Ghost explained to me that we are going to the main part of the territory. To be exact, we are going to the home of one of the higher creatures. He thought for a moment before he added that we are going to the home of the boss of Lion.
We finally arrived in a building that seemed so strange that I was speechless. It looked like there's a gigantic net but instead of holes, there's glass but I can see flying creatures going in and out of the glasses. There seems to be a giant chimney of some sort at the center that has glittery smoke coming out of it.
Ghost looked like he was about to say something when Pinky tried to back away from the building. Ghost tried to hold him to no avail since Pinky kept struggling.
At the end, we decided to leave Pinky outside.
Ghost told me that he had never been inside the building before. It turns out that the boss of Lion is a huge magic user and has the tendency to absorb stray amounts of magic. No wonder Pinky is so terrified of going inside.
We went inside the building and the inside of the building looked even stranger than the outside. There's clouds of smoke everywhere and all sorts of creatures flying everywhere carrying all sorts of stuff and machines that moved by themselves without any supervision. I see some sort of of flowing liquid coming out of the air with a creature trying to change the color of the liquid. There are some lights that kept blinking like Christmas lights only it sort of sprayed some sort of confetti every time it blinks.
Whatever Pinky gave me, it helped me stayed sane.
There are portals everywhere and even Ghost is starting to get nauseous with all that blinking.
A smoke suddenly appeared and out came a creature that was so huge that its head reached the ceiling. It looks like a chimera straight out of fantasy novels way back on earth.
But each of the 3 heads had only one eye each.
It hissed and all the chaos finally stopped.
Thank goodness.
I heard some footsteps and turned around and saw a mini version of the giant one eyed chimera only it had two eyes instead of one, going towards me. It grunted and tried to tell us that it had distorted vision ever since it tried to grow another eye.
I thought for a moment before designing a special kind of eyeglasses in my notebook and when it materialized, I sprinkled some of Lion's magic powder and voila, eyeglasses with cylinder lenses.
The miniature creature put them on and all of its heads purr like a cat. (They have an amazing purr blend together!). The miniature creature looked happy with his heads all wearing eyeglasses.
The gigantic chimera floated several blue and green jewels towards Ghost who happily took them and placed them inside his pouch.
I waved goodbye to the chimeras as Ghost and I tried to exit the building. Then the chaos inside the building resumed.
Outside, I told Ghost that I thought that the boss' offspring looked so adorable and I wanted to carry it.
Ghost looked horrified and hurriedly told me that the miniature chimera IS Lion's boss and that the gigantic chimera IS the offspring.
Oh. I see.
....
We walked around for several minutes looking for Pinky. While walking, Ghost asked me why Lion is acting not himself.
Should I tell him or not?
Can I trust him?
After a few minutes of self debate inside my mind, I tried to change the subject.
Where were you the other night? I asked him. During the night when all the moons, stars and the planet were more brilliant than usual.
He looked embarrassed and told me that night was supposed to be some kind of their territory's tradition in which they would try to form a bond with a creature that they have an interest.
What's that about a bond? I asked suspiciously.
Here in this world, they are very straightforward with showing the objects of their desire about their feelings. But they have a step by step process in which they follow to allow freedom on both sides to mutually agree. To put it simply:
On that night, one of the creatures will show affection to the object of his desire by caressing. By allowing them to caress you means trust and therefore open to them for affection. It doesn't mean that you will return their feelings since they have to win you yet.
Not allowing them to caress you for some time (on that specific night) shows that you are not interested and do not trust them or their intentions towards you.
Oh. I obviously didn't know.
I told Ghost that in my previous world, caressing usually ends up couples kissing together. He looked quite shocked and told me that kissing doesn't happen yet for quite some time. Trust and security is the first step to accomplish before you can go there.
And there's a step before that, Ghost added.
Now that I know, I think about the times that I kept touching Lion's hair and how he always reciprocates.
Now I feel guilty. I do like him but I wasn't ready for relationships and I was thinking too far ahead. I was okay with the attention Lion gave me. I was thinking way too far ahead.
The second step, Ghost continued, is for the pursuer to do all kinds of stuff to impress the object of their desire. It could be helping too much or increase their way of showing affection. You can show them that you allow it by reciprocating.
Ah. We did that also. Though we didn't start the first step on that night.
Ghost continued to explain, the third step is for words of affirmation. The purpose why it's step by step is to know each other's needs and how they want to receive your "love". That is why bonding is very important to establish first.
I understand that.
As I continued to listen to Ghost's explanation, I learned that receiving gifts then spending quality time are the last steps of bond but it is not guaranteed that you will end up mating the person. That's just getting to know each other.
They valued mates a lot and while some have more, all ended up spending the rest of their lives together. Only death signals the end of the bond between mates.
Kissing and hugging is guaranteed only after there is an agreement between the couple that they will mate in the future. I couldn't imagine creatures and hugging though. But I remembered that some creatures do not need mates and can simply have offspring of their own.
This world truly amazes me.
Then I remembered that we did all the steps. Not in order though. Except for words of affirmation though.
I think.
No wonder Lion is so protective of me.