The next morning is finally there, and Sanora is up even earlier than usual, giddy and excited like a little child. Today, Vadia promised her, they will finally take a look at the city which they couldn’t do when they arrived.
“Vadia get up, it’s morning.” Sanora pokes the sleeping girl’s cheek with an excited grin.
“Mhh just a bit longer.” But Vadia just turns away.
“But it’s morning…” Sanora pouts.
“It’s still too morning.” Vadia mumbles into the blanket. Sanora just sits on the bed, fiddly and impassionate, pondering how she could get Vadia out of bed. She works her brain, until she remembers the time in the tent when she was the one who wouldn’t get up, and how Vadia got her out of bed back then. A smirk spreads on her face and she starts to snake back under the sheets, snuggling right up to Vadia.
“Changed your mind after- ahh!?” Vadia yelps when Sanora gently bites her ear. “Sanni? What’s gotten into you?”
“I’m just returning a favor.” Sanora whispers in her ear. Goosebumps rise over Vadia’s skin as Sanora’s hands find their way into her clothes like tendrils. Vadia just lies there and takes the unusual initiative from Sanora. She starts to let out stifled moans when Sanora’s hand glides into her pants, trying to mimic what Vadia usually does.
“Ohh that’s- when did you learn that?” Vadia asks between heated breaths.
“You gave me plenty of lessons.” Sanora says with a mirthful chuckle.
“I guess I did.” Vadia laughs along and just lies down. While still somewhat clumsy with her fingers, Sanora soon makes Vadia tense up. She grips the sheets, and her breathing grows even faster, and that is exactly what Sanora has been waiting for. Just when Vadia is about to hit her climax Sanora kisses her. Vadia seems surprised, but not unpleasantly so. She moans into the kiss, her legs quiver, her back arches, her whole body convulses almost violently and she loudly moans into the kiss without holding back anymore. Only once her body slacks into the mattress does Sanora break off the kiss.
“Good gods, you caught all of that just from us doing it?” Vadia, still out of breath, looks at Sanora who just nods with a proud smile.
“Was it good?”
“Very much so.” Vadia smiles at her and gives her a quick kiss. “Now let’s get up, we have a city to explore.”
“Yay!” Sanora grins from ear to ear, but as she pulls her hand out of Vadia’s pants she freezes, her eyes wide, her breath catches, and her face goes pale in a matter of seconds.
“Gods I-I’m so sorry!”
“Woah, what’s gotten into you?” Vadia looks at her with a raised eyebrow.
“I-I hurt you! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to!” Sanora says, her eyes locked on her hand, her voice is shaky and tears are already starting to well in her eyes. Vadia follows her gaze, and the gears click into place.
“Ughhh gods dammit, it’s that time again already? Don’t worry you didn’t hurt me or anything.” She shuffles over and pats Sanora on the head.
“I didn’t?” She sniffles.
“You didn’t. I’m just on my cycle.” Vadia smiles at Sanora who just tilts her head.
“Cycle?”
“Yes, cycle, period some people also call it the red aunt, strawberry week or whatever.”
But with each expression Sanora just gets more confused.
“Well, it doesn’t matter what you call it, you know it’s just that thing where we bleed down there for about a week each month and get some other stuff, you know it… right?”
Sanora remains quiet, a hopelessly lost expression all over her face.
“…You do have them, right?” Now Vadia is starting to get uneasy as well.
“I uh, have never had one no. I-is that a bad thing?”
“Uh yes, that is a bad thing. Just for protocol, was I your first time?”
“You were yes, why?”
“Just asking. But I guess that changes plans for today, we need to have a fleshmage look at you. I am no expert on this, but if you don’t get on your period this could mean that something isn’t right with your body, and quite frankly I’m worried about you.”
Sanora just nods quietly, feeling a mix of emotions she has never had before. Disappointment from cancelling their plans, fear after what Vadia told her all topped with some shame and embarrassment.
“Hey don’t worry.” Vadia pats her head. “It can’t be that dangerous if nothing happed up until now. Was it serious it would have caused you problems years ago.”
Sanora swallows, a lump forms in her throat and she dares not tell Vadia that she is just over a saint old right now.
“You go take a bath; I will send for a mage in the meantime. Don’t worry, you will be fine. I will look out for you, promise.” Vadia’s smile does wonders in reassuring Sanora, and she manages to smile back weakly before she and Vadia get dressed and head out, each on their separate way.
Sanora sinks into the hot water, her expression still mirthless. The sweat comes off, and the hot water does help calm her down a bit. But she still feels awful. She has no real idea of what’s going on, but she knows she isn’t normal, that something is wrong with her.
She traces her stomach with her finger, a crestfallen expression on her face. What if this will make Vadia think she’s strange? Disgusting? A freak?
She sits in the water for some time, alone with her thoughts which just get worse by the minute, until she decides she is clean enough and heads back up to their room.
Vadia isn’t there yet when Sanora comes back. She just takes a seat on the bed and sits there, looking down at her hands while she waits. She has no idea how much times has passed when door opens and Vadia peeks into the room.
“Sanni, I have the mage with me, are you okay with her giving you a quick checkup?”
“Huh? Oh yeah, I guess.” Sanora shrugs. Vadia just gives her sympathetic look before beckoning the mage inside. An older woman, looking like she is in her forties, walks in after Vadia. Her long auburn hair swing, as do her dark red robes. Embraided right on her chest, with golden threads is a circle with eight tendrils emerging from its middle into all directions. Her face seems young and smooth but also worn, like she hasn’t been sleeping for a week, but her gentle smile makes up for it.
“A good day young lady.” She bows.
“Greetings.” Sanora just says and lowers head a bit.
“I am Virelia, a Weaver of the flesh sect. It’s a pleasure to meet you, lady Sanora.”
“Oh uh, likewise.” Sanora nods at her.
“So, young Vadia told me she is rather worried about you, do you want to tell me why that is?”
Sanora looks at Vadia, a bit surprised she hasn’t told the mage already.
“Oh, uh it’s…” Her throat tightens up suddenly, all the words failing her. She looks down onto the floor, avoiding the kind, red eyes of Virelia and stealing a glance at Vadia, who stands a bit off to the side with crossed arms and a worried gaze.
“Would you rather Vadia waits outside?”
“Huh? No that’s not it, she already knows anyways. I just… never had a cycle or period or what it’s called, and Vadia said that’s bad so here we are. I’m just feeling a bit nervous that’s all.” Sanora puts on a forced smile.
Virelia musters the girl with a thoughtful expression for a moment.
“I understand your concern young lady, but rest assured it’s nothing to be ashamed of. No part of a body is ever ‘flawed’. The God of Flesh works in strange ways often, but that difference he blesses us with is nothing bad. It is a sign that he cares about us in a sense, even if it may seem a bit like the opposite at times. But that is just how our lord operates.”
Sanora looks up at the gentle face of the woman.
‘Did she gleam all of that just in the last minute?’
“But even if you dislike it there is nothing to worry about. Flesh magic is change and a bit of chaos, and as such our lord embraces, encourages even, the change of humans. Which is why we spread this gift through the flesh sect. Everyone wins, lady Sanora.” She winks at Sanora, causing a faint but genuine smile to return to her face.
“Alright. I think we can start now.” Sanora says. “Oh, and please, just Sanora is fine.”
“Very well, young Sanora. Would you pull up your tunic for me? Not far, just need to get a little tap on your belly.” Virelia says with a smile, holding up her finger. Sanora obliges, pulling up the cloth a bit to reveal her muscular stomach. As promised Virelia merely puts the tip of her finger onto Sanora’s stomach and at that moment she can feel the machinations of the flesh magic start.
Never has Sanora consciously felt magic being cast so close to her in such magnitudes. It’s almost as if she just discovered a sixth sense that she was barely aware of until now. Like she just opened a third eye, dedicated solely to seeing magic and the way it flows rather than just the usual vague feeling. It’s overwhelming, beautiful, like she is laying her eyes onto the world with all its beauty for the very first time again. But as soon as it came it ends when Virelia takes her finger off Sanora. She can still feel some odd sensations in the room and herself. That just now was flesh magic up close, and it was like someone just shouted at her face how it works. Not only can she feel her own body down to the flesh, but even faintly the ones around her.
“So, what did you find?” Vadia asks, her foot tapping on the floor.
“There are quite a few things here.” Virelia says with a hard to read expression that does nothing to calm Vadia. “Would you rather I tell you the bad news or the odd news first?”
“The uh, bad news I guess.” Sanora stammers still half in the trance from a few seconds ago.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“Very well. The bad news is, put frankly, you probably won’t be able to have children. Ever. I’m very sorry.
“I think you’ll need to elaborate on that, given the nature of our relationship.” Vadia says, the tapping of her foot growing ever louder.
“The plain truth is, young Sanora is missing all and any tracers of her ovaries. But it is not that she lost them, they are not even meant to be there.”
“Gods…” Vadia just whispers, her foot stops moving entirely.
Sanora thinks about it for a moment, the shrugs.
“I mean, that doesn’t sound like such bad news really. I don’t think I’d want children-“ ‘however one gets them’
“-and besides, you said you can just change that anyways, so why the long faces?”
“Sanni no, you don’t understand. Just because you don’t want children right now doesn’t mean that won’t change at some point. If you ever change your mind, then you will know nothing but grief. You need to think about the future here a bit.” Vadia says with a soft voice as she sits down next to Sanora.
“But if that happens, we can just change it.”
“That brings us to the next part of the bad news I am afraid. I for my part am unable to change this. Every human body follows a sort of blueprint to grow, and it always tries to get back to that form as best as it can when altered. I am a weaver, the highest rank of flesh mage one can reach in the sect, but rewriting your body to make a permanent change like this is even beyond me. I am sorry.” Lowers her head.
“There is nothing you can do?” Vadia asks with tightened eyelids, her hand holding Sanora’s.
“I am truly sorry, but this brings us to the odd news. Her body is different, unlike any other I have ever seen, and I have seen many in my long live. The foundation is a completely different one from other humans. In all honesty I can’t make sense of it, nor can I imagine what could possibly have altered it so. It is almost like…” Virelia grows quiet.
“I’m not human.” Sanora says with a pained voice. Virelia just nods quietly.
“But that’s nonsense, how wouldn’t she be human? Healing magic works just fine on her as well.” Vadia raises her voice a bit, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion and frustration.
“But we don’t understand healing magic, all we know is that it works no matter the creature, and you know that, Vadia. But keep in mind, all that difference does not mean you are less. In fact, your structure seems far superior to other humans. The way it is built is likely something that only the gods could do as it is far beyond any human mages. It is only my theory for now, but I suspect that you, Sanora, might be a personal creation of the gods, a blessing for our lands. It is something rare, but not unheard of. So, in other words, it is not only beyond my abilities but also something I would not dare meddle with.”
“So, you are comparing her… good gods you are comparing her to the dragons?” Vadia says with wide eyes, her mouth hanging open a bit.
“Maybe more like an envoy, but yes.” Virelia nods with a smile. “Of course, it could be a lot of other things. For all we know it might just be that she is simply a blessed child. But one thing is certain: you are a very special young girl. And Vadia is very lucky to have you. My, would the circumstances be different…” She musters Sanora all over again with almost predatory eyes and the girl shrinks a bit under the prying gaze.
“Virelia?” Vadia says with a sharp voice, causing Virelia to return to her kind demeanor.
“…then you might have ended up in an even bigger castle is all I meant. I think the lucky one here is you, Vadia.”
Vadia looks at Virelia, then at Sanora who seems nothing but confused at this point.
“Well then, thank you for your time, Virelia. I will call for you should we need anything else.”
“The pleasure was mine. Goodbye Vadia. Young Sanora, it was nice to meet you. Until next time, may your flesh prosper, and call me if anything happens.” Virelia bows before she leaves, and the two girls are alone again.
“Now that sure was something.” Vadia sighs and lets herself fall back into the bed.
“Sure was.” Sanora just sits there, looking down at her lap.
“I know that’s a lot to take in, and I want you to know I am here for you. You aren’t in this alone.” Vadia sits up again and leans onto Sanora.
“Do you mean that?” Sanora looks at her with drooping eyelids and Vadia cups her face in her hands.
“Of course, I mean that.” Vadia smiles at her. “If you want to this can stay a secret just between us, to keep the prying eyes off you.”
“I think I’d like that, thank you.” Sanora nods with a smile before Vadia pulls her into a tight hug.
“So, still wanna go and see the city, take your mind off things? We have a bit of time left.”
“I think I’d like that.” Sanora says with a smile, and they get up to finally head out.
Vadia leads them out of the castle grounds again. She advised Sanora to still wear her chainmail under her tunic in case, her sword is fixed to her belt as usual as well. They walk right through the uppermost ring. Sanora figures that anything there is likely too expensive for her anyways and that Vadia took that into consideration already. But still, she isn’t a big fan of the second ring with all the judgmental glares and hushed whispers around them. Even beyond the two girls there seems to be bad blood between humans and half or non-humans. People and beastkin are constantly avoiding each other on the road. Most of the latter seem to be just passing through, and almost all of them seem to hurry along with disdainful looks on their faces. But to her surprise, and relief, they don’t stop in the second ring either and walk straight through, down into the first one.
“I’m not a big fan of the second ring either.” Vadia says when she notices Sanora’s confusion.
“You aren’t?”
“How would I be? They are judging and backwards up there. The people in the last ring are at least arrogant enough to just not care. But the middle? They are well off, but not enough to be indifferent.” She sighs. “Personally, I spend the most time down here in the third. Just because it’s the last ring doesn’t mean everyone is poor. People are a lot friendlier down here. They come from all over the place, humans, beastkin even the occasional elf, visiting the humans again.” Vadia speaks with a smile as they walk down the busy street. Sanora looks around and Vadia is right. This ring might not shine with wealth, but people seem way happier. No daggerlike glares, no beastkin hurrying to get through and out. They are trading, talking, smiling some even walking around holding hands like Sanora and Vadia despite the differences.
“I think I get why you like it more down here.” Sanora nods.
“I figured you’d like it as well.” Vadia chuckles. “Alright then, what do you want to do first?”
Sanora looks around once more, thinking about what to do first. There are countless stalls set up on the roadside. Some are just carriages with a window on the side. Working at the stalls are not just humans but also plenty of beastkin, selling exotic wares from their home. Sanora wastes no time and walks up to the first stall. The beastkin behind it is the same kind as Tiktaq’to. Same height, although her frame is more tender and her scales are many bright shades of red. She’s selling some sort of red, skewered, grilled leaf.
“Excuse me, what exactly is this?” Sanora asks the beastkin.
“Is meatleaf. A special sort of plant from the lizardbogs. The leaves are thick and taste similar to meat, but with a hint of sweet.” She says with a smile, showing off her many sharp teeth.
“Ohh, I’ll take one.” Sanora says and already fishes out some coin.
“Come again!” The beastkin waves as Sanora leaves with her food in hand. She waves back before sinking her teeth into the odd food.
“Ohh it really is kinda sweet! Here, want to try some?” She holds it out to Vadia.
“Ah no thanks, not really hungry.”
“Well, more for me.” Sanora wolfs down the rest of the meatleaf and wastes no time before she heads to the next stall selling food. Vadia just watches her with a smile, as a mother would her overly excited child. They keep on strolling down the market, stopping at all sorts of stalls. Sanora doesn’t hold back. She knows neither fear nor prejudice and tries just about any food that looks interesting. Vadia’s smile makes way for a grimace when Sanora eats a giant, fried grasshopper.
“Mhhh! It’s so crunchy! Here, you should try some!”
Vadia eyes the headless, giant insect on a stick for a second.
“Ah no thanks, you are enjoying it so much I’d feel bad eating yours.” She raises her hands and smiles nervously.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’ll get you one as well.” Sanora is about to head back to the vendor.
“Wait! You already spent a whole gold on food alone, I think you should stop for now.”
Sanora turns around and looks at Vadia with a thoughtful gaze, slowly crunching down on the rest of her snack.
“You are right, I should look at the other stalls too.” She nods before heading off again, leaving Vadia, who breathes a sigh of relive, behind. But as she looks at the cheery Sanora hopping around the street, she can’t help but smile again.
“One could almost think you are seeing this world for the first time.” She says to herself. Her expression clouds over for a moment. “I hope you’ll forgive me one day.” She whispers before her smile returns and she heads after Sanora again.
A good hour of touring the stalls later the excited girl has finally used up most of her energy reserves.
“Sanni, it’s getting late, we should head back.”
“Already?” Sanora yawns. “Ok yes, I think I see your point.”
Vadia just chuckles and holds out her hand, which Sanora takes. Most of the stalls are being taken down for the night already. Carriages are being relocated or leaving. The city is slowly going to sleep. Sanora looks over the scene, her curiosity only quelled by her exhaustion.
However, as they are walking, there is one particular small stall she hadn’t noticed before. A wooden sign is on its front with two crossed horns carved into it. It’s just a table with a cloth on it, a few swords laid out, all made from different metal. The colors range from normal iron or steel silver to gleaming white and dark green. Although there is no sword made of narcium on there. It isn’t the swords that Sanora is interested in though, but a small box standing on the side of the table. A dozen rings sit on dark red cloth under the glass. Each one a small masterpiece of itself. The front of the box doesn’t have the same horns as the stall, but instead reads “Dying dawn works”.
“Oh? These are from Rel’unkoir.” Vadia looks at the swords.
“That’s the smithing city, right?” Sanora asks and leans forward to look at the rings.
“That’s right!” Sanora jumps back with a squeal when someone appears from below the table. “All genuine Taurus arms swords.” The towering woman grins at the girls. If it wasn’t for her friendly demeanor, she would be quite intimidating. Tall, a good two meters, with a muscular frame, especially her arms. Two cow horns adorn her head, her big, fluffy ears flap, throwing around her short hair which is a mix of a light brown and white..
“Taurus arms? I thought those are exclusive to the mountain city.” Vadia says a bit surprised.
“They usually are, but there are occasions where some advertising is good. Any of them catch your interest?” She leans onto the table which creaks dangerously.
“Actually, I’m more curious about these rings.”
“Ah yes, you have a good eye lass. These are some that my apprentice made. Well, I say apprentice, but she’s established herself as a master over a year ago.” The woman chuckles.
“Dying dawn works… I can’t say I ever heard of it.” Vadia steps up and looks over the rings as well.
“She usually only takes custom orders, so these are an exception. A ‘side project’ she called it.” The woman shrugs.
Sanora looks at them, mesmerized by the beauty of each single ring. All are flowing elegantly, with neither scratch nor flaw in them. Polished to a point where Sanora can see her distorted face looking back at her in some of them. Some have beautiful jewels on top. Red, green, blue, black with reflections that look like stars. But those, while inhumanly beautiful, aren’t Sanora’s style, they don’t speak to her. Only when she gets to the last one sitting down in the corner her interest really flares up. It’s a small, toroidal sword made from a dark grey metal with a faint red sheen in it. In terms of looks it’s the most unseeming one, but there is something else about it, something that’s practically calling out to Sanora. It’s a faint feeling of magic.
Magic so small and subtle that Sanora would have never even noticed it weren’t it for the eye opening encounter with Virelia.
“How much for that one?”
“The sword one? fifteen gold.”
“Fifteen? That’s quite a lo-“
“Sold.” Sanora interrupts Vadia, already fishing around in her bags.
She hands over the small pile of money which is a monthly salary for some people.
“Thanks a lot.” The shopkeeper smiles as Sanora takes out the ring and slides it on. “Fits perfectly, almost like it was made for you.” She adds with a grin while Sanora holds out her hand, looking at the ring with a bright smile.
“Visit me in Rel’unkoir sometime!” The tall woman waves at the girls walking back home.
“I will! Thank you again!” Sanora waves back at her.
“Are you sure about this? Fifteen gold, even a narcium ring isn’t worth that much.” Vadia says as they walk through the mostly empty streets of Deepvalley. “How do you even have so much gold?”
“Ah I have a bit saved up. And there is something about this ring, I can’t really explain it, but I just have a feeling about it you know?”
Vadia eyes Sanora, a hint of worry in her gaze but she doesn’t press the matter.
“I had a lot of fun today.” Sanora changes the topic.
“I’m glad to hear that.” Vadia smiles at as they walk back hand in hand.
“It’s odd how calm the city is now. Just an hour ago the street was packed with people and stalls… oh wait there is someone setting up a sign there.” Sanora points at a woman putting down a standing sign in front of an alleyway, depicting a sword and a sheath.
“I wonder who opens this late.” Sanora is already changing course, curious who might be setting up shop at night rather than during the day.
“What are you doing?” Vadia pulls her back. “Do you seriously not know about those places?”
The tilted head gives Vadia all the answers she needs.
“Gods help me.” Vadia sighs and leans towards Sanora to whisper to her. Wich each word that enters her ear, Sanora’s face grows redder.
“You can buy this kind of thing?!”
“Yes, you can. But these are oftentimes unsavory businesses that you should stay away from, trust me.”
Sanora just nods, throwing one last look at the sign. The woman who set it up notices her, and just winks at Sanora with a smile before disappearing into the shadows of the alley.
The rest of the walk flies by in no time and when they reach their room Vadia lets herself fall into the bed first thing.
“I’m beat.” She yawns.
“Going to sleep?”
“Mh yes, the last days have been draining.”
“Mind if I go to the baths alone?”
“Of course not, you have a good time, but I really need to sleep today.” Vadia yawns again.
“Goodnight then, I’ll see you later.” Sanora says and leaves the room.
“Have fun.“ Vadia yawns again as Sanora leaves the room and heads down to the baths again.
She can already hear two hushed voices talking before she rounds the last set of stairs. Liddy and Gia are standing outside the bath hall, talking to each other with hushed voices. Sanora smirks.