come through will, ritual, and cost. You must earn every inch of womanhood that forms. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> And so you will learn alchemy. Slowly. Carefully. With your own hands. <</speech>> <<set $reverse_passage = "interact_with_mage_2">> [[Look whats inside Scrolls|potion_lab]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> I’m to make these myself? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Not entirely alone. I will guide your hand. But first, you must gather your first satchel of components from the Velmoria’s Essence Vault. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> The Vault... sounds like something locked away under a mountain. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> It nearly is. Beneath the southern wing of the castle the Hall of Binding. The Vault holds all restricted magical flora and beast remnants. Only those with my sigil may withdraw from it. <</speech>> <<set $currentObjectives = "Go to Velmoria's Essence Vault and meet Keeper Malgros for Magical Ingredient supplies">> [[Move Forth|interact_with_mage_3]] <>

<> She produces a glowing crystal, shaped like a drop of liquid moonlight. <<speech "thalara">> Take this. It will unlock the Vault’s seal. But listen closely. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> There is only a limited supply each day. No matter your title, magic obeys scarcity. Do not waste what you take. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> And as for the Vault’s keeper... gods help you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That bad? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|interact_with_mage_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> He’s a grumbling slab of obsidian with legs. Keeper Malgros. He knows the worth of every vial and would sooner strangle a rat than hand over a second drop of Frostvine Elixir. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Even I suffer his tirades when I request extras. You? He’ll chew your title into powder if you act entitled. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So I go to this Malgros, with charm... or perhaps bribes? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Charm if you can. Bribes if you're clever. But mostly, show him respect. And never spill what he gives you. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|interact_with_mage_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Once you have what you need, return here. We'll begin the first infusion. Skin and breath, voice and body slowly, your shell will soften. And your truth will rise. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I’ll head to the Vault now. Wish me grace... or luck. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You’ll need both. Go, Caelan. Take your first true step not as prince, but as the becoming. <</speech>> <<set $currentArc["main_arc"] = 4>> [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 4>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Velmoria's Essence Vault</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/essence_vault_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img src="images/map/essence_vault_keeper_map.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_keeper" points="123,477,131,467,139,460,136,447,122,440,122,404,126,373,117,364,112,338,112,313,110,296,116,275,110,266,118,260,136,242,146,244,153,223,165,218,172,223,179,234,180,248,192,236,207,241,213,257,215,270,216,293,213,302,210,360,199,369,205,437,193,446,191,462,203,475,191,479,178,468,171,431,164,433,159,428,153,466,142,476,132,479" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_keeper" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Essence Valut|castle_map_back_select]] <<elseif $currentArc["main_arc"] > 4>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Velmoria's Essence Vault</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/essence_vault_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img src="images/map/essence_vault_keeper_map.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_keeper_random" points="123,477,131,467,139,460,136,447,122,440,122,404,126,373,117,364,112,338,112,313,110,296,116,275,110,266,118,260,136,242,146,244,153,223,165,218,172,223,179,234,180,248,192,236,207,241,213,257,215,270,216,293,213,302,210,360,199,369,205,437,193,446,191,462,203,475,191,479,178,468,171,431,164,433,159,428,153,466,142,476,132,479" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_keeper_random" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Essence Valut|castle_map_back_select]] <<else>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Velmoria's Essence Vault</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/essence_vault_img.png'>> [img[setup.ImagePath + 'location/essence_vault_img.png']] [[Leave Essence Valut|castle_map_back_select]] <</if>> <>

<> A heavy door inscribed with ancient runes loomed before me. The air was colder here, almost watchful. I pressed the sigil Thalara had given me into the rune socket. A click echoed… and the vault opened. <<speech "mc">> So this is the Essence Vault... <</speech>> Before me stretched shelves of bottled moonlight, crystal vials with floating eyes, claws wrapped in wax, and herbs that curled away from touch. In the center stood a mountain of a man wide shouldered, skin like cracked granite, arms folded. <<speech "malgros">> Hmph. You’re late for being royalty. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Prince Caelan. Sent by Archmage Thalara to retrieve ingredients for the Rite. <</speech>> <> [[Move Forth|interact_with_keeper_1]]

<> <<set $currentObjectives = "Go to Thalara with ingredients to make potions">> <<speech "malgros">> Name means little here. Every prince bleeds the same when foolish. <</speech>> He stepped forward, eyeing Caelan up and down like a slab of meat. <<speech "malgros">> Magic’s no toy. These ingredients they burn, bite, and twist the soul. You think you’re ready to stir a vial and sip your way into womanhood? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> If that is the path to ruling Velmoria, then I am. <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Hmph. I’ve seen brave boys scorched by Feylace Petal, women driven mad from Seraphmilk. Every item here has a price beyond coin or crown. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|interact_with_keeper_2]] <>

<> He walked over to a sealed crystal case and tapped it. Inside glowed a silver blue root wrapped in frost. <<speech "malgros">> Here lies the Frostleaf Crystals Tongue. What melts your voice to silk, can also silence it forever if measured wrong. Still want it? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I need it. <</speech>> Malgros squinted. Then a grim smile crept across his lips the kind that had tested many before. <<speech "malgros">> Then earn it. No item leaves without a mind’s price. Answer me this, princeling! <</speech>> <<speech "malgros">> Answer true, and you may take your potion's whisper. Fail... and you’ll leave with empty hands, maybe less. <</speech>> <<set $currentArc["main_arc"] = 5>> [[Oh Riddles for Ingredients|riddle]] <>

<> <<if $riddleSuccess == true>> [img[setup.ImagePath + 'location/essence_vault_img.png']] <<speech "malgros">> You've already got your ingredients today. Go away. <</speech>> <<link "Leave Essence Vault">> <<goto "castle_map_back_select">> <</link>> <<elseif $riddleAttempts >= $riddleLimit>> [img[setup.ImagePath + 'location/essence_vault_img.png']] <<speech "malgros">> You've already answered your three riddles for today. Come back tomorrow. <</speech>> <<link "Leave Essence Vault">> <<goto "castle_map_back_select">> <</link>> <<else>> <<set _riddle = setup.riddles.random()>> <<set $riddle_question = _riddle.question>> <<speech "malgros" $riddle_question>> <</speech>> <div id="riddle-buttons"> <<for _i, _opt range _riddle.options>> <<set _indexNum = Number(_i)>> <<capture _indexNum _opt>> <<link _opt>> <<replace "#riddle-buttons">> <<set $riddleAttempts += 1>> <<if _indexNum == _riddle.answer>> <<speech "malgros">> Correct! You may choose your ingredient. Dont take more than three items you won't get to leave here if thats the case. <</speech>> <<set $hasIngredientAccess = true>> <<set $riddleSuccess = true>> <<link "Choose ingredient">><<goto "ingredient_selection">><</link>> <<else>> <<if $riddleAttempts < $riddleLimit>> <<speech "malgros">> Incorrect. You won’t get anything without solving this. Better luck next time. You can try again if you like. <</speech>> <<link "Try another riddle">><<goto "riddle">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Essence Vault">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> <<else>> <<speech "malgros">>Incorrect. You won’t get anything without solving this. Better luck next time.You have no attempts left for today. <</speech>> <<link "Leave Essence Vault">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> <</if>> <</if>> <</replace>> <</link>> <</capture>> <</for>> </div> <</if>> <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Ah… the vault did not chew you up, after all. And you even returned with your limbs. That’s more than I can say for some of my assistants. <</speech>> She rises gracefully from her seat, robes trailing behind like midnight smoke. Her gaze drops to the bundle in my arms. <<speech "thalara">> Now then... show me what wonders or disasters you’ve brought me. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> The Vault Keeper gave me a test. A riddle. I passed. These are what I earned. <</speech>> Thalara's eyes glitter faintly. She lifts a glowing vial, turning it delicately in the light. <<speech "thalara">> Ingredients you brought, Not bad for a first forage. You’ve the makings of a true potion binder. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|interact_with_mage_1_2]] <>

<> <<set $currentObjectives = "Go to Lady Serelyne at East wing for First Session">> <<speech "thalara">> But remember, these are not mere ingredients. They are choices, Caelan raw threads waiting to be spun into the shape of your new self. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And you… you want me to decide what shape that will be? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> It must be you, my prince. Or perhaps I should say my princess-in-becoming. What part of yourself do you wish to see changed first? Your face, perhaps? Your curves? Or maybe... you'd rather begin somewhere less visible, like your skin’s softness or your scent? <</speech>> She circles Caelan slowly, appraising him like a sculptor gazing at unshaped marble. <<speech "thalara">> This body of yours is a kingdom too, one we will gently remake. But tell me, heir of Velmoria... where shall the first brick be laid? <</speech>> <<set $reverse_passage = "veil_tower">> <<set $currentArc["main_arc"] = 6>> [[Choose Potion|potion_lab]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Maid Chamber Corridor</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/maid_room_corridor.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/maid_room_corridor_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="maera_chamber_map_select" points="93,469,90,129,102,136,126,101,151,97,181,175,191,179,193,403,150,396,126,405,123,433,94,474" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="maera_chamber_map_select" /> <polygon id="nyssa_chamber_map_select" points="589,167,600,157,629,53,678,105,699,93,697,498,670,491,594,449,587,439" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="nyssa_chamber_map_select" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Maid Chamber Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Maera's Chamber</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/maera_chamber.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/maera_chamber_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_maera" points="419,465,421,447,414,413,407,415,385,401,394,331,387,329,387,317,404,265,399,231,408,215,417,179,431,167,450,177,454,212,470,230,463,262,476,306,469,332,478,397,474,411,461,408,451,411,444,460,437,463,434,414,430,463" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_maera" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Maera's Chamber|bed_chamber_girl]] | [[Leave Maid Chamber Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Nyssa's Chamber</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/nyssa_chamber.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/nyssa_chamber_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_nyssa" points="428,466,432,455,421,421,405,428,404,437,390,436,395,311,382,299,385,252,367,237,369,220,366,208,374,201,385,204,385,222,382,233,395,248,399,254,410,225,416,220,422,184,429,176,440,176,448,186,457,216,468,237,478,264,489,288,504,306,506,325,497,326,508,348,529,368,513,378,511,395,500,414,491,419,492,407,477,409,467,416,458,417,451,425,446,459,445,468" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_nyssa" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Nyssa's Chamber|bed_chamber_girl]] | [[Leave Maid Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Man Chamber Corridor</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/man_chamber_corridor.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/man_chamber_corridor_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="torin_chamber_map_select" points="153,102,215,129,338,130,356,108,356,436,144,465" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="torin_chamber_map_select" /> <polygon id="jeral_chamber_map_select" points="553,128,666,23,668,478,658,497,619,493,557,422" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="jeral_chamber_map_select" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Man Chamber Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Torin's Chamber</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/torin_chamber.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/torin_chamber_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_torin" points="91,470,105,445,102,421,90,422,87,430,81,417,88,362,96,327,80,310,75,279,80,221,105,186,112,195,119,191,122,172,127,153,138,147,149,156,153,175,154,183,164,193,167,185,183,198,194,218,196,247,200,278,197,306,187,324,180,324,186,416,174,419,178,471,168,473,159,466,157,443,153,416,137,416,125,418,120,464,109,472,100,474" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_torin" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Torin's Chamber|bed_chamber_male]] | [[Leave Man Chamber Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Jeral's Chamber</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/jeral_chamber.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/jeral_chamber_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_jeral" points="355,156,357,145,366,135,380,136,390,146,391,163,389,174,395,187,415,193,426,211,428,242,427,274,423,306,417,320,431,400,412,411,410,425,404,429,404,447,418,466,407,467,392,455,391,429,387,422,378,360,367,358,355,422,349,428,351,455,342,462,322,466,329,455,339,443,337,427,331,421,332,411,315,404,330,317,325,302,320,284,316,257,321,232,327,215,322,210,333,196,347,190,363,182,364,170,359,164" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_jeral" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Jeral's Chamber|bed_chamber_male]] | [[Leave Man Room Corridor|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Royal Bed Chamber</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/royel_bed_chamber_img.png'>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] < 3>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/royel_bed_chamber_img.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> </div> <<else>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/royel_bed_chamber_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_queen_random" points="322,415,326,407,346,402,365,308,360,295,361,249,356,243,363,215,379,202,383,183,385,158,397,150,405,156,407,167,411,186,416,204,426,210,438,243,432,250,437,290,429,308,439,378,446,399,466,408,473,419,441,423,431,417,415,417,412,426,402,416,395,416,388,426,381,420,370,413,350,421" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_queen_random" /> </svg> </div> <</if>> [[Leave Royal Bed Chamber|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Royal Leisure Chamber</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/royal_leisure_chamber_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/royel_leisure_chamber_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_king_random" points="409,454,418,451,436,348,425,332,426,308,419,288,428,273,430,239,434,220,444,212,454,226,460,214,460,192,475,186,486,193,489,223,495,225,502,215,509,217,511,232,519,242,524,279,530,290,528,308,522,312,520,333,513,346,522,436,537,454,517,464,508,459,509,464,499,468,484,458,465,458,434,469" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_king_random" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Royal Leisure Chamber|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Dungeon</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/dungeon_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/dungeon_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_marda" points="366,471,361,465,363,453,328,443,315,430,327,363,336,326,348,278,340,271,320,308,308,314,304,301,315,289,332,254,335,219,346,196,356,194,366,198,362,182,366,160,378,153,387,156,396,176,392,196,398,203,406,195,426,214,421,234,432,265,440,291,448,297,448,313,454,325,464,338,449,366,446,390,440,365,426,343,427,375,437,429,425,439,398,448,394,463,384,462,377,458" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_marda" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Dungeon|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Stable</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/stable_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/stable_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_tomm" points="65,481,81,473,84,462,80,424,65,413,55,401,58,368,46,360,50,333,55,296,63,262,80,249,90,222,103,208,114,214,119,231,121,246,133,248,150,258,154,280,154,306,146,341,143,360,146,388,146,408,136,424,133,454,133,475,132,493,122,492,120,476,122,451,116,426,102,422,100,443,99,465,100,477,81,486" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_tomm" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Stable|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Right Tower</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/right_tower_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/right_tower_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_gribblek" points="166,450,178,441,160,435,163,408,165,374,155,362,152,339,159,325,165,300,175,295,160,288,159,276,146,262,131,241,126,235,143,235,160,245,165,246,171,230,185,221,193,221,207,220,222,227,229,241,231,246,242,242,256,238,276,235,264,248,250,263,234,282,232,296,235,313,242,335,241,347,243,362,249,375,244,381,243,388,238,401,240,411,244,432,226,441,233,450,211,454,211,441,196,439,196,447,187,453,175,455" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_gribblek" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Right Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<if $user_stats.energy >= 10>> <<set $user_stats.energy -= 10>> <<elseif $user_stats.energy > 0>> <<set $user_stats.energy = 0>> <</if>> <<if $user_stats.energy < 10>> <<set $alert_message = "Your Energy is very Low. Need to sleep">> <<goto "mc_bed_chamber">> <</if>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Lake</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/lake_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/lake_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="court_yard" points="206,233,224,232,225,223,241,221,256,215,258,202,265,214,283,214,294,216,303,204,305,193,313,205,320,175,326,206,332,199,338,226,337,257,308,248,289,235,273,235,246,245,228,245" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="court_yard" /> <polygon id="castle_map_back_select" points="163,227,167,160,177,156,181,141,185,160,195,162,200,126,210,156,217,128,227,152,236,149,250,175,254,153,266,165,261,136,272,117,286,84,286,68,295,97,299,87,303,117,308,110,310,127,312,149,309,159,309,198,305,191,303,203,294,215,266,212,259,201,256,213,241,221,225,222,223,231,207,234,193,237,176,235" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="castle_map_back_select" /> <polygon id="castle_map_front_select" points="70,202,68,192,73,190,75,172,81,165,86,164,88,94,81,91,90,83,92,58,98,68,110,42,112,15,115,46,122,67,130,64,131,79,137,92,133,98,134,126,141,128,145,109,149,118,152,101,155,121,164,133,167,125,169,144,168,158,164,201,162,227,139,244,137,159,121,169,102,163,85,173" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="castle_map_front_select" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Lake|court_yard]] <>

<> <<if $user_stats.energy >= 10>> <<set $user_stats.energy -= 10>> <<elseif $user_stats.energy > 0>> <<set $user_stats.energy = 0>> <</if>> <<if $user_stats.energy < 10>> <<set $alert_message = "Your Energy is very Low. Need to sleep">> <<goto "mc_bed_chamber">> <</if>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Castle Sovereign Wing Map</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/castle.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img src="images/map/castle_map_front.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="castle_map_back_select" points="40,369,4,410,4,458,76,457,79,410,45,410" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="castle_map_back_select" /> <polygon id="council_chamber" points="120,237,293,236,294,303,121,303" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="council_chamber" /> <polygon id="east_wing" points="55,306,55,264,58,253,67,243,83,239,99,243,110,254,112,271,111,305" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="east_wing" /> <polygon id="dressing_bloom" points="49,380,47,339,53,324,66,315,87,311,99,315,110,326,115,344,115,372,114,382" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="dressing_bloom" /> <polygon id="thrones_mirror" points="250,377,249,338,255,322,270,313,287,311,302,320,312,335,312,356,311,378" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="thrones_mirror" /> <polygon id="iron_garden" points="493,470,492,377,505,363,523,350,540,352,553,357,560,367,571,368,582,368,590,363,606,352,629,351,638,358,645,361,662,366,699,380,699,484,641,486,591,464,555,471" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="iron_garden" /> <polygon id="great_hall" points="122,227,117,156,102,157,183,87,265,157,246,154,245,227" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="great_hall" /> <polygon id="great_library" points="120,378,119,312,246,312,244,377" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="great_library" /> <polygon id="royal_kitchen" points="78,457,79,397,121,388,149,390,170,399,178,410,197,413,217,393,252,387,271,392,284,398,292,406,295,430,292,456" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="royal_kitchen" /> <polygon id="royal_garden" points="3,460,1,499,699,500,698,486,641,487,591,467,557,473,493,472,431,475,374,476,278,475,192,476,103,478,90,459" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="royal_garden" /> <polygon id="out_side" points="422,297,415,237,414,205,525,198,527,238,514,306,501,304,454,305" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="out_side" /> </svg> </div> <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Great Hall</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/great_hall_img.png'>> [img[setup.ImagePath + 'location/great_hall_img.png']] [[Leave Great Hall|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 2>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Council Chamber</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/council_room.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img src="images/map/council_chamber_queen_only_map.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_queen" points="221,382,237,373,248,315,246,294,246,277,247,256,259,247,261,221,270,218,277,223,281,247,295,271,291,306,292,335,300,373,316,382,278,387,261,387" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_queen" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Council Chamber|castle_map_front_select]] <<else>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Council Chamber</h3> [img[setup.ImagePath + 'location/council_room.png']] [[Leave Council Chamber|castle_map_front_select]] <</if>> <>

<> The Morning After — Council Chamber, Midmorning <<speech "mc">> Good morning, Mother. I... slept, though my dreams were strange. I suppose I now stand upon the first step of the path we discussed. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Indeed you do, my child. The moment you rose from that council seat, your fate shifted like the winds of prophecy. And now, we must shape you to match the crown you are to bear. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I am ready... or I wish to be. You spoke of three pillars, and I still remember their names. But which one must I begin with? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Each pillar is vital, but one must come first to anchor the rest. The court may overlook uncertain manners or political missteps... but they will not overlook a prince in a dress. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|interact_with_queen_1]] <>

<> She stood and moved toward the window, where sunlight spilled across the velvet floor. Her eyes, clear as carved sapphire, regarded her child not unkindly. <<speech "alinora">> Thus, your body must change first. Slowly, carefully. The illusion must not be illusion. It must be truth bone, skin, breath, and form. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I will face it head on. Is there someone to guide me? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> There is. You shall meet Archmage Thalara Moonveil, Mistress of Essence and Change. She has served this house longer than you’ve drawn breath and has mastered arts few dare name aloud. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Will it hurt? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|interact_with_queen_2]] <>

<> <<speech "alinora">> It will challenge you. Pain may come, though not always in ways you expect. But Thalara is gentle, when she wishes to be. And she understands the weight of what you are to become. <</speech>> She steps closer now, placing one gloved hand against Caelan’s cheek. <<speech "alinora">> Remember, daughter-to-be... this is not punishment. This is ascension. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Where will I find her? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> In the Moonspire Atelier - Veil Tower, high in the east tower. She prefers her solitude, so knock only once. She’ll know you’ve come before you touch the door. <</speech>> <<set $currentObjectives = "Go to Veil tower and meet Archmage Thalara Moonveil at Moonspire Atelier">> <<speech "mc">> I’ll go now. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> One last word, Trust her, Caelan. Let her magic shape you, but hold tight to your spirit. The body bends... but the soul must choose its own form. <</speech>> <<set $currentArc["main_arc"] = 3>> [[Go Outside|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<if $user_stats.energy >= 10>> <<set $user_stats.energy -= 10>> <<elseif $user_stats.energy > 0>> <<set $user_stats.energy = 0>> <</if>> <<if $user_stats.energy < 10>> <<set $alert_message = "Your Energy is very Low. Need to sleep">> <<goto "mc_bed_chamber">> <</if>> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Casle Front Gate</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/outside_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/outside_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="castle_map_front_select" points="175,271,174,241,183,214,187,218,192,197,201,198,209,183,224,216,234,239,245,225,242,190,264,188,278,165,291,181,299,183,299,129,293,114,295,99,302,62,305,68,312,48,319,56,325,37,341,71,348,36,357,62,359,102,357,133,367,131,370,135,376,123,399,123,402,112,412,129,423,132,437,151,446,166,462,175,463,195,464,258,453,296,462,330,395,317,354,343,321,345,271,337" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="castle_map_front_select" /> <polygon id="lake_map_select" points="358,343,396,318,460,329,482,304,507,308,535,296,557,322,573,342,582,349,608,363,627,373,622,396,571,392,567,383,555,385,528,391,493,387,445,378,391,367" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="lake_map_select" /> <polygon id="castle_map_back_select" points="422,129,430,113,436,97,442,113,456,106,461,89,467,100,484,103,477,80,486,67,483,38,494,36,497,47,506,29,517,47,526,61,534,74,546,76,542,97,543,137,557,168,550,172,558,192,569,195,569,186,575,174,583,185,585,197,587,212,590,241,599,247,602,235,614,259,619,290,632,310,608,304,574,340,538,298,509,306,483,302,461,325,455,296,466,256,464,174,447,165" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="castle_map_back_select" /> </svg> </div> [[Back to Castle|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Royal Iron Garden</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/iron_garden_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/iron_garden_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_aldric" points="150,476,163,463,172,443,168,406,147,381,157,326,160,279,180,221,146,213,140,202,143,178,154,137,175,119,192,113,201,109,208,97,210,72,220,60,230,58,238,63,246,73,247,90,246,105,257,110,272,115,288,131,300,150,309,180,312,202,316,223,316,238,314,259,310,276,303,291,290,293,293,314,298,347,309,380,293,404,291,427,291,445,299,478,290,483,278,477,272,451,265,426,256,400,251,387,249,372,205,370,206,390,199,413,195,442,195,465,186,473,169,481,155,483" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_aldric" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Iron Garden|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Castle East Wing</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/east_wing_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/east_wing_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_serelyne" points="365,468,394,461,401,435,408,380,403,365,402,356,411,315,406,302,416,278,424,274,421,248,425,237,436,232,446,238,451,248,447,266,455,273,462,279,467,302,466,309,473,352,471,362,468,375,470,401,472,424,479,450,484,460,507,468,485,472,476,476,464,471,455,476,444,478,438,480,422,472,410,475,391,473" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_serelyne" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave East Wing|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Royal Dressing Bloom</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/dressing_bloom_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/dressing_bloom_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_veletia" points="156,487,169,485,174,476,186,479,193,466,200,436,202,402,203,366,202,356,190,346,190,329,177,324,182,297,184,272,195,248,210,221,207,211,206,197,213,187,220,175,231,163,246,158,258,158,275,174,282,187,282,214,288,227,305,246,316,260,296,291,287,296,293,315,293,343,293,377,295,419,297,454,304,476,319,478,330,486,306,489,277,484,276,491,254,496,226,490,214,486,192,492" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_veletia" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Royal Dressing Bloom|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Royal Throne Mirror Chamber</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/thrones_mirror_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/thrones_mirror_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_marlec" points="237,468,252,460,258,449,255,430,244,423,237,424,235,442,216,427,226,375,229,340,227,333,230,322,227,284,220,282,224,261,223,253,230,224,239,217,252,214,258,201,252,180,259,167,269,166,278,167,286,179,282,196,286,205,284,213,301,217,315,223,315,231,322,258,325,279,320,283,315,316,312,329,309,340,323,414,320,423,318,429,311,435,311,458,322,471,312,474,301,462,294,432,284,428,280,421,276,427,269,428,270,459,255,470" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_marlec" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Royal Throne Mirror Chamber|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Royal Great Library</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/royal_library_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/royal_library_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_anthos" points="491,478,508,472,516,467,525,445,529,423,534,392,531,379,524,359,528,339,526,332,538,318,538,310,535,304,549,301,555,293,561,287,560,271,563,266,571,260,577,264,581,269,581,278,581,287,590,298,605,305,601,312,613,338,617,347,614,361,611,380,608,394,617,459,630,475,646,482,640,488,632,492,618,488,608,489,603,480,595,476,598,486,590,487,581,478,568,477,561,483,551,486,539,486,545,479,534,479,518,483,507,485" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_anthos" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Great Library|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Royal Kitchen</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/royal_kitchen_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/royal_kitchen_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_halda" points="372,459,384,455,406,458,405,475,409,493,429,492,428,477,429,457,439,434,438,408,435,365,446,358,445,339,429,323,454,312,459,295,450,275,438,258,423,244,414,239,409,222,405,205,394,192,376,190,363,200,362,225,349,242,334,253,315,270,306,282,317,300,331,310,335,319,330,328,319,334,316,349,302,359,309,373,313,385,325,380,322,399,321,412,323,426,321,441,338,451,341,460,351,465,350,476,337,483,345,489,353,492,364,489,372,482" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_halda" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Royal Kitchen|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Royal Garden</h3> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/royal_garden_img.png'>> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 7 / 5;"> <img @src="setup.ImagePath +'map/royal_garden_map.png'" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 700 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="interact_with_edran" points="100,494,100,486,112,480,109,460,99,467,88,459,83,441,83,409,83,381,87,345,81,331,83,319,80,305,74,296,84,248,92,216,103,207,109,203,117,181,121,163,138,154,147,153,155,162,161,179,169,195,174,204,187,213,187,227,192,253,202,275,205,293,199,297,200,318,202,329,192,344,191,357,198,383,205,408,206,424,197,440,189,453,173,455,175,469,185,482,186,488,176,491,165,487,156,477,152,461,140,458,140,471,134,480,122,490,113,497" class="castle_front_map" data-passage="interact_with_edran" /> </svg> </div> [[Leave Royal Garden|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "anthos">> A queen who does not read will be ruled by those who do. Sit. The ledger of border treaties won’t translate itself. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I was hoping for something lighter maybe myths or poetry. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Poetry will come once your enemies are dead or disarmed. Until then, we read about taxes and terrain. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "anthos">> This tome here written by a madwoman with three crowns and five assassinated husbands. Pay attention, her madness was genius. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sounds like the kind of queen I’m supposed to become. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Perhaps. Just don’t drink the ink. She did that too. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "anthos">> A woman may sway with a smile, but true dominion rests in knowing what the ministers fear at night. Read this. Slowly. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You always make it sound like knowledge is a blade. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Wiser than steel. Sharper, too. And it never rusts. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "anthos">> The records of Queen Elyria’s reign are forbidden. Naturally, I’ve kept two copies. Do you want power, or comfort? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> If I wanted comfort, I’d be in the kitchens, not here with dust and secrets. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Good. Then read her downfall. It's a mirror with teeth. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "anthos">> See this glyph? Misread it, and you grant immunity. Read it correctly, and you condemn. That is the power of clarity. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So, no pressure, then. Just one wrong syllable and someone lives or dies? <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Exactly. Welcome to governance. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "anthos">> Diplomacy begins in ink. This scroll holds the alliance that saved Velmoria twice. Learn to write your salvation. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Or damnation, depending on who reads it. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Ah, you're catching on. Words are weapons. Now forge wisely. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "anthos">> You want to be queen? Then learn to lie beautifully. Start by reading this manual on court flattery. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Flattery sounds easy enough. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Easy flattery is spotted a mile away. True flattery wraps truth in silk and makes your enemies smile. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "anthos">> Ah, the young royal enters my domain again. Looking for forbidden truths or just avoiding sword practice? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe both. Your shelves don’t bruise my ribs. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Not yet. But they may bruise your illusions. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "anthos">> If you master the history of every noble house, you’ll rule them before they know you’ve begun. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sounds like memorizing a thousand grudges. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Exactly. And knowing which one to press makes all the difference. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "anthos">> Books do not judge your body, Caelan. They care only for the mind within. Feed it. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then maybe the books are the only ones who don’t care who or what I’m becoming. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Ah, but books will still shape the queen you must be. If you let them. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "anthos">> Every queen must know the laws of succession how to bend them, break them, or ensure they hold. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I thought succession was simple when you’re the heir. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> It’s simple until someone challenges your blood, your body, or your right to rule. Be ready for all three. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "anthos">> These records were sealed after the War of Three Sisters. Open them, and you’ll see why. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> If they’re sealed, why are you showing them to me? <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Because you need truths that scare lesser minds. Queens do not rule on rumors. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "anthos">> The glyphs here alter depending on the reader’s intent. What do you see? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> It... changed. It’s softer now. Gentler. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> So are you. The library adapts to truth. As must you. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "anthos">> There are ten languages spoken in Velmoria, four of them by spies. Learn at least six. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Including the language of secrets? <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> That one you’re already studying. Every day you wear the crown’s shadow. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "anthos">> This codex once belonged to a queen who ruled through whispers. Her pen was her dagger. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And people feared her more than swords? <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Because she made kings weep with a letter. Learn to write like that. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "anthos">> You’re forming into something rare, Caelan. Not just a ruler. A sovereign mind. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Even if I’m no longer seen as a man? <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Wisdom has no gender. But it does demand sacrifice. Keep reading. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "anthos">> The archive beneath us holds banned spells and theories. Most are dangerous. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And you're offering them… why? <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Because you’ll face enemies who use them. Better a queen who knows the darkness than one surprised by it. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "anthos">> This essay argues that femininity in queenship is an asset, not a limitation. It enraged five kings. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then it’s probably worth reading twice. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Three times. Especially once you begin ruling in silks, not armor. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "anthos">> Here lies the map of Velmoria's ley-lines. Whoever controls the flows of magic controls the realm’s heartbeat. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And how many people know this exists? <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Four. After today, five. Guard it like your throne. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "anthos">> Tell me, Caelan when a noble calls you “Your Grace” with a sneer, how do you respond? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I smile like I know a secret about their house. <</speech>> <<speech "anthos">> Good. Because you will. Now, let’s look up their scandals. <</speech>> <</if>> [[Leave Royal Librarian Anthos Quillshade|great_library]] | [[Leave Royal Library|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 20)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "edran">> Careful where you step, Your Highness... that’s Feylace bloom. One brush and your cheeks might blush for hours inside and out. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that a warning... or an invitation? Gods, I didn’t think flowers could flirt. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> Some do. And some listen. The Moonpetals over there opened wider when you passed. They must like what you’re becoming. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "edran">> Velmorian Honey drips slowest at dawn. The bees hum a lullaby to coax it from the combs. Only gentleness earns their gift. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Gentleness... not my strongest trait lately. But maybe I’m learning. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> You are. Even the lilies bend softer when you pass. They're listening, even if you aren’t. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "edran">> Starblossoms only open for those with dreams they haven’t spoken aloud. I see five blooming behind you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And what would those dreams be, Edran? <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> If I said them aloud, they’d belong to me. And something tells me they’re far too precious for that. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "edran">> Glowleaf burns brighter when it feels desire nearby. Yours must be leaking like sunlight through silk. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You're making it very hard to pretend I'm only here for botany. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> Pretend all you want. Even the vines wrap tighter when you're flustered. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "edran">> You brushed against the Softroot patch... your skin will feel like velvet for hours. May want to warn anyone who dares touch you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Anyone, Edran? That a suggestion? <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> No, Your Highness. That was a temptation. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "edran">> Seraphmilk lilies bloomed last night. Only do that when someone nearby is craving purity and transformation in equal measure. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You think I’m craving purity? That’s rich. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> No. But the flower never lies. Maybe you want to be seen as worthy... not just beautiful. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "edran">> One drop of Crimsondew on the lips and you’ll taste every kiss you’ve never had. Dangerous, if you’re lonely. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Good thing I’m not lonely. Just... curious. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> Then don’t lick your lips. Or do. But not without company. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "edran">> That vine you touched? Vinesilk. It’ll stretch your limbs just enough to make your next gown jealous. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Are you always this poetic, or do you save it for those who’ve changed? <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> I bloom for those who are becoming. And you’re in full season. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "edran">> Feylace Petals shimmer when someone nearby is being watched. They lit up the moment you stepped in. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Watched... by plants? Or someone else? <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> Does it matter, Caelan? Either way, you’re captivating. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "edran">> Crimsonroot Dust is stable now. It means the garden’s in balance... or that you are. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Balance? I feel like a rope pulled between two cliffs. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> And still, you don’t snap. That’s not weakness, Caelan. That’s the beauty of the becoming. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "edran">> The Lilywhisper Nectar you stepped near… it’s meant for those learning grace. Your stride has changed. More wind than thunder now. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I didn’t notice. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> That’s how you know it’s real. Grace never asks for applause. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "edran">> You brushed through a Velvetgrove patch. Your thighs will carry softness for days. Tell me, does it feel like armor... or surrender? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe it’s both. Maybe I’m learning softness is a kind of shield. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> Spoken like someone blooming in the right soil. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "edran">> I left some Starblossom Pollen out, and the wind scattered it... toward your path. It never drifts without meaning. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You sound like you expect fate to trim the hedges. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> Fate trims nothing. But it does leave pollen trails for the brave to follow. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "edran">> Moonpetal Extract is at its peak tonight. One whiff, and the body forgets how to pretend. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And what if I’ve spent years pretending to be someone I’m not? <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> Then it will taste like freedom. Bitter at first… but freeing. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "edran">> Glowleaf shimmered when you laughed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it do that. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe it liked the sound of me being... me. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> Then laugh more often. The plants aren't the only ones listening. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "edran">> I caught your shadow stretching toward the Seraphmilk vines. Shadows don’t lie, Caelan. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I must want more from this body than I’m ready to say aloud. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> That’s alright. The garden speaks for you until you’re ready. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "edran">> You smell of Ashfern Flakes. Who’s been trying to stop your change? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> No one... just doubts. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> Then bury them here. In soft soil. Doubts don’t bloom they rot. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "edran">> The vines near you coiled tighter today. Vinesilk always senses anticipation. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What makes you think I’m anticipating anything? <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> Because I am. And you're mirroring me. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "edran">> The Glowleaf patch curled slightly as you passed. They're drawn to you now. You’re becoming radiant without noticing. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Radiant’s a strange word to use for someone with dirt under their nails. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> Then it suits you perfectly. Radiance doesn't mean clean it means alive. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 20>> <<speech "edran">> There’s Dragonmoss blooming by the northern rocks. Strong stuff. Good for reinforcing old bones and... resisting softness. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sounds like a warning. <</speech>> <<speech "edran">> A choice. That plant won’t touch you unless you ask it to. And you haven’t. <</speech>> <</if>> [[Leave Royal Gardener Edran Mossfoot|royal_garden]] | [[Leave Royal Garden|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "halda">> Sit your royal backside down, child. You look like you haven’t eaten since the last full moon. One more skipped meal and I’ll drag you in by your ear like I did the pageboy last winter. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I wasn’t trying to skip training ran long, and I just forgot. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Training or not, no heir of Velmoria will walk around looking like a starved crow. Now, eat this stew before I feed it to the hounds and tell them you insulted their mother. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "halda">> I see more bones than belly in that tunic. Are they putting you on a battlefield or a catwalk? Either way, you need strength in your arms and starch in your soul. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> They keep saying I’m changing, but no one mentioned how much hungrier I’d feel. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Aye, that’s because real change burns fuel, darling. Now hush and try the honeyed roast. I laced it with love and just a whisper of rebellion. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "halda">> I added extra butter to your morning rolls. Don’t you dare insult my kitchen by pretending you didn’t want them. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I was trying to be disciplined… but they do smell divine. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Discipline is for drills. Breakfast is sacred. Now bite before it bites back. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "halda">> Come closer, Caelan. No, closer. You smell like sword oil and sorrow. You need soup. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is soup your answer to everything? <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Yes. And it’s never failed me, a single soul, or a broken bone. Now, open wide or I’ll spoon it into your princely mouth myself. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "halda">> I noticed the new waist on your dress robes. Pretty, but thin doesn’t win wars or wear crowns without fainting. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Are you calling me too delicate now? <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> I’m calling you a royal rose that needs roots, not just petals. Eat your lentils, Caelan. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "halda">> That scowl tells me someone dared suggest you skip dessert. Was it the mage or the mistress of lace? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Veletia. She says cream cakes puff the wrong parts of me. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Tell her the queen's hips are no accident and the kingdom runs on pastries. Have seconds. I insist. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "halda">> I baked those honeyfig tarts you liked last month. Ate one myself just to be sure the magic held. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You test your food like a royal poisoner. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> That’s because love can be lethal, dear. And nothing’s deadlier than hunger ignored. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "halda">> You’ve been pacing like a starving wolf. Sit. Chew. Talk after. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is it that obvious? <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Only to someone who’s fed every nervous wreck in this castle. Bite, then breathe. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "halda">> You passed by the kitchen thrice and didn’t step in. That’s a crime in seven provinces, you know. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I wasn’t sure I was hungry... <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Darling, hunger isn’t always in the belly. Sometimes, it’s in the soul. And stew helps both. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "halda">> No one commands the kitchen like me, child. But you you're the only one I’ve ever offered seconds to without a bribe. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I feel honored... and slightly threatened. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Good. That’s how you know it’s real love. Now, don’t make me ladle threats. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "halda">> You’ve got that look again like a goose who forgot how to fly. Sit. I've got peppered parsnip pie and opinions to share. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That’s a dangerous combination. Should I prepare for a lecture or a feast? <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Both. And if you don’t clear that plate, I’ll chase you with a ladle and a long list of worries. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "halda">> I stitched this apron for you. Not to cook in, mind just to remind you you’ve got a home in this kitchen. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You sewed this? That’s… oddly touching, Halda. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Don’t get used to it. I cry once a decade, and you’re two crumbs away from seeing it early. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "halda">> If you keep strutting around in corsets and skirts without eating enough, you’ll faint on your way to the throne. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m trying to look the part, Halda. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Then look it with strength, child. Queens don’t sway in the wind they bend it. Now eat your baked roots. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "halda">> I saw your reflection in the pot lid. That new blush shade suits you, but it won’t feed your blood. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that your way of saying I’m looking pale? <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> I’m saying even a rose needs meat on its stem to bloom. Here roast duck with plum glaze. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "halda">> You dream of ruling, but forget ruling starts with breakfast. Have you ever seen a starving lion give orders? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Lions also don’t wear heels, Halda. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Then be the first. Just don’t do it hungry. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "halda">> Your spine’s straight, your voice is stronger… but your plate’s still half full. That’s a betrayal in my house. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m nervous, Halda. It dulls my appetite. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Then chew through your nerves like a good roast slow and steady. One bite at a time, child. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "halda">> You passed your etiquette lesson? Good. Now pass the gravy and tell me what you really think of the queen’s new plan. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> It’s terrifying. But I can’t say that in court. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Then say it in stew. Fear cooks down sweeter than you think. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "halda">> Your cheekbones are looking sharp again like you’ve been living on nerves and air. Unacceptable. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You notice everything, don’t you? <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> It’s my job to feed more than bellies, dear. Now hush. The bread’s still warm, and I made extra honey butter. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "halda">> Tried a new stew spiced it with hope and a hint of rebellion. Thought it matched your mood. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You read me better than the court seer. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> That’s because I listen with a spoon. Now eat up before hope goes cold. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "halda">> One day, you’ll sit the throne and recall the scent of fresh garlic and broth. Mark me, child this kitchen builds empires. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I owe more to you than the council. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Aye, but I’ll settle for an honest appetite and a clean bowl. Now dig in, heir of Velmoria. <</speech>> <</if>> <<link "Eat Something in the Desk">> <<set $user_stats["energy"] to 90>> <<goto "royal_kitchen">> <</link>> | [[Ask Halda cook soemthing|ask_halda_cook_something]] | [[Leave Cookmaster Halda Brox|royal_kitchen]] | [[Leave Royal Kitchen|castle_map_front_select]] <>

<> <<set _dish to random(1, 5)>> <<switch _dish>> <<case 1>> <<set _dishName to "Spiced Hare Pie">> <<set _haldaLine1 to "Spiced hare pie? Oho! Someone’s feeling noble or suicidal today. Did your mother put you up to this? Or did your stomach rebel on its own?">> <<set _haldaLine2 to "Let me tell you, lad, skinning a hare is art. Seasoning it with flame-root and crushed ruby peppers? That’s war. But I’ll win it for you.">> <<set _haldaLine3 to "Now be a dear and fetch me some dried sunberries and dragon salt. Unless you want your taste buds to curse your entire bloodline.">> <<case 2>> <<set _dishName to "Goldenroot Stew">> <<set _haldaLine1 to "Goldenroot stew? Trying to impress the court or just hoping your guts stop growling like a direwolf?">> <<set _haldaLine2 to "This stuff’ll melt your pride and rebuild your spine. They say it was once a king’s last meal before he surrendered to a smiling queen. Coincidence? I think not.">> <<set _haldaLine3 to "Toss me three knobs of thunder tuber and a splash of echo oil. And don’t sniff the root raw unless you want to dream about flying goats.">> <<case 3>> <<set _dishName to "Fireberry Glazed Duck">> <<set _haldaLine1 to "Fireberry duck, is it? Fancy. Regal. Dangerous. Just like you’re supposed to be, someday. But today? You look more like burnt toast with legs.">> <<set _haldaLine2 to "No matter. I’ll glaze that duck so perfectly your tongue will bow in gratitude. But you’re plucking the feathers. That’s the price of royalty, sweetheart.">> <<set _haldaLine3 to "Fetch me a handful of fireberries and a pinch of phoenix ash. Carefully. That ash sparks if you sigh too loudly near it.">> <<case 4>> <<set _dishName to "Stonebread with Honey Butter">> <<set _haldaLine1 to "Stonebread again? Either you’re preparing for battle or you miss chewing your feelings.">> <<set _haldaLine2 to "Nothing soft about this dish, boy. It’s tougher than a queen’s marriage vows and half as forgiving. But I’ll knead it until it surrenders.">> <<set _haldaLine3 to "Now get me the thistle flour and the hive-butter from the cold box. And wear gloves this time. I’m still scrubbing honey out of the walls from last week.">> <<case 5>> <<set _dishName to "Lavender Trout with Frostmint">> <<set _haldaLine1 to "Lavender trout, eh? You trying to smell like a garden while eating like a river god? Bold. I like it.">> <<set _haldaLine2 to "This dish needs precision, patience, and a trout that hasn’t cursed your name. So let’s hope the last one you insulted wasn’t aquatic.">> <<set _haldaLine3 to "Hand me fresh frostmint leaves and that bottle of moon-vine oil. Oh, and no sneezing in the lavender. I’ll taste it in the sauce, I swear on my ladle.">> <</switch>> <<speech "mc">> Halda, I’m craving something different today. Could you make me… <<=_dishName>>? <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> <<= _haldaLine1>> <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Well, I figured if I’m going to be dragged through transformations and etiquette drills, I might as well enjoy something that tastes like rebellion. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> <<=_haldaLine2>> <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You know, I’m starting to think you care more about the food than my noble future. <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> Care more? Boy, food IS your future! You think rulers earn loyalty with speeches and crowns? No! They win hearts with taste and tables. And today, your royal behind is going to help cook. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Fine. What do you need me to do? <</speech>> <<speech "halda">> <<=_haldaLine3>> <</speech>> <<set $user_stats["energy"] to 90>> [[Leave Halda|royal_kitchen]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "gribblek">> Well, well, the pretty princeling returns. What is it this time? A cursed ring? A haunted hairbrush? Or perhaps you're here to ask my opinion on eyeliner that doubles as a scrying tool? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m here for knowledge, not fashion tips. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Tch. Same thing, really. Both are illusions meant to protect squishy egos. Now what do I get in return for enlightening your royal cluelessness? <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "gribblek">> You know, most people knock before barging into my tower. But not you. No, you stride in like a glitter-drenched storm and expect wisdom to spill from my fanged mouth like wine. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Because you always give it eventually. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Ugh. Flattery and accuracy. Fine. Sit. But I want double figs this time. No stems. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "gribblek">> You're changing again, I see. Inside and out. You wear it like someone trying on another's skin unsure whether it fits, or if it’ll bite back. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Does it show that much? <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> To most? No. To me? Like a troll in a tutu. But don’t worry. Discomfort is the tax of transformation. Pay it proudly. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "gribblek">> Once, long ago, a goblin king tried to become a unicorn. Horn and all. Do you know what he learned? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Let me guess he failed. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> No, he succeeded. But no one believed it was real. Lesson: sometimes becoming is the easy part. Being seen is harder. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "gribblek">> The palace mages think I’m mad. Maybe I am. But madness is just insight marinated too long. I see truths they’re too polished to touch. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then tell me one of those truths. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Fine. Here’s one: the crown doesn't fear weakness it fears unpredictability. You, my shiny little wildcard, are terrifying. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "gribblek">> You smell like jasmine and self-doubt. A strange combination, but fitting. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You’re not exactly a bouquet yourself. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> True. But I’m not trying to rule a kingdom. You are. So maybe spray on some certainty next time, hmm? <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "gribblek">> I watched a dream-moth die last night. Its wings shimmered with forgotten names. Beautiful and tragic. Reminded me of you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That’s… oddly poetic for you. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Don’t get used to it. Now hand me that rune chalk or I’ll start comparing you to soggy bread again. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "gribblek">> Ah, if it isn’t Velmoria’s least boring noble. You’ve either come for forbidden knowledge, or to hide from your mother. Which is it today? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Bit of both. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Then you’ll need a stronger invisibility spell… and stronger tea. The court is merciless and you’re still learning how to play dirty. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "gribblek">> I found an ancient prophecy that mentioned a “shifting heir with moonlight in their eyes.” Sound familiar, or shall I fetch a mirror? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What else did it say? <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> That they’d either save the realm or unravel it with a kiss. Delightfully vague. My favorite kind of doom. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "gribblek">> Some say goblins don’t feel loyalty. That we’re all teeth and mischief. But I’ve stuck around, haven’t I? I’ve seen your worst moods, your best dresses, your cursed fingernails and still I stay. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Why? <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Because watching you rewrite fate is the most fun I’ve had in three hundred years. Now pass me a fig and let’s break another rule. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "gribblek">> Oh joy, it’s you again. I was just beginning to enjoy the silence of my miserable little exile and here you come, dragging drama like a jeweled curse. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> If you truly hated me, you wouldn’t save your best riddles for my visits. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Hate? Pfft. You’re like mold on a spellbook annoying, inevitable, and oddly nostalgic. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "gribblek">> You ever try bottling your uncertainty? No? Shame. I could sell it as a love potion. "Essence of Angsty Royal." Guaranteed to confuse and attract. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Careful. That sounds like treason. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Treason? Ha! I’ve committed worse crimes for less interesting people. You, at least, are chaos wrapped in velvet. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "gribblek">> Do you know how many heirs I’ve seen rise and fall? You’re the first one to ask me why the old glyphs hum when you pass. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Do they hum with approval… or warning? <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> That depends on who’s listening. Magic’s like court politics half truth, half threat, and always watching. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "gribblek">> Every time you change your walk, your voice, your clothes I see it. Not with my eyes, princeling. With the skin between dimensions. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What do you see? <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> A soul shedding skin like a serpent but unsure if it’s slithering toward power or just trying not to die. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "gribblek">> I enchanted a fig for you. It’ll make liars hiccup when they speak to you. Eat it before court. Or throw it at your mother. Both amuse me. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You're not supposed to give me weapons. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Pfft. It’s not a weapon. It’s a favor. You owe me now. That’s far more dangerous. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "gribblek">> Your face is changing. Not just from potions and practice no, it’s in the way you look at your reflection. Less dread. More… defiance. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I don’t know if that’s good or bad. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Good? Bad? Bah. It’s delicious. Self-realization tastes better than fear. Keep seasoning it. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "gribblek">> I once tried to pass as a dwarf to steal a rune axe. Grew a beard with glamor magic and everything. Got caught because I insulted their beer. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And that’s supposed to teach me what, exactly? <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Simple: masks only work if you know the culture you're mimicking. Don’t fake femininity understand it. Own it. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "gribblek">> Heard the court's whispering about your transformation. Some call it divine. Others call it dangerous. I call it delightfully disruptive. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Do you ever take anything seriously? <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Only two things: the rules of ancient blood magic… and you, when you stop pretending you’re not scared. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "gribblek">> If you ever want to disappear for a week and return with a new face, I do know a hag in the mosslands. Accepts secrets instead of coin. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sounds suspiciously tempting. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Suspicion is temptation’s perfume. Wear it wisely, princeling. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "gribblek">> Sometimes I wonder why I didn’t just rot in peace. Then you barge in with your questions and dilemmas, and I remember there’s still chaos worth watching. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You could have refused to help. <</speech>> <<speech "gribblek">> Refuse? I may be begrudged, not brainless. Your story’s too good to miss. Just make sure it doesn’t end in fire… or fashion disaster. <</speech>> <</if>> [[Leave Goblin in the Right Tower|right_tower]] | [[Leave Right Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "marda">> You walk like a prince, but your eyes beg to be led. Curious mix. Tell me are you here to command, or to be corrected? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I'm here to understand the chain of command. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Then start by learning how satisfying it is to kneel before you demand others do. Humility first. Power later. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "marda">> Royal blood stains just like common blood. Don’t pout I'm merely reminding you that your crown won’t shield you here. My keys open iron doors… and break egos. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I'm not afraid of a few shadows and cells. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> No, princeling. You’re afraid of being seen in them. And that’s far more delicious. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "marda">> Let me guess you want control over your body, your future, your throne. And yet... every time you speak, it sounds like you're begging to give it away. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That’s not what this is. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Of course it isn’t. But come down here often enough, and even lions start to purr for the whip. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "marda">> There’s a certain elegance to submission, you know. Holding still when commanded, offering the throat without question. It’s not weakness. It’s clarity. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And what would I gain from that? <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Relief. Purpose. And perhaps… the exquisite satisfaction of letting someone else make the world make sense. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "marda">> I watched you in court today chin lifted, voice trembling. Regal, but cracking. You’ll either break gloriously… or learn to let someone shape you properly. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I'm not yours to shape. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Not yet. But even steel bends under fire. And I have all the time and the heat I need. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "marda">> Touch the manacles. Go on. Cold, aren’t they? But comforting too, yes? Like rules with teeth. Some creatures need a cage to know their place. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I'm not some creature to be caged. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> You keep saying that… but your breath quickens every time I speak like this. Denial tastes better when it’s desperate. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "marda">> Every ruler needs a place to fall apart safely. A dungeon can be that… if you let it. Down here, there’s no judgment. Only rules. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You think I'd ever surrender like that? <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> I know you will. The question is whether you'll enjoy it more the first time… or the hundredth. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "marda">> Stand straighter. Speak softer. Look down when you listen. These aren't commands, princeling. They're lessons you’ve begged for in every breath. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I don’t remember begging. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> No? Then allow me to remind you. Slowly. Firmly. With care, of course. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "marda">> You walk into my domain without armor, without authority, and still expect deference. Adorable. Strip yourself of pride, and maybe maybe you’ll learn something real. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You enjoy this far too much. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Pleasure is power, darling. And submission? That’s just pleasure in disguise. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "marda">> Kneel. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What? <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> See? You heard me. You paused. You felt it. The pull. Don’t worry. Most don’t obey right away. But the smart ones always come back for more. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "marda">> You're royalty up there, but down here… you're just another soul waiting to be tested. Strip away the silk, princeling there’s truth in rawness. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m not here to be stripped of anything. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Then why do you keep returning, hm? Seeking punishment… or permission? <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "marda">> Your mother trains your mind. The mage shapes your body. But tell me who teaches you surrender? Who shows you how to yield with purpose? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Yielding was never part of the plan. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> That’s because you’ve never yielded to someone who knew exactly what to do with you. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "marda">> Your voice trembles on the edge of obedience. I could press it just a word, and you'd fall right into place. Shall I test that theory, royal pet? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I am no one’s pet. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Then prove it. Say no… and mean it. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "marda">> Every bruise tells a story. Some are warnings. Others, invitations. Which do you want yours to be? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You're assuming I'd let you mark me. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Darling, I'm not asking. I’m simply watching to see how long you pretend not to crave it. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "marda">> A throne doesn’t teach restraint. A whip does. Shall I give you a lesson in stillness, Caelan? One you won’t soon forget? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I don’t need your discipline. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Oh, but you want it. And wanting... that’s far more dangerous. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "marda">> I saw how you flinched when the noblewoman touched your arm. You’re not frightened of women, are you, princeling? Or just the ones who won’t bow to you? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I flinch from poison, not strength. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Good. Then you’ll drink deeply when I offer the cup. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "marda">> Careful how you look at me, little heir. That spark in your eyes could start a fire. But I do love to watch things burn slowly. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You assume I’d let you near the flame. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> I don’t need to be near. I only need you to want it. And you already do. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "marda">> Tell me, if I fastened you to that post and whispered commands, how long would you last before breaking beautifully? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You’re crossing a line, Marda. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Darling, I don’t cross lines. I redraw them. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "marda">> A queen must rule with grace. But sometimes… sometimes, she must also obey. Wouldn’t you like to practice the other side of the crown? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I don’t kneel easily. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> Good. The ones who resist the hardest make the sweetest sound when they finally drop. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "marda">> They’ll all tell you who to become. The mage, the tailor, the queen. But only I can show you the pleasure of letting go. Entirely. Willingly. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You think surrender is strength? <</speech>> <<speech "marda">> No, Caelan. I know it is. And I’ll make you feel it in every inch of your skin. <</speech>> <</if>> <<if !$marda_session_1>> [[Have Conversayion with Marda 1|marda_session_1]] | <</if>> <<if $marda_session_1 && !$marda_session_2>> [[Have Conversayion with Marda 2|marda_session_2]] | <</if>> [[Leave Dungeon Keeper|dungeon]] | [[Leave Dungeon|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $marda_session_1 = true>> <<speech "marda">>Well, well. A lamb in the wolf’s den. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I… I was just looking for the old armory. I must’ve taken a wrong <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>You didn’t take a wrong turn, sweetling. You took a step into your future. That’s what this place is. A mirror. A forge. A proving ground. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Forgive me. I should go. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_1]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>You could. Or you could stay. Speak. You’ve been so quiet all these weeks. I thought your tongue had been snipped. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>At least I have a tongue. Some people just hiss like serpents. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Oho. The princeling’s teeth are sharper than I thought. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t mean <</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_2]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>Never apologize for fire. You’ll need it. But know this: when you play with flames down here, they bite back. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What… do you mean? <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Sit on that bench. Now. That was a command, not a suggestion. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…Yes, Mistress. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_3]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>Mistress? That came easily. Are the potions working, or is the girl already clawing her way out? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It… it was just instinct. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Instinct reveals more truth than confession. <</speech>> Marda walked behind me. <<speech "marda">>Your shoulders… still stubbornly broad. But the rest? Softening. Mmm. You’re being melted. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t come here for this. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>No one comes here for this. But some leave with something they didn’t know they craved. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You’re terrifying. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Good. You’ll need to learn to kneel before things that terrify you. <</speech>> Marda produced a silken rope. [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_5]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>Arms forward. Let’s play a game. You win? You leave. You lose? I get a confession. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…What kind of game? <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Simple. Endure without pulling away. I’ll touch. You don’t flinch. Fair? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…Fair. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_6]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>Not too tight. Just enough to remind you you’re not in control. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can feel my heart pounding. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Good. That means you’re alive. And maybe… ready. <</speech>> Marda lightly trailed her fingers along My collarbone. <<speech "marda">>This is changing. Do you feel it? Skin thinning. Feminizing. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_7]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Yes… I feel… different lately. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Say it. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel… like I’m slipping. Into her. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Her who? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_8]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Her… me. The woman I’m becoming. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>There she is. <</speech>> Marda leaned close, whispering. <<speech "marda">>Has anyone taught you how to use a curtsey to command a room? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>No… <</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_9]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>I’ll teach you. After you beg. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t beg. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Oh, but you will. <</speech>> Marda trailed her fingers to My lower back. <<speech "marda">>Do you know where shame lives? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_10]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>…Where? <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>In secrets. But you, sweetling, are being unwrapped. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This is wrong. <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>No, it’s raw. And it’s real. <</speech>> Marda gently released the rope. [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_11]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>You won the game. You didn’t flinch. Not once. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I… did? <</speech>> <<speech "marda">>You’re stronger than you think. Or perhaps weaker in delicious new ways. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will you tell anyone about this? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_12]] <>

<> <<speech "nyssa">>Secrets are like chains. I know how to keep them locked tight. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…Thank you. I think. <</speech>> <<set $user_stats.dominance_level -= 3>> [[Leave Dungeon Keeper|dungeon]] | [[Leave Dungeon|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $marda_session_2 = true>> <<speech "mc">>I came… back.<</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Of course you did, my little bird. Curiosity always returns to the cage, especially once it learns to like the bars.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not here to… surrender.<</speech>> <<speech "marda">>No, no. You’re here to discover. What hurts. What excites. What leaks.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_2_1]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>That’s not<</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Strip. Leave the prince at the stairs. Come forward as her. As the trembling little pet who whimpers when I breathe too close.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You… always talk like this?<</speech>> <<speech "marda">>No, pet. I only talk this way to those who deserve to be owned.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_2_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>This is wrong.<</speech>> <<speech "marda">>No. This is ritual.<</speech>> Marda fastened a collar around My neck and attached a short silver chain to it. <<speech "marda">>Tonight, you’ll learn the three poses of obedience: the kneel, the arch, and the open bloom.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That sounds like<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_2_3]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>like the beginning of surrender.<</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Kneel. Back straight. Hands behind neck.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Like this…?<</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Mmm. That’ll do. Now say, ‘Your pet awaits its punishment, Mistress.’<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_2_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Your pet… awaits its punishment, Mistress.<</speech>> <<speech "marda">>Delicious. You say that better than some of the trained ones. Do you know how much power is in surrender, pet? Queens can’t beg. But princesses… can plead so prettily.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not a princess yet.<</speech>> <<speech "marda">>No. But tonight, we’ll coax her out of you one moan at a time.<</speech>> Marda led Me to a padded cross and bound him with soft velvet strapsankles wide, arms spread. She blindfolded him. [[Move Forth|marda_session_2_5]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>Sight is for kings. Feel is for queens.<</speech>> She ran the crop gently over his inner thighs. <<speech "marda">>You’re so soft now… potion working. But softness is dangerous. It attracts attention. And punishment.<</speech>> Smack! The first stroke was firm but not cruel. <<speech "marda">>Say ‘thank you, Mistress.’<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Th-thank you, Mistress…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_2_6]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>You’re learning. Shame tastes better when it’s hot and heavy.<</speech>> A nipple clamp slid on. <<speech "marda">>A gift. To remind your chest it’s not a man’s anymore.<</speech>> Marda whispered as she tightened it. <<speech "marda">>Pain makes you present. That’s why queens used to rule with canes.<</speech>> Marda switched to feathers, brushing sensitive spots already stung by the crop. <<speech "mc">>Why does that feel… so good…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_2_7]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>Because your body’s a contradiction, darling. And contradictions moan loudest.<</speech>> After a silence, Marda spoke again. <<speech "marda">>Tell me your deepest fear.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That I’ll enjoy this… more than I should.<</speech>> <<speech "marda">>You already do. And I won’t stop until you beg me to define you.<</speech>> A jeweled and elegant plug was shown. [[Move Forth|marda_session_2_8]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>Fit for royalty. But it must be earned.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Earned how?<</speech>> <<speech "marda">>By crawling. And confessing. Your girl name.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I… I haven’t chosen yet.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_1_9]] <>

<> <<speech "marda">>Then tonight, I’ll give you one. ‘Caelia.’ Sweet, broken Caelia.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Caelia…<</speech>> She marked the name onto My inner thigh with scented oil. She whispered it in one ear, then bit the other. <<speech "marda">>Now you wear her. Next time, you’ll be her.<</speech>> Marda finished with a ritual of praise and restraint, leaving me bound, collared, but relaxeddrenched in endorphins and confusion. <<speech "marda">>Do you understand now? This is not punishment. This is permission. To become.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|marda_session_2_10]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Yes… Mistress…<</speech>> <<set $user_stats.dominance_level -= 3>> [[Leave Dungeon Keeper|dungeon]] | [[Leave Dungeon|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "tomm">> You again? Careful, Your Highness spend too much time ‘round horses and you’ll start smelling honest. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that a warning or an invitation? <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Depends. You plannin’ to muck stalls, or just admire the view while pretendin’ you ain’t slummin’? <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "tomm">> That filly over there bites diplomats, hates sugar, and kicked the High Priest last week. Frankly, I think she’s ready for court. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sounds like she’d fit right in. <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Only difference is she knows when to hold her tongue. Can’t say the same for half the nobles in velvet. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "tomm">> Yer walk’s gettin’ lighter. Either the mage is doin’ her job, or you’ve finally unclenched that royal backside. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Wouldn’t you like to know. <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Oh, I don’t need to know. I just enjoy seein’ you squirm when I guess right. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "tomm">> I told Bessie here you were comin’. She asked if she should curtsy or run. I said same thing most folk feel when a royal shows up, really. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I hope she picked curtsy. <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Nah. She chose to fart and wander off. Nobility meets reality, right there. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "tomm">> A crown don’t make you smart. Just shiny. Like strappin’ gold shoes on a mule and expectin’ it to win the derby. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You calling me a mule? <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Not at all. Mules are useful. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "tomm">> A little bird told me you’re turnin’ into a lady. If true, might I suggest not wearin’ heels in the mud? The stable doesn’t care how dainty your ankles are. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Noted. Should I also expect the horses to judge my eyeliner? <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Only if it runs faster than you do. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "tomm">> You royal types are like spoiled stallions high-steppin’, shiny, and liable to kick if you’re told “no.” <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Are you trying to say I’m dangerous? <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Nah. I’m sayin’ you could be, if someone ever taught you how to buck properly. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "tomm">> I’ve seen horses that were more graceful in a tutu than nobles are at banquets. Least the horses don’t stab each other over soup placement. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Banquets are political battlefields. <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Aye. And that’s why I eat with the dogs. Less backstabbing, more honest drool. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "tomm">> One of these days, Your Highness, you’ll stop worryin’ how you look in the saddle and start worryin’ how you ride. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You think I’m too vain? <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> I think you polish your boots more than your courage. But don’t worry both scuff up easy in the dirt. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "tomm">> Bess here’s a warhorse, but don’t let that scare you. She only bites when lied to. So… be honest, princeling did you sneak in here for the view, or the company? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe both. <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Well, the view’s got a tail and the company’s got hay in his beard. Pick your poison. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "tomm">> Careful with that saddle, Highness. Last time a noble tried lifting it, he dislocated a pride and bruised his ego. Both took weeks to heal. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe I’ll let someone else carry it. <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Aye, let the peasants sweat so the princes stay pretty Velmoria’s oldest dance. Shall I hum the tune? <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "tomm">> That filly's in heat and you've got perfume on. Might wanna back up before she proposes marriage. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m flattered, honestly. That’s more affection than I’ve gotten from most nobles. <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Well, at least she’s honest. Can’t say the same for Lord Silverpants and his courtly sniffs. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "tomm">> Funny thing about horses they can smell fear, pride, and bad cologne. Lucky for you, you're only wearin' two of those. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Should I ask which two? <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Nah, let it haunt you like a ghost in a perfume shop. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "tomm">> You keep showin' up down here, people’ll think you’re tryin’ to join the staff. Or worse earn your keep. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’d rather clean a stall than attend another etiquette lesson. <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Then congrats you’ve passed the first test. Now let’s see if you can dodge dung like a true stablehand. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "tomm">> You know, if ruling doesn’t work out, you’ve got the cheekbones for traveling minstrel work. Or stable sweeping. One pays better. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And which one’s that? <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> The sweeping. Less heartbreak, more hay rash. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "tomm">> Back again? Either you're avoidin' someone or you’re fallin’ for me. I recommend neither it only ends in manure. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe I like the smell of reality. <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Then you’re in luck, because reality’s piled high and steamin’ in stall three. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "tomm">> This one here Blossom she’s the moodiest mare in the kingdom. If you two ever argued, the castle would explode. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that a compliment or a curse? <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Both. But you’d look fabulous doing it, so go on. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "tomm">> I caught one of the stable boys trying to impress a girl by pretending to be you. I told him to stand straighter and cry prettier. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Cry prettier? <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Aye. Nobles weep like it’s poetry. Us commoners just sweat from the eyes. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "tomm">> Want to know why horses don’t gossip? Because they’re too smart for that nonsense. Just stomp once and move on. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And if someone insults you? <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> You bite ‘em on the arm. Or file a report. Depends on the mood. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "tomm">> I saw your fancy new gown last week. Looked like a unicorn exploded in a silk shop. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> It was enchanted. <</speech>> <<speech "tomm">> Aye, by the spirit of bad taste. But you pulled it off like a peacock in a sword fight. <</speech>> <</if>> [[Leave Stable Keeper|stable]] | [[Leave Stable|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $curr_potion = setup.chest_forward_potions>> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $curr_potion = setup.chest_reverse_potions>> <</if>> <<set $curr_potion_selected = $curr_potion[$userBody.chest.curr_chest]>> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if $curr_potion_selected == undefined>> You do not have any chest potions available for your current chest version to transform. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.chest, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userItems, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredient = {}>> ✦ Ancient Alchemical Recipe ✦ Potion: <<=$curr_potion_selected.name>> Purpose: <<=$curr_potion_selected.purpose>> 🜃 Ingredients: <ol> <<for _item, _value range $curr_potion_selected.ingredients>> <li><<=$userItems[_item].name>>: _value <<=$userItems[_item].unit>></li> <<set $ingredient[_item] = {amount: $userItems[_item].amount, needed: _value, unit: $userItems[_item].unit}>> <</for>> </ol> <<set _potion = $curr_potion_selected>> /* <<set $currentObjectives = 'Create Potion: ' + _potion.name + '. Ingredients are: '>> <<for _item, _value range _potion.ingredients>> <<set $currentObjectives += $userItems[_item].name + ': ' + _value + ' ' + $userItems[_item].unit + ', '>> <</for>> <<replace "#objectives-text" t8n>> <<=$currentObjectives>> <</replace>> */ ⤐ Function: <<=$curr_potion_selected.function>> ⚠ Side Effects: <<=$curr_potion_selected.sideEffects>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($ingredient, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredinetAvailable = true>> <<for _key, _data range $ingredient>> <<if $ingredient[_key].amount < $ingredient[_key].needed>> You do not have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, but you have only <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. <<set $ingredinetAvailable = false>> <<else>> You have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, you have <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. It is more than enough!! <</if>> <</for>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 3>> <<link "Refer Another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<elseif $ingredinetAvailable>> You have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Make Potion">><<goto "potion_create_chest">><</link>> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> You do not have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <</if>> <<set $potion = $curr_potion_selected>> <<set $potionInventory = {}>> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] = 0>> <</for>> <</if>> <>

<> 🧪 Assembling: <<=$potion.name>> Match the exact ingredients to brew this potion: <div class="item-grid"> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div class="item-card"> <<capture _item>> [img[$userItems[_item].img]] <<set $reverse_passage_ingredient = "potion_create_chest">> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> <div class="ingredient_details"><<link "Details">><<set $selectedIngredient = _item>><<goto "IngredientDetail">><</link>></div> <</capture>> </div> <</for>> </div> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> (You have: <<=$userItems[_item].amount>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>>) Needed: <<=_needed>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> | Added: <<=$potionInventory[_item]>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> <<if $userItems[_item].amount > 0>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_chest">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_chest">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_chest">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] > 0>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_chest">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_chest">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_chest">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <</if>> </div> <</for>> <<set $_matches = true>> <<for _item, _data range $potion.ingredients>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] != $potion.ingredients[_item]>> <<set $_matches = false>> <</if>> <</for>> <<if $_matches>> ✅ All ingredients matched perfectly. Ready to brew! <<link "Brew Potion">> <<goto "brew_success_potion_create_chest">> <</link>> <</if>> <<if not $_matches>> ⚠ Ingredient quantities do not match the recipe. Adjust to proceed. <</if>> <<link "Cancel">> <<for _item, _data range $potionInventory>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $potionInventory[_item]>> <</for>> <<goto "potion_lab">> <</link>> <>

<> <<set $_i to random(1, 4)>> <<set $img_path = "potion/potion_"+$_i +".gif">> <div style="text-align: center; "><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;" @src="setup.ImagePath+$img_path"></div> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $next_passage = $curr_potion_selected.from +"_"+$curr_potion_selected.to>> [[Move Forth|$next_passage]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready. Let’s begin.|chest_1_chest_2_1]] | [[I’m… here. I don’t know how I feel about this, but I’ll try.|chest_1_chest_2_1]] | [[Don’t think for a second I like this. I’m only doing this because I have no choice.|chest_1_chest_2_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. The first transformation is never about the body it is about your relationship with what you think it means. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…Right.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This draught won’t sculpt breasts or enchant curves. Not yet. All it will do is ask your chest to let go to ease its grip on a shape that has served you until now.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_1_chest_2_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So it’ll make me weaker?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. But it will unfasten the pride your muscles have worn like armor. Not every kind of strength shows in bulk. Sometimes it shows in surrender.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You sound like a philosopher.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>When you’ve brewed potions that change bones and bend voices, you learn to respect the philosophy of flesh.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_1_chest_2_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This will taste like mint, metal, and maybe… regret. You may feel your chest ache for its former form. That’s normal. Muscles remember.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>How fast will it work?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Gradually. Within the hour, the tautness in your chest will soften. Your posture will shift. Clothes will feel looser. And you may… feel exposed.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You mean… like I’m losing something?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_1_chest_2_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You are. But you’re not being robbed. You are offering it, in exchange for something else. That’s what every step in magic is a trade, not a theft.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…It’s cold.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Good. That means it’s working. The swelling in your chest will ease first. That defined line under your collarbone it’ll blur. Pectorals will yield to smoother flesh. Your heart will beat more openly, less behind armor.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…It feels strange already. Like I’ve been… unmade a little.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_1_chest_2_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That’s not strangeness. That’s space. You’re creating room for what’s to come. It doesn’t matter yet what fills it. Only that you are willing or brave enough to allow it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this is just the beginning.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Every beginning pretends to be small. But this one is honest. It tells you: the prince you’ve been is making room for someone else. And neither of you are vanishing.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You may mourn. That’s allowed. But you may also wonder what else might grow here now?<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to let go of this part of myself. It’s time.|chest_2_chest_3_1]] | [[I… don’t know what this makes me. But I think I need to feel less like what I used to be.|chest_2_chest_3_1]] | [[You want me to erase myself? To become nothing? Fine. Let’s see how blank I can be.|chest_2_chest_3_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This session is quieter than the rest. Not because it is less important but because it asks for surrender, not growth.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It doesn’t look like much.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it’s meant to feel like less. Less sharpness. Less memory. This potion doesn’t add it subtracts.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So it’s not feminine yet. But it’s no longer masculine either.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_2_chest_3_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Correct. This is the moment where your body ceases to declare your past.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And I become… what, exactly?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>A silence between notes. A fresh page. Not an absence, but a readiness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So it’s not weakness?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_2_chest_3_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Not at all. Some of the strongest enchantments begin by wiping away the previous spell. Creation starts with undoing. This is your undoing gentle and sacred.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I worked hard to look like this. My tutors praised it. My mother approved of it. My knights admired it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And now it weighs you down.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Yes… it does. It’s armor I no longer want to wear.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_2_chest_3_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This potion doesn’t judge. It simply loosens what clings. Muscle will fade. Firmness will soften. When you wake tomorrow, your chest will not feel strong, or feminine. It will feel still.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know if I want to be a woman yet. But I don’t want to be just a man either.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then this is your step. Not toward queenhood. Not away from princeliness. But toward a space where both can wait together.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…It tastes like honey and something… old.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_2_chest_3_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It’s made from Velmorian honey. Fitting, for what you’re becoming.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I don’t feel like anything. Not man. Not woman. Just… me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. This is the rarest shape of all your own.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought I’d feel lost without it. But instead… I feel light.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_2_chest_3_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve stepped into the in-between. Some fear it. But I’ve always believed it is where real power begins.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s quiet here.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. Let it be. Let your body listen, before it decides what song to sing next.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[It’s time, isn’t it? I’ve thought about this moment more than I’ll admit.|chest_3_chest_4_1]] | [[I’m here, but I still don’t know if I should be. It’s all moving so fast.|chest_3_chest_4_1]] | [[Let’s just get it over with. I don’t want to hear another speech about beauty or destiny.|chest_3_chest_4_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This one is gentle. It doesn’t remake you in fire. It whispers to your body. Just enough to start.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this is it… The first real step into being someone else.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not someone else. A version of you that’s been waiting, perhaps quietly. Buried beneath layers of role and expectation.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve seen what this becomes. I’ve touched the silks meant for a chest I don’t have. And now... I drink this and I begin to grow into them?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_3_chest_4_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Not just physically. This potion is as much suggestion as it is alteration. Your body will listen. It will feel the pull.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I feel it?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not pain. Just… awakening. A tingle. A heat. Like the promise of something stirring beneath the surface.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You said the changes begin subtle. What should I expect?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_3_chest_4_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Your chest will soften first. Skin will feel more sensitive touch may linger longer. Then a rounding will begin. A swell so small it will feel imaginary, until the mirror confirms it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Imaginary breasts. That’s quite the start to my legacy as queen.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>All great things begin as shadows on the skin. You’ll see.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…It’s sweet. And warm.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_3_chest_4_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Lilyroot and blushing orchid. Traditional herbs of femininity. They speak softly to the body.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>There’s a… flutter. Not pain. More like… awareness. Like something humming just under my skin.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s your body listening. The first threads of change stitching themselves into you. The flattening is over. Now comes the bloom.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought I’d feel afraid. But this is… oddly peaceful.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_3_chest_4_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You are crossing no chasm today, Caelan. Only stepping onto a path. This stage is like dew on a rosebud beautiful in its restraint.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can’t see it yet. But I feel like something’s shifted. In me. Around me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is not illusion. Your aura has already begun realigning. The body follows the soul. And the soul… has chosen this step.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I step back later?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_3_chest_4_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then we guide you in retreat. But not shamefully. A queen must know how to command herself in both advance and withdrawal.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>A queen… right.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Or something new entirely. Your title may be written already, but your truth is still yours to shape.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange… I feel closer to myself. Not further.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_3_chest_4_7]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then the potion has done its work.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready. It’s time for something I can truly feel.|chest_4_chest_5_1]] | [[I’m not sure how I’ll handle this, but… I guess there’s no turning back now.|chest_4_chest_5_1]] | [[This doesn’t mean I’ve given up. I’m only drinking because I have to.|chest_4_chest_5_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You carry more weight in your eyes than you do in your chest. For now.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s poetic, I suppose. Just not very comforting.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Change is rarely comfortable. But discomfort is the fire in which identity is forged.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What’s different about this one?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_4_chest_5_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This is the first draught that doesn’t just nudge you it confirms you. You won’t just feel a shift inside. Your reflection will start to show it. A swell, a softness. The gentle rise of what you’ll soon learn to call your breasts.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Breasts.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It won’t be drastic. Not yet. But the tissue will gather now. When you breathe, you’ll notice the way your shirt clings differently. The way your skin reacts to touch.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So I’ll actually feel them now? I mean, physically?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_4_chest_5_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. Sensation is part of the enchantment. Your nerves will rewire slowly, like vines reaching toward sunlight. By the end of today’s session, you will no longer be able to pass as flat.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>How long before it becomes... obvious to others?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That depends on how close they are. A courtier’s glance won’t catch it yet. But a handmaiden lacing your tunic might pause. A lover? They would notice immediately.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not sure I’m ready for people to see me differently.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_4_chest_5_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then let them see your courage instead. There is no shame in small beginnings, Caelan. The world need not understand your shape to respect your strength.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if this gets too real too fast?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s why we go step by step. No forced leaps. Only decisions. Only draughts you choose to drink.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>TAnd if I change my mind?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_4_chest_5_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then we drink from the other vial. The one that slows. That gently retreats. You are not caged in magic. You are cradled by it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s… warm.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It should be. This one ignites your core. Blood will stir, tissues respond. You may feel a flutter like the anticipation before a first kiss.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…It tingles.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_4_chest_5_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That’s them growing. Like roses beneath the soil, ready to bloom. You’ll start to feel their weight, their presence. Barely noticeable now… but they’re there.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>There’s a pressure. Not pain. Just… pressure.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s your chest accepting the shape. The tissue rising like bread in an oven. The enchantment is gentle, but it does not lie. You are becoming.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>They are there. Just… tiny. But real.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_4_chest_5_7]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Real is not measured in size. Real is felt in the beat of your heart, in the way you straighten your spine now.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do I seem straighter to you?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You seem aware. And that is far more powerful.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready for this. I want to feel what it’s like to be seen as a woman.|chest_5_chest_6_1]] | [[I don’t know if I’m ready… but I guess there’s no turning back now.|chest_5_chest_6_1]] | [[I’ll take your potion but don’t think I’ve accepted this completely.|chest_5_chest_6_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So… this is the step that makes it real, huh?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>In the eyes of others? Yes. This is the turning point. No longer just softness or suggestion. After this, your form speaks clearly.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>People will notice…<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>They’ll glance, linger, whisper. Perhaps admire. Some may leer. But more than anything they will begin to address you with their eyes, not your name.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_5_chest_6_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Sounds like a promotion I didn’t ask for.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Perhaps. Or perhaps the world is simply catching up to what your magic has already begun.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>They’ve been growing steadily, but still felt small. Now you’re saying they’ll… bounce?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>With weight comes presence. The potion awakens fullness flesh with a gentle pull, the kind that shifts with every motion. They will no longer hide beneath fabric. You’ll feel them as you move, sleep, breathe.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_5_chest_6_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>That sounds… intimate.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It is. Your chest will no longer be a quiet space. Each sensation your heartbeat, your breath will pass through them. And when others brush too close, their eyes will follow the shape, not the shadow.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Does it hurt? The transformation, I mean.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not pai more like pressure. A swelling warmth. You may feel tightness across the sternum, a tug at the skin, a pull from within. By dusk, your tunics will no longer fit quite the same.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_5_chest_6_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I wonder what it’ll be like to lie on my side after this…<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Different. Softer. Heavier. You may need to relearn the comfort of pillows. But you will also gain the comfort of presence of seeing yourself become.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And once it’s done, there’s no hiding it anymore.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. You will be read as female from the chest alone. It is a badge you wear without speaking a curve that commands attention, whether you invite it or not.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_5_chest_6_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I keep thinking about what my mother will say when she sees me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>She will see her heir becoming something radiant more than a prince, more than a woman. A symbol of Velmoria’s evolution.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m scared.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Good. That means you understand the weight of what you carry. Fear is not weakness it is reverence. Drink it.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_5_chest_6_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s warm… almost fizzy.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The bubbling is your body reshaping glands expanding, fat redistributing. Give it time. The weight will settle, and so will you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Gods it’s like something’s inflating beneath my skin…<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s fullness. That’s womanhood rising. And from this point forward, you no longer need to wonder how it feels you will live it.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_5_chest_6_7]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s real now. I feel them. Full. Round. Heavy.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And beautiful. You’ve crossed the threshold, Caelan. What once whispered has now spoken aloud. This is your body telling the world who you are becoming.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[If I’m meant to be a queen, I suppose I should start looking like one.|chest_6_chest_7_1]] | [[They already feel big enough... Is this really necessary?|chest_6_chest_7_1]] | [[More? They're already in the way! How is this helping me rule?|chest_6_chest_7_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I think I can still button my tunic, barely… not sure for how much longer though.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s not surprising. Level three is the border of modest femininity. Level four crosses into something… far more expressive. You’ll feel the difference today not just in your reflection, but in how the world regards you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Are you saying people will notice now?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Oh, they already do. But now, they won’t be able to pretend not to. Feminine presence is not subtle at this stage, Caelan. Your chest will project your progress, as clearly as a crown does your authority.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_6_chest_7_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So this is no longer about subtle growth or gentle shifts. This is… what? A declaration?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Precisely. The transformation ceases to whisper. It begins to speak. Your steps will carry sway, your presence will draw eyes, and your body will no longer fit the mold of ambiguity.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But I don’t know if I’m ready to give up fitting in.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You stopped 'fitting in' the moment your body began to yield to magic, Caelan. This is not a disguise to be worn and removed it is becoming. And what you are becoming... is captivating.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_6_chest_7_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I’m not sure I want to be captivating. Not like that.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This isn't only about seduction or beauty though that too has its place. It is about ownership. Power drawn from shape and presence. Your body is becoming a vessel for influence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But it’s just breasts. Soft, jiggling things that get in the way. What kind of power is that?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>A queen's allure is not always in her sword arm. It is in how she enters a room. How the silence follows her. How rivals glance twice before speaking. Beauty is a weapon, and you are being armed, my dear.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_6_chest_7_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So... the more I grow, the more others will bend to me?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not because they must. But because they want to. Fascination and command are sisters. Let them serve you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What does it feel like... when it starts working?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Tightness at first. A deep warmth spreading through your chest, like your very ribs making room. Then... weight. Tender fullness. And your clothes those will remind you with every motion that you're no longer flat.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_6_chest_7_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s… it’s warm, alright. Like something blooming under the skin.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Let it happen. Let them swell. Trust the magic. You’ll be reshaped by the hour. Soon you’ll need binding, if not new gowns entirely.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>They’re... heavier than before. I feel them moving when I shift. Gods, is that normal?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Very. You’re entering the stage of sway, of bounce, of presence. Your walk will change. Your posture will adjust. Your breasts are no longer an idea they are reality.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_6_chest_7_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It's… tight. I can’t imagine wearing this in court. They’ll all stare.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Let them stare. Let them wonder how a prince grew into a queen. Their curiosity is part of your reign.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I wanted to stop? What if this is too much?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you pause. You step back if needed. Nothing here is cruel, Caelan. Only decisive. But if you continue, you'll rise not as prince, not as mimic but as a woman impossible to ignore.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_6_chest_7_7]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t think breasts would make me feel... powerful.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s the secret of transformation. What you once feared as vulnerability becomes your throne. Now, stand tall. You’re blooming, and the world is watching.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready. I want to see what it feels like to truly have a bust|chest_7_chest_8_1]] | [[I don’t know… it’s already hard to hide them. Going any further might make it impossible.|chest_7_chest_8_1]] | [[This is ridiculous. They're already huge. What, do you want them to wobble into the next room before I do?|chest_7_chest_8_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>That glow looks stronger than the last one.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because the change it invites is deeper. This is not just growth it’s a reshaping. Your chest is no longer simply feminine. It is about to become abundant, commanding, and irresistibly soft.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>They're already pulling at the seams. I can’t even cross my arms without feeling the stretch. Will this make it worse?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It will make it different. You’ll feel the heft now the center of gravity in your upper body shifting. Your cleavage will deepen. Your nipples will become more sensitive, more prominent. And yes, your garments will plead for mercy unless you adjust them.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_7_chest_8_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And what if I’m not ready for... all that attention?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then wear it like a veil. Let them wonder. Let them look. But control what they see. This form will give you that power to distract, to disarm, to delight, simply by standing still.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s the thing. I don't want to be seen like that. I’m not a seductress.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No one said you were. But there is power in being noticed, Caelan. And whether you embrace it or not, your body is stepping into that realm. People will begin to react. The guards. The maids. Nobles. You may be addressed differently... not because you’re weaker, but because you’ve become magnetic.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_7_chest_8_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>You say that like it’s a weapon.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it can be. A bust like this draws eyes. But more importantly, it alters posture, breath, and movement. It trains you to carry yourself like someone who has presence and presence is the currency of queens.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My back's already aching a bit. If they get any heavier...<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You will need support soon. Corsetry. Binding spells if needed. But this stage is also when the body begins to crave that attention. Not just from others but from itself. You’ll find yourself touching more. Adjusting. Stroking. It becomes part of your rhythm.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_7_chest_8_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I’ve noticed that already. When no one's looking, I’ve… felt them. Just to check if they’re real. I thought I was losing it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You're not. You're discovering yourself both as a woman and as someone reborn. Your body is becoming something it never was before. Of course you're curious.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will it hurt?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. It will tingle. Like champagne under the skin. Your nipples may throb. The skin will tighten before it stretches. It will feel warm. And afterward… they’ll sway. More than they did. You’ll feel them even when you try not to.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_7_chest_8_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And this isn’t the final size, is it?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not yet. This is only the threshold of busty. You’ll move beyond it, if you choose. But for now, this stage marks the point where there is no more doubt. No more boy beneath the blouse. Only the rise of a woman’s form.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Alright then. Let’s see what kind of presence I can carry.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Drink deeply. Let your chest bloom, and don’t shy away from what it becomes. This is not shame, Caelan. This is sovereignty.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_7_chest_8_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s like fire and silk. Gods my nipples...<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>They’re waking. You’ll want something softer against them now linen, not wool. Silk, if you can steal it from the queen’s wardrobe.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s pulling me forward... heavier... gods, they're touching each other. I can feel the crease between them.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Stand tall. Let your back learn the new posture. Let your hips compensate. Your body will adapt. And you will grow into this form, not just physically... but completely.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I think I’m ready to be... seen. To be more. Let’s go further.|chest_8_chest_9_1]] | [[They’re already heavy, Thalara. Are you sure I won’t regret making them even bigger?|chest_8_chest_9_1]] | [[If I’m being dragged into this, I might as well go all the way. Make it impossible to ignore me.|chest_8_chest_9_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s thicker than usual. Almost... pulsing.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The potion mirrors what it awakens. Vitality. Fullness. Desire. It won’t just build your body it will amplify your presence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Presence is overrated. I can barely train in armor anymore, and riding has become a chore. Everything moves too much.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And yet, you wear that tension like a silk ribbon. You say you dislike the motion, but you’ve stopped binding them when you bathe. You no longer flinch when attendants linger with their eyes.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_8_chest_9_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>That’s different. It’s not like I asked for the attention. I just… got used to it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Used to it… or beginning to like it?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You always twist my words.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I don’t twist them, Caelan. I hold up a mirror. It is you who surprises yourself.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_8_chest_9_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>What if they get too big? What if this step makes me something I can’t walk back from?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Every change carves deeper into your destiny, yes. This level of femininity won’t be overlooked. Your nipples will stand proud, your breasts will beg to be supported and yes, they will move with purpose. But there is strength in that vulnerability. Influence. Power.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I never thought power would come in... this shape.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You wore a sword and earned fear. Now, you’ll wear curves and command attention. Both are forms of power. One shouts. The other seduces.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_8_chest_9_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>They already feel heavy. I swear they bounce before I even move. And the nipples... they’re just there, constantly. Even the breeze feels obscene.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That hypersensitivity is a gift. A reminder that you are alive in your flesh. You are felt, seen, desired.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You talk like I’m becoming some temple courtesan.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Would that be so terrible? Many courtesans have ruled cities without lifting a blade. But no, my prince my princess this isn’t about seduction. It’s about comfort in your chosen skin.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_8_chest_9_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So after this... my chest will grow again?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. Rounder, fuller. Your nipples will grow as well thicker, longer, more prominent. You may find them too sensitive for certain fabrics. You’ll need supportive garments. Lace or tight bindings won’t do anymore.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And people will stare more?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>They already do. This will only shift the way they stare from curiosity to awe.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_8_chest_9_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Alright. No turning back now.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Let your body claim its form. Let the swell announce your becoming. You will feel this change in every motion, every breath. And so will the world.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Gods, it’s hot. And tingly. It’s like... they’re filling from the inside out. Oh my nipples !<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. That is the bloom of sensation. Let it rise. Let the weight come. With each heartbeat, your chest becomes your crown.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_8_chest_9_7]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>They’re bouncing... just from breathing. Are they supposed to be this sensitive?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This level is for those ready to be seen. You’ll never blend in again, Caelan. You’re becoming the future queen not hidden, not subtle, but radiant.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I'm ready. Let’s take this step… all the way.|chest_9_chest_10_1]] | [[This might be too much… but I’ll trust your guidance.|chest_9_chest_10_1]] | [[So what? Let’s see how far your damn potions can go.|chest_9_chest_10_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>This looks... intense. Heavier than the last one. Literally.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It must be. What lies ahead is not subtle, Caelan. This draught will reshape your presence. Not just your body but how the world receives it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve been knocking things off shelves just by turning. And now you’re saying they’ll get bigger?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not merely bigger. Commanding. They will sway with every step, pull at your spine, and demand garments made to bear their weight. You will feel them in every movement.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_9_chest_10_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So I’ll need straps. Lots of straps.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Straps... and strength. Not the strength of swords or shields, but of poise. Balance. The kind of strength queens must learn when their very presence becomes spectacle.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t think boobs would ever feel like power. But this? This is getting hard to ignore.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s the point. Level Seven is not for hiding. It’s for owning. You are becoming a woman that the world will turn its head for whether you like it or not.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_9_chest_10_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>People already stare. I’ve caught the steward’s eyes lingering. Even the guards. One dropped his sword last time I bent forward.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>They are not trained to resist allure. And you are becoming alluring, Caelan not merely pretty, but magnetic. This form tests your comfort in being desired. Watched. Hungered for.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You make it sound like a weapon.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It can be. Or a gift. Or a trap. That choice, as always, lies with you. But make no mistake this body will speak before you ever open your mouth.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_9_chest_10_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And if I drink this…?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’ll feel it immediately. A pull, like gravity shifting upward and outward. Your breasts will balloon round, soft, immensely sensitive. Your nipples will thicken. Your balance will change. Sitting, walking, lying down... it all transforms.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Gods. I’ll really be top-heavy.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. And radiant. And impossible to forget.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_9_chest_10_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s... thick. Warm. Like it's pushing outward.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s the essence of Level Seven. Expansion. Feminine excess.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>They’re… heavy. Already. Gods, Thalara my shirt can’t hold this. It’s tight.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve outgrown male tailoring. And female modesty. These are breasts meant to be seen, cradled, celebrated. The sway you feel now is just the beginning.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_9_chest_10_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>They keep going. They're spilling over. I feel like I’ve strapped pillows to my chest but they’re me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And you will need new attire before you re-enter court. Consider this your first royal inconvenience. A queen’s presence demands adjustment from all who witness her.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not just being feminized… I’m being made into a symbol.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. And what a symbol you are becoming.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve come this far. Let’s show them something they won’t forget.|chest_10_chest_11_1]] | [[This is… really big. I hope I’m not making a mistake.|chest_10_chest_11_1]] | [[Fine. Let’s get this over with. It’s just more weight, right?|chest_10_chest_11_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>You weren’t kidding when you said it would become a burden. It’s like I’m hauling two sacks of wet grain strapped to me already.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And yet, you walk upright. Impressive. Many lose balance before they gain grace.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Grace, huh? I nearly knocked over a suit of armor in the east wing. Is that graceful enough?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Some queens shake the court with words. Others shake it with every step. You, Caelan, may do both.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_10_chest_11_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Do you always speak in riddles when someone’s about to grow out of their last wearable robe?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This stage isn’t about clothing. It’s about inevitability. Once you drink this, there will be no more ambiguity. No mistaking you for a prince, not even from behind.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I regret it? What then?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you will wear your regret as you do your body with poise. Regret does not undo growth. It teaches you how to carry it.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_10_chest_11_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>You know they stare. Even the guards. Even the servants.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Of course. You’re becoming the myth they whisper about. The prince turned enchantress. The body that shouldn’t be but is. Their eyes can’t help it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Well, I hope they enjoy the view. Because it’s getting heavier by the day.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>They don’t just look at you, Caelan. They see you. This form is impossible to ignore. You radiate presence. You command space.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_10_chest_11_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And what if I don’t want that kind of presence?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then this is the time to stop. But if you drink this... you are choosing a body that dominates not just rooms but conversations, minds, and memories.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Give it to me.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Goddess... it’s like... they’re alive.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_10_chest_11_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>They are. You are. This is form incarnate femininity carved in full bloom. You carry not just softness now, but powerful softness. Intimidating, intoxicating.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can’t walk through a door without brushing something against it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Your hips may follow soon enough. For now, let your steps adjust. Find rhythm in the sway. Learn to move with them, not despite them.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You make it sound like I’m wielding weapons.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_10_chest_11_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You are. They just happen to be soft, warm, and hypnotic.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And here I thought swords were complicated...<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Steel cuts flesh. Curves cut expectations. You, Caelan, are becoming more dangerous than any blade.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready. If this is what it means to rule then let them see me.|chest_11_chest_12_1]] | [[I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for how the world sees me... but I’ll do it anyway.|chest_11_chest_12_1]] | [[If I must be crowned, then let me do it with a form no one dares ignore.|chest_11_chest_12_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So this is the last one. The end of this path...It’s strange. I thought I’d feel triumphant. Instead, I feel... exposed.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s because you are. Power is always naked beneath its robes, Caelan. But so is truth.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And truth now weighs several pounds each, bounces when I breathe, and makes eye contact before I do.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Indeed. And no diplomat, knight, or noble will ever ignore you again. Not because they choose to listen because they must.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_11_chest_12_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And what if they only see... these? What if they stop seeing me?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then make sure your voice echoes louder than your curves, even if your curves shout first.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can’t believe I used to feel pride in my shoulders... now I can’t see them. They bounce with every step. My nipples feel like hot coins. And they sag Thalara, they sway like...<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Like a queen who doesn’t shrink from her own presence. Who knows her form is a weapon, a seduction, a promise. This body is a command.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_11_chest_12_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Then pour it. Let them stare. Let them remember.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This is the end of your chest’s journey. There will be no hiding after today. Your dresses will cling. Your walk will sway. And when you sit on your throne, your presence alone will silence courtiers.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s thick. Like drinking honey... like it knows what it's doing.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It does. It stretches, swells, lifts, droops, and ripens. You are becoming the embodiment of lushness.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_11_chest_12_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>By the stars... they're massive... my gods, they hurt. They feel... real. Like I could nurse a kingdom.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s the power, Caelan. You are no longer androgynous. No longer curious. You are formed. Fully. Softness and command in equal measure.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>They sag so much... so heavy. But they feel like me now.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>They are you. And every step from now on will remind you of that. You’ve crossed the final threshold. You’ve grown into royalty not through blade or birthright, but through becoming.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_11_chest_12_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So this is what it means to carry power like a woman.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This is what it means to rule as one.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I need this. I’ve gone too far. I just want to feel me again not lost under all this.|chest_12_chest_11_1]] | [[I don’t know if I’m making a mistake, but... I feel like I’m being buried by myself.|chest_12_chest_11_1]] | [[This isn't surrender. It's strategy. Let them stare less for now.|chest_12_chest_11_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Every breath pulls the fabric tighter. Every step is a bounce, a sway, a drag. He sighs. "I thought I'd feel powerful. Instead, I feel... swallowed.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It happens. When one grows beyond the world’s bounds, the world forgets how to hold them. You’ve crossed into excess, Caelan glorious excess, but excess still.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve gone too far, haven’t I? I can’t dress without spilling. I can’t walk without swaying like I’m in heat. I can’t focus they jiggle every time I breathe.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’re not wrong. These breasts are the kind sculptors struggle to carve in marble. You don’t enter a room anymore you dominate it, unintentionally.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_12_chest_11_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Maybe I don’t want to dominate. Not like this. I wanted to be seen... but now I’m being stared at.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then take this. Let your presence remain grand, womanly but not overwhelming. Let them see you again, not just... be hypnotized.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will it hurt?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. But you’ll feel it. A slow pull inward. Less bounce. Slight lift. Nipples will recede just a bit. The weight will ease, and so will the stares.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_12_chest_11_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>They called me Queen with reverence. But lately... I think they mean something else. Something heavier.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The crown must fit the head, not just the chest. Let this shape be yours, not theirs.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It tastes like quiet.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It is. Quiet. Balance. Your form will still sing but not scream.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_12_chest_11_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>They’re pulling in... still big... still soft. But not suffocating.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. You are not erasing power you’re choosing how to wield it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I feel... more myself now. Still woman. Still ruler. But less spectacle.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you’ve found what most rulers never do your center. And in that center, Caelan, lies the kind of power no one dares mock.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I need to breathe again. Let’s bring this back a notch.|chest_11_chest_10_1]] | [[I don’t know if I’m going backward or just catching my breath.|chest_11_chest_10_1]] | [[This doesn’t change anything. I’m still being shaped, just slower.|chest_11_chest_10_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>They're... enormous. I can’t lie, Thalara sometimes I feel like I’ve become my own furniture.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Lavish furnishings are the mark of a royal court. But yes... your frame groans beneath the grandeur. That’s what today is for.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It won’t undo all of it?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. Not even close. You’ll still turn heads in every hallway. But this will make them less... operatic.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_11_chest_10_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Good. Because I swear I heard a lute string snap the last time I ran across the courtyard.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Some dresses are stitched with ambition, not reinforcement. Drink, and the strain will ease. Your posture will thank you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I get used to the weight? What if I end up missing it?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you’ll grow again. This path doesn’t vanish it simply pauses where you need it to.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_11_chest_10_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I still feel their weight... even when I’m dreaming.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s because your dreams no longer belong to the man you were. They belong to the woman forming beneath.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Oof... it’s cold. It’s like it’s lifting up from the inside...<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s exactly what it does. Tissues condense. Sag reduces. Volume shrinks, just enough to be supported without surrendering softness.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_11_chest_10_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It feels... easier. Lighter. But still there. Still... me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Good. Because that’s all this is meant to do help you feel yourself without feeling crushed by yourself.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Is it weakness to take a step back like this?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. It is wisdom. You are not unmaking what you’ve become. You’re pacing it. Honoring the strain it takes to bloom.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_11_chest_10_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>They’re still... huge. But not... consuming.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then the balance is struck. Still tempting. Still womanly. But no longer a burden. You’ve taken back some control.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>For now. But knowing me, I’ll be back here in a week asking for the next vial up.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And I will have it waiting. But for tonight, enjoy the silence in your spine.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Let’s revert this back. I need a break from feeling like a walking monument.|chest_10_chest_9_1]] | [[I’m not sure I want to go smaller... but I can’t breathe in this corset anymore.|chest_10_chest_9_1]] | [[Fine. Shrink 'em if you must. I’m sick of people staring like I’m a goddess on parade.|chest_10_chest_9_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So this actually… shrinks them? Not all the way, right? Just... enough?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Just enough. It relieves the strain eases the pull on your spine and the tightness of your clothing. But you remain unmistakably a woman, Caelan. A very full one.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Good. Because I’ve been knocking over goblets with every turn. I turned around in the library and took out a whole candleholder.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Ah yes. The notorious ‘shelf cleaving bust’ phase. Some celebrate it. Others... choose a gentler curve.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_10_chest_9_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t mind being full, but this last level? It made everything about my chest. Every hallway echo. Every glance. Every whisper.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Your body spoke louder than your words, and not everyone knows how to listen beyond the curves. This step this soft regression can be a mercy. Or a reprieve.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I lose the sensitivity too?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Some. But not all. This dose leaves you luscious, not diminished. You’ll bounce less. Nipples will ache less. But you’ll still turn heads just with less weight pulling you forward.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_10_chest_9_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So I won’t be a walking fertility statue anymore?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not quite. But still a temple worth worshipping, I think.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Gods, woman. How do you say that with a straight face?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because I know what transformation means not just physically, but politically, emotionally. You are learning to wield shape like a blade. But even blades need sheathes.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_10_chest_9_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Alright. Let’s sheath it... just a little.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Oh. That’s... lighter. Still big. Still swaying. But I’m not toppling anymore.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. The fabric relaxes. Your stance stabilizes. You are still beautifully busty, Caelan but you are once more navigable.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My back thanks you. I can finally walk without feeling like I’m dragging two barrels of cream on my chest.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_10_chest_9_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Careful. Too many reversals and you may find your admirers disappointed.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Let them adjust. This body’s mine not theirs to ogle.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Spoken like someone learning the difference between being shaped... and taking shape.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I need a little less attention today. Just want to feel like myself again.|chest_9_chest_8_1]] | [[I’m not sure if this is the right move… but maybe I went too far last time.|chest_9_chest_8_1]] | [[Fine. If I’m stuck here, I’ll dial it back. I’m not a walking display.|chest_9_chest_8_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>They’ve been bouncing with everything lately. I can barely walk down the stairs without… well, everyone noticing.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That was the nature of Level Six. It was meant to be bold. Now you seek retreat.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Not a full retreat. Just… breathing room. My nipples keep brushing fabric no matter what I wear. It’s maddening.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>A crown can weigh heavy. You’ve worn yours bravely, but you are not trapped by it. That is the beauty of this process you may lean forward or back, so long as you remain honest with yourself.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_9_chest_8_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I thought I could own it, really own that look. And for a time… I did. But then I saw the way some of the guards stared. And the stablehands. And my cousin at dinner gods, that was awkward.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The gaze of others can be as heavy as the flesh you carry. Sometimes heavier. But don’t mistake that for failure. You’re testing your form. Adjusting. Like a tailor with their final stitch.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This won’t undo everything, will it? I still want to… feel like I’ve crossed a line. Just maybe not quite so far.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. You will remain undeniably feminine. But less extravagant. Less... monumental. Your bust will still be full, shapely merely less commanding. Your nipples, while still noticeable, will retreat from center stage.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_9_chest_8_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>That sounds like such a strange thing to measure… nipple prominence.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>In your case, it’s a very important detail. Every movement you've made since Level Six has sent ripples through your body, your court, your self-perception. This is a moment of gentle recalibration.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do many transitioners step back like this?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The path to self is rarely a straight line. Some push forward too fast, others linger in comfort zones. You, Caelan, are walking a knife’s edge balancing destiny, identity, and legacy. Small reversals are not weakness. They’re wisdom.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_9_chest_8_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s cooler than the others. Almost refreshing...<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It will ease the heat in your chest. Reduce the pull on your shoulders. You’ll still bounce, but not with such urgency. And your nipples will find quiet again.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s happening already. The weight’s still there, but it’s... hugging me instead of pulling me forward. It feels less like an announcement.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. You are not abandoning femininity. You are simply turning the volume down for now. And if, or when, you’re ready to rise again... the chamber will welcome you.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_9_chest_8_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I almost miss being flat. Almost. But this… this feels manageable. A middle path.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>A queen must know when to stand tall and when to rest her crown. You’ve chosen well today, Caelan.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[It’s time I took a step back. I’m not ready to carry this… allure just yet.|chest_8_chest_7_1]] | [[I don’t know if this is the right choice, but I can’t handle the weight or stares today.|chest_8_chest_7_1]] | [[I was pushed too far. I never wanted to bounce with every step. So yes, I want less.|chest_8_chest_7_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>They’ve gotten too big. I can’t even walk through the palace halls without catching looks or knocking into things.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It’s a burden, I know. One not all women choose willingly. Beauty, after all, can be as heavy as armor… and just as restrictive.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t mind the change at first. It was subtle. Curious. But now? I can’t train, I can’t sleep on my stomach, and every movement feels... exaggerated.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve stepped into a form that demands attention. That pulls focus. But stepping back isn’t weakness it’s strategy. A queen knows when to advance, and when to retreat.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_8_chest_7_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Will it shrink them much?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>They will lose a degree of volume. Your cleavage will soften. The deep, brazen swell will recede still feminine, still full, but not overpowering. You’ll walk with less bounce, sleep more easily, and breathe a little freer.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And my nipples? They’ve been... sensitive. Sometimes unbearably so.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That, too, will ease. The nerves won’t vanish, but they’ll settle. You may even miss the edge of it after a while. Sensation is seductive, even to the reluctant.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_8_chest_7_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s not that I hate it. It's just... it feels like they’re starting to define me. I can see how people are treating me differently. I didn’t realize how much power breasts had until I had them.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And now you wield the wisdom of both worlds. You’ve felt that sway, that gaze-following presence. And you can put it away when it suits you. That’s true power not just becoming something, but being able to choose what to be.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You always speak in riddles, Thalara.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I speak in truths dressed as riddles. It’s the only way your mind listens sometimes.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_8_chest_7_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>If I drink this… I’ll still be feminine. Just less... overwhelming?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. You’ll keep your shape, but it will whisper instead of shout. This isn’t regression it’s refinement.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Alright. I’m ready to breathe again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let your chest lighten. Let the tension ease. The world need not always watch you sway.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_8_chest_7_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s cold. Like mint in my lungs.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Good. That means it’s working. Your skin will tighten first. Then the tissue will soften and pull inward slightly. It won’t vanish it will compact.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>They're... lighter. Still there, but they’re not demanding anymore. It’s almost a relief.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You may return to this path, forward or back. The journey is yours, Caelan. But no matter the size, remember this: your form never dictates your strength. Only your will does.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_8_chest_7_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Thank you... I needed that.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Come back when you’re ready for the next choice. Your body listens to your heart even when you’re unsure what it’s saying.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Honestly, I could use a little relief. My tunic’s been working overtime.|chest_7_chest_6_1]] | [[I’m not sure if this is right, but… maybe I need to slow down.|chest_7_chest_6_1]] | [[Good. They were getting ridiculous anyway. I don’t want to bounce like that.|chest_7_chest_6_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t realize how much they’d changed me until I tried leaning over a table this morning. Nearly knocked over the inkwell.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It’s always the little things, isn’t it? Reaching for something, jogging up stairs, or simply breathing in a fitted tunic. Your body has shifted into something bold. This potion will quiet that boldness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this won’t undo it all? Just... tone it down?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. This is not reversal, only reduction. Your breasts will remain full rounded and feminine but they’ll retreat from the edge of lavishness. You’ll feel lighter. Less pronounced.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_7_chest_6_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t expect how much attention they’d draw. It’s like walking with a sign across my chest. A big, jiggling sign.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is often the point of Level Four. Visibility. Command. Sensuality. But you’re not wrong it’s also exhausting. Breasts at that size begin to act on their own, pulling focus wherever you go.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>They’ve been sore lately too. Sensitive. Every bump, every step… I’m not used to carrying them.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And you shouldn’t rush into comfort with something that reshapes not just your body but your posture, your pace, your very movement through the world. That comfort must be earned, not forced.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_7_chest_6_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I thought being bold would make me feel more in control. But it’s starting to feel like they control me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then take back that control. This potion returns some quiet to your body. Let your chest settle into a form that supports you, not commands you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will people still notice?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. But they’ll admire. Not stare. You’ll remain full-breasted, feminine present, but not overpowering. It’s a different kind of allure. Calmer. More composed.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_7_chest_6_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Feels... chillier than the others.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It’s meant to calm swelling, not spark it. A binding brew, threaded with snowblossom and duskroot. You should feel the tension loosen within moments.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Oh… gods, yes. That’s better. They’re still there, but not as heavy. I can actually breathe again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You may want to rewrap them after this. Your tunic will hang differently now less taut, more graceful.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_7_chest_6_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I thought going forward was the only path. That if I wanted to become... her, I had to accept every ounce of change.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Transformation is not a tunnel, Caelan. It’s a garden. You may step forward, pause, even walk back a path or two to breathe in a different flower. The journey remains yours.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>They still feel... good. Feminine. Just more me again. I needed this, Thalara.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are never less for slowing your pace. A queen who listens to her own needs is one who commands well. Rest here, if it suits you. Grow again when you are ready.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ll take the potion. I’m open to seeing what happens when I go back a step.|chest_6_chest_5_1]] | [[I guess I should do this, even if it feels strange to undo some of the change I’ve already felt.|chest_6_chest_5_1]] | [[I’m not sure why I need to reverse it. I’ve come this far, why should I shrink back now?|chest_6_chest_5_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I never thought I’d want to make myself smaller… but here we are.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not smaller, just… more balanced. The transformation doesn’t always move in one direction. Sometimes, you must adjust, reset, to allow your body the time to settle in.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So, it’s like a pause?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. A brief pause. To allow your body to adapt before continuing. You’ve felt the fullness, the weight, the shift into womanhood. This potion will reverse the most recent of those changes and bring you back to a more subtle version.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_6_chest_5_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I can feel it already. My chest is tightening, pulling back. It’s like shrinking into myself again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s the essence of balance. You are neither too much nor too little. It will be softer now, more akin to the delicate curves of a young woman.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I guess this feels… normal? Maybe even more comfortable. It’s not like before, when I had to get used to the fullness.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Sometimes, too much change too quickly can be overwhelming. A smaller chest may feel more natural for your current state. You’re still feminine, but the transition isn’t as stark.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_6_chest_5_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So, this isn’t a failure, right? Just a step back?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not a failure. Just a shift, Caelan. Think of it like a sculptor refining a masterpiece. The shape evolves gradually, with each stage adding depth and understanding.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel less exposed now, like I can breathe easier in my own skin.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s the goal. Comfort is part of the process. You must come to peace with each step, even when it feels contradictory. There’s no shame in adjusting.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_6_chest_5_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And now I’m back to this more modest version. But I’m sure I’ll have to go back to the fuller shape soon, won’t I?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Only when you’re ready, Caelan. This is your journey, and I’m here to guide you as you choose your path. There’s no hurry. You may find this version more fitting, or you may choose to continue onward.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I thought I’d miss the fullness, but this feels… comfortable. Like it’s mine, for now.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Comfort is often the first sign of alignment with your true self. Embrace the changes, but don’t rush through them. Allow each stage to resonate before moving forward.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_6_chest_5_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I think I understand now. It’s not about racing to the end. It’s about feeling every change, letting each moment settle in.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. And each change, no matter how small, adds to the woman you are becoming.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I think I need to slow things down. Just… for now.|chest_5_chest_4_1]] | [[I’m not sure if I should. But something inside says I have to.|chest_5_chest_4_1]] | [[This doesn’t mean I’m quitting. Just… correcting a mistake.|chest_5_chest_4_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "mc">>This one feels different. Colder, even before I touch it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It’s meant to cool, to quiet. Where the other potions stir growth, this one soothes it. It reminds the body of stillness, and of neutrality.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>They’ve barely started… but they’re there. I feel them when I lie down. When I move.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And now you wish to feel less. Not nothing but a gentler echo of what has begun.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_5_chest_4_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s not that I hate them. It’s just moving faster than I thought it would.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are allowed to pause. Even to step back. This path does not require haste it requires truth. And yours, I suspect, is still unfolding.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So if I drink this… what changes?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The mounds you feel now will ease. The tension beneath your skin the tingling warmth will ebb. You’ll remain soft, but less shaped. The curves won’t vanish, but they’ll smooth back into subtler suggestions.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_5_chest_4_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Will the sensitivity fade too?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>A little. The nerves will dull, not die. Think of it as resting the garden rather than burning it down.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>They… felt kind of nice. A part of me liked it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then remember that. This is not punishment. This is preservation. You are not saying no you are saying not yet.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_5_chest_4_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>What if I regret stepping back?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then we brew again. No gate is closed to you. We are sculptors, Caelan. We press clay forward, backward, sideward. We are not demolishing stone.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And this won’t erase me?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Never. No magic I offer can do that. It will only quiet the voice of change until you are ready to listen again.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_5_chest_4_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>…Cold. Like frost on my tongue.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That chill is clarity. The flesh beneath your chest listens, slackens. Your body is easing its grip on the curves it tried to claim.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I feel lighter. Emptier, almost.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Lighter isn’t emptier. It’s just… breathing room. And that is no small thing.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_5_chest_4_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>They’re still there. But less. Like a memory.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s exactly what they are now a promise you can revisit. One sip forward, or one back. All under your will.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…Thank you.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>When the heart trembles, we do not shame it we listen. That, my dear prince, is the first step of any queen.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve thought this through. I want to slow things down.|chest_4_chest_3_1]] | [[I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing… but I need a breather.|chest_4_chest_3_1]] | [[I’m not ready to be someone else’s fantasy. Not yet. Maybe not ever.|chest_4_chest_3_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You carry hesitation in your chest now. I see it in the way you hold your arms.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It felt different. I thought I’d welcome the change more. I mean… it was barely noticeable, but I knew something was there.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>A budding curve. A whisper of what’s to come. Even the smallest shift echoes deeply when your body has never changed like this before.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s just it. It echoed too loudly. I looked in the mirror and saw someone in-between… and I didn’t know how to feel about him. Or her.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_4_chest_3_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That is no failure, Caelan. Not all paths are walked in straight lines. Even rivers bend to find their flow.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What does this one do?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It tells your body to quiet. To hold, rather than bloom. It draws back the earliest growth, reshaping you back into ambiguity. No curve. No edge. Just stillness again.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Neutral. Neither prince nor princess.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_4_chest_3_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Sometimes, neutrality is power. You are not erasing what you’ve done only taking a breath.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I regret this?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Only if you believe change must always move forward. But in truth, wisdom often moves in circles.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…It’s cold.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_4_chest_3_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. Icevine and soulmint. Agents of stillness. Of clarity.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can feel it. The tingling’s gone. That hum beneath the skin… silent.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Your chest is settling. You’ll notice the slight swell flattening again. It will feel softer than before less muscular, but also less feminine.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So I’m… back in between. Again.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_4_chest_3_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You are always ‘in between,’ Caelan. Between who you were, and who you will be. There is no shame in pausing there.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>People will ask why I stopped. Why I didn’t go all the way.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Let them ask. Let them wonder. Their curiosity is not your command. You shape your story.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought I'd feel guilt. But instead… I feel like I can breathe again.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_4_chest_3_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then you’ve made the right step for now. And when your heart calls again, forward or backward, I will be here. With draughts, with counsel… with no judgment.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Back to flat. But… not the same flat I started with.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because you’ve changed, even if only inside. And no potion can undo that.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to feel like myself again. Or at least, like the version I was before all this.|chest_3_chest_2_1]] | [[I’m not sure what I’m doing. I just… I don’t want to be nothing anymore.|chest_3_chest_2_1]] | [[So I erased myself last time. This time, I take something back. Don’t try to stop me.|chest_3_chest_2_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’re returning to definition today. Shape. Identity. Perhaps even strength. Just a little.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I didn’t think I’d want this again. But I miss feeling… solid.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The in-between can be freeing. But it can also feel like floating too long.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve felt untethered lately. Like my chest doesn’t belong to anyone just some blank space between selves.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_3_chest_2_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>So you seek form again. There’s no shame in that. Becoming a queen isn’t a straight line. It’s a spiral. Sometimes we walk it backward.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will this make me masculine again?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not fully. This draught brings back tone, not dominance. It sharpens what was dulled. It whispers strength doesn’t shout it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Why does it feel like a guilty sip?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_3_chest_2_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Because we’re trained to think undoing is failure. But it isn’t. It’s remembering. Testing. Feeling the old skin again to see if it still fits.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…It’s hot. Almost peppery.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Fireroot and ironleaf. Masculine herbs. They fuel will, not just muscle.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s not what it was… but it’s something again.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_3_chest_2_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Not prince, not queen. But anchored again. Re-shaped, not erased.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know what I want to be. But I think I need to feel… real. Defined. Even if it’s temporary.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then this session has done its work. You are not a prisoner of either path, Caelan. You are a walker between them.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You make it sound noble.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_3_chest_2_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It is noble. Few have the courage to step backward. Even fewer to admit they need it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Thank you… for not shaming me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This chamber does not demand shame. Only honesty. Come back when you’re ready for the next step forward or back.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve changed my mind. I want my strength back.|chest_2_chest_1_1]] | [[I… don’t know why, but I need to feel like myself again. Even if just for a while.|chest_2_chest_1_1]] | [[You don’t get to take everything from me. Not yet. Maybe not ever.|chest_2_chest_1_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The brew is ready. Fireroot for your blood, ironroot for your bones. It will rebuild what you softened last time.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will it hurt?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. But it will burn. The kind of burn you feel when your breath hits the cold air after a run. It’s not pain it’s memory.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So… I’ll look the way I used to again?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_2_chest_1_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>More or less. The edge will return angles beneath the skin, the firmness of muscle rebuilt. Your chest will square again. And with it, your presence. Bold. Clear.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I thought I wanted to move forward. But something about seeing myself fade like that… I wasn’t ready.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s not weakness. It’s awareness. The transformation you’re undertaking isn’t a straight road. There are turns, retreats, and resting points. And there is power in saying no.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So you don’t disapprove?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_2_chest_1_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>I do not decide who you are. I only provide what lets you discover it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The potion will draw the strength from deep within you not from muscle alone, but from memory. From your boyhood games, the swordplay in the training yards, the day you first bested your father in a match.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>He let me win.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_2_chest_1_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Perhaps. But you still stood straighter afterward. This will give you that straightness again.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…It’s like swallowing firewood and steel.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And now it spreads. Your blood carries it into the fibers of your chest. Look already, the shape is shifting.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel… heavier. Solid. Like I’ve filled back into myself.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_2_chest_1_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve claimed something. That will always change how you walk. This choice is yours to make again and again, as often as you need to.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Does it disappoint you?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. It reminds me you are not a vessel. You are a storm, caught between winds. That means you are alive.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I just… needed to feel like I still had a say.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|chest_2_chest_1_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then say it with your chest. It listens.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my breast|use_success_potion_create_chest]] <>

<> <<set $curr_potion = setup.crotch_forward_potions>> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $curr_potion = setup.crotch_reverse_potions>> <</if>> <<set $curr_potion_selected = $curr_potion[$userBody.crotch.curr_crotch]>> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if $curr_potion_selected == undefined>> You do not have any crotch potions available for your current crotch version to transform. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.crotch, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userItems, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredient = {}>> ✦ Ancient Alchemical Recipe ✦ Potion: <<=$curr_potion_selected.name>> Purpose: <<=$curr_potion_selected.purpose>> 🜃 Ingredients: <ol> <<for _item, _value range $curr_potion_selected.ingredients>> <li><<=$userItems[_item].name>>: _value <<=$userItems[_item].unit>></li> <<set $ingredient[_item] = {amount: $userItems[_item].amount, needed: _value, unit: $userItems[_item].unit}>> <</for>> </ol> <<set _potion = $curr_potion_selected>> /* <<set $currentObjectives = 'Create Potion: ' + _potion.name + '. Ingredients are: '>> <<for _item, _value range _potion.ingredients>> <<set $currentObjectives += $userItems[_item].name + ': ' + _value + ' ' + $userItems[_item].unit + ', '>> <</for>> <<replace "#objectives-text" t8n>> <<=$currentObjectives>> <</replace>> */ ⤐ Function: <<=$curr_potion_selected.function>> ⚠ Side Effects: <<=$curr_potion_selected.sideEffects>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($ingredient, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredinetAvailable = true>> <<for _key, _data range $ingredient>> <<if $ingredient[_key].amount < $ingredient[_key].needed>> You do not have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, but you have only <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. <<set $ingredinetAvailable = false>> <<else>> You have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, you have <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. It is more than enough!! <</if>> <</for>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 3>> <<link "Refer Another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<elseif $ingredinetAvailable>> You have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Make Potion">><<goto "potion_create_crotch">><</link>> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> You do not have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <</if>> <<set $potion = $curr_potion_selected>> <<set $potionInventory = {}>> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] = 0>> <</for>> <</if>> <>

<> 🧪 Assembling: <<=$potion.name>> Match the exact ingredients to brew this potion: <div class="item-grid"> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div class="item-card"> <<capture _item>> [img[$userItems[_item].img]] <<set $reverse_passage_ingredient = "potion_create_crotch">> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> <div class="ingredient_details"><<link "Details">><<set $selectedIngredient = _item>><<goto "IngredientDetail">><</link>></div> <</capture>> </div> <</for>> </div> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> (You have: <<=$userItems[_item].amount>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>>) Needed: <<=_needed>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> | Added: <<=$potionInventory[_item]>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> <<if $userItems[_item].amount > 0>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_crotch">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_crotch">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_crotch">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] > 0>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_crotch">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_crotch">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_crotch">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <</if>> </div> <</for>> <<set $_matches = true>> <<for _item, _data range $potion.ingredients>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] != $potion.ingredients[_item]>> <<set $_matches = false>> <</if>> <</for>> <<if $_matches>> ✅ All ingredients matched perfectly. Ready to brew! <<link "Brew Potion">> <<goto "brew_success_potion_create_crotch">> <</link>> <</if>> <<if not $_matches>> ⚠ Ingredient quantities do not match the recipe. Adjust to proceed. <</if>> <<link "Cancel">> <<for _item, _data range $potionInventory>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $potionInventory[_item]>> <</for>> <<goto "potion_lab">> <</link>> <>

<> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance += 1.7>> <<else>> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance -= 1.7>> <</if>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.crotch, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $userBody.crotch.curr_crotch = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $image_key_crotch_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.crotch.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.crotch.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.crotch.curr_crotch+ ".png">> /* <<=$image_key_crotch_path>> */ <<set $userBody.crotch.img = $image_key_crotch_path>> <<set $curr_crotch = Number($userBody.crotch.curr_crotch.split("_")[1])>> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="change_show torso">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.torso.img]]</div> <div class="change_show head">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.head.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show chest">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.chest.img]]</div> <div class="change_show crotch">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.crotch.img]]</div> <div class="change_show hair">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.hair.img]]</div> </div> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> | [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve worn this form proudly. Now I need to remember what came before|crotch_1_crotch_2_1]] | [[I’m not ashamed it’s just… this feels like trading one truth for another.|crotch_1_crotch_2_1]] | [[No more half-measures. If I can forge forward, I can step back too.|crotch_1_crotch_2_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Reversal is not denial. It is reflection a chance to see what has shifted in the light of morning.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve lived these last days in a shape I claimed as mine. But part of me wonders if I’m rushing the journey.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Every path deserves its pauses. It is wise to breathe, look back, then decide which step to take next.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This potion… it will reshape me again. Bring back the form I left behind yesterday.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_1_crotch_2_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It will restore what you relinquished not to trap you, but to remind you of your fullness in both forms.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I feel… fragmented? Or more whole?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Perhaps both. Integration often feels like two melodies weaving into harmony each distinct, each necessary.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I choose harmony.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_1_crotch_2_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s familiar… and new.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You carry both shapes within you now. Neither defines you alone. What matters is how you combine their strengths.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel grounded… like my center shifts with choice, not with circumstance.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let your choices continue to shape you. Morning returns each day so too can the forms you walk in, as long as they serve your truth.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_1_crotch_2_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Thank you, Thalara. For guiding me both forward and back.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are your own compass, Caelan. I merely help you read the stars.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve surrendered what was. Now I’m ready to embrace what is.|crotch_2_crotch_1_1]] | [[I know this is the last shift. I’m… nervous. But I came here for it.|crotch_2_crotch_1_1]] | [[This was never about comfort. Do your magic let’s finish this.|crotch_2_crotch_1_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Here we stand at the threshold of your becoming. The final threshold.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>All the petals before me… each session felt like shedding a layer. This one feels like blooming.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it is. Each flower here opened in moonlight, just as you have. Today’s elixir completes what has been forming within you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve feared this moment worried it might feel hollow. But I also know I’ve arrived at it by choice.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_2_crotch_1_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This potion carries lunar oils softening, deepening, refining. It doesn’t erase the journey; it honors it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m ready… I think.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let us begin. Remember: you do not become less. You become more whole.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It’s… alive. Not just a shape, but a presence. I can feel depth I never knew existed.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_2_crotch_1_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Your body has been a canvas. Tonight, it paints itself into form soft, strong, authentic. This is not completion it is emergence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t recognize all of me yet. But I recognize this me. And she feels... right.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>She is you. Not a copy, not a hiding. A true shape of your truth, born from choice and courage.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Every session felt like loss of power, of identity. But this… this feels like reclaiming power I never had.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_2_crotch_1_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Power that flows from authenticity is stronger than any inherited throne or blade. You have crafted it yourself.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m afraid of what comes next. Courtly eyes, politics... the crown.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You will walk among them as your true self. Some will marvel. Some will fear. But none can deny the grace of someone who stands in her own form.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then I will walk that path. Not as a prince, not as a man. But as who I have chosen to be.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_2_crotch_1_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And that choice is your legacy. May it guide you far beyond these walls.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[This is a course correction. Not shame. Not regret.|crotch_2_crotch_3_1]] | [[I didn’t think I’d come back here. But maybe I need to understand what I left behind.|crotch_2_crotch_3_1]] | [[If this body’s mine, then I have the right to decide its shape again.|crotch_2_crotch_3_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Your path is yours, Caelan. Not because you chose it once, but because you keep choosing it again and again.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought I crossed a line I couldn’t return from. But lately... I feel like something in me is adrift. Like I stepped forward before I understood what I was leaving behind.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is not failure. That is wisdom in motion. You gave something up. And now you feel its echo calling back to you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will this feel like betrayal? To the part of me that accepted the change?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_2_crotch_3_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It will feel like integration. You’re not undoing anything you’re acknowledging that you are not a single truth. You are a story still being written.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I remember the silence after that last transformation. Not just on the outside inside too. It was like a chapter ended... but the next one didn’t start.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let this be punctuation. Not a period. Not a reversal. A pause. A chance to breathe between sentences.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You always make it sound poetic. But this feels… personal.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_2_crotch_3_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That’s because it is. Every shape you wear is a conversation between your soul and your skin. And you, brave one, are still listening.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will it hurt?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. But it may feel. And that’s the point.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. It’s me, and it isn’t.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_2_crotch_3_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That’s how you know you’re growing. You are meeting a version of yourself you hadn’t seen in a while.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will this confuse people?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>They’ll wonder. They may question. But they will see you. Because you are not the transformation you are the chooser of it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know if I’ll stay here. But for now... it feels better.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_2_crotch_3_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then that is all that matters. You are not wrong to seek what you need, even if what you need shifts with the seasons of your heart.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve let go of what I was. I’m ready to create what comes next.|crotch_3_crotch_2_1]] | [[This part feels... heavier. Like something I can't undo.|crotch_3_crotch_2_1]] | [[So this is it. No going back after this, is there?|crotch_3_crotch_2_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>No going back? Perhaps. But going forward truly forward was never meant to be without weight.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Everything until now felt like subtraction. This... this feels different.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it is. Until now, the body made room. Today, it begins to build. This is not just transformation it is genesis.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t think creation would feel like this. Like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, and I’m the one who has to step off.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_3_crotch_2_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It’s not a fall. It’s a release. And wings often sprout after the leap.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You always have a metaphor ready.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Old mages speak in riddles when truth is too sharp. But I won’t lie to you. This potion ends something final. Not because it erases it replaces. What follows may feel foreign at first. But foreignness is not the same as wrongness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What does it feel like? Afterward?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_3_crotch_2_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>New. Tender. Sometimes confusing. But also... aligned. Like the body stops resisting itself.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It doesn’t look like much. Just liquid. Just light.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And yet in it is a world waiting to shape itself around you. A foundation not borrowed from your past but crafted for your future.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I always thought this moment would feel violent. But it doesn’t. It feels... quiet.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_3_crotch_2_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The loudest changes happen in silence. The earth shifts beneath roots before the flower ever blooms.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>There’s an ache. Not sharp, but deep. Like something’s opening, or reaching…<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s because it is. Your body is listening to a new song now. One it hasn’t heard before, but somehow remembers.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know what I’m becoming. But I know I’m not who I was.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_3_crotch_2_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then you’re on the right path. This form the one beginning to take shape it isn’t a mask. It’s yours. Not inherited, not imposed. Chosen.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I don’t know how to live in it yet?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then we’ll teach it together. And in time, you’ll stop noticing where you end and your truth begins.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve been at the edge… and I need to step back. Just one step.|crotch_3_crotch_4_1]] | [[This feels like turning the tide. I don’t know if it’s right|crotch_3_crotch_4_1]] | [[Maybe I was wrong to let it go completely.|crotch_3_crotch_4_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You return to reclaim something. A fragment. A feeling. That is not weakness it is awareness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It's not about reclaiming pride, or power. Not entirely. It's about feeling whole again even if that wholeness means reaching backward.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then do so mindfully. Do not grasp from fear. Let it be a hand extended to your past self, not a rejection of the woman you are becoming.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>When I passed through that last threshold… I thought I’d feel complete. Instead, I felt… erased. Like my foundation had vanished, and nothing had replaced it yet.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_3_crotch_4_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Even nature doesn’t skip the dawn. The light returns slowly, one hue at a time. What you lost was not wrong to surrender. But regrowth can be part of the truth too.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this doesn’t undo the path. It just… breathes into it again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. The form you shape is not a verdict. It is a living sculpture, always evolving. You’ve earned the right to change forward or back.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I won’t lie. Part of me feels ashamed. Like I’m not brave enough to finish the journey.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_3_crotch_4_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Shame is a shadow of others' expectations. You are not reversing you're realigning. Sometimes, the soul whispers for balance. And balance may not look like anyone else’s ending.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I thought it would feel like stepping away from myself. But it feels like… I’m stepping toward something I still care about.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then it was the right choice. Sometimes the tiniest part holds the deepest root.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I have to explain this? Defend it?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_3_crotch_4_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Only to those who confuse transition with surrender. And you, my prince my queen in bloom owe them no clarity but your own.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m beginning to understand… this journey doesn’t move in a straight line.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. It spirals. And in that spiral, you are always arriving. Always becoming.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[This one matters, doesn’t it? Let’s finish what we started.|crotch_4_crotch_3_1]] | [[This is harder than I expected. I don’t know if I’m ready… but I came.|crotch_4_crotch_3_1]] | [[You’re going to say it’s ‘necessary.’ I’m not sure I believe you anymore.|crotch_4_crotch_3_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>I won’t offer hollow comforts, Caelan. Not today. This session… is quiet. But not simple.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought I’d feel triumphant. Lighter. But instead, I feel like I’m watching myself disappear one breath at a time.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are not disappearing. You are distilling. When water becomes mist, it doesn’t lose itself it rises.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then why does each step feel like grief? Like I’m mourning something… even as I choose to let it go?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_4_crotch_3_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Because part of you is grieving. Not for what’s lost, but for how it once defined you. This final trace of manhood… it has echoed in your posture, your fear, your pride. And now, it will become silence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And after that silence? What am I?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are what you decide to become. This potion clears the canvas. What you paint next is yours alone. The body will no longer speak in old symbols. The world may try but you will define what your shape means.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s so small now… barely even real. I used to think it meant strength. Manhood. All those old things I clung to.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_4_crotch_3_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And now?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Now it just feels like… a leftover. Something that doesn’t belong in the life I’m trying to live.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let it go with purpose. Don’t let it shrink from shame let it recede with dignity. You are not shedding failure. You are rising into power shaped for you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s it, then. The last thread.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_4_crotch_3_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. What remains now is a body that listens for what you wish to become. The masculine root has been softened to its edge. The womb of possibility lies ahead.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange… I expected to feel emptier. But I think I feel lighter instead.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve carried more than flesh, Caelan. Expectations, pride, fear. Now, there’s space for truth. The form that once declared ‘who you had to be’ no longer shouts over who you choose to be.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not a queen yet. But I’m something closer than I was yesterday.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_4_crotch_3_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And every step you take, no matter how small, is a coronation of your becoming.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m not reversing everything. I just need to breathe again to feel more like me.|crotch_4_crotch_5_1]] | [[I’m not even sure what I want anymore. But I know I can’t keep moving forward on empty.|crotch_4_crotch_5_1]] | [[This was supposed to be my transformation. Not erasure.|crotch_4_crotch_5_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The sky doesn’t punish the moon for waxing after it wanes. Why should you feel guilt for returning to fullness?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s not guilt. Not exactly. It’s… fear. That I’ve come too far to turn back. That going back is weakness.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. Weakness would be to keep shrinking when your spirit is crying out to expand.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>When I left after the last session, I told myself the reduction was necessary. A step toward something greater. But I keep waking up with silence where there used to be presence. It's not right. Not yet.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_4_crotch_5_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This dose won’t make you what you once were. But it will return some of what was lost. Not in defiance of your journey but in service to it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this isn’t a failure?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Correction is not failure. Rebalancing is not betrayal. You are sculpting a self, not tracing a blueprint.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve tried to honor this path, truly. But I can’t rule or lead if I feel fragmented.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_4_crotch_5_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And so, you honor yourself by reclaiming what you need. This body is yours. The throne will not judge your proportions.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s it? No tugging, no ache? Just... calm?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not all returns must come with violence. Sometimes, regrowth is quiet.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I have to explain this? To the court? To my mother?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_4_crotch_5_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>If they ask, tell them the truth: that you chose clarity over pride, wholeness over silence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s a queen’s answer.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then perhaps you’re already becoming one on your own terms.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[This one… it’s close to the end, isn’t it? Let’s see it through.|crotch_5_crotch_4_1]] | [[There’s barely anything left of what I used to be. But I’m still not sure what I’m becoming.|crotch_5_crotch_4_1]] | [[So, another piece of me goes today? I hope whatever’s left is enough to be heard.|crotch_5_crotch_4_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You came without summons. That tells me you’ve been thinking.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Hard not to think when the changes echo louder than my heartbeat.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This session is delicate. What remains now is slight yet stubborn. The tiniest stone can still anchor a mountain.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then I suppose I’m down to the pebble that used to be a tower.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_5_crotch_4_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’re not broken, Caelan. You’re reshaping. This piece this sliver is only a symbol. One you may let go of, or hold onto longer. But today’s dose will begin the final tapering.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It used to be the center of everything. Pride. Power. Even shame. And now… it’s barely a whisper of who I was.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And still, you’re here. Still speaking. Still you. You’ve proven, over and over, that identity isn’t pinned to flesh.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Try convincing my reflection of that.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_5_crotch_4_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Look again, not just at the body. See what’s emerging behind the eyes. You’ve carried doubt, but also grace. Fragility, but also fire. These mirrors don’t lie.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t think it would get this far. I thought maybe I’d stop go halfway, hold the line. But the line keeps moving.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Transformation is not a road with clear borders. It’s a sea, and you’re building the boat as you cross it. The fact that you still pause, question, feel that’s not weakness. It’s wisdom.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Is it strange I feel more fear now than I did when it all began?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_5_crotch_4_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Not strange. You’re not afraid of losing what you were you’re afraid of not recognizing what you’ll become. That’s the hardest part.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can barely feel anything now. Like it’s fading into dream.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And soon, the body will no longer need that shape to define its strength. You are not hollowing you are refining.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will people still see me as whole?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_5_crotch_4_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The ones who matter will see you as more than whole. They will see you as true.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know what kind of queen I’ll make… but I’m starting to believe I might still be one.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That belief is your crown’s foundation. And every session, every step you’ve taken willingly or not has carved space for it to rest.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I need to feel a part of myself return. Not all, just… enough.|crotch_5_crotch_6_1]] | [[I don’t know if this is the right choice. But it’s the only one that feels… mine.|crotch_5_crotch_6_1]] | [[You said I wouldn’t be trapped. Prove it.|crotch_5_crotch_6_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>There is strength in changing course. Even fire knows when to shift direction with the wind.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Everything I was felt like it burned away in that last session. I walked out of here feeling hollow. Almost… erased.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Transformation asks much of us. But it should never ask for our soul. If what you lost was too much then this step back is a step toward yourself.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s not about undoing everything. I just… I need to feel solid again. To walk without wondering if something essential has vanished.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_5_crotch_6_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This potion will restore what was reduced. Not to its peak, but to presence. It will return a shape not to defy who you were becoming, but to remind you of who you’ve always been.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You don’t judge me for this? Wanting some of it back?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I would only judge you if you stopped listening to yourself. This path you walk is not one-directional. Real becoming is messy, sacred, and entirely yours.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought I was ready to let go. I told myself it was just flesh. But I’ve felt… unbalanced since.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_5_crotch_6_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then reclaim your balance. Your body is not a symbol of loyalty or rebellion. It is your anchor. If that anchor feels too light, you are allowed to add weight again.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels… right. Like a missing note sliding back into a melody.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is your body remembering itself. You gave something up before you were truly ready. Now, you take back only what you need.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So I’m a patchwork prince-turned-princess now?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_5_crotch_6_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You are not patchwork. You are process. You are possibility. No queen is forged in a single mold.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Thank you… for making this feel like a choice.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It always was. And it always will be.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Another step… closer. I don’t flinch anymore but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.|crotch_6_crotch_5_1]] | [[I thought by now I’d stop feeling this knot in my chest. But it’s still there… tight.|crotch_6_crotch_5_1]] | [[What’s left of me now, Thalara? A ghost of a man? Let’s finish the carving, then.|crotch_6_crotch_5_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>There you are. The echoes of your steps were different tonight.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Each step takes more of me with it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Or perhaps, each step brings more of you into view. Like mist parting to reveal the river beneath.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Are you ever not poetic?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_6_crotch_5_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Only when the moment doesn’t deserve it. This one does.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s getting harder to look down. Not from fear. Just… discomfort. There’s almost nothing left of what I knew.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. This phase is called The Hollowing. The time where space is made not just lost. As your form shrinks, the vessel begins to prepare.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Very small, huh? Soon it won’t even be worth noticing.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_6_crotch_5_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Not to the world, perhaps. But to you? Even a nub can echo with memory. It is not shameful to mourn what you had, even as you reshape what you are.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You know, when I was younger… I thought my size was my power. That I could charm, control, intimidate, even seduce, just by what I carried between my legs.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Many believe that. Especially those raised as heirs, warriors, or kings. But true power never rests in flesh. It rests in how you wield yourself.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t feel like I’m wielding anything anymore.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_6_crotch_5_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then rest. Let this moment be what it is: a letting go. You’re not expected to feel triumphant. Not today.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I’m not strong enough to keep letting go?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let me hold the space until you are. You’re not alone in this. You never were.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I used to look down and feel pride. Now I look down and feel… silence. Like the part of me that used to speak so loudly has gone mute.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_6_crotch_5_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then listen to the silence. There’s a new voice emerging beneath it. It hasn’t learned to speak yet but it will.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s… barely there.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. This stage brings you to the edge. Beyond it, a new path begins. But for now, rest in this in-between.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It doesn’t even feel like me anymore. Not even the memory of me.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_6_crotch_5_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Because a memory is still a kind of shadow. You are light now, not shadow. That means leaving old silhouettes behind.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What happens if I regret going this far?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then we stop. Or we go back. You are never trapped, Caelan. Only transformed. And all transformations are choices, even when they’re made slowly.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know if I want to move forward… or run.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_6_crotch_5_7]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then stay still for a while. You don’t have to choose everything tonight.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Is this what being queen means? Hollowing out until only duty remains?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. Being queen means reshaping yourself so that your truth can rule not your fears. That truth doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to feel fuller again. To remember the way it used to be.|crotch_6_crotch_7_1]] | [[I didn’t think I’d come back here. But… something’s missing. And I need to feel whole again.|crotch_6_crotch_7_1]] | [[Let’s just get this over with. I’m not here to explain myself.|crotch_6_crotch_7_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Time brings many of us back to doors we once closed with certainty.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Maybe the door wasn’t locked. Just… ignored.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Or perhaps you always knew where it was. You just needed a reason to open it again.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s not about regret. It’s about... recalibration.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_6_crotch_7_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>A fair word. So many think transformation is linear forward, forward, forward. But even the stars loop back in their sky. You are not retreating. You are realigning.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>When I looked down this morning… and saw what I had left, I didn’t feel proud. I felt… erased. Like part of me had vanished, and I wasn’t sure if I gave permission for that.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The body sometimes speaks truths our minds haven’t admitted yet. Tell me, Caelan what is it you hope to reclaim with this session?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Presence. Solidity. I need to feel grounded in myself again. I miss the weight of who I was.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_6_crotch_7_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then this blend will serve you. It calls back what was reduced not in defiance of change, but in honor of balance. You will regain size, proportion, and sensation. The body remembers… and welcomes back what once belonged.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And what if I come to regret it again later?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you return again. You adjust. This journey was never a single path. It is a spiral, and you are allowed to turn.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You always make it sound so poetic.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_6_crotch_7_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It is poetic. Every time you choose to listen to your truth, even when it contradicts yesterday’s truth you’re writing a living poem.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This’ll bring me back to where I was before? Not all the way, just… more?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. From small to moderate. It will lengthen and thicken your form, enough that it regains prominence. Enough that you feel it again not just as a memory, but as part of your being.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Alright.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_6_crotch_7_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s coming back. Gods, I didn’t realize how much I missed this until now…<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And how does it feel? To stand with what you once laid down?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Strange. Familiar. Like a name I hadn’t spoken in months… but still remember how to write.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are not betraying the path by walking backward a step. You are learning its full shape. No crown should demand the sacrifice of selfhood.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_6_crotch_7_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know what this makes me now. I’m not sure where I’m heading anymore.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then allow that unknowing to be your compass. You do not need to rush toward a fixed version of yourself. You only need to walk truthfully.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Just one step at a time, huh?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And today, that step brought you back. Tomorrow… it may take you forward again. What matters is that it’s yours.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Strange how I used to dread this, and now it almost feels like… progress.|crotch_7_crotch_6_1]] | [[I keep thinking this will get easier, but… I’m still not sure how to feel.|crotch_7_crotch_6_1]] | [[Fine. Another step down. Another chip off the old manhood.|crotch_7_crotch_6_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You speak as though you’re losing battles, Caelan. But this isn’t war. It’s weathering.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then why does each session feel like erosion? Like I’m being worn smooth.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because smoothing isn’t erasure. It’s refinement. You aren’t being erased. You’re being reshaped.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This one feels… different already. I can tell.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_7_crotch_6_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It is. Today’s blend carries lighter properties gentler agents but deeper reach. It draws in, tucks close. This isn’t about power anymore. It’s about presence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Presence. That’s one word for it. I used to walk into a room and know I owned the space. Even if I said nothing. That part of me did the talking.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And now?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Now I feel like the room is looking through me, not at me. And I hate that it matters this much.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_7_crotch_6_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Most things we grieve aren’t what they are but what they meant. You’re not grieving inches. You’re grieving attention. Assertion. Identity.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Isn’t that what I was? Am?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You were bold. Loud. Proud. And those things can remain even when the instrument that sang them grows quieter.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s poetic. But let’s not pretend that a small cock commands the same reverence a big one does. There’s no poetry in shrinkage.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_7_crotch_6_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>No. But there is poetry in humility. In transformation. In choosing to walk forward even when what made you bold begins to fall away.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Maybe it’s not falling away. Maybe it’s being peeled away.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then take this, and peel. Shed. Discover what lies underneath the armor of flesh.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I used to be able to wrap my hand around it and feel… powerful. Now? It’s barely there.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_7_crotch_6_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And yet, you are still here. That’s the power that matters. This this is simply form. You are spirit. Will. Future.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It looks… fragile. I feel fragile.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not fragile. Vulnerable. There’s a difference. Vulnerability is where strength is born not hidden behind size, but revealed in truth.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to seeing less of myself.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_7_crotch_6_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Maybe you’re not seeing less. Maybe you’re seeing what was always underneath waiting to matter.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I miss it later? Miss how it felt to take up space?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then remember it with gratitude. But do not chase shadows of your former self. You are not fading. You’re evolving.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I feel a bit more me… and a bit less me. Like two threads pulling in different directions.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_7_crotch_6_7]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then braid them. Make them part of the same tapestry. You were never meant to be one thing forever.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m not hiding from what I want anymore. Let’s bring it back.|crotch_7_crotch_8_1]] | [[This might be a mistake… but I need to feel myself again.|crotch_7_crotch_8_1]] | [[Let them whisper. Let them stare. I won’t disappear just to make them comfortable.|crotch_7_crotch_8_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>So. You wish to rise again.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Let’s not dress it in mystery. You know why I’m here.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I know many reasons you could be here. Not all of them will serve you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought letting go was what I wanted. That if I shrank enough, I’d finally fit the mold they made for me.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_7_crotch_8_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And you found emptiness in that absence?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I found silence. Not peace. And silence… silence hurts.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The quiet after a storm can seem like mourning, especially if the storm defined you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Call it what you will. But I miss the presence. The command. That part of me felt like an anchor. And now I feel like I’m floating… fading.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_7_crotch_8_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Are you sure you aren’t simply afraid of being seen differently? That what’s inside won’t be taken as seriously without what once stood outside?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m afraid of not recognizing myself in the mirror. And I’m tired of pretending that doesn’t matter.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>There is no shame in reclaiming what once gave you strength. But if you’re only doing this to resist your path, it will not hold. This must be your choice, not your rebellion.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It is. I need this not to prove a point. To remember that I can still take up space.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_7_crotch_8_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then know this: What grows back will feel… heavier than before. Not just in size, but in consequence. This is not a denial of the feminine path but a re-centering of your own narrative.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let me feel that weight again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This blend reignites what was reduced. It stirs dormant essence. You’ll feel blood thrum with returning force. Girth and length will stretch again your body recalling its former shape, with renewed vigor. It may ache. That is memory taking root.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Let it ache. At least I’ll feel real.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_7_crotch_8_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Gods… it’s back. It’s really back.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And does it still define you? Or simply remind you?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It reminds me I’m not gone. That I still have weight. That when I speak, I don’t have to wonder if they’re looking past me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And when you walk forward… will it be in resistance, or in awareness?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_7_crotch_8_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>In awareness. I’m not abandoning the journey. I’m just… taking a firmer step.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let it hold you. But know this: the more you reclaim, the more carefully you must ask why. This form carries old habits. Old privileges. Use them wisely or let them go, when the time is right.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I will. But for now… this is what I need.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then walk as you are, Prince. And let no crown past or future dictate the shape of your truth.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m starting to understand why each session feels heavier than the last.|crotch_8_crotch_7_1]] | [[Every time it changes, I feel a little less certain.|crotch_8_crotch_7_1]] | [[Let’s just get this over with. I'm done pretending this isn’t absurd.|crotch_8_crotch_7_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Absurd or not, you returned. That’s the only part that matters today.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I suppose I did.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This session marks a turning. You won’t feel the pull of visibility the same way after this. Not the way you used to.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So I go from ‘very large’ to just… ‘large.’ Imposing to impressive. Not sure that counts as transformation.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_8_crotch_7_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>But it does. Monument to landmark. The difference between casting a shadow and standing tall. This is where size begins to lose its power and identity starts to take its place.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Funny. When I was younger, that size was power. Boys envied it. Lovers praised it. I thought it made me unshakable.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And yet here you are. Choosing to let it go.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Not because I want to be lesser. But because I need to be more than just that. I just… don’t know what comes next.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_8_crotch_7_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>What comes next is understanding you are not reduced you are refined. Power does not vanish. It merely shifts.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>There’s still a sting, you know. Watching it shrink. Feeling the ache after. Like part of me is resisting like it knows it's being rewritten.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That ache is not pain. It’s memory unraveling. Muscles remembering their shape, nerves recalibrating. A farewell whispered by the flesh.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And what if I miss it? What if I don’t feel whole without that… that dominance?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_8_crotch_7_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then mourn it. Respect it. But do not worship it. You are not the weight between your legs. You are the will behind your choices.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s not gone. But it’s… quieter. Less boastful.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And does that frighten you?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Maybe. Or maybe I’m just afraid I liked being loud.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_8_crotch_7_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then learn to speak in different volumes. The crown will not care about your size. The court will not measure your worth in inches. But you must not silence yourself where it matters.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You always make it sound noble. Like this is part of some sacred calling.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It is, Caelan. Not just for Velmoria. For you. To become who you were meant to be, not who your body once declared you were.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Still feels strange. How something I once guarded like treasure now slips away without a fight.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_8_crotch_7_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Because the treasure was never in the size. It was in the meaning you gave it. And meanings evolve.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then I suppose I’ll need to find new ones.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And you will. There are still many sessions to come. And many versions of you waiting to be discovered.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[This time, I won’t question it. I want more of myself back.|crotch_8_crotch_9_1]] | [[I can’t tell if this is a retreat or a pause. But I… I need to feel it again.|crotch_8_crotch_9_1]] | [[I’m done pretending this doesn't matter. If they want me small, they can deal with this.|crotch_8_crotch_9_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The balance tilts again, I see. You return not as the same man who left this room before.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I haven’t been the same for a while, Thalara.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No one ever is. Every transformation, forward or back, leaves a mark. Even reversals echo louder than we expect.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This one… it puts me back into something more visible. Heavier. Sharper in the world’s eyes.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_8_crotch_9_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ll notice it more than they do. But yes this grants you volume again. Command. The kind that doesn't ask for space it takes it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought I was getting used to it… being lighter. Less there. But after that last session... it was like part of me went silent.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And now you want the noise back?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>No. Not noise. I want a presence I recognize. Something I can feel without questioning if it’s still mine.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_8_crotch_9_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This session won’t bring back the full flame. But the heat will rise again. You’ll feel the pull. The heft. The press of something undeniably male returning.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I remember when I thought I’d never want to feel that again. But I miss it. Even if I still want to change… I need to pause in something familiar.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>There is no shame in reclaiming a shape you once trusted. Growth isn’t always forward. Sometimes, we grow roots before we bloom.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I’m just being selfish? Undoing what others sacrificed so much to build?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_8_crotch_9_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then good. Be selfish. Let your body be yours before it belongs to titles, crowns, or counsel. Let no one steal your becoming not even for noble reasons.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not ready to let it all go. Not yet.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then don’t. Take what you need to remember your center. Even if it swells you back into old shapes. What matters is that you decide the rhythm.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What should I expect?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_8_crotch_9_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>A deep rush. Tissue awakening. Expansion that comes with heat. You’ll feel full again weight redistributes, veins pulse wider, and sensitivity sharpens. It is not painful… but it will not be quiet.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Good. Let it roar a little.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I think I’m ready for this one. Less fire this time. More quiet.|crotch_9_crotch_8_1]] | [[It’s starting to feel too real… and I’m not sure I know what that means anymore.|crotch_9_crotch_8_1]] | [[Still think this is ridiculous. But I’m here. Let’s do it.|crotch_9_crotch_8_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You walked lighter today. Not sure-footed, but quieter. The way someone walks into a temple they don’t believe in... yet still enters.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I guess it’s getting harder to pretend that this isn’t changing me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it is. Each measure rebalances the scales inside you. Today’s potion won’t roar. It will whisper.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Is it strange that I’m almost more afraid of that?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_9_crotch_8_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>No. Dramatic change gives you something to push against. But this… this is subtle. It sinks in, unnoticed. It’s how the deepest parts of identity are rewritten.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This one brings me… to average, right? Not small. Not imposing. Just… forgettable.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Neutral. Not invisible. Just no longer the center of everything. A body without dominance, but not without presence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You know… growing up, that was the thing. Every bathhouse whisper. Every noble sneer. Every moment I was measured it was by this. And now it’s slipping out of focus.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_9_crotch_8_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That is not loss, Caelan. That is release. Your manhood once declared your arrival in every room before your voice could. But soon, it is your voice that must carry your presence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So I’m supposed to just... blend now?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not blend. Balance. You are being sculpted not erased. The extremes of masculinity are being worn into neutrality. A center from which you may still lean in either direction.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know how I’ll feel afterward. Like something is missing, or like a weight I didn't know I was carrying is gone.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_9_crotch_8_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Likely both. You may grieve a little. You may also breathe easier.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Lovely. Emotional whiplash served warm.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Change is always a little mad. But there is grace in choosing it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You’ve said before this isn’t about becoming less… but it feels like subtraction every time. Inch by inch, until I don’t know what’s left.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_9_crotch_8_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then let me ask you this: What part of you cannot be measured?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My… choices, I guess.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. And what you choose today says as much about your strength as any sword you’ve lifted or bed you’ve conquered.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not sure who I’m becoming, Thalara. Not anymore.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_9_crotch_8_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then you are exactly where you need to be.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s smaller after this?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. Medium. Common. Nothing extraordinary in size but the act of choosing it? That’s rare.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Cheers to being… statistically average.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_9_crotch_8_7]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Cheers to clarity.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I know what I’m doing. I want this… I need it.|crotch_9_crotch_10_1]] | [[I don’t know if this is right, but... something inside says I need to feel whole again.|crotch_9_crotch_10_1]] | [[Sick of this back-and-forth. If I'm going to be pulled in all directions, I choose this one today.|crotch_9_crotch_10_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>I felt you coming before the door opened. The air thickened. Intention returns with a scent all its own.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought I was past this. Thought I could keep going. Shrinking. Changing. Letting go.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>But something called you back.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Not something. Me. I called me back.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_9_crotch_10_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve made progress. Real change. Do you understand what this reversal means?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It means I’m taking back something. Not because I hate where I was going. But because I’m not done being who I was.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s not weakness. It’s clarity. Every step must be owned. If you move forward too fast without belief, you fracture. And I will not let you shatter, Caelan.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I never thought I'd want this back. The weight. The pull. But after that last session, everything felt... too quiet. Too small. I looked down and felt like I’d erased a chapter before I was ready.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_9_crotch_10_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You felt like a guest in your own skin. That is no place from which to rule or evolve.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this’ll bring it back? Not all the way… but more?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. From where you were very large to where you once stood with pride. The potion restores what has receded. Blood will rush. Tissue will swell. Veins awaken. You’ll feel heavy again, not only in body, but in presence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I missed that word. Presence.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_9_crotch_10_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Presence does not only come from parts, Caelan. But reclaiming them can be a declaration, if done knowingly.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if this becomes a cycle? Back and forth forever. Do I just keep undoing myself?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. The cycle ends when you end it. Not when the potions do. If this is what brings your truth closer, then it is not regression. It’s refinement.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My mother wouldn’t approve. She thinks every drop I take should go in the other direction.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_9_crotch_10_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Your mother sees a queen. I see a soul in flux. Only you see who you are becoming. Or should. If this reversal helps you see it more clearly, it’s worth it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I need this. Not forever. But today.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then take it. Feel the return not of manhood, but of something you feared had vanished without your say.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I won’t apologize for reclaiming myself.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_9_crotch_10_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You never have to.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Let’s continue. I expected worse, honestly. I can handle this.|crotch_10_crotch_9_1]] | [[Still not sure how I feel about all this… but I didn’t come to turn back.|crotch_10_crotch_9_1]] | [[Whatever. If we’re doing this, let’s just get it over with.|crotch_10_crotch_9_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You wear different masks each time you arrive, Caelan. Strength, fear, apathy. They all speak to the same truth: you’re still deciding who you want to be.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t need a speech. I need to know what this dose is going to take from me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not take. Ease. Reduce. Allow to let go. You’ll feel another shift smaller again, just enough to notice. Less girth, less weight. Less commanding.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Great. I always wanted to be less commanding in the bathhouse.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_10_crotch_9_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You still can be just in other ways. Presence is not always measured in inches.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Easy for you to say. You’ve never had to say goodbye to a part of yourself that announced you when you entered a room.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No, but I’ve helped others do it. There’s grief in every transformation. Even those that are chosen freely. Even in joy, there is loss. That is the price of becoming something new.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I don’t want to become something new? What then?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_10_crotch_9_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then you remain exactly as you are. But you came here, again. You stood still for the first draft of change. That means something. Whether you admit it or not.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. It’s not pain that bothers me it’s watching it happen in stages. Like I’m being unraveled bit by bit.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. It’s a long undoing of threads stitched into your life since birth. Masculinity sewn into flesh, sewn into expectation. But you are not your expectations, Caelan.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I used to think it made me powerful. That this body gave me leverage. And now it’s… less. Not useless, but less certain.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_10_crotch_9_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It gave you one kind of power. But not the only kind. The weight between your legs can shape how others see you. But the weight behind your words your choices that’s what rules nations.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Spoken like a woman who’s never needed to piss standing up to get respect.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Oh, I’ve wielded more authority seated on a stool than most men do on horseback.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Fine. Point taken.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_10_crotch_9_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This one will be warmer than before. Gentle, but undeniable. Your body will sigh away another layer. You may feel heat along the base, a hollowing in your groin. The muscle will shrink; the veins will quiet. Your form will simplify.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Is there a point where it stops feeling like I’m losing… and starts feeling like I’m becoming?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. But no one can tell you when. It’s different for every soul.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And what if I still don’t know if I want to be a queen?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_10_crotch_9_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then be Caelan. Fully, fiercely. And when the crown comes, you’ll know whether to wear it or cast it aside.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Cheers to uncertainty, then.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>To transformation, however it unfolds.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve made my choice. I want it back. All of it.|crotch_10_crotch_11_1]] | [[I’m not sure if this is right… but I need to feel like myself again. Even if only for now.|crotch_10_crotch_11_1]] | [[I never wanted this change in the first place. I’m done pretending. Give me back what was mine.|crotch_10_crotch_11_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>…So. You seek to walk backward down a path others rarely even survive going forward.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t come to be judged. I came to be restored.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I do not judge. I warn. This potion is not like the others. Feminine alchemy eases, reshapes, persuades. But masculine magic... it demands. It returns power, yes but it comes clawing.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Good. I want it to claw. I want to feel like I belong in my skin again. I want to stop shrinking.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_10_crotch_11_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And yet, just a session ago, you allowed that part of yourself to begin fading. What changed, Caelan?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Everything. Or maybe nothing. I looked at myself. And I didn’t recognize who I was becoming. I thought I could bend for the crown. But I’m not sure if I’m bending, or breaking.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>There is no shame in fear. And there is no disgrace in retreat. The body your body is a battlefield of meanings. No spell undoes that struggle.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This… isn’t about rebelling. It’s about remembering. I need to feel like I exist again. That my body is still mine. That there’s still something left.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_10_crotch_11_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The potion will restore what was lost perhaps more. Your endowment will swell past what it was, rising to its previous form. You may feel heat, throbbing, discomfort. Masculine hunger returns with the flesh. Be prepared to hold it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And emotionally? What happens then?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You will feel power rush back in and the old identity may surge with it. Dominance. Urgency. Cravings long muted. But it won’t fill the hollow. Only delay the reckoning. You cannot un-know who you've begun to become.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let it be my reckoning. I just want to stand tall again.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_10_crotch_11_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>I’ll grant you the form, but not the illusion. If you believe this makes you whole, drink. If you believe this makes you safe, wait. You cannot drink both destinies.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not asking for forever. Just a moment to feel real again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then take it, and know the weight of what returns.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s back…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_10_crotch_11_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. But so are the doubts that made you leave it behind.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then maybe I have to lose it all again… just to know which version of me can survive.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready, Thalara. I’ve made peace with this. Just… guide me through it.|crotch_11_crotch_10_1]] | [[I don’t know how to feel about this… but I’ll go through with it. For the Queen. For the kingdom.|crotch_11_crotch_10_1]] | [[Let’s get this over with. I’m not doing this because I want to. I’m doing it because I have to.|crotch_11_crotch_10_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>One beginning. Willing, unsure, or rebellious it matters not. The body will respond, and the spirit will follow… in time.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>How can you speak about this like it’s a rite of passage and not… erasing who I am?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it is a rite of passage, Caelan. But not one that erases it redefines. Transforms. Like a blade reforged in fire, you are being reshaped, not destroyed.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I was proud of who I was. Of my body. I don’t know how I’m supposed to let go of that without losing something.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_11_crotch_10_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You should be proud. Your form, your strength none of it is shameful. But pride need not be bound to flesh. Pride can live in resilience, in adaptation… in what you choose to become, not just what you were born as.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I don’t want to become something else?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then your resistance will shape the path differently. You need not surrender instantly. But know this change has already begun. Within you, and around you. The kingdom has chosen. Your mother has chosen. The only one who hasn’t… is you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And this… potion. What exactly will it do to me?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_11_crotch_10_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>In this first stage? Only a gentle contraction. Your… current endowment will begin to reduce slowly. From what it is, to something slightly less. No pain. Just heat. Pressure. Perhaps an ache you won’t know how to describe.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s still my body you’re talking about.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Of course it is. It remains yours. Even when it changes, it belongs to you. This is not theft, Caelan it’s alchemy guided by intent. Your intent, if you will let it be.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I change my mind? Or stop halfway?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_11_crotch_10_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then we adjust. The process is not a prison. There is room for pause. Reassessment. Even retreat though the deeper you go, the harder it becomes to reverse. Not impossible, but costly.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And you’ve done this before? Changed others?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Only a few. This magic is sacred. It’s not done lightly. But each who walked the path before you found their truth some in becoming, some in choosing to remain between.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t want to lose… all of me.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_11_crotch_10_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then don’t. Keep what matters. Let the rest evolve. This is not about losing. It’s about crafting a shape that holds your purpose your strength as a queen, if you wish to be one.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What happens when I drink it?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’ll feel a pull inward. A soft unraveling of what anchors you to maleness. Not all at once. Just a first nudge. Your body will shift slightly enough to know this is real.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And you’ll be here the whole time?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|crotch_11_crotch_10_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>From first drop to final form. I do not abandon those I guide, Caelan. Whether you come to me proud, scared, or spitting fire you are not alone in this.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…Then let’s begin.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my crotch|use_success_potion_create_crotch]] <>

<> <<set $curr_potion = setup.hair_forward_potions>> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $curr_potion = setup.hair_reverse_potions>> <</if>> <<set $curr_potion_selected = $curr_potion[$userBody.hair.curr_hair]>> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if $curr_potion_selected == undefined>> You do not have any hair potions available for your current hair version to transform. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.hair, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userItems, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredient = {}>> ✦ Ancient Alchemical Recipe ✦ Potion: <<=$curr_potion_selected.name>> Purpose: <<=$curr_potion_selected.purpose>> 🜃 Ingredients: <ol> <<for _item, _value range $curr_potion_selected.ingredients>> <li><<=$userItems[_item].name>>: _value <<=$userItems[_item].unit>></li> <<set $ingredient[_item] = {amount: $userItems[_item].amount, needed: _value, unit: $userItems[_item].unit}>> <</for>> </ol> <<set _potion = $curr_potion_selected>> /* <<set $currentObjectives = 'Create Potion: ' + _potion.name + '. Ingredients are: '>> <<for _item, _value range _potion.ingredients>> <<set $currentObjectives += $userItems[_item].name + ': ' + _value + ' ' + $userItems[_item].unit + ', '>> <</for>> <<replace "#objectives-text" t8n>> <<=$currentObjectives>> <</replace>> */ ⤐ Function: <<=$curr_potion_selected.function>> ⚠ Side Effects: <<=$curr_potion_selected.sideEffects>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($ingredient, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredinetAvailable = true>> <<for _key, _data range $ingredient>> <<if $ingredient[_key].amount < $ingredient[_key].needed>> You do not have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, but you have only <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. <<set $ingredinetAvailable = false>> <<else>> You have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, you have <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. It is more than enough!! <</if>> <</for>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 3>> <<link "Refer Another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<elseif $ingredinetAvailable>> You have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Make Potion">><<goto "potion_create_hair">><</link>> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> You do not have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <</if>> <<set $potion = $curr_potion_selected>> <<set $potionInventory = {}>> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] = 0>> <</for>> <</if>> <>

<> 🧪 Assembling: <<=$potion.name>> Match the exact ingredients to brew this potion: <div class="item-grid"> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div class="item-card"> <<capture _item>> [img[$userItems[_item].img]] <<set $reverse_passage_ingredient = "potion_create_hair">> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> <div class="ingredient_details"><<link "Details">><<set $selectedIngredient = _item>><<goto "IngredientDetail">><</link>></div> <</capture>> </div> <</for>> </div> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> (You have: <<=$userItems[_item].amount>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>>) Needed: <<=_needed>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> | Added: <<=$potionInventory[_item]>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> <<if $userItems[_item].amount > 0>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_hair">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_hair">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_hair">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] > 0>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_hair">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_hair">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_hair">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <</if>> </div> <</for>> <<set $_matches = true>> <<for _item, _data range $potion.ingredients>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] != $potion.ingredients[_item]>> <<set $_matches = false>> <</if>> <</for>> <<if $_matches>> ✅ All ingredients matched perfectly. Ready to brew! <<link "Brew Potion">> <<goto "brew_success_potion_create_hair">> <</link>> <</if>> <<if not $_matches>> ⚠ Ingredient quantities do not match the recipe. Adjust to proceed. <</if>> <<link "Cancel">> <<for _item, _data range $potionInventory>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $potionInventory[_item]>> <</for>> <<goto "potion_lab">> <</link>> <>

<> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance += 1.5>> <<else>> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance -= 1.5>> <</if>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.hair, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $userBody.hair.curr_hair = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $image_key_hair_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.head.curr_head + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.head.curr_head + "_" + $userBody.hair.curr_hair+ ".png">> /* <<=$image_key_hair_path>> */ <<set $userBody.hair.img = $image_key_hair_path>> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="change_show torso">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.torso.img]]</div> <div class="change_show head">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.head.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show chest">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.chest.img]]</div> <div class="change_show crotch">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.crotch.img]]</div> <div class="change_show hair">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.hair.img]]</div> </div> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> | [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready, Thalara. Let’s begin.|hair_1_hair_2_1]] | [[…I still don’t know if this is right, but… I’m here. Do what you must.|hair_1_hair_2_1]] | [[You know this doesn’t feel natural. But I guess no one’s giving me a real choice, are they?|hair_1_hair_2_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Choice is a curious thing, Your Highness. Some find it in rebellion, others in surrender. But even indecision... is a choice in disguise.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You speak in riddles, Thalara. Do you ever say anything plainly?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Rarely. Plain words carry heavy truths, and most prefer a little mystery in their medicine.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Hair is trivial to most. A vanity. A fashion. But for those born to rule in Velmoria, it is part of the rite. Our ancestors believed that a ruler’s hair must mirror her heart growing wild only when she accepts herself.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_1_hair_2_2]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And if I never accept myself like that? If I don’t want to grow into the queen they all expect?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you may never grow hair beyond your collar… or perhaps you’ll grow it and still feel like a stranger inside your own skin. But that is not failure, dear prince. That is simply a different path.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This potion will awaken the follicles that once lay dormant. It is slow, respectful magic. The body must learn it is safe to change.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It tingles already. Like… like my head is remembering something it forgot.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_1_hair_2_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Good. That’s the potion greeting your nerves. The mind resists faster than the flesh, but flesh has patience. You may fight it, mourn it, or lean into it. All of those reactions are sacred.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Is it wrong that I feel… nervous?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. It would be stranger if you felt nothing. But nerves are not enemies. They are just truth in motion.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Look. Only wisps now, but they are yours. The first strand, born of your decision however it was made.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_1_hair_2_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It looks soft… like my mother’s when I was little.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you carry more of her than you knew. But you are not her echo, Caelan. You are your own unfolding.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will the rest be like this? Gentle and slow?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Some potions are like whispers. Others like fire. When we begin changing what lies below the scalp bones, skin, organs there may be… harsher tides. But the hair? It begins with kindness.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_1_hair_2_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This session is complete. Rest well. Tonight, your head dreams as a prince. Tomorrow, it may wake as something new.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[It’s growing faster than I thought. I… don’t hate how it feels.|hair_2_hair_3_1]] | [[I’m not sure this is what I want yet… but I guess we keep going.|hair_2_hair_3_1]] | [[Another potion? Let’s just get this over with.|hair_2_hair_3_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Your hair tells more stories than your lips ever will, Caelan. You may lie, you may hide but each inch grown is a secret whispered to the world.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t want the world whispering about me. Not like this.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let it whisper. And you… you may choose whether to listen or ignore it. That too is power.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I thought hair would just be hair. But every session feels like another part of me is being... unraveled. Rewritten.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_2_hair_3_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Because it is. Hair has memory. Not just of genetics, but of intent. Each time I touch your crown, it listens. It remembers your resistance. Your surrender. Your curiosity.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I don’t know what I’m feeling anymore? Some days I wake up and want this. Others I feel like I’m erasing myself.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are not erasing. You are shedding. There's a difference. The serpent does not mourn its old skin. The tree does not grieve last season’s leaves. And yet both continue wiser, changed, alive.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You make it sound beautiful. But it doesn’t always feel that way. Sometimes I feel like I’m pretending. Like I’m performing softness, but I still ache inside.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_2_hair_3_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And yet here you are sitting before me, letting the strands grow. Even pretending is a kind of bravery. Sometimes we walk into roles before we grow into them.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That sounds like manipulation.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. It is hope. I am not twisting you. I am showing you the mirror and asking, 'What might you become if you stepped closer?'<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>See how it falls now less like the child prince, more like the lady who waits beneath. But only if you wish her to be.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_2_hair_3_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I… look different already. Not just in the mirror. Even when I speak, I hear it. My voice isn’t higher, but the tone… the hesitations…<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Ah. That is the mind catching up to the body. And soon, the body will follow the soul’s pacing.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do you think I’ll ever feel... like her? Like a real woman, not just a made one?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Real is not a mold. It is a resonance. If you feel the music rising inside you, you are not fake you are becoming. All of this..." she gestures to your reflection "…is simply harmony catching up.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_2_hair_3_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Hair to frame your face. Words to shape your future. And a body in-between, learning to trust you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>How much longer until it reaches my shoulders?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Another session or two. Hair grows fast when it's fed with intention.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then I guess I better figure out what mine is.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[You weren’t lying this part is starting to feel… kind of nice.|hair_3_hair_4_1]] | [[This is happening faster than I expected. I’m not sure I’m keeping up.|hair_3_hair_4_1]] | [[Another vial? What’s the point just so I can look ‘pretty’ enough for the council?|hair_3_hair_4_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Hair that flows, Caelan, has little to do with beauty. It’s not for their gaze it’s for your reflection.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You say that like I’m supposed to believe this is for me, not the throne.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It’s always both. That’s the paradox of power, isn't it? Your body is yours, and yet… it becomes a symbol for others.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels strange… like it doesn’t quite belong to me yet. Every time it touches my shoulders, it’s a reminder.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_3_hair_4_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>A reminder of what?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That I’m not who I used to be. That something is changing, and I can’t slow it down anymore.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Change is a current. You can swim with it or against it but either way, you will be moved.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Do you know what it meant, once, to let one’s hair grow beyond the collar in Velmoria?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_3_hair_4_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>No. Another ancient rite I’ve never heard of?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Mmm. In the old kingdoms, it was a sign of spiritual readiness of leaving behind the boy's sword and taking up the queen’s mantle. To let one’s hair touch the back was to welcome intuition over instinct. Wisdom over conquest.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I wasn’t raised to think that way. Everything was discipline, duty, dominion.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And yet you sit here, letting starlight drip through your veins.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_3_hair_4_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t think it would feel like this. The longer it gets… the more I catch glimpses of someone else in the mirror. But she’s not someone I hate. That’s what scares me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Do not fear her, Caelan. She is not your replacement. She is your possibility.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’re not being erased. You’re being rewritten. Authored anew, one sentence at a time.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do you think I’m… starting to look like a princess?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_3_hair_4_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’re starting to look like yourself, when you’re no longer trying to fit someone else’s shape.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I change too much and decide I don’t want to go back?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you’ve found your truth. And truth is no betrayal it’s a kind of return. A coming home.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That reaction? That’s not magic. That’s you feeling your own form anew.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_3_hair_4_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t expect to feel… sensual. That’s not something I ever associated with myself.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s because it was hidden beneath armor. This is not weakness. It’s awareness. And awareness breeds presence. Presence breeds power.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Now your hair rests not only as a crown, but as a curtain framing the thoughts you have yet to speak aloud. When the council looks at you next, they won’t see a boy trying. They’ll see a ruler emerging.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve actually been looking forward to this one. There’s something… grounding about the ritual.|hair_4_hair_5_1]] | [[It’s just brushing, right? That doesn’t sound so bad… unless there’s a catch?|hair_4_hair_5_1]] | [[You know this doesn’t feel natural. But I guess no one’s giving me a real choice, are they?|hair_4_hair_5_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Brushing one’s hair is not an act of vanity, Caelan. It’s an act of stewardship. A lesson in tending to what grows slowly.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So you want me to slow down, savor every strand?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. I want you to notice yourself really notice. Not in fragments or reactions, but in rhythm. Brushing teaches presence, something rulers often lose in pursuit of power.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange… I used to think growing my hair was something girls did to attract attention. Something soft. Decorative.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_4_hair_5_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And now?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Now I realize it’s work. The brushing alone takes patience. And there’s something… intimate about it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. Intimacy with the self. We spend so much time trying to be seen that we forget how to look inward. Brushing is a conversation with your reflection one without words.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And what is this reflection supposed to say back?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_4_hair_5_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>‘I am changing, and I am watching myself change. I do not flinch from either truth.’<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I used to polish my boots before battle. That was ritual too. But this… this feels different. Softer. Not weaker, just... quieter.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’re learning the difference between force and presence. Force pushes. Presence pulls. Hair, especially long hair, pulls attention. It demands softness to manage, but grace to carry.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Sometimes I catch myself moving differently. Tilting my head when it brushes my cheek. Turning slower so it doesn’t tangle. It’s like my body’s learning new habits without asking me.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_4_hair_5_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It is asking. You’re just listening now. And more importantly you’re responding.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And what if I don’t want to become someone who has to worry about these things?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then don’t. But know this: worry and awareness are not the same. You can wear long hair and still wield a sword. You can glide like silk and still command like steel.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t think I’d be so aware of something so… simple.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_4_hair_5_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It’s not simple. It’s symbolic. You are shaping how you’ll be perceived, yes but you’re also shaping how you’ll perceive yourself.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I start liking this more than I thought I would?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you are discovering something vital: this path doesn’t rob you of identity it reveals it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Let your hair fall like a banner behind you, Caelan. Not of surrender… but of awakening.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[You’ve got that look again, Thalara. The one that says I’m about to feel something new.|hair_5_hair_6_1]] | [[Mid-back, huh? Sounds… manageable. I suppose I can live with that.|hair_5_hair_6_1]] | [[Another potion, another piece of me slipping away. Let’s just get it over with.|hair_5_hair_6_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You always think these potions take something from you. But they don’t strip they reveal.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Easy for you to say. You’re not the one growing a silk curtain down your spine.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. But I remember when mine reached that length. I remember how it changed how I moved, how I sat, how I felt seen. There is power in the way something brushes against you constantly it reminds you of your presence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You make it sound like hair is some kind of… spiritual tether.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_5_hair_6_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It is. Especially for women. And for those becoming women, it marks a threshold. Hair this long carries weight not just physically, but symbolically.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I do feel it now. When I turn my head, or breathe too deep. It’s everywhere.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And soon it will be part of how others perceive you. Mid-back length draws attention differently. People will read you as someone practiced in elegance. Whether you feel elegant or not, your appearance starts doing the work for you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Feels strange… that a length of hair could influence how others treat me.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_5_hair_6_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Strange, yes. But not untrue. In this court, in this kingdom, perception shapes reality. Long hair signals not just femininity, but maturity. Grace. Fertility. Control.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought ruling meant commanding armies, negotiating treaties not conditioning hair and dodging tangles.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You'll do all of those things. But a queen must also understand symbolism. Her hair becomes her banner. Her voice becomes law. Her body becomes myth. And myths, Caelan, start with details like these.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I never asked to become a myth.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_5_hair_6_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>No myth ever does. But those who resist it… often become the most unforgettable ones.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Sometimes I wonder if this is really me. Or just… a role I’m learning to perform.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let me ask you something: when you feel your hair brush your skin, when you notice yourself turning just a little slower, holding your head a little higher does it feel false?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>No. Just… unfamiliar.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_5_hair_6_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then you are not acting. You are becoming. Transformation always feels like pretending at first. That doesn’t make it untrue.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I never thought I’d say this… but I think I miss it when it’s not touching me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s how you know it’s yours now. Welcome to the weight of grace, Caelan.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[So, today I’m one step closer to having my own royal veil, huh?|hair_6_hair_7_1]] | [[Waist-length hair. That’s… quite the commitment. I guess we’re doing this.|hair_6_hair_7_1]] | [[Let me guess another fancy clasp, and more poetic nonsense about queenship?|hair_6_hair_7_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>I find it fascinating how you measure transformation in inches, when truly, you’ve crossed miles since your first strand grew in.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Well, when those inches start weighing down your neck, it’s hard not to notice.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>True. But that weight is a sign of legacy. Queens don’t just inherit crowns they carry them, strand by strand, choice by choice.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not sure I chose this.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_6_hair_7_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You did. Perhaps not all at once. Perhaps not aloud. But in every moment you stayed. Every time you came back here. Even when you protested.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That sounds suspiciously like you’re rewriting history.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. I'm reading it. And history rarely waits for perfect consent. It unfolds while we’re still deciding who we are.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_6_hair_7_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. This… hair. I thought it would just be decoration. But it’s changing how I walk. How I breathe. I keep brushing it aside, and every time I do, I feel <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> A little more aware of your own presence?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Yeah. Like I’m filling the space around me in a way I didn’t before.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s the veil’s first lesson. Not to conceal but to expand. A queen’s hair doesn’t hide her. It extends her.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_6_hair_7_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So it’s not about modesty.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. It’s about magnetism. Ritual. Discipline. Power. Hair this long is a declaration. Not everyone can carry it. You are.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s… beautiful. I won’t lie. But also, I feel so… seen.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are. And you will be more and more, in ways you’ve never experienced. You’ll be admired. Envied. Doubted. Desired.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_6_hair_7_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And judged, no doubt.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Always. But the veil gives you a choice. You can use that judgment as a wall or as a mirror. Let it show you what others project, then choose what to reflect back.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I keep thinking about how different I look now. And how little of who I was remains visible.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’re not shedding the past. You’re integrating it. This isn’t a costume. It’s a culmination.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_6_hair_7_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Then why does it still feel like I’m playing pretend some days?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because pretending is practice. And practice is the path to embodiment.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So I’m nearly there. Nearly wearing the Queen’s Veil.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not yet… but you’ll know when the final strands fall. When your hair kisses your hips and wraps you in command. Then, my dear, you won’t just look like royalty you’ll move like it.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Seven candles… fitting for seven steps. I’ve come too far to stop now.|hair_7_hair_8_1]] | [[So this is it? The last of my old self gone in a strand of hair?|hair_7_hair_8_1]] | [[You really think a few extra inches of hair makes me some goddess? Let’s get this over with.|hair_7_hair_8_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Seven stages. Seven flames. Seven versions of you… each one further from who you were, and closer to who you are becoming.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I never thought hair could feel this heavy. Or this important.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It is not just hair. It is memory made manifest. A timeline in silk. With each inch, you’ve rewritten a part of yourself.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That sounds more poetic than I’m ready to admit. I still catch myself reaching for the short back I used to have.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_7_hair_8_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Ah. That phantom comfort. The body remembers until it finally accepts the new shape of its story.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And now that story touches my hips.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Indeed. It wraps you in softness, yes but also in strength. Feminine grace is not weakness. It is wielded like velvet steel.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought the transformation would feel like losing pieces of me. But sometimes it feels like I’m recovering things I didn’t know I’d buried.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_7_hair_8_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’re not becoming someone else. You’re becoming someone more.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I still feel like me but the world is already reacting to me like I’m someone else.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The world sees symbols first. Hips. Hair. Softness. Eyes. But only queens command both symbol and substance. That is your path.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And this is the final step?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_7_hair_8_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>For your hair, yes. The veil has dropped. The crown of your hips is your declaration. Now, your every turn, every breath, every glance will be watched, admired, interpreted.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Sounds exhausting.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It is. But it’s also intoxicating. You will wield beauty like a blade and tenderness like armor. Not all will understand. But they will kneel, nonetheless.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Do you know what I see?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_7_hair_8_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Enlighten me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I see someone who could turn a ballroom into silence with a single entrance. Someone whose laughter will make men ache and women watch. Someone who will never be mistaken for ordinary again.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s a lot to live up to.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then live beyond it. You’ve passed every test. Suffered the doubts. Endured the awkward middles. This… this is your unveiling. The hair brushing your hips is not a burden it is your banner.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_7_hair_8_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I don’t think I can hide anymore. Even if I wanted to.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Good. Queens don’t hide. They command the room. And from this moment forward… every step you take will remind others of your power.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[This feels right. It was time. I want to walk a little lighter again.|hair_8_hair_7_1]] | [[I’m not sure this is what I want. But I know I can't keep pretending it's not weighing on me.|hair_8_hair_7_1]] | [[Maybe I regret ever letting it grow this long. Don’t expect tears, mage just cut it.|hair_8_hair_7_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You came to me once, trembling with doubt but full of possibility. You stood in this very room and drank change like firewater. And now, you ask me to walk you back from that fire.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I know. And I didn’t come lightly.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. You didn’t. I can see the weight behind your eyes. This isn’t about hair, is it?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>...Maybe not just hair. Maybe it’s what it came to represent. How people looked at me. What they expected of me. Every inch felt like another promise I wasn’t sure I could keep.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_8_hair_7_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Or didn’t want to keep.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Do you know why hair is sacred in the old rites?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Because it holds magic?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. And because it holds memory. Each strand that grew was spun with your courage, your confusion, your longing. Every lock was a declaration even if you didn’t always know what it declared.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_8_hair_7_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And now I’m taking that declaration back.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Or rewriting it. There's no shame in stepping back to find your balance. But know this, this is not erasure. You cannot undo who you’ve become.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t want to erase anything. I just… need to breathe. Need to remember what it feels like not to be constantly observed. Measured. Interpreted.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And do you think a few inches of hair were the cause of all that?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_8_hair_7_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>No. But they were the banner. The signal. And maybe I’m tired of flying it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You may feel lighter. But you may also feel loss. You’re allowed to grieve what you’re choosing to let go.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I think I’m just… scared that this is weakness. That I couldn’t bear the crown I grew.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let me tell you what I see, I see someone strong enough to explore transformation and brave enough to pause it. That isn’t weakness. That’s wisdom.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_8_hair_7_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>You always sound like you’ve already seen where my path ends.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not ends. Forks. Rivers branch, remember? But the water still flows. Whether you wear your hair to your hips or to your shoulders or not at all your essence remains. The kingdom will respond to that, not your silhouette.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Will you mourn the veil, Caelan?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I think I’ll miss the weight. But not the pressure.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_8_hair_7_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then you’ve made the right choice. Come what may.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I know what I want now. I’m ready to see myself differently.|hair_7_hair_6_1]] | [[This isn’t easy. I’m still not sure if this is the right path.|hair_7_hair_6_1]] | [[If this is what it takes, then so be it. I’m done playing the part.|hair_7_hair_6_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You look at your reflection now, and I see someone who is both familiar and strange. That is the nature of change sometimes it makes us strangers to ourselves.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s… hard to recognize who I am in that mirror.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Change carves new shapes into our soul’s vessel. But what you see is still you, only in a different light.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel lighter somehow. Less burdened by expectation, but also... less certain.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_7_hair_6_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Certainty is a luxury rarely afforded to those who walk transformations. But it is the uncertainty that makes your journey meaningful.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This potion is bitter, yes. But it carries the grace of slowing the flood, of giving you space to breathe to reconsider.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Am I retreating or progressing?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Neither. You are choosing your own rhythm. You have the courage to step forward and to step back. Both are acts of strength.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_7_hair_6_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Do you fear what this smaller silhouette will say to the world?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I fear what I will say to myself when I see it. I’ve tasted power, beauty, and expectation wrapped in these long strands. To let them fall is to strip away a part of that identity.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And yet, identity is never one thing. It is a tapestry woven from many threads some thick, some thin, some shining, some shadowed.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are not diminished by letting your hair fall. You are refined. Like silver polished by flame.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_7_hair_6_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Sometimes I wonder if the kingdom will see me as less. If my reflection becomes less of a queen and more of… something else.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The kingdom sees through the surface only if you let it. True rulership is carried in your spirit, your decisions, your strength. Not the length of your hair.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Are you ready to embrace what this change means?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I think I am. I want to find peace in this version of myself, even if it’s unfamiliar.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_7_hair_6_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then let this be a turning point not an ending, but a new beginning. The grace in falling is the promise of rising again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Remember, Caelan, every change is a step closer to your truth whatever that may be.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready for this. I want to understand what’s truly mine beneath the surface.|hair_6_hair_5_1]] | [[It’s hard to let go… but maybe I need to.|hair_6_hair_5_1]] | [[If this is what it takes to stop feeling lost, then I’ll do it though it feels like giving in.|hair_6_hair_5_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Your willingness, reluctance, or defiance it all matters less than your honesty with yourself. Each choice reveals a piece of your heart.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange how cutting back can sometimes feel more powerful than growing forward.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>True strength often lies not in expansion but in restraint. To carry less, but carry it well.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m beginning to see the weight long hair carries. It’s beauty, yes, but also a burden... a borrowed identity.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_6_hair_5_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Borrowed, yes. A gift from the magic that shaped you, but not the whole story of who you are.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Tell me, Caelan, what do you feel as your hair shortens?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>A mixture. Relief that it’s not so heavy, but also loss like I’m losing something I earned.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Loss is not absence. It is transformation. Sometimes shedding is necessary to grow stronger roots.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_6_hair_5_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>But how do I hold onto myself when the reflection keeps changing? How do I know who I am beneath these shifts?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You know by looking beyond the mirror. Your spirit, your choices, your courage those are constants, even as your form shifts.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Do you remember when you first came here? How uncertain you were?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Vividly. I was afraid of becoming something I didn’t want to be.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_6_hair_5_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And now?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Now, I’m afraid of losing what I have become... but I also wonder if that fear is keeping me from finding something deeper.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Fear is a natural companion on any path worth taking. But it should not be a prison.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to be free of that prison. I want to own my reflection whatever it may be, short hair or long.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_6_hair_5_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That is the beginning of true grace. Ownership of your story, not just the appearance.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This potion, this moment it’s not just about hair. It’s about shedding expectations. About choosing what you carry forward and what you leave behind.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Sometimes I wonder if the crown I seek is more than just a title or appearance.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The crown is your spirit, your will, your authenticity. Magic is merely the language we use to speak it.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_6_hair_5_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>How do you feel now, Caelan?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Less like a borrowed image. More like... myself, though still learning who that truly is.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And that is the path of every ruler worth their salt. The journey inward is the greatest transformation of all.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Remember, no matter the length of your hair, the kingdom will follow the strength of your heart.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_6_hair_5_7]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I’m beginning to believe that. Maybe this shedding is a gift, not a loss.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It is. And when you are ready, the magic will be here again always adapting, always growing with you.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I understand now. I want to find myself in a truer way.|hair_5_hair_4_1]] | [[It’s harder than I imagined to let go of what my hair represented. I’m not sure I’m ready.|hair_5_hair_4_1]] | [[If this is another step backwards, then so be it. I’ll do whatever it takes to reclaim who I am.|hair_5_hair_4_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You approach this change with an openness I respect, regardless of your feelings about it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It still feels strange… like losing a piece of the armor I wore.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Hair, in magic and metaphor, is armor and banner both. But sometimes the strongest armor is the one we can lay aside.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But what if the world expects me to keep that armor? To keep the long flowing locks, the symbol of the transformation?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_5_hair_4_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The world often clings to appearances, yes. But a ruler’s true power is in her resolve, not her looks.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This potion won’t erase what you’ve become, only refine it. It’s like a sculptor smoothing the rough edges of a statue.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I wonder if I’m sculpting myself or someone else’s vision of me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are both artist and canvas, Caelan. The choices you make now define the shape your story will take.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_5_hair_4_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>What do you fear most in this change?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Losing the identity I fought so hard to embrace. What if shoulder-length hair feels like fading into invisibility?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Invisibility is not the same as subtlety. Sometimes, the quiet presence commands attention in ways the loud cannot.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But what if I lose myself in the quiet?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_5_hair_4_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You do not lose yourself you reveal more layers beneath the surface. Like a melody that’s richer when played softly.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Your hair has carried your story, yes. But your spirit the true essence of you remains untouched by length or style.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to believe that. It’s just… hard to let go of the beauty, the power, the statement my hair made.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Power can be wielded in many ways. Elegance and strength are not always loud; sometimes they are quiet, deliberate, and commanding in stillness.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_5_hair_4_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I suppose there’s something freeing about that idea being less visible but no less significant.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. Your presence will fill any room, not because of what flows behind you, but because of what shines from within.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>As your hair settles to your shoulders, remember it’s a transformation of essence, not just appearance.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel the change already. A little lighter, a little more… myself, maybe.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_5_hair_4_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That is the gift of this moment. Each length tells a different story, but the author remains constant.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to write my story honestly. Even if it means changing the chapters I once loved.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And I will be here to guide your pen, no matter where the tale leads.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>How do you feel looking in the mirror now?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_5_hair_4_7]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>More at peace. Like I’m stepping into a role that fits, instead of wearing a mask.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That peace will be your greatest strength. The kingdom will see that, even if they cannot see the magic.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Thank you, Thalara. For helping me find the courage to keep reshaping myself.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The courage was always within you. Sometimes it just needs a little coaxing to shine.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to remember who I was. Maybe find who I am now.|hair_4_hair_3_1]] | [[I don’t know if I’m ready to go back this far, but I have to try.|hair_4_hair_3_1]] | [[This change won’t break me. I’ll hold onto myself, no matter the length of my hair.|hair_4_hair_3_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This has seen many versions of you. The prince you once were, the princess you became, and the soul in between.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I never thought I’d hold this again. It feels… strange. Almost like a reminder of a past life.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Memories cling to objects, but they don’t define the present. Yet, they guide us through uncertainty.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I wonder if I’m losing myself in this reversal. If going back means forgetting everything I fought to become.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_4_hair_3_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Sometimes the path forward loops back, not to erase but to integrate. Freedom is not a destination but a dance.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>How do you feel, knowing your hair will shorten again? That familiar weight will be lost?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s like shedding armor. I want the freedom, but the thought of losing those signs of who I am now… it scares me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Fear is natural. To let go of parts of ourselves can feel like losing a piece of our story.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_4_hair_3_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>But maybe… maybe it’s not losing, but rewriting? Taking control of the narrative instead of letting it be written for me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. The comb is a tool, not just for hair, but for weaving your identity anew.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I wonder what the kingdom would say, seeing me with this shorter, less feminine hair. Would they see me as less?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Acceptance from others is fragile and often conditional. True strength is rooted in how you see yourself.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_4_hair_3_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>That’s easier said than done. Sometimes I catch myself measuring my worth in appearances and expectations.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The reflection can be a harsh judge, but remember: the mirror shows only surface. The soul is beyond sight.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to believe that. To see myself without the labels, without the pressure to be perfect or fit a mold.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Perfection is an illusion, Caelan. Your worth is in your resilience, your courage to choose.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_4_hair_3_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>This potion feels like a step back, but maybe it’s a step toward understanding the whole journey.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Each strand lost is a piece of the puzzle falling into place. You’re not undoing; you’re refining.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m afraid of what I might lose, but also curious about what I might find beneath.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And that curiosity will be your guide. No matter the length of your hair, your spirit remains.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_4_hair_3_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Thank you, Thalara. For holding space for all of me the willing, the scared, and the defiant.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It’s my honor. Remember, no matter the form, you are always whole.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Yes, I’m certain. It’s time to feel what I once sought, even if it’s different now.|hair_3_hair_2_1]] | [[I’m still unsure, but maybe I need to understand this part of myself better.|hair_3_hair_2_1]] | [[I’m done with this softness. Let the old strength return, whether anyone likes it or not.|hair_3_hair_2_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve come far on this path of change. Tonight’s step isn’t just about hair it’s about confronting the edges of your own spirit.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Edges that feel sharper, colder. When my hair was longer, I felt sheltered, like wrapped in a warmth I’m not sure I can carry anymore.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Warmth and shelter can sometimes be a cage, as much as a comfort. You’re stepping out from one and into another.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s what scares me. Will this change make me stronger… or just more hollow?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_3_hair_2_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Strength doesn’t come from length or volume. It comes from knowing what you are softness and steel, shadow and light.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Softness is not weakness, and masculinity is not absence of feeling. They are threads woven into the same tapestry.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I remember asking you about softness… back when I craved change. I thought it meant surrender.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And now?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_3_hair_2_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Now, I see softness is more complicated. It’s courage too allowing yourself to be vulnerable without losing control.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. And tonight, as you shed those final strands from your shoulders, you’re embracing a different form of courage.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Do you fear what you’re becoming? Or what you’re leaving behind?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I fear both. The past felt like a promise, a new version of me. But this… feels like stepping back into old skin that might not fit anymore.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_3_hair_2_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Change isn’t linear, nor is it a battle won or lost. It’s a dance, sometimes forward, sometimes back, but always moving.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So it’s okay to feel exposed? To feel this uncertainty?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>More than okay. It is necessary. Only when the old is stripped away can the new truly settle.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Your neck bare now is a place of vulnerability, but also power. It is the pivot of your posture, your voice, your presence.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_3_hair_2_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I never thought about it that way. I always hid behind my hair, behind the changes. Now, I have no shield.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Sometimes, the absence of shield invites others to see the true strength beneath. You don’t need armor to command respect.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will the kingdom see it? Or will they judge me by the length of my hair, the softness of my voice?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Judgment is inevitable, but your response to it shapes who you truly are. Your power lies in your reaction.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_3_hair_2_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Are you ready to face what lies beyond the veil of hair, beyond appearances?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to be. But I’m afraid that beneath this softer surface, the old doubts will creep back.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Those doubts are not enemies they are reminders of your humanity. You don’t have to silence them, only listen and learn.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Softness is not the absence of power it is its form reshaped. You are not losing yourself. You are refining your essence.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_3_hair_2_7]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Thank you, Thalara. For helping me hold onto myself through all this.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And thank you, Caelan, for trusting me with your journey. The story is far from over.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to face myself completely. No more masks, no more illusions.|hair_2_hair_1_1]] | [[I don’t know if I can do this… but I guess there’s no turning back now.|hair_2_hair_1_1]] | [[If this means losing everything I built, so be it. I’ll face what’s under, head-on.|hair_2_hair_1_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This moment, Caelan, is the purest form of choice. The final thread that binds you to the path you’ve walked, now loosened.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can feel it already. The weight lifting but also the emptiness settling in.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That emptiness isn’t absence, but a space waiting to be filled with your truth.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s terrifying to stand so bare. No hair, no cover. Just me.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_2_hair_1_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And that ‘just you’ is stronger than any crown or cloak. The essence beneath the illusion is your real power.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But what if I don’t know who that ‘me’ is without the hair? Without the signs of transformation?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are not defined by outward signs, but by the choices you make and the strength you nurture within.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Hair was your armor, your banner, your shield against the world’s gaze. Now you stand with none of that completely exposed.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_2_hair_1_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I always thought long hair meant I was closer to the person I wanted to be. Now… I wonder if I was hiding behind it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Sometimes hiding is the first step to finding oneself. The illusion is a path, not a prison.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But I don’t want to be lost in illusions anymore. I want to be seen. Truly seen.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you must be brave enough to show what you’ve always carried beneath the surface.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_2_hair_1_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This final potion isn’t magic to change your form, but magic to reveal your core.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if that core is something I don’t recognize?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You will recognize yourself, perhaps for the first time, without anything to obscure or soften the edges.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Being bare is vulnerability and from vulnerability grows authentic strength.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_2_hair_1_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It feels like falling, but maybe it’s just flying, stripped of everything but the essentials.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are exactly right. It is the flight of the soul weightless and true.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will the kingdom accept me like this? Without the symbols of power they expect?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Acceptance from others is never guaranteed, but self-acceptance is the foundation of any true reign.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_2_hair_1_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve journeyed far beyond physical change. This is the test of spirit.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to be strong enough to pass it. Strong enough to lead, no matter how I look.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You already are. Your courage to face yourself is the mark of a true ruler.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>When you look in the mirror tonight, what will you see?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|hair_2_hair_1_7]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Someone unafraid. Someone raw but real. Someone ready to be more than appearances.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you are ready.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my head and hair|use_success_potion_create_hair]] <>

<> <<set $curr_potion = setup.head_forward_potions>> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $curr_potion = setup.head_reverse_potions>> <</if>> <<set $curr_potion_selected = $curr_potion[$userBody.head.curr_head]>> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if $curr_potion_selected == undefined>> You do not have any head potions available for your current head version to transform. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.head, null, 2)>></pre> <pre><<= JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userItems, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredient = {}>> ✦ Ancient Alchemical Recipe ✦ Potion: <<=$curr_potion_selected.name>> Purpose: <<=$curr_potion_selected.purpose>> 🜃 Ingredients: <ol> <<for _item, _value range $curr_potion_selected.ingredients>> <li><<=$userItems[_item].name>>: _value <<=$userItems[_item].unit>></li> <<set $ingredient[_item] = {amount: $userItems[_item].amount, needed: _value, unit: $userItems[_item].unit}>> <</for>> </ol> <<set _potion = $curr_potion_selected>> /* <<set $currentObjectives = 'Create Potion: ' + _potion.name + '. Ingredients are: '>> <<for _item, _value range _potion.ingredients>> <<set $currentObjectives += $userItems[_item].name + ': ' + _value + ' ' + $userItems[_item].unit + ', '>> <</for>> <<replace "#objectives-text" t8n>> <<=$currentObjectives>> <</replace>> */ ⤐ Function: <<=$curr_potion_selected.function>> ⚠ Side Effects: <<=$curr_potion_selected.sideEffects>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($ingredient, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredinetAvailable = true>> <<for _key, _data range $ingredient>> <<if $ingredient[_key].amount < $ingredient[_key].needed>> You do not have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, but you have only <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. <<set $ingredinetAvailable = false>> <<else>> You have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, you have <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. It is more than enough!! <</if>> <</for>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 3>> <<link "Refer Another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<elseif $ingredinetAvailable>> You have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Make Potion">><<goto "potion_create_head">><</link>> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> You do not have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <</if>> <<set $potion = $curr_potion_selected>> <<set $potionInventory = {}>> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] = 0>> <</for>> <</if>> <>

<> 🧪 Assembling: <<=$potion.name>> Match the exact ingredients to brew this potion: <div class="item-grid"> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div class="item-card"> <<capture _item>> [img[$userItems[_item].img]] <<set $reverse_passage_ingredient = "potion_create_head">> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> <div class="ingredient_details"><<link "Details">><<set $selectedIngredient = _item>><<goto "IngredientDetail">><</link>></div> <</capture>> </div> <</for>> </div> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> (You have: <<=$userItems[_item].amount>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>>) Needed: <<=_needed>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> | Added: <<=$potionInventory[_item]>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> <<if $userItems[_item].amount > 0>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_head">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_head">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_head">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] > 0>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_head">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_head">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_head">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <</if>> </div> <</for>> <<set $_matches = true>> <<for _item, _data range $potion.ingredients>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] != $potion.ingredients[_item]>> <<set $_matches = false>> <</if>> <</for>> <<if $_matches>> ✅ All ingredients matched perfectly. Ready to brew! <<link "Brew Potion">> <<goto "brew_success_potion_create_head">> <</link>> <</if>> <<if not $_matches>> ⚠ Ingredient quantities do not match the recipe. Adjust to proceed. <</if>> <<link "Cancel">> <<for _item, _data range $potionInventory>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $potionInventory[_item]>> <</for>> <<goto "potion_lab">> <</link>> <>

<> <<set $_i to random(1, 4)>> <<set $img_path = "potion/potion_"+$_i +".gif">> <div style="text-align: center; "><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;" @src="setup.ImagePath+$img_path"></div> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $next_passage = "head_"+$curr_potion_selected.from +"_"+ "head_" + $curr_potion_selected.to>> [[Move Forth|$next_passage]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Let’s begin. I’ve accepted the path… and I’ll walk it fully.|head_ml_head_mm_1]] | [[I’m not sure I’m ready, but… I came, didn’t I?|head_ml_head_mm_1]] | [[This is a waste of time. But if I must drink your cursed brew again, let’s just get it over with.|head_ml_head_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Your face holds the legacy of your father’s line bold, strong, uncompromising. A sculptor might say it was hewn from stone. But even stone yields, given time… or magic.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And now you’ll chisel it away. One gulp at a time.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not chisel. Melt. Like snow turning to stream. This is not destruction, Caelan. This is reshaping. Every part of you will still be you. Only… seen differently. Felt differently. Worn differently.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels like wearing a mask. One I can never take off.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ml_head_mm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>A mask hides. This brings forth what lies beneath. You may not know her yet, the woman who waits inside. But she is watching… and waiting for breath.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>...You speak like this is sacred.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it is. A face is not just flesh. It’s identity. It’s how the world answers you. But it also shapes how you answer the world.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So what answers will this face give? Will I smile easier? Cry more? Speak softer?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ml_head_mm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You will smile with meaning. Cry when your spirit demands it. Speak not softer, but with clarity born from both power and elegance. That’s the gift of balance.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It smells like… violets. And honey.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And lavender stem, ground moonstone, and a drop of your blood from last night’s offering. All aligned to your lineage, your essence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s warm… it’s crawling through my jaw… gods, that’s <</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ml_head_mm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It will pass. The ache of transition. Your brow is lightening. See? Even your neck relaxes… the angles soften. No more harsh shadow beneath the chin.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel… like I’m sinking into something. Like a blanket pulling over my bones.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Look. The beginning of grace. Your father’s jaw still echoes there… but now, so too does your mother’s cheekbones.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s me. But not me. It’s… her, isn’t it? The one waiting beneath?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ml_head_mm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Only the first glimpse. More will come, if you let it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t think a few degrees of cheekbone would feel different. But it does. Like my smile knows it’s meant for court instead of campfire.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is the beginning of understanding. Not just of body but of presence. You will find new ways to be seen. But more importantly… you will learn how to see yourself.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do you think she’ll be proud of me? The Queen?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ml_head_mm_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>I think you will be. In time. That matters more than even a crown.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my body|use_success_potion_create_head]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve made my decision. If strength must return to my face, let it return fully.|head_mm_head_ml_1]] | [[I don’t know what I’ll see in the mirror after this… but I have to know if it still fits me.|head_mm_head_ml_1]] | [[I never wanted to lose my face in the first place. Let’s fix what never should’ve changed.|head_mm_head_ml_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>So, the pendulum swings once more. Are you returning to what was? Or simply testing the shape of the past?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Not everything that’s lost needs replacing. Maybe I want to remember who I was before all of this started.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Memory lives in more than your bones. But I understand. There’s something sacred about reclaiming old armor, even if it no longer fits as it once did.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve seen too many versions of my own reflection lately. One day, I see her. The next… someone in between. Maybe I just want a face that matches the fight still left in me.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_mm_head_ml_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You seek the blunt edge again the square lines, the force of masculinity etched across your brow. This draught will give that back, in part. But remember, the mirror shows only surface. Not resolve. Not truth.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But the world listens to the face before it hears the voice.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That it does. Then let the face speak the language you need today.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This one burns more than the last… it’s… tightening. I feel pressure behind my eyes jaw’s locking up. Gods, that’s sharp <</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_mm_head_ml_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Let it surge. You’re not weakening you’re hardening. The flesh obeys your will. Look now already, your chin strengthens, your jaw firms. The softness flees like morning fog.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My brow… it’s like my whole face is shifting forward. Like I’m being carved again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And so you are. The angles of command return. You’ve traded the whisper of grace… for the shout of presence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My gods. I look… older. Stronger. Harsher.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_mm_head_ml_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Power wears many masks. This one blunt, assertive is no less royal than the last. The question is: Which do you wear by choice, and which by fear?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know yet. But I remember this face. And it remembers battle.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then carry it like a sword, not a shield. You don’t have to defend the past. Only learn from it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>How long until it stays this way?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_mm_head_ml_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>As long as you will it to… or until the next turning of the wheel.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my body|use_success_potion_create_head]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Another step toward feminine face… Let’s see what this one brings.|head_mm_head_ms_1]] | [[I don’t know if I’m ready to let more of him go… but I’m here.|head_mm_head_ms_1]] | [[Fine. Let’s get this over with. Another sip, another piece of me gone.|head_mm_head_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Come, Caelan. The next veil lifts today not with force, but with quiet grace. Sit.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve noticed it, you know. The way my face catches the light differently. How the guards glance at me longer, unsure what they’re seeing.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Your reflection begins to speak in new tones. Not louder just… more refined.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I used to have a face that made people step aside in a hallway. Now they hesitate like they don’t know whether to bow or flirt.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_mm_head_ms_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Isn’t that the subtle power of a queen’s presence? Confusion is a kind of control, too.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Feels more like exposure than control.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You were carved for war once. But the world you're stepping into now… doesn’t need carved stone. It needs marble shaped by conversation, compromise, and quiet confidence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And this is what… smooths more of me away?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_mm_head_ms_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It will lift your brow, lighten the bones beneath your cheeks, soften what’s still holding on. Not to erase who you were but to reveal who you might be beneath the shell of that prince.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s… not as bitter as last time.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This one’s kinder. Less reshaping, more refining. Tell me what you feel.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My temples… tingling. Like the bones are loosening beneath the skin.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_mm_head_ms_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Good. The potion’s taking to your essence quickly today. Your body’s stopped resisting. It’s… inviting change.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My skin feels thinner… no, softer. Like a layer’s peeled away. Gods, even the wind on my face feels different.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’re beginning to glow, Caelan. Not from magic, but from balance. Your soul and your body are speaking in harmony, even if your mind still debates.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>...That doesn’t look like a warrior.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_mm_head_ms_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>No. But it looks like a ruler who can win battles without lifting a blade.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My brow isn’t as heavy… my eyes look clearer?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>They were always clear. But now the world might finally notice.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Mother would say this is progress.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_mm_head_ms_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And what do you say?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I say… I’m scared of forgetting who I was. But I don’t hate who I’m becoming.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you are already wiser than most queens crowned before you.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my body|use_success_potion_create_head]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Time to feel solid again. Let’s bring back some edge.|head_ms_head_mm_1]] | [[I’m not sure I should undo this… but I have to know what I’m choosing.|head_ms_head_mm_1]] | [[You’re turning me back. Bit by bit. Is that what the kingdom wants now?|head_ms_head_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This will not be like the first time, Caelan. Reclaiming form is not as gentle as letting go of it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I remember when you first softened my jaw… it felt like fog brushing stone. What will this feel like?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Like the fog receding. Like your bones remembering the shapes they once held. Some part of you never forgets.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I started to like this face. Less judgment in it. Less… armor.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ms_head_mm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And yet, you chose to drink again. Do you seek the armor back, Caelan?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Maybe. Or maybe I just want to know how much of me is still mine to choose.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This dose will raise your brow ridge, define your chin, thicken the neck slightly. Your features will speak louder again more command, less grace.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And will I lose what I’ve gained? The things I’ve learned in silence?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ms_head_mm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You will not lose anything, Caelan. This is not a reversal. It is a rebalancing. A different truth carved from the same stone.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Ugh. That’s… stronger than I remember.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It has to be. Your body had accepted softness. Now it must be reminded of edge.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My jaw… it’s tightening. Gods, it’s like sinew pulling back into place.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ms_head_mm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Your brow is knitting deeper. There’s more shadow to your gaze already.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It hurts. Not the potion. Just… seeing it return. This isn’t just my face. It’s him. The version of me who never questioned anything.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Does he scare you?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>He disappoints me. But I don’t hate him.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ms_head_mm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then you carry him forward with wisdom, not regret.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>There’s strength here. But less peace.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Strength can be a mask or a mirror. You decide which.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ll need both, won’t I?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ms_head_mm_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>If you’re to rule Velmoria? Absolutely.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my body|use_success_potion_create_head]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready. Let’s see who’s waiting behind the mist this time.|head_ms_head_fs_1]] | [[I’m not sure I’ll recognize myself after this… but I suppose that’s the point, isn’t it?|head_ms_head_fs_1]] | [[Tell me how much of me will be left once this is over? Or is that not part of the plan?|head_ms_head_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Today’s potion carries a softer magic, but make no mistake its effects are no less profound. It touches your reflection first, and then… the soul behind it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought I’d gotten used to these sessions. But this one feels… closer. Like it’ll change what people see in my eyes.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it will. Until now, your features still echoed both the prince and the path before you. But after this… the ambiguity fades.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So I stop being a ‘he who looks softer’ and become something… uncertain?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ms_head_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>No, Caelan. You begin to become a ‘she who has not yet arrived.’ There is a difference.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I keep expecting to wake up and see my old face again. Jawline sharp. Eyes like my father’s. But every time, I drift further. Like memory turning to fog.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not fog. Mist. And mist can reveal as much as it hides.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will it hurt?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ms_head_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Not in the way you fear. There may be warmth tingling along the cheekbones, a tightness in your lips. But the real ache comes when you look at the mirror… and she looks back.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Still bitter as ever…<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The bitterness is not from the potion. It’s from what it asks of you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My skin feels… thinner. Not weaker. Just… like silk instead of leather.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ms_head_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The cheekbones will lift now. Your lips will taper. The muscles behind your eyes will relax, letting softness pool there.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>How do you know all this? Every inch of change, every flicker?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I’ve walked others through this mist, Caelan. Queens who were not born as women. Nobles who gave up comfort for clarity. Some of them screamed. Others… sang.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And what did I do?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ms_head_fs_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You watched the mirror. And you listened. That is rarer than you think.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>She’s already there, isn’t she? The version of me I haven’t met yet.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>She’s not a stranger, Caelan. She’s you without your armor.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s the part I don’t know how to face. What if I like her? What if I don’t?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ms_head_fs_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You don’t need to love her yet. Just let her breathe.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My lips… they’re thinner. Softer. Eyes look… different.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’re not supposed to recognize her completely. Not yet. She’ll grow clearer with each choice you make.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel like I’m standing between two portraits. Neither finished.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_ms_head_fs_7]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then let your reflection be a painting in progress. And remember what you become doesn’t erase who you were.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Into the mirror’s mist… and through it, I suppose.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly, my lady. And mist always clears… when it’s time.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my body|use_success_potion_create_head]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to pull back from the edge. Let’s find what still belongs to me.|head_fs_head_ms_1]] | [[This isn’t as simple as undoing a braid, is it?|head_fs_head_ms_1]] | [[So we just throw her away? Like none of it mattered?|head_fs_head_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This potion… doesn’t erase. It rebalances. But yes, she will step aside for now.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>She’s still there. I can almost see her outline, just behind my eyes.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And she always will be. This magic doesn’t tear away it folds.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I liked the way she smiled? It was different. Lighter. As if the world wasn’t watching so closely.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_ms_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then remember it. Even as your lips shift, remember how that smile felt. No transformation can take your truth from you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Still bitter. But not like the last ones. This one tastes… dry. Empty, almost.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it’s not building something new it’s closing a chapter. There’s melancholy in that. Even in power regained.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My skin… feels thicker again. Less delicate. Jaw feels… heavier?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_ms_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The lines return gradually. The cheeks broaden. The balance of muscle in your face begins to reassert.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So I’m becoming him again. Not her. Not both. Just… him.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No, Caelan. You are still you. But the world will see him first again. It’s only a mask if you forget who's wearing it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Why does it hurt more going back than it did going forward?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_ms_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Because forward was the unknown. Backward carries memory. The weight of what you’ve felt, lived, questioned. That’s heavier than transformation.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can already feel my cheekbones dulling… my lips firming. The softness is still there, but it's… covered. Hidden.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And that’s a kind of strength too. You’ve touched grace. Now you carry it inside, even if the mirror forgets.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What will people see now?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_ms_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>They’ll see a prince who once glimpsed the queen within. That vision doesn’t vanish. It lives in your voice, your eyes, your choices.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will she miss me? The one in the mist?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>She won’t need to. She is you. She’s waiting, not mourning.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t expect to grieve.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_ms_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Transformation always leaves echoes. Some fade. Some follow. But all of them shape the ruler you will be.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let her echo guide me. Even if the world calls me prince again… she was real. She is real.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And should the time come to find her again… the mist will part. As it always does.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my body|use_success_potion_create_head]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Let’s do it. If I’m to wear this face before the court, let it be flawless.|head_fs_head_fm_1]] | [[Another layer peeled away... I’m not sure who’s left underneath.|head_fs_head_fm_1]] | [[So I’m just a mask now? A doll for court approval?|head_fs_head_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Not a mask. A canvas. And every queen has the right to choose how her portrait is painted.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This potion looks... prettier than the last.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it touches closer to beauty’s core. The features that stir emotion subtle symmetry, softness, allure.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So now it’s about being beautiful?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_fm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It’s about wielding beauty, Caelan. As others wield blades or words. You are nearing a point where your presence alone will speak volumes.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My lips are already... softer than they were. My eyes seem larger somehow.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Your face is learning a new language. One not written in strength, but in expression. In silence. In invitation and denial.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The kind of face that stops a room?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_fm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. Or conquers one, without ever raising a voice.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Tingles this time. Right behind the eyes... and along my jaw. It’s strange.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The potion eases the underlying muscles. Shapes them to respond to subtler emotion smiles, glances, soft amusement. It draws out grace you didn’t know you possessed.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My chin looks... different. Pointed?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_fm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Tapered, yes. And your lips are beginning to round. Soon, every expression you make will be read differently. Felt differently.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That sounds... dangerous.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It is. But so is any form of power. Your face will no longer command it will compel.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Would people even believe I was ever a prince?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_fm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Some may forget. Others will only whisper. And a few will remember and revere you for the journey.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>There’s something unreal about it all. Like watching someone else emerge from inside me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not someone else. Just another truth. A truth you buried beneath duty, sword drills, and expectation.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I wanted to stop here?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_fm_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You could. But you'd carry an unfinished song in your skin. And songs half-sung tend to haunt their singers.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It already doesn’t feel like mine. And yet... it’s not wrong.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s because you’re not losing yourself you’re unfolding. And every fold you reveal adds depth to the queen you may yet become.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know if I’ll ever believe that fully.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_fm_7]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then believe in the possibility. In the silence of a hall when you walk in. In the way a rival stumbles over their words beneath your gaze. That is real. That is yours.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So… after this, I won’t just look like someone new. I’ll feel it, too?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You’ll begin to. And the world will respond. Be ready, Caelan. Beauty carries its own burden.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then teach me to wield it. Not like a mask… but like a blade.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fs_head_fm_8]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Spoken like a true ruler. Grace sharpened is grace that conquers.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my body|use_success_potion_create_head]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to see what’s left of the old me… before it vanishes completely.|head_fm_head_fs_1]] | [[This doesn’t feel right. Like taking back something I already gave away.|head_fm_head_fs_1]] | [[I never asked for this elegance. Let it go. Let me go.|head_fm_head_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You know, most who walk forward through change rarely glance back. And fewer still ask to undo the spell’s embroidery.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Maybe I just need to know what’s still mine. If anything is.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This won’t bring back all you were. But it will soften the queenly mark you now wear. A gentler return… not a full retreat.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My lips… they used to be thinner. I remember biting them before battles, cracking them in the cold.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You will feel that tension return. The softness will give way to endurance. Your nose will broaden. The tip will shift upward slightly.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This curve… It made me look fragile. Vulnerable.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Now it will firm again. More square, more weight beneath your words. But vulnerability is not weakness, Caelan.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I know. But the court sees with old eyes.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The court can be taught to blink. If only you dared to stay the course.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not turning back entirely. I just I need to feel anchored again. Even if only a little.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then sip. Let the potion find the tension in your features. Let it sculpt with memory instead of magic.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It burns, more than I thought.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Because the skin resists what the mind regrets.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My mouth feels tight again. Less expressive. My nose… sharper somehow.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The muscles are realigning. Returning to their old habits. You may find your smile changed. Less invitation, more calculation.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel older.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fs_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>No. You feel earlier. Before beauty touched you. Before softness tempered you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My face… it’s still not what it was. But… there’s something stronger there.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Strength and beauty are not enemies, Caelan. They’re just two sides of will.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do you think I’m making a mistake?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fs_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>I think you’re searching for balance. And the only mistake is believing you must be only one thing or the other.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will they still believe in me? The people?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>If you believe in yourself, they will. Whether queen, prince, or something entirely new.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then maybe… just for today, I needed to feel something solid. Something I could still call mine.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fs_7]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And tomorrow, you may want something else. That is not weakness, Caelan. That is evolution.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my body|use_success_potion_create_head]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Let it happen. I’ve come too far to stop at almost.|head_fm_head_fl_1]] | [[What if I don’t recognize myself anymore?|head_fm_head_fl_1]] | [[Do it. Let’s get this over with. I’ve learned not to flinch.|head_fm_head_fl_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve changed more than just your face, Caelan. This last step this final turn of the sculptor’s hand will not make you someone new. It will only reveal who you’ve chosen to be.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I still see myself in the mirror when it’s done?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You will see yourself more clearly than ever. But perhaps not the you you were expecting.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Sometimes I try to remember what I looked like before. Strong jaw. Square chin. A soldier’s face. And now…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fl_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And now you carry a face that commands in different ways. Not with fear. With presence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Presence. Right. But what if I don’t feel present inside it?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The body is an instrument. It reflects your soul in time, not the other way around. Let your spirit catch up, or pull ahead whichever path you choose.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It smells like roses and something ancient.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fl_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Star-lotus and mirrorvine. Bloom only once per decade, only when bathed in moonlight and truth.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s warm. Almost too warm.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That warmth is the essence weaving through you. It finds the bones. The skin. The tension that remains.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can feel it… my bones are lighter. Is that even possible?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fl_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The cheekbones rise to meet your gaze. The jaw eases its burden. The eyes yes, there they open wider now. Not with surprise, but with grace.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels like I’m smiling even when I’m not. These lips… this skin…<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Porcelain smooth. Not made for war, but for rule. That’s a different kind of strength.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t look like a prince anymore. Or even someone who once was.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fl_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You don’t look like anyone else, either. You look like her. The queen not yet crowned. The woman forged in fire, shaped by purpose.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I… I don’t know what to say.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then don’t. Let the silence speak. Let it tell you, you’ve arrived.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s done, isn’t it?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fl_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The outer work, yes. But what happens from here is not my magic. It’s yours.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I see her now. In the mirror. Not Caelan the prince. Not even Caelan the student. Just… her.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>She is you. Fully, finally. And beautifully so.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let the court look upon me. Let them see the crown they don’t yet know they’ll kneel to.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fm_head_fl_7]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>As they should. And as you were always meant to be seen.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my body|use_success_potion_create_head]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[It’s time I find a middle ground one I choose.|head_fl_head_fm_1]] | [[I thought I’d feel more… finished. But something tugs at me.|head_fl_head_fm_1]] | [[I never asked to go that far. Now I want something back.|head_fl_head_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You tread backwards through a door few ever dare reopen. Most fear the loss of beauty. Others fear the clarity it brings.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I didn’t come here to be beautiful. I came to be me. And I’m still figuring out who that is.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s honest. And rare. This elixir won’t return you to the battlefield, nor to the boy who stood at its edge. But it will bring balance if that’s what you truly want.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My face it felt… right, but not entirely mine. Like a mask I was growing into.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fl_head_fm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Perhaps you wore it too well. Sometimes perfection imprisons more than it frees.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What will change?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The cheeks will ease. The chin will settle stronger. The lips less sculpted, more real. You’ll still carry her grace, but not her ideal.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That sounds almost… comforting.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fl_head_fm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Comfort isn’t weakness, Caelan. Sometimes, it’s the soil in which identity finally takes root.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s like… the pressure is lifting. My bones aren’t pulling as tight.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Good. The potion listens when the spirit speaks. And yours is steady today.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s firmer again. But not harsh. Just enough.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fl_head_fm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The mirror will show someone neither prince nor queen. But someone true. Someone becoming.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Less polish. More presence.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. Beauty is not a crown. It’s a tool. Sometimes you put it down so your hands can be free.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I think I needed this. Not to undo anything but to feel like I’m choosing, not being shaped.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fl_head_fm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then you’ve taken your place at the forge. And that, my dear, is the mark of all true rulers.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So… I’m not less than I was yesterday?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. You are more yourself than ever. Every backward step was still forward because you took it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m ready for the world to see this version of me.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|head_fl_head_fm_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And the world will learn to bow not to perfection, but to truth. That truth is you.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my body|use_success_potion_create_head]] <>

<> <<set $curr_potion = setup.hand_forward_potions>> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $curr_potion = setup.hand_reverse_potions>> <</if>> /* <<=$userBody.left_hand.curr_body>> */ <<set $curr_potion_selected = $curr_potion[$userBody.left_hand.curr_body]>> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if $curr_potion_selected == undefined>> You do not have any left hands potions available for your current left hand version to transform. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.left_hand, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userItems, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredient = {}>> ✦ Ancient Alchemical Recipe ✦ Potion: <<=$curr_potion_selected.name>> Purpose: <<=$curr_potion_selected.purpose>> 🜃 Ingredients: <ol> <<for _item, _value range $curr_potion_selected.ingredients>> <li><<=$userItems[_item].name>>: _value <<=$userItems[_item].unit>></li> <<set $ingredient[_item] = {amount: $userItems[_item].amount, needed: _value, unit: $userItems[_item].unit}>> <</for>> </ol> <<set _potion = $curr_potion_selected>> /* <<set $currentObjectives = 'Create Potion: ' + _potion.name + '. Ingredients are: '>> <<for _item, _value range _potion.ingredients>> <<set $currentObjectives += $userItems[_item].name + ': ' + _value + ' ' + $userItems[_item].unit + ', '>> <</for>> <<replace "#objectives-text" t8n>> <<=$currentObjectives>> <</replace>> */ ⤐ Function: <<=$curr_potion_selected.function>> ⚠ Side Effects: <<=$curr_potion_selected.sideEffects>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($ingredient, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredinetAvailable = true>> <<for _key, _data range $ingredient>> <<if $ingredient[_key].amount < $ingredient[_key].needed>> You do not have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, but you have only <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. <<set $ingredinetAvailable = false>> <<else>> You have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, you have <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. It is more than enough!! <</if>> <</for>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 3>> <<link "Refer Another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<elseif $ingredinetAvailable>> You have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Make Potion">><<goto "potion_create_left_hand">><</link>> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> You do not have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <</if>> <<set $potion = $curr_potion_selected>> <<set $potionInventory = {}>> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] = 0>> <</for>> <</if>> <>

<> 🧪 Assembling: <<=$potion.name>> Match the exact ingredients to brew this potion: <div class="item-grid"> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div class="item-card"> <<capture _item>> [img[$userItems[_item].img]] <<set $reverse_passage_ingredient = "potion_create_left_hand">> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> <div class="ingredient_details"><<link "Details">><<set $selectedIngredient = _item>><<goto "IngredientDetail">><</link>></div> <</capture>> </div> <</for>> </div> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> (You have: <<=$userItems[_item].amount>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>>) Needed: <<=_needed>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> | Added: <<=$potionInventory[_item]>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> <<if $userItems[_item].amount > 0>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_left_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_left_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_left_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] > 0>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_left_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_left_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_left_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <</if>> </div> <</for>> <<set $_matches = true>> <<for _item, _data range $potion.ingredients>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] != $potion.ingredients[_item]>> <<set $_matches = false>> <</if>> <</for>> <<if $_matches>> ✅ All ingredients matched perfectly. Ready to brew! <<link "Brew Potion">> <<goto "brew_success_potion_create_left_hand">> <</link>> <</if>> <<if not $_matches>> ⚠ Ingredient quantities do not match the recipe. Adjust to proceed. <</if>> <<link "Cancel">> <<for _item, _data range $potionInventory>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $potionInventory[_item]>> <</for>> <<goto "potion_lab">> <</link>> <>

<> <<set $_i to random(1, 4)>> <<set $img_path = "potion/potion_"+$_i +".gif">> <div style="text-align: center; "><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;" @src="setup.ImagePath+$img_path"></div> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $next_passage = "left_hand_"+$curr_potion_selected.from +"_"+ "left_hand_" + $curr_potion_selected.to>> [[Move Forth|$next_passage]] <>

<> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance += 1>> <<else>> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance -= 1>> <</if>> /* <<=>> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.left_hand, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $userBody.left_hand.curr_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $image_key_hand_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.left_hand.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.left_hand.curr_body + "/" + $userBody.left_hand.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.left_hand.curr_body + "_" + "left_hand.png">> /* <<=$image_key_hand_path>> */ <<set $userBody.left_hand.img = $image_key_hand_path>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.left_hand, null, 2)>></pre> */ <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="change_show torso">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.torso.img]]</div> <div class="change_show head">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.head.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show chest">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.chest.img]]</div> <div class="change_show crotch">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.crotch.img]]</div> <div class="change_show hair">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.hair.img]]</div> </div> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> | [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready for this. If becoming queen means changing, then I want to face it head-on.|left_hand_ml_left_hand_mm_1]] | [[I’m not sure I like this... But if it’s what the Queen demands, I’ll endure.|left_hand_ml_left_hand_mm_1]] | [[I don’t want this. Changing who I am feels wrong. |left_hand_ml_left_hand_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Whether you welcome it or resist, transformation demands patience. This first potion will not soften your hand, but loosen its grip the grip of old strength and rigid certainty.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Loosen? Sounds like you want me to lose my edge.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not lose reshape. A sword is sharp, yes, but a blade that never bends will shatter. Grace is strength learned anew, not weakness taken.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve trained my whole life to hold fast. What if I don’t want to let go?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_ml_left_hand_mm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Letting go does not mean forgetting. The strength in your fingers will remain it will simply serve a different purpose. One less bound to conflict, more to connection.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel the warmth already. It’s spreading, slow and strange.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That warmth is the magic working through your flesh and bone. It loosens the tension in your tendons, softening where hardness once ruled.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My knuckles feel lighter, almost... fragile.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_ml_left_hand_mm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Fragile is a word your hand has never known. But grace requires lightness, a fluid strength that moves like water over stone.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m not sure I like this feeling. It’s like my hand isn’t mine anymore.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It is still yours. But yours transformed. The beginning of a hand that will know precision, sensitivity, and elegance alongside power.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this is just the first step? The rest will go further?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_ml_left_hand_mm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Much further. Each stage will bring your hand closer to its new shape not weaker, but refined. This first loosening prepares you to embrace what comes next.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I hope I can hold on to who I am beneath all this.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You will. This transformation reveals who you are, not erases it. Like a sculptor revealing the statue within the marble.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I resist? If I cling to what I was?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_ml_left_hand_mm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Resistance may slow the flow, but magic is patient. It will continue shaping you, whether willingly or not. Your choice is in how you meet it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then I’ll try. For now.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is all I ask. Breathe into the change, and let the beginning of grace take root.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left hand|use_success_potion_create_left_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to reclaim what was once mine.|left_hand_mm_left_hand_ml_1]] | [[I never thought I’d want this… to grow tougher again.|left_hand_mm_left_hand_ml_1]] | [[I reject this softening they took too much already. |left_hand_mm_left_hand_ml_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The grace you’ve gained is like a whispered song, subtle and delicate. But even the gentlest melody can grow bold again, if you call it forth. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve felt the looseness, the softening… and now I want the grip back. The power in my hand.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Power is not lost. it waits beneath the surface, beneath the delicate layers. This potion will draw it back like iron warming in a forge.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It sounds like a battle in my blood.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_mm_left_hand_ml_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>A battle, yes but one you control. The strength in muscle and bone will return, tighter and harder, but with the wisdom of what you once embraced.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m afraid of losing what I learned… the balance.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Balance is not a prison, Caelan. It is a tool. You can wield softness and strength both, but sometimes one must lead.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What will this feel like? The pain, the change?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_mm_left_hand_ml_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Like cold fire burning deep. Your veins will thrum, muscles knot and tighten, skin thickening like bark on a tree. The world will feel heavier but steadier.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And the scars? The marks left behind by magic?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Faint, like whispers in stone. They remind you of your journey where you’ve been and where you choose to go.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will the Queen see this as a failure? Turning back?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_mm_left_hand_ml_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Strength is never failure. It is adaptation. The throne is not won by change alone, but by the will behind it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let this be my choice not just magic’s.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>As always, Caelan. The magic shapes the flesh, but the spirit shapes destiny.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left hand|use_success_potion_create_left_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to embrace the softer strength I’ve gained.|left_hand_mm_left_hand_ms_1]] | [[It feels strange to soften, but I trust the process.|left_hand_mm_left_hand_ms_1]] | [[I don’t want to lose my old strength.|left_hand_mm_left_hand_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Your hand has known the roughness of battle the weight of the sword and the sting of sweat. But now, it is time to let the tension ease.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel the power in my grip loosening, like armor melting away.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not melting transforming. The muscles relax, the calluses fade, but the core remains. This is strength refined, not lost.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s a different kind of strength, isn’t it? One I’m still learning.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_mm_left_hand_ms_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. Strength that wields not just weapons but words and warmth. Your hand will still hold a sword but also a delicate quill, a lover’s touch.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It tingles… almost like it’s waking up in a new way.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That tingling is the awakening of grace within power. You’re beginning to balance both.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will it hurt? The change?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_mm_left_hand_ms_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>There is always some ache in transformation. But this is a softening ache, like stretching after a long battle.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to believe the queen will see me differently stronger, yet softer.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>She will. Because strength wears many faces, and you are learning them all.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left hand|use_success_potion_create_left_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to take back the strength I had before.|left_hand_ms_left_hand_mm_1]] | [[I don’t want to lose the gentleness I’ve found...|left_hand_ms_left_hand_mm_1]] | [[Softness is weakness. I want my old grip back|left_hand_ms_left_hand_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The journey from warrior to diplomat brought new grace to your hand. But strength never fully disappears it waits, coiled like a spring.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can feel it stirring beneath the surface, like a sleeping wolf.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This potion will awaken it. The bones will harden, the muscles thicken, the skin roughen. The weight of war will return not as a burden, but as a shield.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels strange, wanting this return after everything.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_ms_left_hand_mm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Change is never simple. Your hand has learned to hold both quills and swords. Now it will learn to balance power and precision again.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I lose the touch that calmed the court and soothed allies?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. The strongest hands are those that know both strength and gentleness. Your hand will carry that wisdom forward.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And the pain of transformation? Is it worse this time?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_ms_left_hand_mm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It burns colder, sharper. Like steel tempered in frost. But pain is a reminder you’re alive, you’re changing, you’re choosing.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Choosing… yes. For the throne, or for myself?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That choice, as always, rests with you. Magic is but a tool. will is the true power.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then I choose strength.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_ms_left_hand_mm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then strength it shall be. The weight of war returns to your grasp.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left hand|use_success_potion_create_left_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to meet the reflection waiting in this mirror.|left_hand_ms_left_hand_fs_1]] | [[I’m not sure I like who I see halfway between, but I’ll keep going.|left_hand_ms_left_hand_fs_1]] | [[I don’t like this shadow self half prince, half princess.|left_hand_ms_left_hand_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Look closely, Caelan. This hand, this form… it is the threshold of transformation. Neither here nor there, but the promise of what is to come.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels strange, like I’m touching a stranger. My own hand, but different.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is the magic at work. The essence of maleness softening, giving way to something new yet familiar. Not erased evolved.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The nails… they’re longer, and my fingers feel thinner. Like they’re meant to create, not just to grip.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_ms_left_hand_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. The hand becomes a tool of creation, of subtlety, of expression. Your touch will carry new meaning.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Am I losing myself in this mirror? Or finding who I truly am?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Both. The old you is not gone, but expanded. You are becoming whole, in ways you never imagined.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s a delicate balance… I want to keep the strength but embrace the grace.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_ms_left_hand_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And you shall. This stage is your crucible where metal tempers into fine steel, where spirit learns to dance.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will the court accept this new form? Or will they see only the uncertainty?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Perception shifts with confidence, and confidence you will find within yourself. Your presence will command respect because it will be authentic.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This is only the beginning, isn’t it?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_ms_left_hand_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes, Caelan. The journey is long, but you step forward with courage. Let the reflection guide you not bind you.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left hand|use_success_potion_create_left_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to reclaim what I once was.|left_hand_fs_left_hand_ms_1]] | [[I’m unsure about losing this part of me, but maybe it’s time to return.|left_hand_fs_left_hand_ms_1]] | [[I never wanted to change in the first place. I want my old hand back|left_hand_fs_left_hand_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The mirror does not lie, Caelan. What was softened now hardens again feminine curves retreating, strength returning.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels foreign still, like a mask I’m peeling off. My own hand, but less familiar than I remember.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Change is a journey both ways. The slender fingers thicken, the nails shorten. Power reclaims its form.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The grace fades… the touch becomes firm again. This is strength, not delicacy.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fs_left_hand_ms_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Indeed. A hand built for command and combat, for certainty rather than softness. But remember, strength is tempered by wisdom.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Am I losing her? The woman I was becoming?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not lost, but held in balance. Your essence is multifaceted sometimes one side leads, sometimes the other.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to hold onto my power. I want to be whole again.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fs_left_hand_ms_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This is the reclaiming of self, not a rejection. You are weaving the threads of your identity anew.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will the court see me as less now? As uncertain or weak?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Perception follows the truth you project. Confidence is your armor, whether in softness or strength.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this is the turning point.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fs_left_hand_ms_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes, the hand that was delicate is now a hand ready to grasp fate once more. Embrace it.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left hand|use_success_potion_create_left_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[This feels… easier now. Like my body finally agrees with the change.|left_hand_fs_left_hand_fm_1]] | [[I’m still not sure how much of this is me.|left_hand_fs_left_hand_fm_1]] | [[You keep calling this refinement. But all I see is the strength I earned being covered up|left_hand_fs_left_hand_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Even the strongest steel, when polished, reveals a gleam. The hand you see is no less powerful, only subtler now meant to wield words, silk, and the weight of crowns.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It doesn’t ache like before. It just feels… warm. Like sunlight through my fingers.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is the body learning to welcome the transformation. No longer bracing against change, but flowing with it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The skin… it’s so smooth. Softer than I remember my own ever being. It almost doesn’t look like a man’s hand at all.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fs_left_hand_fm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It isn’t. Not anymore. The edges have dulled, the bluntness dissolved. What remains is grace in every tendon and bone.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The veins they don’t stand out like they used to. Just faint silver threads now, like embroidery beneath the surface.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Beautiful, isn’t it? Beauty not as vanity, but as presence. The kind that draws eyes, invites touch, and commands silence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So much is changing. It used to feel like a costume. Now it’s starting to feel like a skin I never knew I needed.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fs_left_hand_fm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That is not deception, Caelan. That is awakening. You are not hiding behind a mask you are shedding one.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will this hand ever fight again? Could I still wield a blade if I needed to?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You could. But it would be a different kind of strike one aimed at truth, not flesh. This hand now holds influence, not just iron.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I keep thinking about how it would feel to hold someone’s hand like this. Not as a prince, but… as a lady.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fs_left_hand_fm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And you will. One day, someone will press their lips to this hand not out of obedience, but reverence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels strange to say… but I’m starting to like it. How it moves. How it looks in the light.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is the silken vein within you awakening the royal pulse beneath the surface. Let it flow, and you will shine.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left hand|use_success_potion_create_left_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve walked far into femininity… maybe it’s time to step back|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fs_1]] | [[I still feel the warmth of what I was becoming|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fs_1]] | [[All that grace, that softness they weren’t mine. |left_hand_fm_left_hand_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Even rivers reverse, for a moment, before finding their course again. This step backward does not erase your journey it reframes it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My hand feels heavier. Not like it used to, but… denser. Less like silk, more like flesh again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The shimmer fades, but not the memory. What you learned in delicacy remains, even as the skin thickens once more.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The veins… they don’t lace beneath the surface anymore. They pulse, stronger, clearer. It’s strange how quickly that changes.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Not strange. Natural. The body remembers. Just as it can open itself to grace, it can reawaken strength.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But this strength feels quieter. Like it’s not for show, just… grounding.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly. This form still carries refinement but it no longer wears it as a crown. It holds it beneath the skin, in stillness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You sound like this is some kind of lesson.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Every change is. You have known the power of softness, now you carry it differently. It lingers in your manner, your poise even if your wrist no longer narrows like a dancer’s.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So… what happens next? If I keep going backward, do I lose her completely? The woman I was starting to become?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Only if you choose to forget her. She’s part of you now woven into the lines of your palm, the tilt of your fingers. A quieter echo, perhaps… but still there.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s less strange than I thought. I feared I’d feel hollow but it’s just… different.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Different is not lesser. You’ve balanced between worlds, and that balance will remain even as the silk is tucked away.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So I can walk forward, even if I step back a little first.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes, Caelan. And every step, forward or back, shapes who you become. Not prince or princess, but something whole. Something yours.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left hand|use_success_potion_create_left_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[If I must become her… then let it be with open eyes.|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fl_1]] | [[I’ve come so far. It feels right… but frightening.|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fl_1]] | [[So this is what it means to let go entirely. Fine.|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fl_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The body remembers struggle. The hand especially. It holds our pride, our fears, our first instincts. But this final shaping… it is no longer about holding. It is about offering.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Offering what? Beauty? Compliance?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Elegance. Precision. Command without force. The hand of a queen guides, soothes, commands and caresses. This is not about surrender. It is about presence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You say it like it's sacred.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fl_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Because it is. This this is the hand that will be extended at coronations, kissed in fealty, held in alliance, raised in judgment.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It doesn't feel like mine yet.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let it become yours. Drink.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s warm again. Not like before this is deeper. It’s humming inside the joints, in the skin… gods, even my nails are tingling.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fl_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Let the form open. Let the last cords of roughness loosen. Breathe through it, Caelan.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My fingers… they’re longer. Not just slimmer they move like they’re dancing even when they’re still.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. The final precision. Not delicate like glass delicate like blade-edge silk. You are not fragile. You are refined.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Even the smallest movements feel… beautiful. I can feel air ripple off my skin when I raise my hand.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fl_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That is the culmination. The hand of a queen does not take it invites. It reveals control in grace. Hold it to the light.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It doesn’t even look like I could have ever held a sword with this hand. But I don’t feel weak. Just… elevated.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is how you know the transformation is complete. You are not less. You are more with less effort. Power without force. Command without constraint.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s me. And… it’s her. She’s finally there, in the mirror. In the reach of my hand.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fm_left_hand_fl_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>She always was. You simply hadn’t yet met her fingers.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left hand|use_success_potion_create_left_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Maybe I don’t need to be perfect to rule. Just… present.|left_hand_fl_left_hand_fm_1]] | [[It felt right, the elegance… but I suppose not every part of me|left_hand_fl_left_hand_fm_1]] | [[Maybe it looked like a queen’s hand, but it never felt like mine.|left_hand_fl_left_hand_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You stand at the edge of what could have been ideal refined, polished, poised. But perfection is not the only crown you may wear.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The shine fades when I look at it now. My fingers are still long, but they’ve lost that… gleam. That precision.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. The form remains elegant, but not exquisite. This is the elegance of movement, not of stillness. Of presence, not perfection.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The skin feels… real again. Less like porcelain. There’s warmth to it. Weight.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fl_left_hand_fm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve let go of the image. Now you return to essence. The queen’s hand softens not in failure, but in favor of truth.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know if I miss it or feel relieved. I thought I’d want to hold onto it forever.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>What you held was an ideal. And you can return to it, if you wish. But ruling doesn’t come from symmetry. It comes from steadiness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do you think I’ve stepped backward too far?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fl_left_hand_fm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>No. You’ve stepped into clarity. And clarity is what a queen needs more than a flawless hand, more than grace that blinds.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It still moves like hers… just a little heavier. A little less ethereal.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then it’s yours now. Not mine. Not your mother’s. Not the idea of a queen etched in glass. But yours.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Strange how something as simple as a hand can carry so much of who I am becoming.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_hand_fl_left_hand_fm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Because the hand acts. It touches. It leads. And now, it reflects not who you were told to be… but who you choose to be.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left hand|use_success_potion_create_left_hand]] <>

<> <<set $curr_potion = setup.leg_forward_potions>> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $curr_potion = setup.leg_reverse_potions>> <</if>> <<set $curr_potion_selected = $curr_potion[$userBody.left_leg.curr_body]>> /* <<=$userBody.left_leg.curr_body>> */ /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if $curr_potion_selected == undefined>> You do not have any left leg potions available for your current left leg version to transform. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.left_leg, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userItems, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredient = {}>> ✦ Ancient Alchemical Recipe ✦ Potion: <<=$curr_potion_selected.name>> Purpose: <<=$curr_potion_selected.purpose>> 🜃 Ingredients: <ol> <<for _item, _value range $curr_potion_selected.ingredients>> <li><<=$userItems[_item].name>>: _value <<=$userItems[_item].unit>></li> <<set $ingredient[_item] = {amount: $userItems[_item].amount, needed: _value, unit: $userItems[_item].unit}>> <</for>> </ol> <<set _potion = $curr_potion_selected>> /* <<set $currentObjectives = 'Create Potion: ' + _potion.name + '. Ingredients are: '>> <<for _item, _value range _potion.ingredients>> <<set $currentObjectives += $userItems[_item].name + ': ' + _value + ' ' + $userItems[_item].unit + ', '>> <</for>> <<replace "#objectives-text" t8n>> <<=$currentObjectives>> <</replace>> */ ⤐ Function: <<=$curr_potion_selected.function>> ⚠ Side Effects: <<=$curr_potion_selected.sideEffects>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($ingredient, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredinetAvailable = true>> <<for _key, _data range $ingredient>> <<if $ingredient[_key].amount < $ingredient[_key].needed>> You do not have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, but you have only <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. <<set $ingredinetAvailable = false>> <<else>> You have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, you have <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. It is more than enough!! <</if>> <</for>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 3>> <<link "Refer Another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<elseif $ingredinetAvailable>> You have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Make Potion">><<goto "potion_create_left_leg">><</link>> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> You do not have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <</if>> <<set $potion = $curr_potion_selected>> <<set $potionInventory = {}>> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] = 0>> <</for>> <</if>> <>

<> 🧪 Assembling: <<=$potion.name>> Match the exact ingredients to brew this potion: <div class="item-grid"> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div class="item-card"> <<capture _item>> [img[$userItems[_item].img]] <<set $reverse_passage_ingredient = "potion_create_left_leg">> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> <div class="ingredient_details"><<link "Details">><<set $selectedIngredient = _item>><<goto "IngredientDetail">><</link>></div> <</capture>> </div> <</for>> </div> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> (You have: <<=$userItems[_item].amount>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>>) Needed: <<=_needed>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> | Added: <<=$potionInventory[_item]>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> <<if $userItems[_item].amount > 0>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_left_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_left_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_left_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] > 0>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_left_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_left_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_left_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <</if>> </div> <</for>> <<set $_matches = true>> <<for _item, _data range $potion.ingredients>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] != $potion.ingredients[_item]>> <<set $_matches = false>> <</if>> <</for>> <<if $_matches>> ✅ All ingredients matched perfectly. Ready to brew! <<link "Brew Potion">> <<goto "brew_success_potion_create_left_leg">> <</link>> <</if>> <<if not $_matches>> ⚠ Ingredient quantities do not match the recipe. Adjust to proceed. <</if>> <<link "Cancel">> <<for _item, _data range $potionInventory>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $potionInventory[_item]>> <</for>> <<goto "potion_lab">> <</link>> <>

<> <<set $_i to random(1, 4)>> <<set $img_path = "potion/potion_"+$_i +".gif">> <div style="text-align: center; "><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;" @src="setup.ImagePath+$img_path"></div> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $next_passage = "left_leg_"+$curr_potion_selected.from +"_"+ "left_leg_" + $curr_potion_selected.to>> [[Move Forth|$next_passage]] <>

<> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance += 1>> <<else>> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance -= 1>> <</if>> /* <<=>> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.left_leg, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $userBody.left_leg.curr_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $image_key_leg_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.left_leg.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.left_leg.curr_body + "/" + $userBody.left_leg.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.left_leg.curr_body + "_" + "left_leg.png">> /* <<=$image_key_leg_path>> */ <<set $userBody.left_leg.img = $image_key_leg_path>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.left_leg, null, 2)>></pre> */ <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="change_show torso">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.torso.img]]</div> <div class="change_show head">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.head.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show chest">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.chest.img]]</div> <div class="change_show crotch">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.crotch.img]]</div> <div class="change_show hair">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.hair.img]]</div> </div> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> | [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready. Let’s begin the transformation.|left_leg_ml_left_leg_mm_1]] | [[I don’t know if I want this… but I’ll try.|left_leg_ml_left_leg_mm_1]] | [[I’m doing this because I have to, not because I want to.|left_leg_ml_left_leg_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. The first transformation is never about the body it is about your relationship with what you think it means. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> …Right. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This draught won’t sculpt breasts or enchant curves. Not yet. All it will do is ask your chest to let go, to ease its grip on a shape that has served you until now. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So it’ll make me weaker? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_ml_left_leg_mm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> No. But it will unfasten the pride your muscles have worn like armor. Not every kind of strength shows in bulk. Sometimes, strength shows in surrender. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You sound like a philosopher. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> When you’ve brewed potions that change bones and bend voices, you learn to respect the philosophy of flesh. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This will taste like mint, metal, and maybe… regret. You may feel your chest ache for its former form. That’s normal. Muscles remember. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_ml_left_leg_mm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> How fast will it work? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Gradually. Within the hour, the tautness in your chest will soften. Your posture will shift. Clothes will feel looser. And you may… feel exposed. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You mean… like I’m losing something? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You are. But you’re not being robbed. You are offering it, in exchange for something else. That’s what every step in magic is a trade, not a theft. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_ml_left_leg_mm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> …It’s cold. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Good. That means it’s working. The swelling in your chest will ease first. That defined line under your collarbone it’ll blur. Pectorals will yield to smoother flesh. Your heart will beat more openly, less behind armor. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> …It feels strange already. Like I’ve been… unmade a little. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That’s the beginning, Caelan. Unmaking to remake. You’re shedding the rigid frame of the past to shape the future queen. You will have moments of doubt moments when you want to reach back. That’s human. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_ml_left_leg_mm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> And if I don’t want to reach forward? What then? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Then you will wrestle with yourself. The path is yours to choose. But know this: transformation is not merely physical; it is the bending of will and mind. The body follows where the spirit leads. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sounds like the hardest part is what’s inside. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Exactly. The body can be changed by potion and spell. The mind that is a more delicate alchemy. One that takes time, patience, and courage. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_ml_left_leg_mm_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> And you think I have those things? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> I see in you a spirit capable of more than you know. But only you can decide whether to nurture it or let it fade. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then… I’ll drink. If not for myself, then for the kingdom. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That is the first true step. Drink now, and let the change begin. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left leg|use_success_potion_create_left_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to regain my old strength. Let’s begin the reversal.|left_leg_mm_left_leg_ml_1]] | [[I’m unsure if I should do this… but I’ll try.|left_leg_mm_left_leg_ml_1]] | [[I’m doing this because I want my body back, not because anyone tells me to.|left_leg_mm_left_leg_ml_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. Reversal is never about undoing the body alone it is about reclaiming what you believe strength to be. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> …Right. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This draught won’t carve muscle instantly or restore the bulk of your former self. Instead, it will ask your chest to tighten again to wear the armor of power it once bore with pride. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So it’ll make me stronger? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_mm_left_leg_ml_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Yes, in one way. But strength is more than size it is also the courage to reclaim what was lost. Not every kind of power is visible. Sometimes it shows in resolve. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You sound like a philosopher. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> When you brew potions that build flesh and restore voice, you learn that flesh has memory and spirit, too. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This will taste of iron, earth, and maybe… hope. You may feel your chest tighten and muscles contract. That’s normal. Flesh remembers. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_mm_left_leg_ml_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> How fast will it work? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Gradually. Within the hour, your chest will regain tautness. Your posture will harden. Clothes will feel tighter. And you may… feel more guarded. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You mean… like I’m gaining something back? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You are. But you are not simply reclaiming what was lost. You are forging it anew stronger, clearer. Every step in magic is a renewal, not a reversal. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_mm_left_leg_ml_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> …It’s hot. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Good. That means it’s working. The softness in your chest will shrink first. That smooth line under your collarbone will sharpen. Smooth flesh will give way to muscle once again. Your heart will beat with resolve, beneath armor renewed. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> …It feels strange already. Like I’ve been… remade a little. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That is the beginning, Caelan. Unmaking to remake but now you remake what once was, with intention and will. You will have moments of pride moments when you feel power return. That’s human. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_mm_left_leg_ml_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> And if I want to stop? What then? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Then you will wrestle with yourself. The path is yours to choose. But know this: transformation and reversal alike shape both body and mind. The body follows where the spirit leads. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sounds like the hardest part is what’s inside. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Exactly. The body can be changed by potion and spell. The mind that is the delicate alchemy. One that takes time, patience, and courage. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_mm_left_leg_ml_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> And you think I have those things? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> I see in you a spirit capable of more than you know. But only you can decide whether to nurture it or let it fade. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then… I’ll drink. If not for myself, then for my strength. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That is the first true step. Drink now, and let the restoration begin. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left leg|use_success_potion_create_left_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to regain the muscle and strength I had. Let’s start the reversal.|left_leg_mm_left_leg_ms_1]] | [[I’m not sure about this, but I’ll try to reverse the change.|left_leg_mm_left_leg_ms_1]] | [[I’m doing this on my own terms I want my old body back.|left_leg_mm_left_leg_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. The journey back is not merely about muscle but about reclaiming your form with intention and purpose. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> …Right. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This potion will ask your leg to regain its robust muscle, the contours that spoke of strength and endurance. Not just bulk, but the power beneath it the foundation you stand on. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So it’ll add strength back? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Yes. But remember, strength also comes from how you carry it. This step restores the structure beneath the surface, the solid ground for all your strides. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You sound like you’ve done this many times. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> I have. And each restoration teaches me to respect not just the body, but the spirit that drives it. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This will taste of earth, iron, and a whisper of determination. You may feel a deep warmth in your muscles, a stretching and building sensation. That is normal the flesh remembers its shape. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> How fast will the change take? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> It will come gradually. You will notice your leg firming, strength returning. Movement will feel more grounded, power more assured. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Will I feel different? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Yes. You may feel more solid, more anchored. Like a tree that has grown roots where once it swayed. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sounds… reassuring. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That is the magic at work restoring balance and confidence, not just muscle. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And if I change my mind halfway? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Then you will face your own will. Magic bends to spirit, but it is no simple path. Reversal, like transformation, is a conversation with yourself. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I think I’m ready. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Good. Drink now, and feel your strength return steady and true. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left leg|use_success_potion_create_left_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to continue softening the muscle. Let’s do this.|left_leg_ms_left_leg_mm_1]] | [[I’m not sure about this step, but I’ll try.|left_leg_ms_left_leg_mm_1]] | [[I don’t like losing strength, but if I must…|left_leg_ms_left_leg_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. This phase is about refinement not loss, but transformation. Your left leg will shed the last remnants of rugged bulk, becoming leaner and more graceful. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> …Understood. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This potion will ease the dense muscle, smoothing harsh edges into gentle curves. Strength will remain enough to serve you in your training but your form will begin to embody a softer, more fluid grace. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> So I won’t be weak? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_ms_left_leg_mm_2]] <<>

<> <<speech "thalara">> No. Strength is not only in bulk but in balance. You will find new power in fluidity and precision. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You speak as if this is an art. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Magic and art are intertwined. The body is a canvas, and transformation is the brushstroke. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> The taste will be mint with a hint of stone and something elusive like a memory of movement. You may feel a gentle pulse in your muscles, a warmth that signals change. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_ms_left_leg_mm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> How quickly will it take effect? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Gradually. Within the hour, you will notice the muscle softening, the leg’s outline smoothing. Movement will gain a new grace, the beginning of your next form. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What if I resist? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Resistance shapes the process, but it cannot stop the current of change. You will feel what you need to feel and learn what you need to learn. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_ms_left_leg_mm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> I’ll drink it then. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Good. Embrace the change as it comes, Caelan. Each step is part of your destiny. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left leg|use_success_potion_create_left_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready for this change. Let’s begin.|left_leg_ms_left_leg_fs_1]] | [[I don’t know if I’m ready, but I’ll try.|left_leg_ms_left_leg_fs_1]] | [[I don’t want this, but I have no choice.|left_leg_ms_left_leg_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. Today, the magic crosses a threshold. Your left leg will begin to shift from mere strength into a delicate balance of power and feminine grace. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> …I feel the weight of this step. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> It is no small thing to embrace a new form. This is the point where your flesh softens, your skin smoothes, and subtle curves emerge where once was rigid muscle. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Will I still be strong? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_ms_left_leg_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Strength will remain, but it will take on a new shape a grace and fluidity unlike before. Power need not always roar; sometimes it whispers. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> This sounds like a transformation of identity, not just body. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Indeed. The body and soul are entwined. Your leg will carry a new story one of balance and emerging womanhood. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> The potion tastes of honey and wildflowers, with a touch of earth. You may feel warmth, tingling, or a gentle stretching as your skin and bone reshape. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_ms_left_leg_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> How soon will I notice? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> The change will begin within minutes but unfolds over hours. You will see subtle shifts skin softening, curves defining, a new harmony in your movement. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What if I resist this? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Resistance is natural. The magic will meet you where you are but moves steadily onward. Yielding allows the transformation to bloom fully. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_ms_left_leg_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> I accept it, then. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Good. Take the vial and drink deeply. Your journey unfolds with each breath. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left leg|use_success_potion_create_left_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to reclaim my old form.|left_leg_fs_left_leg_ms_1]] | [[I’m hesitant, but I’ll try to change back.|left_leg_fs_left_leg_ms_1]] | [[I want this to end. Return me now.|left_leg_fs_left_leg_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. Today the magic will reverse the bloom, gently drawing back the feminine grace from your left leg. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> …It feels strange to want to undo something so delicate. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Transformation is a journey, not a prison. Returning to your former strength is as much a step forward as going beyond. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Will I lose the grace I’ve begun to feel? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fs_left_leg_ms_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> The soft curves will fade, but strength will deepen anew — muscle returning to its bold, steady presence. Power will roar where it once whispered. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> It’s more than just my body changing again. It feels like my identity shifts with it. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Your body reflects your spirit’s ebb and flow. This reversal reclaims a chapter, but your story continues, rich and complex. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> The draught tastes of iron and pine — grounding, sturdy. You may feel a cool tightening, muscles knitting back, bones firming. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fs_left_leg_ms_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> How quickly will the change happen? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> The shift begins immediately but solidifies over hours. Your leg will regain its strength, the soft curves replaced by lean, defined muscle. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What if I resist going back? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Magic listens, but it moves steadily. Yield to it, and the change will be smooth; resistance brings strain. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fs_left_leg_ms_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> I accept this return, then. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Good. Drink deeply. With each breath, your leg’s form strengthens and hardens anew. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left leg|use_success_potion_create_left_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to step back to the gentler form I had before.|left_leg_fs_left_leg_fm_1]] | [[I’m not sure, but I’ll accept the change back.|left_leg_fs_left_leg_fm_1]] | [[I reject this deeper change take it away.|left_leg_fs_left_leg_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. The magic will now ease the deeper bloom from your left leg, gently returning it to its earlier, softer state. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> It feels like losing a part of myself again. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Change is fluid, not final. Sometimes we must soften before we grow strong again. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Will the grace fade completely? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fs_left_leg_fm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> No, the elegance remains — just less pronounced, more subtle. Your leg will still carry beauty, but with a lighter touch. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’ve grown used to this deeper femininity… going back feels strange. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Your body remembers every step. This reversal is a gentle retreat, not a loss. You are still becoming, still evolving. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> The potion tastes soft and floral, with a hint of earthiness. You may feel a soothing warmth as the curves ease. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fs_left_leg_fm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> How soon will I feel the change? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> The shift will begin quickly but deepen gradually over the day. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What if I resist going back? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Magic flows best with your will. Resistance makes the path longer, but it listens still. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fs_left_leg_fm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> I’m ready to accept the change. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Then drink, and let your leg soften gently, the pronounced curves ebbing to reveal the subtler beauty beneath. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left leg|use_success_potion_create_left_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to embrace more of this feminine grace.|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fs_1]] | [[I’m nervous, but I’ll try to accept the change.|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fs_1]] | [[I don’t want this, but if I must, so be it.|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. Today’s potion will deepen the feminine bloom in your left leg, enriching its curves and grace beyond what you’ve felt before. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’ve felt this before, but... will it be overwhelming? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> The change is gentle but undeniable. Your leg will carry itself with more fluidity, the subtle curves blossoming into something more pronounced. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Will I lose any of my strength? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Strength will shift in nature, from raw muscle to elegant power — grace itself is a form of strength. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m ready to see what this deeper form feels like. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Good. The potion tastes like fresh petals and dew, a softness that seeps into bone and skin alike. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> How fast will the transformation take hold? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> The change will flow through your flesh quickly, deepening over the next hours. Your leg will feel lighter, more graceful with each step. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What if I want to stop or reverse it later? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Magic responds to your will. Acceptance hastens the process, resistance slows it but never fully stops it once begun. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m willing. Let’s proceed. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Then drink, and let the feminine elegance deepen within your left leg. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left leg|use_success_potion_create_left_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I am ready to fully embrace the final step of this transformation.|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fl_1]] | [[I’m not sure I’m ready, but I will do what I must.|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fl_1]] | [[I don’t want this, but if I must go through it, so be it.|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fl_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. This final dose will bring your left leg to its ultimate expression of feminine grace. It is not merely a change of form, but the embodiment of the queen you are becoming. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> This... feels so final. Will I truly be able to walk as I was before? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Walking will become an art — fluid, precise, and utterly captivating. Your leg will balance strength with delicate elegance, a symbol of power refined. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m afraid of losing myself in this change. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fl_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> You are not losing yourself, Caelan. You are stepping into the fullest version of your destiny. Every curve, every contour has a purpose — to express your true self. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Will it hurt? Will I feel the magic twisting my bones and skin? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> There may be a brief warmth, a shifting sensation as your flesh and bone find new harmony. It is not pain, but the stirring of transformation — like a blossom unfolding beneath the sun. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> How long until the change is complete? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fl_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Within moments you will feel the shift begin, but the final grace will settle over hours. Each step you take will deepen your balance, your poise, your femininity. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And if I hesitate or resist? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Resistance only delays the inevitable. Acceptance allows the magic to flow freely, weaving you closer to your true form. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I want to be strong in this — not just changed. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fm_left_leg_fl_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Strength is not the absence of grace, but its foundation. You will be both powerful and elegant — a queen worthy of her throne. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I’m ready. Let’s begin. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Drink deeply, Caelan. Let this final transformation complete your left leg’s journey into grace and beauty. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left leg|use_success_potion_create_left_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I accept the need to step back from this final transformation.|left_leg_fl_left_leg_fm_1]] | [[I’m hesitant, but I will do what I must to reverse this.|left_leg_fl_left_leg_fm_1]] | [[I reject this change and want to undo it now.|left_leg_fl_left_leg_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. This dose will ease your left leg away from its fullest feminine grace. It is not loss, but a gentle return toward balance and strength. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> This... feels like retreating. Will I lose the poise I’ve gained? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Poise will remain, though reshaped. Your leg will carry a sturdier elegance — strength softened, but not surrendered. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m afraid of feeling less myself after this. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fmlleft_leg_fm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> You are not less, Caelan. You are stepping into a form that honors both your power and your grace, just in different measure. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Will it hurt? Will the magic pull and stretch my flesh back? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> There may be warmth and a slight tension as your flesh and bone reconfigure. It is transformation’s ebb — the unweaving of enchantment with care. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> How long until I feel like myself again? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fl_left_leg_fm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> The shift will begin quickly, but full ease comes over hours. Each step will ground your leg more firmly in strength and moderate elegance. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And if I resist going backward? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Resistance only prolongs tension. Acceptance allows your body to find harmony again in this gentler form. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I want to keep some of what I gained — not lose all of it. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|left_leg_fl_left_leg_fm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> That balance is possible. You will retain elegance, softened but steady, as you return to a moderate feminine strength. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then I’m ready. Let’s begin. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Drink deeply, Caelan. Let this dose ease your left leg from its full feminine grace into a balanced, refined strength. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my left leg|use_success_potion_create_left_leg]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 18)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "thalara">> Back again, I see. And still upright. Either the Vault hasn’t grown teeth, or you’re quicker than I thought. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Let’s say we’re both learning to tolerate each other. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Tolerate? Caelan, darling, the Vault respects only fear. But bring me those supplies and I’ll reward your bravery with a touch more beauty. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "thalara">> Do you feel it yet? That flutter under your skin, like your body whispering its gratitude? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m not sure what I feel anymore. Excitement. Dread. Maybe both. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Good. The body should tremble before becoming divine. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "thalara">> Hmm… the air around you. It’s beginning to change. A hint of violet, silk, and silver fire. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That’s... me? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> It’s the you that waits beneath the skin. These potions only reveal what was always there. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "thalara">> Ah, my loyal apothecary returns. What did the Vault offer you today? Bloodfern? Aetherglass? Or simply more bruises from that stubborn keeper? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Both. He growled at me like a troll. I think he’s warming up to me. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Then perhaps we should bottle you next. A prince turned potion fierce, fragrant, and impossible to ignore. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "thalara">> You’re walking differently. Either the Vault got to your spine… or the changes are settling in. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You really notice everything, don’t you? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Of course. It’s not every day I sculpt a future queen from stubborn princely clay. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "thalara">> Did the Vault Keeper insult your lineage again, or was it just his usual charming silence? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> He told me he'd rather wrestle a chimera than deal with me. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Oh, how sweet. I think he’s flirting. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "thalara">> There’s a tension in your aura today subtle, but undeniable. You’re blooming, Caelan. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Am I? It feels… strange. Like I’m wearing a body that isn’t quite mine yet. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Then we’ll make it yours. One drop at a time. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "thalara">> You look radiant today. Either the moon favored your birth… or the breast potion is kicking in. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Thalara! That’s... not something I expected you to say. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You’ll learn, darling mages rarely say what’s expected. But we’re almost always right. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "thalara">> You seem tired. The transformations take their toll at first. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I barely slept. My skin itched like I was shedding it. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You are. The body remembers what it was but we’re teaching it what it must become. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "thalara">> Don’t rush. True alchemy requires patience... and sometimes, a bit of screaming. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You really know how to calm someone down, you know that? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Would you prefer lies wrapped in silk? Or truth served raw in flame? <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "thalara">> You know, some mages use illusions for beauty. But you? You’re earning every curve the honest way. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that your idea of a compliment? <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> It’s my idea of progress. Beauty with depth. Magic with memory. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "thalara">> Have you dared look into a mirror today? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I did. For longer than usual. It... didn’t feel like a stranger this time. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Good. The mind often transforms before the body catches up. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "thalara">> Did you notice your voice softening? Or the way your hands have grown finer? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Not until now. I was so focused on the tasks, I didn’t see the results. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> And yet they’re happening. That’s the nature of true change quiet, creeping, inevitable. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "thalara">> There’s confidence in your stride now. Pride, even. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I still have doubts. But they don’t rule me anymore. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Then you’re already halfway to queendom. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "thalara">> You came alone this time. No handmaiden, no knight, just you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I don’t need an escort to carry a few petals and crystals. I’m not that fragile. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> No, you’re not. And you’ll only grow stronger though not always in ways visible to the eye. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "thalara">> Your aura hums differently today. Did something stir in your sleep? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Maybe. I dreamt I was dancing… and everyone bowed to me like I’d always been queen. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Dreams have power, Caelan. Sometimes they whisper truths our waking minds dare not voice. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "thalara">> The Vault keeper let you off without a lecture? A miracle! <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> No such luck. He gave me a full speech on “honor” and “danger.” Again. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Then take comfort. If he’s repeating himself, he sees your persistence... and respects it in his own gruff way. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "thalara">> Your scent changed. Subtle floral undertones. Did you use an oil or...? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> No... it must be from the potion effects. You said it would start shifting everything, even the unseen. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Exactly. Femininity isn’t only how you look it’s how the world senses you. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "thalara">> Tell me honestly do you still hesitate? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sometimes. But not like before. It’s less fear now… more wonder. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That’s the transformation I treasure most the shift from resistance to curiosity. <</speech>> <</if>> <<set $reverse_passage = "veil_tower">> [[Choose Potion|potion_lab]] | [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set $curr_potion = setup.hand_forward_potions>> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $curr_potion = setup.hand_reverse_potions>> <</if>> /* <<=$userBody.right_hand.curr_body>> */ <<set $curr_potion_selected = $curr_potion[$userBody.right_hand.curr_body]>> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if $curr_potion_selected == undefined>> You do not have any right hands potions available for your current right hand version to transform. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.right_hand, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userItems, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredient = {}>> ✦ Ancient Alchemical Recipe ✦ Potion: <<=$curr_potion_selected.name>> Purpose: <<=$curr_potion_selected.purpose>> 🜃 Ingredients: <ol> <<for _item, _value range $curr_potion_selected.ingredients>> <li><<=$userItems[_item].name>>: _value <<=$userItems[_item].unit>></li> <<set $ingredient[_item] = {amount: $userItems[_item].amount, needed: _value, unit: $userItems[_item].unit}>> <</for>> </ol> <<set _potion = $curr_potion_selected>> /* <<set $currentObjectives = 'Create Potion: ' + _potion.name + '. Ingredients are: '>> <<for _item, _value range _potion.ingredients>> <<set $currentObjectives += $userItems[_item].name + ': ' + _value + ' ' + $userItems[_item].unit + ', '>> <</for>> <<replace "#objectives-text" t8n>> <<=$currentObjectives>> <</replace>> */ ⤐ Function: <<=$curr_potion_selected.function>> ⚠ Side Effects: <<=$curr_potion_selected.sideEffects>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($ingredient, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredinetAvailable = true>> <<for _key, _data range $ingredient>> <<if $ingredient[_key].amount < $ingredient[_key].needed>> You do not have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, but you have only <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. <<set $ingredinetAvailable = false>> <<else>> You have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, you have <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. It is more than enough!! <</if>> <</for>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 3>> <<link "Refer Another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<elseif $ingredinetAvailable>> You have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Make Potion">><<goto "potion_create_right_hand">><</link>> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> You do not have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <</if>> <<set $potion = $curr_potion_selected>> <<set $potionInventory = {}>> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] = 0>> <</for>> <</if>> <>

<> 🧪 Assembling: <<=$potion.name>> Match the exact ingredients to brew this potion: <div class="item-grid"> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div class="item-card"> <<capture _item>> [img[$userItems[_item].img]] <<set $reverse_passage_ingredient = "potion_create_right_hand">> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> <div class="ingredient_details"><<link "Details">><<set $selectedIngredient = _item>><<goto "IngredientDetail">><</link>></div> <</capture>> </div> <</for>> </div> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> (You have: <<=$userItems[_item].amount>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>>) Needed: <<=_needed>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> | Added: <<=$potionInventory[_item]>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> <<if $userItems[_item].amount > 0>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_right_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_right_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_right_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] > 0>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_right_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_right_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_right_hand">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <</if>> </div> <</for>> <<set $_matches = true>> <<for _item, _data range $potion.ingredients>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] != $potion.ingredients[_item]>> <<set $_matches = false>> <</if>> <</for>> <<if $_matches>> ✅ All ingredients matched perfectly. Ready to brew! <<link "Brew Potion">> <<goto "brew_success_potion_create_right_hand">> <</link>> <</if>> <<if not $_matches>> ⚠ Ingredient quantities do not match the recipe. Adjust to proceed. <</if>> <<link "Cancel">> <<for _item, _data range $potionInventory>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $potionInventory[_item]>> <</for>> <<goto "potion_lab">> <</link>> <>

<> <<set $_i to random(1, 4)>> <<set $img_path = "potion/potion_"+$_i +".gif">> <div style="text-align: center; "><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;" @src="setup.ImagePath+$img_path"></div> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $next_passage = "right_hand_"+$curr_potion_selected.from +"_"+ "right_hand_" + $curr_potion_selected.to>> [[Move Forth|$next_passage]] <>

<> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance += 1>> <<else>> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance -= 1>> <</if>> /* <<=>> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.right_hand, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $userBody.right_hand.curr_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $image_key_hand_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.right_hand.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.right_hand.curr_body + "/" + $userBody.right_hand.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.right_hand.curr_body + "_" + "right_hand.png">> /* <<=$image_key_hand_path>> */ <<set $userBody.right_hand.img = $image_key_hand_path>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.right_hand, null, 2)>></pre> */ <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="change_show torso">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.torso.img]]</div> <div class="change_show head">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.head.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show chest">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.chest.img]]</div> <div class="change_show crotch">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.crotch.img]]</div> <div class="change_show hair">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.hair.img]]</div> </div> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> | [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready for this. If becoming queen means changing, then I want to face it head-on.|right_hand_ml_right_hand_mm_1]] | [[I’m not sure I like this... But if it’s what the Queen demands, I’ll endure.|right_hand_ml_right_hand_mm_1]] | [[I don’t want this. Changing who I am feels wrong. |right_hand_ml_right_hand_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>I think you will be. In time. That matters more than even a crown.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And my hand… will it be weaker now? I trained so hard to master the sword.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It will not be weaker. Just different. You may wield a quill or a fan, a glance or a law, with the same precision you once gave to blade. Femininity is not the absence of strength it is strength reshaped.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Strange. I thought the hardest part would be pain. But it’s this… knowing I’ll never hold the hilt quite the same way again.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ml_right_hand_mm_7]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And yet, someday soon, you’ll hold the realm itself in your hand. That is a grip far mightier than steel.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You speak as if you've seen it before. Have you done this to others?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I have guided a few across the threshold. Not all princes, not all queens. But every soul who braved the crossing came away changed… and closer to truth. Yours will be no different.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then… let’s see who I become.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ml_right_hand_mm_8]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then let the potion take root. Let your hand begin its remembering of who it was, and who it longs to be.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right hand|use_success_potion_create_right_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to reclaim what was once mine.|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ml_1]] | [[I never thought I’d want this… to grow tougher again.|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ml_1]] | [[I reject this softening they took too much already. |right_hand_mm_right_hand_ml_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You return to me as though retracing your own footsteps. Do you think the ground will feel the same beneath them?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I need it back. The grip, the strength, the callus. I don’t want this softness in me anymore.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And yet it’s not just in you. It is you now. Part of you. Magic doesn’t simply fade it remembers.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let it forget. I want my hand back. I want to be what I was before.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ml_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>What you were before… or what you believe you must be again?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What I need to be. For me. For the fight. For my name.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>So be it. But know this reversal does not undo insight. You will feel the difference. The hand you knew may return, but it will carry memory of softness. Of gentleness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ll carry that memory. But I won’t wear it anymore.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ml_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Very well. Then we begin the return. The potion is heavier this time ironroot and dragonbone, the scent of ash and steel. Your veins will remember the forge.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Gah ! It burns. It’s like lightning in my bones.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Transformation backward always resists. You are not simply re-growing strength you are evicting vulnerability. That never leaves quietly.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My fingers they’re stiffening. Thickening again. The veins are rising…<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ml_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. The musculature returns. The flex of dominance. The imprint of the sword’s grip. Already your palm thickens. Already the wrist reshapes.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s so fast. It’s ugh it feels wrong, even if it’s what I wanted. Gods, what does that mean?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It means you now understand both sides. Strength as weapon… and strength as touch. You will always carry both, even if the world sees only one.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Is that shame I feel… or mourning?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ml_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It is the ghost of change. The echo of becoming. Not every path forward leads through softness but every detour leaves a mark.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s finished. The bulk’s returned. My hand… it feels like it could crack stone again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let it crack what must be broken, and spare what must be held. For a ruler must know when to wield… and when to release.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You speak as if this is still a lesson. I thought I was stepping away from all of that.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ml_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>There is no away. Only through. And you, my prince, have walked further than most ever dare. That truth will linger long after the hand forgets its shape.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right hand|use_success_potion_create_right_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to embrace the softer strength I’ve gained.|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ms_1]] | [[It feels strange to soften, but I trust the process.|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ms_1]] | [[I don’t want to lose my old strength.|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Do you feel it already? Even before the touch… your hand is preparing to let go.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s just a bowl of potion. And yet… my palm aches like it knows what's coming.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it remembers. Last session left an impression. Magic reshapes the body, yes but it also stirs the spirit housed within. Each part of you whispers its own story as it changes.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s not screaming this time. Just… murmuring. Like it’s asking if it really has to let go.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ms_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The grip is the last to surrender. Fingers remember every sword hilt, every bowstring. But they can learn new truths. The warmth of skin. The language of invitation rather than force.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But what if I need that grip again someday? To hold the kingdom? To defend it?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you will. But differently. Queens defend not always with blade, but with bonds. With hands that reach instead of strike. Grip does not vanish it transforms its purpose.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s warm… deeper than the first time. It’s in my wrist now, coiling. Almost… silken?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ms_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The potion this time weaves between sinew and joint, loosening the armor around the gesture. This session teaches your hand to move with intent, not impulse. It begins to listen, not just act.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Gods, my knuckles feel strange. Like they’ve forgotten how to clench properly.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Good. The body forgets harshness before it remembers elegance. Let it feel hollow for now. It is only making space for grace.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>There’s… less in the palm. Less tension. But I can still flex it. Still lift it. It's just… not driven anymore.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ms_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That is the hidden strength I want you to know. Not instinct. Not reflex. Choice. A hand that can choose whether to wield or welcome is one that rules justly.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I always thought ruling meant having control over others.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And now you’re learning… it begins with control over yourself. Over what you touch. What you release. What you carry and what you don’t.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My fingers are longer. I can see it now. The curve they don’t jut forward like before. They're… poised.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ms_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. And they will write letters instead of war orders. They will touch cheek and cloth and cradle a crown. Not as a burden. But as belonging.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That sounds… like someone else’s life.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It was. But it is becoming yours, line by line. Potion by potion. Look at your hand, Caelan. It still remembers strength but now, it is learning to speak in gentleness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So I’m not losing my grip. I’m choosing not to use it the same way.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_mm_right_hand_ms_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Precisely. The Hollowing is not emptiness it is readiness. For touch, for truth, for the responsibilities only you will bear.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let it hollow. I want to know what that hand can hold when it’s not clenching a blade.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Very well. Then we continue. And as your grip fades, let your reach grow.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right hand|use_success_potion_create_right_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to take back the strength I had before.|right_hand_ms_right_hand_mm_1]] | [[I don’t want to lose the gentleness I’ve found...|right_hand_ms_right_hand_mm_1]] | [[Softness is weakness. I want my old grip back|right_hand_ms_right_hand_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You come back again. To call strength home. Tell me… is it courage that brings you here or fear?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Maybe both. Maybe neither. All I know is I need to feel it again. The firmness. The grip that doesn’t hesitate.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And what will you do with that grip, Caelan? Crush? Command? Or merely remember what it was like not to doubt it?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know. I just miss knowing what my hand is for. Right now, it trembles when it should clench. Reaches when it should guard.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ms_right_hand_mm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then let us show it another memory. One not of blade or brush, but of presence. The potion is stronger today stirred with wolfsbane root and charred oak. You’ll feel its intent like a drum beneath your skin.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The color… it’s darker now. Like amber in stormlight.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. It remembers fire. And it will rekindle what was dimmed. But it will not erase what you’ve learned. No potion ever truly forgets.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Gods it bites. It’s crawling into the joints… curling the fingers inward. They want to close now.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ms_right_hand_mm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The muscle awakens. Old reflexes stir. The hollow places you once opened now fill again, slowly, deliberately. The grip returns, not as instinct but as intent.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s like someone is rewinding me. Pulling thread back into tight knots.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is not failure. It is merely re-centering. Even queens must retreat at times. You are not choosing weakness or strength you are choosing understanding.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My fingers… they feel dense again. Less float. More presence. Like they’ve reclaimed weight.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ms_right_hand_mm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>They have. And with weight comes responsibility. You’ve felt softness. Now feel command again. But hold it with wisdom, not fear.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>There’s a pulse in my palm. Familiar. Firm. But quieter than before.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because now it knows balance. You are not the same boy who first clenched a sword. You’ve touched tenderness. That changes the strike even if you strike again.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this isn't undoing. It's… remembering another version of me.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ms_right_hand_mm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Precisely. Let the hand flex again, if it must. Let it lead when the moment demands. But never forget it was also made to hold. To open.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s done. I can feel it in the grip. It’s not the brute strength I had before… but it’s closer. Firmer. Grounded.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then let it serve you. Not as master or servant. But as instrument. You are not losing your path, Caelan. You’re feeling its curves.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>...Then I’ll walk it with both hands. One that remembers war… and one that remembers warmth.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ms_right_hand_mm_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That is the path of true rule. When the throne calls, let it find you ready not only to wield… but to receive.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right hand|use_success_potion_create_right_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to meet the reflection waiting in this mirror.|right_hand_ms_right_hand_fs_1]] | [[I’m not sure I like who I see halfway between, but I’ll keep going.|right_hand_ms_right_hand_fs_1]] | [[I don’t like this shadow self half prince, half princess.|right_hand_ms_right_hand_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You have crossed the halfway mark. Do you feel it? How the flesh no longer answers to memory alone, but to possibility?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I look at it and… it doesn’t feel like mine anymore. Or maybe it’s becoming mine in a way it never was.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is not contradiction it is awakening. The hand you once forged in war now begins to shape the future in elegance, not edge.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But it still remembers… I still remember… what it was like to hold steel, to draw blood.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ms_right_hand_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And you always will. That memory doesn’t vanish it deepens. Refines. Would you have this hand unlearn its strength? Or let it rise again with a new form of power?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The runes are glowing. Why do they feel like they’re humming through my bones?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because they’re not drawing power from the potion alone. They’re drawing it from you. From the will you carry. Your fear, your hope, your resistance… your surrender. All of it feeds the flame.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can feel the shape changing. Gods… my wrist it's thin. Not weak… but delicate. I could never imagine calling it that before.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ms_right_hand_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Delicacy is not weakness, Caelan. It is precision. It is intent. Like silk thread that holds royal banners stronger than chain when woven with purpose.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The skin’s smoother. The fingers feel… lighter. Like they don’t want to clench anymore. Like they’re meant to gesture. Or to touch gently, not grip hard.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. They are beginning to express, not just execute. They are learning the language of grace. Of allure. And of command through presence, not pressure.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My nails what’s happening? They’re shimmering. I didn’t think nails could glow.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ms_right_hand_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>A reflection of your essence. They will always carry the echo of your bloodline, your magic, your decisions. You are not losing yourself, Caelan. You are refining your truth.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to say it still feels like me… but I’m not sure it does. It feels like her. Like someone else’s hand is growing where mine used to be.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then speak to her. The woman whose hand this is becoming. She is not a stranger. She is a part of you long ignored. Greet her not with doubt, but with dignity.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…Hello. I suppose… you’ve waited long enough.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ms_right_hand_fs_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And she heard you. Look your fingers now rest in poise without effort. The muscles are still yours, but they obey a different rhythm now. One not born of resistance… but invitation.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels strange. Like the air touches it differently. Softer. Even the pulse in my wrist feels quieter.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is the heartbeat of transformation. Faint now but it will grow louder, stronger. You are no longer just reshaped you are becoming.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this is the threshold. After today, I don’t get to call it “my hand” in the same way anymore, do I?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_ms_right_hand_fs_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>No. You call it yourself. Not what you held. Not what you lost. But what you have chosen to extend into the world. This hand will be your introduction. Your grace. Your authority. Your legacy.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then… I’ll let it become what it needs to. Just promise me it will still know how to hold the weight of who I was.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It will. And it will carry it not as a burden but as a root. And roots, my dear Caelan, are what let the blossom rise.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right hand|use_success_potion_create_right_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to reclaim what I once was.|right_hand_fs_right_hand_ms_1]] | [[I’m unsure about losing this part of me, but maybe it’s time to return.|right_hand_fs_right_hand_ms_1]] | [[I never wanted to change in the first place. I want my old hand back|right_hand_fs_right_hand_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You step backward over a threshold you crossed with pain and promise. Are you prepared for what might be waiting on this side?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know. I just… I need to remember what it felt like. Before.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you shall. The body does not forget. It buries, but it does not erase. Already, your tendons respond the bones shift back, recalibrating for tension over tenderness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s… tight. My fingers ache. The wrist feels heavier again. Like armor being slid over the skin.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fs_right_hand_ms_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Because the form is remembering its former purpose. The hand regains its edge not for war, perhaps, but for certainty. This is the grip of assertion, not invitation.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The softness is fading. I can see it… feel it. Even the nails are dulling again. No more shimmer.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You called it a mask once, remember? Perhaps this was always another mask. Or perhaps… both versions were your face, from different angles.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do you ever regret helping me change? Or unchange?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fs_right_hand_ms_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>I regret nothing done by choice. But I do mourn what is lost when that choice is made from fear rather than clarity.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The fingers they're thicker now. Less elegant. More blunt. I don’t know if I’m relieved or ashamed.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are both. That is what makes you human. This transformation is not shameful it is simply honest. It reveals what you need in this moment.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I wanted to reach back… to be what I was. But now I don’t know if what I was is enough anymore.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fs_right_hand_ms_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then you’ve learned the lesson of all shapeshifting: there is no going back. Only forward, into another form of understanding. This hand is not the same as before. It never will be.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this… this is what a hand feels like when it’s caught between who I was and who I might have been.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Precisely. Neither weapon nor whisper. Not yet. But it will choose. And so will you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It hurts. Not the pain of the potion. Something else. Like saying goodbye to a part of me I was just starting to trust.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fs_right_hand_ms_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Trust leaves echoes. Let them echo. Let them haunt you, even. From echo comes resonance and from that… choice that matters.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What will she think? The one I saw in the mirror. The one this hand used to belong to.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>She watches still. And she waits. Whether you return to her… or carry her forward in new form, is yours to decide.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let this hand hold both of us. Him and her. Not erased. Not replaced. Just… remembered.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fs_right_hand_ms_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And in remembering, reshaped.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right hand|use_success_potion_create_right_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[This feels… easier now. Like my body finally agrees with the change.|right_hand_fs_right_hand_fm_1]] | [[I’m still not sure how much of this is me.|right_hand_fs_right_hand_fm_1]] | [[You keep calling this refinement. But all I see is the strength I earned being covered up|right_hand_fs_right_hand_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Your hand is a story, Caelan. It tells of battles won and losses mourned. But now it will also tell of patience, finesse, and choice.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can feel the difference. It’s like every movement is more deliberate, more… thoughtful. But sometimes, it feels unfamiliar. Almost foreign.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That unfamiliarity is the soil where new strength grows. Strength not forged in fire, but nurtured in calm. Elegance is its own kind of power.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange to think of power as something soft. Like velvet draped over steel.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fs_right_hand_fm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Exactly so. Velvet protects the steel, but it also invites touch. It does not demand respect through force, but through allure. There is a deep courage in that.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I suppose I’m learning a new language one spoken in gestures and glances, not shouts and clangs.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And you will speak it fluently, in time. The world listens closely to those who wield grace. They bend not by weakness, but by wisdom.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever fully belong in this new skin. If this hand, this body, will ever truly feel like mine.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fs_right_hand_fm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Belonging is a journey, not a destination. This hand is becoming a reflection of who you are becoming. That reflection is still you just a version shaped by choice and magic.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>There’s a beauty in that idea. A chance to remake myself without losing what matters.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. Transformation is not erasure, but revelation. The layers you shed were only parts that no longer served you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do you think others will notice? Will they see the change before I do?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fs_right_hand_fm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Eyes trained in the old ways might miss it at first. But grace always finds its stage. Soon, the subtlety of your movements will speak louder than any word.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to be more than a symbol. I want to be real. To move with intention and truth.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That truth is within you already. The ritual is only the key to unlock it. Your hand is learning not just to perform, but to express.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then I will practice every gesture, every motion. So when the moment comes, I won’t hesitate.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fs_right_hand_fm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That is the spirit of elegance confidence born from preparation, not chance.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Thank you, Thalara. For helping me find this part of myself.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It is my honor, Caelan. The path is long, but with each step, you shape your own destiny.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right hand|use_success_potion_create_right_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve walked far into femininity… maybe it’s time to step back|right_hand_fm_right_hand_fs_1]] | [[I still feel the warmth of what I was becoming|right_hand_fm_right_hand_fs_1]] | [[All that grace, that softness they weren’t mine. |right_hand_fm_right_hand_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Strength is not lost, Caelan. It has only changed its form. You are reclaiming what is essential without erasing what you have learned.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels different now, heavier somehow. Not like before, but… sturdier. Like a foundation, not a dance.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. This hand has learned to bend, to express softness but now it must learn to hold fast again. To be the anchor beneath the flow.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The grace feels like a distant memory. I almost miss the lightness, the ease.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fm_right_hand_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And yet, even as you reclaim strength, the grace will remain beneath the surface like roots feeding a mighty tree.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m afraid the elegance might fade too much. What if I become too rigid? Too harsh?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Balance is the goal, not absolutes. You will carry both within you power tempered by wisdom, strength softened by understanding.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Sometimes I wonder who I really am when I shift between these states. The woman I was becoming, or the warrior I was born.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fm_right_hand_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You are both and more. Transformation is a river, not a wall. You flow through many forms but remain one essence.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to be steady. To stand firm without losing what grace taught me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That steadiness will grow with time. Strength is not just muscle it is the calm in the storm.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do others see the change? Or am I the only one feeling this shifting inside?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fm_right_hand_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Your presence will reflect your inner balance. Those who truly know you will notice the return of resolve and the persistence of softness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Thank you, Thalara. For guiding me back, not just to what was, but to what can be.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It is your courage that guides the magic, Caelan. The path is yours to walk, with strength and grace intertwined.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right hand|use_success_potion_create_right_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[If I must become her… then let it be with open eyes.|right_hand_fm_right_hand_fl_1]] | [[I’ve come so far. It feels right… but frightening.|right_hand_fm_right_hand_fl_1]] | [[So this is what it means to let go entirely. Fine.|right_hand_fm_right_hand_fl_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Change is never a loss, Caelan. It is transformation in motion. You carry both the queen’s elegance and the warrior’s might within you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This hand feels heavier, but somehow more certain. The delicate curves are fading, replaced by strength that feels both familiar and new.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Strength and grace are threads woven together. Neither is less important than the other. You learn to hold both, shifting as the moment demands.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I forget the gentleness? The softness that made me feel… more than just power?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fm_right_hand_fl_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Gentleness remains, deeper than the skin. It shapes your touch, even when your hand wields authority.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange to feel this tug back toward a past self. Not a loss exactly, but a layering.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>A layering is growth. The queen’s hand still guides, but the warrior’s grasp strengthens the foundation beneath it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I wonder if I can carry both without losing myself.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fm_right_hand_fl_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You are never lost, only evolving. Both hands will come to reflect the whole you power tempered with grace.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Thank you for walking this path with me. For helping me hold onto what matters.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It is your heart that guides the magic, Caelan. The hand is but an instrument your spirit shapes its true strength.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right hand|use_success_potion_create_right_hand]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Maybe I don’t need to be perfect to rule. Just… present.|right_hand_fl_right_hand_fm_1]] | [[It felt right, the elegance… but I suppose not every part of me|right_hand_fl_right_hand_fm_1]] | [[Maybe it looked like a queen’s hand, but it never felt like mine.|right_hand_fl_right_hand_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This transformation is a dance between strength and grace, Caelan. You are reclaiming a strength that does not diminish your elegance it reshapes it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels strange, like the hand remembers something it had forgotten. The delicate glow fades, replaced by a steady pulse beneath the skin.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Power often wears many faces. Today, it wears a firmer skin a hand that commands without losing its refinement.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will the softness return someday? Or is this a one-way path?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fl_right_hand_fm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Magic is never so linear. The softness will always live beneath the surface, accessible when you call it forth.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’m surprised to find comfort in this change. The hand feels more mine less a fragile ornament.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is the balance you must master the harmony of strength and tenderness.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Do you think the queen who once held this hand would recognize it now?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_hand_fl_right_hand_fm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>She would see the same soul, tempered and refined by experience. Different, yes but always you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s hard to say goodbye to the final touches of grace. But maybe strength is its own kind of beauty.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Indeed. Your hand will carry the future strong, elegant, and entirely your own.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right hand|use_success_potion_create_right_hand]] <>

<> <<set $curr_potion = setup.leg_forward_potions>> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $curr_potion = setup.leg_reverse_potions>> <</if>> <<set $curr_potion_selected = $curr_potion[$userBody.right_leg.curr_body]>> /* <<=$userBody.right_leg.curr_body>> */ /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if $curr_potion_selected == undefined>> You do not have any right leg potions available for your current right leg version to transform. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.right_leg, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userItems, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredient = {}>> ✦ Ancient Alchemical Recipe ✦ Potion: <<=$curr_potion_selected.name>> Purpose: <<=$curr_potion_selected.purpose>> 🜃 Ingredients: <ol> <<for _item, _value range $curr_potion_selected.ingredients>> <li><<=$userItems[_item].name>>: _value <<=$userItems[_item].unit>></li> <<set $ingredient[_item] = {amount: $userItems[_item].amount, needed: _value, unit: $userItems[_item].unit}>> <</for>> </ol> <<set _potion = $curr_potion_selected>> /* <<set $currentObjectives = 'Create Potion: ' + _potion.name + '. Ingredients are: '>> <<for _item, _value range _potion.ingredients>> <<set $currentObjectives += $userItems[_item].name + ': ' + _value + ' ' + $userItems[_item].unit + ', '>> <</for>> <<replace "#objectives-text" t8n>> <<=$currentObjectives>> <</replace>> */ ⤐ Function: <<=$curr_potion_selected.function>> ⚠ Side Effects: <<=$curr_potion_selected.sideEffects>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($ingredient, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredinetAvailable = true>> <<for _key, _data range $ingredient>> <<if $ingredient[_key].amount < $ingredient[_key].needed>> You do not have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, but you have only <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. <<set $ingredinetAvailable = false>> <<else>> You have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, you have <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. It is more than enough!! <</if>> <</for>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 3>> <<link "Refer Another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<elseif $ingredinetAvailable>> You have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Make Potion">><<goto "potion_create_right_leg">><</link>> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> You do not have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <</if>> <<set $potion = $curr_potion_selected>> <<set $potionInventory = {}>> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] = 0>> <</for>> <</if>> <>

<> 🧪 Assembling: <<=$potion.name>> Match the exact ingredients to brew this potion: <div class="item-grid"> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div class="item-card"> <<capture _item>> [img[$userItems[_item].img]] <<set $reverse_passage_ingredient = "potion_create_right_leg">> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> <div class="ingredient_details"><<link "Details">><<set $selectedIngredient = _item>><<goto "IngredientDetail">><</link>></div> <</capture>> </div> <</for>> </div> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> (You have: <<=$userItems[_item].amount>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>>) Needed: <<=_needed>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> | Added: <<=$potionInventory[_item]>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> <<if $userItems[_item].amount > 0>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_right_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_right_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_right_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] > 0>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_right_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_right_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_right_leg">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <</if>> </div> <</for>> <<set $_matches = true>> <<for _item, _data range $potion.ingredients>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] != $potion.ingredients[_item]>> <<set $_matches = false>> <</if>> <</for>> <<if $_matches>> ✅ All ingredients matched perfectly. Ready to brew! <<link "Brew Potion">> <<goto "brew_success_potion_create_right_leg">> <</link>> <</if>> <<if not $_matches>> ⚠ Ingredient quantities do not match the recipe. Adjust to proceed. <</if>> <<link "Cancel">> <<for _item, _data range $potionInventory>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $potionInventory[_item]>> <</for>> <<goto "potion_lab">> <</link>> <>

<> <<set $_i to random(1, 4)>> <<set $img_path = "potion/potion_"+$_i +".gif">> <div style="text-align: center; "><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;" @src="setup.ImagePath+$img_path"></div> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $next_passage = "right_leg_"+$curr_potion_selected.from +"_"+ "right_leg_" + $curr_potion_selected.to>> [[Move Forth|$next_passage]] <>

<> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance += 1>> <<else>> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance -= 1>> <</if>> /* <<=>> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.right_leg, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $userBody.right_leg.curr_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $image_key_leg_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.right_leg.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.right_leg.curr_body + "/" + $userBody.right_leg.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.right_leg.curr_body + "_" + "right_leg.png">> /* <<=$image_key_leg_path>> */ <<set $userBody.right_leg.img = $image_key_leg_path>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.right_leg, null, 2)>></pre> */ <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="change_show torso">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.torso.img]]</div> <div class="change_show head">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.head.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show chest">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.chest.img]]</div> <div class="change_show crotch">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.crotch.img]]</div> <div class="change_show hair">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.hair.img]]</div> </div> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> | [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready. I understand what must be done.|right_leg_ml_right_leg_mm_1]] | [[I suppose I have no choice. Let’s get this over with.|right_leg_ml_right_leg_mm_1]] | [[I don’t want this. But if the Queen demands it, so be it.|right_leg_ml_right_leg_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. The first transformation is never about the body it is about your relationship with what you think it means. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…Right.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This draught won’t sculpt breasts or enchant curves. Not yet. All it will do is ask your chest to let go to ease its grip on a shape that has served you until now. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So it’ll make me weaker?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ml_right_leg_mm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> No. But it will unfasten the pride your muscles have worn like armor. Not every kind of strength shows in bulk. Sometimes it shows in surrender. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You sound like a philosopher.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> When you’ve brewed potions that change bones and bend voices, you learn to respect the philosophy of flesh. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This will taste like mint, metal, and maybe… regret. You may feel your chest ache for its former form. That’s normal. Muscles remember. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ml_right_leg_mm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>How fast will it work?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Gradually. Within the hour, the tautness in your chest will soften. Your posture will shift. Clothes will feel looser. And you may… feel exposed. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You mean… like I’m losing something?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You are. But you’re not being robbed. You are offering it, in exchange for something else. That’s what every step in magic is a trade, not a theft. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ml_right_leg_mm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>…It’s cold.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Good. That means it’s working. The swelling in your chest will ease first. That defined line under your collarbone? It’ll blur. Pectorals will yield to smoother flesh. Your heart will beat more openly, less behind armor. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…It feels strange already. Like I’ve been… unmade a little.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That is the beginning, Caelan. To become what you must be, you first must shed what you are. Do not fear the unmaking fear the refusal to remake. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ml_right_leg_mm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>What if I don’t want to be remade? What if I still want to be myself?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Then you will have a long and difficult path ahead. This magic is ancient and patient; it does not rush. But it does not forgive hesitation forever. You will be given choices, but know this every choice shapes not just your body, but your soul. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>How do I keep hold of myself if I’m changing so much?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> By remembering who you are beyond flesh and bone. You are Caelan, child of Queen Alinora and Therion. You carry their blood and their will. This transformation is not erasure, but evolution. The question is will you embrace it, or resist until the end? <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ml_right_leg_mm_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And if I resist? Will it hurt more?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Magic follows intent as much as matter. Resistance will make the process slower, more painful, more uncertain. Surrender brings grace; defiance brings struggle. The choice is yours always. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…And what if I surrender but lose myself?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Then you will find a new self one forged in fire and rebirth. That self may be unfamiliar, but it will be yours in ways you cannot yet imagine. Trust the process, Caelan. The queen trusts you. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ml_right_leg_mm_7]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I hope I can live up to that trust.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You already have. Now, drink. Let the first step begin. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right leg|use_success_potion_create_right_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to regain the strength I had before.|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ml_1]] | [[I’m not sure this is right, but I’ll try.|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ml_1]] | [[I refuse to lose my strength any longer.|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ml_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. This reversal is not merely physical it's a reclaiming of what once was, a renewal of power you’ve allowed to wane. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…Understood.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This draught will not bulk you up overnight, but it will call your muscles back to life. It asks your leg to remember its former strength, to rebuild fibers it once held tightly. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So it will make me stronger?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ml_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Yes. But with strength comes responsibility. You will regain the muscle that bore your burdens, but also the rigidity and armor that came with it. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You speak as though this is a burden.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Strength is a double-edged sword. It protects, but it can also confine. To wield it well requires wisdom as much as power. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This potion tastes of iron, earth, and resolve. You may feel a sudden rush of heat, a tightening of sinews and veins. It is your body waking from its softer state. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ml_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>How quickly will it take hold?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Within the hour, your leg will thicken, muscles contracting and swelling. Movement will feel more forceful, weightier. But with that, a sense of rawness may surface new strength comes with strain. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It sounds painful.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Transformation always challenges the body and mind. You may feel tightness or soreness as muscle reshapes. But it is a sign of progress your leg reawakening to its true power. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ml_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I’m afraid of becoming too rigid, too unyielding.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That is the nature of strength sometimes it hardens you, sometimes it frees you. The choice to balance it wisely rests with you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I lose some of the grace I’ve gained?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Grace and strength can coexist, but often in tension. Your movement may become less fluid, but more purposeful. It’s a trade-off you must consider carefully. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ml_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Will this reversal undo the progress I’ve made mentally?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Body and mind are intertwined. As your form hardens, your thoughts may shift, perhaps toward fierceness and resolve. It is not a loss only a different path. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I resist this change?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Resistance will slow the process and make it harsher. But your will is strong if you choose this, you must embrace it fully. Half measures bring only pain. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ml_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>…I hope I am ready.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You are more ready than you realize. Drink now, and reclaim your strength. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right leg|use_success_potion_create_right_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want to regain more strength and power.|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ms_1]] | [[I’m hesitant, but I will try to accept it.|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ms_1]] | [[I refuse to remain in this weaker state any longer.|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. This potion calls upon your leg to reclaim its fuller strength. The subtle tone you’ve gained will shift toward the resolute muscle you once bore. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…I see.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You will feel a tightening, a gathering of power beneath the skin, as your leg begins to thicken and bulk. This strength is vital for the demands you will face. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I lose the smoothness I’ve started to enjoy?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ms_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Some softness will give way, yes. But the new firmness will lend you steadiness and endurance. There is honor in the balance of strength and grace. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This feels like stepping backward.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> It is a return, not a regression. Strength and agility coexist you are rediscovering a part of yourself you once knew well. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> The taste is earthier this time like fresh soil after rain, with a hint of iron. It may bring a warm pulse through your leg, a sign muscles waking from rest. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ms_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>How long will the changes take?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Within the hour, your leg will gain thickness and firmness. Movement may feel heavier but more purposeful. You may notice a new sense of grounding. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I resist the changes?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Resistance will prolong discomfort and uncertainty. Embrace the change fully, and your body will thank you. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_mm_right_leg_ms_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I’m afraid of losing the elegance I’m growing into.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Strength need not erase elegance it can enhance it when balanced wisely. This is a step toward resilience, not forsaking grace. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I hope I am ready.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You are ready. Drink, and welcome the power returning to your frame. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right leg|use_success_potion_create_right_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I am ready to soften and refine, to walk more lightly.|right_leg_ms_right_leg_mm_1]] | [[I don’t know if I want this change, but I’ll try.|right_leg_ms_right_leg_mm_1]] | [[I don’t want to lose any more strength, but I’ll endure it.|right_leg_ms_right_leg_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. This potion will continue the transformation, softening the remaining bulk of your right leg. Strength remains, but elegance will begin to weave into your form. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…I understand.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> The muscles will relax, becoming leaner and more toned. You will still retain enough strength for your training, but the rough edges will smooth away. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will it feel weak?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ms_right_leg_mm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Not weak, but more balanced. There is power in grace as much as in brute strength. You are learning to carry yourself differently. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels like losing part of myself.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Change always feels like loss before it becomes gain. You are becoming something new, something equally worthy. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This potion tastes of soft herbs and cool water, with a faint trace of iron. You may feel a gentle pulse in your leg as the muscles relax and reshape. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ms_right_leg_mm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>How soon will the change be noticeable?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Within the hour, you will feel your leg grow lighter, your movements more fluid. The bulk will decrease, replaced by a leaner strength. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I resist the changes?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Resistance only slows progress and increases discomfort. Trust the process, and your body will adapt gracefully. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ms_right_leg_mm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I’m afraid of what this means.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Fear is natural, but do not let it chain you. You are stepping into a new role, with new strengths. Embrace it fully. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I hope I can walk this path well.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You will. Drink now, and let the change begin. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right leg|use_success_potion_create_right_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I am ready to embrace this new form and the changes it will bring.|right_leg_ms_right_leg_fs_1]] | [[I am uncertain, but I will try to accept what must be.|right_leg_ms_right_leg_fs_1]] | [[I don’t want to lose my strength or identity, but I will endure this.|right_leg_ms_right_leg_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. Today, the magic you drink will mark a profound turning point. The muscles that have long defined your leg will soften into gentle curves and smooth skin. You will begin to carry the subtle grace of femininity. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…This feels different from before.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Indeed. This is not merely lessening strength or tone this is a reweaving of your very form. The boundaries between muscle and flesh will blur, and a new shape will take root. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I lose the power I’ve worked for?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ms_right_leg_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Power will change, but it will not disappear. Strength manifests in many forms sometimes in muscle, sometimes in presence, in balance, in elegance. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel… warmth spreading already.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That is the magic flowing, reshaping your flesh and bone. Your leg will grow smoother, softer to the touch, with gentle curves hinting at the new identity you are forging. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This potion tastes of sweet herbs and soft honey, with a whisper of jasmine. Expect a sensation of deep warmth and gentle pressure as your leg reshapes. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ms_right_leg_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>How quickly will I notice the change?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Within the hour, you will feel your leg relax and reshape. The lines of muscle will soften; the skin will smooth and bloom with subtle curves. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I resist the change?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Resistance will make the magic harder to bear. Surrender to the transformation, and your body will adapt with grace and strength in new ways. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_ms_right_leg_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s difficult to imagine myself like this.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Every transformation is a step into the unknown. But with each step, you grow closer to the queen you are destined to become. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I hope I can walk this path well.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You will. Drink deeply, and let your new form begin to blossom. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right leg|use_success_potion_create_right_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I am ready to reclaim my former strength and identity.|right_leg_fs_right_leg_ms_1]] | [[I feel uncertain, but I will try to accept this change.|right_leg_fs_right_leg_ms_1]] | [[I don’t want to lose the grace I’ve gained, but I will endure this.|right_leg_fs_right_leg_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. Today, the magic you drink will mark a profound turning point the gentle curves of your leg will give way to renewed muscle and definition. You will reclaim strength and tone as your form shifts toward the masculine. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…This feels different from before.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Indeed. This is not simply regaining muscle it is a reweaving of your very form. The softness of flesh will yield to muscle and sinew once more, reshaping your leg with new power. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I lose the grace I’ve developed?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fs_right_leg_ms_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Grace will change, but it will not vanish. Strength manifests in many ways sometimes in elegance, sometimes in raw power. Both are valuable. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel… a coolness spreading already.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That is the magic flowing, reshaping your flesh and bone. Your leg will grow firmer, muscles tightening, returning to the stronger contours you once knew. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> This potion tastes of sharp herbs and iron, with a whisper of cedar. Expect a sensation of cool pressure and tightening as your leg reshapes. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fs_right_leg_ms_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>How quickly will I notice the change?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Within the hour, you will feel your leg firm up and reshape. The soft curves will harden; muscle will thicken and become more defined. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I resist the change?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Resistance will make the magic harder to bear. Surrender to the transformation, and your body will adapt with renewed strength and vigor. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fs_right_leg_ms_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>It’s difficult to imagine myself like this.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Every transformation is a step into the unknown. But with each step, you grow closer to the person you choose to be. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I hope I can walk this path well.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You will. Drink deeply, and let your new form begin to strengthen. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right leg|use_success_potion_create_right_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready to deepen this change and embrace a fuller femininity.|right_leg_fs_right_leg_fm_1]] | [[I’m uncertain, but I will try to accept whatever comes.|right_leg_fs_right_leg_fm_1]] | [[I’m wary of losing myself, but I’ll endure this for the sake of the crown.|right_leg_fs_right_leg_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. This potion will deepen the transformation begun your right leg will gain softer curves, smoother skin, and a structure more suited for fluid, graceful motion. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels like the change will be more than skin deep.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Indeed. This stage shapes not just flesh but how your body moves and carries itself the very essence of feminine poise. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will this make me feel more... exposed?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fs_right_leg_fm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Perhaps. The subtlety of muscle will give way to vulnerability in softness. But vulnerability is a kind of strength, especially for a queen. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The warmth in my leg is rising already.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That is the magic taking root reshaping muscle into gentle curves, rough skin into smooth, supple flesh. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> The taste of this potion is sweet herbs with a whisper of wildflowers delicate but powerful. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fs_right_leg_fm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>How soon will I notice the difference?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Within the hour, you’ll feel your leg shifting movements lighter, the shape fuller and more elegant. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if I resist the change?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Resistance only prolongs discomfort. Allow the magic to flow it serves the harmony of your new form. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fs_right_leg_fm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>This is harder than I imagined.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Every transformation tests you. But embracing it will reveal new strength in your femininity. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I hope I can move gracefully with this change.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You will. Drink the potion, and let your right leg blossom into fuller, more fluid grace. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right leg|use_success_potion_create_right_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I accept the return to a subtler femininity.|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fs_1]] | [[I’m hesitant, but I’ll let the magic do its work.|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fs_1]] | [[I don’t want to lose this grace, but I’ll endure whatever comes.|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Come forward, Caelan. Today’s potion will ease back the deeper curves, softening the pronounced femininity of your leg into a subtler, lighter form. Your movement will retain grace but with less bloom a return to a gentler, simpler shape. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…It feels like stepping back after progress.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Transformation is not always a straight path forward. Sometimes we must retreat to better understand the strength in simpler forms. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I lose the balance and beauty I gained?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Balance remains, though more refined. Beauty is not only in depth but in subtlety. This step softens your leg without sacrificing its grace. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>The warmth in my leg is fading already.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> That signals the magic reshaping your flesh. The pronounced curves will ease, the skin’s texture will lighten a delicate shift back to gentler contours. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Expect a taste like sweet herbs with a faint trace of wildflowers gentle yet potent. <</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>How soon will I feel the difference?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Within the hour, the curves will soften and your leg will carry itself with a lighter touch. Movements will become more fluid but less pronounced. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>If I resist this, what then?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Resistance will delay the change and make it more uncomfortable. Let the magic flow freely it serves your body’s harmony. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This is hard to accept.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Every transformation, forward or back, teaches us something about ourselves. Embrace it, and you will find strength even in softness. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I hope I can move with this new form gracefully.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You will. Drink the potion, and your leg will begin to bloom into gentler grace once more. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right leg|use_success_potion_create_right_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve awaited this moment. Let the final step refine me fully.|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fl_1]] | [[I’m nervous, but I know I must see this through.|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fl_1]] | [[Even if this changes me beyond recognition, I will endure it for the kingdom.|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fl_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. This last potion is unlike any before it will perfect your leg’s transformation, weaving strength and elegance into a single, flowing form. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels like the end of a long path... but also like a new beginning.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Precisely. Transformation is both an ending and a dawn. Your right leg will now carry the full grace and poise expected of a queen. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I feel different when I walk? More... aware?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fl_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Yes. The magic sharpens your senses, harmonizing muscle and bone with a dancer’s precision. Every step will feel natural, balanced, and fluid. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What about the strength? Will it be lost entirely?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Not lost, refined. Femininity is strength in a different form subtle, enduring, and graceful. Your leg will support you with quiet power, not blunt force. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can feel it already warmth, lightness, and... something like pride.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fl_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Good. That pride is yours to claim the pride of becoming who you are meant to be. The curves, the softness, the grace they are all part of your new strength. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This change... it feels almost like magic itself has rewritten my body’s story.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Magic is the language of change, Caelan. Your body is a story written in flesh and bone, and now it tells a tale of transformation and power intertwined. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What happens after this session? Will I need to relearn how to move?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fm_right_leg_fl_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> You will. But relearning is growth. Your body will guide you, teaching new rhythms and balances a dance of strength and femininity. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I am ready to embrace this final step, no matter what it means.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Then drink, and let the last threads of transformation weave their perfect pattern into your form. Your journey to becoming queen continues, stronger and more beautiful than ever. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right leg|use_success_potion_create_right_leg]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I accept this step back. Sometimes strength lies in returning to what is simpler.|right_leg_fl_right_leg_fm_1]] | [[I’m hesitant to lose this final grace... but I trust your guidance.|right_leg_fl_right_leg_fm_1]] | [[I may not want this change, but I will endure it for the path ahead.|right_leg_fl_right_leg_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Step forward, Caelan. This potion will gently undo the last touches of your leg’s femininity softening and restoring balance where once there was pronounced elegance. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels like letting go of something precious... but maybe it’s necessary.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Transformation is never just gaining. Sometimes it requires release a reshaping, a return to steadiness. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I lose the strength that came with this grace?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fl_right_leg_fm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Not lost, shifted. The power of subtlety replaces the flair of refined elegance. Your leg will carry strength in a quieter, steadier form. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I can already feel the curves softening, the sharpness fading.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> Yes. The magic is easing your muscles and bones back toward a moderate shape less striking, but no less vital. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange... as if I’m balancing between two identities.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fl_right_leg_fm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> That balance is your strength. It reminds you of the fluidity of form and self neither wholly one nor the other, but a path between. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will my movements change much after this?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> You will move with a steadier rhythm. The dance of grace will become simpler, grounded like walking on firm earth after floating on air. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I am ready to embrace this change, even if it feels like a loss.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|right_leg_fl_right_leg_fm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Then drink deeply, Caelan. The unmaking is as vital as the making. Your journey continues, balanced between strength and softness. <</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my right leg|use_success_potion_create_right_leg]] <>

<> <<set $curr_potion = setup.torso_forward_potions>> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $curr_potion = setup.torso_reverse_potions>> <</if>> <<set $curr_potion_selected = $curr_potion[$userBody.torso.orig_body]>> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if $curr_potion_selected == undefined>> You do not have any torso potions available for your current torso version to transform. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody.torso, null, 2)>></pre> <pre><<= JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userItems, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredient = {}>> ✦ Ancient Alchemical Recipe ✦ Potion: <<=$curr_potion_selected.name>> Purpose: <<=$curr_potion_selected.purpose>> 🜃 Ingredients: <ol> <<for _item, _value range $curr_potion_selected.ingredients>> <li><<=$userItems[_item].name>>: _value <<=$userItems[_item].unit>></li> <<set $ingredient[_item] = {amount: $userItems[_item].amount, needed: _value, unit: $userItems[_item].unit}>> <</for>> </ol> <<set _potion = $curr_potion_selected>> /* <<set $currentObjectives = 'Create Potion: ' + _potion.name + '. Ingredients are: '>> <<for _item, _value range _potion.ingredients>> <<set $currentObjectives += $userItems[_item].name + ': ' + _value + ' ' + $userItems[_item].unit + ', '>> <</for>> <<replace "#objectives-text" t8n>> <<=$currentObjectives>> <</replace>> */ ⤐ Function: <<=$curr_potion_selected.function>> ⚠ Side Effects: <<=$curr_potion_selected.sideEffects>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($ingredient, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $ingredinetAvailable = true>> <<for _key, _data range $ingredient>> <<if $ingredient[_key].amount < $ingredient[_key].needed>> You do not have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, but you have only <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. <<set $ingredinetAvailable = false>> <<else>> You have enough <<=$userItems[_key].name>>. You need <<=$ingredient[_key].needed>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>, you have <<=$ingredient[_key].amount>> <<=$userItems[_key].unit>>. It is more than enough!! <</if>> <</for>> <<if $currentArc["main_arc"] == 3>> <<link "Refer Another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<elseif $ingredinetAvailable>> You have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Make Potion">><<goto "potion_create_torso">><</link>> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <<else>> You do not have all the ingredients needed to make the potion. <<link "Leave Potion Scroll Selection">><<goto "veil_tower">><</link>> | <<link "Leave Veil Tower">><<goto "castle_map_back_select">><</link>> | <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> <</if>> <<set $potion = $curr_potion_selected>> <<set $potionInventory = {}>> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] = 0>> <</for>> <</if>> <>

<> 🧪 Assembling: <<=$potion.name>> Match the exact ingredients to brew this potion: <div class="item-grid"> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div class="item-card"> <<capture _item>> [img[$userItems[_item].img]] <<set $reverse_passage_ingredient = "potion_create_torso">> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> <div class="ingredient_details"><<link "Details">><<set $selectedIngredient = _item>><<goto "IngredientDetail">><</link>></div> <</capture>> </div> <</for>> </div> <<for _item, _needed range $potion.ingredients>> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <<=$userItems[_item].name>> (You have: <<=$userItems[_item].amount>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>>) Needed: <<=_needed>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> | Added: <<=$potionInventory[_item]>> <<=$userItems[_item].unit>> <<if $userItems[_item].amount > 0>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_torso">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_torso">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<capture _item>> <<set $potion_add = "+" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_torso">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] > 0>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount>> <<goto "potion_create_torso">> <</link>> <</capture>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*2 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*2>> <<goto "potion_create_torso">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] >= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $potion_add = "-" + $userItems[_item].min_amount*5 + " " + $userItems[_item].unit>> <<capture _item>> <<link $potion_add>> <<set $potionInventory[_item] -= $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $userItems[_item].min_amount*5>> <<goto "potion_create_torso">> <</link>> <</capture>> <</if>> <</if>> </div> <</for>> <<set $_matches = true>> <<for _item, _data range $potion.ingredients>> <<if $potionInventory[_item] != $potion.ingredients[_item]>> <<set $_matches = false>> <</if>> <</for>> <<if $_matches>> ✅ All ingredients matched perfectly. Ready to brew! <<link "Brew Potion">> <<goto "brew_success_potion_create_torso">> <</link>> <</if>> <<if not $_matches>> ⚠ Ingredient quantities do not match the recipe. Adjust to proceed. <</if>> <<link "Cancel">> <<for _item, _data range $potionInventory>> <<set $userItems[_item].amount += $potionInventory[_item]>> <</for>> <<goto "potion_lab">> <</link>> <>

<> <<set $_i to random(1, 4)>> <<set $img_path = "potion/potion_"+$_i +".gif">> <div style="text-align: center; "><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;" @src="setup.ImagePath+$img_path"></div> /* <pre><<=JSON.stringify($curr_potion_selected, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $next_passage = "torso_"+$curr_potion_selected.from +"_"+ "torso_" + $curr_potion_selected.to>> [[Move Forth|$next_passage]] <>

<> <<if State.variables.direction == "reverse">> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance += 2.5>> <<else>> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance -= 2.5>> <</if>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $userBody.left_leg.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.right_leg.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.left_hand.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.right_hand.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.head.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.crotch.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.chest.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.hair.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.top_underwear.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.bottom_underwear.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.top_wear.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.bottom_wear.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $userBody.torso.orig_body = $curr_potion_selected.to>> <<set $image_key_torso_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + "torso" + ".png">> <<set $image_key_left_leg_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.curr_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.torso.curr_body + "_" + "left_leg" + ".png">> <<set $image_key_right_leg_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.curr_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.torso.curr_body + "_" + "right_leg" + ".png">> <<set $image_key_left_hand_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.curr_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.torso.curr_body + "_" + "left_hand" + ".png">> <<set $image_key_right_hand_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.curr_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.torso.curr_body + "_" + "right_hand" + ".png">> <<set $image_key_head_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.head.curr_head + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.head.curr_head + "_" + "head" + ".png">> <<set $image_key_torso_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + "torso" + ".png">> <<set $image_key_crotch_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.crotch.curr_crotch + ".png">> <<set $image_key_chest_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.chest.curr_chest + ".png">> <<set $image_key_hair_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.head.curr_head + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.head.curr_head + "_" + $userBody.hair.curr_hair + ".png">> <<if $userBody.top_underwear.curr_top_underwear != "">> <<set $image_key_top_underwear_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.top_underwear.curr_top_underwear + ".png">> <<else>> <<set $image_key_top_underwear_path = "">> <</if>> <<if $userBody.bottom_underwear.curr_bottom_underwear != "">> <<set $image_key_bottom_underwear_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" +$userBody.bottom_underwear.curr_bottom_underwear + ".png">> <<else>> <<set $image_key_bottom_underwear_path = "">> <</if>> <<if $userBody.top_wear.curr_top_wea != "">> <<set $image_key_top_wear_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.top_wear.curr_top_wear + ".png">> <<else>> <<set $image_key_top_wear_path = "">> <</if>> <<if $userBody.bottom_wear.curr_bottom_wear != "">> <<set $image_key_bottom_wear_path = "mc/figure/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "/" + $userBody.torso.orig_body + "_" + $userBody.bottom_wear.curr_bottom_wear + ".png">> <<else>> <<set $image_key_bottom_wear_path = "">> <</if>> <<set $userBody.torso.img = $image_key_torso_path>> <<set $userBody.left_leg.img = $image_key_left_leg_path>> <<set $userBody.right_leg.img = $image_key_right_leg_path>> <<set $userBody.left_hand.img = $image_key_left_hand_path>> <<set $userBody.right_hand.img = $image_key_right_hand_path>> <<set $userBody.head.img = $image_key_head_path>> <<set $userBody.torso.img = $image_key_torso_path>> <<set $userBody.crotch.img = $image_key_crotch_path>> <<set $userBody.chest.img = $image_key_chest_path>> <<set $userBody.hair.img = $image_key_hair_path>> <<set $userBody.top_underwear.img = $image_key_top_underwear_path>> <<set $userBody.bottom_underwear.img = $image_key_bottom_underwear_path>> <<set $userBody.top_wear.img = $image_key_top_wear_path>> <<set $userBody.top_underwear.img = $image_key_bottom_wear_path>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody, null, 2)>></pre> */ <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="change_show torso">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.torso.img]]</div> <div class="change_show head">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.head.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_hand.img]]</div> <div class="change_show left_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show right_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_leg.img]]</div> <div class="change_show chest">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.chest.img]]</div> <div class="change_show crotch">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.crotch.img]]</div> <div class="change_show hair">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.hair.img]]</div> </div> <<link "Try another Potion Scroll">><<goto "potion_lab">><</link>> | [[Leave Veil Tower|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready. Let’s begin this transformation|torso_ml_torso_mm_1]] | [[…I still don’t know if this is right, but I’ll go through with it… for the kingdom.|torso_ml_torso_mm_1]] | [[Don’t expect me to smile while you change me. I didn’t ask for this.|torso_ml_torso_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Welcome, Caelan. I see you’ve made your decision. However difficult, however noble or simply inevitable. This is the first of many transformations… and it begins not with grand spectacle, but with subtle change.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>...So this is it. My body starts turning into something else. Into someone else.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No, not someone else. Into yourself, reimagined. You may feel disoriented, even betrayed by your own skin. But transformation is not loss it is refinement. The steel remains... we merely reshape the blade.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I still feel like this body is part of who I am. The strength, the width of my shoulders I've trained with Sir Aldric since I was a boy. This doesn’t just vanish.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ml_torso_mm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And it shouldn’t. But strength has many forms, my prince. Some visible, some not. What you’ve learned in battle will live in your spine, in your balance. Even as your shape softens, your core your discipline remains. This potion doesn’t erase you; it invites the rest of you forward.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And yet, my waist will shrink, my bones realign, and I’ll lose the body I’ve known since childhood.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. The potion guides your form into a silhouette that suits the queen you are becoming. Narrower flanks, a taper of the torso, a gentler rise at the chest. The beginning of space for gowns and corsets, for gestures to flow rather than clash.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Sounds like I’m being molded into a dress form.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ml_torso_mm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Perhaps. Or perhaps into a vessel of power in a world that kneels before beauty, grace, and presence. Remember, in Velmoria, the queen’s body is not just adorned it commands attention, redirects courtly currents, holds the eye of friend and rival alike.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And this potion how does it actually work? I thought transformation was violent. This sounds… poetic.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Most physical changes occur beneath the surface first. This first draft targets the subdermal tissue, loosening muscle memory, guiding the growth plates of the ribs inward. Your abdomen will become more supple, while the dorsal spine will slowly arch to allow for a regal posture. Your internal balance will shift. It is not instant it will take days but the shift begins the moment the potion touches your tongue.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And it won’t hurt?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ml_torso_mm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Not in the way a blade hurts. You may feel warmth then pressure. A pulling sensation at your waist. Your breath may catch as your diaphragm realigns. Some describe it as... being unwound and re-knotted with silken thread.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>…Do you remember everyone you’ve done this to?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. Every one of them. Some wept. Some laughed. One threw the vial at my head. But in time, they each saw their reflection change and saw strength where they feared loss. And not all ended the same. Some embraced womanhood. Others found balance. A few… resisted until the very end. You will write your own path through this.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What happens after I drink it?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ml_torso_mm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You lie back on the velvet table. I will cast a stabilizing ward to guide the changes. You may feel dizzy or flushed. By the next morning, you will begin to notice the way your tunic hangs differently. Your waistline will inch inward. Breathing may feel lighter or stranger. That will be the first sign.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I suppose there’s no turning back?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This potion moves only forward. But you, Caelan… you have choices. You can slow the process. You can guide its direction. And more than anything you can define what womanhood means to you. Drink when you’re ready.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my torso|use_success_potion_create_torso]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[This is what I want. I feel more like myself this way.|torso_mm_torso_ml_1]] | [[…I don’t know if this is the right path either. But I can’t keep pretending.|torso_mm_torso_ml_1]] | [[I won’t let them carve me into a lie. Give me back what’s mine.|torso_mm_torso_ml_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve come to step backward, Caelan. Not many do. But I will not stop you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I feel like I’m floating in someone else’s body. Like silk is being draped over a frame that was built for steel. I need to feel real again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I understand. The body you were born into was no mistake. Neither is the one offered to you now. But you are entitled to reclaim what grounds you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then let’s stop talking and begin. I want my strength back. My shape. My center.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_mm_torso_ml_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This draft is different. Reversal is heavier magic blunt, raw, and less graceful. It strengthens bone density, reverses the contractions of the waistline, and re-engages your abdominal wall. You’ll feel your frame stretch outward, your breath deepen, your center re-anchor.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>That’s what I need. To feel anchored again. To feel like I’m not shrinking.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>But know this: the magic does not forget. It will resist being unwoven. There may be pain spasms in your lower spine, tightness in the ribs as they flare outward. And the more you transform back and forth, the harder it becomes to remain whole. Your body will carry echoes of each shape.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this is my last clear fork in the road?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_mm_torso_ml_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. If you drink this, it won’t close the path forward entirely, but it will make every future step slower... heavier. The body will grow stubborn. It will begin to choose sides for you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve felt off-balance since I began changing. As if my reflection belongs to someone I don’t recognize. This whatever the cost will let me feel like myself again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then may you drink with clarity, not anger. And remember, this shape your shape is not weakness. Nor is the other strength. There is only your truth. Let it root deeply.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my torso|use_success_potion_create_torso]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’ve come this far... and I think I’m starting to understand. Let's keep going.|torso_mm_torso_ms_1]] | [[I still don’t know how to feel about this... but I’m here.|torso_mm_torso_ms_1]] | [[Don’t mistake my presence for surrender. I just want to get this over with.|torso_mm_torso_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve returned for the second draught. The change will deepen now. What was a whisper in your bones will begin to speak clearly in your frame.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Everything already feels... looser. Lighter, somehow. My tunics don’t sit the same. I catch myself moving differently, even when I don’t mean to.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The body remembers shape like a song, Caelan. Even as you change, it sings back what it was. But the new melody is forming now. This potion will quiet more of the old notes.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I woke up with soreness along my ribs this morning. Like something was pressing inward.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_mm_torso_ms_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That’s natural. The broad structure of a prince’s ribcage is beginning to yield to narrow. Your lungs will adjust. Breathing may feel different. Lighter, perhaps. Or tight at first. These are small shifts with great purpose.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I wanted to stop?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You may always stop. I will never bind your will. But transformation is not just magic, Caelan. It is motion. And motion builds momentum. The more steps you take, the more your body will forget the stillness of its old form. But nothing is irreversible until you claim it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Have others gone back?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_mm_torso_ms_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Some have. Most only for a time. Many come to realize that the new form did not strip them of self it gave them a canvas they never knew they needed. Others find a middle ground, neither prince nor princess, but something singular.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don't know what I’ll be. I only know I’m not who I was. Not anymore.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you are exactly where you must be. Unfinished. Becoming. Let the potion guide you not command you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>This one smells... softer than the last.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_mm_torso_ms_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>It works deeper, more subtly. It will soften the muscle definition at your sides and flatten the hard edges of your torso. The waistline will slip inward more noticeably now. You may feel a tingling under your skin, as if your frame is reshaping itself from within.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s warm. And... sweet?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>A touch of starblossom to ease the ache. You’ll feel it reach your bones within the hour. You may ache under your arms, just beneath the ribs. That is the narrowing process. I’ve cast a binding glyph over your spine to ease the shift. It will align your posture toward a more upright, flowing center.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Is that why I feel like I’m standing straighter lately? My shoulders don’t want to hunch forward anymore.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_mm_torso_ms_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Precisely. You’re already adapting. Posture is more than physical it’s a projection of self. You are beginning to move like a queen, Caelan. Even if your heart still clings to the sword.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What if part of me still wants that sword?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then part of you shall keep it. Womanhood is no exile from strength. You are not losing power you are reshaping its language. And soon, the world will listen.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my torso|use_success_potion_create_torso]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I want this. I need to feel like myself again.|torso_ms_torso_mm_1]] | [[I don’t know if this is right… but I can’t ignore this pull.|torso_ms_torso_mm_1]] | [[This whole queen path was a mistake. Let’s start fixing it.|torso_ms_torso_mm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>So... you return, seeking the path behind you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Everything’s been changing so fast. My body… my mind… even the way people look at me. I just I need to slow it down. Maybe even backtrack a little.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Backtrack, or reclaim?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I want to feel strong again. Solid. Like I used to. I know that might not be the ‘queenly’ thing to say, but <</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ms_torso_mm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>There is no single shape to strength, Caelan. But there is value in clarity. This potion will call back what’s been softened. Your ribs will expand slightly. Your waist will tighten with muscle again. Your breath may feel heavier, but fuller. You’ll feel your center brace itself like the girding of a castle wall.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Does it… undo everything?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. This will not make you who you were it will remind you of what still remains. You are not erasing the queen within you. You are inviting the prince back to speak.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And what if I change my mind again?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ms_torso_mm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then you return again. As many times as it takes. That is the shape of becoming not a line, but a spiral.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You always speak in riddles.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And yet you always understand me by the end of the session.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This one may ache more than the others. Reclaiming muscle, bone width, and core tone takes more from the body than surrendering it. You’ll feel pressure along your ribcage, possibly in your lower back. If your tunics tighten tomorrow, that is no illusion.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ms_torso_mm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Smells like pepper and iron. Very different from before.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>A warrior’s blend. It’s brewed with wolvenroot and spiced sinew. You’ll feel your lungs expand within an hour. Stretch often. Breathe deeply. Your gait will shift heavier, more grounded. Less glide, more march.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Burns going down.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Reforging always does.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ms_torso_mm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>You think I’m running away?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I think you’re gathering pieces. No one becomes whole by choosing only one side. You carry both queen and warrior. Drink again, if you must. And when you walk from this chamber, walk like both still belong to you.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my torso|use_success_potion_create_torso]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I’m ready. Whatever I am becoming… I want to meet her.|torso_ms_torso_fs_1]] | [[I don’t know if I can do this… but I’m here.|torso_ms_torso_fs_1]] | [[Let’s get this over with. Don’t expect a smile from me.|torso_ms_torso_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve arrived at a threshold today, my prince… or perhaps, soon no longer a prince.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You say that like it's something I should be proud of.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Not proud. Not ashamed, either. Simply aware. Today is not a step it is a crossing. The potion will carry you into the space between. Neither truly man, nor fully woman. It's not a disguise, but a state of truth. You ready?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What does it feel like?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ms_torso_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Like a conversation between two halves of your soul. At first, there's confusion. A twist along your spine, a gentle pull beneath the ribs. Then you’ll feel your center tilt. The waist will draw in, not sharply but enough that your frame begins to suggest, not declare.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And my hips?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>They begin to open. Not like a sculptor with a hammer, but a painter with a brush. The bones do not break. They breathe wider.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Will I still look like myself?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ms_torso_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You will look like someone who includes who you were. But no… not quite the same. Others may glance at you and pause. Not in doubt just in awe.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Then I suppose I should get used to being stared at.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Royalty always is. You’ll learn to wield it.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This brew is gentler than some, but its magic is precise. You may feel a tightening in your abdomen, a strange hollowness just beneath your ribs. Your breathing might shift as the shape of your torso changes. Drink slowly, and sit after.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ms_torso_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Does this… does this make me a woman?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. It makes you closer to one. And farther from the boy the world demanded you be. What comes next is not womanhood but the echo of her first footsteps in your body.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It tastes like... honey and steel.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Moonflower and powdered starlace. Mixed with root iron from the deep mines. It was crafted to hold opposites in harmony. As must you.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ms_torso_fs_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I can feel it. My center is... changing. Like I’m being redrawn from the spine outward.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That is exactly what’s happening. The waist begins to tuck inward. Not by compression, but realignment. The muscles soften, slightly. The hips respond by shifting ever so subtly almost imperceptible at first.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. Not painful… but like I’m stepping into someone else’s skin.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No, Caelan. You’re shedding what never truly fit and stepping into a skin that has always waited for you.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_ms_torso_fs_6]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And if I stop here?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you walk the world as something rare. Neither queen nor prince, but a sovereign of your own design. It is not weakness to choose the middle. It is power to stand within it.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I thought I’d feel fear. But this… it feels like peace. Like I’ve stopped fighting something that’s been inside me for years.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you are not crossing a line, Caelan. You are finally walking it.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my torso|use_success_potion_create_torso]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I need to feel solid again. I want to remember who I was.|torso_fs_torso_ms_1]] | [[This feels like going backward… but maybe that’s what I need.|torso_fs_torso_ms_1]] | [[I’m not becoming a symbol for anyone. I’ll reclaim what’s mine.|torso_fs_torso_ms_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’re here. So… you’ve chosen to slow the river and walk back along its bank.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Maybe I’ve drifted too far. Or maybe I just want to see what still fits.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This isn’t failure, Caelan. It’s clarity. Even a queen must know how to retreat wisely.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s not that I regret it. Just… the curve of my waist, the tilt of my hips it didn’t feel like me. Not today.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fs_torso_ms_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>This brew doesn’t erase. It rebalances. It straightens what had begun to flow. It gives the core a firmer stance, the ribs a bit more space. It’s not about becoming less it’s about becoming different again.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You're always so poetic about bones and guts.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I talk about the body the way you talk about duty. With reverence and grief.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Drink. Slowly. You may feel a tightening in the lower ribs, a mild pressure as your frame asserts itself again. The softness you’ve carried these past days may ebb but the memory of it will not vanish.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fs_torso_ms_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>And if I wanted to stay like this, halfway?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then I would brew you a different tonic. Something that holds the shape between a form both open and defined. But today… you asked for what was before.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Mint and ash. That’s… bold.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The taste of grounding. Earth and will. Fitting.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fs_torso_ms_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>My waist… it’s pulling in tighter. Not narrowing but bracing. It feels… stronger again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The frame returns. Straightens. You’ll feel the tilt of your hips ease, the alignment settle. The softness remains for a time, but the form your form resurfaces with each breath.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I thought I’d feel disappointment. But all I feel is… steadiness.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you are walking your own truth. The potion doesn’t define you. You do.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fs_torso_ms_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>So if I return to F1 again later… you won’t stop me?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I am not here to chain your body. Only to guide it when you call. You may move forward, backward, or sideways and I will craft for you either a crown or a compass.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my torso|use_success_potion_create_torso]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I think I’m ready. It’s strange, but... this feels like becoming something beautiful.|torso_fs_torso_fm_1]] | [[Still not sure what this makes me. But if I’m going forward, let it be with eyes open.|torso_fs_torso_fm_1]] | [[Let’s just get it over with. I’m not made for soft curves and fancy dresses|torso_fs_torso_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Four steps down the path, and still your eyes linger on the door before you enter. That tells me something important, Caelan.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What’s that? That I’m unsure?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. That you’re brave enough to keep returning despite the unknown.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Or foolish enough to keep drinking potions brewed with stardust and powdered coral spine.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And a sliver of dryad root. Can’t forget the drama.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Today’s mixture is more elegant than forceful. Less of a reshaping, more… an invitation to form.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My waist already looks like I’ve worn corsets since birth. What more can it do?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Ah, but it’s not only the waist. It’s the alignment of grace. Your spine will arch slightly, supporting poise. The muscles around your center will shift their memory from power to performance. It’s not about thinness, but balance. Feminine elegance isn’t weak, Caelan. It’s trained.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I’ve started to feel it. The way people look at me in the halls… different. Softer eyes. More questions in their stares.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then you are already becoming real to them in this new form. When a prince walks through the court, he is watched. When a queen-in-the-making walks through the court, she is measured.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I don’t want to be measured like that?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then hold your gaze higher than theirs. There’s power in elegance its own kind. This potion is not submission. It is the posture of command, dressed in silk.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Drink. Slowly. It will settle in the ribs first, coaxing them to draw inward. Then to the muscles of the lower back… a subtle persuasion, not a demand. You may feel heat spreading across your middle and down your flanks.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Does it get easier?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The decisions? Never. The changes? They become familiar. Until one day, they stop feeling like changes at all and simply feel like you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>...It tastes like petals. And ash.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Moonpetal blossom. And a flake of burned ivory a symbolic thread, burned bridges and new forms. Breathe.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s tight… not painful. But present. Like something’s being tugged from the inside.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s the realignment beginning. Your bones will draw closer, the tissue soften just slightly. Your spine is learning a new shape not to bend, but to carry differently.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>You sound like you’re sculpting a statue.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>I am. Only this statue answers back.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Gods… I can feel the valley. The dip it’s like it’s marking me.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It’s claiming your center. The masculine flatness gives way to something neither weak nor strong just graceful. Remember this moment. You’ll feel it in every turn, every bow, every gown you wear.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know what I’m becoming… but it’s hard to look away.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my torso|use_success_potion_create_torso]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[Maybe I leaned too far. Maybe I need to find the middle again.|torso_fm_torso_fs_1]] | [[I don’t like going back… but I’m not sure I can carry all this softness just yet.|torso_fm_torso_fs_1]] | [[They won’t trap me in a corset or expect curtsies today. Let’s undo this fantasy.|torso_fm_torso_fs_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You return… not to advance, but to lessen. I’ll admit, Caelan, that’s rare.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I need to feel… something closer to balance. Something I can still recognize in the mirror.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Recognition is a flickering thing. It changes as you do. Are you sure it’s yourself you’re chasing, and not the comfort of what you once were?<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t know. Maybe both.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fm_torso_fs_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>There is no shame in questioning. Every shape we wear has weight. If the curves grew too loud too soon, then this brew will quiet them for now.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What exactly will it change?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>The pinch in your waist will ease. Your sides will round slightly back into softness not male, not quite female. The subtle arch in your back will level, and your center will carry less ‘song’ and more ‘silence.’ The kind of silence that doesn't declare just waits.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And the court will see that?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fm_torso_fs_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Yes. You may not wear your promise as clearly. But ambiguity can be a powerful mask, too.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It looks duller than the others.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>This one is brewed not to awaken, but to dim. That doesn't mean it's empty. Just subtle.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Ugh. Like old flowers soaked in rain.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fm_torso_fs_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That’s the fennel root. And withering violet petals. They signal to your body to ease its dramatic shapes… to blur, rather than define.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s already happening. The tightness in my waist… it’s slipping. The spine it’s like someone’s unhooking me from inside.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You wore elegance well, but sometimes, we need space between layers of change. You’re not failing, Caelan. You’re pausing.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It feels strange. Not wrong, just… uncertain.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fm_torso_fs_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That’s what F1 is. The liminal shape. Not prince. Not princess. Just possibility.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I want to move forward again later?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then we step with intention. There is no punishment in stepping back. Just as there’s no shame in leaping ahead.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I don’t look like either of them now… the boy I was, or the woman I was becoming.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fm_torso_fs_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>And that, my dear Caelan, can be powerful in itself. Let the world wonder. Let you wonder.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my torso|use_success_potion_create_torso]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[This is the final step. I’m ready. If I am to be a queen, then let my body wear that truth.|torso_fm_torso_fl_1]] | [[So this is what it comes to… a body shaped not for armor, but for lace.|torso_fm_torso_fl_1]] | [[Corsets, gowns, and dainty postures? Fine. Pour the potion but don’t expect me to curtsy.|torso_fm_torso_fl_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>You’ve returned for the final shaping. This time, the potion knows no hesitation. It will curve what’s straight, soften what’s square, and ready your frame for the mantle of royalty.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s hard to believe this is still my body. Every sip pulls me further from the battlefield and closer to… the ballroom.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And why should the ballroom be lesser? Power is not always clenched in fists, Caelan. Sometimes it is wielded from a throne, with gloved hands and veiled smiles.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>But this body was once armor. Now you make it into… a gown rack.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fm_torso_fl_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Not just a rack for silks and stays. A symbol. A declaration. This final form Feminine Level Three is not weakness. It’s a banner. It says, 'I am not a prince hiding in silk I am a queen claiming it.'<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>What exactly will it change?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Your ribcage will narrow further. The waist will cinch in, almost naturally corset-shaped. The line from your shoulder to hip will slope in the manner tailors adore. You’ll be ready to wear gowns that whisper of station and seduction, without a word spoken.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And once it’s done… there’s no mistaking it, is there?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fm_torso_fl_3]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>No. Once this takes hold, no one will look at you and think ‘he.’ They’ll see the heir not as a compromise, but as a woman destined to reign.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>Is that what my mother saw when she made this pact with you?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>She saw your strength and wanted to teach you how to use it in every form. She believes in a ruler who understands both sword and scepter, steel and satin.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It smells sweet. Like lavender before a storm.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fm_torso_fl_4]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Salt and flower. The body remembers battle, even as it bends toward grace.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s… warm. Tight. My ribs feel like they’re being drawn together with string.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s the bone alignment shifting. Your waistline narrows naturally now. It’s not a trick of lacing or illusion this is the shape your body was always ready to hold.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And my spine… it’s pulling straighter. I feel like I’m standing taller, but softer too.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fm_torso_fl_5]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>The potion encourages posture meant for thrones and audiences. You’ll walk like a procession, even alone.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s beautiful. Strange. I used to dread this moment… but now I just feel full. Full of something new.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>You are regal now, in body and bearing. No more halfway. No more waiting. You are corset-ready not because it binds you, but because it frames you.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And if I put armor back on?<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fm_torso_fl_6]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>Then let the enemy fall to their knees before the most dangerous shape of all: a woman who chose her crown and sculpted herself to wear it.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my torso|use_success_potion_create_torso]] <>

<> <div style="text-align: center; width: 95%;"><img style="text-align: center; border-radius: 9px; border: 10px ridge #8b5e3c;width: 95%;" @src="setup.ImagePath+'map/veil_tower_mage_map.png'"></div> <<speech "thalara">>You have brewed the potion. Let me see it first. Caelan Are you ready to start the process...<</speech>> [[I need to take a step back. Too much, too soon. Let me breathe in something simpler.|torso_fl_torso_fm_1]] | [[This feels like undoing progress, but… maybe it's necessary. Maybe I wasn’t ready for the gown.|torso_fl_torso_fm_1]] | [[So what if I’m not ‘corset-perfect’? Let the world deal with a queen who refuses to be laced up.|torso_fl_torso_fm_1]] | <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>So, we ease the grip of elegance today. The body you wore with pride refined, sculpted will step back into something less… ceremonial.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s strange. I thought once I crossed that line once I became her there’d be no going back.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>That’s the myth, isn’t it? That transformation is a one-way street. But no magic I wield is about prisons. It’s about choice.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>I wore that figure like a crown. And yet… it felt heavy. As if I had to walk like a portrait, not a person.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fl_torso_fm_2]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">>That’s because the world demands perfection from women who rule. But power does not always need to be laced at the waist.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>So this… will unlace me?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>It will ease you back to something softer. Still feminine. Still shaped. But not carved like a statue. You’ll move with curve, not edge.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>And it won’t erase everything?<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. You’ll still hold the grace. Just less of the posture, less of the narrow cinch that made every breath feel rehearsed.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fl_torso_fm_3]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>Honestly… I want to breathe again.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Then drink. And let your body remember what it is to move without performance.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>It’s… colder. Less sweet than the last one.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Because it releases. The previous potion constructed this one relaxes.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fl_torso_fm_4]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>My ribs… spreading slightly. Not quite as tight. I can feel the corset lines unwinding in my posture.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>And your spine see how it no longer arches quite so sharply? You’ll still turn heads, Caelan, just without straining to hold every gaze.<</speech>> <<speech "mc">>My waist is still curved, but… it looks more natural. Less drawn. I don’t feel as… poised, but I feel more real.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>Feminine does not always mean fashioned. Sometimes, it simply is. This form? This is the middle path. The honest one.<</speech>> [[Move Forth|torso_fl_torso_fm_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">>I thought stepping back would feel like failing. But… it’s not.<</speech>> <<speech "thalara">>No. It’s understanding. Your body is not a costume. It’s a dialogue. And today, it speaks with a gentler tone.<</speech>> [[I feel the potion working in my torso|use_success_potion_create_torso]] <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Select Body part to focus</h3> <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; max-width: 500px; margin: 0 auto; aspect-ratio: 5 / 5;"> <img src="images/potion/male_female_slect.png" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" /> <svg viewBox="0 0 500 500" preserveAspectRatio="none" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"> <polygon id="left_hand" points="79,284,73,287,67,285,62,277,59,271,59,261,58,248,58,240,58,232,56,219,55,209,56,200,56,189,60,181,63,172,62,160,64,151,69,143,70,132,72,119,76,112,83,107,90,105,97,105,102,107,97,115,93,123,90,133,90,139,93,145,92,158,89,169,85,178,81,185,81,193,81,201,80,208,77,218,74,225,71,235,69,242,70,251,74,256,76,262,76,268,78,275" class="bodypart" data-value="reverse" data-passage="left_hand" /> <polygon id="right_hand" class="bodypart" data-value="reverse" data-passage="right_hand" points="172,104,183,104,192,104,197,108,201,113,205,118,207,125,206,134,206,143,211,150,212,159,213,167,214,174,218,182,220,190,221,201,221,211,220,221,218,232,219,241,218,248,218,256,218,264,217,272,213,279,206,286,199,285,199,277,200,268,201,257,205,250,208,242,205,228,200,217,196,208,196,199,196,188,193,179,188,170,185,162,183,153,183,145,186,136,184,126,180,116,177,110" /> <polygon id="chest" class="bodypart" data-passage="chest" data-value="reverse" points="90,127,94,120,100,113,106,106,113,103,124,103,132,105,138,109,144,104,152,104,159,103,166,103,172,103,174,109,177,113,178,118,181,124,183,130,184,138,180,145,173,150,164,153,152,150,142,145,138,139,133,145,126,148,118,152,108,154,99,151,94,143,90,135" /> <polygon id="head" class="bodypart" data-passage="head" data-value="reverse" points="188,103,181,103,172,102,164,103,156,102,148,103,142,106,137,109,131,107,123,105,115,104,104,106,96,104,89,103,99,97,107,94,114,90,121,86,124,81,122,74,121,64,119,56,126,51,127,44,132,42,137,42,143,42,149,42,153,47,156,52,159,57,158,62,156,68,154,76,152,81,155,86,162,90,169,92,177,96" /> <polygon id="hair" class="bodypart" data-passage="hair" data-value="reverse" points="119,63,115,54,114,44,115,36,119,28,127,24,136,21,145,22,150,23,155,26,158,32,161,37,163,42,162,49,159,57,156,52,153,45,146,43,139,42,132,43,126,49,122,54" /> <polygon id="torso" class="bodypart" data-passage="torso" data-value="reverse" points="125,245,132,238,142,237,148,240,152,245,159,240,166,235,171,229,177,225,174,214,172,207,172,198,170,188,172,179,177,171,181,163,184,158,182,149,182,143,176,148,167,152,159,152,151,149,143,146,138,140,132,146,123,150,113,153,104,153,97,147,92,152,91,161,95,166,100,173,104,181,104,189,104,199,103,205,103,211,101,216,99,223,99,230,105,233,111,237,118,240" /> <polygon id="left_leg" class="bodypart" data-passage="left_leg" data-value="reverse" points="98,232,107,236,114,239,119,242,125,247,128,253,126,261,126,267,132,272,132,282,131,291,128,301,122,314,118,325,115,336,113,346,110,360,109,366,111,375,112,386,112,397,108,406,105,415,104,426,102,435,102,447,103,455,102,463,105,471,102,477,97,485,93,491,85,491,78,490,71,488,77,480,84,472,88,463,90,449,90,435,87,420,85,408,83,392,82,381,85,369,89,360,91,347,87,332,84,319,82,304,82,290,84,278,87,266,90,256,93,248,96,239" /> <polygon id="right_leg" class="bodypart" data-passage="right_leg" data-value="reverse" points="151,246,158,242,164,239,168,233,174,229,178,224,179,235,181,240,183,248,187,259,189,269,191,279,193,293,192,306,191,315,190,328,187,336,187,345,188,356,191,366,193,377,193,390,192,400,189,412,189,423,187,434,187,444,188,452,189,460,191,468,194,472,198,476,204,482,206,487,199,491,192,490,184,489,181,483,176,476,176,467,176,459,174,449,176,437,174,427,172,417,170,409,165,401,164,388,166,374,169,364,163,346,160,333,158,320,153,310,148,301,144,290,142,281,146,272,151,269,161,272,172,272,181,269,181,262,181,256,174,252,167,254,158,252" /> <polygon id="crotch" class="bodypart" data-passage="crotch" data-value="reverse" points="131,269,126,263,128,256,125,247,130,240,139,237,146,239,151,245,155,250,165,254,175,253,181,258,185,264,179,269,170,271,156,269,147,267,141,272,134,275" /> <polygon id="head" class="bodypart" data-passage="head" data-value="forward" points="348,136,356,133,363,135,367,138,373,134,379,131,385,133,383,124,381,117,380,110,383,102,387,90,387,81,384,74,380,68,374,66,367,67,361,71,357,80,353,90,356,99,358,104,358,112,358,120,353,126" /> <polygon id="hair" class="bodypart" data-passage="hair" data-value="forward" points="358,109,357,117,353,124,349,134,346,127,340,120,336,113,337,106,336,96,338,85,338,78,341,66,346,61,351,52,360,47,367,45,375,45,383,50,388,55,392,63,396,69,398,78,398,85,399,94,395,106,396,113,394,119,390,125,389,132,384,127,382,118,381,109,384,98,388,87,386,76,381,67,372,65,361,69,357,79,353,89,356,98" /> <polygon id="chest" class="bodypart" data-passage="chest" data-value="forward" points="329,151,326,145,328,139,331,134,338,134,344,134,349,135,356,134,363,136,368,138,375,134,380,131,386,133,391,130,399,130,405,133,411,139,412,144,409,149,411,156,413,163,412,171,408,178,402,181,394,183,386,180,379,175,375,168,370,160,369,153,365,164,363,169,358,176,353,180,346,182,338,183,331,180,326,174,324,167,324,159" /> <polygon id="left_hand" class="bodypart" data-value="forward" data-passage="left_hand" points="347,133,344,126,340,121,331,121,322,126,318,134,315,140,314,147,317,156,313,165,312,174,312,181,311,194,307,203,303,211,300,225,298,236,293,249,292,259,291,276,294,283,298,290,303,294,307,298,309,287,303,275,304,265,300,255,304,246,310,238,317,228,324,218,327,204,329,194,334,184,329,177,325,168,323,159,329,151,326,144,330,132,336,133" /> <polygon id="right_hand" class="bodypart" data-value="forward" data-passage="right_hand" points="390,129,392,123,398,120,403,121,411,122,417,125,421,132,423,139,424,147,423,154,425,160,427,172,427,181,427,189,431,199,435,209,437,216,440,228,443,237,446,246,449,255,449,263,451,272,450,280,446,287,442,294,435,294,433,286,436,280,440,272,439,264,441,255,438,246,432,240,426,234,421,226,417,221,415,210,413,199,409,190,405,182,408,177,412,172,414,164,412,156,410,149,412,143,411,136,404,132,398,129" /> <polygon id="torso" class="bodypart" data-passage="torso" data-value="forward" points="369,155,366,164,362,172,356,177,347,183,338,184,341,191,343,197,343,204,338,211,332,220,327,228,323,242,333,244,340,245,350,244,357,248,365,251,376,248,385,244,391,240,398,241,404,242,410,242,416,243,414,234,411,226,407,219,401,211,396,205,395,199,397,193,399,187,401,182,394,183,388,180,383,177,378,173,375,167,371,161" /> <polygon id="crotch" class="bodypart" data-passage="crotch" data-value="forward" points="339,244,351,243,366,251,378,248,387,242,393,239,402,242,396,250,388,257,380,267,375,274,366,275,360,267,352,262,343,252" /> <polygon id="left_leg" class="bodypart" data-value="forward" data-passage="left_leg" points="322,243,317,253,312,264,311,276,312,287,314,300,317,313,320,324,325,336,328,347,327,359,324,370,320,382,319,396,321,406,324,418,324,428,325,437,324,451,323,459,321,470,317,477,311,484,316,489,326,489,334,481,333,463,336,454,335,444,337,423,343,406,349,389,348,376,346,368,351,358,355,343,358,328,362,316,368,299,368,282,367,274,361,267,352,262,344,252,340,244,328,242" /> <polygon id="right_leg" class="bodypart" data-value="forward" data-passage="right_leg" points="416,243,420,251,424,260,426,269,427,278,426,289,425,299,423,310,420,322,415,334,411,345,412,355,414,364,418,371,420,381,420,393,418,406,417,417,414,430,415,445,418,456,417,462,420,472,430,485,424,489,418,489,410,485,406,478,407,465,405,457,405,444,404,429,399,411,394,401,391,389,394,374,395,367,390,357,386,345,383,331,378,317,373,305,372,291,371,281,372,275,379,269,385,260,391,254,397,250,400,245,404,241" /> </svg> </div> [[Close the Scrolls|$reverse_passage]] <>

<> <div id="right-sidebar" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: 100vh; width: 20%; position: fixed; right: 0; top: 0; background-color: #1a0f0f; overflow: hidden;"> <div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between;"> <div title="Show without Cloths"> <<button "🚫👔👗">> <<set $showWear to not $showWear>> <<replace "#wear-status">> <div class="avatar torso">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.torso.img]]</div> <div class="avatar head">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.head.img]]</div> <div class="avatar right_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_hand.img]]</div> <div class="avatar left_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_hand.img]]</div> <div class="avatar left_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_leg.img]]</div> <div class="avatar right_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_leg.img]]</div> <div class="avatar hair">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.hair.img]]</div> <div class="avatar crotch">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.crotch.img]]</div> <div class="avatar chest">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.chest.img]]</div> <<if $showUnderwear and $userBody.top_underwear.img>> <div class="avatar top_underwear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.top_underwear.img]]</div> <</if>> <<if $showUnderwear and $userBody.bottom_underwear.img>> <div class="avatar bottom_underwear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.bottom_underwear.img]]</div> <</if>> <<if $showWear and $userBody.top_wear.img>> <div class="avatar top_wear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.top_wear.img]]</div> <</if>> <<if $showWear and $userBody.bottom_wear.img>> <div class="avatar bottom_wear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.bottom_wear.img]]</div> <</if>> <</replace>> <</button>> </div> <div title="Show without Underwears"> <<button "🚫🩲👙">> /* <<set $showWear to not $showWear>> */ <<set $showUnderwear to not $showUnderwear>> <<replace "#wear-status">> <div class="avatar torso">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.torso.img]]</div> <div class="avatar head">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.head.img]]</div> <div class="avatar right_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_hand.img]]</div> <div class="avatar left_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_hand.img]]</div> <div class="avatar left_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_leg.img]]</div> <div class="avatar right_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_leg.img]]</div> <div class="avatar hair">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.hair.img]]</div> <div class="avatar crotch">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.crotch.img]]</div> <div class="avatar chest">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.chest.img]]</div> <<if $showUnderwear and $userBody.top_underwear.img>> <div class="avatar top_underwear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.top_underwear.img]]</div> <</if>> <<if $showUnderwear and $userBody.bottom_underwear.img>> <div class="avatar bottom_underwear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.bottom_underwear.img]]</div> <</if>> <<if $showWear and $userBody.top_wear.img>> <div class="avatar top_wear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.top_wear.img]]</div> <</if>> <<if $showWear and $userBody.bottom_wear.img>> <div class="avatar bottom_wear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.bottom_wear.img]]</div> <</if>> <</replace>> <</button>> </div> <div title="Show inventroy items"> <button onclick="$('#inventory-popup').fadeIn()" style="position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px;"> 📦</button> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; width: 100%; height: auto;"> <div id="user_avatar_iamge" style="width: 70%;"> <div class="avatar torso">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.torso.img]]</div> <div class="avatar head">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.head.img]]</div> <div class="avatar right_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_hand.img]]</div> <div class="avatar left_hand">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_hand.img]]</div> <div class="avatar left_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.left_leg.img]]</div> <div class="avatar right_leg">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.right_leg.img]]</div> <div class="avatar hair">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.hair.img]]</div> <div class="avatar crotch">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.crotch.img]]</div> <div class="avatar chest">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.chest.img]]</div> <<if $showUnderwear and $userBody.top_underwear.img>> <div class="avatar top_underwear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.top_underwear.img]]</div> <</if>> <<if $showUnderwear and $userBody.bottom_underwear.img>> <div class="avatar bottom_underwear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.bottom_underwear.img]]</div> <</if>> <<if $showWear and $userBody.top_wear.img>> <div class="avatar top_wear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.top_wear.img]]</div> <</if>> <<if $showWear and $userBody.bottom_wear.img>> <div class="avatar bottom_wear">[img[setup.ImagePath+$userBody.bottom_wear.img]]</div> <</if>> </div> /* <div id="user-item-list" onclick="$('#inventory-popup').fadeIn()" style="width: 30%; max-height: 45vh; overflow-y: auto; padding: 5px;"> <<for _key, _item range $userItems>> <div class="user-item" @title="_item.name" onclick="$('#inventory-popup').fadeIn()" style="font-size: 0.7em;"> [img[_item.img]] [_item.amount][_item.unit] </div> <</for>> </div> */ </div> <div id="inventory-popup" style="display: none; position: fixed; top: 50%; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%); background-color: rgba(20, 20, 30, 0.95); border: 2px solid #aaa; border-radius: 12px; padding: 20px; z-index: 1000; max-width: 90vw; max-height: 80vh; overflow-y: auto; box-shadow: 0 0 12px #000;"> <button onclick="$('#inventory-popup').fadeOut()" style="position: absolute; top: 10px; right: 10px; background: #440000; color: white; border: none; padding: 5px 10px; border-radius: 4px;">✖</button> <h2 style="margin-top: 0; color: #f0e6d2;">Your Inventory</h2> <div id="inventory-content" style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr); gap: 12px;"> <<for _key, _item range $userItems>> <div class="inventory-card"> <div class="item-img">[img[_item.img]]</div> <div class="item-name">_item.name</div> <div class="item-info">[_item.amount] [_item.unit]</div> </div> <</for>> </div> </div> <div id="user-stats" style="flex-shrink: 0; padding: 10px; background-color: #222; border-top: 1px solid #444; margin-top: auto;"> <h3 style="color: #f0e6d2; font-size: 1em;">Stats</h3> <<for _key, _value range $user_stats>> <div style="margin-bottom: 6px;"> <div style="font-size: 0.85em; color: #ddd; margin-bottom: 2px;"> <<= _key.replaceAll("_", " ").toUpperCase() >> </div> <div style="background-color: #444; border-radius: 4px; height: 12px; overflow: hidden;"> <<= '<div style="width: ' + _value + '%; background: linear-gradient(to right, #4caf50, #81c784); height: 100%;"></div>' >> </div> <<if _key == "gender_Identity">> <div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between; font-size: 0.75em; color: #aaa;"> FeminineMasculine </div> <</if>> <<if _key == "dominance_level">> <div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between; font-size: 0.75em; color: #aaa;"> SubmissiveDominant </div> <</if>> <<if _key == "gender_appearance">> <div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between; font-size: 0.75em; color: #aaa;"> FeminineMasculine </div> <</if>> </div> <</for>> </div> </div> <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 18)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "alinora">> The crown does not bend, Caelan it expects those who wear it to rise. I did not raise you to be ordinary. I raised you to endure, to become the shape Velmoria needs, not the one it desires. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And what if I’m not strong enough to become that shape? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Then I will grieve. Briefly. And then I will teach you again, as I always have. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "alinora">> I saw you hesitate during court today. Not in speech, but in bearing. A ruler cannot afford uncertainty not in voice, not in spine, not in the flicker of an eye. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You never hesitated? Not once? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Every day. But I buried it beneath velvet and iron. That is the difference between fear and failure. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "alinora">> Do not mistake silence for disapproval, Caelan. I do not speak of your struggles because I expect them. You were not chosen for ease. You were chosen for legacy. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sometimes I wish you’d see me as more than a legacy. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> I do. But I see you as a Velmorian first. And that is not a name given lightly. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "alinora">> I remember holding you as an infant fragile, loud, utterly unfit for the throne. And yet, even then, I knew you would grow teeth sharper than mine. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That doesn’t sound like love. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Love, my child, is not always gentle. Sometimes it wears armor and teaches you to bleed with dignity. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "alinora">> I have approved your next transformation session. Thalara assures me the changes will not be painful physically. Emotionally, I expect no such mercy. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Is that your way of preparing me? Or warning me? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Both. A queen learns to read her pain like scripture. You will do the same. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "alinora">> The nobles murmur about your softness. Your hesitance. But what they fail to see is that softness can smother just as well as steel can cut. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Do you think I’ll ever win them over? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> You do not win over wolves, Caelan. You outlast them. Or you feed them your rivals. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "alinora">> I once dreamed of a daughter. Not because I longed for femininity, but because Velmoria’s law demanded it. Fate gave me you instead unexpected, beautiful, incomplete. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Do I disappoint you? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> You challenge me. And for that, I am endlessly proud and endlessly wary. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "alinora">> The court sees transformation as spectacle. But this is no performance, Caelan. This is the re-forging of your soul in the fires of lineage. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Can’t I keep part of who I was? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> If you must. But remember, a ruler does not ask the world for permission to become what they must be. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "alinora">> Your father weeps for you in the garden. He believes love should protect, not shape. I envy his softness… but I cannot afford it. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Do you ever wish you could be softer? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Often. But I learned early: softness is a luxury we cannot afford not as rulers. Not as Velmorians. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "alinora">> One day, they will carve your name into the stone of this castle. And I wonder what story they will tell. Will it be the tale of a prince who vanished… or a queen who conquered her fate? <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That depends on the choices I make. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Indeed. And I intend to give you every burden necessary to make the right ones. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "alinora">> You think I do not ache watching you change? I do. But that ache is a ghost I buried it long ago, alongside the woman I might have been if love ruled this kingdom instead of law. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then why not let me choose a different path? One not carved by ancient rules? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Because queens do not walk paths. They blaze them in fire and blood, and history does not tolerate detours. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "alinora">> You stood taller in court today. I noticed. So did Lady Serelyne. The serpents are beginning to fear your fangs. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then why do I still feel like I’m pretending? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Because you are. But every monarch begins as a myth in their own skin. Eventually, belief becomes truth. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "alinora">> There is power in being watched, Caelan. Every gaze tests you. Every whisper carves its mark. Learn to wear scrutiny like silk it may chafe at first, but it becomes second skin. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sometimes I wish they’d all just stop watching. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Then they win. Never give your enemies the comfort of your retreat. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "alinora">> You are not the child who clung to my robes in the temple courtyard. That boy is gone. What remains is the vessel for Velmoria’s future. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> But I still feel him inside me. Small. Afraid. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Then take his hand, guide him through the fire, and teach him how to burn. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "alinora">> Thalara tells me the physical changes have begun to ripple outward. Eyes softer. Fingers thinner. Voice uncertain. The world will start to see you differently now. Prepare yourself. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And how do you see me? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> As someone I am beginning to fear and admire. Which means your enemies soon will, too. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "alinora">> You wore the amethyst gown tonight. Good. Its color commands without shouting. Its shape forces posture. Even silk can be armor when used properly. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I didn’t wear it for tactics. I wore it because it felt… right. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Then you’re further along than I dared hope. Trust the instincts that sharpen you. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "alinora">> When the other kingdoms look to Velmoria, they will not see a transition. They will see strength reborn in unexpected form. You will be our thunder in velvet. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That sounds beautiful. And terrifying. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Good. The most powerful queens are always both. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "alinora">> Your father writes you songs. I sharpen your legacy. Between the two of us, you are both heart and hammer. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sometimes I wish you could just… hold me, without expecting anything. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> I hold you every day in my decisions, in my sacrifices, in the silence I swallow so you can speak freely. That is the weight of royal love. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "alinora">> Do not let kindness be mistaken for submission. When you smile, let it be like a dagger graceful, and deadly if misunderstood. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You really think I can command them, like you do? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> No. I believe you will command them differently and that difference may save us all. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "alinora">> I am not your enemy, Caelan. But I am not your comfort, either. I am the forge that shapes you, the crown that waits above fire. You will thank me in legends. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Or curse you in silence. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Let history decide. My love for you is not lessened by your resentment. It is sharpened by it. <</speech>> <</if>> [[Leave Queen Alinora|royal_bed_chamber]] | [[Leave Royal Bed Chamber|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 19)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<speech "therion">> I heard the court whispering today… they see your changes, yes but none of them can see the courage it takes to become something new while the world watches. I see it, my child. And I am awed. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to be brave. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Even a flower opens with trembling petals, Caelan. Bravery isn’t the absence of fear it’s what you do while shaking. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<speech "therion">> I finished the painting today the one of the orchard in autumn. I left a space in the center, blank and glowing. It’s for you. I don’t yet know what colors to use. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Why paint me at all? I’m not finished. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Precisely. That’s when we’re most beautiful when we are still becoming. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<speech "therion">> Your mother teaches you how to stand like stone. I only ask that you remember how to bend like a reed. In time, storms pass but those who cannot bend are the ones who break. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I don’t know which one I’m supposed to be. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Both. You are your mother’s steel and my song. Let neither silence the other. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<speech "therion">> They dressed you in velvet and expectation today. I could see it how tightly it fit. Do not let the costume consume the actor, Caelan. Wear the role, but never forget the soul inside it. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What if the soul inside is changing, too? <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Then let it. The wind never asks permission to shift. And yet it shapes everything in time. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<speech "therion">> I keep the letters you wrote as a child. The ones where you asked me if dragons were real, or if flowers could sing. You haven’t asked such things in years. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Because I learned they don’t. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong. You just stopped listening. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<speech "therion">> When I married your mother, they told me I was weak. That art had no place beside a throne. But I chose love over power and I choose it still, every time I sit beside you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Did you ever regret not ruling in your own right? <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Never. I found power in gentleness and in the garden, where even the softest hands can pull out thorns. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<speech "therion">> Your voice it's changing. Not just in sound, but in weight. It no longer asks to be heard. It expects to be. That is something no crown can teach. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Do you think they’ll ever truly listen to me? <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> They will. But first, you must listen to yourself and believe every word. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<speech "therion">> Today in the garden, a night blooming vine opened in daylight. No one knows why. I named it after you because you, too, bloom in defiance of expectation. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I don’t feel like I’m blooming. I feel like I’m tearing apart. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Even the seed must split before the flower is born. Pain is not the end it is the signal of transformation. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<speech "therion">> Your hands used to tremble when holding a sword. Now, they tremble when holding a teacup in public. Isn’t that strange? What we fear says much about who we are becoming. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I’m afraid of being watched. Judged. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Then let them watch. But give them a performance worth remembering. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<speech "therion">> They may crown you with flowers or thorns, Caelan but I will always see the child who danced barefoot in the rain and asked me what joy tasted like. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> What does it taste like? <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Like warm bread, soft laughter, and your name whispered in pride. And yes, I still taste it, even now. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<speech "therion">> You stood in front of the nobles today like a storm in silk calm above, trembling beneath. But even a trembling storm moves mountains, Caelan. Never forget that. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I thought they saw through me. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Perhaps they did. But even a mask gains power if you wear it long enough with purpose. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<speech "therion">> I composed a melody this morning. It reminded me of you soft at the start, uncertain, but then it builds. Not into triumph, no… into clarity. That’s rarer, and far more precious. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You make it sound like I already know who I am. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> You know the questions. The answers come later, like echoes returning from deep places. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<speech "therion">> I once thought love meant protecting you from pain. But I’ve learned it means sitting beside you through it, saying: 'You are not alone.' <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Even when you don’t agree with what I’m becoming? <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Especially then. Agreement is politics. Love is presence. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<speech "therion">> I saw you in the mirror today no, not your reflection, but the posture. The way you tilted your chin. You looked like someone becoming proud of their shape, not just enduring it. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> It didn’t feel like pride. It felt like… resignation. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Even resignation has grace. And grace, when repeated, grows into confidence. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<speech "therion">> The roses bloomed out of season again. A strange omen, perhaps but I think it’s just the garden reminding us that life never obeys the old calendars. Neither should you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> I worry what traditions I’m breaking. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Only brittle traditions snap. The living ones bend around you and grow stronger for it. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<speech "therion">> Your mother builds thrones. I build sanctuary. When you tire of the world's demands, come here. Let your soul breathe where no eyes judge you. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Sometimes I don’t know which world is real anymore this quiet one, or the loud one with crowns and knives. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> They’re both real. But only one deserves to hold your heart. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<speech "therion">> You asked me once if a soft heart could rule. I didn’t answer then. But now I will: a soft heart does not rule by command it leads by inspiration. That is the rarer throne. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Will they follow someone who feels more than they fight? <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> They will, when they realize that kind of strength doesn’t rust or shatter. It endures. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<speech "therion">> I found one of your childhood sketches. It was a bird with antlers half beast, half dream. You drew it when you were six and told me, “This is who I am.” I didn’t understand then. I think I do now. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> That creature was never meant to fly. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Ah, but it tried anyway. And in trying, became something no one had seen before. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<speech "therion">> I know I’m not the kind of father songs are written about. I did not teach you to ride or fight. But I hope, in quieter ways, I taught you how to see beauty where others see threat. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You taught me how to hope. That may be harder than any sword lesson. <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Then I’ve done my part. Hope is the seed of every new beginning. And you are becoming one. <</speech>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <<speech "therion">> You are not a puzzle to be solved, Caelan. You are a poem still being written. Some stanzas will contradict others. Let them. That’s how truth lives between lines. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> But what if no one understands it in the end? <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> Then let it be misunderstood. A true soul doesn’t owe clarity to anyone but itself. <</speech>> <</if>> [[Leave King Therion|royal_leasure_room]] | [[Leave Royal Bed Chamber|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<> <<set _i to random(0, 18)>> <<if _i == 0>> <<elseif _i == 1>> <<elseif _i == 2>> <<elseif _i == 3>> <<elseif _i == 4>> <<elseif _i == 5>> <<elseif _i == 6>> <<elseif _i == 7>> <<elseif _i == 8>> <<elseif _i == 9>> <<elseif _i == 10>> <<elseif _i == 11>> <<elseif _i == 12>> <<elseif _i == 13>> <<elseif _i == 14>> <<elseif _i == 15>> <<elseif _i == 16>> <<elseif _i == 17>> <<elseif _i == 18>> <<elseif _i == 19>> <</if>> [[Leave Queen Alinora|royal_bed_chamber]] | [[Leave Royal Bed Chamber|castle_map_back_select]] <>

<<set $userBody = {}>> <<for _key, _data range setup.msBodyParts>> <<if _key == "torso" || _key == "crotch" || _key == "chest" || _key == "top_underwear" || _key == "bottom_underwear" || _key == "top_wear" || _key == "bottom_wear">> <<if _data.img != "">> <<set $key_img_path = "mc/figure/" + _data.curr_body + "/" + _data.orig_body + "_" + _data.img>> <<else>> <<set $key_img_path = "">> <</if>> <<set $userBody[_key] to { img: $key_img_path, orig_body: _data.orig_body, curr_body: _data.curr_body, curr_hair: _data.curr_hair, curr_crotch: _data.curr_crotch, curr_head: _data.curr_head, curr_chest: _data.curr_chest, curr_top_underwear: _data.curr_top_underwear, curr_bottom_underwear: _data.curr_bottom_underwear, curr_top_wear: _data.curr_top_wear, curr_bottom_wear: _data.curr_bottom_wear, }>> <<else>> <<set $userBody[_key] to { img: "mc/figure/" + _data.curr_body + "/" + _data.orig_body + "/" + _data.curr_body + "_" + _data.orig_body + "_" + _data.img, orig_body: _data.orig_body, curr_body: _data.curr_body, curr_hair: _data.curr_hair, curr_crotch: _data.curr_crotch, curr_head: _data.curr_head, curr_chest: _data.curr_chest, }>> <</if>> <</for>> <<set $riddleLimit = 3>> <<set $riddleAttempts = 0>> <<set $hasIngredientAccess = false>> <<set $riddleSuccess = false>> <<set $currentObjectives = "No Objectives">> <<set $userItems to {}>> <<for _key, _data range setup.storeItems>> <<set $userItems[_key] to { name: _data.name, amount: 0, unit: _data.unit, img: _data.img, min_amount: _data.min_amount, }>> <</for>> <<set $ingredientChoices to 0>> <<set $maxChoices to 3>> <<set $day_number to 0>> <<set $bodyChoice = 3>> <<set $reverse_passage_ingredient = "">> <<set $reverse_passage = "">> <<set $showUnderwear = true>> <<set $showWear = true>> <<set $locationName = 'Castle'>> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/castle.png'>> <<set $currentArc = {}>> <<set $curr_crotch = Number($userBody.crotch.curr_crotch.split("_")[1])>>; <<set $curr_chest = Number($userBody.chest.curr_chest.split("_")[1])>>; <<set $gold = 100>> <<set $health = 100>> <<set $veil_of_the_heir = false>> <<set $user_stats = { gender_appearance: 94.9, gender_Identity: 95, dominance_level: 95, /* confidence: 50, */ leadership: 40, archery_ability: 20, combat_ability: 20, energy: 70 }>>

<>  <div id="velmoria-intro" style="position: fixed; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100vw; height: 100vh; background-color: #f5f0dc; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 9999;"> <div style="font-family: 'Papyrus', serif; font-size: 20px; color: #8b5e3c; background-color: #f5f0dc; border: 2px solid #a58b5c; padding: 18px; border-radius: 10px; box-shadow: 3px 3px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); max-width: 700px; text-align: center;"> <h1 style="font-size: 36px; color: #5c3b1e; margin-bottom: 10px;">👑 Kingdom of Velmoria</h1> <h3 style="font-size: 22px; color: #7a4c29;">An Interactive Gender Bender Fantasy Story</h3> (18+ Mature Content) <hr style="margin: 10px 0; border-color: #a58b5c;"> Warning: This story contains themes of gender transformation, magical body alteration, erotic fantasy, and political intrigue. This is a gender bender game. If you are not comfortable with these themes, please do not proceed. In the kingdom of Velmoria, to rule is to be Queen. You are Prince Caelan, the sole heir about to undergo a mystical transformation to inherit your birthright... or reject it entirely. Your destiny begins now. <button id="enterGame" style="margin-top: 20px; padding: 10px 20px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Papyrus', serif; color: #fff; background-color: #8b5e3c; border: none; border-radius: 6px; cursor: pointer; transition: background-color 0.3s;">Enter</button> </div> </div> <>

<> <div id="velmoria-intro-2"> <h1 style="font-size: 32px; color: #6e421c;">👑 *Kingdom of Velmoria* 👑</h1> Genre: Medieval Fantasy · Interactive Story · Gender Transformation <hr style="margin: 20px 0; border: 0; height: 2px; background: #a58b5c;"> Beyond the emerald hills and silver rivers lies Velmoria, a kingdom steeped in magic and ruled by generations of powerful queens. Its strength flows not from swords alone, but from ancient rites, arcane wisdom, and the unbroken legacy of matriarchal rule. For centuries, only daughters born of royal blood have ascended to the throne. But fate has played a curious hand: the Queen's only heir is a prince. You are Prince Caelan noble by birth, burdened by destiny. Raised in the art of battle, tutored in courtly manners, and shadowed by expectations you were never meant to bear. Yet, the throne calls for a queen… and Velmoria’s survival demands transformation. Under the guidance of the Royal Mage, the kingdom’s ancient feminine rites will remake you. Your journey will be one of magic, discovery, and desire reshaping not just your body, but your identity and purpose. ⚠️ Mature Content Ahead: This story features magical gender transformation, feminization themes, and adult choices. Proceed only if you are comfortable with such content. <button id="enter-relam" style="margin-top: 25px; font-size: 20px; padding: 10px 20px; background-color: #a58b5c; color: white; border: none; border-radius: 8px; cursor: pointer;">Enter the Realm</button> </div> <>

<> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Choose your starting character</h3> <div class="item-grid"> <div class="item-card" style="width: 90%; "> <div class="choice-layers"> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ms/ms_full.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ms/ms_bottom_underwear_1.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ms/ms_top_wear_1.png']]</div> </div> [[Lean|Lean]] </div> <div class="item-card" style="width: 90%; "> <div class="choice-layers"> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/mm/mm_full.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/mm/mm_bottom_underwear_1.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/mm/mm_top_wear_1.png']]</div> </div> [[Muscular|Muscular]] </div> <div class="item-card" style="width: 90%;"> <div class="choice-layers"> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ml/ml_full.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ml/ml_bottom_underwear_1.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ml/ml_top_wear_1.png']]</div> </div> [[Ultra Muscular|Ultra Muscular]] </div> </div> <>

<> <<set $user_stats.gender_Identity = 60>> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance = 64.5>> <<set $user_stats.dominance_level = 60>> <div class="item-grid"> <div class="item-card" style="width: 90%;"> <div class="choice-layers"> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ms/ms_full.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ms/ms_bottom_underwear_1.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ms/ms_top_wear_1.png']]</div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="font-family: 'Papyrus', serif; font-size: 20px; color: #8b5e3c; background-color: #f5f0dc; border: 2px solid #a58b5c; padding: 18px; border-radius: 10px; box-shadow: 3px 3px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); max-width: 700px; margin: 20px auto;"> ✦ A Soft Frame to Shape ✦ You begin your journey with a lean, wiry build neither imposing nor fragile. Your chest is flat, your muscles are modest, and your manhood, though present, is unremarkable in size. This body, while male, offers little resistance to the subtle reshaping of magic. There’s little bulk to shed, few hard edges to soften, and no overwhelming masculinity to subdue. In many ways, you are already half sculpted clay ripe for refinement. Feminine potions will take quickly to your form, molding your curves with grace and ease. 💠 Transformation Difficulty: Low 💠 Key Challenge: Internal acceptance rather than physical resistance </div> <<for _key, _data range setup.msBodyParts>> <<if _key == "torso" || _key == "crotch" || _key == "chest" || _key == "top_underwear" || _key == "bottom_underwear" || _key == "top_wear" || _key == "bottom_wear">> <<if _data.img != "">> <<set $key_img_path = "mc/figure/" + _data.curr_body + "/" + _data.orig_body + "_" + _data.img>> <<else>> <<set $key_img_path = "">> <</if>> <<set $userBody[_key] to { img: $key_img_path, orig_body: _data.orig_body, curr_body: _data.curr_body, curr_hair: _data.curr_hair, curr_crotch: _data.curr_crotch, curr_head: _data.curr_head, curr_chest: _data.curr_chest, curr_top_underwear: _data.curr_top_underwear, curr_bottom_underwear: _data.curr_bottom_underwear, curr_top_wear: _data.curr_top_wear, curr_bottom_wear: _data.curr_bottom_wear, }>> <<else>> <<set $userBody[_key] to { img: "mc/figure/" + _data.curr_body + "/" + _data.orig_body + "/" + _data.curr_body + "_" + _data.orig_body + "_" + _data.img, orig_body: _data.orig_body, curr_body: _data.curr_body, curr_hair: _data.curr_hair, curr_crotch: _data.curr_crotch, curr_head: _data.curr_head, curr_chest: _data.curr_chest, }>> <</if>> <</for>> <<set $curr_crotch = 3>> <<set $curr_chest = 3>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<if $veil_of_the_heir>> [[Start Journey|notice]] | <<else>> Lean Mode - Patreon Only <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/nexispheregames" target="_blank" style="color:#0af;text-decoration:underline;">Support us on Patreon</a> In public mode only the muscular body type is available. <</if>> [[Back Choose Character|body_choice]] <>

<> <<set $user_stats.gender_Identity = 80>> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance = 80>> <<set $user_stats.dominance_level = 80>> <div class="item-grid"> <div class="item-card" style="width: 90%;"> <div class="choice-layers"> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/mm/mm_full.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/mm/mm_bottom_underwear_1.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/mm/mm_top_wear_1.png']]</div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="font-family: 'Papyrus', serif; font-size: 20px; color: #8b5e3c; background-color: #f5f0dc; border: 2px solid #a58b5c; padding: 18px; border-radius: 10px; box-shadow: 3px 3px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); max-width: 700px; margin: 20px auto;"> ✦ A Body of Strength, A Test of Change ✦ Years of training, battles, or discipline have sculpted your body into a strong and well defined form. Your pectorals are solid, your arms powerful, and your manhood bold and assertive. This is the body of a warrior or a proud prince a figure of undeniable masculinity. Magic will struggle here, not just to soften your muscles, but to coax them into yielding. Breasts will have to rise from a firm chest, curves must battle with sinew, and your sex must be reimagined against stubborn flesh. The path ahead will test not only your body’s pliability, but your will to surrender control. 💠 Transformation Difficulty: Moderate 💠 Key Challenge: Physical resistance and sexual pride </div> <<for _key, _data range setup.mmBodyParts>> <<if _key == "torso" || _key == "crotch" || _key == "chest" || _key == "top_underwear" || _key == "bottom_underwear" || _key == "top_wear" || _key == "bottom_wear">> <<if _data.img != "">> <<set $key_img_path = "mc/figure/" + _data.curr_body + "/" + _data.orig_body + "_" + _data.img>> <<else>> <<set $key_img_path = "">> <</if>> <<set $userBody[_key] to { img: $key_img_path, orig_body: _data.orig_body, curr_body: _data.curr_body, curr_hair: _data.curr_hair, curr_crotch: _data.curr_crotch, curr_head: _data.curr_head, curr_chest: _data.curr_chest, curr_top_underwear: _data.curr_top_underwear, curr_bottom_underwear: _data.curr_bottom_underwear, curr_top_wear: _data.curr_top_wear, curr_bottom_wear: _data.curr_bottom_wear, }>> <<else>> <<set $userBody[_key] to { img: "mc/figure/" + _data.curr_body + "/" + _data.orig_body + "/" + _data.curr_body + "_" + _data.orig_body + "_" + _data.img, orig_body: _data.orig_body, curr_body: _data.curr_body, curr_hair: _data.curr_hair, curr_crotch: _data.curr_crotch, curr_head: _data.curr_head, curr_chest: _data.curr_chest, }>> <</if>> <</for>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $curr_crotch = 5>> <<set $curr_chest = 2>> [[Start Journey|notice]] | [[Back Choose Character|body_choice]] <>

<> <<set $user_stats.gender_Identity = 100>> <<set $user_stats.gender_appearance = 94.9>> <<set $user_stats.dominance_level = 100>> <div class="item-grid"> <div class="item-card" style="width: 90%;"> <div class="choice-layers"> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ml/ml_full.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ml/ml_bottom_underwear_1.png']]</div> <div class="choice-layer">[img[setup.ImagePath+'mc/figure/ml/ml_top_wear_1.png']]</div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="font-family: 'Papyrus', serif; font-size: 20px; color: #8b5e3c; background-color: #f5f0dc; border: 2px solid #a58b5c; padding: 18px; border-radius: 10px; box-shadow: 3px 3px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); max-width: 700px; margin: 20px auto;"> ✦ A Monument to Masculinity ✦ You are the pinnacle of the male form massive, carved, and unrelenting. Your chest is thick with muscle, your limbs packed with raw strength, and your manhood... a challenge unto itself. Every inch of you screams dominance and virility. Magic doesn’t flow easily through such resistance it has to break before it can reshape. Feminization will be a slow, often painful unmaking of a body that was built to resist change. The potions must work harder, longer, and more intensely. Progress may come with setbacks. But perhaps, the greater the monument, the more glorious its transformation. 💠 Transformation Difficulty: High 💠 Key Challenge: Total deconstruction of hypermasculinity before rebirth </div> <<for _key, _data range setup.mlBodyParts>> <<if _key == "torso" || _key == "crotch" || _key == "chest" || _key == "top_underwear" || _key == "bottom_underwear" || _key == "top_wear" || _key == "bottom_wear">> <<if _data.img != "">> <<set $key_img_path = "mc/figure/" + _data.curr_body + "/" + _data.orig_body + "_" + _data.img>> <<else>> <<set $key_img_path = "">> <</if>> <<set $userBody[_key] to { img: $key_img_path, orig_body: _data.orig_body, curr_body: _data.curr_body, curr_hair: _data.curr_hair, curr_crotch: _data.curr_crotch, curr_head: _data.curr_head, curr_chest: _data.curr_chest, curr_top_underwear: _data.curr_top_underwear, curr_bottom_underwear: _data.curr_bottom_underwear, curr_top_wear: _data.curr_top_wear, curr_bottom_wear: _data.curr_bottom_wear, }>> <<else>> <<set $userBody[_key] to { img: "mc/figure/" + _data.curr_body + "/" + _data.orig_body + "/" + _data.curr_body + "_" + _data.orig_body + "_" + _data.img, orig_body: _data.orig_body, curr_body: _data.curr_body, curr_hair: _data.curr_hair, curr_crotch: _data.curr_crotch, curr_head: _data.curr_head, curr_chest: _data.curr_chest, }>> <</if>> <</for>> /* <pre><<= JSON.stringify($userBody, null, 2)>></pre> */ <<set $curr_crotch = 7>> <<set $curr_chest = 1>> <<if $veil_of_the_heir>> [[Start Journey|notice]] | <<else>> Ultra Muscular Mode - Patreon Only <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/nexispheregames" target="_blank" style="color:#0af;text-decoration:underline;">Support us on Patreon</a> In public mode only the muscular body type is available. <</if>> [[Back Choose Character|body_choice]] <>

<> <<set $currentObjectives = "The Council Convenes">> <<set $locationName = 'Castle'>> <<set $locationImage = setup.ImagePath + 'location/council_room.png'>> <div style="font-family: 'Papyrus', serif; font-size: 20px; color: #8b5e3c; background-color: #f5f0dc; border: 2px solid #a58b5c; padding: 18px; border-radius: 10px; box-shadow: 3px 3px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); max-width: 700px; margin: 20px auto;"> <h1 style="font-size: 28px; color: #6e421c;">⚖️ The Council Convenes ⚖️</h1> The grand hall of Velmoria's royal palace is adorned with banners bearing the sigil of the lioness, symbol of the matriarchal lineage. As Prince Caelan enters, the murmurs of the assembled nobles hush. At the head of the chamber sits Queen Alinora, her gaze steady and resolute. "Prince Caelan," she begins, her voice echoing through the hall, "you have reached the age of twenty, a milestone that brings with it the weight of destiny. Our kingdom stands at a crossroads, and your path must be chosen with care." The Queen gestures to the assembled council: Lady Serelyne Virellis, High Counselor, Archmage Thalara Moonveil, Sir Aldric Vornhelm, Commander of the Royal Guard, Lord Malrec Thorne, Master of Statecraft, and Mistress Veletia Roswyn, Royal Clothier. "Tradition dictates that the throne passes through the queen's bloodline. With no daughters to inherit, we face a dilemma. Two paths lie before you:" <ol> <li>Remain as you are, marry a noblewoman of suitable standing, and she shall ascend as queen while you serve as king consort.</li> <li>Undergo the sacred transformation, embracing the essence of our foremothers, and ascend as queen in your own right, preserving the unbroken matrilineal line.</li> </ol> The chamber falls silent, all eyes upon Caelan as the weight of choice settles upon him. [[Contemplate Your Path|Contemplate_Your_Path]] </div> <>

<> <<speech "malrec">> Your Majesty, may I commend the clarity of your decree. The boy ahem, the Prince deserves to understand the weight of such a crossroads. Rare it is for a ruler to offer choice when the throne’s need is clear. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> It is not a choice, Lord Malrec. It is destiny guided by wisdom. Caelan is not just a son. He is Velmoria’s lifeblood our hope of continuation. <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Speak plainly. You mean to bend the boy into a queen? Swap steel for silk? His sword arm is untested, but not unworthy. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Enough. This is not a debate of worth. My son was born of my womb, he carries the lineage of the High Matrons. What flows in his veins is more sacred than tradition. <</speech>> [[Move forth|into_1]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> ...May I speak, Mother? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> You may speak as heir apparent, Caelan. Until now, you’ve been shielded from council. No longer. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Then let me say this, You ask much. You ask that I lay down not just my name and title, but... my self. My shape. My manhood. And you call it duty. How can I choose without losing something I’ve not yet had the chance to understand? <</speech>> <<speech "therion">> You speak well, my son. Or perhaps... my daughter in waiting. Know this, Your truth need not die, even if your form changes. I lost much to become consort. But I gained a peace I did not know was possible. <</speech>> [[Move forth|into_2]] <>

<> <<speech "veletia">> And what a divine peace it could be! Imagine, Caelan silk draped on strong shoulders, a crown resting on freshly curled hair, eyes like yours commanding hearts and thrones alike! <</speech>> <<speech "aldric">> Not the time, Veletia. <</speech>> <<speech "serelyne">> You fear the unknown. So did I when I entered court. So did your mother when she first killed a rebel prince at sixteen. This is not a loss, my Prince. It is an ascension, one only the worthy may undertake. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> And if I say no? If I take a wife and let her rule? Will you all stand by me then? <</speech>> [[Move forth|into_3]] <>

<> <<speech "alinora">> I will stand beside you. But not behind you. A queen leads. A consort supports. The throne demands its sovereign to be sovereign not through marriage, but through birth... and rebirth. <</speech>> <<speech "thalara">> I have shaped flesh before, Caelan. With consent. With care. You would not become a stranger, but rather... a clearer version of yourself. If there is womanhood in you, I will draw it out like a jewel from the earth. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You all speak as though you know me better than I know myself. But you’ve never asked: Do I want this? <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Then ask yourself, my child. Do you want to be queen? To rule with the strength of your mother and the wisdom of your ancestors? Or do you wish to remain a prince, bound by tradition and expectation? <</speech>> [[If the throne demands a princess, then I shall become her|into_4]] | [[No crown is worth losing myself. I will take a wife, not a new form|into_5]] <>

<> <<speech "mc">> I have never feared duty. And though this path is strange, even frightening... if my body must change to match the crown, then let it be so. If being a princess means protecting our bloodline, our realm then I will embrace that role, fully and without shame. <</speech>> <<speech "alinora">> Then rise, my daughter-to-be. You shall be shaped by the finest magics, trained in poise, grace, and might. Velmoria shall know a queen forged not only by blood... but by choice. <</speech>> High Counselor Serelyne Virellis rose from her seat, her silk robes whispering as she stepped forward. Her eyes, sharp as daggers yet dignified, settled on Caelan with solemn approval. <<speech "serelyne">> Then it is decided. From this day forth, you shall begin the Rite of Three Pillars sacred to our bloodline, essential to the making of a Queen. It is no simple affair, my prince... or perhaps I should say, my lady-to-be. <</speech>> Queen Alinora gave a faint smile. <<speech "alinora">> You will not walk this path alone. Each pillar of your transformation will be guided by a master in their field. These trials will shape you not only in body, but in mind and bearing so that no soul in Velmoria shall doubt your right to rule. <</speech>> The Three Pillars of Transformation: <ul> <li>Mental Conversion — to teach you to think, speak, and judge as a queen.</li> <li>Physical Conversion — to shape your body into the vessel of a ruling woman.</li> <li>Training for Rule and Survival — to ensure you can protect, lead, and inspire.</li> </ul> Caelan’s heart beat like a war drum. This was no coronation. It was a reforging of the self. [[Begin with the First Pillar: Mental Conversion|mental_conversion]] <>

<> Dev Message - Not Implemented this path yet.. [[Go Back|into_3]] <>

<> <<set $currentObjectives = "Listen to Mental Conversion">> <div style="font-family: 'Papyrus', serif; font-size: 20px; color: #8b5e3c; background-color: #f5f0dc; border: 2px solid #a58b5c; padding: 18px; border-radius: 10px; box-shadow: 3px 3px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); max-width: 700px; margin: 20px auto;"> Lady Serelyne Virellis stepped forward, her expression unreadable. <<speech "serelyne">> The crown sits not just on the brow it molds the mind beneath it. You, Caelan, shall think not as a prince, nor even as a man, but as the sovereign woman this realm demands. <</speech>> She detailed the process: days spent in discourse, etiquette drills, court simulations, and reflections designed to dissolve and rebuild habits, instincts, and internal beliefs. Each session will challenge how Caelan views himself and others. Gameplay Focus: <ul> <li>Debates and dialogue choices that affect Caelan’s evolving personality.</li> <li>Mental tasks that explore femininity, leadership, diplomacy, and empathy.</li> <li>Results vary, Caelan might fully embrace his femininity, or merely adopt it outwardly.</li> </ul> <<speech "serelyne">> You may struggle, But should you succeed, the court will not see a transformed man pretending at queenship. They will see a queen born and bred. <</speech>> [[Proceed to the Second Pillar: Physical Conversion|physical_conversion]] </div> <>

<> <<set $currentObjectives = "Listen to Physical Conversion">> <div style="font-family: 'Papyrus', serif; font-size: 20px; color: #8b5e3c; background-color: #f5f0dc; border: 2px solid #a58b5c; padding: 18px; border-radius: 10px; box-shadow: 3px 3px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); max-width: 700px; margin: 20px auto;"> Archmage Thalara Moonveil stood with staff in hand, her silver hair glowing faintly under the chandelier's light. <<speech "thalara">> Your form shall match your future, and for that, we invoke the Old Alchemy. You learn how to make potions and will drink of ancient potions ones that change sinew and spirit alike. <</speech>> She explained that Caelan would undergo a gradual transformation: the shrinking and rearrangement of his body, growth of feminine features, voice and scent alterations all modifiable by the player through quest progress and potion crafting. Gameplay Focus: <ul> <li>Potion brewing mini-games and ingredient collection quests.</li> <li>Options to control speed and extent of transformation (fully feminine, androgynous, etc.).</li> <li>Caelan can resist, embrace, or customize his transformation journey.</li> </ul> <<speech "thalara">> The body is clay in the hands of will and magic, But it is you who must decide its final shape. <</speech>> [[Proceed to the Third Pillar: Rule and Survival|rule_and_survival]] </div> <>

<> <<set $currentObjectives = "Listen to Rule and Survival">> <div style="font-family: 'Papyrus', serif; font-size: 20px; color: #8b5e3c; background-color: #f5f0dc; border: 2px solid #a58b5c; padding: 18px; border-radius: 10px; box-shadow: 3px 3px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); max-width: 700px; margin: 20px auto;"> Queen Alinora herself rose now, her voice strong with pride. <<speech "alinora">> A ruler is more than a mind and a form. She must wield power, charm lords, quiet dissent, ride into war if needed, and dazzle her court with presence. <</speech>> Caelan’s Training Will Include: <ul> <li>Combat: With Sir Aldric Vornhelm, learning swordplay, archery, and mounted combat.</li> <li>Politics: With Lord Malrec Thorne ruthless diplomacy, law, and espionage.</li> <li>Feminine Arts: With Mistress Veletia Roswyn fashion, allure, and court poise.</li> </ul> Gameplay Focus: <ul> <li>Daily schedules and time management mechanics.</li> <li>Mini-games (duels, debates, wardrobe challenges).</li> <li>Reputation systems: how nobles, knights, and commoners perceive Caelan.</li> </ul> <<speech "alinora">> You must earn the kingdom’s love and fear, Caelan," the Queen declared. "Only then will the crown truly be yours. <</speech>> [[Move forth|into_6]] </div> <>

<> <<speech "mc">> Then I accept the Rite of Three Pillars. I will reshape myself, body and soul, for the sake of Velmoria. I only ask to understand what lies ahead, from those who will guide me. <</speech>> Queen Alinora nodded solemnly, gesturing toward the seated figures flanking the long marble table. <<speech "alinora">> Then let your mentors speak, so you know what awaits you when the sun next rises. <</speech>> Lady Serelyne Virellis stepped forward first, hands folded neatly before her. Her voice was crisp, yet carried a warmth hidden beneath years of diplomacy. <<speech "serelyne">> Prince Caelan, soon to be Princess Caelan, you will be entrusted into my care for the shaping of your mind. Many believe a crown rests on the head... I say it rests upon the soul. To lead Velmoria, you must think as she does. Not merely as a woman, but as a queen. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> You speak of thoughts and instincts... but how does one change those? <</speech>> [[Move forth|into_7]] <>

<> <<speech "serelyne">> Through observation. Discipline. Trial and test. You will spend days in court, mimicking our customs. You will learn to speak softly, but with power. To smile in silence and command a room. I will challenge how you view status, beauty, ambition even vulnerability. You will leave behind your princehood not as a denial, but as a foundation. <</speech>> She leaned closer, her voice lowering. <<speech "serelyne">> And know this many rulers have sat on thrones. But only those who understand the art of being perceived as more than mortal… truly rule. <</speech>> Next, the air seemed to shift as Archmage Thalara Moonveil rose, her silver robes glowing faintly in the firelight. <<speech "thalara">> And I shall craft your form, dear heir. With ancient alchemy and divine threads of change, your flesh shall become as soft silk woven anew. But make no mistake this is not a costume. It is rebirth. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Will it hurt? Will I lose who I am? <</speech>> [[Move forth|into_8]] <>

<> <<speech "thalara">> Pain, yes... in moments. But more than pain, there is uncertainty. Your form will shift slowly organs altered, voice softened, curves blooming where none were before. You may choose the pace swift and intense, or gentle like river stones worn by time. I will guide your hand in crafting the vessel that reflects your future self. <</speech>> She smiled with a strange, motherly sorrow. <<speech "thalara">> But who you are, Caelan... that is not so easily lost. It will be reshaped, not erased. <</speech>> Finally, Sir Aldric Vornhelm rose like a mountain of armor and gruff resolve. <<speech "aldric">> You won’t rule from silken cushions. Queens ride to war, give judgment from steel thrones, and sometimes kill with their bare hands. You’ll wield a blade, just like a prince. You’ll fall off a horse, bruise, sweat, bleed... until you ride like fire and strike like justice. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Even after I become... physically different? <</speech>> [[Move forth|into_9]] <>

<> <<speech "aldric">> Especially then. The sword don’t care what’s between your legs. Neither do enemies. Strength is earned, not given by potions or pretty words. <</speech>> Sir Aldric returned to his place, crossing his arms. Then came Lord Malrec Thorne, his hands clasped behind his back like a spider with manners. <<speech "malrec">> And I shall teach you the shadows behind the throne. Espionage. Law. The weight of secrets and the price of keeping them. You will sit through simulations of rebellion, court betrayal, and assassination trials. You will learn to lie with elegance, to charm enemies, to punish with grace. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> How can I be sure I won’t lose myself to these games? <</speech>> <<speech "malrec">> You can’t. You will be shaped by them. And one day, you may wake up wondering if the mask became your face. But such is rule an artful performance of truth and deceit. I will teach you both. <</speech>> [[Move forth|into_10]] <>

<> Then, in a sudden flourish of silk and laughter, Mistress Veletia Roswyn swept into the center like a flame in human form. <<speech "veletia">> And I, darling, shall make you divine. You will move with poise, speak with elegance, dress with meaning. Corsets, gowns, veils each stitch shall speak for your soul. You’ll walk into a hall and silence will follow, not from fear... but from awe. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> All from clothing? <</speech>> <<speech "veletia">> Clothing is not cloth. It is language. It is armor. It is spellwork. And you, my dear Caelan, will become the most enchanting vision this kingdom has ever dared to imagine. <</speech>> [[Move forth|into_11]] <>

<> As the final words settled into the warm silence of the chamber, the great bell of the royal tower tolled twice, signaling the descent of evening. Queen Alinora stood once more, her face unreadable. <<speech "alinora">> The day is late. You will begin tomorrow, with the dawn. For now, rest. Consider what you have heard. Your journey does not begin with your first lesson. it begins with your first dream as one destined to change. <</speech>> <<speech "mc">> Thank you... all of you. I don’t know what tomorrow brings. But I will rise to meet it. <</speech>> Caelan bowed. The great doors opened silently. As he exited the chamber, his boots echoed down the hallway, carrying with them the weight of a new destiny. The night was still, and the stars above Velmoria shimmered like the eyes of forgotten queens, watching. <> <<set $currentObjectives = "Go to Caelan's Chamber in Serene Wing">> <<set $currentArc["main_arc"] = 1>> [[Leave Council Room|castle_map_front_select]]