Here I am again! A minor change undergoes Opal here ;) There's more Opal and Squint interaction here too!
Kay enjoy!
"And… you're sure this is what you want?"
Opal clenched her fists, trying to steel her nerves as she stared up at her ruler. "Yes, Lord Zalim. This is truly what I want."
"I must warn yiu, little one" he continued. "You will be giving away your childhood. You will be missing ten years of your memory."
"I- I don't care." She forced her words not to tremble. "This will save my Lady. I must do this."
"Alright… if you insist then."
After introducing Raz's six brothers to her fiancé- something proved very awkward- Opal had proposed to Zalim her idea. They didn't have time to wait however-many-years for Opal to age and mature, so, of course, magic was the alternative. She was admittedly very nervous to lose her childhood, lose her youth, but it would be worth it if it could bring her friend back.
For the first time ever, someone that wasn't Raz dared look Zalim in the eye and not feel fear. "I'm ready, Lord Zalim."
"…Alright."
…
Opal didn't expect aging to hurt so much! When it became evident that the pain of instantaneously aging ten years could quite possibly kill her, they settled for a different thing. But it still!
Opal fell to the floor as magic orange light, glowing and pulsing, lunged forward and struck her into eh chest. She shrieked shrilly as she could feel her muscles stretching and growing, her bones changing. It felt like her skin was being peeled off and then sewn back together with acidic needles! "M- Make it stop!" she whispered, curled up, trembling. But Zalim continued his magic. After what felt like an eternity, but was really only about two minutes, the light disappeared with a zap.
A pair of hands gentle picked her up and held her against something warm. She still felt woozy and all around horrible, pain still pulsing through her in time with her heartbeat.
"What… what happened?" Opal squealed in surprise, slapping her hands over her mouth. "My- My voice! What happened to my voice?!" her tone has lost its high pitched, childish sweetness and was now a bit deeper, smooth and pure. She looked down at herself. "What happened to the rest of me?!"
She stood up shaking, wobbling unsteadily. Her legs had lengthened considerably, but it seemed to be the least of what had happened. Her arms seemed much thinner and more elegant, her fingers elongated as well. Her figure had gotten much thinner, and as she stood up, she nearly toppled over at the surprising new weight on her chest. "What in the world…?"
"Opal, welcome to fifteen."
…
As she was going to be his bride's savior, Savas had convinced Zalim to treat Opal with respect. She'd been given her own room, well furnished and comfortable. Rather than turning her into an adult instantly, they'd altered the magic so she'd gain about one year a week until she was twenty two, and then her aging would continue as normal.
Opal was still trying to get used to being a teenager. The first chance she got, she'd run off into the forest to find some solitude- all at once, Zalim's servants were keen on waiting on Opal hand and foot, via his orders.
She found herself a quiet little stream and sat down on a mossy rock, staring at her collection. The girl that stared back at her was a stranger, with long eye lashes, high cheek bones and round eyes full of intelligence. "Who… who are you…?" she murmured. "Who am I…?"
She honestly didn't know anymore. Poor Opal was confused and sad- not recognizing yourself was a scary feeling. She was running a tiny brush just her size through the fur on her ears, trying to distract herself by making her fur smoother. It was already shinier and silky with adolescent beauty, but she needed to do something to occupy herself.
For a long while she stared at her reflection, brushing her fur, until a voice spoke from behind her. "Hey Squirt." She squeaked in surprise and whirled around.
Squint was taken aback in surprise at the teenage girl that turned to look at him- he'd thought she was that girl from before! "Oh..." she relaxed. "Squint, it's you. You startled me!"
He blinked. "Oh my- Opal?!" she nodded sheepishly. "But how… I mean- you… weren't you just?!"
She giggled embarrassedly and nodded. "Yes. Lord Zalim willed me to become an adolescent."
"Why?!"
"So that I may hold the Sapphire Sea Scepter and lift Queen Kari's curse."
"Woah woah woah!" he waved his arms round. "You mean ta tell me that thing's real?!"
She nodded. "Yes. I may wield it once I become a woman. When Queen Kari has been freed, she will ensure Lady Time's rise."
"Time… ya mean my little sis?"
She nodded. "That is correct."
The thought of his sister com g back to life shocked Squint and he shakily took a sea beside her. "Y- Ya mean…"
"Yes."
For a while they sat in silence, staring into the water, the both of them still processing the stunning news. Opal still wasn't completely accustomed to the idea of holding a magical staff made for a queen, or in fact lifting a curse. She wasn't sure she could bear the idea of aging so quickly- from fifteen to twenty one in six weeks? It scared her, in all honesty. Most children jumped at the chance to grow up, but Opal was terrified. And not only because working the Scepter's magic could quite possible result in her death.
"Hey Squirt?"
She looked over at him. "Yes Squint?"
"Who's this Queen Kari chick anyway? Why da we need her ta help my sis anyhow?"
"Because Queen Kari is Raz's mother!"
Ok! So, Squint knows Raz's mother is a queen, and had met Opal, who is quickly aging to prepare her to lift Kari's curse and in turn bring Raze back! Reviews please?