Actually being the test subject for her own research project was kind of harrowing, but she didn’t want to risk another half-youma for the sake of science. The crystal ring had been crafted for about a month now, had one or Wolframite, but given his recent recovery and frequent requests from other Generals that kept him from home she didn’t want to burden him with this project until it was finally done.
Asking for help was not easy.
Not only were there very few officers she trusted, but the idea of being ridiculed or criticized for wanting to be more human, for spending time and resources on something that would really only benefit someone like her; a half-youma or perhaps a full one, maybe.
But Lopezite was one she could always lean on.
Both her General as well as her friend, he was someone that had believed in her enough to put in a request for her promotion. He was the one who encouraged her without pushing her, allowed her to come into her own and accept her place in all of this even if she was still searching for that niche she could fit in.
It was him she had turned to. Spent several hours explaining what she had done to get this far including all the failures and frustrations it took to get here. Finally asked him to please be with her when she tried wearing the ring. Explained to him that she wanted to know how long it could be worn and planned to document any changes she felt every half-hour.
The goal, the hope, was six hours beyond the normal two hours of glamour. Enough so she could apply for at least a part-time job and not be such a leech on resources without having to steal. Her side-hobby of treasure diving for lost trinkets and jewelry in rivers and the reservoir could only take her so far. She craved that normalcy even if it meant every night would be like living as Cinderella, forced to return to the Dark Kingdom before the glamor wore out and people realized that she was a half-monster.
He’d agreed, and while the first two hours were spent doing more normal activities, once the ring was on he brought her back to the castle, to his office, where he intended to work on paperwork and she offered to help between documenting notes in her composition notebook and voice recording observations into her tablet.
“So, what’s next?” She asked, eyeing the stack of papers. Wondered how, or rather why, it looked like there was so much more to do. Who gave Generals this crap to go through? It was the fifth hour and Marissa honestly wasn’t sure if the fatigue she was feeling was from the ring or because of the high levels of boredom. Either way, she leaned her elbows on his desk and rested her chin in the palm of one hand.
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Backdated to either late February or mid-March. Post promotion but before Starfall.
