March 7th, 2012 — 9:24 AM
Class C Dormitories — Kaiser's Room
Perspective: Kaiser Everhart
Morning light crept past the slit in the curtains, cutting a sharp, pale line across my blanket.
I blinked against the ceiling, my skull heavy with the dull, residual fog of a 3:00 AM phone call. My limbs felt leaden, the sort of full-body exhaustion that came from sprinting across the capital, dancing in front of half the continent's high aristocracy, and surviving on half a glass of mango juice.
I reached blindly for the nightstand, my fingers tapping the glass of the phone.
9:24 AM.
Right. Today is an official academy off-day.
The day following Founders' Day was always reserved for administrative reset and student recovery. No bells, no morning assemblies, no mandatory theory lectures on mana-conduit stability. Just dead silence hanging over the Class C dormitory corridor.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my temples. My mouth tasted dry, and my shoulders were stiff from sleeping in a slight twist.
Weird.
Normally, the moment my clock ticked past 8:00 AM, my door would rattle on its hinges. Elfie would have materialized by now—either banging furiously with both fists or just straight-up picking the lock with a compressed thread of wind mana to demand her morning hugs, complaining that the corridor was freezing and that her bed was lonely without me.
The silence outside was eerie.
I pushed the sheets off, swung my legs over the side of the mattress, and stood up. I walked into the small washroom, turned on the brass faucet, and grabbed my toothbrush. The cold water splashed over my jaw, shocking the last remnants of sleep out of my system. I rinsed, spat, and scrubbed until my mouth felt clean, then retrieved the Aldermite molar from the glass of salt water on the counter. The residual mana had neutralized overnight. I popped it back into place against my upper jaw with a faint click.
Back in the main room, I lit the small spirit-burner under my copper kettle.
Water boiled in 3 minutes. I poured the steaming water into a clay mug, retrieved a small glass vial from my drawer, and dropped a pinch of dried black cumin seeds into the liquid.
It was a basic alkaline habit—anti-inflammatory, aids gastric digestion, stabilizes blood pressure after acute stress. I let the brew sit on the wooden windowsill, waiting for the dark infusion to cool to a drinkable temperature.
While it cools, physical upkeep.
I walked over to the reinforced iron window grill.
If I had disposable capital, I would have purchased a proper counter-weighted pull-up rig from the market, but copper and silver were currently allocated toward chemical reagents and Aldermite procurement. A window frame was free.
Free is the best price.
I gripped the cold iron bars with a wide overhand grip, engaging my lats and core.
1.
2.
3.
I pulled explosively, driving my chin cleanly over the crossbar with zero swing, controlling the negative descent on a strict 3-second count. 12 repetitions. Rest 45 seconds. 4 sets.
Next, I dropped to the wooden floorboards for archer pushups, extending my left arm wide and lowering all my body weight entirely onto the right tricep and pectoral, pressing up with a sharp exhale, then shifting smoothly to the opposite side. 12 repetitions per side. 4 sets.
After that came unilateral leg work. I hooked the top of my right foot onto the edge of my bedframe, dropping into deep, single-leg Bulgarian split squats until my back knee brushed the floor, driving through the front heel to maximize glute and quad activation. 12 reps per leg. 4 sets.
Finally, I reached back up to the window grill for hanging leg raises.
Ouch.
The square edges of the iron bars bit aggressively into the skin of my forearms and palms, grinding against the calluses, but the mechanical leverage for lower abdominal control was unmatched. I brought my toes up to touch the top bar without kipping, holding for a 1-second pause at the peak before lowering them slowly. 4 sets of 12.
To finish, I bounced on the balls of my feet, pumping through 100 quick jumping jacks to circulate the oxygenated blood and flush out the lactic acid buildup.
Cardio can wait for this evening's perimeter sweep.
I wiped the sweat from my brow with a dry hand towel, walked back to the windowsill, and picked up the clay mug. The cumin seed tea had cooled to a lukewarm temperature. I drank it down in 4 steady gulps, feeling the earthy, slightly peppery warmth settle into my empty stomach.
My body felt awake now. Sharp. Calibrated.
Still no sound from next door.
I set the mug down, my brow furrowing slightly.
Elfie had been feeling sick yesterday during the festival preparations—a heavy fatigue and stomach ache that kept her from attending the gala. But she had been resting for over 24 hours now. Even when she caught a standard cold, she was usually clingy enough to drag her blanket into my room to nap on my floor.
I dried my neck, pulled on a fresh cotton shirt, and stepped out into the hallway.
The dorm hallway was deserted, the red carpet muffling my steps. I walked the 3 paces over to the door immediately to the right of mine—Room 204.
I raised my knuckles and knocked twice.
"Hey, Elfie. Open up. It's Kai."
Silence.
I waited 5 seconds. No footsteps. No rustling of sheets.
"Elfie?" I called out again, knocking a bit firmer. "Are you awake?"
From the other side of the heavy oak wood, a faint, muffled sound reached my ears. It was hesitant, strained, and noticeably shaky.
"Kai...?" Her voice was tiny. Fragile. "I'm... I'm sleepy. Don't come in. Go away."
I paused, my hand still resting against the wood.
Her voice wasn't just sleepy. It was taut with anxiety, trembling with a weird, defensive edge I had never heard from her before. Elfie never told me to go away. Even when she was annoyed at me, she'd usually pull me in by the collar and complain.
"Open the door, Elfie," I said, keeping my tone calm and steady.
"No..." she whimpered through the keyhole. "I can't right now. Please, Kai, just go back to your room."
"If you don't unlock it in 10 seconds, I'm climbing over the balcony and coming in through your window."
It sounded like a casual tease, but she knew my spatial memory and climbing capabilities well enough to know it was a factual statement.
A long, desperate pause hung in the air.
"Okay... okay, fine!" she pleaded hastily, her voice cracking with sheer panic. "Don't climb the window! Just... wait a second!"
Inside, I heard hurried, clumsy shuffling—the sound of fabrics being dragged across the floor, followed by the soft click of the brass deadbolt sliding back.
The door creaked open by barely 2 inches.
Elfie stood behind it, peeking through the narrow gap. Her soft pink hair was completely unbrushed, falling in messy, tangled strands over her shoulders. Her face was pale, devoid of its usual cheerful glow, and her large blue eyes were wide, rimmed with red as if she had spent the last hour holding back tears.
She kept her entire body hidden behind the frame, maintaining an unnatural, rigid distance from me.
I pushed the door open slightly wider and stepped inside.
"What's going on with you?" I asked, looking around the room.
"Nothing," she mumbled instantly, keeping her head down. "I told you, I'm just tired."
"You're standing 4 feet away from me," I noted, closing the door behind me. "You usually tackle me the second I step through the door."
"I don't always tackle you..." she protested weakly, her voice small. "I'm allowed to just stand here."
"And your bed looks like a tornado hit it."
I glanced past her. Her room, which was usually kept neat with a few stray plushies, was in total disarray. The heavy cotton quilt had been ripped off the mattress and piled haphazardly in the center of the bed, buried beneath 3 separate winter jackets, a pile of folded academy uniforms, and a large bath towel. It was an obvious, desperate attempt to bury whatever was underneath.
"I was just... organizing my laundry," Elfie stammered, her fingers fidgeting frantically with the hem of her oversized sleeping shirt. "I wanted to fold clothes today."
"You hate folding clothes," I pointed out flatly. "Yesterday you said your stomach was hurting. Is that still going on?"
Elfie flinched at the word stomach. Her lips pressed into a tight, trembling line.
"It's fine," she whispered, turning her gaze toward the floorboards. "It's just a normal ache. You don't need to look at anything, Kai. You can go eat breakfast."
She's hiding something physical.
I didn't answer. I stepped past her, walking straight toward the bed.
"Kai, wait! No!"
Elfie let out a terrified, strangled gasp, rushing forward to grab my arm, but her movement was clumsy and restricted. I reached the edge of the mattress and pulled away the top layer of winter jackets with a single, smooth sweep.
"Don't look!" she cried, her voice cracking as tears instantly spilled over her lashes. "Kai, please don't look!"
She stopped dead in her tracks, wrapping both arms tightly around her own torso, curling her shoulders inward as if trying to make herself invisible. She clamped her knees together, her knuckles turning white against her sleeves.
I looked at the white bedsheet.
There, right in the center of the cotton fabric where she usually slept, was a dark, dried patch of crimson blood about the size of an apple.
My eyes shifted from the mattress to her.
She was wearing an oversized pale cream nightgown. She stood stiffly, pressing her inner thighs tightly together to hide the lower half of her garment, her head bowed so low her pink bangs completely covered her face. Her small shoulders were shaking violently with silent, humiliated sobs.
Ah.
The biological deduction locked into place in less than half a second.
The lower abdominal cramping over the past 24 hours. The sudden lethargy. The localized bleeding on the sheets without any physical lacerations or puncture marks on her skin. The physiological age threshold.
She had hit her first menarche.
I didn't say the word out loud. Stating clinical medical terms to a terrified 11-year-old in the middle of a sensory panic would only spike her cortisol levels further.
"Elfie," I spoke, keeping my voice gentle, lowering the analytical edge entirely. "Look at me."
She shook her head violently, refusing to look up, her hands clutching her shirt so hard the seams strained.
"I'm... I'm sick, Kai," she sobbed, the words tumbling out in a broken, frightened whisper. "I don't know what happened... I woke up and there was... there was blood everywhere. It won't stop."
"Did you get cut by something?" I asked calmly, stepping between her and the bed.
"No..." she sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her trembling wrist. "There's no cuts. I checked my legs, I checked my arms... there's nothing sharp in the bed. But it hurts so much inside. My stomach feels like someone is twisting it with cold iron."
"Have you tried using healing magic?"
"I tried!" she cried softly, looking up for just a fraction of a second, her blue eyes swimming with pure, innocent terror. "I used Aqua purificatio and Lumen fovere three times, but the spell didn't do anything! It just kept bleeding! Magic doesn't fix it, Kai... am I sick? Did someone poison me because of my rank?!"
"No one poisoned you, Elfie."
"Then why is it happening?!" she pleaded, her voice trembling with sheer embarrassment and shame. "It's disgusting... and you saw it... I tried so hard to hide it so you wouldn't think I'm dirty..."
I reached behind me, clicked the bedroom door firmly shut to ensure complete privacy, and turned back to her.
Elfie squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself, completely overwhelmed by the pain, the confusion, and the terror of a body she no longer understood.
---
Perspective: Elfina
He saw it.
He saw it and now he knows.
The thought burned against the inside of my skull like fire, hot and suffocating. My eyes were clenched shut so tight my lashes hurt, but even in the dark behind my eyelids, all I could picture was the red stain on the white sheets.
It was ugly. It was dark, gross, and sticky, and it had come from me.
What is wrong with my body?
My lower stomach felt like a knot of rusted wires being wrenched tighter and tighter with every breath. I had tried everything. I had poured my celestial mana into my palms until my fingertips sparked, casting cleansing and soothing spells over and over until my mana pool felt bruised, but the dull, grinding ache didn't budge. And the bleeding hadn't stopped.
I was terrified that I was rotting from the inside. But even more than the fear of dying, a cold, sickening dread clamped around my throat.
He's going to look at me differently.
Kai hates messy things. He likes things clean, precise, and logical. What if he thinks I'm disgusting? What if he steps back and realizes how gross I am? What if he doesn't want to touch me anymore?
My chest hitched, a raw, ugly sob catching in my throat as I heard his footsteps brush softly against the wooden floorboards.
He was coming closer.
I shrank inward, pulling my elbows against my ribs, desperate to make myself smaller, desperate to disappear into the floor.
Please don't look at me. Please don't hate me.
Then, two warm arms wrapped around me.
One large, steady hand settled gently against the back of my head, his fingers threading through my messy pink hair, pressing my face softly into the crook of his neck. His other arm slid firmly around my waist, pulling my trembling body against his chest, supporting all the weight my shaking legs couldn't hold.
He didn't hesitate. He didn't flinch away.
The familiar scent of cedarwood, faint iron, and clean soap instantly enveloped me, cutting through the panic like morning light.
"Kai..." I choked out into his shirt, my hands clenching into the fabric of his back. "I'm... I'm so gross..."
"You're not gross, Elfie," Kai whispered. His voice was completely steady, low and soothing, vibrating right against my ear.
He stroked the back of my head, his palm warm and grounding, smoothing down the tangled strands.
"Aren't you... aren't you disgusted?" I sniffled, tears soaking into his collar as a sharp cramp stabbed deep into my abdomen, making me whimper.
"There's blood everywhere... and it's coming from me. Magic won't fix it... nothing works..."
"I'm not disgusted." He shifted his arm, pulling me closer so I didn't have to strain my core. "There's nothing wrong with you. You're not sick, and you're not broken."
"B-But why is it happening?!" I sobbed, squeezing my eyes shut against his shoulder. "People only bleed when they're injured! Am I dying?!"
"You're not dying, silly girl," Kai said softly, a faint, gentle warmth entering his tone that he only ever used with me. "It's completely natural. It happens to every healthy girl as her body grows up. It just means you're growing older."
I sniffled, blinking through my wet lashes against his neck.
"Every girl...?"
"Every girl," he confirmed without a second of hesitation. "It's just biology. Your body is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. It's not dirty, it's not poison, and it's nothing to be ashamed of."
It's... normal?
The crushing knot of humiliation in my chest loosened just a fraction, but the fear still lingered.
"You... you really don't think I'm dirty?" I whispered, my voice trembling so much it barely came out.
Kai pulled back just enough to look at me. He didn't look repulsed. His light blue eyes were clear, patient, and full of an unshakable, quiet certainty that made the whole world stop spinning.
He reached up with his thumb, gently brushing away a wet tear from my cheek.
"You are the most beautiful girl in the world, Elfie," Kai said, holding my gaze. "A little bit of blood doesn't change that. Nothing could ever make me disgusted by you. I'm not going anywhere."
My heart gave a massive, painful thud against my ribs.
A fresh wave of tears spilled over, but they weren't from terror anymore. They were warm. Overwhelming.
He really means it.
He really isn't leaving.
He let me bury my face back into his chest for a minute, holding me until the sharpest shuddering in my breath began to calm down.
Then, he tapped my shoulder lightly.
"First priority," Kai said, stepping back with a practical, calm smile. "You need to get out of these clothes and freshen up. Take a warm shower. It will help ease the tension in your muscles."
I looked down at the hem of my nightgown, feeling the heat rush straight to my ears again. "The... the clothes... they're stained. I need to wash them in the sink..."
I turned toward the laundry pile, but before I could take a step, Kai reached out and placed his index finger gently against my lips.
"I'll wash them," he said firmly.
My eyes widened in shock. "N-No! You can't wash that, Kai! It's—"
"I'm washing them," he repeated, his tone leaving zero room for argument. "While you're in the washroom, I'll strip the bed, change the sheets to clean cotton, and set everything up so we can sit together comfortably. You shouldn't be standing around in cold, damp clothes. You'll catch a chill."
"B-But..."
"Go on," he urged gently, turning me lightly toward the bathroom door. "Take your time. I'll handle the rest."
I stood in the doorway for a second, looking back at him. He had already walked over to the bed, calmly gathering the stained quilt and sheets without a single trace of hesitation or judgment on his face.
He really is taking care of everything...
I slipped into the washroom, locking the door behind me.
The hot water from the shower felt heavenly against my sore, aching lower back. I washed thoroughly, letting the steam loosen the tight cramps in my stomach. When I turned the water off and dried myself, I opened my small wardrobe cabinet in the corner of the bathroom.
I picked out a soft, loose-fitting pastel pink knit sweater and a pair of comfortable, dark gray fleece lounge pants with thick, warm wool socks. Nothing tight. Nothing that pressed against my belly.
Taking a deep breath, I unlocked the bathroom door and peeked out.
The room had been completely transformed.
The ruined, stained sheets were gone. The bed was neatly remade with fresh, crisp white cotton sheets and a thick, lavender-scented blanket folded over the bottom. On the small wooden table in the corner, a pot of fresh water was bubbling softly over a portable burner, filling the air with faint steam.
Kai was standing by the table, testing the temperature of the water with a clean wooden ladle.
The moment he heard the door click, he looked up.
"Feeling any better?" he asked, setting the ladle down.
"A little..." I murmured, stepping out on my wool socks and wrapping my arms around my waist. "My stomach still feels heavy, though. Like a dull rock sitting at the bottom."
"Come sit down," he said, walking over to the bed. "Where exactly does it hurt the most? Is it a sharp pain, or a generalized cramping across the lower abdomen?"
I sat on the edge of the mattress, pulling my legs up slightly. "It's... right here," I explained, pressing both palms flat over my lower stomach, just below my navel. "And sometimes it shoots into my lower back when I stand up. It feels like someone is pressing down really hard and twisting."
Kai nodded attentively, listening to every word as if it were a high-priority tactical briefing.
"That's standard muscle contraction," he explained, walking back to the table. "The tissue is contracting to shed the lining. Heat increases blood circulation, which forces the constricted muscles to relax."
He took a clean, thick cotton towel, dipped it into the pot of hot water, and wrung it out thoroughly until it was steaming and damp. He walked back to the bed and knelt down on the wooden floor right in front of me.
"Lie back on the pillows," he instructed gently.
I did as he said, leaning back against the plush headboard.
Kai carefully laid the folded, steaming towel flat over the front of my sweater, right across my lower abdomen where the cramp was throbbing.
A wave of soothing, penetrating warmth instantly radiated through the fabric, sinking straight into my aching muscles. I let out a long, involuntary sigh, my shoulders sinking deep into the mattress as the tight knot in my belly began to loosen.
"Ah... that feels so good..." I whispered, blinking down at him.
"Good." Kai smiled faintly.
He didn't get up. He stayed sitting on the floor beside the mattress, his arms resting on the edge of the bed. He reached out and took my left hand in his, his fingers wrapping securely around mine. His hand was warm, callused, and steady.
I looked at him, my heart doing that strange, fluttery jump it always did when he held my hand like this.
"Kai...?"
"Yeah?"
"What is this really called?" I asked quietly, searching his calm blue eyes. "What's happening to me?"
Kai squeezed my fingers lightly. "It's called a menstrual cycle, or a period. It happens roughly once every month for a few days. It's a sign that your body is healthy and developing properly. Nothing is wrong with you, Elfie. Everything is completely fine."
A period.
So that's what the older girls at the orphanage used to whisper about in secret.
A sudden wave of cramping rippled through my belly again, making my breath hitch sharply. I squeezed his hand, groaning softly.
"Hey," Kai said immediately, leaning in closer. "Look at me. Match my breathing. Deep breath in through the nose... 1, 2, 3..."
I watched his chest rise, and I pulled air into my lungs, focusing entirely on his voice.
"...and slowly out through the mouth. 1, 2, 3, 4."
I exhaled, following his rhythm.
"Again. In... and out. Don't fight the cramp, just let your muscles go slack."
We did 4 rounds of breathing together. By the 4th exhale, the sharp spike of pain had subsided into a manageable, dull hum under the warmth of the towel.
Kai gave my hand a gentle squeeze, a small, teasing smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
"See? You're doing great. Now, to distract that dramatic brain of yours... let's talk about more important matters."
I tilted my head against the pillow, curious. "What matters?"
"Cake," he stated with absolute seriousness. "What is the current tier-list of your favorite pastries? I need an updated strategic breakdown."
A small, surprised giggle escaped my lips. "Cake? Right now?"
"Of course. Food is critical." he said deadpan. "Top 3. Go."
I couldn't help but smile, the lingering tension completely melting from my face.
"Number 1 is definitely the triple-layer strawberry shortcake from the Sweetspire Bakery in the 3rd district," I declared, my eyes lighting up as I described it with my free hand.
"The cream has to be real vanilla bean, not the fake sugar stuff, and the strawberries need to be glazed in honey! Number 2 is the molten dark chocolate lava cake with sea salt caramel... and Number 3 is warm apple cinnamon tarts with powdered sugar on top!"
"A heavy reliance on sucrose and simple carbohydrates," Kai analyzed dryly, shaking his head with mock disapproval. "Highly volatile for long-term energy, but optimal for immediate dopamine release."
I laughed softly, swatting his shoulder with my free hand. "You asked for my favorites, not a nutrition report, Kai!"
Look at him.
He's sitting on the cold floor, holding my hand, talking about cake just to make sure I don't feel scared.
Warmth bloomed in my chest that had nothing to do with the hot towel. It was deep, sweet, and overflowing.
"I'm going to make sure you get some proper breakfast too," Kai added, glancing at the empty room.
"I don't really have much in my room today..." I admitted sheepishly. "Just some crackers."
"I already made preparations," he replied calmly. "I sent a message to Axel before you went to shower. He's on delivery duty. He should be arriving with materials soon."
My eyes widened slightly. "You made Axel do that?"
"He owes me for multiple debts," Kai said ruthlessly. "His labor is free. I love free."
I giggled again, watching the calm, effortless way he handled everything.
He noticed the towel on my stomach had started to lose its heat. He gently lifted it, dipped it back into the pot of steaming water, wrung it out with practiced efficiency, and carefully placed the fresh, hot cloth back across my lower belly.
"Take it easy, Elfie." Kai said softly, settling back onto the floor and taking my hand once more. "Let me do the talking for a while. You just rest."
I nodded against the pillow, closing my eyes with a soft, peaceful smile, feeling safer than I had ever felt in my life.
A faint, hurried set of footsteps approached down the corridor outside, followed by 3 erratic knocks on the door.
I tensed up instantly, my eyes snapping open as panic surged through me.
Someone is here. What if they know? What if Axel sees me like this?!
Before I could scramble to hide under the blanket, Kai's hand gently rested on my shoulder, pinning me lightly in place.
"Stay where you are," he murmured quietly. "I've got it."
He stood up, stepped toward the entrance, and opened the door just enough to slip his body through into the hallway, pulling it shut behind him until the latch clicked locked.
I held my breath, pulling the blanket up to my chin and straining my ears to listen through the thick wood.
"Here's your emergency food, boss!" Axel's loud, breathless voice echoed from the hall. "I ran all the way from the central market! Rolled oats, warm steel-cut grain, dark organic honey, crushed walnuts, dark chocolate shavings, and 4 sweet red apples. Do you know how much that dark honey cost me?! Bro, I'm literally broke now! My entire weekly allowance is gone!"
"Relax, bro. We'll make the money back," Kai replied with absolute, flat calm. "Don't panic."
"Easy for you to say! You're not the one surviving on dining hall scraps!" Axel complained dramatically, before his tone shifted into an excited, conspiratorial whisper. "Hey, by the way... I have an insane idea to get our funds back. There's an underground football tournament in the lower district this weekend! The grand prize is 100 whole silver coins!"
"Adults and men over 20 play in those leagues, Axel," Kai corrected dryly. "You'd get flattened on the first tackle."
"Not me, bro—YOU!" Axel argued enthusiastically. "You're special! You took out assassins and paladins! You can solo an entire team of 25-year-old midfielders!"
"I have never played football in my life."
"Nah, man, you're a genius! You could master the rules and ball physics in 10 minutes, and then we just enter and take the cash!"
"A viable calculation," Kai acknowledged deadpan, "but I am currently occupied for the next few days. It will have to wait."
"Wait, occupied doing what?" Axel paused, his voice turning curious. "Wait... isn't this Elfina's room? Can I see her? Is she around? I wanted to ask if she liked the apples—"
"She is sick," Kai cut in firmly, his voice dropping into that quiet, impenetrable register. "She is sleeping and cannot have visitors."
"Come on, just for 2 seconds! I brought the honey!"
"Tomorrow, Axel. Now go."
"Bro—fine! You're ruthless!"
Axel's grumbling footsteps finally faded down the hallway.
The lock clicked, and the door opened. Kai slipped back inside, carrying a brown paper market bag in one arm. When his blue eyes met mine, a soft, faint smile touched his lips, completely wiping away the cold wall he had just put up for Axel.
"See? Handled."
He walked over to the bed, removed the cooled towel from my sweater, and soaked it in the steaming water again. He wrung it out carefully and placed the fresh, soothing heat back across my lower abdomen.
"Keep resting. I'm going to make you a warm meal."
I lay back on the pillows, watching him through the slit between the curtain and the bedframe.
Kai moved around my small kitchen counter with quiet, mechanical grace. He set a small ceramic saucepan over the burner, pouring in fresh water and stirring in the steel-cut oats and whole grains until they thickened into a smooth, fragrant porridge. He sliced a crisp red apple into tiny, delicate cubes, tossed them in with a handful of crushed walnuts, and drizzled two generous spoonfuls of the dark honey over the top, finishing it with a dusting of bitter dark chocolate shavings that melted instantly into the steam.
Rolled grains... dark honey... walnuts... chocolate...
I watched the back of his shirt as he stirred.
He didn't just ask Axel to buy random breakfast food. He chose specific things. Dark chocolate and nuts for iron and minerals... warm oats and honey for easy digestion so my stomach doesn't hurt when I eat...
How does he know all of this? Why does he think of every single little detail for me?
A few minutes later, Kai carried a steaming ceramic bowl and a silver spoon over to the bed. He pulled a wooden chair right beside the mattress and sat down.
The porridge looked incredible—a rich, creamy bowl of warm spiced grains, topped with glistening honeyed apples, crunchy walnuts, and swirling ribbons of melted dark chocolate. The aroma alone made my empty stomach give a faint, eager rumble.
"Time to eat, Elfie," Kai said, scooping up a small spoonful of warm porridge, topping it with an apple cube, and blowing gently on it to cool the steam.
"Open up."
I opened my mouth, letting him feed me the warm bite.
The sweet honey, tart apple, and rich chocolate melted across my tongue, soothing and deeply comforting.
"Is it good?" he asked, his eyes watching my reaction closely.
"Mhm..." I nodded, chewing slowly. "It's really sweet... and warm."
He scooped up another spoonful, blowing on it patiently before offering it.
I took the second bite, but as I swallowed, an inexplicable wave of emotion suddenly swelled inside my chest without any warning. My throat tightened, my chin began to quiver, and before I could even understand why, fat tears started rolling down my cheeks.
Kai paused, lowering the spoon slightly. "Elfie? What's wrong? Does your stomach hurt worse?"
"N-No..." I sobbed, a clumsy, pathetic hiccup escaping my throat as I wiped my eyes frantically. "I just... I dropped a piece of apple on the blanket! I'm so clumsy! I keep making messes and you have to clean everything!"
It was completely ridiculous. It was a single, tiny fleck of fruit, but in my head, it felt like the most catastrophic disaster in the world.
Then, right after crying, an irrational spike of frustration flared up in me.
"And why are you so calm?!" I snapped in a sudden, pouty whimper, crossing my arms over my knit sweater. "I feel like a mess and my body is broken and you're just sitting there! It's not fair!"
Kai didn't get annoyed. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't even look surprised.
He just picked up the stray piece of apple with a clean napkin, set it aside, and gently reached out with his free hand, thumbing away my tears.
Am.. I that annoying...?
"Hormonal fluctuations," he stated with profound gentleness. "The rapid shift in estrogen and progesterone triggers neurotransmitter sensitivity. It makes emotions surge unpredictably. You're allowed to be angry, and you're allowed to cry over a piece of apple. It's completely fine."
His absolute patience took all the wind out of my irrational anger. I fell silent, feeling completely exhausted and small.
"I'm sorry..." I whispered, looking down at my lap. "I didn't mean to shout."
"You didn't shout," Kai smiled softly, bringing the spoon back to my lips. "Now eat. You need the energy."
I obediently opened my mouth, letting him feed me spoonful after spoonful. The porridge was so easy to digest, sitting light and warm in my belly. Kai didn't rush. He patiently fed me the entire bowl until not a single drop remained.
Once the bowl was empty, Kai stood up and set it by the sink.
He walked over to the large dormitory window, pulling the thick blackout curtains shut, blocking out the morning glare. Then he turned off the overhead lantern, plunging the room into a cool, peaceful twilight.
He walked back to the bed and pulled the soft lavender-scented blanket up over my shoulders, tucking the edges neatly around my sides.
"You've digested enough," Kai whispered, smoothing my pink bangs away from my forehead. "Now be a good girl and take a nap."
Good girl.
The words sent a warm, tingling shudder straight through my chest.
My head was swimming with a heavy, thick brain fog. Every sound in the room felt slightly amplified, the fabric of my sweater felt intensely soft against my sensitive skin, and my eyelids felt like lead weights.
Kai didn't leave. He sat right on the edge of the mattress beside me, his steady hand resting over mine, talking in a low, gentle monologue—telling me stories about star constellations, the way waves moved in the southern sea, and how simple machines worked. His voice was a rhythmic, hypnotic anchor.
I leaned my cheek against his arm, inhaling the scent of his shirt. Surrounded by his warmth and absolute safety, the world faded away, and I drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.
---
When I finally woke up, the room was dimly lit by the orange glow of late afternoon slipping through the edges of the curtains.
I blinked groggily, sitting up.
My body felt significantly lighter. The sharp, wrenching cramps had dulled into a mild background throb. On the table, a bowl of light vegetable broth with shredded chicken and soft rice was waiting for me under a covered ceramic dish, still warm from a heat-preserving charm.
I ate lunch slowly, feeling my strength returning.
As I walked over to the bathroom to wash my hands, my eyes caught the window sill.
There, neatly hung on a small drying line in the sunlight, were the bedsheets and my nightgown from this morning. They were spotless. Completely clean, smelling faintly of lavender soap, drying in the breeze.
He really washed them while I was asleep...
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes again, but I bit my lip and smiled.
By the time night fell, around 8:00 PM, the fatigue crept back in. After we ate a light dinner together, a sudden wave of nausea rolled through my stomach, making me dizzy and pale.
Kai had noticed before I even said a word. He immediately handed me a small cup of warm ginger-infused water, had me sit upright, and used a damp, cool cloth against the back of my neck until the queasiness passed.
He had carried the entire day on his shoulders without a single complaint. He had washed dishes, wiped surfaces, managed my food and hydration, and guarded my door so nobody disturbed my rest.
Now, as the clock ticked past 9:30 PM, the nocturnal cramping flared up again with a dull, heavy ache that made me curl my knees up to my chest.
"Lie flat on your back, Elfie," Kai instructed softly, sitting beside me on the mattress.
"Kai...?"
"I'm going to massage your abdomen to release the tension," he explained calmly. "Lift your sweater slightly."
My cheeks instantly flamed crimson. "M-Massage...?"
Bare stomach...?
My heart hammered wildly against my ribs. It felt so incredibly intimate, so vulnerable. But as I looked at his eyes—calm, focused, without a single shred of hesitation or weirdness—my shyness melted into pure trust.
I reached down with trembling fingers, pulling the hem of my pink sweater up just enough to expose my lower belly.
Kai rubbed his hands together briskly, generating friction until his palms were hot. Then, he gently placed the heel of his right palm against my lower abdomen, just below my belly button.
I gasped softly at the initial touch, my sensitive skin tingling under his warm hand.
He didn't just rub around aimlessly. He applied a firm, steady, rhythmic downward pressure, using the heel of his palm to move in slow, deliberate clockwise circles. It wasn't a playful caress—it was a precise, technical compress designed to manipulate the contracted muscular tissue.
With every slow circle of his palm, the tight, iron-like clenches inside my pelvis began to physically unspool.
Ah...
The sharp, stabbing edges of the cramp softened, dissolving into a manageable, dull warmth under his hands. For the first time all day, my lungs expanded fully. I could finally breathe without pain.
I lay there, staring up at his face in the soft twilight of the room.
Butterflies fluttered wildly in my chest.
Look at him.
He didn't hesitate with anything today. Not the blood, not the mess, not my screaming or crying, not even touching my bare stomach to stop the pain. He bore all of it.
In a world where everyone treats me like a terrifying celestial weapon or a high-ranking prodigy... he treats me like something precious that needs to be held.
Kai lifted his hand, reached up, and lightly checked my forehead temperature with the back of his fingers. Finding no fever, he brushed a stray pink curl behind my ear.
"The muscle tension is releasing," Kai said softly, pulling my sweater back down. "You should sleep now."
He moved to stand up, intending to head toward the door to let me rest.
A cold jolt of fear spiked through me. I reached out instantly, grabbing the cuff of his sleeve with both hands.
"Kai... wait!"
Kai paused, looking down at me. "What is it?"
"Don't go..." I whispered, my voice turning tiny, pleading, and hopelessly clingy. "Stay here. Sleep with me."
"Elfie, your bed is small," he reasoned logically. "And you need space to rest without waking up."
"I don't care about space," I pouted, tugging his sleeve harder, my eyes looking up at him with all the cuteness I could muster. "I'm scared. What if the pain comes back in the middle of the night? What if I have a bad dream? Please, Kai... just for tonight?"
Kai looked at my desperate, pleading face, and let out a soft, resigned sigh.
"Fine."
He took off his shoes, slid under the covers on the outer edge of the bed, and lay down beside me.
Before he could even adjust his pillow, I practically threw myself across the mattress, wrapping both arms tightly around his torso, burying my face deep into his chest. I hooked one of my legs over his, locking myself against him so there was zero space between us.
Kai wrapped his arms securely around my back, pulling me into a safe, protective embrace, his chin resting gently on top of my head.
I closed my eyes, inhaling the deep, soothing cedarwood scent of his shirt, a goofy, triumphant smile spreading across my face in the dark.
"Mine..." I whispered into his collar, barely audible.
Kai chuckled softly, a quiet, teasing vibration against my cheek. "Hmm? What was that?"
I nuzzled my nose deeper into his neck, tightening my grip on his shirt.
"All... all mineeee," I murmured possessively, dragging the word out with a sleepy, sweet hum.
Kai leaned down slightly, pressing a soft, warm kiss against my forehead.
"Be a good girl and go to sleep," he whispered, his voice full of an unbreakable promise. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
"Promise...?"
"I promise."
My smile widened against his chest.
If growing up means I get to have you take care of me like this...
Then I don't ever want to let you go.
Surrounded by his heartbeat, wrapped in his arms, I let the darkness pull me into the safest sleep I had ever known.
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