“There are many physiological differences between Demonkin and Humans, but their reproductive systems are incredibly similar. The period of carrying a child is slightly longer for Demonkin women than Human ones, it averaging 310 days opposed to 280 of Humans. This of course doesn’t apply to Shadowlings, as they lack working reproductive systems altogether, although they do possess external genitalia potentially capable of intercourse, were it not for their complete lack of drive to do so."
̶ Biological study of the races of the World, Volume 5, Doctor Swift Aattoson Worgar, 1360 AS
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I am jerked out of my sleep by the warmth and stickiness of the sheets below my bottom. My eyes still shut, I pick and prod around my sheets with my hand. Unable to feel anything, I open my eyes, readying myself for the light of the Sun to overwhelm my senses. A dull pain threads around my head as I slowly open my eyes, but I can barely discern anything around me, as it is still dark. Only a glimmer of the Sun’s rays can be spotted entering the bedroom, barely lighting it.
My arm grazes over my husband’s sleeping body, notifying me of his presence. He still hasn’t woken up, so I assume it is way too early in the morning to be up and about. I can feel his back turned towards me, the broad shoulders the only thing within my grasp.
I return to the task at hand, trying to discern the cause of my awakening yet again. My hand moves over the place once occupied by my bottom; the sheet is warm and sticky, the same can be said for my sleeping gown.
It’s been three weeks since I came here, meaning eighteen days. If I remember correctly, my last course was a week and a half before the wedding, putting this exactly twenty seven days after. I hope it doesn’t last long, the pain was unnerving last time it happened.
Should I tell him about it? He will probably notice the mess on the sheets anyway, maybe he could actually do something. I haven’t actually asked anyone here about courses, do Demon women even have them? From the outside they look very similar to Humans, but the differences on the inside could be vast. I should probably let Tiana know regardless, I’ll need some clean cloths the next couple of days anyway.
My inner debate about sharing secrets with my husband is interrupted by the rustling of the other side of the bed. The body next to me turns around, Cerolus’ black eyes barely open as he looks at my face. His mouth contorts into a small smile as his lips connect with my own for a brief moment, the pain in my head slowly giving way.
“Slept well? You’re up earlier than usual.”
I don’t know how to respond to that now. Should I tell him about it, or do I keep quiet, hope he doesn’t notice, and try to push through the next couple of days silently? I’m not even sure what his reaction would be to this, men don’t have these problems anyway, so they can’t really understand them.
Cerolus focuses on my face, as if trying to unlock the secrets of my mind from it, his questioning gaze, I assume due to the lack of response to his questions, moving around slowly, as if slowly putting together a puzzle. His gaze shifts to my hand, which is in full view, the traces of warmth still on it.
“Is that blood? Are you hurt anywhere? What happened?” His words turn into a barrage of questions, as the mood slowly shifts from serene to chaotic. His words only instill more worry onto his face, but the matter is harmless, almost comical to his over-exaggeration. I suddenly remember how I reacted when I got my first course; scared to death of something strange happening to me, something that never before occurred. It took my maidens a long time to assure me that nothing is wrong with me. I can barely remember how old I was then; I must have been fourteen or so when it happened, they even said it’s a bit late compared to the usual.
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I move my other arm, the one without any traces of fluids on it, across his, my hand grasping it to calm him down.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry, it happened before, it happens around once a month.”
His look of worry suddenly changes to a look of realization, and then a look of relief as he exhales loudly in response.
“Oh, that.” His look then shifts to the bottom part of my sleeping gown. “You’ll need to get changed then. And these sheets will have to get cleaned as well.
Are you feeling well? Does it hurt? I don’t really know much about how you Humans deal with courses, but I can guess you are in luck today.”
Why am I lucky exactly? To have pain assault my head and stomach, while my cloths get dyed with blood I can’t control? Is he mocking me now?
My most recent questions still unanswered, Cerolus moves his hands over my head and stomach. His palms suddenly flare up with energy. I have had magic lessons and can now discern mana easier than when I started, but this is an entirely new feeling. The energy courses away from me, a world of difference from our initial training. The pain in my head and the pit of my stomach subsides a little, the sudden lack of feeling eerie to my mind.
Cerolus removes his hands from my body, the flow of energy slowing to a halt, the pain slowly going back, but not to the strength it had before. What exactly did he do to me now?
“I suggest you talk to Tiana, she’ll give you an herbal concoction to relieve the pain, and provide you with some clothes that are more appropriate for this time.
Now we have to get up and ready to travel, our dear Supreme awaits us in a couple of days, and this will have to be only a minor problem to be solved during our travels. How long does it last for you Humans anyway?”
“What did you do to me now?”
“Oh, just minor light magic and some disturbance magic to feel around your body in order to make you a bit better for now. It doesn’t work as well as actual medicine, especially since you aren’t actually hurt, but I assume it helped a bit at least.”
He gives me a small smile, but something feels odd about his words now. I’ve felt light magic before, and it didn’t feel like this. This felt… strange, different; like someone was grasping towards the source of the pain and taking it away as a whole. Maybe he simply doesn’t want to tell me the entire truth, but it didn’t seem like a lie either. I do feel better, for one, so whatever he did, worked.
Cerolus gets up, leaving the bed altogether, proceeding to dress himself. He always wears that brown longcoat, with a fitting shirt underneath and simple pants that cover him up to his… second knee I guess? I don’t know what it is called exactly. His hooves are left bare, but they are surrounded by thick hair so I assume he doesn’t get cold easily. I’m not sure how cold it gets in Dralarag, but if it’s similar to Leonia, he shouldn’t have many problems.
My husband leaves the room shortly, leaving me alone on the large bed, my hand still mildly dyed red. I hope this travel doesn’t take too long.