*WARNING. This chapter contains graphic content. Proceed with caution.
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* **
At the peak of the scorching afternoon sun, while the village market was bustling with crowds and travelers the entertainment house behind it was the direct opposite. The once loud and gleeful place was now seemingly like any other unassuming bar. They had significantly fewer costumers during the day so all the whores were resting, and who would want to receive a service in this time of day? They'd be losing more sweat than giving pleasure, and most of the harlots, including the madame is in the town below the mountain.
Considering how she is the highest paying prostitute, she should currently be there as well but instead she is in their quarters and instead of resting, the poor whore was kneeling in such an awkward position on the floor with her legs, shaking and could no longer withhold standing. Drenched in sweat in her undergarment with her skirt soaked in blood and urine. She had been in such a state for an excruciating hour, her body weak and tired as she became more and more frustrated.
"Damn it!", the harlot exclaimed slamming the floor then rested her head and looked up under her skirt. Her thighs were already numb and her private genitals painful from the forced contractions. She exhaled heavily as she dug her fingers deep inside of her trying to reach within again, but it slipped for the eighth time, her strength lacking from weakness.
"Shit! Shit! Shit! ---Why won't it get out!", her fury echoed in the room as she repeatedly slammed the floor. She had consumed the necessary remedy six hours ago, it should have lost its grip already. The only probable reason behind its tenacity is because she might have miscalculated its actual time of seeding.
She breathed heavily once more; all of her determination poured to her strength for this last try. She clinches her eyes and pulled through, her hands and finger dripping with liquid until she finally managed to held unto it, and tightly this time. With all her might she pulls it out of her womb. Something hit the floor with a small thud before she collapses on the floor.
The poor woman blacked out from exhaustion but woke up a few moments later, fearing of letting her guard down in such a shameful state. She quickly got up to sit, clutching her inner thighs as she picked up a dump cloth beside her to pick up the thing that befall from her. It was so disfigured that it resembled a blood clot more than a being, but nonetheless it had features, the harlot wondered how far along it was. She stared at it coldly, in the first place it was doomed but it couldn't be helped considering her line of work. Not wasting any more of her time, she gently wraps it in the cloth and cleaned up her own mess with the few towels and cloths and a bamboo basin she had prepared earlier.
She had just finished cleaning when the back door opens. "Are you done? I have your bath ready for you", her colleague announced seemingly bubbly despite looking concerned.
"Give me a minute, I can't walk right now. Can you rid of this for me?", she orders while placing the wrapped lithopedion in front of her. Her friend nods and carries out her order merely giving it a cold gaze.
Another while later had passed and she had taken a nap before her friend returned and insisted on carrying her to the bath tub. Out of all the ladies in the house, there were only three of them that were around the same tall height, no one else could have carried her so she agreed.
"Thank you for your help today, you've saved me", she gently leaned on the woman's chest as she wrapped her arms around her neck. Looking up, she could see the pervert blush and wore a victorious smile before proudly walking her to and putting her down in the bathtub. She bid her gratitude to the woman before she was allowed some solitude.
After she left, she sighed and rolled her eyes as she rested her head on her palm, slowly sinking into a relaxed position in the tub. Out of all the men they could entertain she never would've thought that there's a woman who is more enticed with other women. A sick joke for someone's whose job is serving men. She merely spared her some affection, and the poor woman is now head over heels with her.
A few hours might have passed before she awoke from her exhausted slumber and by then, the water had gone unbearably cold so she finishes cleaning up, albeit slowly as she was recovering. Luckily she had notified the others of her current condition so she was pardoned from her services for the day. She relaxed herself in her chamber for the rest of the day, drinking medicine and sleeping more.
By the time she was relieved, it was already late noon. Realizing she was in her last outfit, she ordered to call for her daughter but according to the servers, her child was nowhere to be seen so she clicked her tongue furiously. She had to look for the brat herself. The little critter must be skipping work again.
But just as she came outside the gate of the entertainment house to chat with some friends, she spotted a familiar figure lurking behind the walls of the brothel and successfully escaping it. The young pup must have felt her mother's fury when she spotted her, it even dared to try and run but she warned her and quickly walked up to her daughter. The poor thing hadn't the time to look away when she was suddenly slapped. The mother sighed, a mix of frustration and exhaustion simmered in her body as she massaged her temple.
"Good lords, Luma, must you keep being a prick?", she rolled her eyes and dragged the brat to her room.
"If you're just going to skip work, you better make use of it. I need these by afternoon tomorrow", before lazily throwing the laundry bag to the child. It said nothing and merely stared at her curiously. If she had the energy, of course she would've already punished the brat. Her daughter had always been peculiar.
She turned and left after her purpose, wanting to go back and rest but she spotted the madame who had just came back from town. "Madame!", she smiled and waved. The two had some unfinished business to discuss.
"Ah! There you are, I was just about to send for you. I have excellent news, my dear!", the madame gleefully exclaimed as she greeted the harlot.
"Oh how exciting, what is it madame?". Thinking the news is going to be about another private request from their aristocratic customers, she was ecstatic.
"Remember what I told you about the rich gentlemen who are hosting an envoy in this district?", the madame teased.
"Yes?"
"Well, this could be the perfect opportunity for your daughter's debut!", the old hag cheered.
"Really?! Oh! That is indeed wonderful madame!", the two clasped each other's hands like children. If the madame had a child, it would most definitely be her, the two were most alike in their wits.
Although it made her uncomfortable to have lied about her daughter's real age but at least now she well finally prove useful to her mother. She is taller than kids her actual age so no one must have suspected a thing. At that moment she felt proud.
* **
"CAW!"
"CAW!"
"CAW!"
From the sounds of crows, my eyes jolted awake. A murder of crows was circling in the sky above, a strange behavior for such creatures, the scorching sun blinding my half blurry vision. I raised my hand to shade. Perhaps I did not wake up from the sound that they made but the dizzying heat of the peak summer afternoon. I could smell grass, hear the cicadas wailing, and my stomach rumbling. But best of all, I feel I am alive.
There's warm soil behind my back, the grass, the prickling sunburn on my skin, and although my limbs are aching, I could feel them. I haven't lost my chance yet. I've managed a successful survival; I am not back in the abyss and that is all I most care about.
But as relieved as I may be as a prisoner, this tiny mortal body is full of fear. Suddenly, I felt my heart race the loudest it had ever been for a while and a surge of hope gave me goosebumps. A striking epiphany. And even though it was hot, the wind gave breeze and I relaxed. He didn't follow me.
"I'm…I'm alive", when I tried to speak, my voice croaked and for the first time since I was born, I let myself weep.
"I live! I fucking lived!", I cried out. I'm not starting back all over again. Yes, I let this body cry. This must be what the real Lupa felt like. Overjoyed over a near encounter of death and heartbroken with her father's atrocity.
I laid in the fields for what felt like hours until I garnered enough energy to drag myself up. My thoughts pondered not on his betrayal nor my injuries, it was to be expected but rather on the simple logic that I had messed. My father's unpredictable nature. I stared at my grimy reflection on the river. It must have took me around 30 minutes to get here and all that energy exerted cost me a fever.
Counting my injuries, these were the most severe I had ever received in this body. The bruises and scrapes were countless almost covered my whole skin, my left eye is bloodshot, teary and puffed. I twisted a finger while my whole hand is numb, and maybe broke a rib or two. And as hard as I tried to have avoided the bear traps, one of them caught on to me and nearly gnaw my right tendon in half. I'm losing a lot both sweat and blood.
I ripped a piece of my dress and some leaves to tie around my heel, trying to reduce some blood flow. I know my little herbal aid isn't going to be enough for this, I can't even reach my tent before fainting in this state and if I hadn't woken up, I would've died from blood loss. My eyes winced shut knowing there was only one way that I could be helped in this treacherous village. The villagers are registered to forsake me but (probably) not them. I glanced at the temple above the hill. I think I could make it up those stairs in time. And so I did.
How could I have misjudged?
The instinct of a child subconsciously trusting her parents. How could I have overlooked such a flaw in this nature. My father was the most threat to my existence yet I let him bring me to his territory, alone with him. This one mistake of letting my guard down almost costed me everything I have worked so hard for when I have only just began conforming myself. He has the skill and enough screws in the head that any time I am with him, he could simply kill me. That, I had severely miscalculated. As much as I know the story, choices of will are a whim.
While being heavily out of breath, I have somehow managed to reach the gate of the temple. My legs are barely keeping still and with no energy in my arms, I banged my head on the gate to knock. The turmoil of different kinds of pain I am forced to live with right now is agonizing.
Luckily, with only a few attempts some monks finally opened the door and I collapsed on the ground right then and there. I couldn't even care less about how they panicked when they saw me and caught me in their arms, quickly taking me inside the temple. I am simply glad that it saved me the headache of dealing with all of this agony by myself.
This event may not have been in the story, but I'll spare the consequence for it later.
…...
I don't know how long I had fainted but when I woke up the sun had already set.
From the gates of the temple, I am now lying in bed inside their infirmary. This is the first time that I have slept in a proper bed in this life, it's quite comfortable. I no longer feel like my body is hanging by a thread, the monks must have healed me pretty well. They've even bathed me and gave me new clothes. There are no longer open wounds, what's left are scars and bruises.
Hm. No broken bones either, and my ankle? Bandaged up, it's not severed anymore. But I can't have healed this quickly simply because of the help of a few monks. Who did it?
I was still in deep thought of my recovery, when suddenly the door opened. I turned to it quickly, only to see a woman standing with a tray in her hand. However, she doesn't look human but rather a different race.
"You're awake", she smiled. An elf. She had green beads around her neck, a priestess. Immediately, I knew who it was who had significantly healed me.
"I apologize for the inconvenience I have caused. Thank you", I gave my respects. She looked as though she was surprised of me being here.
"No worries. It's my pleasure and duty", she smiled back but after that we stared at each other for a long while weighing in each other's presence.
This is the first time I have seen someone as pretty as my mother. But something about her feels off putting to me and keeps me on edge. Her gaze to me was almost akin to a threat with a questioning glee. I was examining her but she did so far longer than I have because I broke eye contact. Looking away to the window when I felt the cool breeze. She's making the atmosphere heavy but I know she won't confront me.
I heard a sigh then she quietly put the tray of food on the edge of the bed. The fresh smell immediately made my stomach grumble. Real food.
"Do you need anything else?". Despite her gentle reassuring tone, I didn't turn to her.
"Water", I responded. She nods her head a little before leaving the room but I felt she took a second look at me for the last time before closing the door.
Pale blue hair with mint green eyes and her pointy ears. I know what she looks like now. So that is the powerful priestess in the story, the one the protagonist will be travelling here for. It's never a good thing for me to encounter people heavily blessed by the oracles. If she's as strong as they say, she may sense the otherworldly. She'll know I don't belong here. I am still in recovery, but I cannot stay much longer, I fear I am unwelcomed. So, I took all of the food and snuck out from the window.
The moment I had gotten out of the walls I gave in to my gluttony. I savored every last bite of the food they gave me. Three pieces of bread, two slices of meat, and cheese, all the riches I could not afford. After I ate, I went to my tent.
I haven't been here for a while so it's a bit disheveled but luckily none of my important documents got wet. I still had enough dried herbs too, since I snuck out the temple I haven't been fully healed, my fever came back. There are side effects when the healing is incomplete, albeit healed but the pain is slowly coming back to me. The monks are probably going to be looking for me but I cannot afford to stay there, I do not want to deal with that priestess.
I was still in deep thought when the fiery shade of the sunset reminded me of my mother. My eyes winded when I realized what I had missed. Her laundry. Panic crept into my little body and I ran for the house. I can't be missing work two days in a row too. Her punishment for Lupa is more grueling than the father, she'll force me to do a service.
My mind had been preoccupied with mother but when I reached the house, I was suddenly immobilized by the thought that father might be there. What if he's inside? I broke into a cold sweat and it didn't help that my heartbeat was raising faster than it should. I must be having a panic attack. I may not make it in time but I have to do it. I bit my lip and swallowed my fear.
"The fear must be all in your head!", I hit my chest to snap myself out of it. I spotted the basket where I had left the sack and quickly grabbed it with my eyes closed then sprinted outside. Thank goodness he wasn't home. I laughed joyfully as I went to the entertainment house, limping as I ran. Painful but free.
But it didn't take me long to realize that I had underestimated myself and the limits of this body. I may be persevered but my body has endured all that it could. If I hadn't slowed down, the shortness of my breath felt like a sharp knife to my chest. I'm getting dizzier by the minute I continue standing. While there may have been an unexpected variable, maybe I should have stayed longer in the temple and deal with my mother later. But if I do, it's going to mess up my character's plot line. Hell, there's too many things to think about.
Despite my poor condition, I somehow managed to get to the entertainment house before the sun had fully set. I successfully made it to the back door---.