The following morning, I awoke with a delightful yawn and a leisurely stretch, my mind still dancing with the joy of the whimsical dream I had just experienced. Feeling invigorated, I was all set to embrace the day ahead. But as I opened my eyes, I realized I was still ensconced in that very dream. Surely, this was a dream, wasn't it? There couldn't be any other explanation, could there? Yet, why was I still lingering in this surreal realm if I had been asleep? I felt wide awake now. So, what was keeping me here?!
My head was spinning with a whirlwind of possibilities, one of which was the wild notion that this dream was dragging on because I was in a coma. Absurd, right? How could that even happen? I leaped out of bed, pacing like a caged lioness, my thoughts racing faster than I could keep up. A panic attack loomed on the horizon, but I took a deep, calming breath, and slowly my mind began to settle on a conclusion.
"Everything's fine. Everything's peachy!" I rushed over to my brown leather backpack, sifted through my hoard of travel-sized items to find my anxiety meds, and swallowed one with some of my strawberry-flavored water.
"I just got sucked into a different dimension filled with shapeshifters, and one of them is planning to marry me today, even though we just met! I'm not interested in marriage or a serious relationship. Casual dating is enjoyable, and I appreciate the fun of flirting and making out. However, when it comes to a committed relationship, I'll pass. They tend to be overly complicated and rarely have a happy ending. But I can't just bolt from this village because there are gigantic, man-eating spiders lurking in the woods! Aah! The giant spider is totally real!!!! Maybe I could find a hiding spot until after the ceremony, but aren't the guys here super pushy? Women have to be escorted everywhere. Plus, what if he can smell me? Do tiger men have a keen sense of smell? Wait, they call themselves Beastkin."
"What if I simply tell him I'm not quite ready for a mate yet? Would he back off then? Wait a minute, he claims he's already my mate because of that little bite I gave him! Seriously, who gets hitched just from a nibble? If that were the case, modern women would be tied down to a whole harem! But I suppose that's the norm around here. Haha! It seems like it's totally acceptable for women to have a whole lineup! How on earth am I supposed to manage a dozen men? Don't they get all possessive and start puffing up their chests or something? I mean, I was just having a little fun with a tail and they were acting like I decided to make out with him! I need to figure out how things are done now that I'm stuck here. I already got myself a husband by accident! And then that drama queen tried to ruin my face!!!"
"Who attempted to damage your appearance?"
I spun around to find Kai in the doorway, balancing three hefty brown bags brimming with goodies. He dropped them on the floor and strode over to me, his hands gently cupping my face as he tilted it this way and that, his gaze piercing through me. My heart raced, realizing I was alone in a room with the most stunning man I'd ever laid eyes on!
"Some girl—well, female with golden wings and hair—swooped down and declared that you were her property. Then she transformed her nails into claws and tried to scratch my face off, claiming you wouldn't want me anymore if I was ugly. I suppose that's her way of admitting that she thinks I'm pretty," I said, a mischievous grin forming as I remembered pouring that juice over her head.
Kia's fist clenched, his teeth grinding in frustration. "I've told her father time and again not to indulge her too much, but he never heeds my advice. If she keeps this up, I'll find myself meeting him at the guard station one of these days to collect his wayward daughter. There's a limit to how many times a girl can be picked up and released to her guardians before she's sent off to another village. She believes she's untouchable, but that's a delusion her father is well aware of. A guardian celestial deity won't linger on corrupted ground indefinitely."
My main takeaway from that little tirade is that Kai is looking out for me, and he has some sort of connection with that wild girl and her family. "Wait, you actually know her?"
"Our acquaintance dates back to my appointment as the general of the Eastern Alliance's forces when I decided to set up camp here. It's been roughly twelve seasons since I moved back here after being stationed in another village. That playful little cub approached me, declaring her desire for me to be her mate. It was endearing initially, but it soon turned into an obsession. I thought that you wouldn't have any issues with Zelig around, but it seems I misjudged her knack for stirring up chaos."
"Twelve seasons?"
"Yes, twelve seasons ago."
"How many seasons are there in a year?"
He frowned, "A year?"
I ran my tongue over my lips, pondering, "So, how many seasons do we have before they hit the reset button? Before they start over again?"
"You must have been raised in an extremely restrictive setting."
"Please just answer the question."
"Four."
"...and you measure age by seasons."
"Indeed, did your group assess time in a different manner? Your tribe appears to be quite unique."
"Absolutely, it's quite a contrast from this place! I hope you don't mind my curiosity—some of my questions might come off as a bit odd. By the way, at what age do beastkin reach adulthood and are considered fully grown?"
"Typically, they reach maturity around the age of sixteen, though some beastkin may take an additional four seasons to fully develop and experience their first estrus. Once they undergo this initial estrus, they are deemed adults and can participate in their awakening ceremony, where the lead male of their family assigns them their first mate."
"For males, this process coincides with the awakening of their aura, usually around the same age, leading to the release of pheromones that attract potential partners. After receiving a mate mark, they gain control over their pheromones, releasing them only when they choose. I experienced a similar situation; prior to receiving your mark, I had no control over my pheromones. Now, with your mark, I can manage them effectively, which has proven to be incredibly beneficial."
Age is measured in seasons around here. If that's the case, I guess I'm sixty-eight! But hold on a second—I'm still a vibrant young woman, so let's not rush the aging process!
"How old are you then?" I said.
Kia winced and let out a heavy sigh. "I'm one hundred seasons old. It was past time I found a partner, but I've been so dedicated to my career that time slipped through my fingers. Plus, I indulge in gems regularly, so my health is in top shape—no need for concern on that front."
I blinked a few times, processing the thought. Sure, twenty-five is older than my age, but that hardly qualifies him as ancient. Seriously, what's the story with health issues if he's not indulging in gems? I can't help but wonder, "What's the average lifespan of a Beastkin without that gem-infused diet?"
"Nearly everyone consumes gems, but those who abstain might reach around two hundred seasons in age. Legendary beastkin such as dragons, mermaids, and unicorns possess lifespans that extend far beyond the ordinary, thriving without the need to consume gems. This is a key factor in why they rarely interbreed with other species."
"How long can you live while eating gems?"
"Consuming a sufficient quantity of gems on a regular basis could grant you the potential for immortality. However, beastkin may struggle to maintain this practice indefinitely unless they reach an advanced level of cultivation, allowing them to transcend the necessity of consuming vast amounts of gems. As your aura strengthens, the requirement for gem consumption diminishes, enabling you to preserve your youth with fewer resources."
Ah, so if he skipped the gems, he'd be halfway through his life already! That's quite a frightening pace of aging! But the idea of never aging or dying? Now that's something to marvel at! Suddenly, I'm feeling pretty thrilled about being swept into this world!
Coming Next Time: Awakening Prep