Astralyth Online

Chapter 61 – A New Look

Madelyn and Sarah stepped into the house, the warm familiarity of her home wrapping around her like a comforting blanket. Madelyn gave Sarah a quick smile before hurrying upstairs to her room. She needed to change into something more comfortable—something that would let her tail move freely again.

"Better hurry up!" Sarah called after her, grinning. "We don’t have all day, you know!"

As she opened her bedroom door, she was greeted by an unexpected sight: Lyra, arms crossed and wings fluttering with a slight edge of irritation, hovered near her pillow.

“Well, good afternoon to you too,” Lyra said, her voice tinged with mock annoyance. “Thanks for leaving me alone all day.”

Madelyn froze, guilt washing over her. “Lyra, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to leave you behind. I just… you were still sleeping, and I thought you needed the rest. You used so much energy last night helping me.”

Lyra’s expression softened, her posture relaxing as she landed gracefully on the bed. “I know,” she admitted, her voice gentler. “I wasn’t really mad, Maddy. I just… you could have at least woken me up before leaving. I don’t like the idea of you out there while I’m stuck up here, clueless about what’s going on.”

Madelyn walked over to the bed and sat down, her hands fiddling nervously with the hem of her shirt. “I didn’t want to disturb you. You’ve done so much for me already, Lyra. You deserved the extra sleep.”

Lyra sighed, a small smile creeping onto her face. “You’re too thoughtful for your own good sometimes, you know that? Just… next time, give me a little nudge. I’d rather be groggy and with you than wide awake and wondering if you’re okay.”

Madelyn smiled back, feeling a weight lift from her chest. “Deal. I promise.”

Lyra flitted up to sit on Madelyn’s shoulder, her tiny legs swinging playfully. “So, how was school? Anything interesting happen?”

Madelyn hesitated for a moment, her thoughts flashing back to Kim, the video, and the swirl of emotions she’d been feeling about Sarah. “It was… eventful,” she said, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. “I’ll fill you in later, but right now I need to change. These clothes are driving me crazy.”

Lyra grinned knowingly. “I’ll bet. Go ahead. I’ll wait here and try not to judge your wardrobe choices too harshly.”

Madelyn rolled her eyes but laughed as she stood and moved toward her closet. Having Lyra around, even when she was teasing, made everything feel a little easier.

Madelyn sifted through her wardrobe, her fingers brushing past familiar fabrics, when something caught her eye. A dress she didn’t recognize hung neatly among her other clothes. It was simple yet elegant, with a soft, flowing design and a color that complemented her fiery red hair. She tilted her head, confused but intrigued.

“Where did this come from?” she murmured, pulling it out and holding it up to herself. It looked like something her mom might have picked out. A small smile formed on her lips.

Carefully, she slipped into the dress, the fabric soft against her skin. She turned to face the mirror and froze. Even though she was getting used to seeing her reflection as Madelyn, it still felt surreal sometimes. Her amber eyes stared back at her, framed by her long, red locks and her fox ears, which twitched slightly as she moved. The dress fit her perfectly, accentuating her figure without being too much.

Lyra fluttered up behind her, hovering just over her shoulder. “You know, it’s not bad,” she said, her tiny arms crossed as she studied Madelyn’s reflection. “But maybe do something with your hair? Give it a little extra flair.”

Madelyn turned her head slightly, her eyes narrowing at Lyra in the mirror. “What’s wrong with my hair?”

“Nothing!” Lyra replied quickly, a mischievous grin on her face. “But if you’re going to wear that dress, you might as well complete the look. Maybe a braid? Or something half-up, half-down? You’d look stunning.”

Madelyn hesitated, her fingers running through her long hair. Styling it wasn’t something she had done much of before, but the idea intrigued her. “I guess I could try…”

“Let me help!” Lyra chirped, her wings fluttering with excitement.

Madelyn chuckled softly and sat down at her desk, grabbing her brush. “Alright, you’re in charge, Lyra. But nothing too complicated, okay?”

Lyra zipped around her, inspecting her hair from every angle like a tiny hairstylist. “Trust me, you’re in good hands—or wings, I guess.”

As Lyra directed her on how to part and twist her hair, Madelyn found herself smiling. The surrealness of her reflection began to fade, replaced by a quiet confidence.

When they were finished, Lyra clapped her hands in delight. “Perfect! You look absolutely radiant.”

Madelyn stared at her reflection again, the braid running down one side of her head and the rest of her hair cascading softly around her shoulders. The dress and hairstyle together made her feel… complete.

“Thanks, Lyra,” she said, her voice soft with gratitude.

The fairy perched on her shoulder, her tiny head leaning against Madelyn’s. “You’re welcome. Now go show Sarah—she’ll flip.”

Madelyn blushed but stood, smoothing down the dress and heading for the door.

Madelyn descended the stairs, her heart fluttering slightly with each step. Lyra hovered close behind her, the fairy’s tiny glow adding a soft shimmer to the moment. As she reached the bottom and stepped into the living room, Sarah, who had been pacing impatiently, spun around to face her.

“OMG, Maddy, I told you to hurry up! You took like forev—” Sarah’s words trailed off as her eyes locked onto Madelyn. Her mouth fell open, and she froze mid-step, her expression shifting from annoyance to sheer amazement. “Oh. My. Gosh.”

Madelyn fidgeted nervously, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “What?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah blinked, her face lighting up with a grin so wide it made Madelyn’s cheeks burn. “What?! Maddy, you look… you look incredible! That dress! Your hair! I mean, wow, you’re like a model or something.” She stepped closer, her gaze taking in every detail. “Seriously, you should wear stuff like this all the time.”

Madelyn’s blush deepened. She wasn’t used to such attention.. “It’s just a dress,” she mumbled, glancing down at herself.

“Just a dress?” Sarah exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. “No way. This is a total showstopper. You’re absolutely stunning.”

Lyra, still perched on Madelyn’s shoulder, chimed in with a teasing tone. “Told you she’d flip.”

Sarah’s eyes darted to Lyra, and she pointed dramatically. “You did this, didn’t you? The hair, I mean.”

Lyra smirked, crossing her tiny arms. “Guilty as charged. But Maddy did the hard part—she just needed a little guidance.”

“Well, you nailed it,” Sarah said, her tone genuinely impressed. She turned back to Madelyn, her expression softening. “Seriously, though, you look amazing.”

Madelyn couldn’t help the shy smile that crept onto her face. “Thanks, Sarah.”

Sarah reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the couch. “Alright, come on. You can’t just drop this level of glam and not expect me to do something about it. We need a selfie. Or, like, a thousand.”

“Sarah!” Madelyn protested, though she allowed herself to be dragged along.

“Nope, no arguments,” Sarah said firmly, pulling out her phone and positioning them both on the couch. “This needs to be documented for posterity.”

As Sarah snapped a few pictures, Madelyn found herself relaxing, even laughing at Sarah’s exaggerated poses and playful commentary. The initial embarrassment faded, replaced by warmth and happiness. Being with Sarah always had that effect on her.

When they finally settled down, Sarah glanced at the photos on her phone and grinned. “Maddy, you’re a natural. Seriously, you’ve got that whole shy beauty’ vibe down.”

Madelyn smiled shyly at Sarah, her heart warming at her friend’s enthusiasm. She wasn’t used to this kind of attention, but with Sarah, it didn’t feel overwhelming—it felt… good.

Sarah, meanwhile, was still flipping through the photos on her phone, picking her favorites and sending them to Madelyn with barely-contained excitement. “Okay, this one’s perfect! And this one—ugh, your hair looks so good here! Seriously, Maddy, your face, this dress, your ears, your tail—it’s all just chef’s kiss perfection.”

Madelyn laughed softly, her cheeks tinged pink. “You’re really making a big deal out of this.”

“Of course I am! You’re stunning,” Sarah declared dramatically, tossing her hair over her shoulder for emphasis.

Before Madelyn could reply, her mom walked into the room, a steaming mug of tea in her hand. Emily’s eyes immediately went to her daughter, and she stopped in her tracks, a pleased smile spreading across her face. “Ah, so you found it,” she said, nodding approvingly. “I knew I couldn’t leave that dress in the store.”

Madelyn turned to her mom, her eyebrows raising in surprise. “You bought this?”

Emily nodded, taking a sip of her tea as she crossed the room. “Yeah, the moment I saw it, I knew it would look beautiful on you. I didn’t say anything because I wanted you to find it yourself. It looks even better than I imagined.”

Sarah gasped, her face lighting up. “Mrs. Roth, you’re a genius! This dress is awesome! Look at her—she’s glowing!”

Emily's smile widened as she leaned slightly against the counter, her interest piqued. “That’s wonderful to hear. Can you tell me more about them?”

Madelyn nodded, her tail giving a subtle flick of excitement. “Her name’s Kim. She’s kind of nerdy, really into conspiracy theories, and she’s… well, curious about everything. She’s the type who always has some wild idea or theory to share. And... she even had a video of me in Astralyth Online.”

Emily raised an eyebrow, her curiosity deepening. “A video of you? What kind of video?”

Sarah chimed in before Madelyn could respond, her enthusiasm bubbling over. “Oh, it’s amazing! It’s Maddy fighting slimes with her weaponring. The video went viral because she looked so cool—like this fiery dancer, all graceful and badass. The comments were full of people calling her the ‘Dancing Flame.’” Sarah grinned and turned to Madelyn. “You’re basically a celebrity now.”

Madelyn groaned softly, her blush returning in full force. “It’s not that big of a deal,” she mumbled, though the shy smile tugging at her lips betrayed a hint of pride.

Emily chuckled, clearly amused by her daughter’s modesty. “She sounds like a fun person to have around. And you've got to show me the video sometime. Do you think you’ll spend more time with her?”

Madelyn tilted her head thoughtfully. “Yeah, I probably will. She’s quite nice, and we’ve been paired up in chemistry the last couple of times.” She paused, noticing Sarah’s exaggerated pout. “But I guess she is nice, though she does ask a lot of questions. We’ll see how it goes.”

Emily’s smile deepened as she watched the exchange. “Well, maybe you could invite her, Sarah, and Lillian for a shopping trip. You know, a girls’ day out where you can pick your own clothing and start creating your own style instead of me choosing for you.”

Before Madelyn could react, Sarah’s eyes lit up, and she practically bounced in place. “Yes! Oh my gosh, that’s a fantastic idea, Mrs. Roth! We can hit up the mall, try on outfits, grab snacks—oh, Maddy, we have to do this!”

Madelyn blinked, overwhelmed by Sarah’s sudden burst of energy. “Wait, shopping? I don’t know… I’m not exactly—”

“Nope!” Sarah interrupted, pointing a finger at her dramatically. “No excuses. You need a proper girls’ day, Maddy. And besides, you loved trying on that dress earlier. Admit it.”

Madelyn sighed, her ears flicking involuntarily, though her tail gave an involuntary happy sway. “Okay, maybe I liked it a little,” she admitted, her cheeks tinged with pink.

“That’s the spirit!” Sarah declared triumphantly. “Lillian will be all over this idea too. She’s the queen of finding cute outfits.”

Emily chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the sight of Sarah dragging Madelyn further out of her shell. “It sounds like a lot of fun, sweetheart. And you deserve some time to relax and just enjoy yourself.”

Madelyn hesitated for a moment, but the thought of spending time with her friends outside of school, doing something normal and fun, started to appeal to her. “Alright,” she said finally. “We can plan a day.”

Sarah cheered, throwing her arms around Madelyn. “This is going to be epic! Maddy, you’re going to have the best time—I promise.”

Madelyn laughed softly, returning the hug. “If you say so.”

As they sat back down on the couch, Sarah was already buzzing with ideas for their outing, rattling off suggestions while Madelyn listened, a smile tugging at her lips. The idea of a girls’ day might have been daunting at first, but with Sarah leading the charge, it felt like it could be the start of something special.