In this era, a girl's "monthly visitor" was considered a shameful, unclean thing, a topic cloaked in silence. Many girls, especially those experiencing it for the first time, mistook the bleeding for a grave illness, gripped by fear that they might be dying. Each month, during those few days, they'd wrestle with anxious thoughts, their minds clouded with dread and superstition.
Lucas had learned about this from Mina, the cat-eared girl, during one of their quiet, intimate moments after a night of closeness. Their heart-to-heart talks often drifted to personal matters, and she'd shyly explained the concept of the "monthly visitor"—what Lucas knew as a woman's menstrual cycle. He'd taken the opportunity to educate her, explaining the biology behind it and why girls might feel off during those days. But as for why Ayesha was acting so strangely now, he couldn't be sure, and he hadn't pressed her further.
"Mina, come here," Lucas said, gently tugging on her cat tail with a playful grin.
"Mmm!" Mina let out a soft, nasal sound, her cheeks flushing as a shiver ran through her body, like an electric current zipping from her tail to her brain. Her blue eyes sparkled with a mix of embarrassment and delight as she shuffled closer to him, her tail swaying.
Lucas leaned in, his fingers brushing her soft cat ears as he whispered, "I think Ayesha might be having her period. Could you check with her?"
"Her… what?" Mina blinked, her blue eyes wide with confusion. She tilted her head, her cat ears twitching as she tried to decipher his meaning.
Lucas rolled his eyes, chuckling softly. He lowered his voice further. "You know, the days when girls bleed."
"Oh!" Mina's hand flew to her mouth, her face turning a vivid shade of red. She nodded shyly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Okay."
"If that's what's going on, make her some brown sugar water," Lucas added quietly, releasing her ear with a gentle pat.
"Got it," Mina mumbled, still blushing furiously. She hadn't expected Lucas to bring up such a delicate topic, and the intimacy of the moment left her flustered.
"Alright, I'm off to handle some paperwork," Lucas said, clapping his hands and standing. He shot Mina a meaningful glance before heading toward his study with Annie in tow, her fox ears bouncing as she followed.
"Hazel, Amelia, are you full? It's time for school," Helen called, her rabbit ears twitching as she addressed the younger girls.
"Full," Hazel said, patting her slightly rounded belly with a satisfied grin.
"Mmm," Amelia replied with a cool nod, her usual stoic demeanor intact.
"Miss Freya," Helen said politely, turning to the wolf-eared girl. "Sorry to trouble you again, but could you escort us to school?"
"Of course," Freya replied, her voice crisp and composed. She slung her massive greatsword over her shoulder, its weight barely registering, and led the way outside. Helen followed, guiding Amelia and Hazel, the deer-eared girl skipping lightly behind.
"Ayesha, rest well today," Elisa said, giving the horned girl's arm a gentle pat. Her emerald-green eyes flickered with concern, her tone carrying a subtle weight. "If something's bothering you, you need to speak up, okay?"
"Okay," Ayesha said, startled but quick to respond. "Go on, don't be late."
"I'm off," Elisa said, grabbing her recurve bow—a precaution for the road, despite the soldiers' escort—and heading out with a final glance at Ayesha.
Ayesha watched her go, her violet eyes distant. The nightmare's cruel voices still echoed in her mind, but the warmth and care of her friends in reality soothed her wounded heart.
"Ayesha, want some more?" Nicole asked, her gray eyes scanning Ayesha's nearly untouched plate. "You've barely eaten. Are the rice rolls not to your taste?"
"No, they're delicious!" Ayesha said, shaking her head vigorously. "Nicole, your food is always the best. I just… don't have much of an appetite today."
"No appetite? Maybe you're bloated?" Nicole frowned, wondering if she should prepare something light for lunch to aid digestion.
"Ayesha, is it… you know, your bleeding days?" Mina blurted out, her cheeks still tinged pink from her earlier conversation with Lucas.
"What?" Ayesha froze, her violet eyes widening as she stared at Mina. Her mind raced to process the question, and a flush spread across her face, hot and unmistakable. "No, it's not that!" She stammered, waving her hands frantically. Her purple hair swished as she bolted from the table, fleeing the dining hall in a flurry of embarrassment.
"Uh…" Mina and Nicole exchanged a helpless glance, Mina shrugging. "Well, she's gone. How am I supposed to ask now?"
"I'm off to check on the intelligence unit," Mina said, waving as she headed out to collect yesterday's reports for Lucas.
"Go ahead," Nicole replied with a smile, already planning the day's tasks. Lucas had mentioned renovating the castle come spring, and she needed to start preparing.
Tap, tap, tap…
Ayesha's footsteps echoed as she dashed out of the castle, her heart pounding with embarrassment. It wasn't until she reached the bustling streets of Sedona City that she realized she'd instinctively run outside, despite her plan to stay in. 'Guess I'm out here now,' She thought, her cheeks still warm.
"Might as well visit the market," She murmured, glancing back at the castle. Returning now would only invite more awkward questions about "that time of the month."
As she strolled through the city, her violet eyes scanned the lively streets. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of fresh bread and roasted nuts from nearby stalls. She wandered aimlessly until she reached the entrance to the grand market, where Fat Bear, a jovial vendor, was enthusiastically calling out to customers.
"Give me a lollipop," Ayesha said, approaching his stall. It had been three days since she'd indulged in one, and the thought of the sweet treat lifted her spirits slightly.
"Well, if it isn't Captain Ayesha! You look stunning today," Fat Bear said, handing her a brightly colored lollipop with a grin.
"Thanks," Ayesha said, paying him and walking off, the lollipop in hand. 'Maybe today isn't so bad,' she thought, feeling a flicker of lightness. The real world wasn't as cruel as her nightmares, after all.
She meandered through the market, greeting passersby with a nod or a wave, her purple hair catching the morning sunlight. Soon, she reached the heart of the market, where a noisy crowd had gathered around the boxing ring. Even this early, spectators cheered as fighters traded blows in the makeshift arena.
"Hit him! Beat him down! A slave acting so tough?" One voice jeered.
"Pfft, crush him! Just a lowly slave with a big attitude. If not for Lord Lucas's mercy, slaves like him would've been driven out of the city!" Another shouted.
"Hey, watch your mouth! What's wrong with slaves? Lord Lucas says we're all free citizens now!" A defender retorted.
"Hah! That slave brand on your hand says otherwise. You're nothing but a slave!" Came a mocking reply.
"Shut up! Are you defying Lord Lucas's decree?"
Ayesha stood at the edge of the crowd, her lips pressed into a thin line, her left hand clutching her right arm tightly. The harsh words cut deep, dragging her back to three days ago when she'd apprehended a troublemaker. Her sleeve had slipped, revealing her slave brand, and the man had hurled insults at her, calling her a slave before she knocked him out. That was when the nightmares had begun.
Hearing those same words now—'slave, slave, slave'—weighed heavily on her heart. She turned and walked away, her steps heavy, her mind spiraling. 'Maybe it's time to leave Sedona City,' She thought. 'Go find Big Sister Bella…' The idea of escaping the judgment, the stares, the nightmares, was tempting.
Unbeknownst to her, a few pairs of eyes watched her retreat from the crowd. As she left, the jeering about slaves abruptly stopped, as if the conflict had never existed. The sudden silence was eerie, almost orchestrated, but Ayesha was too lost in her thoughts to notice.
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