According to Joseph, we stopped approximately three kilometers from the main port, in an area surrounded by forests, very similar to the previous island. Joseph threw the anchor and held it firmly to the bottom of the sea. We left the boat and walked along the coast towards the city. It was a very fast walk and soon we arrived at our destination.

I couldn't even begin to describe the moment we approached the city. The excitement ran through my body as I aimed at a type of construction that I had never seen before. The entrance and main street of the city were composed of small 3-story houses, each with its own floral painting with predominant colors that varied between each house. Lyrus was also huge! You could see the big shipyards scattered around it from afar. Hundreds of people walked in haste from one side to the other, entering and exiting the dozens of stores located on the first floor of the floral buildings.

-Big, no? -said Joseph.

-Huge! It is the biggest city I have ever seen. - I answered.

-I knew you would like it. But we still must be very careful. The Navy could be anywhere since big cities are frequent targets for looters and the surveillance here is intense. Stay alert. - said Dominic walking next to me and holding my hand as we entered through the crowd. - There is a store near here that is owned by my friends. We will go there first to buy you some clothes.

Dominic didn't even need to ask me to be attentive. I already had the impression that the looks of the people around were turning to me as I passed by.

We walked a little until we arrived at a small store where there was only a little door to enter. Inside there were about five customers and a couple behind the counter. The man was very old, with white hair like cotton. The woman was a bit younger, but even so she must have been more than fifty years old. When they noticed our presence, they gave a huge smile in our direction. They had certainly remembered Dominic, since immediately they came very close to us and embraced him.

-Hey Aunt Jull, Uncle Alan. Hasn't it been a while?

-Yes! And how much you grew up boy. - the lady said, smiling at Dominic. - I see that you came back with your friends here. I’m afraid I don't know the beautiful young lady yet!

-Yes, Aunt. This is Althea, she is traveling with me and Joseph. In fact, we need your help with something. We came to buy clothes for her and there is no one better than you to help me out with this.

-Sure! Very nice to meet you young Althea. Come this way. A beautiful girl like you needs good clothes.

Mrs. Jull and I entered a separate room in the store, full of clothes and with a cabin with mirrors. She told me to sit on a stool while she threw clothes aside looking for the ones she thought to be appropriate.

Mirrors.

It was the first time I saw my reflection in 9 years. I didn't recognize myself. I got up and approached a mirror that reflected my whole body, not being able to contain the shock. I was not so tall, nor so short. My body was thinner than what would be considered normal, but my hips looked much wider than when I had last seen myself, especially in comparison to my thin waist. Although I was wearing loose clothes, it was also possible to see the volume on my breasts, now grown. I no longer had any childlike features.

My face had also changed. My lips were now full, thick, and my eyelashes much longer and darker, which contrasted with my bluish-violet eyes. My black hair looked like a complete disaster. I couldn't remember the last time it was cut; however, I could notice that it was significantly long.

-Hmm. This dress is very nice. This blouse and pants too. Keep trying it on while I look for more things. -Said aunt Jull, breaking the silence and making me come back to reality.

-Yes, thank you. - I spoke, focusing again on finding clothes that fit me.

We took two hours in the store. She made me throw the "rags" that I was wearing to the trash and dressed me in a short sleeved gray dress, with length up to my knees. After that, Aunt Jull patiently fixed my hair, cutting the ends and styling it with a lace braid.

-You are ready my dear. Now take a look at the mirror and see the new Althea.

I turned to the mirror and got scared once more. My hair was wavy, long, falling down my shoulders. The dress highlighted my pale skin and became more beautiful in me than I imagined.

I was speechless as I stared at myself.

-No need to say anything dear. You are already beautiful, just needed some decent clothes. I don't know what you went through before you came here, but I'm sure everything will work out from now on. - said Aunt Jull, with a motherly smile that warmed my heart. - Nothing makes me happier than helping a client and if you are a friend of Dominic, you certainly deserve it. We owe him a lot. He is a great kid you know. Now let’s go. I'm dying to see the boys' faces when they see you. They'll for sure drool.

She pulled me out of the room, looking even more excited than me with my change. We entered the hall and went to the entrance of the store, where Alan, Dominic and Joseph were waiting while chatting. When they noticed our presence, they immediately went silent. I realized that Dominic was wearing a new outfit, with black pants and a long sleeve white blouse, while Joseph had a dark blue blouse instead. They both looked even younger in those clothes.

-Didn’t I say they were going to drool? - the lady said, shaking her head in their direction. I didn't understand what she meant by that.

Dominic and Joseph were stunned, smiling, and looking at me. I really must have been a disaster before Aunt Jull fixed me.

-Won’t you say anything lads? -Uncle Alan asked.

-I have no words. You look... -started Joseph.

-Amusing. - continued Dominic.

-Exactly. - laughed Joseph.

I was completely flushed and looked at the floor. I wasn't used to receiving compliments.

-You don't need to overstate. - I mentioned a whisper.

-Overstate? You really have no idea how beautiful you look. I hope these two will take good care of you or the pirates will try to kidnap you. - said Alan.

Everyone laughed and I tried to smile as well, still embarrassed.

-It is time for us to go. Thanks a lot for the help uncle, and you too aunt. - said Dominic.

-Dear, it was nothing. Now you go and enjoy the city. I hope that on your next trip you will find some time to visit us again. - said Jull.

-Sure.

We said goodbye and returned to the main street that was still full of people walking from one side to the other. Dominic held me again and this time he pulled me closer to him, passing his arm over my shoulders.

-I don't want to lose you. As Uncle Alan said, the risk of kidnapping is big. - he said, obviously mocking my face.

-As if... - I contested it.

-In fact, did you buy any bathing suits? -Joseph asked.

-Yes. Aunt Jull didn't let anything escape. I think I have clothes for my whole life here. - I answered by lifting the bags, which in a second Joseph took from my hand and started carrying them himself. Even though I felt a bit exhausted at that moment, I was also happy with this new experience.

It was not past noon yet, but from the moment we arrived in Lyrus, the temperature had gradually increased. The heat of the sun was even slightly burning my pale skin and I felt a bit of difficulty to even breath.

We walked a bit down the main street and then we decided it was better to go back to the ship, since according to Joseph, it was very risky for us to stay in the city, exposed.

-But we still haven't changed our mind Althea. We will try to teach you how to swim, starting today. It may be something very useful in the future. - said Joseph, having fun with my dreadful look.

-I know I have no other option. – I spoke, starting to accept that idea.

-How nice that you know. - he finished, laughing.

In a few minutes we arrived at the boat. Dominic and Joseph went in and changed while I stopped by the kitchen to hydrate myself. In a few minutes Joseph left his room, wearing nothing but blue shorts. His blond hair was loose and fell at shoulder height while his black eyes sparkled. At that moment, I could see how strong and muscular he really was. I figured that was the reason why he said had advantage in unarmed combat: his fists were deadly.

Few minutes after, Dominic left the cabin of the boat. He was much paler than Joseph and while his black hair was a little shorter and wavier. Both had the body as defined as the sailors who crossed the port of the island where I lived with my aunt. When Dominic’s green eyes turned in my direction, I felt butterflies in my stomach. "You must not imagine these things Althea!" I thought to myself. I couldn't stop thinking about how attractive he was. I had never thought that a man could be attractive in the first place. 

-You're whiter than a piece of paper Dominic.  -said Joseph mocking his friend.

-Lovely compliment Joseph. Althea, your turn to change. We'll wait for you outside. - he said in my direction, jumping off the boat into the water.

-Sure. – I agreed, without much will.

I went down directly to my room and changed, as slow as possible. I took a blue swimsuit that Aunt Jull had separated for me, got dressed and looked in the mirror, stopping to analyze my body again.

If Dominic was white like a paper, I was transparent. There was no color in my skin. The swimsuit had become beautiful on my body, and once again I thought about how much I changed. I was no longer a child and my body showed me that. However, that outfit exposed the scars that covered my whole right shoulder, part of the left, and went down my back. I also had other smaller scars on my arms and legs. As I touched them, I felt again all the pain they had caused me in the past. This was something I definitely didn't want them to see, but the only thing I could do was to try to disguise them with my long hairs. It was strange to go out with so little clothing, even though I had seen several people bathing in the sea before, dressed as I was. I was not ashamed of my body however, but of the marks around it.

 It was no longer possible delay what was to come. I then went up the stairs and left by the cabin door and faced the sun.

The two were already in the water, away from the boat playing like children until they saw me. They came back swimming, betting race. When they arrived close, both left the water and Dominic climbed the boat, all wet and shaking his hair.

-The water is a little cold, but I think you can handle it. It's your turn to go in. - he said.

Those words hit me stronger than I expected.

-Hmm, I think I'll wait a little bit more, get a little bit of sun you know? I need to get some color on my skin. - I replied, trying to postpone that moment.

-No way! -exclaimed Joseph, from the beach. - Dominic; I think you must bring her by using your strength.

-I think so, unfortunately. -he spoke with a malevolent look coming in my direction.

-No! Whatever you're thinking, don't do it! - I talked desperately, running away from him. But he was very fast and in a second he reached me and held me around his arms with a tight hug, wetting me all over.

-You're freezing! Let me go! -I screamed, fighting, with all my strength, in vain. He barely moved.

-I can't. I can't let go. You're so warm. - he said, leaning his face against my neck, making me shiver even more. Maybe I didn't really want him to go.

-Am I going to need to use force to make you let me go? -I asked jokingly.

-You can try, but I doubt you will succeed. - he said by crossing his arms around me and holding my hands with his. Dominic' whole body touched my body and it was an incredible feeling.

-Hey, you two. Are you going to stay there all day? Bring her to the water. -remembered Joseph.

-Oh yes, I had already forgotten. Well... it was good while it lasted. Now... - he said holding me in his lap.

-Oh! No! Please, Dominic! Don't do this to me! - I spoke, half laughing half scared.

-Hold your breath.

And then he jumped in the water, taking me along. It was very cold compared to the strong sun. We quickly emerged, and it took me a minute to be able to talk again.

-Are you still alive? -he said, still holding me.

-I am! How can you... - I spoke, trying to get out from arms. However, I couldn't step on the ground and almost sank. Luckily, Dominic held me, and I wrapped myself around his neck.

-Caution, we don't want you to drown. - he said, pulling me towards himself, controlling himself to not have a fit of laughter.

-The water is very deep! Do you want to kill me? - I yelled. - Take me back to the boat!

-I'm not going to let him do that. - said Joseph, who was now standing next to us.

-When I leave here, I will take revenge. – I said, still clinging to Dominic, repeating some similar threatening I had heard from other prisoners to the military.

-At least we will die for a good cause. - said Joseph, now catching my hands and holding me in his arms. - Now, let’s start by having you moving your legs and trying to float. I'll hold you so you don't sink.

I hesitated a little, but I did what he asked since I was already tired of complaining. It was very difficult to coordinate the arms and legs in the same movement, but at no time I sank. And the whole afternoon was like this. I looked like a clumsy child and they both laughed with gusto, which made me angry and happy at the same time. Was that the way that friends spent their time together? Could I consider them to be my friends already?

My very first friends.