Your confusion lasts just a moment, as Natalia speaks once again.
“You will not resist my suggestions.”
“I…I will n-not…” Tamara stutters
“You will not resist my suggestions.”
“I will not resist your suggestions…” Tamara says, looking like she’s giving in.
“Good. You are in your 20s," Natalia says, rather loudly.
"N-no…I'm in my 30s…" Tamara responds. Natalia must be trying to make a change!
"You are in your 20s," Natalia says.
"I...I'm in my 20s," Tamara relents. Her face becomes smoother and she loses a few wrinkles and a bit of weight. Her clothes also change, becoming a bit more vibrant and stylish. Your mind unknowingly shifts as your respect for Tamara increases dramatically. How could you not respect her? She got into college in her teens, graduated a year ago, and already is a full-time professor. Heck, she's even already well-respected in the English department. Part of you is starting to catch on to the fact that Natalia saying what is already true is evidence of a change, but you can’t remember anything different…
"You also have blonde hair," Natalia states.
"I'm blonde...blonde…" Tamara agrees, slowly. Of course she’s been blonde...right? Even if you remember it being different (which you don’t), you are struggling to see why Natalia is staying the obvious. It's probably just one of those weird effects from reality shifting that you can’t really perceive.
“And…you’re my daughter.”
“I’m…your daughter…” Tamara says, sighing. Her features and body undergo a subtle but profound shift to take on an appearance resembling her mother…Natalia. Of course they were mother and daughter! Tamara had always been like an older sister, and Natalia like another mother. Was Natalia really making changes? She had to be but it’s impossible to know…
"This pendulum really is powerful," Natalia says, turning to you. You nod, knowing that Natalia had to have made alterations but unable to recall any different realities.
“You…you changed things? Because I can’t remember any different reality.”
Natalia’s eyes widen. “So only the user is unaffected by changes? Hm, that is most interesting indeed…”
Now you know she did things. Part of you feels scared not having that pendulum, not knowing what is being changed…