When I finally emerged from the bathroom, Iyo had some outfits picked out, all probably from the magical wardrobe. He was somehow different, though. He… HE?! I instantly backed up to the door and exclaimed, “What in the gods’ names?!”

Iyo stopped and turned. Chiseled jawline, roughly cut muscles in the arms and chest, broad shoulders, short, brown hair, and tan skin. He looked completely different than how… well, how she was before. “Oh,” he said in a low, more suave voice. “I forgot you don’t know much of our kind. Bellamutes change genders, you know, for species preservation. When a male and female partner up, they go through a ritual where they are fused together. The bodies switch out at certain times, but the minds stay intertwined.”

I understand now, why she… he… it was so odd before. Iyo is a gender-neutral name because they are a gender-neutral person. “Oh. Sorry I freaked out, that was just… woah.”

“It’s fine, I get that response a lot! Here, I picked this dress out for you.” He picked up one of the amazing-looking dresses. It was a dark purple trimmed in gold with just one shoulder, the left one. A band would separate the torso from the legs and the bottom of the dress fanned out at the hips and ended near the ankles.

“Wow, Iyo, it’s perfect. How did you know what I liked?”

“I didn’t. The wardrobe had three outfits in it. This,” he gestured to his just-as-elegant suit, “that dress, and yours.”

“Heh, immortals’ magic,” I laughed. I wish I had that kind of power, to know exactly what someone wants and how they want it. I can’t express how much that would have saved me in the past. “I’m going to change in the bedroom, if you don’t mind.”

He waved it off. “I understand. Sorry I didn’t mention it before, how I am halfway a man’s mind.”

“No, no, it just took me off guard.” The way he says 'I' and not 'we' made me feel a prick in my heart. Two people who were so in love, so compatible that they became one. That’s what I want in my life. First, I guess I need someone to actually love. That may be a bit diffi-

Knocking on one of the doors. “Dinner will be served soon, you two,” Yubik said through it. “Go through this door when you are ready.”

“Thank you, sire,” Iyo replied. Yubik said nothing in response, so I guess he understood what it meant to be a Bellamute, unlike myself. Maybe I should learn a bit more about people before I start assuming things. Maybe Yubik was right; I do judge too quickly.

I went into the bedroom to change. Once inside, I almost gasped from how nice it looked. A set of candles was by the bed providing little bits of light. A large mirror sat atop some drawers and a glass, fogged door led out into another balcony. The bed had a thin, silky curtain around it that complimented the satin sheets. It all looked exactly how I would want my dream bedroom to look, exactly. I bet if I were to walk into any of those other rooms, I would experience the same thoughts and feelings. However, I was in here to get ready for a dinner, not gawk.

I first went to the mirror. As if magically, the drawers held all kinds of makeup with, of course, the kinds I was looking for on top. I lined my left eye with a black liner and added small hints of shadow after padding a scar on my cheek with some foundation. I added some blush to the pale left side of my face and put on some dull lipstick to make my human side pop a bit more. I knew already that my blackened side would draw more attention. After putting on the lipstick, I stared at myself in the mirror. I could easily just use illusions to make my right side like my left side. Then, I decided against it. If there was someone other than Yubik at dinner, I wanted them to see me for what I was.

The dress slipped right on as if it was a perfect fit. Everything here is so perfect, I thought to myself. It’s like it is magical or something. I silently laughed to myself. In the wardrobe, I found an array of good-looking shoes to choose from and decided on some low-heeled boots. I found some thin, long gloves to match my dress on the shelf and found quite a large amount of jewelry in the drawers. I put on a necklace with a sapphire gem strung on it and minimal earrings. I didn’t bother with any rings.

“Your hungry friend can’t wait much longer, Emily,” Iyo jested from the other side of the door. In response, I went over and swung it open. He looked over me, then nodded. “You look like royalty.”

“I am royalty, Iyo. I know I don’t act the part, but-“

“Believe me when I say, Lady, that you embody traditional royalty. Ready to go?”

“Yes, finally,” I smiled. He went to the door Yubik instructed us to go through and, sure enough, it went out into a hall. He let me go through first and then offered his arm as we got out of the study. I obliged by curling my arm around his, which didn’t feel as odd as I imagined it would be. Iyo wasn’t two people, but two minds sharing a body. Everything he sees and feels in this body is exactly the same as if he was in her body. I didn’t feel like I was talking to someone new, which made me very comfortable. I wonder what their guidelines on polygamous relationships are.

The only door in the hall, which was straight ahead, opened as we approached it. Past it, the dining room was huge and just as amazing as anything else in this place. A large amount of people were mingling around the center table that was completely set for dinner. I caught Yubik’s eye from the side of the table and he came over at a slow, nonchalant pace. “I see you two clean up well.”

“I like to think I can look pleasant at times,” I joked.

Iyo uncurled his arm from mine, allowing me space, and smiled. “It only took her a few minutes longer than forever, sire.”

“I don't doubt that, but you look like you belong here, Dark Ruler. Aside from, of course, your war paint.” His crack at my black and gray skin made me laugh, then he said, “I suppose the outfits were correctly chosen?”

I rolled my eyes. “As if I had much of a choice, Dark Sun.”

Iyo looked past Yubik, then gestured to us. “I’m completely famished, so I’m going to see what kind of conversation I can find by the hors d'oeuvres. I’ll see you two later on?”

We both nodded to him and he left us alone, which was probably his plan all along. Smart couple, they are. I looked to the Dark Sun again. His suit almost matched mine, it being equally as dark with the same gold trim. “Did you purposely make our outfits the same, immortal?”

He responded by brushing it off, “You should know that Ascentia caters to your wishes, not someone else’s. I guess we both just have the same taste, hm?”

“Funny coincidence, I suppose.” After a bit of small talk, a bell rang, signaling the start of the banquet. Yubik took my hand and led me to two spots at the corner of the table and even slid the chair in behind me. “My, you certainly have your manners checked, huh? You know I’m just an ordinary girl, Yubik. No need to be fancy.”

“Well, perhaps I am being so proper for someone else.” He stood, looking to the end chair. “Ah, welcome, Goddess.” I turned my head and then almost sprang from my chair. Of course, I should have remembered that there would be some important guests at an Ascentian dinner. Before me was Yhannason, the Goddess of Love. She was completely ethereal with her long, shimmering hair and perfect features. Everything about her emanated beauty and, coincidentally, love.

“Please, dear Sun, pause the formalities.” Even her voice was angelic. She looked right at me, snapping me out of my short trance. “Lady Emmeline Everlock, I presume?” She held out her hand, palm down. “I have heard so much about you.”

I lightly took her hand and kissed the top of it, a type of greeting I’ve been instructed to use with goddesses ever since I first came to Ascentia. After, I kept a gentle hold on it. “Goddess, I can only hope all you heard was appeasing.”

She pulled her hand away and held it slightly out to the side of her in some sort of resting position. “Only the best!” She smiled, then asked us two to sit down. We, of course, waited for her to sit first before going back down in our chairs. As the plates of food were coming out, she said, “Make sure to try the lamb here. It is to die and ascend again for.”

“You always knew the ins and outs of the kitchen, Goddess,” Yubik said. He glanced at me, “Yhannason may be the Goddess of Love, but she will always be the Goddess of Cooking in my eyes.”

Yhannason laughed. “You flatter me too much, I am not so skilled as you think.” She also directed her next statement at me. It seemed that I would be put on the hot seat tonight. “So, may I call you Emily? It’s such a lovely name, really. Yubik here brought me a lovely little gem he says you acquired from the God of Rot.” She feigned an intimidating voice, “Morak Serihn.”

“I… Yes, Goddess, it is the spirit of a long-lost friend.”

“Now, I hardly doubt that is the end of it. Please, Emily, I understand your condition. A woman occupying another’s body. I mean, by no means do I condone the stealing of bodies, but there was good reason for your insertion and, of course, you didn’t have a say in the matter at the time. Oh, I’m rambling.” She reset her smile. “What I am trying to say is that your friend is much more than just a friend, correct?”

“Correct, Goddess.”

“Ah ah ah,” she quickly hushed me. “You may call me Yhanna if you wish to. My, all these formalities get to me at times.” Yubik nodded in agreeance and she continued, “Well, I did some tinkering with the little gem and I have some good news and some bad news for you. Good news, the spirit is fully intact and ready to occupy a new body.”

“And the bad news, Yhanna?” I had a feeling I knew what she was going to say.

“Hm, I know I said ‘some,’ but there is a bit more than just some bad news.” She stopped, then added, “I’m getting ahead of myself. Anyways, this spirit will have the same personality and other features like the same likes and dislikes, desires and goals, but… it will be an it until I put in a body.”

“Which means your more than friend could either be a woman or a man, depending on the supply of a body,” Yubik filled in.

“Exactly, Yubik. I know that is a minor inconvenience, but I also know that I’d like to come back a woman if I was one before. So, that’s the first part. Second, this spirit holds zero memories. It won’t recognize you, its family, or anything it ever knew and loved, which is unfortunate. I wouldn’t put it past Morak Serihn to keep the memories, despite being defeated by a mortal, yet I may be able to pull some strings to fix that. Also, that’s another conversation we are going to have to have, missy.”

“It was quite the battle, Emily, we were all impressed.” Yubik and Yhanna’s words made me feel much more comfortable. I was expecting to be looked down on for my appearance and origins, but that wasn’t the case.

“We can talk about how remarkable your fighting skills are later on, but you want to get your friend back. Well, she, er, it will have no memories and can either become male or female- or neither! I mean, you can be anything you want in this world nowadays. Many of my worshippers have nothing down there, if you know what I mean, which isn’t exactly how Isvoka planned it, but he doesn’t mind anyways.” Isvoka, God of Elves. “I’m getting side-tracked again, gosh! Alright, the final bit of bad news: you don’t have a body for this spirit. A suitable one, that is. I can make one for you or ask Isvoka if he has any around his chambers, but I wonder if you had anything else in mind.”

“I can’t say I was ready to put her into a body when I came here, Yhanna.” I honestly had no clue what I was going to do. I thought about creating some sort of golem, but I don’t think Ulla would want that.

“Well, what’ll it be, then?”

“I… I think I would prefer it if you created a body of your design, Yhanna.”

Yhannason almost squealed with joy after that. “I was so hoping you would say that! It has been too long since I’ve made a body for someone. Do you remember what she looked like? May I have an image?”

“Oh, yes, of course.” I gestured her over and she promptly placed her forehead against mine, the best way to transfer memories from one person to another. I focused on the best images of Ulla I could, but I mainly remembered times when Ulla was either upset or unconscious.

After, Yhannason sat back again and smiled at me. “I will do my best, Emily. Now, on to the other topic: you challenged the God of Rot- of all gods and goddesses- and won?! Please tell me how you managed it!”

“I mainly used forbidden Void magic, buuuuut…” I felt a queasy feeling in my stomach just saying it.

“I don’t care about the kind of magic you used, Emily,” she assured me.

“Oh. Well, he controlled the body of his champion to fight me with, but empowered it with his own power. If he landed a single hit, I wouldn’t be here right now. I avoided his attacks as much as I could, but eventually began to rot away from his magic. I had to end it quick, so I stuck the magic into the body and just made it… erupt.”

Yhannason clapped her hands together. “Oh, bravo, young mortal! I’ve been wanting to send a kick at him for so long, you can’t even comprehend it.”

Yubik put a hand on my shoulder, the most physical contact he has had with me all night. “You are a natural mage, Emily. I would have you at my side in battle any day.”

“I’m not… that great, really,” I lied. I knew I could defeat many of the gods and goddesses, which is sort of a goal for myself, but defeating one puts you under the eyes of all of them. I can only imagine how many people here are now recognizing me as the victor in a godly challenge.

“Well, dear child,” Yhanna responded, “If you ever wish to challenge yours truly, do be ready for quite the challenge.”

“Oh, Goddess, do you still make them…?” Yubik trailed off.

She nodded and let out a small giggle. “Yes, yes, I do.”

“My, it’s like a fairy tale. Never challenge her, Emily, trust me.”

“Now now, you’re no fun, Yubik.” A couple came over and spoke briefly with the goddess. She looked over as she began to stand. “I do apologize, Emily, but I must attend to other matters. I’ll let someone else of interest know that the spot next to you is open. Oh, and your friend is under my eyes, now, so do feel certain that they are in good hands. Ta ta,” she ended as she properly strode off with her long, beautiful dress following behind.