Suddenly the glow dissipated, revealing the unchanged body of Azura. With it, the light from the entire lake faded, the water still once again. Corrin panicked upon seeing the tiny Azura floating with her eyes shut, scooping her up into his hand.
"Azura!" he shouted, gently poking at the side of her body. He wanted her to wake up more than anything, but was worried about hurting her.
Groaning, she opened her eyes. "Corrin?" sitting up, she looked around. Everything seemed... Exactly as it was before.
"You really worried me," Corrin said, "I thought you might disappear for a moment!"
Azura looked up at him and smiled. "I wouldn't do that to you, Corrin," she gazed back over the lake, "but I still feel something strange here..."
"Maybe it will glow again," Corrin suggested, "we should try coming back again later."
"That's a good idea," Azura said. Suddenly, her face twisted into an odd expression. She let out a very high-pitched sneeze.
"You're soaking wet," Corrin said, wafting his other hand towards her in an attempt to dry her, "we need to get you into dry clothes."
"Yes, I suppose so," Azura nodded, "hopefully I'll have more to wear in the castle. Alternating between this dress and your handkerchief got a bit tiring after a while..."
"I'm sure we'll be able to find something," Corrin answered, heading back towards the castle. He clenched her body tightly in his hand, hoping he could at least warm her up a bit.
"It seems like you're stuck at that size..." Corrin said as he handed Azura a small piece of tissue. She took it from him and started drying her hair with it.
"It appears that way. Although there may still be a way to change me back," Azura said hopefully. She fiddled with the napkin wrapped around her tiny body.
"I'm sure we'll find it. Until then, I'll look after you," Corrin pledged.
"I know you will." Azura looked around Corrin's gigantic room. It was much more luxurious than the cabin they had to share for all of that time. She smiled.
I could get used to this...
"You know... Being small isn't so bad," Azura confessed.
"I guess. I can always keep you close, after all," Corrin agreed. He'd make the most of his inch of Azura.
"And I still have my song. I'll help you bring an end to this war and save the world," she said.
Corrin smiled. "That would be incredible. To think, you'd be the smallest hero who had ever lived!"
Azura giggled. "You could be right about that. Anyway, I'm quite happy at this size."
Corrin put his finger down on his desk. As she had done so many times before, Azura gave it a big hug.
"Are you sure?" Corrin asked.
"Yes," Azura nodded, nestling into the finger, "we don't have to find a way to grow me back. It can wait until after the war, at least..."
Legends tell of a man who could run twice as fast, and fight twice as hard, as any other. He single-handedly brought an end to a conflict that engulfed an entire world. Those fortunate enough to survive an encounter with him tell of an odd song, always present in the air around him. Some say that he was never without a tiny helper, by his side both on and off the battlefield, always...