Rini walked over to the mirror and almost passed out. “How…why???” She looked at her reflection. She was older, which she calculated to be nineteen years old. She couldn’t be her real age, which was over two-hundred years old. She was tall and her pink pigtails were as long as her mother’s. She was wearing the traditional white dress with a crescent moon, but a more modern version. She looked so much like an adult.

Helios was looking on in wonder. “Rini, you look so…so mature,” Helios said. “I feel so different,” Rini said. “How do you think this happened?” she asked. “I think it was my love for you and my wishing crystal that I wear around my neck.” “Did you wish that you could be older?” Helios questioned.

Rini turned a bright cherry red. “Well, I might have done that…so you would…like me better,” she confessed. Helios laughed his amused laugh. “Why, Rini,” “You haven’t changed a bit,” he said. “You are not making me feel anymore comfortable than I already am,” she snipped in a friendly way. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“Helios,” Rini said. “There’s something I need to tell you,” she said. Helios came and sat next to Rini. She still felt nervous about being near him. It didn’t matter if she was older or not. “You know how you said that…you…love me right?” she asked. “How could I forget?” He said. “Well, I want you to know that I…I…love…you…too,” she sputtered out finally.

“Rini, you don’t have to feel obligated to say it back to me,” Helios said. “I’m not feeling obligated, I’m saying it because that’s the way I really feel. I didn’t notice it until I became older.” She said quietly.

“Rini…I,” Rini interrupted him. “I’ve always felt this way, Helios, it hasn’t been only you towards me. I just never had the guts to admit it,” she said. “Well, it seems you’ve grown too old for the name of your youth,” Helios remarked. “I shall call you something more befitting,” he said. Rini was afraid he’d start calling her ‘Lady Serenity’ or ‘Princess Serenity.’ “How about ‘Lady Rini’?” he compromised. “Thank you Helios,” she said relieved.