Chapter 4: Losing the Strength to Speak

“How could my transformation device let you transform?” Jin Yan asked, taking back her device, her confusion resurfacing.

Her little brain felt like it was about to explode, steam practically rising from her head.

“It’s probably because I was born with the potential to become a magical girl,” Lu Yue said.

She channeled her magic, summoning a water mirror to check her appearance, noting it was unchanged from before her transformation.

Back in middle school, her history teacher had mentioned that 97.6% of the Central Republic’s population possessed magical casting abilities.

On April 23, 1542, the Central Republic’s Magical Committee passed a bill.

Starting that September, the Central Republic implemented mandatory education.

Today, with the widespread use of magic and its ability to alter the human body, at least 30% of people on the streets had hair colors straight out of anime.

This phenomenon, known as magical infusion, typically altered hair and eye colors.

For magical girls, magical infusion worked differently.

Their original appearance gradually aligned with their transformed state after repeated transformations, until their true form fully resembled their magical girl form.

This was why some active magical girls chose to retire after their service term ended.

Due to their celebrity-like status, they sought to avoid linking their civilian identity with their magical girl persona, which could disrupt their social lives.

Xiao Yan studied Lu Yue’s appearance and gave an affirming hum.

Wait, something’s off. Why does her face with that outfit give off Yuehua vibes?

“Xiao Yue, be honest with me. Were you Yuehua in a past life?” Jin Yan asked, half-seriously, propping her chin.

“Who’s Yuehua supposed to be?”

“Oh, that’s the codename of Corona’s old best friend from a show she was on. You don’t even know that? How are you…” Xiao Yan trailed off, muffled.

Lu Yue quickly covered Xiao Yan’s mouth.

“I already knew that. Also, I play Magic Kill, not chase celebrities.”

Huff, huff. Xiao Yan broke free, gasping for air.

“Besides, Yuehua retired, not died. She’s just kept a low profile these years. How could you curse her like that?” Lu Yue said, looking at Xiao Yan like she was an idiot.

“Then why do you look almost exactly like Yuehua?” Jin Yan asked, baffled.

“Please, it’s just the clothes and silver hair. Yuehua’s not the only silver-haired person in the country. You can’t say everyone with silver hair looks like her, right?” Lu Yue said, exasperated, hand on her forehead and hip.

As Jin Yan opened her mouth to argue, the bell signaling the end of class rang.

Jin Yan released her transformation the instant the bell sounded.

Lu Yue, however, panicked.

“Um, Xiao Yan,” Lu Yue said, shaking her friend’s shoulders nervously.

“How do magical girls release their transformation?” she asked, her heart racing as footsteps approached the bathroom.

“I don’t want to die socially!” Lu Yue wailed, on the verge of tears.

If a magical girl’s civilian identity was exposed, it’d be like streaking under the moonlight.

“Oh, that?” Xiao Yan said, playing coy.

“Hurry up, there’s no time!” Lu Yue urged, as the footsteps neared the bathroom door.

“Just silently say ‘release transformation’ in your mind,” Xiao Yan replied unhurriedly.

As Lu Yue mentally chanted release transformation, flecks of light scattered, and she reverted to her original self in her sports uniform.

The footsteps stopped at a nearby stall.

Lu Yue and Xiao Yan held hands, stepping out of their stall.

Under the strange gazes of classmates heading to the bathroom during the break, Lu Yue’s face flushed as she dragged a clueless Xiao Yan out.

Xiao Yan suddenly remembered something and pulled Lu Yue into an empty activity classroom.

“Normally, after awakening as a magical girl, you need to register at the Bureau of Magical Affairs.”

“It usually takes about two weeks to get a magical girl identity card.”

“But lucky for you, you know me,” Xiao Yan said, patting her chest proudly, her black hair tinged with red at the roots.

“I know a magical girl senior who’s the deputy director at our city’s Bureau.”

“You’re bluffing, right?”

“If we’re playing that game, my dad’s the director of the Bureau—outranks your senior,” Lu Yue shot back.

Xiao Yan gave up arguing with Lu Yue.

“This weekend, I’ll take you to meet my senior. How’s that?” Xiao Yan decided to let actions speak louder than words.

“Fine. What time? Where? You covering the fare?”

“I’ve got you, sis. Time’s tentatively set for Sunday at 9 a.m. I’ll take you there.”

“Alright,” Lu Yue nodded.

Time flew to the morning of June 10, 2046.

Though it was the weekend, Lu Yue woke up at 6:50 without an alarm.

She wanted to go back to sleep, but a year of high school life and the excitement of meeting a magical girl senior had her mind wide awake the moment her eyes opened.

Lu Yue stretched lazily in bed, grabbing her phone from under her pillow.

She instinctively opened Magic Kill.

Since she was up, why not play a round of Landlord?

An hour and a half later, Lu Yue quit her final match, her in-game currency in the negatives.

She didn’t quit because she lost her top spot—it was time to make breakfast for her lazy dad.

After preparing breakfast for her father, Lu Yue headed out.

She called Xiao Yan, who said to meet at the milk tea shop near school.

The moment Lu Yue appeared at the shop’s entrance, Xiao Yan bounded over like an unleashed puppy, holding a cup of milk tea.

“Xiao Yue, Xiao Yue!” Xiao Yan called out.

Lu Yue’s vision darkened, and she had the sudden urge to turn and leave.

But knowing Xiao Yan would cling to her like sticky candy, she steeled herself, pretended not to know her, and sat at an empty booth, ignoring Xiao Yan’s tugging.

Lu Yue took a deep breath.

“Don’t you think you’re being way too conspicuous?” Lu Yue whispered.

“What’s conspicuous about this?” Xiao Yan said loudly, looking around.

She noticed the other customers had turned away, not looking at them.

“Xiao Yue, you’re overreacting. No one’s even watching us,” Xiao Yan said, pushing the milk tea toward Lu Yue.

With you making such a scene and no one noticing, that says enough, Lu Yue thought.

She inserted the straw and took a sip.

Hmm, chocolate flavor—my favorite.

“How much is the milk tea? I’ll transfer you,” Lu Yue said, not wanting to owe anyone.

“Come on, we’ve been friends for years. It’s on me, especially since, you know, we’re meeting my senior today,” Xiao Yan said, waving her hand and winking.

“When do we head out?”

“Let’s sit for another hour. My senior said she’s got something going on today.”