The maroon gown again

Since Crystal was still behind in magic, Marina had helped her create a Love Gram for herself. "Love will bloom, you just wait," it read.

It was an unusual Love Gram, but Marina liked it.

As they watched it float in the air, out of their dorm, Crystal asked excitedly, "What will happen to them?"

"Typically, a Love Gram will traverse the event and pass by its recipient's soulmate and twin flame at least once. Eventually, all of the Love Grams will gather in the center of the sky where the Love Bound Masquerade is held. It is here that the quotes on each Love Gram will burst, releasing a mesmerizing display of light that will shimmer and shine upon all in attendance, including students and professors. This event is one that I have eagerly anticipated for my entire life, and I have only ever heard enchanting stories about its magical wonders," Marina replied looking dearly in the sky as she wished her twin flame could join her for the event, which certainly was not possible as he no longer was a student of the academy.

Crystal was enchanted by Marina's description, her anticipation for the Masquerade growing with each passing moment. She couldn't wait to witness the stunning display for herself and for the Masquerade to begin.

...

A soft knock on Crystal's dorm room door interrupted their conversation. She turned to Marina, silently questioning if she was expecting someone.

"Oh, That is most likely Chroma," she said, before pausing for effect."She expressed a desire to speak with you regarding a matter." Marina had a mischievous smile on her lips, for which Crystal gave her friend a dubious look but went to answer the door anyway for Chroma and welcome her.

Chroma burst into the room with a radiant grin that lit up her whole face as she greeted the two. It looked like she was about to live the moment she was born for, and maybe she really was.

"Crystal!" she exclaimed, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Have you made arrangements for a ball gown to wear to the Love Bound Masquerade this evening?" Chroma asked, sharing a knowing look with Marina, while Crystal widened her eyes and her heart sank in the realization that in all her excitement, she had forgotten that the Masquerade had a theme to follow.

Looking at Crystal’s panicked face, Chroma got the answer to her question. "No? I presumed so," she continued breezily, "Do not worry, for Chroma has arrived!" Chroma said, winking at Crystal, who sighed in relief.

“Come over here, stand in the center,” Chroma guided Crystal to the middle of their dorm room.

As Crystal obeyed, Chroma perched on Marina's bed and examined Crystal from head to toe. "Let us take a look," she mused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "I believe we require something romantic in nature, but not overly ornate, with an added element of intrigue." With that, she began to sketch beauty in her head.

"Marvelous! I understand precisely what will suit you," Chroma exclaimed with enthusiasm, and Marina shared her excitement. Crystal was already a stunning beauty, even the blind could tell, and Chroma was eager to showcase her abilities by enhancing her natural features.

With a flick of her wrist, Chroma summoned orange fairy dust that gently swirled around Crystal, forming a beautiful maroon gown with a corset bodice and a voluminous skirt that flowed like cascading waterfalls. The gown's sleeves were made of delicate transparent tulle, a shade lighter than the maroon fabric of the gown, were off-shoulder, and had slits that reached the ground, giving a regal touch to the ensemble.

Crystal twirled in front of the full-length mirror, and her eyes widened in amazement. The gown sparkled as the fairy dust shimmered like stars in the night sky just like in her dreams.

The maroon color was far too familiar to her eyes. And only now did Crystal seem to notice that not only her clothes but her hair and eye color had also changed.

Her eyes, once a shade of aqua, were now a deep shade of burgundy, and so was her hair, twisted into an elaborate updo with a bottleneck fringe that framed her high cheekbones. Fairy dust glittered in her hair, and a small silver crown sat atop her head, delicate and beautiful, that Crystal felt it would falter if could come to touch it. The crown was adorned with small maroon flowers and round maroon gems, scattered intricately with a large marquise gem in the center that dazzled with each turn of her head.

Both her eyes and her hair strikingly complimented her maroon majestic gown.

Crystal felt as though she was a princess, a ruler of a mystical land where the beauty was unparalleled. Never in her life had she felt so radiant, so complete, as she did now. The stunning gown that Chroma had fashioned for her was nothing short of exquisite, and she felt a sense of familiarity with it, as though it had been made specifically for her.

The Love Bound Masquerade was a theme like no other, calling for attendees to don a complete transformation, the opposite of their usual style. Eyes and hair were to be of different hues, and each person wore a masquerade mask. This transformation was symbolic of true love and the concept that soulmates and twin flames could recognize each other despite their altered appearance.

Marina gazed at Crystal with sheer admiration, her smile wider than ever before. "Tonight, our dear Crystal will outshine all other ladies in comparison." Chroma, too, beamed with pride as she nodded in agreement with Marina's sentiment.

"Undoubtedly, every gentleman present would be eager to hold hands and share a dance with our beloved Crystal," Chroma added, and Crystal felt her cheeks flush with a deep shade of pink as Chroma and Marina continued to praise her.

"How did you come up with such a contrast for Crystal though? It looks thoroughly opposite to her, and yet it seems as though the overall look was tailored specifically for her," Marina complimented Chroma while looking at Crystal with a hint of wonder in her eyes.