The Next Morning – Ronan's Second Day in the New World
Last night, he had experienced pleasure for the first time—so intense that it left him sleepless for the rest of the night.
In the morning, Elvana and Noctis were already back to work—preparing breakfast and taking food to feed the cow.
"Ray, you should go and help Elvana. I'll be cutting the logs, and when you get back, you can help me with that," Zyrris said as he picked up an axe.
Ronan glanced at the stack of logs. They had brought in fifty trunks, and cutting them into pieces would take a long time. He nodded. "Got it."
After sipping the vegetable soup Noctis had made, he and Elvana headed out, carrying the food for the cow.
Elvana walked with her usual light step, her expression as calm and carefree as always. Nothing about her demeanor hinted at the events of last night—nothing at all.
Ronan, on the other hand, couldn't stop himself from stealing glances at her. After what they had done, she acted as if nothing had changed. Could she really be so unaffected?
After a while, curiosity got the better of him. "Why did you do that last night?" he asked.
Elvana turned her head slightly, her lips curving into a small smile. "Hm?" She seemed to think for a moment before shrugging. "Well... I just wanted to know what it feels like."
Ronan blinked. That was it?
Elvana continued, her voice light and casual. "I have a friend who got her companion and told me about it. Next year, it'll be my turn, so I was just curious and wanted to try it." She chuckled. "I just couldn't wait for my companion so I could experience it… If I wasn't afraid of getting pregnant, I'd even want to do it more."
Ronan almost tripped over his own feet. He barely managed to recover, his mind reeling from how casually she said that. So… that was her reason? Just pure curiosity?
But something else caught his attention. That word again—companion.
"Companion?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "What does that mean?"
Elvana didn't seem to notice his confusion. She simply explained, "A companion is when a man and woman have children together and raise them until the child can take care of itself and find its own companion."
"Oh… like a husband and wife," Ronan muttered to himself.
Elvana tilted her head. "Husband and wife?"
"Never mind," he said quickly, deciding not to get sidetracked. Instead, he focused on something else she had said. "So… you can only have sex with your companion?"
Elvana let out a soft laugh. "No, sex is free—you can do it with anyone you want, as long as you don't get pregnant. You can only have a child with your companion. It doesn't matter if the child's father is companions or someone else."
Ronan stared at her, stunned. He had expected some strict cultural rules, maybe even taboos, but this? This was completely different from his old world.
"Okay, I understand," he said, though he was still processing it.
But then, a thought crossed his mind—one he knew he probably shouldn't say. He should just stay quiet and focus on work.
And yet, after last night… he couldn't stop himself.
"Do you know how a child is born?" he asked, his voice careful.
Elvana looked at him oddly. "Um? Didn't I just say? Sex."
"Yeah, I know, but do you know why?"
Elvana frowned slightly. "Why? What do you mean?"
"Well…" Ronan hesitated before deciding to just say it. "You know the white stuff that comes out, right? You get pregnant because that white stuff gets inside you and fertilizes the egg in your womb. So, if you want to have sex but don't want to get pregnant, just make sure that white stuff doesn't go inside you."
Elvana froze in place. Her eyes widened as she turned sharply to face him. "What do you mean? Are you sure?"
Ronan rubbed the back of his head. "I mean… I might have forgotten some things, but I still have a lot of knowledge. This is just one of those things I remember. I also know more about where the egg is."
Elvana didn't say anything, still staring at him in shock.
Ronan glanced at her exposed stomach, then gently pressed a spot just above her belly button. "This is where the egg is. When the white stuff—it's called sperm—gets here, it fertilizes the egg. Then, that egg grows bigger until it's ready to be born."
Elvana looked down at where his hand had touched, her mouth slightly open.
For a long moment, she didn't speak. Then, she whispered, "Are you serious?"
Ronan nodded.
Elvana's mind raced. She thought back to something her mother had once told her—that there was a city far away with something called a school, where children went to learn how to read, write, and gain knowledge.
Since Ronan looked like someone from the city, maybe… maybe what he said was true.
She swallowed, suddenly feeling as though a whole new world of knowledge had been placed in front of her. "This is… this is incredible," she murmured.
Ronan gave a small smile, amused by her reaction. "It's just basic biology."
Elvana barely heard him, still deep in thought as they finally reached the barn.
Several villagers noticed Ronan, and some approached to talk to him. He responded politely, smiling and nodding as they greeted him. Though he still felt like an outsider, their warmth made it easier to relax.
Elvana, however, barely paid attention. Her mind was still occupied with thoughts of sex and everything Ronan had just told her.
After feeding the cows, they headed back. Elvana walked in silence, occasionally sneaking glances at Ronan, as if trying to figure out what else he might know.
Back home, they worked on cutting the logs. At noon, they had lunch, took a one-hour nap, and then got back to work until evening.
Later, Zyrris approached Ronan. "Hey, want to come with me? I'm meeting some friends. They might know some city names that could help jog your memory."
Ronan hesitated, then nodded. "Sure."
Along the way, he met more villagers, including a few women. They all spoke to him kindly, making him feel… welcomed.
For the first time, he felt that he wasn't a stranger here. However he also missed his family, and... The dream he had, the dream to bring his family out of poverty. He wanted to go back, no matter what... But if he couldn't then... He could adjust here.
As he walked, his thoughts drifted back to Elvana. An idea crossed his mind—one that sent a warmth through his chest.
Maybe… maybe he could start a family here.
If possible.
He smiled to himself. For the first time since arriving, he felt more at ease than he had yesterday.
And today's sky looked even more beautiful than before.