The castle still has 20 vacant rooms. 10 are currently occupied.
1 room acted as my room.
1 room occupied by Lion.
1 private bathroom with a magical toilet (which I would describe later)
1 common bathroom with also a magical toilet currently used by Lion, Ghost and Sly.
3 workrooms
1 library
1 room that Sly occupied
1 room claimed by Ghost
Sly announced it to all of us when Lion took a bit of break. He looked haggard though he managed to hug me from behind. I can feel his exhaustion.
There's still lots of space available for Puma's oldest offsprings (we expected 2) and the soon to be assistant of Lion. Sly found a creature who just recently matured and is quite adept in using magic.
Sly managed the flow of the businesses while Ghost is assisting him. They are quite good in what they do.
Suddenly a thought came in mind.
I asked them if they always work everyday without resting and they all nodded yes. Preys are not expected to work too much so that's why Puma can do vacation anytime as Preys are expected to produce plenty of offsprings. Predators have higher stamina while Deserters are used to having higher stamina as well as they needed it to survive since they are mostly living in a harsh environment. Ghost have both the blood of a deserter and the unknown so he has higher stamina than the predators that's why his former career was perfect for him.
Ghost left first since he has to oversee the businesses while Sly told us that he managed to find a place for me to open my own healing place like Puma near the center of the territory. It is just 3 story building with an open space on the roof where I can have my own garden to plant some of the needed herbs and other stuff for the medicine.
I thanked him and told him that it is a perfect place. Sly grinned then left since he has to go back to the businesses again.
Now Lion and I are alone again.
I noticed that Lion feels lethargic so I pulled him towards my bedroom and let him lie down on my bed. He smiled at me weakly while I went to the garden to pick the fruits that he liked so much.
When I got back, I told him to lay his head on my lap while I try feeding him with the fruits.
I sat on the bed and Lion happily placed his head on my lap while I fed him small bites of the fruit.
He looks absolutely worn out and there are dark circles under his eyes.
I did some sort of small talk while he listened.
His body feels stiff so I placed his head gently on the pillow. He looked confused why I moved him and he began to protest when I suddenly straddled on his legs.
He looked aroused and tried to sit up when I scolded him, telling him not to do any movement. He didn't protest but he looked at me with fascination.
No I'm not planning to do another make out session.
I removed his shirt and his breathing began to get faster. I moved closer to his ear and whispered, turn around.
He is now in prone position. I then introduced him to the wonders of massage.
My hands glided up his back, pressing deep into the tense muscles along his spine.
He let out a groan. I smiled, knowing that I hit the right spots. Next I used my thumbs to gently press the knots on the either side of his vertebrae. As I kneaded and release, the tension in his body seems to melt out of him and his body soon relaxes. His tail did not do any movement and soon his breathing became slower.
I continued to use my thumbs to ease the tension on his shoulders with slow firm strokes.
I trailed my fingers up and down his spine, soothing the ache with gentle, gliding motion.
I looked at his face and found that he fell asleep. He seemed more relaxed now.
I covered him with my blanket and sat on the chair near my desk. I spent my time finishing on the designs of my much needed eye equipment.
At last, I'm finally done.
I glanced at Lion and saw him sleeping peacefully.
A sudden burst of emotions made me cry silently.
I am so thankful that it was Lion who found me.
I am loved and treated kindly. I feel safe with him and I want to do everything for him. I want to make him happy.
Is it really possible to feel loved without hearing that specific words?
Yes, it is possible. But I want to say it to him. Someday.
....
I heard a commotion outside my room and I swiftly walked towards the portal. I glanced at Lion, who is still sleeping peacefully, and went inside the portal. Outside my room, Sly and 3 other creatures were busy having some kind of a discussion.
2 of the creatures are Puma's oldest offsprings while the other one must be the magic user that Sly is talking about.
Nyma and Puoma are both females. They seemed younger than me but looked more mature than their age. They seemed identical but one is taller than the other.
Nyma is more knowledgeable in treating patients so I can train her to assist me while Puoma is very good in making medicines, Sly told me.
I smiled at them while they both looked at me with adoration.
Meanwhile, the magic user looked like a crossbreed between an elf and a snake with wings. His face is handsome but deadly, with eyes that looked cunning. His long hair is a pretty shade of deep violet, same color as his eyes. His ears are very pointed and his skin looked pale. But what intrigues me is that he has the upper body of a human while his lower body is like a serpent. The color of his lower body is a deep shade of green.
He smiled at me but I feel terror inside my mind. But I tried my best to smile back at him.
Be brave, I thought to myself.
He must have thought that I seemed afraid of him because he let out a huge laugh and told me that though his look seemed intimidating, he is a prey, not a predator.
Cuss word.
Now I've embarrassed myself.
He introduced his name as Orm.
He started to move closer to me and kissed my hand with a seductive look in his eyes.
Oh my. He is quite a flirt.
I smiled an awkward smile at him while I slowly removed my hand from his.
I saw Sly trying to shoot him a warning look.
Sly told me (while trying to pull Orm away) that he is one of the offsprings of a higher being that has a solid position among the Chief of the territory's group of advisors.
Ah. No wonder he looked arrogant.
By then, Lion suddenly appeared and put an arm on my waist, drawing me closer to his side.
He spoke to Orm in extreme politeness while Orm continued to fixate his gaze at me.
I hope this won't cause trouble in the future.