The late afternoon sun spilled through the workshop windows as Reisalin Stout—better known as Ryza—stood in front of a small mirror, turning her head from side to side,

Her golden hair, usually tied back in a carefree style, had grown longer than she liked. Strands kept slipping into her eyes while she worked, and even tying it up didn’t help much anymore. She sighed, brushing it back again.

“Maybe it’s time for a change,” she muttered.

The decision didn’t come lightly. Her hair had always been part of her identity—wild, sun-kissed, full of the same restless energy she carried. But lately, things had been different. More responsibility. More focus. Less running from one adventure to the next.

She picked up a pair of scissors from her workbench, hesitated… then smiled.

“No turning back now.”

The first cut was the hardest. A soft snip echoed in the quiet room as a lock of golden hair fell to the wooden floor. Ryza watched it drop, feeling a strange mix of nostalgia and excitement.

She kept going.

With each cut, her reflection changed. The wild, flowing hair gave way to something sharper, cleaner—something that felt… intentional. When the scissors alone couldn’t shape it anymore, she carefully used a razor, guiding it steadily.

Minutes passed.

When she finally stepped back, the mirror showed someone both familiar and new. Her hair was now closely shaved, neat and practical. It framed her face differently, highlighting her determined eyes.

Ryza tilted her head, then grinned.

“Yeah… this suits me.”

A breeze drifted through the open window, brushing lightly across her newly bare scalp. It felt strange—but refreshing, like the start of a new chapter.

She tied her tools back onto her belt, giving her reflection one last confident look.

“Let’s see what I can do next.”

And just like that, without hesitation, Ryza stepped out of the workshop—ready for whatever adventure came next.