Chapter 48 – To School

The last days of the week passed in a blur. Madelyn and her parents focused on preparing for her return to school, doing everything they could to ensure the transition would go smoothly. With Marcus and Dana’s help, they had managed to secure a ‘fake’ ID for her—or at least, that’s how her dad had described it. But Madelyn couldn’t help but think of it as real. After all, she was Madelyn Fae Roth now.

She spent hours practicing her Human Disguise skill, trying to get used to the sensation of hiding her fox ears and tail. It was uncomfortable, like wearing clothes that didn’t quite fit. Yet, when she looked in the mirror, she had to admit she still liked the way she looked in her disguised form. Not as much as with her ears and tail, though. They had become a part of her identity, and she didn’t want to lose that.

Lyra had been a constant source of support. The fairy flitted around the house, offering encouragement and advice. More importantly, Lyra had discovered she could manipulate her visibility, appearing as a small flower nestled in Madelyn’s hair when other people were around. It was a clever trick that allowed Lyra to stay close, whispering advice or comfort without drawing attention.

“Let's practise switching forms one more time, okay?” Lyra asked, her tiny form perched on Madelyn’s shoulder, her wings gently fluttering. It was the last evening before Madelyn would return to school.

Madelyn sighed, her amber eyes lingering on her reflection in the mirror. Staring back at her was her human form: no fox ears, no tail—just an ordinary girl with fiery red hair and soft, rounded features. She hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah, let’s give it another go.”

A soft shimmer passed over her, and within seconds, her ears and tail reappeared, returning to their usual form.

Lyra floated up, hovering near Madelyn’s head. “Remember, focus on the feeling of your natural form beneath the disguise. You’re not hiding who you are; you’re just temporarily blending in.”

Madelyn closed her eyes and concentrated, the tingling sensation of the Human Disguise skill washing over her. She felt her ears retract, her tail disappear. When she opened her eyes again, her reflection had shifted back to her human guise.

“It still feels weird,” she muttered, fidgeting with her hair. “Like I’m pretending to be someone I’m not.”

Lyra gave her a reassuring smile. “That’s because you’re not used to it yet. But you’ll get there, Maddy.”

After she was done practicing, Madelyn took a shower and slipped into her nightgown. The soft fabric felt comforting against her skin as she padded downstairs to say goodnight to her parents. They looked up from their conversation, both offering her warm smiles.

“Goodnight, sweetheart,” her mom said, walking over to give her a gentle hug. “Sleep well. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

Her dad gave her a reassuring nod. “You’ll do great, Maddy. Just be yourself.”

Madelyn managed a small smile. “Thanks. Goodnight.”

She climbed the stairs and slipped into her room, closing the door quietly behind her. The familiar comfort of her bed welcomed her as she climbed under the covers. Lyra perched on the pillow next to hers, her wings softly glowing in the dim light.

Madelyn sighed deeply, her fingers playing with the edge of her blanket. "Tomorrow's going to be... interesting," she murmured.

Lyra nodded, her tiny legs swinging off the edge of the pillow. “You’re nervous, huh?”

Madelyn let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, you could say that. It’s been so long since I’ve been around so many people who knew me as Benjamin. I don’t know how they’ll react. Even though Sarah and my parents have been amazing, it’s still... scary.”

Lyra reached out, placing a tiny hand on Madelyn’s cheek. “You’ll do great, Maddy.”

Madelyn’s heart swelled at the fairy’s words. “Thanks, Lyra,” she whispered.

Lyra grinned. “No problem, and I'll be there for the extra flair.”

Madelyn chuckled softly, her nerves easing slightly. She closed her eyes, letting her thoughts drift to the next day. The idea of seeing her friends, especially Sarah, brought a mix of anxiety and comfort. But Sarah’s energy and unwavering support always seemed to make things better.

“I just hope everything goes smoothly,” Madelyn said, her voice trailing off as sleep began to pull at her.

“It will,” Lyra said softly, her voice like a lullaby. “Now rest, Maddy. Tomorrow, you’ll shine.”

With that, Madelyn let herself sink into the embrace of sleep, the rhythmic sound of Lyra’s wings lulling her into dreams.

Madelyn woke up to her phone’s alarm blaring, the insistent buzzing pulling her from the comfort of sleep. She groaned, reaching out blindly to silence it. "Ugh, five more minutes..." she mumbled, turning over and pulling the blanket over her head.

Before she could drift back into blissful sleep, the alarm blared again, jolting her awake. She fumbled for her phone, muttering, “Why do you hate me, alarm?”

From her pillow, Lyra’s soft giggle broke the silence. “Good morning, sunshine.”

Madelyn peeked out from under the blanket, her eyes narrowed in mock annoyance. “Not funny, Lyra. I’m not a morning person.”

Lyra hovered in the air, her wings fluttering gently. “Oh, I know,” she teased, her smile playful. “But today’s a big day, and I couldn’t let you snooze through it.”

Madelyn sighed, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. “I guess you’re right,” she admitted reluctantly. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her tail swishing lazily as she stretched. “But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

Lyra perched on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring pat. “Just think of it this way—you’ll get to see Sarah and your friends again. That should wake you up, right?”

A small smile tugged at Madelyn’s lips. “Yeah, I guess so.” The thought of seeing her friends brought a mix of excitement and nerves, but it was enough to pull her fully out of her morning fog.

She grabbed her clothes for the day, glancing at Lyra. “Alright, let’s get this over with. But next time, you’re dealing with the alarm.”

Lyra chuckled. “Deal.”

As Madelyn reached the kitchen, the enticing scent of breakfast greeted her, instantly making her mouth water. Her tail began to sway with anticipation, a reflex she still couldn’t control. She caught her mom’s knowing smile as she stepped into the room.

“Good morning, Maddy,” her mom greeted warmly, flipping a pancake onto a plate.

“Morning,” Madelyn replied, her voice still tinged with sleep as she slumped into her usual seat. She was dressed in a comfortable pair of pants and a hoodie over her shirt, hoping the familiar outfit would help keep her nerves in check.

Her dad looked up from his newspaper, offering her a reassuring smile. “Today’s a big day.”

“Yeah, I guess…” Madelyn mumbled, poking at the plate of pancakes her mom set in front of her. Despite the comforting smell and taste of breakfast, the knots in her stomach were hard to ignore. The thought of going back to school, facing everyone as Madelyn, made her tail flick nervously beneath the table.

Her mom placed a gentle hand on her shoulder as she sat down beside her. “You’re going to do great,” she said softly. “And remember, you’ve got people who care about you. Sarah will be right there with you.”

Madelyn nodded, forcing a small smile. “Thanks, Mom.” But despite her parents’ encouragement, the nerves kept bubbling beneath the surface.

After finishing her breakfast, Madelyn took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the day ahead. She pushed her chair back and stood, feeling the weight of the moment settle on her shoulders. Today was the day she would officially return to school, not as Benjamin, but as Madelyn Fae Roth.

Her parents gave her encouraging smiles. “You ready, Maddy?” her dad asked, his tone gentle.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied, her voice steady despite the anxious fluttering in her chest. She closed her eyes briefly, focusing on her fox ears and tail. A familiar tingling sensation spread through her, and when she opened her eyes, they were gone, hidden by her Human Disguise.

Madelyn gave herself a quick once-over in the mirror by the door. Without her fox features, she looked like any ordinary teenage girl—aside from her fiery red hair, which still managed to stand out. She sighed and slipped on her boots. They still felt awkward, just as they did in the game, but with her disguise active, the discomfort was muted, making them somewhat tolerable.

Her mom handed her a small lunch bag, a warm smile on her face. “Just in case you get hungry,” she said with a playful wink.

Madelyn returned the smile, taking the bag. “Thanks, Mom.”

With a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped outside, only to pause as she was met with Sarah’s beaming face. The early morning sunlight caught the golden highlights in Sarah’s hair, making her seem even more vibrant and energetic than usual. Madelyn blinked in surprise, her lips curling into a shy smile.

“Hey, Maddy!!” Sarah practically bounced on her toes, her excitement infectious. “I’ll walk you to school! I thought you could use some company!”

Before Madelyn could even process what was happening, Sarah grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers with a firm but warm grip. “Come on, let’s go!” she chirped, giving Madelyn a gentle tug.

Madelyn felt her cheeks heat up slightly, but she couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. “Sarah, you’re way too excited for this early in the morning,” she teased, her voice tinged with affection.

“Of course I am!” Sarah grinned, squeezing Madelyn’s hand lightly as they started walking. “This is a big day for you, and I’m not letting you face it alone. Plus,” she added with a playful wink, “I’ve been dying to see everyone’s faces when they meet the coolest new girl in school.”

Madelyn laughed softly, her nerves easing slightly under Sarah’s relentless positivity. “You’re impossible.”

“And you still love it,” Sarah replied, sticking her tongue out in a playful gesture.

The two walked side by side down the quiet street, the early morning chill nipping at their cheeks. Sarah’s presence was comforting, her chatter filling the air with stories and jokes, distracting Madelyn from the growing tension in her chest. Every now and then, Sarah would swing their joined hands, a small, absent-minded gesture that made Madelyn’s heart feel a little lighter.

As they neared the school, the imposing building coming into view, Madelyn’s steps faltered slightly. Sarah immediately noticed, giving her hand another reassuring squeeze.

“You’ve got this, Maddy,” she said softly, her usual playful tone replaced with genuine warmth.

Madelyn took a deep breath, her nerves still present but more manageable now. She nodded, meeting Sarah’s encouraging gaze. “Thank you for doing this, Sarah.”

Sarah’s smile softened, her eyes sparkling. “No problem!”