Hurrying up the stairs, I quickly walked down the hallway to our room.
I found Vim in the room, but not on the bed. He was instead sitting at the desk with a bunch of little wooden and tal pieces in front of him. He was making sothing again, and he had a little curved knife that was paused in the air as he glanced at .
"Renn," he greeted , and I felt a huge smile plant itself on my face as I entered the room.
"Angie and the rest left for the night," I said as I studied the little things he was working on. They weren't familiar to , so they weren't my pins or anything… but there were lots of little pieces. I wonder what he was making?
"Hm. It did suddenly get quiet," he noted.
I nodded. It had. "I'm actually really glad, Vim. These last few hours almost felt… normal. Everyone was happy, talking normally, and there wasn't any bad drama or yelling or anything. It was as if nothing at all was going on, and all was well," I said.
"People adapt quickly Renn. You all had your weeks of drama, now it's ti to return to normal life. Or at least, attempt to do so," Vim said.
Right… "Define normal," I said as I glanced at the bed. It was made, which ant Vim had made it. I had left it in a little bit of a ss this morning.
Vim didn't define it for as he went back to ssing with his little objects. I heard him shave so wood with his knife as I walked over to the nearby windows that led to the balcony. I glanced out them, to see the courtyard and gate below in the distance.
It was shut, and no one was there.
My tail squird for a mont as I studied the gate, as if it was odd for so reason. It wasn't, of course, it looked the sa as it had since I first saw it… but it still kept my eyes for so odd reason.
Why was it, I wonder? Was it because we were going to leave soon, so I wanted to rember such little details? Just in case we never returned here again? Or was it because the gate was sothing of a semblance of aning to ? What if the gate ant sothing to , deep down, like… this strange feeling of loneliness I now had, now that everyone had left?
"What are you stressing over?"
I tilted my head and turned around, as to look at Vim's back. He looked… oddly fitting sitting there in that chair. It was a wooden and plain one, but had a cushion on it. That cushion didn't fit him, really. "Is it that obvious?" I asked.
How had he noticed? I knew I had likely sounded happy, and had undoubtedly looked it, monts ago. I had felt my smile, and heard my joy in my own voice. I had vastly enjoyed the dinner I had just participated in with everyone. It had been their way of saying goodbye, since the two of us were to leave in the morning. For real this ti.
I had enjoyed every mont of it. Everyone had co, though certain mbers hadn't stayed for long. A few of the human mbers had even co, such as Oplar's girls. Laura particularly, as to remind to keep an eye out for a potential mate for her.
"I've co to believe you tackle stress and worry on purpose, after experiencing great happiness. As if it's your way of washing such euphoria down, or sothing," Vim said as he lifted one of his little projects up, as to stare at it closely.
Smirking at that, I stepped away from the balcony windows and towards him… but instead of approaching him, I instead paused in front of the mirror.
Studying myself, and the way my tail twitched behind … I wondered why I hadn't changed much since our last visit.
Honestly it wasn't just the last visit, the one a few months ago, but even the visit before, years ago. I looked nearly the sa. My hair was a little different, as was the smile on my face and my tail was smoother… thanks to my constant combing of it, but…
"Have I changed, Vim?" I asked him as I turned a little, to see my side and back in the mirror a little better.
"Hm?" he turned, to see what I ant and what I was doing… and then frowned at . "You an appearance wise?" he asked.
I nodded. I knew I'd likely changed a lot, personality wise, but… "I don't think I look any different at all? I an… maybe a few little marks and stuff, like on my cheek," I said as I reached up to touch the very faint scar on my left cheek. From when I had startled Vim at Kaley's Grotto, and got hurt from the box he had shattered on accident. "But otherwise I look the sa!" I said as I felt more and more like it was confird.
"It's only been a few years, Renn. You're very thick in the blood, you'll not change much… if it all, really. Odds are you won't change at all until sothing drastic happens, or you near the end of your years," he said.
"Drastic?" I asked. What'd he an by that? A loss of an arm, maybe, like Randle?
"Pregnancy, or extre stress and wounds. Sothing to severely affect your inner workings," Vim said calmly.
I blinked at that and glanced back at the mirror.
Pregnancy…
Taking that into account I began to undress.
Since I'd spent the last few hours here, safe in the mansio, I hadn't been wearing my outer gear. None of the leathers, or my hat or anything. But I was still wearing multiple layers, since it was still cold enough to warrant it. So as I undressed, I took my ti to check in the mirror each ti I removed a piece of clothing. As to see if I noticed any changes from my mories of my previous years.
"Renn… what are you doing?" Vim asked as I took off my undershirt.
"I want to compare myself," I said.
"Naked," he stated.
I nodded as I went to take off my lower layers too. "Yeah. I did last ti I was here too. Or well, not the last ti before we went to Lilly's. The ti before that. There's no point comparing myself from a few months ago, I think," I said.
"Hm…" Vim shook his head and turned back around, to refocus on his little projects as I got naked.
"Worried I was doing this because you ntioned pregnancy?" I asked, teasing him a little.
"Not really. This place fits a few of your requests but fails several more. I know you don't want anything to happen here," he said calmly.
Although Vim might not have been trying to outright tease back, I still felt as if it had been one of his best attempts yet. I felt not just my face flush, but most of my body, as I glared at the back of his head for a mont.
What a jerk, using my own words and emotions against like that! Especially since it made want to laugh and giggle over it!
Looking away from him, I refocused on the mirror and its reflection. I stepped over to it, and humd as I glanced my body up and down.
Yep… I had a few more faint scars that I hadn't before, mostly thanks to the events in Lun, but I looked pretty much the sa…
I gripped a few parts of my body, trying to tell if I had gained or lost weight… and couldn't see or feel any different from the in my mories of not just a couple years ago, but many.
"Seems almost wrong, to be honest, but I guess that's just how it is," I said lightly.
"Funny," Vim scoffed.
Glancing at him, I smirked. "Right. You never change at all. Not even your hair… actually you did say one ti your hair and nails did grow, just slowly. Does that an if I wait long enough you could grow out your hair, Vim?" I asked.
"Yes. Back during the wars I had long enough hair to tie it up," he said.
"Huh? Really?"
He nodded as he turned a little, as to look at . "Not very long, but it reached my shoulders when not tied up, yes."
"So… does that an you went that long without it getting burnt or cut?" I asked.
"Hm? Oh. No, my hair will re-grow to the current state it's at, Renn. So if it was long and got all burnt off or sothing, it'd just grow back to its long length until it was back to normal. So that isn't why it's short now," he said.
Frowning at him, I pointed at him. "Then why's it short now?" I asked, a little offended. I wanted to see him with longer hair!
"Because I want it to be?"
"Why!?"
"It's better this way. I don't have to deal with it, don't even need to comb it, and this era most n have shorter hair. Only those in the clergy have longer hair, like Randle," Vim said.
Gah! "So if I make longer hair more expected and normal in today's culture you'll let your hair grow out again?" I asked.
Vim's eyes narrowed a bit. "Well… yes… I suppose. As to blend in better, yes."
"Fine," I nodded and huffed… though wasn't really sure how I'd accomplish it.
He smirked at . "You're an odd one, Renn."
"Says you? If we normal non-humans break the rules of normalcy I don't even know what to say you do to them," I said as I looked back to the mirror. I turned a bit, as to look at the spot where my tail ca from.
Vim was silent for a mont as I checked my body for anything odd or out of place, and decided all was well. It was a little upsetting that I didn't see any real visible differences between the now and the one in my mories… but as Vim said, it was normal for those like .
If anything seeing a difference would likely be a bad sign. Or at least a worrying one.
Though not if it was because I was pregnant…
"Hey Vim," I spoke up a little as I studied my fra from the side, and imagine my belly growing larger.
"Hm?"
"You were right you know?" I told him, as to slightly distract myself from my thoughts. They were straying into places I didn't want to focus on at the mont.
"About?"
"Their prophecies. The Chronicler brought up a few tis while I was with her and Mapple that she was looking forward to seeing my children soon. You were right. She thinks I'm pregnant, or about to be," I said as I glanced at the mirror again, imagining it.
"Is that why you spent so much ti with her?" he asked gently.
I nodded. "I wanted to… understand. I want to hate her, them, for what they are doing… yet at the sa ti, I wanted to know why you seem to be so forgiving when it concerns them. It's because even if they're doing it for the wrong reasons, or because they're stupid, at the end of the day… they just want what's best for themselves and our people. To them they're not doing anything wrong, they're just trying to help all of us in their own way," I said.
"Am I hearing genuine understanding, or the words of an adorable newly-wed wife who likes to hear of happy prophecies?" Vim asked.
My whole body tensed a little as I felt blood rush to my face. "Don't call out like that!" I shouted, a little loudly.
He chuckled at as I groaned. How does he realize such things so easily! Was I that easy to read!? Gosh!
"I'm still upset with them! Don't get it wrong, Vim! I just… well…" I waved my hands around a little, unsure of what to say or how to say it. I felt flustered now!
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
"Yes. It's hard to actually hate them, because they genuinely aren't hurting anyone on purpose," Vim said for .
I nodded. "Yeah… The Chronicler sees Light as so kind of boss. She's worried Light will be upset with her, for allowing the monarch's death before it fulfilled its purpose. She's given letters to give her, I think she's sending apologies and stuff," I said.
Vim was quiet for a mont, and then sighed at . "So Light really is being seen as the new leader then," he said.
"Seems so," I said.
Vim didn't seem to like that much. He frowned in a way that told he was bothered, but I wasn't sure how deeply just yet. I studied his face for a mont, and noticed he had a bit of dust in his hair, near his ear. It was a tiny little bunch, barely noticeable. Odds are it was from when he was crawling in that monarch's nest.
"Did you play along then? When she spoke of such prophecies, or about you being pregnant?" Vim then asked as he re-focused on .
Standing up a little straighter I nodded. "Yeah. I uh… didn't confirm it or anything, but I didn't deny it too. I just… blushed and played it off, as I would, normally anyway, I think," I said. Honestly The Chronicler hadn't even really spoken about it too deeply, or much. The tis she had done so had just been off-handed comnts while she grumbled or spoke of other things.
"Were many prophecies ntioned?" he asked further.
"Just a couple. Want to tell you of them?" I asked.
"No."
"You had tell you about the coin," I countered.
"In one perspective that prophecy is a failed one, since the monarch is now dead," he said.
"The one I told you had been about though, not that little creature," I clarified.
Vim's eye twitched. "Let indulge in my little loopholes Renn, stop ruining it for ."
Oh! I nodded quickly. "Okay…!"
He sighed, and for a mont looked away. Then he looked back. "I do suppose we need to lay down so ground rules, don't we?" he asked.
"About everything? Yes. We do."
"Right… we'll do that on our trip to the Smithy," he said.
"Please!" I nodded quickly, happy to hear it.
Gosh, finally! There were many things we needed to talk about, more than just the prophecies! Thank goodness he was finally willing to do so!
"Well… that all being said please keep putting up the act Renn. Though it won't last long, they'll start to question and notice once months and months go by and your belly doesn't change," he said.
"We could always fix that," I dared to say.
Vim ignored , completely. "Also… we need to talk about your hearing of prophecies, Renn."
My ears were still, but my tail squird wildly to make up for it. "What… do you an?" I asked.
Vim nodded gently at . "I do not, nor ever will, want to limit you. Free will is absolute. Especially so, even, for you."
"You're… asking to do what you do? To avoid or not allow them to be told to ?" I asked.
My husband slowly shook his head. "No, Renn… I don't want that. I do not like prophecies, I have my own rules about them, but I'm not a fool. I know that they're powerful tools, and can even save lives when handled properly. I myself have saved countless lives, or stopped terrible disasters, thanks to them. During the wars I had used them too, they had been so of the best weapons I had at the ti against the gods," Vim said. My ears finally fluttered. He didn't notice, or if he did didn't show it as he continued. "So no. I'll never force you to live by my rules. If I was that type of man, I'd already have instilled them into you. I want you to do what makes you happy, Renn, no matter what it is."
For a long mont I stood there, suddenly feeling more naked than I actually was. Then I took a small breath and nodded. "You're saying I'm free to choose. If I involve myself with them or not," I said.
"Obviously."
"Then why bring it up, Vim?" I asked softly.
"Because I want you to know where I stand on it. That I'm okay with it. We'll… set so rules for each other, for when how and why you should tell of them and such, but for now just know I'm okay with it."
"Yet it bothers you deeply, doesn't it?" I asked.
"Of course it does? But so does you flirting with pretty won, or falling in love with humans. You do many things that scare , why should this be any different?" he asked.
I laughed at him. "Yes, my flirting is so terrible and world changing as prophecies," I said. I wonder who he was speaking of?
"It is!"
The two of us smiled at each other for a mont, and I found myself no longer feeling naked. I liked the odd feeling I had all of a sudden, I felt warm and…
Reaching up a little, I touched my chest and wondered what this feeling was. It wasn't joy, or pleasure, but… maybe so form of relief?
I wonder why I felt relief such as this all of a sudden? Was it just because he just told that he was okay with learning about prophecies…? In a way I had already known such a thing, what with his belief in free will, so… why?
Pondering it for a bit, I decided to put the feeling and thoughts aside for a mont and ponder them later. I needed to take advantage of this mont, this atmosphere, before it was ruined. By my own design, or another's.
"Do saints share their dreams?" I asked, going back to topic.
"Dreams? Their prophecies you an?" he asked.
I nodded.
"No. Not once have I ever heard, or been shown proof otherwise. Each saint receives their own prophecies. Their own dreams. A saint can have the sa dream again and again, for their whole lives even, but they are theirs alone. However, other saints can have prophecies about the sa things. Take your Elaine's prophecy for example, of that chicken monarch. The one that led us to her. She saw its birth, and the inferno that ca from it. Other saints will likely, if not already have, prophecies of that sa monarch. They though will see different fires, or from different locations and tis. No one else other than Elaine will have had, or will have, a dream about that monarch's birth," Vim explained as I looked back at the mirror.
Shifting a little, I wondered how it felt to have a belly reach out as far as they did. I bet it felt silly. "Why is that? Aren't they all from the gods?" I asked.
"Honestly Renn I don't know. It is odd, and I've thought long and hard about it as have others. There are many theories, but none seem valid to . In my perspective they're all connected to the sa divine conduit, if by different ans. That shared connection should justify the ability to share prophecies… yet at the sa ti, the connection also justifies their lack of it. If their dreams really are all given by a power or god, then that sa power instilling such rules makes a lot of sense even if we can't comprehend the reason for such a rule," Vim said.
Huh… he was being rather open about this. I dared a glance at him, and found him studying my body almost as heavily as I had just been doing. I looked away, back to the mirror, as to try and hide the slight blush that followed.
"So… what separates a normal dream from a prophetic one?" I asked.
"Their lucidity. The prophetic dreams are very vivid. So real that during the dream, during the prophecy, the saints don't even realize it's a dream. Even though they should. It's not until they wake up that they realize they had just had a dream, and not actually living those monts. It's why so many die or break while young, they can't comprehend or handle the things they see and experience. Imagine living a hell, or experiencing a brutal death, while very young. It's one of the reasons most saints are… odd or weird. They usually need to mature quickly as to withstand the ntal burden, and it corrupts and skews their personalities in the process," Vim explained.
"Aren't all dreams vivid…?"
Vim was quiet for a mont, long enough to be odd, so I glanced at him again… and found him frowning at .
At first I thought, with a slight panic, that he had noticed sothing odd about my naked body… but instead he simply shifted a little as to better face . "You're an oddity Renn. I'm sorry for not taking that into account. Odds are your dreams are… very vivid. Thanks to your mind. A normal person's dream, a normal dream, is hazy and only partially rembered. Most people don't even rember their dreams at all, and so don't even dream in the first place," he said.
"Don't dream? How is that possible?" I asked.
"Rather easily. It can be from exhaustion, or trauma, or who knows what else."
"Hm…" I frowned at him, and felt my tail squirm as we stared at each other for a mont.
Vim didn't show if he was dreaming or not, when he did sleep, but he's told he did. Though he said he had nightmares. Terrible ones.
My own nightmares were very morable. I occasionally had dreams that I did forget… but the real bad ones seed to never disappear from my mind. Though lately I've not had such dreams, anywhere near them in fact.
Actually…
Glancing at the bed, I wondered if this bed was in fact one of the last places I'd had such a nightmare. Though I had so bad dreams since, such as when we were at Lun or when Vim and I were separated… none of them had actually been what I'd consider nightmares. At least, not like the ones that terrified and I kept locked away deep in a dark corner in my mind.
"You're the one who brought it up, and now you're all sad. What's wrong Renn? Why ask such a thing?" Vim asked.
My ears fluttered as I nodded and smiled. I liked it when Vim noticed such things. "I was just thinking of how long it's been since I've had one of my nightmares," I said.
"Ah…" Vim thought for a mont and crossed his arms. "You used to have them a lot; yes… you had so during your fever in the south. And you've whined and stuff a few tis since, but probably not as bad as you used to," he said as he pondered his mories.
My smile ward. "Whined?" I asked.
"You sotis let out a small whine. Lately though you just giggle and slobber all over, which I'll be honest I'm not sure which is worse," he said, teasing a little.
"Slobber!" I laughed at that. I knew I did, since I sotis woke up and had to wipe my face… or whatever I was sleeping on, like a pillow or him.
"So? Why the question, Renn?" Vim asked, forcing us away from this lovely little topic.
"Ah… you an the prophecies? I was just wondering if the prophecy The Chronicler had about the coin is the sa as the one Celine gave ," I said.
"No. It's likely not. Why'd you think such a thing?" he asked.
I noted the way he asked. He was trying to see where and how I had co to such a conclusion.
"The Chronicler asked again to find it, or if you found it to make sure you gave it to her. She seems to really firmly believe it is needed to be found, and soon," I said.
"And Celine told you to put it back where you found it, implying to leave it be," Vim said.
I nodded, and then noticed Vim's eyes slide downward from my own, though only for a few monts. I felt a little stiff all of a sudden as I wondered where he had looked for a mont. My breasts? Shoulders? Stomach? Thigh again, or my tail maybe?
Of course I did not mind Vim looking at . In fact… I wished he'd do so more often. But it also worried , a little too much to be honest, that he found certain parts of … disappointing. Over our journey together so far, I've seen Vim stare and flirt with many won. But all had been different. None had been similar enough to give an idea of his true preferences, or desires. And I'm too scared to ask him about such things even though I knew he'd likely answer honestly if I did. But there was one thing he seed to always notice, or point out, when he had an opportunity… or even when he didn't really an to.
And that was won with large breasts.
Though, when he did do so he usually did it in a way as if he was teasing . In a playful way. So I wasn't entirely sure yet if such things were what he really liked the most or not, or if he was just using them to tease since he knew I stressed over his noticing of them.
I didn't like such thoughts, so I tossed them aside and gestured at Vim with a light wave.
"Would you do a favor Vim?" I asked.
His chair made a small noise as he tilted his head.
"Would you stand next to ? I want to see our reflection," I asked.
For a mont Vim only frowned at , but then he slowly stood. "Not what I expected, but sure."
"What did you expect?" I asked happily as I stepped back a bit, as to stand where I thought would be best for what I wanted to do.
"Here fine?" he asked as he took his place beside , and I nodded as I looked to the mirror.
And found myself a little embarrassed again.
I was naked. He wasn't. It made us look odd. But I put aside that oddness for a mont as to study myself next to Vim.
"You feel taller than sotis, yet it seems with my ears we are about the sa height," I said as I had my left ear flutter, to better display such a fact.
Vim nodded.
Shifting a little, I reached over and grabbed his hand. I enjoyed the way we looked comfortable holding hands, even with Vim smirking gently at .
I've seen a lot of partners look… a little off when standing beside one another, holding hands. Because one was too tall, or another too wide. It seed we looked as comfortable as I felt when holding his hand, which was good.
"What are you searching for Renn?"
Stepping a little closer to him, I laid my head against his shoulder… or at least, as best I could. It was a little odd at this angle.
"Everyone lately has been talking about how we flirt and act funny together, I'm just… trying to see what they see," I told him.
Honestly what I was more-so looking for was what made people whisper quietly about their jealous feelings when they saw us. I'd heard it from more than just a few people recently, and have even heard it from passer-by's when we were out walking and traveling.
What did they see to make them so jealous? We looked like a couple, sure, but was that really sothing to be so envious of? Many people had partners. Most did, in fact. Yet even those who did have soone else, still sotis ntioned such jealousy. So… what was it? Where was it? Could I even see it if I tried?
Vim smirked at that and then blew into my ears. Not too roughly, but thanks to how close we had been the tiny little blow of air had been very effective. I let out a little yelp as I shifted away, my ears fluttering as they began to itch like mad.
"Vim!" I shouted as I reached up to brush my ears and hair. I felt like I had a bunch of bugs in them now!
He chuckled at , but didn't release my hand… though I hadn't released his either. "Who cares what they see, Renn?" he asked.
"Gosh… I just wanted to know…" I mumbled as I kept itching my ears. Not because they were still bothered, but because it was a good excuse to hide the huge smirk that wanted to plant itself on my face.
I wanted to be upset with him, not fall for that dumb smile on his face!
Then, before I could say more, Vim pulled over towards him. He spun around a bit, until I ended up standing right in front of him, with my back turned to him and facing the mirror.
"Vim?" I laughed a little, wondering what he was up to, as he then wrapped in a hug from behind. It was slightly awkward, since we still held hands, but he accomplished it… and then…
Staring into the mirror, I felt the world beco a little quiet as I stared at sothing I'd never seen before.
It was still a little silly, since I was naked and he wasn't, but suddenly the scene reflected in the mirror was… different. We were still standing together. We still looked comfortable, and serene. We still held hands, and we were both still smiling even! But… it was now… sensual, yet not. It was in fact sothing I'd seen many tis throughout my life, though only from afar and only rarely.
He was holding as if I was the only thing worth holding in the whole world, and sohow without even doing anything… I made it looked like I was worth it, and belonged in his arms.
"Well?" Vim asked, smiling gently at in the mirror.
"I see it," I admitted… as I sighed a little in defeat.
Anyone could.
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