My eyes flutter open, and at first I fear that the events of the previous day were just another dream. However, looking at the sleeping demon across from me, the light of a window above shining through her horns, I feel relieved that it was real. Despite all the changes, the hardships I’ll surely face, I wouldn't go back for anything. Not with my greatest dream having come true.
Gently as to not make too much noise, I get up and out of bed, deciding to have a look around. The apartment is small. A bit smaller even than my old apartment and I didnt have a roommate then. Across from the cots is a door which opens to a small storage area with food as well as candles, a few sheets, and some household utensils.
To the left of the pantry is the front door which leads to the stairwell to leave. To the left of that are the small table and chairs we sat at last night. Directly across from them is a small cast iron stove with a pile of split wood.
Lastly, To the right of the stove is another door, behind which is a very small room with a basin above which is a mirror, and a tap which when turned releases a stream of cool water, from which I take a drink. There is also a toilet with a wooden seat, there's no flushing mechanism but the sound of flowing water can be heard quietly emanating from it. Indoor plumbing was something I was worried about for a bit. I'm relieved I won't have to use some communal toilet like in ancient greece.
Closing the door and undoing my belt which is a less supple treated leather than my jacket, I mentally prepare myself to see my own body for the first time. I can't feel like I'm looking at someone else, this is my body now. He didn't want it, I didn't want mine. I can't be too embarrassed about it.
Taking off my jacket and hanging it on a wooden peg on the door, dropping the baggy fabric of my pants, and pulling my shirt off over my head. I see that I’m wearing something akin to baggy boxer shorts with long strings on the sides to tie them to my waist, and tight wrappings around my chest. I hadn't noticed it before but the constricting of my chest is starting to hurt. Pulling at the wrappings, I find the end and begin unraveling. I close my eyes as I reach the end, letting the wrappings fall to the floor and untying the string around my waist, allowing the last of my clothes to fall to the floor.
Releasing a held breath, I turn to the mirror and open my eyes. Seeing myself in full, I’m overcome with emotion, tears breaking my silent reverie as I see a wide smile on my reflected self. My hips, no longer hidden under baggy pants, are quite a bit wider than my shoulders. My waist is a bit slimmer than my shoulders, which themselves are quite a bit smaller than they were. My breasts are larger than I had expected, clearly having been expertly wrapped to appear so flat. Not only not hating my reflection, but loving it for the first time in my life I spend the next few minutes posing giddily.
Finally I inspect the parts of myself that are less human. Leaning closer to the mirror I inspect my face. Just as before, my face, while mostly human, has the coloration of a cow. My nose is much flatter, Though sticks out just as far as before, giving the impression of a short muzzle. two short horns adorn the top of my head. In place of my human ears are two large cow ears at the sides of my head. Another thing I hadn't noticed was a slightly higher sensitivity of my ears, despite being inside I can still clearly hear the morning birds chirping and the demon girl lightly snoring through the wall. I never considered myself a furry. though I always appreciated the art, I never made a fursona of my own, but I think if I had, it would have been this.
After making use of the facilities with which I had no struggles apart from the fact that instead of toilet paper there was just a bucket of water with two rags next to the toilet. I'm so glad they were labeled with names: Thalassa, And Cinder. After finishing my business, I wash my hands in the sink.
Still euphoric from admiring my body, I start to get dressed again. There's no bath or shower here despite having running water, so I'll have to figure that out later. Picking Up the wrappings first, I decide to try to make something to provide some support. My goal not to constrict but to uplift and shape. I do a few more loose wraps, bringing the fabric over each shoulder before doing a few tighter wraps just below my breasts and tucking the end into the bottom. No more padded bras for me.
After admiring my handiwork, I pick up the loose boxer type things. I hope I can get something more like I'm used to, but this will have to do for now. Tying them a bit tighter than they were to be more form fitting, putting my arms through my sleeves, I throw my shirt over my head, it isn't as ill fitting as the rest of my outfit, but its still less form fitting as I'd like. I pull back on the pants, pulling them up a bit higher, and put the belt around my waist rather than my hips where it was. With a more defined shape, I grab my nicest piece of clothing, my jacket, and pull that on to finish, before exiting the bathroom and without any other plans, sit at the table to await the demon's awakening.
Sitting at the small table I find myself at a temporary loss of things to occupy me. I decided to let the demon girl sleep, however that left me with just my thoughts, I decided to review everything that had happened and what I had learned since getting here. Thal must have been ready to jump off of that cliff when I was brought in. I'm glad I didn't wake up here in freefall. That would be a horrible irony, to be saved from suicide only to be killed by someone elses attempt.
Thinking over everything, I decided to try to learn some more about the world and try to explain what I know to the demon. She'll have a hard time dealing with the loss of her friend I’m sure, and I don't suspect me being in his body will help much with that, but I'll help them work through it as well as I can. It's the least I could do.
Reaching the end of last night in my thoughts I remember when the girl tapped my forehead and said something about my status? That's an odd word choice.
“status?” I mumble to myself. Just as the word leaves my lips, what looks like a holographic screen Appears before me.
Name: Thalassa white (Lilly moore) Age: 18 Sex Female Species: Holstaur Class: None Level: 11^ Health: 1000/1000 Mana: 500/500 Status: Well rested Hungry Euphoric Lost Notifications: 2
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
The fuck? Ok that's a lot of info. I'm two years younger? I don't have a class, I guess I can pick one, but I'm not sure how exactly.
Upon thinking the word ‘class’ a new menu pops up in front of the first.
Classes available: Farmer Baker Maid [Class hidden] Painter
more classes can be made available through the training of specific skills and/or external factors. Class cannot be changed later.
Well that's a bit disappointing. I was hoping for like, wizard, or barbarian or something. What's the hidden class?
Conditions not met to select hidden class.
Well what are the conditions?
Conditions hidden
That seems like an important mystery but one of many right now. I have mana? Does that mean that I can do spells? I eagerly think, upon seeing the word. The window pops up as it did before when I think ‘spells’.
Known spells: Lesser summon fire Lesser freezing touch Spells available: Lesser attract object (10sp) Lesser summon water (5sp)
New spells can be learnt and existing spells improved through education or battle.
Ooh I know spells? Grinning, I look at my hands, imagining a massive fireball, trying to channel summon fire… after a moment of trying to will flames into existence, a tiny flame like a cheap lighter appears on my left index finger. Huh. That's useful but I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed.
My status says I'm lost. That… makes sense I guess. Notifications available?
Achievement earned: close call -escape at the last moment from certain death, 1000 xp awarded. Level up available. Xp 250/1000
Gasp a level up, oh yes gimme that dopamine. Maybe I won't be missing video games too much after all. Thats a fucked up achievement though.
Level up. One skill point earned.
Great! What can I do with skill points?
Which skill would you like to increase? One point available.
Strength: 1 Mind: 4 Dexterity: 2 Endurance: 1 Perception: 3
Okay, I guess he was going for a more mage build? Hardly anything in any physical skills, so swords are probably off the table, I never preferred that style anyway. I usually played a stealth archer or mage in most games so I guess that's what I'll go with here. The stats are pretty self explanatory, and with mind as my highest, a mage build seems like the best choice, plus I can't NOT do magic it'd be a total waste. If I wanted to learn sword fighting I could have done it before.
With my completely well thought out plan in mind, I mentally select the mind stat and watch it tick up one.
mind raised to 5. 10sp earned. maximum mana raised to 600.
Confident in my choices, I see motion behind the translucent screens. Dispelling them with a thought, I ready myself for a difficult conversation.
The demon yawns, opening her eyes and sitting up.
“Good morning, thal~” the demon says, her tone indicating that it was more of a habit than an actual greeting. Looking at the cot beside her and then to the rest of the room, her eyes meet mine and her mood seems to change.
“why are you dressed like that?” she asks, concern evident on her face.
“I know you were talking strangely last night, but you're feeling better today, right? Ready to talk about everything properly?” she asks gently, as if she thinks I might yell at her.
“We do need to talk.” I speak calmly. My voice not betraying my discomfort with having to talk to a stranger who believes I'm her friend about the impossible things which have occurred. She gets out of bed, making her way over to me before taking her seat.
“I am being completely literal and serious when I say, I am not Thalassa. My name is Lilly. I'm not from this world or reality or whatever, this isn't my original body. I am not Thal.” I try to be as clear as possible.
“I don't understand, you really aren't her- uh him? you're saying that you're what, possessing Thal?” she asks, her face morphing almost to a grimace.
“no, well, maybe? But not intentionally. Thal and I were both about to, um, we were about to do the same thing. I think he may be in my body. I'm not sure how it happened, or why.”
“Wha- I, I don't know what to say. Do you think you can change back?” She begs.
I look down at my hands. I don't know how to tell her that I don't want to change back. “I don't think so.” I choose to respond.
The girl seems to steel her resolve, standing up from her chair. “there has to be a way, we'll go to the library, we'll see the healers, we'll figure something out.” the girl raises her voice as if trying to convince herself, grabbing my wrist and pulling me out the door.