To alter someone else's memory takes immense skill. Even the greatest of mages lack this ability.
However, changing your own is another story. Some say it is as easy as thinking. It is complete and total masturbation of self-satisfying behavior. Yet, we all do it. And we must.
Who wouldn't like to change their past? Have the "What ifs" go our way for once.
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Memory spells are fickle things. Often used to relive a moment of great joy, but the further one gets from the memory, the less potent the experience of reliving it is.
Gwyn slept peacefully after her interaction with Elise. It was as if Gwyn could successfully cast the "sleep surrender" spell.
The two women had spent hours together. They talked about anything and everything. They spoke of their people's history, their own past, the magical items within Elise's room; among other things.
Conversations flowed like water. It was what Gwyn needed. They snacked, chatted, and had a wonderful time together.
Elise had attached a chain to the top of Gwyn's golden vial so that she could wear it as a necklace. The vial felt warm against the young woman's chest and almost sang to her a lullaby as sleep approached.
The vial whispered lovingly.
"Together, we let go."
Her sleep would be dreamless, and she would awake in several hours with fond memories and a vial close to her heart.
~
Elise, on the other hand, was still wide awake. She stared at the ceiling, reliving an alternate history that started just after she had given Gwyn the necklace.
In reality, Elise hadn't stepped closer to the Chosen One. They both remained silent once the vial was split in two. Elise felt the doubt overtake her.
Gwyn wasn't really my friend; she wouldn't be around for much longer.
These thoughts persuaded Elise to end the night as quickly and painlessly as possible. She broke away from the magical moment and rummaged for a golden chain in her room teeming with wonderous items. After successfully finding said chain, she held it up to the vial and used lesser magic to conjoin the items.
Courtesies and thanks were exchanged, followed by a brief hug and awkward goodbyes.
Gwyn left the princess alone.
It is known that the fresher a memory is, the easier it is to cast a memory spell. Elise cast "relive recent moments mostly tethered together." A spell she made up on the spot. She held the dagger to her chest and cast the improvised spell.
"Relive recent moments mostly tethered together."
The feeling was like watching and living a movie simultaneously. Elise was both in and outside of her mind. She relived the last few moments of her interaction with Gwyn in an alternate reality.
Sometimes they kissed, sometimes things went much further than that.
Elise stuck her hand between her thighs and felt her warmth. She played around with her desire as she fantasized about Gwyn. In Elise's memories, she took the leap. She did what she wanted to do so badly. Without fear and without doubt.
Gwyn was in her bed. The two women were lying together, naked—or not. Then, they were making love—or not. Then, they were cuddling—or not.
The Bloody Princess was in total control of what she desired to happen within her mind.
Elise discovered that the spell she cast lasted about seven minutes and twenty-seven seconds. This fact was known because she counted during the first interaction. But each subsequent time the magic was conjured became less potent, like watered-down alcohol.
Elise writhed in pleasure as the memories played out. She reached for the toys she had hidden from Gwyn earlier. However, the fantasies were becoming increasingly dull.
Blood trickled out of her nose and ears with each spell casting, but she didn't care. She had Gwyn in those few moments. She did the right thing. She didn't let her leave this room.
Objects in the background began to disappear in these altered memories, the details getting fuzzier. Gwyn now coddled Elise after she didn't seek to pleasure herself anymore. The Chosen One held Elise up to her breasts, the pink hair dancing lovingly against her skin as she nuzzled as close as possible. The elven woman could hear the humans heartbeat in the dreamlike state, which comforted her greatly.
The words whispered in her ear again and again.
"Together, we let go. Together, we let go. Together. We. Let. Go."
It was Gwyn's voice in this fantasy. It only mattered to Elise's whims if it was uttered seductively or sweetly.
After reliving this fantasy over thirty-five times, the details became extremely blurred.
Literally.
The entire background looked as though only Gwyn and Elise were the focus of a photo. The objects scattered throughout the room were a blur of shapes and meaningless portraits to Elise. She had to focus with every fiber of her being to keep the memory coherent.
"Together, we let go."
It was Gwyn again, her voice almost breaking.
She pulled herself close to Elise, but the young elf couldn't feel her warmth anymore.
Her clothes now varied wildly because Gwyn was no longer a body, just an image of a loving creature in her mind. For the first time in a long time, Elise felt loved and protected as Gwyn held her in this waking dream.
But she knew there were only one or two more casts before too much time had passed, and the memory could no longer be meaningfully relived or altered.
"Relive recent moments mostly tethered together."
The incantation was cast. Elise slipped away from her mind like a ship in the night.
In this final casting, Gwyn appeared perfectly before her. But the room was now a white background. There was no furniture or magical items. It was just them. The blood now streamed from her nose onto the covers, leaving a small red puddle.
A smear now appeared on Elise's face during the memory. She tried to wipe it, but it only spread. Panic ensued as Elise feared the blood would entirely consume her. Consumed by the failure and consumed by the wanting.
The spell rebounded, and now the young elf was paying the price.
Blood kept leaking and coating her entire body. She brushed her arms again and again to keep removing the blood, but more would manifest until her whole hand looked like it had been stuck in red paint. After the rivers of blood continued to flow, the tears became rivers, too.
Gwyn reached out to Elise and stopped her from wiping away the smeared blood.
"You are enough, Elise."
Elise looked up from her blurred vision and saw Gwyn caressing her bloodied face. The spectacles she wore were like the sun and moon, while her freckles were the constellation. A Goddess. Her love. Her life.
The blood and tears were gone with one single stroke of Gwyn's thumb. They embraced. Elise could feel the warmth again. And then the memory faded, never to return.
"Relive recent moments mostly tethered together."
Elise was in a weak and teary state. She was a pathetic sight. Her dagger by her side, her body covered in blood.
Nothing happened after this cast. Teardrops now streamed from her real eyes onto the real covers below her, wetting the mattress that absorbed her blood. She stood and her vision faltered. A lightheaded and dizzy mess.
After cleaning herself with water and lesser magic, she stared into the mirror; her eyes were puffy and her cheeks were crimson. She sniffled and lay back down.
The aspiring Dyad stared at the ceiling as she lay alone. She conjured that feeling of sleepiness.
She envisioned herself under the covers, her body bare. Lying on her side, with pink hair in a messy twirl. Her lavender eyes shut, but instead of being alone, she envisioned Gwyn beside her. One arm firmly grasped her stomach, pulling her close. She felt the Chosen One's body press against hers. Her fingertips closing ever so slightly. They then traced her navel. She felt her warmth and her soft skin.
A voice whispered to her.
"Together, we let go."
With this she finally felt protection and understanding.
Elise laughed as she lay alone.
I'm delusional.
She then muttered the difficult incantation:
"Sleep surrender."
Like a wave, drowsiness overtook her. The dagger in her hand slipped from her grip and clanged to the floor. Elise had cast the spell that had been eluding her for years. Moments later, she was asleep. And dreamed the softest, most pleasant dreams.