Abdul bowed one last time before jogging off toward the barracks, eager to "prepare himself" for his new role. His flames still hadn't gone out completely.
Julie watched him with a little grin. "He's so nervous around you."
"He's literally on fire," I muttered. "I think he's just dying."
"You do have that effect on people."
"Let's go before I catch fire from residual awkwardness."
The carriage doors swung open.
Julie didn't carry me this time, but she did linger very close as we climbed inside and the centaurs began the journey back to the estate.
For once, it was quiet.
Too quiet.
Julie stared at me.
Like... really stared at me.
I tried not to notice. But I noticed.
"So," she said eventually. "You gonna tell me?"
"Tell you what?" I asked, feigning interest in the passing cliffs.
"That you're not her."
My heart thudded.
"What... are you talking about?"
"You've been acting weird all day. You hesitate before talking. You don't remember routines. You flinch when people touch you, except for me, which is suspicious on its own. And you're actually polite now. I may be a winged catgirl, but I'm not an idiot."
I stayed quiet.
Julie folded her arms, wings rustling behind her. "Leni, what happened to you?"
Silence.
She didn't drop it.
"Look, I'll figure it out eventually, but I'd rather you tell me. I like you. You're different, but in a good way. And I can't protect you if I don't know what's going on."
I sighed. Ran a hand through my absurdly soft hair.
I do need to tell someone, this is too crazy for me alone...
"…I died."
Julie blinked.
"I'm not her," I said quietly. "Not really. I was someone else. I don't know how, but I woke up in her body."
"…How'd you die?"
I looked out the window. "Does it matter?"
Julie shrugged. "Not really. I just like juicy lore drops."
I smiled faintly.
Julie leaned closer, curiosity blazing.
"...andd I used to be a guy"
"…you used to be a guy?"
"Yeah."
"Like, full-on dude?"
"Yup."
"Dang. That explains the occasional 'bro energy.'"
She leaned back thoughtfully. "So how's it feel?"
"How's what feel?"
"Having boobs. Be honest now."
I groaned. "That's your first question?!"
"It's a fair question!"
I threw my hands up. "Weird! Distracting! Incredibly sensitive! Are you happy now?!"
Julie grinned. "Extremely."
"Are you going to stop flirting now?"
"Nope."
"Of course not."
She leaned her head on my shoulder. "You're still you. That's all I care about."
"…You're taking this surprisingly well."
"I mean, I'm flirting with someone who's literally not who she says she is, used to be a guy, and might be cursed by some eldritch isekai magic. That just makes this spicier."
"Please stop talking."
"No thanks."
"You aren't going to kill me right?"
Julie tilted her head. "You're my favorite disaster, Leni. Even if its all confusing now, and you may be a different person, I'm stil gonna help you figure this out. Or, at the very least, help you not get assassinated by the next angry Golem."
As the carriage rolled through the gates of the estate, a soldier in dark crimson robes sprinted toward us, scroll in hand.
"Lieutenant Yadira!"
Julie opened the door. "What's up?"
"Urgent message," the soldier said, panting. "From the Demon King."
Julie took the scroll, her brow furrowing as she read.
Then she turned to me, ears twitching.
"So... good news: you're finally being recognized as important."
"Uh-huh."
"Bad news: you're being summoned by the Demon King for an urgent meeting."
"…That's not good news."
"Nope. I mean it could simply be some politics. It could also definitely be that he found out you're not you already."
"...Wonderful."
Julie handed me the scroll.
My name, Lenigeaer Irelsshide Fester, was written in thick black ink, stamped with a blood-red seal.
"Can you still read?" she asked softly.
"Yes!"
"I'm just messing."
"I have no idea what I'm going to do."
"Then fake it, the old Leni did it all the time and she was fine."
I stared down at the scroll.
Somehow, I felt like this meeting is really going to suck.