‘Shit, fuck fuck fuck. Inara saw my dick right after I swam in cold water. Now she might think that’s my usual size. Aaaaaahh, why did I think going commando in my jeans after I dried of was a good idea? It’s not even comfortable. I could have just air dried with the boxers on in the sun.’

While fussing over the incident I was quickly putting my pants on after drying on the rough linen shirt. Walking into the clearing shirtless. My original jacket, shirt and t-shirt had their backs completely shredded by the bear. Hence I had no change.

It was a lot worse than I thought going commando in jeans. Again showing the stupidity of my plan. When I approached the girls I could see Nyla staring at my bare chest. Lyria was fidgeting and throwing glances, she had her cloak over her head so I couldn’t properly see her face but It looked distinctly red. Cassandra cooked her eyebrows while getting a slight blush, before she quickly cast a spell that brought a warm fresh breeze that enveloped me and the wet shirt and boxer that I was carrying.

That was so convenient, I could have just walked soaking wet up to her and this whole ordeal who never had happened.

“Thank you Cassandra”

I smiled towards her. We haven’t really spoken at all, not that I'm actually able to hold a conversation. It was clear that she was the leader of the party and the fact I was so welcomed couldn’t have happened unless everyone agreed to help me.

When I glanced towards Inara who was hidden by Nyla she kinda slinked further behind Nyla. She had a somewhat guilty and sad look on her face. Compared to her usual grin or predatory smile it was really weird seeing a bombshell like her crouch down and look so downtrodden. It seemed that she felt bad on walking up on me while I was undressing, which was a good thing. At least she wasn’t laughing or joking around about it.

Now I just needed to figure a way to show her that I wasn’t mad at her.

But first I took my now dried clothes and quickly went behind the boulder again, when I was pulling my underwear on I noticed that my clothes also smelled fresh and looked completely clean. Cassandras spell was even better than I thought. And it was a relief to not rub my crotch against jeans anymore.

When I walked back to the girls I nodded again towards Cassandra before sitting down next to Inara. It was kinda funny seeing her look frightened by me. This super strong sexy woman who could snap me like a twig glancing guiltily up towards me while slightly cowering. I just ended up patting her back while she looked confused, before understanding and relief suffused her. She sat up and looked right at me with shinning eyes and surprisingly the purest smile I had seen on her. When the rest of the crew started to murmur and ask Inara questions, I put my finger in front of my mouth and shushed while winking at her. She actually laughed while winking back. Which only made Nyla even more incessant about what happened, or at least I think that’s what she was bugging Inara about.

I really didn’t want Inara to share about seeing me naked after my swim with the others.

Good thing I practiced winking in high school, since I thought that was a good way to flirt and get girls. Never actually worked as you need a lot more than fancy eye movement to get a girlfriend.

***

I haven’t seen Inara so happy in a long time, she was positively beaming after Alex winked at her. It was really weird since she was clearly distraught before he came and sat next to her. She wouldn’t even share what happened.

Now I’m happy for her, but he seems so strained with me compared to when he is with Inara and Lyria.

Alex has been really nice to us. Yet Cassandra thinks it’s only because we rescued him. But when I look at him interact with the others he seems genuinely happy and engaged. It’s not the same with me. I worked so hard just so I could look like this, but maybe I’m just an unlikable person.

Nyla was brooding while they were continuing their trek. It was a couple of days since the glade, and Inara was almost skipping when she thought no one was looking at her.

The prospect of him actually staying with them seemed higher than ever. She should be glad that he is interested in them, but wasn’t the plan to rely on her. Yet everyday he spent more and more time with Lyria and Inara. She felt awful being jealous of her friends. Maybe those people were right, I might be just a trash person.

“Hey, are you alright?”

Cassandra walked up to Nyla, she clearly saw her friend was in a bad mood.

“Yeah, I'm fine.”

Was her unenthusiastic response.

“Your clearly not fine. Whats wrong? You know you can talk to me.”

Cassandra always had their back. Nyla didn’t know what would have happened to any of them if it wasn’t for Cassandra. Not only had she helped and gathered them, she was also their pillar of support.

“Am I an unlikable person?”

She finally relented.

“No, of course not. You are hard working, always positive and supportive. That’s why it was so easy to see when something is bothering you. You never brood like that unless something bothering you.”

Cassandra smiled at her friend while comforting her.

“Well it's about Alex, he is kinda stiff towards me compared to the rest of you. I tried to be confident and forward as Inara suggested, but nothing seems to be working. It’s like he is forcing it when he is with me.”

“Hmm, he is different from any guy I have ever seen so it’s hard to say. But maybe he is uncertain about you since you are forcing something your not. You both look kinda stiff together. Try to relax and be yourself, it might help.”

Cassandras always knew what to say to cheer her up. Yes Inara always said that she should be confident, but she never actually felt like she was. And it might have shown on her.

***

I was really getting worried about our journey, we have wandered in the wild for almost three weeks now without actually seeing any signs of civilization or other people.

While I was lost in my own thoughts I was picked up. I was momentarily startled before I noticed that I had slowed down and Nyla had promptly picked me up. I wasn’t really tired since my condition had really improved throughout the journey. My mind was also a lot better at picking stuff up and remembering things. If I had such good memory and retention before I would never have flunked Spanish.

I tapped on Nylas shoulder while pointing down on the ground. She looked inquisitively at me while smiling and said something with carry in it. I shook my head and pointed at the ground again, it really didn’t sit well with me being carried around. I already felt useless enough by not actually doing anything.

Nyla had a sad look on her face, so when I was dropped down I just started talking to her. Or tried to with the little vocabulary that I knew, she was a nice girl always trying to help me. And I needed all the practice and help I could get.

Inara also joined us, since the glade they were pretty relaxed about the trip. So there shouldn’t be any more crazy monsters like the kril around.

I still haven’t been able to learn magic from them, but not because I didn’t ask. It’s just too complicated to learn if I don’t actually understand what they are saying. I copied Cassandra and tried to meditate everyday when they set camp. I'm mostly going from memories about clearing your mind, and trying to sense exactly how different parts of my body feels while focusing inwards. I also try to imagine inhaling or absorbing magic from the air and sense if anything feels different than before. But there hasn't been anything so far.

After the camp was set I stood up and stretched, when I turned around to join them by the fire Inara indicated too sit next to her. She was teaching me Valerian like always, but she did a bicep flex like Nyla always does. It was so funny looking that I couldn’t help but snort. She instantly pulled back like a scared animal with a hurt look on her face. And I realized they all were awkward around me.

It seemed like it wasn't just Nyla interested in me. I really couldn’t understand why. I was just maybe above average in looks if I was generous with myself. And I was weak and useless to them. Yet I could see that not only Nyla who was pretty forward, but also Inara tried to flirt with me over the weeks. Lyria was constantly glancing at me just like a shy girl with a crush.

Even though I was socially awkward when I was in school, and became antisocial afterwards because frankly it was easier without the noise and falseness of people. But I still grew up and learned from my mistakes, I saw how people interacted. And while its harder to notice the signs pointing towards yourself compared to others, after spending so much time with them it became obvious.

Manning up I pulled my right arm around Inaras shoulder and gave her a squeeze, it was as far as I managed to go. The other girls were staring at us, at least it felt like it. Inara got a shy smile on her face while she was looking down on her food with a tinge of red building up on her face.

I became overly conscious with all the girls. While the rest of the day went by like a blur.

When night hit I couldn’t really sleep, lying in the tent going over our interactions to see if I made a mistake or that I actually became popular. Going nowhere I finally decided that some change of pace and fresh air might help me clear my mind.

Walking outside I saw Nyla was sitting looking up at the full moon. But What grabbed my attention was that she looked smaller than I remember. When I stepped towards her she turned around and shock suffused our faces, hers had a smidgen of horror as well.

She looked like a completely different person, she had sharp eyes and eyebrows. Her face was thin and feminine with a sharp jaw and normal nose. Luscious lips and high cheek bones.

She didn’t have her armor on. Her body was ripe with curves, the strongwoman was gone. Instead she was a model athlete, well trained but still a breathtaking beauty.

Gulping and taking a step forward frightened her.

She hid her face and chest behind her hands and I could see shadow radiating out of her while she morphed back towards her usual looks.

And at this moment I understood, in this world muscles where the definition of beauty. And they were especially ashamed by their considerate chest and feminine face. Maybe that’s why Lyria and Cassandra always wore baggy clothes that completely hid their forms.

They were like the ugly bullied kids, scared and scarred. But they still tried and had hope.

Which is a lot better than me who was more of the invisible kid more than anything. Yet I completely gave up. And now like in my dreams I found myself In magical world. With companions who cared and helped me when honestly they had no reason for.

It was time to man the fuck up.

I went up to Nyla while she was transforming.

“No, small good.”

I really needed to learn the language faster.

She looked confused at me while she was a mixture of both her forms.

I indicated with my hands pulling them together and said.

“Small good, moon stars, good strong.”

Trying to find words that could describe her as beautiful, and misrably failing I went with a different tactic.

And gave her a hug, which was a very interesting experience since she was actually still a head taller than me and still transforming.

The shadows were coiling around me, and I could feel her breasts growing and pushing out into my face. While her back got smaller and she slightly shrunk in height as well.

I looked up into her eyes, they were both hopeful and scared. I could see tears shimmer in the corners. Even though I really liked the sensation on my chin I still stepped back while holding her hand. And jumped on top of a rock that gave me the added height so I could be face to face.

She was still unsure of what to do, and I was also scared since this was new for me as well. But I had decide, so I pulled her towards me and kissed her.

It was a soft kiss, nothing fancy and only for a couple of seconds. I could feel her tear running down her cheek before hitting me. But it was a happy tear as she had the most beautiful smile I had seen on her. I opened my arms and this time she came over and hugged me. With her chin on my shoulder we just stood there.

When I finally stepped back into my tent and went to bed I thought.

‘Fuck, what about the others? Would they become angry with me, or Nyla? I’m just one guy...’