Astralyth Online

Chapter 75 – Where I Belong

The morning sunlight filtered gently through the trees as Madelyn and Sarah walked side by side, their hands clasped tightly together between them. Their shoulders brushed every few steps, and neither of them seemed to mind. The world felt quieter around them, as if it was giving them space to be just themselves.

“So… yeah,” Sarah was saying, her voice calm but tinged with the weight of last night. “I got home, made tea like usual—it’s this weird unspoken rule with my mom—and then I went up to my room and realized I left my phone downstairs. I didn’t think anything of it at the time.”

Madelyn squeezed her hand gently, listening intently.

“But when I came back down to get it…” Sarah let out a soft breath. “She was holding it. Just sitting there with it in her hand like she’d been waiting for me. Lock screen front and center.”

Madelyn winced.

“Yup.” Sarah gave a short laugh, though it lacked any real amusement. “She asked if I had something to tell her. And I just—ugh. You know how she is. That tone. That expression.” She looked over at Madelyn, offering a small, tired smile. “I tried to play it off, but then she asked why you had fox ears and a tail.”

Madelyn bit her lip, her cheeks turning pink. “What did you say?”

“I told her you were a cosplayer,” Sarah said simply. “That it was for a game. And then when she asked your name and I said ‘Madelyn Roth,’ well… she put the pieces together.”

Madelyn nodded slowly. “She figured out I’m… Benjamin’s sister.”

Sarah nodded. “Yup. She asked why she’s never seen you. Why I’ve been spending time at your house. Why I seem so ‘distracted.’” She used finger quotes, her nose wrinkling slightly. “And then she told me she expects you to come over after school today.”

Madelyn’s eyes widened. “Wait—today?”

“Yeah,” Sarah muttered. “She was very… firm about that.”

They walked in silence for a few steps, Madelyn trying to process everything. Her heart fluttered anxiously in her chest. She had met Sarah’s mom before—but not like this. Not as Madelyn. Not as Sarah’s girlfriend, which her mom had probably pieced together by now. That made everything feel ten times heavier.

What if Sarah’s mother thought badly of her? What if she saw her as weird—or worse, didn’t approve of her daughter having a girlfriend at all? The thought twisted in her stomach like a knot. It wasn’t just about first impressions anymore. It felt like so much more was at stake.

“She didn’t yell,” Sarah added quietly, “but she gave me one of those looks—the kind that feels like she’s peeling back layers until she finds something disappointing underneath. You know. The ‘I’m not mad, just superior and subtly judging you’ kind.”

Madelyn let out a soft groan, rubbing her free hand over her face. “Great. I’m already nervous and now I’m really freaking out.”

Sarah stopped walking and turned to face her, gently tugging Madelyn’s hand to bring her closer. “Hey. Don’t be. She’s the one who has a problem, not you. If she says anything mean or weird, I’ll shut it down immediately.”

But instead of being comforted, Madelyn’s expression turned conflicted, her brows drawing together as frustration flickered in her eyes. “I know,” she muttered, her voice tight. “It’s just… this is your house. Your mom. You live there—I don’t. And yet I’m the one spiraling while you’re staying calm.” She looked away, biting her lip. “I’m supposed to be the one supporting you… not the other way around.”

Sarah’s expression softened, but she didn’t say anything right away. Then she gave Madelyn’s hand a gentle squeeze.

“Hey… I’m not completely calm either, you know,” she said quietly. “I’m just better at pretending I am.” She offered a small, lopsided smile. “But I meant what I said. You’re not alone in this.”

They started walking again, their hands still laced together, Madelyn’s grip a little tighter than before as she tried to hold herself together. Sarah didn’t let go.

After a pause, Madelyn spoke up. “I have something to tell you too. About… yesterday.”

Sarah tilted her head curiously. “Okay?”

Madelyn bit her lip, her fingers tightening slightly around Sarah’s hand as they walked. “So… yesterday, after you left, I practiced my magic a bit more.”

Sarah glanced over at her, interested. “Yeah? How did it go?”

“It’s… easier now,” Madelyn said slowly. “I mean, I still don’t have full control or anything, but it doesn’t feel so… impossible anymore. I can shift into my fox form and back with a lot less effort now.”

Sarah’s eyes lit up, clearly impressed. “That’s awesome, Maddy!”

Madelyn flushed but smiled. “Thanks. That’s not all, though.” She hesitated, gathering her thoughts before continuing. “The blue lights came back. The little glowing things from before? I tried focusing on that same feeling again—like Lyra said—and they showed up.”

Sarah blinked. “Seriously? That’s huge!”

“I guess,” Madelyn said, her smile fading just a bit. “But I still don’t know what they are. Or what they do. Lyra says they carry emotion—mine, apparently—but that’s about all we know. It’s like my magic is waking up faster than I can understand it.”

Sarah looked thoughtful, then gently bumped her shoulder against Madelyn’s. “You’ll figure it out. And I’ll help however I can.”

Madelyn looked at her gratefully. “Actually… that brings me to the other thing.”

Sarah raised an eyebrow. “There’s more?”

Madelyn nodded. “My dad asked me if I’d be willing to come to his work next week. He wants to help figure out what’s going on with my powers. His colleagues Dana and Marcus will be there too. He thinks they might be able to find something out. They even have satellite footage of those light things I accidentally spread over the city.”

Sarah’s mouth dropped open. “Whoa. That’s… okay, that’s wild.”

“Yeah.” Madelyn let out a breath. “I said yes, of course. I want to know what’s happening to me. But…” She hesitated, slowing slightly as they neared the school gates. “I’d really like it if you came with me. If you want to, I mean. You don’t have to. But I… it would mean a lot.”

Sarah didn’t even pause. “Of course I’ll come. There’s no way I’m letting you go through that alone.”

Madelyn’s heart gave a little flutter, and she smiled—one of those small, real smiles that made her feel lighter inside. “Thanks. I was hoping you’d say that.”

Sarah grinned and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “You and me, Maddy. Team Fox all the way.”

Madelyn giggled, rolling her eyes affectionately. “You’re such a dork.”

“Your dork,” Sarah replied, with a wink.

And with that, the tension between them softened, the world around them blurring just a bit as they stepped through the gates of the school—hand in hand, hearts a little steadier.

As they approached the school courtyard, the morning rush had already settled into its usual rhythm. Students milled about, chatting and making their way inside, and at their usual meeting spot near the main entrance, Madelyn spotted their group of friends.

Lillian waved as soon as she saw them, her face lighting up with a smile. James raised an eyebrow at their still-intertwined hands but didn’t comment—like last time. David gave a nod of greeting, leaning casually against the railing.

“We’re late,” Madelyn whispered.

“Fashionably,” Sarah murmured back with a small grin.

They didn’t have time to linger. With the bell already echoing faintly through the halls, the two girls gave rushed greetings and started walking inside, weaving through the thinning crowd toward their mentor class.

The morning moved quickly after that.

Mentor class passed in a blur of quiet announcements and sleepy classmates. History followed, with Mrs. Abernathy launching into a lecture about ancient civilizations and societal collapse. Madelyn tried to stay focused, jotting down notes, but her mind drifted more than once—especially when Sarah occasionally tapped her foot against hers under the desk with a sly grin.

But it was in English class that Madelyn found her rhythm again. Mrs. Carter had given them a creative writing assignment earlier in the week, and today was the deadline. Madelyn sat a little straighter as she placed her neatly handwritten story on the corner of her desk.

It wasn’t perfect. But it was hers.

She’d poured her thoughts into the pages—woven with threads of dreams and fragments of feelings she still didn’t fully understand. It was fantasy, technically, but it felt close to real in a way that made her proud.

As Mrs. Carter walked by collecting the stories, Madelyn caught her gaze and received a small, encouraging smile. That small nod of approval gave her a warm feeling in her chest.

By the time the lunch bell rang, Madelyn’s stomach was growling. She packed her things quickly and followed Sarah out of the classroom. The two made their way to the cafeteria together, chatting about their stories—well, mostly Sarah teasing Madelyn about how her main character probably resembled a red-haired, tail-having magical girl with a mysterious destiny.

When they arrived at the usual table, the rest of their friends were already gathered, trays in front of them and conversation in full swing.

“There you are!” James said, grinning as he spotted them. “We were starting to think you ditched us for some romantic back stairwell lunch date.”

“Tempting,” Sarah quipped, dropping into her seat. “But no, we’re just slow. Maddy was busy turning in her masterpiece.”

Madelyn rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling as she sat beside her. “It’s just a story.”

“Just a story?” Lillian said, raising her brows. “Come on, I’ve seen you writing on it like, a dozen times this week. That’s not ‘just’ anything.”

“Exactly,” Sarah said, nudging Madelyn gently. “I can’t wait to read it later.”

Madelyn’s blush deepened, but she felt good. This—lunch with friends, teasing comments, and her story handed in—felt normal. Comforting.

The conversation shifted as Kim joined their table, sliding into the open seat beside David with her tablet already in hand. Her eyes were wide with excitement, her fingers tapping rapidly across the screen.

“You guys are not going to believe this,” Kim said, barely pausing to catch her breath. “I’ve been doing more digging online, and people are obsessed with the ‘Dancing Flame.’ Like, obsessed-obsessed.”

Madelyn stiffened slightly in her seat, her fork hovering halfway to her mouth. She knew exactly who Kim was talking about—her, or at least, her in-game self from Astralyth Online. The nickname had stuck after someone posted a viral clip of her fighting slimes, her movements graceful and flowing, almost like a dance.

Kim continued without waiting. “Someone slowed down the video frame-by-frame and pointed out how crazy your movement was—like it was choreographed. They’re saying it’s the most fluid combat anyone’s seen in the game so far. And the name? ‘Dancing Flame’—it’s because of your hairThat bright red, fiery look while you were moving like a whirlwind? They’re eating it up, but you’ve probably already guessed that.”

Madelyn blinked. “It’s just my hair?”

“Well, yeah,” Kim grinned. “They don’t know anything else about you, so they’re clinging to the aesthetic. And some people think you’re a dev mascot or a secret NPC.”

“A… what?”

“A mascot,” Kim repeated, spinning the screen to show them a forum thread with dozens of posts and slowed-down clips. “Like, a special in-game character the devs put in to represent something. Because no one has found a class or combo that moves like you. So now they’re arguing whether you’re a hidden class, a planted illusion, or a legit dev tease.”

Madelyn stared at the screen, her stomach knotting tighter. It still was surreal—watching herself from a third-person view, dancing through the slime fight. The way her red hair swayed with each movement. The precision of every step.

Sarah leaned over to get a better look, her brow raised. “They think she’s a mascot? Seriously?”

“Yeah!” Kim nodded. “And some people are trying to replicate the movements, but no one can. Not with that kind of finesse. The animation doesn’t even make sense for a normal class.” She leaned in a bit, lowering her voice. “People are saying whoever it is has to be some kind of pro in real life—like, trained or something. There’s no way a regular player moves like that.”

Madelyn lowered her gaze, suddenly unsure of how to feel. Part of her was… flattered. The fact that people were inspired by something she hadn’t even meant to do on purpose was kind of cool. It had just… happened. But another part of her squirmed under the attention.

James let out a low whistle. “So our Maddy’s internet-famous, huh?”

“Apparently,” Lillian said with a small laugh, nudging her. “Should we start calling you the Dancing Flame now?”

“Please don’t,” Madelyn mumbled, her cheeks already burning.

Sarah reached under the table and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Well, I think it’s kind of amazing,” she said softly. “They’re seeing what I already know.”

Madelyn blinked at her. “What’s that?”

“That you’re special,” Sarah said, smiling. “Even if you don’t always feel it.”

Madelyn looked back at the screen, where the slowed-down footage played on a loop—graceful, beautiful, mysterious. The Dancing Flame.

They chatted a bit more, their voices mingling with the lunchtime buzz of the cafeteria. Kim kept talking excitedly about her theories, James tried to come up with his own embarrassing nickname for Madelyn (which Sarah promptly shot down), and for a while, things felt almost normal.

But then the bell rang, and the relaxed mood quickly faded for Madelyn.

It was time for their next class.

P.E.

Her stomach twisted again as she stood and slung her bag over her shoulder. The others were chatting and joking like usual as they filed out of the cafeteria, but Madelyn fell a step behind. She could already feel the anxiety creeping in like a chill beneath her skin.

She hadn’t had to face this yet—not since her transformation. Today was her first P.E. class, and there was no excuse or cancellation to save her.

Her fingers clenched tightly around the strap of her gym bag. It wasn’t just about changing clothes—though that was nerve-wracking enough. It was the vulnerability of it. The expectations. The stares, the questions, the risk of someone noticing something off about her.

She’d spent most of her life as a boy. And now, walking toward the girls’ changing room, she didn’t feel like she truly belonged in either world. What if someone looked at her too long? What if they asked about her past? What if her Human Disguise malfunctions at the worst possible time?

As they approached the gym doors, Sarah glanced over and immediately noticed her hesitation. She slowed her pace and reached out, gently grabbing Madelyn’s hand. She gave it a warm, grounding squeeze, her thumb brushing against Madelyn’s knuckles before letting go again.

“Don’t worry, Mads,” she said softly, her voice steady and full of quiet support. “Whatever you’re worrying about right now? You’re not alone.”

Madelyn opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by the soft flutter of petals in her hair.

“She’s right, you know,” Lyra chimed in from her flower form. “Deep breaths, tail-fluff. You’ve got this. We believe in you.”

Madelyn blinked quickly, her throat tightening a little—but not from fear. From gratitude.

She nodded once, not trusting her voice, and followed Sarah and the others inside.

They made their way into the locker room, and the moment the door closed behind her, Madelyn’s gaze dropped straight to the floor. Her shoulders hunched, her arms clutching her gym bag tightly to her chest. She didn’t dare look around. Not at Kim. Not at Lillian. And especially not at Sarah.

She kept her head down as she made her way to a bench near the back, trying to make herself as small and invisible as possible. Her heart pounded in her chest—fast, hard, relentless. Every sound—the creak of lockers opening, the rustle of clothes, the snippets of casual conversation—made her flinch inwardly. This was all so new. So exposed.

She hadn’t been Madelyn for very long. This body, this space—it wasn’t second nature yet. And now she was standing in the middle of a room full of girls, expected to undress and change like she belonged here. Like she’d always belonged here.

With trembling fingers, she pulled out the new P.E. clothes her mom had bought for her—simple athletic shorts and a fitted shirt, nothing flashy or tight, just comfortable. She was grateful she’d already worn a sports bra under her uniform, so at least she didn’t have to fully undress. That made it a little easier.

Turning slightly away from the others, she changed as quickly as she could, practically feeling her ears burn.

She didn’t think anyone was watching, but that didn’t stop her nerves. Her heart thundered in her chest, every second of exposure feeling like an eternity.

She was done in a flash, grabbing her bag and moving swiftly toward the exit. If she could just make it to the gym hall, she could breathe again.

Then she heard a laugh—bright, familiar, and effortlessly joyful.

Her head turned on instinct.

Sarah stood halfway dressed, in her sports bra and shorts already on as she pulled on her shirt, laughing at something Lillian had said. Her golden hair was slightly messy from changing, and her whole expression was lit up with warmth.

Madelyn’s breath caught in her throat.

And then Sarah looked up. Their eyes met.

For a second, everything else vanished—the noise, the nerves, the pounding in her chest. All she saw was Sarah, smiling wide and effortlessly beautiful, her green eyes twinkling with mischief.

Then Sarah winked.

A big, playful, completely unbothered wink. Like she knew exactly how much Madelyn was freaking out and wanted to say, You’re doing fine, and I’ve got you.

Madelyn’s face turned bright red, and without thinking, she turned on her heel and slipped out the door into the gymnasium, her breath coming in quick flustered puffs. She leaned against the wall, heart hammering, cheeks burning. The cool air was a relief, but embarrassment lingered, mingled confusingly with warmth at Sarah’s effortless reassurance.

She closed her eyes, pressing a hand to her chest. 

Right now, she told herself, she had to focus on P.E.—not Sarah.