Hygiene products?! What are hygiene products? Why do I feel ominous just hearing that? Theo tries to search Thea's memories, but everything related to "hygiene products" is vague.
"Well, Thea. You're sixteen. I know you only got yours like two months before… the trip. And now that you're back, you need them. I'm sure it's coming. Soon." Leila explains.
What is coming? What do I need?! Theo turns pale as cold sweat begins to form on his back.
"Thea, are you okay?" Leila asks, just now noticing that Theo hasn't said anything.
Theo feels his lower abdomen churn. "I think… I need to go to the bathroom." He stands and starts stepping away.
"Oh my!" Leila gasps when she sees Theo's lower back. She quickly grabs a shopping bag, gives it to Theo, and says, "Here. Hold it like this." She props the bag to cover Theo's lower back, guiding his hands to hold it in place.
"Let's go to the bathroom." She half-pushes Theo toward the nearest one.
Theo follows with a dumbfounded look. He doesn't understand anything—only that he suddenly feels unwell, especially in his lower abdomen… and now his lower back too.
Sam trails after them, carrying the rest of the shopping bags.
When they stop in front of the ladies' bathroom, Leila looks left and right, scanning the area.
"Mother?" Theo doesn't understand why she doesn't just go in. Does she expect me to enter by myself?
Leila finally finds what she's looking for. She pulls Theo toward a different door marked with a wheelchair symbol.
"Mother?" Theo asks again, even more confused.
Leila opens the door and turns to Sam. "Please wait here." Then she looks at Theo. "Trust me."
They both step inside.
Leila locks the door and faces Theo. "I really don't understand how this whole amnesia thing works. But I need to ask… do you remember anything about women's anatomy?"
Theo's mind goes blank. "Huh?"
Seeing that her daughter doesn't understand, Leila feels a complicated mix of pity, irony, and sadness.
She sighs. "Okay. Thea, do you know how babies are made?"
Theo's eyes widen like saucers.
What is she talking about?! Is she seriously trying to talk about sex now?! And here?! In the bathroom?! Leila! What in the world?!
Leila watches every tiny detail of Theo's reaction and sighs again. My poor daughter. Has all of her education gone too? How should I explain this?
They're both busy with their own thoughts.
"Mother…" Theo chokes on the word. The pain is more prominent now. I really need to go! But she's here! Can I do it with her here?!
Theo cannot help but wince as he feels the pain. Leila immediately notices this, and it sends her into panic.
"Oh my god! Does it hurt? You need to change and take special medicine. And we don't have both. Thank god we've bought some clothes. Usually, I'd wash new clothes before wearing them, but this is an emergency. I think it's okay. And we can always wash them later at home. And your current jeans and underwear, they must be washed too. But separately. I can do it. No problem. But you need to learn, so if the same thing happens next time, you know what to do." Leila talks in one breath.
What is she rambling about?What special medicine? Theo is stunned, then winces again.
"Okay. You're in pain. I need to go buy everything. But I can't really leave you here alone. Oh, silly me. Sam is outside. He will guard the door. Don't worry. He won't let anyone in. He is Arthur's personal assistant and he's very capable. I'm gonna go now." With that, Leila unlocks the door and exits, leaving Theo in a daze.
What was that? What's going on? The pain comes again. Ugh. Was it something I ate?
He puts down the shopping bag, walks to the toilet, pulls down his jeans and underwear, and sits on the bowl, expecting nature to take its course.
When nothing happens, Theo is confused. Then the pain returns. Ugh. Just—out—already! Sweat beads on his forehead and he leans forward, hoping the posture will ease the pain when he accidentally opens his eyes.
Blood.
Fresh blood.
On his white underwear.
It is unmistakable.
It is blood.
Theo just stares, not blinking. His brain short-circuits. He stays like that as if forever.
Then he laughs—bitterly. Just kill me now.
Sam stands right outside the door. When he hears Theo's bitter laugh, he turns his head slightly. Is she okay in there? Mrs. Montrose told me to guard the door. But I need to know if she's okay.
While Sam hesitates, Theo wipes tears from his eyes. Now Leila's speech makes sense. He chuckles again, brittle. Do you know how babies are made, Leila.
He suddenly laughs out loud. He comes to recognize the absurdity of his situation.
This is ridiculous! I am Theo. The Archmage of Ancient Caelthorn. The Headmaster of the most powerful magic tower, Caellistra! I have lived for forty-one years. Won exactly thirty-three wars.
And now I crumble at the sight of women' monthly blood?! Absurd! I have bathed in blood! First and foremost, I am an Archmage! I need to act and think like one! I have magic! I can cleanse these clothes!
Aqura! Clean! Theo snaps his fingers.
A small orb of clear spring water suddenly appears, swirling a few times before sinking down and washing away the blood from the underwear and the jeans.
"Hah! That's right!"
Then Theo casts another spell. Veyra! Dry! He snaps his fingers again.
This time, a small misty cloud of wind appears and drifts toward the clothes. Soon, they are both clean and dry. Theo looks at them smugly.
------------------------------
When the orb of spring water appears, Sam's watch vibrates softly. He checks it, and his face changes.
100% purity of magic energy?! How can it be?! Someone actually has a heartstone with 100% purity?! Where is it coming from?!
Sam quickly looks left and right, scanning for the source.
His watch looks similar to Arthur's, but it only has two heartstones instead of three. Each watch has a built-in lite version of the Arcatherm. It's designed to detect the purity level of a heartstone.
The purer the magic energy, the more powerful and valuable the heartstone. Miners are risking everything chasing the higher grade because of this.
Since the first mining sixty years ago, no heartstone has ever reached 100% purity. The highest ever recorded so far was only 48%—and it was already extremely powerful. One can only imagine how strong 100% would be.
And now, Sam is looking at it! His heart pounds. He moves the watch, trying to trace the direction. But when he takes one step away from the bathroom door, it doesn't beep anymore.
No way! From inside the bathroom?!
He returns to his original position, but the watch stays silent.
He stares at it in disbelief. Was it just my imagination?
Then it beeps again.
Sam gasps. It's real!