“Here, it’s not much, but I hope it’s to your liking,” Hayamon said as she placed a wooden plate onto Maika’s lap.

“Thank you.” Maika’s gaze fell on the meal before her. Two slices of soft, white bread held together a generous filling of glossy pink meat and crisp green lettuce, the vibrant colors practically spilling out. The savory aroma wafted up to her, warm and rich, making her mouth water. It was almost comically oversized, the edges peeking over the plate’s rim.

“Here’s some water,” Hayamon handed Maika a wooden mug of water, “Once you’re finished, find me. I’ll be in the dining room.”

“Okay, thanks for the food.”

Hayamon nodded as she stepped back, turning and walking out the door. Maika grabbed the sides of the enormous sandwich, its weight sinking into her palms, and took a bite. Soft bread and savory filling melted on her tongue, and before she knew it, the meal was disappearing, bite by bite. Tomato juice and water traveled down her hands and arms as bread crumbs fell between the crevices of her swollen breasts. She hadn’t realized just how hungry she was until now; in fact, she wasn’t at all satisfied. Eating the sandwich seemed to have opened up a deep craving Maika never knew she had.

She stacked the empty mug on the plate and slid the covers off her legs. the soft fabric slipped away, exposing her thighs. Maika blinked, staring down at them as though they belonged to someone else. She couldn’t quite comprehend that they were hers. The thick, milky-pale thighs seemed impossibly smooth and looked softer than anything she’d ever imagined. She hesitated, and then reached out with her free hand; she pinched one thigh experimentally, and the flesh gave under her touch and deformed under the tension, dimpling briefly before easing back into place. Satisfied, she shifted her legs so her feet touched the cool wood floor and tried to walk.

Without warning, Maika’s body flopped onto the ground with a dull thump, the force sending the dishes flying. Plate and cup clattered loudly, spinning and skidding across the floor.

“Oof!” she exclaimed. Surprisingly, no pain came. Her breasts absorbed the force of the impact. Maika blinked and glanced back at her legs, her brows furrowing. They felt heavy and unresponsive, almost like they didn’t belong to her. She flexed her toes experimentally—they wiggled just fine. A flurry of hurried footsteps echoed through the cabin, followed by a voice edged with worry.

“Are you alright, Maika?”

“Yes. Thank you for worrying.” Maika kept her eyes fixed on the floor, her voice soft, as if hoping to downplay the embarrassment. Hayamon hovered by the doorway, watching. Her sharp gaze softened slightly as she noticed the faint pink creeping up Maika’s ears.

“Seems like you’re not used to walking again yet,” Hayamon said, stepping toward the fallen girl. She crouched down beside Maika, her tone softening. “Here, I’ll help.” With practiced ease, she flipped Maika onto her back and scooped her up in a princess carry. Maika’s cheeks flushed, and she instinctively grabbed Hayamon’s shoulder for support. Balancing Maika securely in one arm, Hayamon bent to gather the scattered dishes with the other. The dull clinks accompanied her measured steps as she carried both the girl and the dishes toward the dining room.

“You haven’t walked in a few years, so your body might need to get used to moving again.” Hayamon set Maika gently on a wooden chair before placing the used dishes in the sink. Maika blinked, her eyes trailing after Hayamon. She glanced at the metallic basin, its grey sheen gleaming under the flow of clear water. The sound of the stream striking the wooden plate and mug felt oddly modern, jarring against the rustic surroundings. Her gaze drifted to the wall, landing on a four-paned window. Sunlight poured through it with a sharp, almost blinding brightness.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Glass? The thought struck her as absurd. Why are there sinks and glass in a place like this? She frowned, shifting in her chair.

“What’s with that look?” Hayamon asked, wiping her damp hands against her thighs as she sat across from her.

“The sink,” Maika said, her voice quiet. Hayamon tilted her head.

“Yeah? What about it?”

“Nothing.” Maika looked away quickly, biting the inside of her cheek. Hayamon’s brows knit together, her sharp gaze locking onto Maika’s face. The intensity made Maika squirm in her seat, heat prickling at her cheeks as she desperately avoided eye contact.

“You look like you’ve got a mountain of questions, Maika,” Hayamon said, her voice soft but probing. Maika hesitated, then took a breath.

“Uhm… where am I?”

Hayamon blinked, caught off guard. For a moment, she didn’t know where to begin. Dr. Garra’s words echoed in her mind. With a quiet sigh, she steadied herself.

“We’re in Glaiven. A region that belongs to demons.”

“Demons?” Maika repeated, her brows furrowing. Well… that explains a lot. Hayamon nodded.

“Yeah, but don’t jump to conclusions. It’s more complicated than it sounds.”

“So… we’re demons?”

“Mmm, yes and no,” Hayamon said, waving a hand. “Think of ‘demon’ as an umbrella term. There are a bunch of species grouped under it, but we’re all pretty different.” Maika tilted her head, eyes narrowing.

“What are you, then? You’ve got horns…”

“An oni.”

"Oni?” Maika frowned. But that’s a demon, she thought. The confusion must have been plain on her face because Hayamon’s lips twitched, and she continued.

“I’m a special kind of demon. But you—” Hayamon pointed at Maika with a teasing smile, “—you’re not a demon.” Maika blinked.

“What am I, then?”

“You’re a demihuman.”

“A demi…what?” Maika’s tail flicked in her lap as she stared, utterly baffled. “What does that even mean?” Hayamon sighed, crossing her arms.

“It means you’re… well, you’re a cow girl. A demihuman species.” Maika froze.

“A… what?”

“A cow girl,” Hayamon repeated, fighting a smirk. “You know, tail, ears, horns. All that fun stuff.” Maika’s eyes widened, her hand instinctively reaching to the side of her head. She felt the small, cool curvature of the horn. She was so engrossed in her tail that she didn’t even realize she might’ve had horns. It seemed like only a few minutes ago that Benjiro, both half crying and laughing, was drinking up a storm in the club room with fellow friends, whining about how life was unfair and that he and his friends had such a hard time getting girlfriends. But now life flipped upside down, and he was a wife to a very strong demon. Hayamon, witnessing her wife’s face, let out a chuckle.

“Wha—”

“Shhh,” Hayamon leaned over the table and placed a slender finger over Maika’s lips, the digit felt cool against her skin, and Maika had to resist the urge to lick it. “It’s been a long day. I’m sure you have a million questions and then some. But for one, I’m going to show you how everything works around here again so you can cook again.”

“I cook?”

“Mhmm, the best food I’ve had since my military academy days. Hmm, but I guess the first step is getting you used to walking again.”