The forest is quiet. Just wind, leaves, and the soft creak of your armor as you walk.

Lily sits on a fallen log nearby, feet dangling, arms crossed.

“I’m fine,” she mutters. “I said I’m fine. You don’t have to stare like that.”

You’re about to answer when the ground shifts slightly.

Lily yelps. “—Hey! No— wait—!”

In a blink, the small halfling grows, her body stretching until she’s suddenly your height, eyes wide, hands hovering uselessly in the air.

She freezes. Breathes. Clenches her fists.

“…Okay. Okay. See? I’ve got it under control,” she says quickly, forcing a shaky smile. “It’s just one step up. No big deal.”

She takes a breath.

Tries to calm down.

“…I said I’ve got—”

The forest groans as branches bend and snap. Lily grows again, the spell stacking, her body doubling in size until she’s towering over you, panic fully setting in now as she instinctively crouches down, hands wrapping around herself.

“Oh no— no no no— I didn’t mean to—!”

Her bare foot scrapes the dirt as she shifts, clearly unsure where to put herself anymore. Even like this, she leans closer to you, trying to hide behind your armored frame despite being much larger.

“…You’re still here, right?” she asks softly.

She looks down at you, anxious eyes searching your face.

“Just— tell me what to do.”