Mei
The gown did not feel like hers.
Mei stood in front of the tall mirror, her fingers hovering just above the deep emerald fabric, afraid to touch it as though it might vanish if she did. The silk clung to her frame in a way that felt… intentional. Not decorative. Not ornamental. It moved when she breathed, catching the low light like something alive.
She barely recognized the woman staring back.
Her hair had been pinned up, soft strands left to frame her face. Her skin looked warmer against the green, her eyes sharper, more alert. Not softer. Not prettier.
Stronger.
It unsettled her.
"You are not meant to disappear tonight," Lady Mooncrest said from behind her.
Mei stiffened slightly, then turned. The older woman stood near the doorway, composed as always, her presence filling the room without effort. Her gaze swept over Mei once, slow and deliberate.
Not judgmental.
Assessing.
