I accepted magic to fight evil and it turned me into a girl, but I don’t think I really mind?

Jennifer Shannon

Chapter 6

I had become more delicate? I looked at my hands, and they did seem more delicate. I felt my arms, and the muscles in my arms seemed denser, but they were leaner, and my skin was softer. I’d have to find a mirror at some point, so I could see for myself how my face was changing, but I was definitely not turning into the typical strong man. But that should be fine, since my advantage against the bocánach I’d faced was agility rather than strength. Being more delicate seemed strange for a fighter, but when I tried imagining myself looking tougher, it was disturbing for some reason.

“I think I might be OK with that,” I told Bran.

“While I find these initial changes unexpected, I did expect that you would not object to them. Divine magic is often inscrutable, but rarely mistaken. This is not only to prepare you for battle, but also a reward for accepting the charge.”

“So, I should end up better looking?”

“That is probable. However, you will not be so different as not to be recognized when you have not activated the power. You should not have to argue your identity.”

“All right, but you said the changes would be slow. I’ve changed a lot! What’ll I tell people?”

“You are only aware of the changes to such an extent because you have made an effort to see them. This blessing has been designed in such a way as to be explicable by mundane means for the most part, and otherwise unnoticeable to the uninformed.”

“You’re saying people will just accept that I’ve been going to the gym or taking diet pills, or something?”

“Correct. Although further changes may need an alternate explanation. One of your predecessors used training as his explanation, but then had to inform his compatriots that a large mole on his face had been severed in battle, and no one questioned the lack of a scar.”

“I guess he’d have had to get creative, since there was no plastic surgery to blame back then.”

“Indeed. This was the first of your two predecessors, who lived in the sixth century.”

“There’s only been three of us since that long ago? Why doesn’t this evil druid try this more often?”

“The timing necessary for Wirognawos’s magical rite only happens every 729 years. He has also not succeeded in this rite to extend his life since the appointment of the curadh. His survival has been dependant on his earlier rites, and should he not succeed this time, he shall succumb to age before he would be able to attempt again. You should be able to stop him finally after millennia of mass slaughter, merely by stopping the rite. One way to do this would be to stop the sacrifices he needs to provide power.”

“So, no pressure, then. What’s going on back at the bar?”

“The injured officer has received medical care, and the crowd has begun to disperse. The authorities have informed the public that their suspicion is that a production company has staged the event as a form of marketing, and that such events causing damage to property or harm to persons will not be tolerated. They are seeking you since they do not know that you will be unrecognizable. I rather suspect that they wish to confer with you about the danger that they must know to be real, rather than penalize you for your involvement in the damage, but I cannot be certain. Also, much of the public does not seem to believe their characterization of the battle, but it seems to be enough to prevent mass panic. Daniel Leung’s companions are now helping to remove debris from the affected business so that it can be repaired quickly, while he himself is discreetly searching for you.”

“Oh. Can you go bring him here? Discreetly, of course. I don’t need the attention I’d get from talking about this stuff around other people.”

“Of course.”

It didn’t take long before Bran returned with Daniel.

“That was amazing! I knew you’d do it, though. You’re too good a person not to help when you can,” Daniel said once he had seen me.

“Um… Thanks,” I said, feeling like I was blushing a bit. I wasn’t used to compliments.

“The outfit was a bit unusual, though.”

“That garb is the traditional uniform of the curadh, and typical warrior garb for the era in which it was designed,” replied Bran.

“A cape over a short dress?” asked Daniel in disbelief.

I started panicking. I hadn’t noticed what I was wearing since I was focussed on the fight, and I couldn’t handle this now. I was sure I was going to lose my friend here.

“Hey! Matt! Stop worrying! I know you didn’t pick the clothing, and it wouldn’t matter to me if you did. I think people can wear what they want. Nobody could recognize you, either, remember?” Daniel quickly added.

I tried to calm down. No one was going to hurt me here.

“Strange. That seemed almost like a trauma response, but unrelated to the attacks. We might have to look into that at some time. However, the garments in question were a brat, which is a type of cloak, and a léine, which is a tunic,” said Bran.

Between Daniel’s support, and Bran’s clinical detachment, I managed to bring myself under control. I just had to tell myself it was like wearing a kilt.

“So, I don’t have to worry that people will think I’m cross-dressing? It’s all fine for other people, but I can’t do that,” I was finally able to say.

“Those who recognize these garments, such as your enemies, will know that they are unisex,” said Bran.

“And they’re the only ones who’ll get a good look in. The speed you were moving in those loose clothes, nobody could tell your body type. Everybody back there assumed you were a woman,” added Daniel.

Well, that was better. No one would think I was a crossdresser. I had no problems with other people doing that, but putting myself in that category was terrifying. But I didn’t mind if people thought the hero was a woman, as long as they didn’t know it was me. I had tried hard throughout my life to fit in, and not draw any negative attention. If someone thought I was wearing feminine clothes, I’d stand out, and that would be terrifying.

“Come on, let’s get you home,” he continued.