School started off fine, it started much like it had last year where they all sat together at one table until a month later. Things just started to rapidly roll down hill. Every time Marissa tripped or some minor thing happened she always blamed it on Lua, then Lua would get yelled at. It hurt especially when he was nowhere near her and everyone knew it. The worst day was when he received the rare letter from home, his mother was pregnant and all signs were pointing to it being a female. The same day Henri brough threatening letters to Marissa with what vaguely looked like his handwriting but his name was spelt four different ways. He’d pointed it out to Henri who got frustrated, it was like he understood it was wrong but something was telling him that it was also just to cover up his misdeeds.

Then it happened just like in the game before the winter ball, where Marissa’s dress for the ball was found destroyed in her room. She blamed Lua who was nowhere to be found that day or the day after because he was in the middle of his heat cycle. The Dorm Mother, the head of the Healer’s office and Sheena had all protested against the claim that Lua had somehow done it, but it fell on deaf ears and Lua was forbidden to go to the winter ball. This frustrated him and hurt him, this ball was important to him because Leon the crowned prince of the beast kingdom was coming back to see if Ethan was his soulmate. Leon was sure he was saying how he had chased him from one lifetime to the next, but Lua wanted to see it. Lua had become a bit closer to Ethan this year so he wanted to know.

“I have the perfect way for you to go!” Felicia told him the morning of the ball. 

“How is that?” He asked, perking up a little.

“I forgot all about this, it’s a potion that can change your appearance enough that you could sneak in for a few hours as long as you take it right before. We can all vouch for you being someone else.” She told him as she held up a little bottle. “It lasts for 4 hours so it should let you see the sparks and then their first dance but that’s if you do it right before we enter.”

“Is it safe?” He asked, eyeing the green liquid.

“Yeah it’s minty, I’ve tried it, the results are different every time.” She told him.

“What changes?”

“Little things change, but your race might, your genders stay the same, I was a cat beastwoman once. Another time I was a high elf. Most of the time I was a human but my skin, eyes, and hair changed colors.” 

“This sounds like something we should try at the winterfest.” Lidia said, eyeing the bottle. It was hard for a group of noble kids to enjoy the winterfest. They could pass as adventurers but that meant wearing their armor and that was not fun unless they were doing work.

“How much is this?” He asked curiously. 

“We’re going to sell it for fifty gold, but you can make it up to me by gathering materials for me from the dungeon, because thankfully I know a girl who can make it, but you do have an outfit right?” She asked him.

“Well if you have an in I guess I don’t mind trying it, and of course I do, it’s the winter ball.” He pointed out. He had been looking forward to it for the last two months. It was the only bright spot he had, he wanted to see Ethan and Leon together.

“Well then come dressed to my house we’ll ride over and before you step out of the carriage you’ll take this.” She said handing it over to him.

“I can do that, and if this works well we should use it to go to the winterfest together. It would be a nice change.” He admitted.

“We’ll have to pick a time and a place.” Lidia said cheerily.

“I want to see what you change into.” Ivan said curiously.

“Me too.” Christina said as she sipped her tea. “You have tested it on other races right?”

“Yes of course we have it’s 95% safe.” She admitted. “Some people experienced lingering effects from becoming another race but for the most part they were fine after an hour.”

“Lingering effects?” Ivan questioned.

“After I was the cat beastwoman I was hypersensitive to smells for an hour.” She told him. “Also I had problems adjusting to different lights. I had a beastman complain his senses were dulled after becoming an elf and an Elf had vertigo after he changed back from a gnome.”

“I see it’s not that bad, well I guess we’ll find out what I’ll change into tonight, I just hope it won't require different clothes to change into.” Lua smiled, thankful for his friends.

Later that night dressed in a deep blue suit with silver stars he was picked up by Felicia, her parents rarely went to these kinds of events and her brother went with Marissa. Lua was nervous as he picked at an invisible string on his suit, there was a flash of amethyst in the lining. It was because part of him wanted the world to know he loved Henri even with all of this going on. He knew he should give up but sometimes it was just hard to deny his heart. Sometimes it felt like his soul had decided on him after they first met. 

“You ready?” Felicia asked as they awaited their turn to step out.

“No… Yes, no, yes, yes I can do this, it’s for Ethan, I want to see his happiness.” He said pulling out the little bottle and looking it over for the millionth time. He opened it up as they arrived and downed it in one minty gulp. At least it didn’t taste as vulgar as it looked. There was a sudden itch that started at his ears, then his skin tingled, then like a wave he felt magic completely wash over him. “Is it over, is it done?” He asked his voice deeper.

“Wow yeah…” Felicia said, looking at him. “You look completely different.” She pulled out the hand mirror from the bag and showed him his new look. 

He was no longer himself, his skin was now the color of cream, his ears had shifted upwards becoming shorter and more rounded, his eyes more almond shaped and larger, his hair was now a dark blue with a bit of a curl to it. He didn’t recognize a single thing about himself even, his face had become angular. He was no longer a Dark Elf but a High Elf, the only change he noticed was his vision had changed and the dark night seemed much darker. He blinked slowly taking in his new look, he was a little taller, but not enough that it bothered him, and a bit more filled out than he normally was. His clothes still comfortably fit.

“No one would ever guess who I was.” He said looking at his reflection. 

“Only problem is your scent is the same but I got you covered for that, only a beastman might be able to tell, so stay away from Marcus.” Felicia said, spritzing him with a cologne. He never wore any cologne but this smelt woodsy and refreshing coving up his flowery scent. 

“Got it, well shall we go my dear?” He said as the door opened. 

She smiled and then he stepped out and then helped her out. There were a few looks but she’d told people she was taking a good patron of her family. He was nervous but he had learned how to hide his emotions and buried them deep down, this was for Ethan and Leon. He was also doing this to have fun with his friends, this might as well be their last winter ball together. Especially if his mother disowned him after all this chaos. He walked arm in arm with Felicia.

“Remember, try not to drink anything with alcohol in it, other than that lets have some fun.” She said, pulling him over to the food tables. 

Music was playing and the first dances were mostly over. Lua could see Leon and Ethan flirting in a corner, He was glad to see they both wore gloves and Leon was behaving. He was however being protective of him more so than usual not allowing anyone he didn’t know near him. He was also occasionally glaring in one direction, Lua followed his gaze and saw Marissa surrounded by the boys, all of them offering her whatever she wanted at the moment. She looked like a princess in her silver dress dotted with what he was sure were real amethyst, but there were hints of yellow, red, blue, green, black and white. This was the dress he’d seen in the game, the one for the reverse harem route and it made him feel ill. She was being greedy and choosing them all.

“Figgures…” He muttered under his breath and suddenly the food all looked unappealing, but his stomach growled and protested as breakfast had been his last meal and many hours ago. He picked up a few dishes, things he’d normally not eat, and then took a seat at an empty table. Lidia and Ivan joined him shortly after, both looking quite annoyed, Ivan had clearly raided the desert table already as he sat down with desserts. His diet had clearly gone out the window, but that was fine he always looked better on the heartier side. “Good evening.” He said cheerily.

“Good evening I hear you are a patron of the Von Beaumont family.” Lidia said politely.

“Well not me, but my father is and he thought it would be nice for me to get out of the family estate so here I am outside and I honestly rather be back home.” He told her. 

“I agree, this year’s winter ball is rather a flop.” Ivan said, digging into a pie. “The only upside is the deserts are always to die for.” He added. 

“I see, well I look forward to it but perhaps a little later.” He said looking down at his food. 

They talked and eventually everyone ended up at the table. No one seemed to care for the unnamed high elf that sat at the table of ‘Villainess’. Leon and Ethan joined them at some point and smiled as he shook hands with Lua and made a comment that he was glad he was there even though he looked weird. It took Ethan a moment and then realized who he really was.

“I can’t believe you did this for me.” He said softly.

“I just wanted to see the first of my friends get their happy moment. Some of us have to wait.” He pointed out as Ethan was the oldest of them all having just turned seventeen two days ago. “I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long, your highness.”

“It’s pure torture you know? I arrived only an hour before the ball just so I didn’t give into early temptation, and I met Ethan here and look, I still have my gloves on.” He pointed out. 

“He has been such a good boy.” Ethan said, patting his hand.

“You make me sound like a dog, I’m a proud Tiger beastman you know.” He said a little crestfallen.

“I know, and you only have a little longer to wait, Come now it’s the friends dance we should all dance before I get whisked away by my mate.” Ethan said, pulling Lua to the floor. 

The other’s shrugged and followed leaving together, they wouldn’t let their idiot fiancé’s ruin tonight, they would show them they could have fun without them. They were watched, as they spun around on the floor a pair of amethyst eyes glued onto the strange high elf as if they knew who he was. They wanted to go out there to touch his hand to see if he was right, but then there was a tug and he turned to look at the beautiful Rissa they’d know this time next year for sure if they were the soulmates she claimed them to be. She also claimed to know the future though she couldn’t tell them if Leon and Ethan were soulmates. She had tried to flirt with Leon a bit when he first arrived but he didn’t respond no matter how much she tried. At least he had never flirted with other’s. His eyes went back to him as he smiled and twirled about on the dance floor. He hated this weird existence he was in, pulled in two different directions. He wondered if he thought about him, and he got his answer when he saw the flash of the inside of his jacket. Next was the soulmate reveal and dance, and it made him wonder if he would get to experience joy at the next winter ball. She tried to drag him out to the floor for the song and he had to explain it was for soulmates only, so with a little huff she wandered off to use the ladies room leaving them all to sit and watch.

Leon and Ethan were the last of the 5 couples who stepped out onto the floor, Lua sat and watched as they all degloved. There was a clear look of hesitation from a few, even Ethan paused as he pulled off the second one. The first couple hesitantly touched fingertips, there was a small sparkle that came from their fingertips and then a smile and tears of joy as they brought their hands together a large flash of green and gray sparks that twisted together. Another Couple took the dive and brought their hands together this time red, green, blue, and gray sparks twirled around their hands. Lua watched as this repeated itself two more times and each time sparks arose from their hands the sparks reflecting each person’s magic or abilities. Then the final match Leon was looking Ethan in the eyes his hand out to him, and then Ethan took the plunge closing his eyes for a moment afraid they weren’t but even with his eyes closed he could feel and see the magic rise from his touch the gray color of his wind magic twisted and blended with the deep red and violet of Leon’s magic and swirled brightly around them an unnoticed flash of white puffed off Leon's back. All five were confirmed soulmates and there was a cheer of joy and then the bright bouncy music started as Ethan threw himself into Leon’s arms, all smiles and laughter. He felt bubbly like a glass of champagne as Leon held him tight and whispered lovingly into his ear as he pulled him into the happy song. Lua found tears running down his own cheeks, he felt so happy for his friends, there would be no objections to this marriage now. 

After the song finished the couples went back to families and friends and talked about wedding plans. Leon was no exception, he scooped up Ethan and carried him back to the table not wanting to be apart but knowing he’d have to when he went home tomorrow. “I’d suggest you make a note that my mother’s have already set the date for two months after graduation.” Leon told them. “I wanted it sooner but they wanted the confirmation and then it’d take some time to get invitations and all that boring nonsense out. You are all invited no matter what.” He informed them as he rubbed his cheek against Ethan’s. They were all happy for him but Lua felt a strange itch and noticed his skin darkening.

“I’d love to stay and chat more but I think my time is up. Congratulations again Ethan, Leon, I look forward to seeing you at your wedding, send my invitation to the adventurers guild if you could.” He told them.

“It’s wearing off already? I was hoping we’d have a little more time.” Felicia said with a pout. “Go, go I’ll see you tomorrow.” She told him

“I shall see you when I see you hopefully as myself.” He said with a little bow. 

With that He passed the desert table swiping a tart or two then went out a back door as he felt the magic fade, his skin darkened his body morphed back into its usual shape, his ears elongated and soon as he slipped out of sight of the guards there was only Lua left. He had succeeded in doing what he wanted to tonight, he’d gotten to dance with his friends and see for the first time what it was like when soulmates first touched. The memory burned into his mind, happy tears still rolled down his cheeks and it made him wonder if he’d ever get to have that. He walked back to the dorms eating his tart ignoring the looks he got.