The First Cultivator

The morning came too soon for Azura. Her body was still a sore mess from the purge the day before. However, her mother and friends were counting on her. What better motivation could you ask for? Perhaps bacon… Despite the lack of porky goodness, Azura verified that the local mana was still gone. Any little bit that came back was instantly absorbed into her. She needed a place with more mana. Fortunately, she knew just the spot. It was also a perfect time to explore any other new changes. Azura yawned as she left her room to find a truly awe-inspiring sight. Her mother had cooked an enormous breakfast that even a noble family would envy. Bacon! Sausage! Sausage wrapped in bacon! Ah, her mother truly understood the forces that moved the world.

"Mom! You're the best mom in the whole world!" Azura dove into the food in what could only graciously be called a 'feeding frenzy.' When Azura was done, she leaned back, satisfied.

"That was so good," Azura said, belching.

"I'm surprised you even tasted it. I thought chewing was required for that."

"As long as it rubs on the tongue, that's close enough," Azura said sagely.

"What are your plans today?"

"Mostly figuring out what I can do now."

"What about Toren?" Coralline asked.

"… I'm going to see him first. Then head out of the city. I'll want privacy for what I'm doing."

"Be nice," Coralline said. "He's hurting."

"I know," Azura said. "And what do you mean be nice!? I'm always nice. I'm even sweeter than honey."

"Uh huh."

"What!? I am!"

"Uh huh." Coralline got up and started clearing the plates.

"You sound like you don't believe me!"

"Uh huh," Coralline grunted this time with a smile.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Azura smiled as well. "I'll be back for lunch."

"Uh huh," Coralline said, but with a sad inflection.

"So, it's going to be one of those days?" Azura asked, her eyebrows raised.

"Uh huh," Coralline replied, but in a cheerful tone.

"Bye Mom."

"Bye hon."

Outside, Azura stretched and was amazed at her flexibility. She could move like a professional contortionist. Time to get the day started.

***

Toren was sitting with three of his younger sisters. Unlike him, they were full rabbit kin. His mother had been pregnant three times in her life. Being a rabbit-kin multiple births was considered normal. In her first pregnancy, she had four kids! Four! He had no idea how she handled that many. They were all grown now and had lives of their own. Two still lived at home, but the others left to make their own way. And now one of them was dead… Martel.

Her second pregnancy was the odd one. Just him. She didn't talk about it much, but he knew. A mage had raped her. He always felt guilty about that. It was ridiculous. He wasn't to blame. No one ever said anything to him. Yet the rest of this family was a constant reminder. One thing they all had in common was that none of the kin who fathered any of her children stuck around. It appeared that the idea of having multiple brats to take care of terrified them.

The third pregnancy was more typical. The father was a squirrel-kin who vanished after discovering she was pregnant. Toren sighed. His mother had terrible taste in kin men. This time, she gave birth to three children. Two rabbit-kin and one squirrel-kin, all of them girls.

His mother always made time for them. Although if she hadn't had help from the kin community, Toren was unsure how she would have managed. Coralline was like a second mother to him. He and his siblings had often stayed at her place when he was younger. Now, the older ones helped take care of the younger ones. Kin were all about family, which was why Martel joined the army. Which was why he died… The knock on the door startled him from his dark mood.

"Toren, you there?"

It was Azura. He figured she would be by soon. It wasn't that she was unwelcome. The opposite, really. But he wasn't sure he would be good company today. Martel's loss was just too fresh.

"Come on, Toren." This was followed by more knocking. "I just want to talk."

Toren sighed as he got up. He opened the door just as Azura was about to knock. It felt like she hit him, although nothing of the sort happened. Azura had always been pretty. He'd been noticing that more and more lately. But now, she was far beyond that, to a level that rivaled eleven royalty. He tried to speak but couldn't find any words.

Azura tilted her head, her fist still raised to knock. She rolled her emerald eyes, which seemed to shine, then knocked on his forehead.

"Anyone home?" Then she pulled him into a hug. "I'm so sorry about Martel."

Toren was frozen for a second longer, then returned the hug. She felt nice in his arms.

"Thanks for coming. Do you want to come in?"

"Sure."

Toren reluctantly let her go and stepped aside to let her inside. His sisters swarmed over her, gawking at her change and touching her hair. She retaliated by tickling them.

I guess she hasn't changed after all…