"Igna," Eodora said. "I want to help you."
The two were playing with dolls yet again. Igna's demonic-winged women guards watched
Princess Eodora-formerly Prince Eodor-carefully. She was still a prisoner and still needed
to be guarded at all costs.
"And I want to help you," said Igna in a surprisingly girlish voice. "I want to save your
Kingdom of Quell and this world from the fate Astara has in store for it." She flicked a spell
at one of the dolls, causing it to walk off into the house. "And I can't do it without your
help, kind and fair Princess of Quell."
Eodora blushed slightly in spite of herself. She had always been well aware of her vanity,
even as a young prince, but that didn't mean complements and outright flattery still
weaseled into her chest. "Thank you, Igna."
"I really do mean that, Princess," Igna said. She rested her cheeks in her hands as she laid
on the ground, giving Eodora a flush-inducing eyeful of cleavage. "May I ask you
something, Eodora?"
"Of course."
"It's a bit of a secret."
Eodora smiled. "I can keep it."
Igna crawled over. "Sometimes, I change myself for fun." She whispered.
"Change yourself?" Said Eodora, humoring her. "Like how, Sorceress?"
She rolled on her back, stretching her arms behind her head and flattening her breasts. "I
make myself a child again. It's stupid, I know, but when I looked back as a young girl, I
felt so empty. As if I missed something."
"Does the empty feeling go away when you change?"
Igna sighed. "No. No it never does. But I think it's because I don't have anyone to join me
in exploring my childhood. So, Princess," Igna said, now looking at Eodora, "would you
change into a child with me?"
"Forgive me for saying so, Mistress," said one of Igna's guards, "but is this entirely wise?
With Astara's power growing and your impostor in the court of Quell, this might not be the
best time to play. I mean, Mistress, you may need to be ready at any time."
Eodora was terrified for the guard for a moment. She was certain Igna would blast her with
a spell or shrink her into a speck of dust. However, instead Igna seemed saddened and
downcast at what the guard said.
"You're right," Igna said sadly, staring at the sky, blinking away tears. "I'm being stupid
and spoiled and childish. Forgive me, my loyal servants. Your mistress was caught up in
emotions for a moment."
There was a long pause before Eodora said, "Igna, I want to become young with you."
When Eodora decided she'd have to win Igna's trust, becoming a child with her was the last
thing she expected to have to do. However, she was more than willing to do it if it meant
saving this world.
"Excuse me, Princess!-" Started the guard worriedly.
"We'll be ready," interrupted Eodora to the guard. "If anything bad or unexpected happens,
I'll make sure she's ready to lead all of you. We'll only be children for a short time."
Igna smiled. "Thank you, Princess Eodora."