The castle still has 20 vacant rooms: 10 are currently occupied.
One room is mine. One is occupied by Lion.
There is one private bathroom with a magical toilet and one common bathroom, also with a magical toilet, currently used by Lion, Ghost, and Sly.
There are three workrooms, one library, one room for Sly, and one room claimed by Ghost.
Sly shared the news with us while Lion was taking a short break.
Lion looked haggard, though he still managed to hug me from behind though I could feel his exhaustion.
There is still plenty of space for Puma's two oldest offspring and Lion's soon-to-be assistant.
Sly found a creature who recently matured and is quite adept at using magic. Sly has been managing the flow of the businesses with Ghost's assistance.
They are both quite good at what they do.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. I asked if they always worked without resting, and they all nodded yes.
Preys are not expected to work too much, which is why Puma can vacation anytime as they are expected to produce many offspring.
Predators have higher stamina and Deserters possess high stamina as well, having needed it to survive harsh environments.
Ghost, having the blood of both a Deserter and the Unknown, has even higher stamina than the predators, which made his former career perfect for him.
.......
Ghost left first to oversee the businesses.
Sly told me he had found a place for me to open a healing practice, similar to Puma's, near the center of the territory.
It is a three-story building with an open rooftop for a garden where I can grow herbs for medicine.
I thanked him and told him it was perfect.
Sly grinned and left to return to work.
Now, Lion and I were alone again.
Noticing how lethargic he felt, I pulled him toward my bedroom and let him lie on my bed. He smiled at me weakly while I went to the garden to pick his favorite fruits.
When I returned, I sat on the bed and told him to lay his head on my lap. He happily complied as I fed him small bites of fruit.
He looked absolutely worn out, with dark circles under his eyes.
I engaged in small talk while he listened.
His body felt stiff, so I placed his head gently on the pillow. He looked confused and began to protest when I suddenly straddled his legs.
He looked aroused and tried to sit up, but I scolded him, telling him not to move. He stopped protesting and watched me with fascination.
No, I wasn't planning another make-out session.
I removed his shirt and his breathing quickened. I leaned close to his ear and whispered that he should turn around.
Once he was in a prone position, I 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 I'd hit the right spots. Next, I used my thumbs to knead the knots on either side of his vertebrae. As I worked, the tension seemed to melt out of him.
His tail went still and his breathing slowed. I continued using firm, slow strokes on his shoulders and trailed my fingers up and down his spine to soothe the ache.
I looked at his face and realized he had fallen asleep. He seemed much more relaxed. I covered him with my blanket and sat at my desk to finish the designs for my eye equipment.
.....
At last, I was done.
I glanced at Lion, sleeping peacefully and a sudden burst of emotion made me cry silently.
I am so thankful it was Lion who found me. I am loved and treated kindly. I feel safe with him and want to do everything to make him happy.
Is it possible to feel loved without hearing those specific words?
Yes, it is.
But I want to say them to him.
Someday.
.....
I heard a commotion outside and swiftly walked toward the portal.
Glancing back at the sleeping Lion, I stepped through.
Outside, Sly and three other creatures were in the middle of a discussion.
Two of them were Puma's oldest offsprings while the third was the magic user Sly had mentioned.
Nyma and Puoma are both female. They seemed younger than me but looked mature for their age.
They appeared to be identical twins, though one was taller. Sly told me Nyma is knowledgeable in treating patients, so I can train her to assist me, while Puoma is skilled at making medicines.
I smiled at them and they both looked at me with adoration.
Meanwhile, the magic user looked like a cross between an elf and a winged snake.
His face was handsome but deadly, with cunning eyes. His long hair was a deep shade of violet, matching his eyes. His ears were pointed and his skin pale.
Most intriguingly, he had the upper body of a human and the lower body of a serpent, covered in deep green scales.
He smiled at me, but I felt a flicker of terror. I tried my best to smile back.
Be brave.
He must have sensed my fear because he let out a loud laugh, explaining that despite his intimidating look, he is a prey, not a predator.
Oh I see...
I felt a bit embarrassed.
He introduced himself as Orm. He moved closer and kissed my hand with a seductive look in his eyes.
Oh my... he is quite a flirt.
I gave him an awkward smile while slowly withdrawing my hand. I saw Sly shoot him a warning look.
Sly explained, while trying to pull Orm away, that he is the offspring of a higher being who holds a solid position among the Chieftain Monarch's advisors.
No wonder he seemed so arrogant.
Just then, Lion suddenly appeared and put an arm around my waist, drawing me close to his side.
He spoke to Orm with extreme politeness while Orm continued to fixate his gaze on me.
I hope this won't cause trouble in the future.