“Gawwwd, isn't she just so cuuute?!” Belle said again as she came down the stairs with me. She had switched to human-size and donned her other clothes, immediately picking me up from Ari, blanket and all, to go and show the others. Because of my stat and skill reduction, there wasn't a thing I could do to resist.

“Huh??!” Lizzy barked in disbelief. I scowled as menacingly as I could, but it had no effect on the irrepressible Nordian smith. “Pffffftt! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-hahhh! Oh, my Gawd! Screen-grab!!” she exclaimed, immediately taking a pic.

“If it's the last thing I do--” I started.

“Pfft! Lana! Honey, no!” Belle giggled. “I don't think we can take anything from you seriously right now!”

“Uuuggghh.”

“Sh-she is really cute that way,” Anhe remarked, coming over to poke me. “Cute little Lana!”

“N-n-n-not you too!!” I squeaked in exasperation, and they all burst out laughing.

“This is totally cute!” Healina said. “Oh let me guess, the ring, right? Yep! There it is,” she noted, taking my hand to examine it.

“Can't get it off?” Maryn said to me with a grin.

“Shaddup.” I grumbled, but that only made her giggle some more. “Hahh... it was a short virtual life... but it was wonderful...”

“Oh, don't give up. All we have to do is end the curse, right?” Ariana said as she came down with Lysandra, a tome in hand. Healina went over to help her look through the tome.

“Awww, don't end it yet!” Lizzy pouted.

“You realize my combat effectiveness has also shrunk with my size, don't you?!” I chattered back at her.

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“Hmm? Ohh, that's a problem...” she returned in agreement.

“Now she gets it...”

“Belle, may I?” Maryn asked, and Belle smiled, handing me off to her so she could shrink back to pixie size. Maryn hugged me close, and I felt myself blushing. “You're so adorkable.” she whispered to me.

“Bleehhh...” I softly retorted, and she giggled again.

“Here it is! We have to find the goblin emperor's lair and defeat him, along with his three shamans, to end the curse!” Healina announced.

“Hmm... but the finishing blow for each has to be dealt by Lana...” Lysandra noted.

“Ah--! That could be an issue... kind of... mostly...” our healer said.

“We'd have to get our blows in just right so Lana can wipe out their remaining hitpoints.” Maryn said, handing me off to Anhe next. Anhe nuzzled me for a moment, and then began heading out of the house with me, as if to make her way to the wayport. Belle followed her as she carried me, though I doubt her curiosity was greater than mine at the moment.

“Uh, Anhe? Where are we going?” I asked her.

“To a tailor shop!” she said at once.

“Good idea!” Maryn said as she joined us.

“Good luck, Lana!” Ariana giggled, and then turned back to the tome with Healina while the other girls joined us.

“Ohh, this is totally a trap.” I grumbled to myself softly.

“Deal with it, kiddo!” Belle smirked. “We're gonna have some fuuuuun tonight!” she giggled.

“Def!!” Lizzy beamed.

“I need to see if Myanihia's on...!” Lysandra remarked.

“Do it!!” Maryn cackled.

“F-for the love of all good things, j-just please, p-please don't summon Angelfire...” I stammered out.

“Oh, please, we won't be that cruel. At least... not tonight.” Lizzy winked.

“Hahh...” I sighed, and we stepped through the portal to enter the Market District of Harmonia City while the others giggled with delight.

I'll never live this down.