Chapter 10

I woke up being jostled gently. A young female voice was speaking softly in my ear. “Paul! Wake up!”

I was pleasantly surprised to see Silvy shaking my shoulders. I needed a few moments to orientate myself but soon enough I knew I was in the medical center. I turned sideways and I was relieved to see Cirin, still soundly asleep. It was sweet to see Silvy putting her index finger on her lips, indicating I had to be silent. Her green eyes looked serious as she whispered, “I want to speak with you. Will you meet me outside the center? I don’t want to wake up Cirincendil.”

I nodded as I replied, “Give me a few minutes to get dressed.”

Her smile looked a little forced as she mouthed. “I’ll wait for you.”

I watched her walk towards the door, expecting she would look back once more but the redhead silently slipped through the opening of the partly open door. With a soft click she had closed it, leaving me with an unpleasant premonition.

I considered whether I could have a quick wash, but I reasoned I always could have a shower together with Cirin when she had woken up. As I was getting dressed, I kept my eyes on Cirin whose face had a relaxed and happy expression, realizing I was falling for her badly. I looked once more at her before I closed the door as silent as possible.

The suns were just above the horizon, which told me it was still early in the morning. I saw Silvy sitting on a bench opposite Nini’s shoe shop, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.

“Hey Silvy,” I said soothingly as I joined her, “what’s up?”

Her face had turned into a sad expression. “You’d promised me to spend time with me after you had come back from the monastery.”

It was strange how I felt very guilty all of a sudden. “Ow, I did, didn’t I?”

“Yes,” she responded as her face contorted into a feral anger, “Mom said that Cirin had been attacked by a Tarakona and that she was changed into one of their females.”

“She was, yes.”

“Then why is she here? She is a Neutaria, just like me!”

“Because she fell off a rock formation at the moment she changed back to a Neutaria.”

She huffed as she crossed her arms. “It’s all a little too convenient for you, isn’t it?”

“Look Silvy,” I said soothingly, “Your sister has been through a lot and I’m sorry I forgot our agreement. Perhaps we can do something later today.”

“You’re such a smooth talker,” she growled, “I can see now how you’ve managed to fool both my mom and sister.”

“Silvy,” I said softly, desperately trying to get through to her, “Talk to Cirin. She can explain what happened if you don’t believe me.”

“No! It’s because of you she is injured,” she hissed, “You are not welcome anymore. I want you to leave Bishojo as soon as possible.”

“Silvy,” I growled, “this is absurd!”

“You better pack your bags,” she said coolly as she stood, “the Talian guards loathe men like you.”

Totally shocked, I watched her strut away, her posture as rigid as possible. Slowly I shook my head, knowing something was off but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was. Until I suddenly realized what Silvy had done: she had banned me from Bishojo! My heart was hammering in my chest, imagining Cirin and I were separated for good because I never was allowed to come back. My breathing started to get labored as I started to run away from the potential threat to be escorted to the spaceport.

My pure survival instinct kicked in, looking for a place I knew I could hide in. My body ignored the painful bruises as I moved as fast as possible up the mountain, hoping I could escape the inevitable, being escorted off the planet.

The muscles in my legs started to burn as I climbed the steep rocks, trying to keep my body as close to the wall as possible. The sharp edges of the rocks dug into my fingers as I climbed higher and higher, hoping I could reach the travel cabin in time. I knew I had a chance as it was the fourth time, I had followed the track.

Mittanyariel stepped onto the veranda, enjoying the fresh early morning breeze. Carefully, she sat down on the swing, trying not to spill the hot herbal tea she was holding. She moved the cup with both hands to her lips, and closed her eyes as she inhaled the vapor of the spicy hot beverage. It was her early morning routine, savoring the serene silence. She sighed deeply when she heard hasty footsteps coming towards her, realizing her private moment of tranquility had come to an end.

She looked up and was surprised to see her youngest daughter rushing towards her. Normally the sweet Silvynorien greeted her with a happy smile but this time she couldn’t read the strange, almost scary expression the girl bore.

“Silvynorien, my darling,” she said as she quickly put down her cup, “What’s the matter?”

Mittanyariel’s heart was beating in her mouth as Silvynorien pulled her into a hug. The girl buried her face into her mother’s hair and tried to get even closer by wrapping her slender arms tight around her.

She was shocked and while she caressed her distraught daughter’s back, she whispered, “Silvynorien, please tell me what is wrong.”

“I feel so strange, mom,” she replied with a croaky voice, “my stomach, my chest, it hurts.”

Mittanyariel knew her daughter was close to her first transition. She had seen the small signs and noticed the erratic mood swings her child had experienced but her strange behavior was alarming. “Did you eat something you normally wouldn’t eat?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

Mittanyariel stopped caressing her back as her girl’s voice sounded strange, as if she already knew it wasn’t the reason she felt ill. It was clear something else was the cause and her daughter didn’t dare to tell her. “Silvynorien,” she said with a pressing tone.

“Where is Paul?” A female voice sounded over the secluded area. Mittanyariel instantly recognized the voice as her other daughter, Cirincendil.

Her breath hitched when she saw the distressed expression on her eldest daughter. It was even more upsetting seeing her hobbling towards the veranda, her arm supported in a sling. It took her a moment to get herself together again. “I haven’t seen him since yesterday,” she replied in a soothing tone, “I told him to report to the medical center.”

“He left me without leaving any note,” Cirincendil said with a tremor in her voice. “He is gone, mom!”

“I’m sure that’s not the case, sweetheart. I cleaned his room, and his backpack is still there.”

“He ran away,” Silvynorien said meekly.

“He ran away?” repeated Mittanyariel in disbelief. “By Bisha! Why?”

“I don’t believe it,” responded Cirincendil indignantly as she stepped onto the veranda, “He never would do such a stupid thing. And by the way: how do you know, Silvynorien?”

“Oh, by Bisha! No!” murmured Mittanyariel, suddenly understanding what her youngest daughter had done.

“What is it mom?” asked Cirincendil, now visibly shaken by her mother’s reaction. She turned to her younger sister, “What have you done?”

“It was his own fault!” Silvynorien spat, “he vowed he would spend time with me!”

“Oh No! You’ve banned him!” Cirincendil exclaimed. “How could you do that?”

“It’s too late anyway,” the redhead said defiantly, “I’ve asked your Talian pet to search for him.”

“Matriarch,” a timid voice spoke up, “I think there’s more that Silvynorien hasn’t told you, which might change the situation.”

All three women turned their heads into the direction of the Neutaria who stood nervously at the front of the veranda.

Cirincendil cleared her throat and asked hoarsely, “What are you referring to Tawareniel?”

The woman nervously fidgeted with a strand of purple hair as she replied, “I saw Silvynorien holding Paul’s hands as he pledged to be with her. I’m not sure but I believe something happened between the two of them.”

Mittanyariel’s heart skipped a beat when she heard Tawareniel’s story. It sounded like that her rebellious daughter managed to claim the man! Those ancient practices were believed to be lost and yet her youngest child might have done it, without knowing the devastating consequences. “But that’s impossible!”

“Silvynorien,” said Cirincendil soothingly as she gently laid her hand on her sister’s arm, “What did you feel when you were holding Paul’s hands?”

Her sister looked down, nervously shuffling her foot. “I, I felt something flowing into me. I instantly tried to stop it by letting go of his hands.”

Cirincendil’s face turned white when she asked her sibling, “What did you say to Pac? I really want you to repeat the words exactly as you said to him.”

“Why do you want to know that?” she growled, “It’s too late anyway. You just have to accept it, sis: Paul is gone.”

“Somehow you managed to claim Paul, my little sis,” Cirincendil said icily, “meaning you need him to complete your first change. Otherwise, you’ll die a horrible death without him.”

“No! You’re lying!” she screamed while stamping her foot on the floor, “You just want him for yourself!”

Mittanyariel knew she was the only one who could get her youngest girl out of the vicious circle and with a booming voice she shouted, “SILVYNORIEN!”

All three women gasped, looking completely shocked at her. “Now listen carefully,” she continued with a calm voice, “what did you say to Pac? It is extremely important to recite it exactly.”