After an awkward incident this morning, Casmir and Elena were dressed and sitting down in Gloria's workroom.
"...I can't believe you two. Elena you should have at least come to me before you did this and Casmir, you shouldn't have pressured Elena into doing... that... I don't think either of you are ready for it." Gloria strictly lectured the pair as they sat there not moving an inch under Gloria stern gaze.
For the last 20 minutes or so, Gloria had been lecturing them, Gloria was incredibly shocked and angry at the pair. She had specifically warned Elena not to show anyone her hair and she couldn't believe that Casmir had actually slept with Elena, she was sure that he had pressured her into it.
Elena and Casmir both wanted to object but they knew it would be pointless, Gloria simply wouldn't give them a chance to explain themselves.
"Now, Casmir I need to talk to you about... something important. Elena you can go relax for today, I understand that it might be difficult for you to do your duties, so don't worry about them." She said.
Gloria, having finally finished her lecturing, breathed heavily and sat down on a nearby stool.
Both Casmir and Elena waited for a moment to make sure Gloria was finished lecturing them before they both started accepting the blame.
"It was my fault Gloria, don't blame her..." Casmir said.
"I took advantage of him, don't blame him..." Elena cried.
They both spoke at the same time, awkwardly smiling at each other as they saw each other trying to accept the blame.
Elena spoke up first.
"Gloria.. I like Casmir... I showed him because I wanted to and I wont stop being with him... I'm sorry I disappointed you but I trust him." Elena said somewhat confidently yet also maintaining a soft voice so as to placate Gloria.
Casmir couldn't help but smile happily as he heard Elena, Gloria on the other hand frowned but she couldn't think of anything to say back.
"Thanks Elena, I wont let you down, lets talk later." Casmir said to her.
Elena nodded, she then got up awkwardly and started walking to the door, as she walked she seemed to hobble as if she had hurt her leg.
As Casmir saw her walk he couldn't help but feel slightly guilty, at the same time Gloria and Elena's face's flushed a bright red, clearly her hobble originated from the previous night's activities.
As Elena left, Casmir spoke to Gloria.
"I wont hurt her mu.. Gloria, you can trust me, why do you even think that I would?" Casmir asked genuinely.
Gloria simply glared at Casmir giving a "Humph" before walking over to collect some paper, this left Casmir even more confused. He then thought that she might have still been angry after he shouted at her yesterday, so he decided to leave the matter there.
As Gloria walked back over to Casmir, handing him the paper she had just collected, she spoke seriously.
"Yesterday after you left I did some test's on your fertility and... well... take a look." she said.
Casmir read the information on the paper, it was a simple overview of Gloria's tests and it confirmed Casmir's thought's, he was immune to the lifeless plague.
Casmir frowned and sighed, he already knew it to be true he just couldn't believe it until he saw these result's.
As Gloria watched him frown and sigh she was confused by his reaction.
"Are you not shocked? Do you not realise how significant these results' are?" She asked, looking at Casmir suspiciously.
Casmir had already thought of how to explain himself, he was a student of hers and was studying in order to become a biologist in the future, so he had thought of an acceptable reason.
"I have already thought that I might have some immunity or resistance to the lifeless plague. Erm.. it's slightly awkward to explain but... I noticed that my ejaculation was surprisingly thick and white when I was... masturbating... I decided to collect a sample and have a look at it in a microscope. That was when I noticed the high quantity of sperm..." Casmir spoke awkwardly as if embarrassed and unsure of himself, which was partly true.
Casmir's explanation was a strange one, fortunately Gloria's aversion to sexual topic's lead her to believe his story, it did fall into the realm of possibility.
"Oh... ok.. I suppose that makes sense... but this is still extremely important, you can't tell anyone about this and I'll need to examine you and take some sample's of your blood and.. sperm..." Gloria spoke awkwardly as she tiptoed around the subject.
"I know, I'll do whatever you need, I know that this could eventually lead to a cure. Also I want you to teach me more, if I have something so important I should take responsibility myself." Casmir replied firmly, he had thought a lot about what to do recently.
Gloria nodded and agreed with him but she fell into thought for a moment as she occasionally glanced at Casmir, she was clearly thinking about something important.
After a few minutes of waiting Casmir couldn't wait any longer.
"Gloria?" he asked.
At this moment Gloria sighed, unsure of what to do.
"Casmir, if you really want to accept responsibility for this then I think you need to change your future prospect's. You want to go to the Hammond Institute right?"
The Hammond institute was a University, at age 16 people with good enough grades or enough money could attend universities for further education. The Hammond Institute was a predominantly medical or biology focused school with branches for different sciences.
"I think you should change your application to the Heldan Academy. You should apply for a dual course, biology and Qi studies." Gloria said with certainty.
Casmir was confused, the Heldan Academy was the best overall University but the Hammond University was better in the studies of biology. Also, Qi studies was a course focused on understanding Qi energy, it was typically for people who wanted to reach the high level's of Qi grade or use it for combat purposes, the Heldan Academy was one of the best in the region, in regards to Qi studies.
"Why do you want me to do Qi studies?" Casmir asked.
Gloria was already running around looking for certain books and papers as they talked.
"This is somewhat of an open secret these day's but.. people with higher level's of Qi grade are more immune to the Lifeless plague, Grade 6 Qi cultivator's are actually immune to it. The upper classes in this country and around the world have tried to keep this a secret, Qi cultivator's are the back bone's of most countries. If suddenly everyone needed the resource's to be a Qi cultivator in order to avert the lifeless plague, their foundation's could be shaken." Gloria explained.
Casmir listened but didn't understand her point.
Gloria continued "A high grade in Qi cultivation is essential in order to become anyone of a notable position, but because of this sudden need for resources unless you become someone of worth to a large organisation, for example the Heldan Republic, who run the Heldan Academy, you wont be able to train properly."
Casmir understood, the Republic was hoarding resources, it would use them to fund the young talent's in order to draw them in, he wouldn't be able to cultivate properly if he didn't join such an organisation. However Casmir still didn't understand why he needed to cultivate Qi.
"The reason you need to cultivate Qi is because sooner or later your condition will become known, whether by accident or betrayal, if you don't have status or power... well let's not talk about that. You need to achieve some status in order to access the knowledge and equipment you will likely need to understand your immunity, a simple biologist from the Hammond institute won't be worth much."
Casmir suddenly realised, this wasn't a pretty world full of kind people, if his immunity became known he could be captured, experimented on and even dissected.
Casmir nodded, "So you want me to attach myself to the republic in order to get resources?"
Gloria shook her head.
"No, I want you to train as a Qi Scholar and biologist so that you can join the UNC. They are funded by multiple countries and kingdom's, you will have a much better chance at understanding the Lifeless Plague with them..." Gloria explained.
Gloria had finally finished collecting the books and papers, as she placed them on a table in front of Casmir she wiped the sweat of her forehead before continuing.
"Look... this stuff is way ahead into the future, it will take you a few years to even finish university let alone gain a high enough position to join the real people trying to cure the Lifeless Plague... but if you really want to do something, I think this is your best bet." Gloria said reluctantly.
Gloria was well aware of what people would do to Casmir and she simply couldn't stand the idea, even if it cured the Lifeless Plague, she didn't want to feel like a heartless monster. So this was the only thing she could think off.
Casmir understood how serious Gloria was being, he appreciated her help but this would be deciding his whole life, he needed time to think.
"I understand... but what is all this?" Casmir said pointing at the pile of books in front him.
Gloria knew that this was a big decision, Casmir wouldn't decide lightly, which is why she prepared some further reading.
"This is all the information I have on training Qi, I'm a grade 3 myself so I know a fair amount but I think I should let you read some of this and decide what you want to do for yourself." She said.
Casmir was surprised at her thoughtfulness.
"Remember, you need to decide quickly, you're university application needs to be handed in two days later." Gloria reminded him.
"Thanks Gloria..." Casmir said.
Gloria smiled, nodding as she looked at Casmir, Casmir then suddenly remembered something.
"Actually there was one other thing... I went to the Golden flower house the other day..." Casmir said quietly.
At first Gloria simply nodded, to her it simply made sense for Casmir to start going to a brothel, at his age he needed to release his urges.
Then she felt bad for Elena wondering whether she even knew.
After a moment however she realised a potential problem.
"Yes, you should go there if... No wait you have Elena now, don't ever go there again... Wait.. you've already been with someone? You didn't.. do it... inside them did you?!" Gloria became panicked.
Casmir avoided eye contact with Gloria out of guilt, before nodding.
"Shit! How could you be so irresponsible! What if that poor girl get's pregnant!" Gloria berated him, ignoring any responsibility for suggesting he go there in the first place.
Casmir couldn't believe Gloria, he felt that she was partially to blame for this predicament, she was the one who told him to go there. Besides he didn't know about his immunity at that time, contraception was barely mentioned these days because of the Lifeless Plague and only to reduce the risk of disease.
The Golden Flower house, as a high end brothel, would never staff people that could spread such diseases.
Gloria was panicking but she tried to calm herself down.
"Damn!... well maybe... Yes! Chances are she isn't pregnant, after all she isn't immune to the lifeless plague and it likely wasn't her fertile day..." Gloria said clearly worried.
"Casmir you should invite her here in a few days time, if she is pregnant I should be able to test for it by then." Gloria commanded him.
It took around 5-8 days for the first sign's of pregnancy to appear, these sign's would be unnoticeable unless specifically tested for and noticeable sign's wouldn't appear for a few weeks at least.
Casmir agreed to having Rose visit here in order for Gloria to test her and having discussed everything he wanted to, he wanted to quickly leave...
"Well.. thanks Gloria I'll be off now..." Casmir said as he quickly grabbed the books attempting to leave.
"Not so fast!" Gloria shouted sternly.
Casmir gloomily sat in his chair.
Gloria proceeded to vent her feelings at him by lecturing him on safe sex and contraception's in order to stop something like this from happening again...