Kaleidotrope, January 2026
Iadene, a hero who can magically grow to giant size, defeats a mechanical dragon with her partner Tuaamala, but victory comes at a devastating cost—the dragon kills Tuaamala before dying. When Iadene tries to shrink back to normal size, she experiences excruciating pain and remains giant. She collapses on the highway, where Mijanlirel, a thaumic artist (magical practitioner), finds her and brings her to safety.
Mijanlirel explains that Iadene’s injuries from the fight mean shrinking would kill her, and she must wait months to heal. However, as time passes, they discover something worse: Tuaamala’s enlargement spell has permanently stabilized. The spell was designed with no failsafe, ensuring it wouldn’t break and leave Iadene vulnerable during the dragon fight. Now Iadene is stuck as a giant indefinitely.
While recovering in Mijanlirel’s barn-like home, Iadene grapples with grief over Tuaamala’s death and the loss of her former life. She mourns that they defeated the dragon to protect the town’s wealth, only to have scavengers steal everything from the hoard anyway—meaning Tuaamala died for nothing. Throughout this emotional turmoil, Iadene finds herself drawn to Mijanlirel, whose gentle care and understanding help her heal emotionally.
Their developing connection is threatened by the Honorable North Avazial Road Company, whose agents fear giants will create new roads through the forest, bypassing their profitable toll gates. A company man tracks Iadene to Mijanlirel’s home and sets it on fire, attempting to kill her. Iadene saves what she can of the house and confronts the arsonist, but lets him go, refusing to act like the monster he believes her to be.
When Mijanlirel returns, she reveals a stunning solution: she has made herself giant too. She had left to recreate the enlargement spell on herself, believing it was unfair for Iadene to be alone at that size, especially after seeing the longing in Iadene’s eyes. Mijanlirel also confesses she is immortal—explaining why Iadene found an ancient statue of her in the dragon’s hoard—and like Iadene, she has “known a lot of wonderful women.”
The story concludes with the two giantesses embracing and beginning a romantic relationship. Iadene accepts her new permanent size and finds hope in this unexpected connection. Rather than viewing her transformation as a curse, she recognizes advantages: she won’t have to “compress her feelings to fit into the world,” and she’ll be ready if another dragon threatens those who cannot protect themselves. What began as tragedy transforms into possibility as Iadene discovers that while she has lost her former life and her dear friend Tuaamala, she has gained both purpose and love in her giant form.
