The remote magical creation of an artesian well at Red Flower Temple had gone amazingly well. Megumi was speaking with Old Man Suen via a conjured screen.

“… And it flows like that naturally, no spells required. I do ask that you give appropriate rest-day offerings on the two altars.”

“But my Lady, neither one is dedicated to yourself. May I ask why?”

“It’s a secret!”

The catchphrase elicited a round of chuckling. Megumi’s devotees were clearly warming up to her, much to her delight. Such an enjoyable dream!

“Now, who’s next?”

The next several requests expanded upon that first, rousing success:

“Mr. Gandu, this crystal contains sufficient magical energy to finish your projects.”

“Ms. Yeong, I’ve turned that empty building into a school and contacted a suitable teacher.”

“Mr. Lianhua, I’ve sent your wife’s poetry and paintings to a printer who’d be delighted to publish them. Please allow me to buy several copies for my libraries.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Ing, the people and livestock of your village are no longer cursed. From now on, please make sure everyone respects that cemetery.”

“Wu Family, your troupe now has all the materials and magic to perform your new travelling opera. I’d also like to suggest a few additional venues that would gladly host you.”

As the grateful thespians made way for the next supplicant, Megumi could feel herself tiring of towering over her subjects. Her ‘memories’ had a ready solution.

“Pei, could you step back? I’d like to try something.”

Her first mental *CHANGE SIZE* did nothing. When she switched to speaking aloud.

“<CHANGE SIZE!> Oh, much better!”

The brief disorientation of rapidly shrinking gave way to relief at her new proportions.

“Oh, my Lady! That was wonderful!”

Pei threw herself into Megumi’s waiting embrace.

“Miss Pei, honestly!”  “Don’t disrespect our Great Lady!”  “Show some discretion!”

Megumi waved away the collective indignation. It felt wonderful having Pei at shoulder height. The plant-folk were still half Megumi’s stature or less. They really were short.

“One lapse in propriety won’t end the world. Besides, I’m in a festive mood!”

The wish granting continued apace:

“Your great-grandfather did entrust a copy of your family recipe book to me, Mr. Chong, but another survived the fire. Check under the inn’s wine storage floor.”

“Yes, there are unclaimed silver deposits near your property, Mr. Teng. Take this map.”

“This charm will make people see you more favorably for sixty days. Use it wisely.”

“The writings on all four monuments are restored and legible for copying, Ms. Yu.”

“I … can do that for you, yes. But might I suggest better ways to gain a woman’s attention?”

“Please reconsider leaving your family completely, Ms. Dian. They care more than you might realize. Perhaps I can ‘get you away’ with office work in the prefectural capital?” 

Megumi was considering how else to aid the morose young lady when she noticed,

“Pei, you’re staring. Is something wrong?”

The girl pointed at Megumi’s armor.

“There’s a hole near your keel. I think it’s growing?”

Megumi glanced down. “So there is. I hadn’t noticed.”

The unexpected hole was several centimeters … (knuckles?) … wide.

“Hmm, we can’t have that. <SUPERIOR REPAIR!> Now, let’s get back … WAAA!”

The entire armor set rattled angrily before shattering to bits. Explosively.

“Sorry! Was anyone hurt? No?”

After reassuring the crowd, Megumi leaned over to Pei,

“Good thing I didn’t repair my clothing too.”

Pei had just begun to giggle when a wave of nausea brought Megumi to her knees.

“What hap … AH! I’m full size again! I … please tell me I didn’t step on anyone!”

Pei had thrown herself out of the way, and everyone else had been at a safe distance.

“We’re all fine, my Lady!”  “What a fortuitous sign!”  “Yes, indeed!”

Wait, they were … happy?

Wasn’t this where the dream fell apart, right before she woke up?

“But … my magic failed. Shouldn’t you all …”

Magic … FAILED!

Megumi leaned down frantically to check,

“Pei! How do you feel? Does it hurt anywhere? <ANALYZE!>”

A scrolling list of information flashed through her mind (formula still in development).

This spell really needed a better User Interface …

“I’m fine, my Lady!”

Megumi exhaled in relief.

“So why …”

“It’s a sign you’re truly our Dark Goddess renewed, my Lady,” Mr. Gandu explained. “Your power flows freely through us, your faithful servants. But your restored body resists until it’s fully ready. And your inherent size is further proof you’re not another pretender.”

“As if we’d summon a False Goddess!”

“Hear, hear!”

“… I see.”

How oddly comforting, succeeding even in failure.

Megumi glanced toward the hallway where the annoying shadow lurked. The person had stepped into the light to greet a burly, turtle-faced guard in ornate black armor.

(Sir Kuradil, our Chancellor and most irksome advisor.)

The tall, thin dragon was immaculately dressed in blue official’s robes and impossible to read. He briefly spoke to the guard before resuming his stony-faced observation.

Irksome …

So why did Megumi sense she could trust him completely?

And why did this dream continue?

Megumi frowned at the last two awaiting favors.

“Mr. Tan YongQi. And Ms. Fu YiMin. Heirs to your clans, I presume. Dare I hope the Masters abandoned their foolish feud and allowed you to make sensible requests?”

(Very low likelihood)

“Oh, Honored Lady, I humbly ask you destroy the wicked Fu clan.”

“Great Lady, I trust you will instead eradicate the corrupt Tan clan.”

Sigh.

(Expected result)

“And so, I must resolve what you could not. Would not.”

The two scions glared death at each other.

Too bad. They’d make a reasonably handsome pair.

Wait …

‘Pair’

That just might work!

“Well then, I’m afraid I find myself obliged to grant both your requests.”

The deathly quiet room erupted into hoots, jeers, and laughter.

The shocked pair locked eyes in shared disbelief.

Megumi raised one hand for silence.

Everyone waited with bated breath.

“Now, prepare yourselves for judgment.”