Chapter 60 – Growing Bonds

Madelyn stared at the video on Kim’s phone, her emotions swirling like a storm. It was strange to see herself like this—so confident, so graceful. The comments underneath the video made her stomach flip with a mix of embarrassment and pride. She had never thought of herself as someone who could inspire such awe in others.

“You okay, Maddy?” Sarah asked, her voice soft with concern.

Madelyn blinked, her gaze flicking up from the screen. “I… I don’t know,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing. “It’s just weird seeing myself like this. I didn’t think anyone would notice me, let alone say… stuff like that.”

“You mean awesome stuff,” James interjected, grinning. “C’mon, admit it—you look like a total badass out there.”

David nodded in agreement. “He’s right. You should be proud. Not everyone can fight like that, especially with such style.”

Lillian chimed in, her voice warm and encouraging. “It’s not just your skills, Madelyn. The way you move… it’s like you’re meant to be out there. It’s inspiring.”

Madelyn looked back at the video, trying to reconcile the fiery warrior on the screen with the shy girl she still felt like inside. “I guess… it does look kind of cool,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah bumped her shoulder lightly, a wide grin on her face. “Kind of cool? You’re the Dancing Flame! Own it, Maddy.”

Madelyn couldn’t help but smile, even as her face burned with embarrassment. “Alright, alright,” she said, her tone a bit more playful. “Maybe I’ll start to believe it… someday.”

Kim, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. “It’s not just about believing it,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “You are that person. You just need to let yourself see it.”

Madelyn glanced at Kim, surprised by her words. There was a sincerity in her tone that made Madelyn feel seen in a way she hadn’t expected from her. “Thanks,” she said softly, her smile growing a bit more genuine.

The group continued chatting and laughing, the video becoming a point of lighthearted teasing and encouragement. Madelyn still felt a bit overwhelmed, but the warmth and support of her friends made it easier to bear. For the first time, she allowed herself to feel a small spark of pride in what she had accomplished, both in the game and in life.

Maybe, just maybe, she could live up to the image on that screen—not just for the strangers commenting online, but for herself.

The rest of lunch break went by quickly, the group falling into easy conversation. The topic lingered on Madelyn’s moves in the game, much to her embarrassment. Her friends kept teasing her about her grace and skill, with Sarah chiming in the most, describing her as “a graceful firestorm with a killer instinct.”

Kim, who was now fully invested in the discussion, leaned forward with curiosity. “Okay, but seriously, how are you that good? Did you do any fighting sports or martial arts before?”

Madelyn hesitated, glancing at Sarah for support. “Uh… no, not really,” she admitted.

David, raised an eyebrow. “So, you just… instinctively knew how to fight like that?”

“Well,” Madelyn began, fidgeting slightly, “it’s kind of hard to explain. It’s like… I just knows what to do. I don’t even think about it most of the time—it’s like it’s part of me.”

“That’s so cool,” Lillian said, her eyes wide with admiration. “It’s like you’re in sync with the game.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

James grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Or maybe the game’s in sync with her. Maybe you’re secretly a legendary NPC, Maddy.”

The table erupted in laughter at James’s playful remark, though Madelyn couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease. The truth of her connection to Astralyth wasn’t something she could share with everyone—not yet.

Kim tilted her head, her thoughtful gaze lingering on Madelyn. “That’s still pretty wild, though. Most people have to practice for ages to move like that, even in a game.”

Madelyn forced a smile, her mind racing. “I guess I just got lucky,” she said, trying to brush off the attention.

Sarah nudged her playfully. “Oh, come on, Maddy. You’re not just lucky—you’re awesome.”

Madelyn’s blush deepened, but she couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto her face. Sarah’s unwavering support was as comforting as ever, even if the attention made her squirm a little.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, the group gathered their things and started heading to their next classes. Kim gave Madelyn a friendly wave as they parted ways, her eyes still carrying that hint of curiosity.

Walking to their class together, Sarah glanced sideways at Madelyn. “You okay? Kim’s video didn’t freak you out too much, did it?”

Madelyn smiled softly, her thoughts still lingering on the lunch conversation. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice steady. “And you were right, Sarah. Kim doesn’t know my secret. I was probably just overthinking it.”

Sarah nodded, a teasing grin spreading across her face. “See? Told you. You really need to trust me more, Maddy.”

Madelyn rolled her eyes, but her smile didn’t waver. “Fine, I’ll give you this one.”

They walked a little further in companionable silence before Madelyn spoke again. “You know… Kim’s pretty cool. She’s curious, but not in a bad way, I think.”

Sarah looked at her with a knowing smirk. “So, you’re saying you like her?”

Madelyn gave her a mock glare. “I didn’t say that. I just think she’s… nice.”

Sarah laughed, nudging Madelyn playfully. “Relax, I’m just teasing. It’s good that you’re making more friends. And honestly, I kind of like Kim too. She’s got that nerdy, conspiracy vibe going on, and it’s pretty endearing.”

Madelyn chuckled. “She definitely has her theories. I think if she knew half of what was actually going on with me, her mind would probably explode.”

Sarah grinned, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “Yeah, but can you imagine her trying to explain it all in one of those crazy conspiracy boards? Strings and pushpins everywhere, a big picture of you in the middle…”

Madelyn laughed, the sound light and genuine. “She’d probably write a whole manifesto.”

“Exactly!” Sarah said, giggling. “It’d be called The Truth About Madelyn: The Foxkin Goddess Who Fights Slimes.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur of routine classes and fleeting moments of laughter with her friends. Madelyn felt herself settling more comfortably into the rhythm of school life, though her thoughts kept drifting back to the events of lunch. When the final bell rang, she gathered her things and waved goodbye to Lillian, David, James, and even Kim, who smiled warmly before heading off.

Madelyn and Sarah left the school together, their steps falling into sync as they started the familiar walk home. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the quiet streets. The air was cool, but not unpleasant, and Madelyn felt oddly at peace despite the whirlwind of emotions that had marked the day.

Sarah walked close beside her, their arms occasionally brushing. Madelyn tried not to think too much about it, but the proximity sent her thoughts spiraling. She found herself glancing at Sarah out of the corner of her eye, taking in the way her golden hair caught the light, the way her smile seemed to brighten the world around her.

Her mind wandered to the playful comment Sarah had made at lunch. Love at first sight. Did Sarah mean it? Or was it just another one of her jokes, meant to tease and lighten the mood? The thought made Madelyn’s heart race, and her face heated as a blush crept up her cheeks. What if Sarah did mean it? What did she want it to mean? Do I like Sarah that way?

The idea was both thrilling and terrifying. She had always felt close to Sarah, even before her transformation, but everything felt different now—sharper, more intense. Her emotions were infinitely harder to ignore, harder to rationalize away. Being around Sarah made her feel warm, safe, and, in a way, seen.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Sarah’s voice broke through her reverie.

Madelyn blinked, realizing she’d been staring at Sarah. “Oh, um, nothing,” she said quickly, her voice higher-pitched than usual.

Sarah chuckled, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Uh-huh. Sure. You’ve got that ‘lost in thought’ look on your face.”

Madelyn, caught off guard by Sarah's perceptiveness, tried to shrug it off with a nervous laugh. "It’s nothing, really."

Sarah wasn’t buying it. She tilted her head, her golden hair catching the evening light, and gave Madelyn a knowing look. “Maddy, you’re overthinking stuff again. Let me help—what’s on your mind? Is it about the spy your dad was going to meet?”

Madelyn’s eyes widened as the realization hit her. She had completely forgotten about that amidst everything else that had happened during the day. Her stomach churned with a mix of nerves and dread as the weight of it came rushing back.

Sarah’s sharp gaze caught the change in her expression immediately. “Thought so,” she said, crossing her arms with a little nod. “Okay, it’s settled. I’m coming over to your place.”

Madelyn blinked. “What?”

“You’re way too stressed again,” Sarah said matter-of-factly, grabbing Madelyn’s hand as they continued walking. “I’m not letting you spiral. We’ll hang out, eat snacks, and I’ll make you laugh until you’re calm. Deal?”

Madelyn opened her mouth to protest but found herself hesitating. She didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts, not when they were racing with all the possibilities of what could go wrong with her dad’s meeting. And if anyone could distract her and lighten the mood, it was Sarah.

“Deal,” Madelyn finally said, her voice soft.

Sarah’s triumphant grin lit up her face. “Good. Because I was going to come over whether you said yes or not.”

Madelyn couldn’t help but laugh softly, shaking her head at Sarah’s relentless determination. “You really don’t take no for an answer, do you?”

Sarah grinned, giving her a light nudge. “Not when it comes to you, Maddy.”

Madelyn’s cheeks warmed at the comment, and she quickly turned her gaze to the path ahead. She didn’t respond, but a small smile tugged at her lips. As the tension in her chest eased slightly, she realized Sarah’s company might be exactly what she needed to get through the evening.

As they continued walking, Madelyn’s thoughts spiraled back to Sarah as Sarah’s warm hand remained clasped around hers. The casual way Sarah held on felt natural, like it was the most ordinary thing in the world. Yet, to Madelyn, it was anything but ordinary.

Did she really mean it, what she said at lunch?

Madelyn’s heart fluttered as her mind raced through all the possibilities. It wasn’t just the teasing words, though they lingered. It was the way Sarah looked at her, the way she stayed by her side through everything.

And what do I want?

She liked Sarah. A lot. Being around her felt so different now—more intense, more alive. The feelings were new and overwhelming, and she wasn’t entirely sure what to do with them. She never felt like this before her transformation, so was it really her feeling this way? Or was it some side effect of her transformation?

Does she mind that I was different before?

The thought made her chest tighten. Sarah had been so accepting of her transformation, so supportive—but was there a limit? Did it matter that she was no longer the person she used to be? Did Sarah see her as someone entirely new, or was she still the same person she’d always been, deep down?

Does she mind my mom is a goddess from another world?

That was another layer entirely, one that felt too big to unravel. The truth about Aeloria, about Madelyn’s heritage, about the storm of emotions and powers she still didn’t fully understand.

Does she mind my tail or ears or… everything?

Madelyn glanced sideways at Sarah. She didn’t seem to mind holding her hand, didn’t shy away from Madelyn’s quirks—whether it was her fox ears, her tail, or her anxieties. If anything, Sarah seemed to embrace all of it.

“Maddy,” Sarah’s voice broke through her whirlwind of thoughts. “You’ve got that look again.”

Madelyn blinked, realizing she’d been quiet for too long. “What look?” she asked, her voice a little too high.

“That ‘stuck in your head, thinking about a million things’ look.” Sarah gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Come on, talk to me. What’s on your mind?”

Madelyn hesitated, uncertain how to respond. Instead of voicing the thoughts mostly swirling in her mind, she chose a more straightforward worry. “I’m just nervous about my dad’s meeting,” she said softly, her voice tinged with concern. “I really hope it went okay.”

Sarah tilted her head, studying her for a moment before squeezing her hand again. “I get it,” she said gently. “But you can’t do anything about it right now, Maddy. Your dad’s got this. He’s smart, and he has a team. Trust him, okay?”

Madelyn nodded, though the knot of worry in her chest remained. Sarah’s thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles, a small but grounding gesture that helped ease her nerves a bit.

“And,” Sarah continued with a playful smirk, “you should really try and relax. Let me help, okay? No overthinking, no spiraling. Just… breathe.”

Madelyn exhaled slowly, the weight on her chest lifting just a little. “You always know what to say,” she murmured, a hint of admiration in her voice.

“Duh,” Sarah replied with a grin. “It’s my superpower.”

They walked the rest of the way to Madelyn’s house in companionable silence, Sarah’s presence a steady reassurance. By the time they reached the front door, Madelyn felt a little more centered, though her mind still wandered to Sarah and the meeting and the possible outcomes for both of them.

Sarah, as if sensing her lingering tension, leaned in with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Alright, game plan for tonight: we’re gonna chill. Maybe a movie, maybe snacks, maybe both. And you,” she said, pointing dramatically at Madelyn, “are not allowed to worry about anything for at least the next two hours.”

Madelyn laughed softly, the sound easing her own tension. “I’ll try,” she promised, unlocking the door and stepping inside with Sarah close behind her.

Whatever lay ahead, she was grateful to have Sarah by her side.