61: Consequences

ISHI POV (continued):

I slowly let go of her. The strange tone to her voice and the look in her eyes had faded and she looked more like her normal self.

Her body was hot all over so I made my way over to the table to get the bushberry medicine. I was half dressed, but at this point I didn't care.

She still seemed dazed when I walked over with the bottle. I don't think she even noticed that she was completely naked.It was easier to breathe now, with her pheromones being under control again. But the oppressive aura from her mana was still looming.

"Take this." I told her, as I squatted by her side.

She looked at me and blushed scarlet before looking away.I placed the bottle in her hand and stepped away to make myself decent.She took the medicine without a word. She wouldn't even look at me.

Once I was dressed, reality hit. Mika has a mate.

"Are you okay?" I asked cautiously, from a distance.

"Yes." She whispered.

"No pain?" I asked, surprised.

"No." She answered, still not looking my way.

That was weird. She should have suffered the backlash for sleeping with someone who wasn't her mate.

I was also realizing that I definitely took advantage of her. She wasn't in her right mind. I felt disgusted with myself. I bolted out the door.

The doctor was in the hallway by one of the other rooms. He was leaning against the wall, but stood up when I approached.

"Well?" He asked.

"It's done." I replied, before stalking off.

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MIKA POV:

Everything was a blur. My mind was having trouble processing what happened.

'Sorry~' the voice in my head purred.

I felt an intense headache as I remembered the dream I had of the sun goddess.

It was vague and I didn't have time to focus on it, But I remember talking to the goddess and my beast.

"It's you." I whispered.

'I am tired again.' She responded

"Wait, what was all that?" I asked.

I had lost all control of my body at some point during sex with Marshall. It was like watching myself from afar.. I had no control. I have no idea how I ended up in the present situation.

'Accept her.' The voice whispered as she faded away again.

Accept who? I tried to remember what happened and why Ishi was half undressed in my room giving me medicine. Everything was kind of foggy and I am not sure what actually happened and what was a dream. Last thing I remembered was having sex with Marshall.

Oh no.. Was Ishi with Kori? Did she have to stop what they were doing for her to come give me medicine? That would explain the look on her face and why she kept her distance.

There was a knock on the door. I heard the doctor call out.

"Just a moment." I called back as I rushed to get dressed.

I wonder where Marshall went.. He was just in the room with me, wasn't he?

I opened the door and let the doctor in.

"I'm glad to see you have come back to your senses." He said to me as he came inside and gestured for me to sit at the table.

"I am confused… what happened?" I asked him.

"It appears that you went into heat." He said while checking my temperature.

I've had menstrual cycles, but this is new to me. I think animals have heat cycles on earth, but I didn't learn much about them. However, this world is different than earth in so many ways. I wanted to ask about it, but I didn't want to seem like an idiot. I could ask Isola if she was here. I might be able to ask Ishi but she might actually call me an idiot.

"Have you never been through it before?" He asked as he scrutinized my expression.

Ugh, my poker face sucks.

"Um.. No, I haven't." I replied.

He nodded in understanding, "Usually females don't get it until after their first transformation. However, you got your beast attributes before transforming as well… anything is possible anymore."

"Well aren't I lucky." I said sarcastically.

"It means that your body was unsuccessful when attempting to reproduce." He said with a serious look that told me no one dares to joke about this stuff.

I suppose it makes sense.. They are all about continuation of the species.

"Sorry," I murmured, embarrassed, "I didn't know."

"No one told you about it?" He asked me

He already knows about my 'memory loss' so thankfully I don't have to explain too much.

"They might have? But as far as I can remember, no one has ever explained it to me." I paused before adding, "Do you mind?"

"I am a doctor. It's my responsibility to educate my patients." He said proudly.

He took a seat opposite me and explained everything, "When females reach maturation, they have their first transformation. It's usually around this time that they find mates and attempt to reproduce. Usually there are warning signs before your heat reaches it's peak, like it did today. I surmise that the bushberry medicine might have been suppressing some of these symptoms. Usually it will start with a slight fever and body aches. Most females get medicine to control the pheromones; which is what I had Ishi give you. Your pheromones will be higher than normal for the next two weeks so you will need to keep taking this medicine as well."

"Okay I can do that."

It was embarrassing, but I had another question for the doctor… I need to know If I can get pregnant during this time. I'm fairly certain I remember Marshall and I…

I cleared my throat and steeled myself to ask the question. I could feel myself blushing wildly as I asked him, "Doctor.. Um.. Can females still get pregnant during their cycle?"

"No need to be embarrassed. The answer is no. By the time your heat reaches it's peak the fertile period has passed. In the next 2 weeks your body will shed from the inside before preparing itself for conception again."

Relief washed over me. "Thank goodness. How often does this happen, by the way?" I asked him.

"Once every 6 months while you are young. After you age it will become less frequent, occurring about once a year."

I nodded thoughtfully.

Good to know. At least it's not every month like it is on earth. My periods were always painful.

Another thought occurred to me… I wonder if the medicine to control the pheromones could be used as birth control? Once we find Isola, I will ask her. She is more open about those things; this doctor seems to value procreation as much as everyone else.

"Thank you for helping me understand." I said to the doctor.

"It's my job." He stood up and stretched lazily before adding, "I will make sure that both medicines are delivered daily. While you are in heat, please remain in confinement. I will also have anything else you need delivered by a female attendant."

His face had a tint of a blush to it as he made his exit. I did a quick wardrobe check. Everything is covered and in order. I decided to shrug it off and go clean up the room. It looks like a tornado went though here. Just what did Marshall and I get up to?!

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KARLOS POV:

These folks baffle me. This fox-like girl in particular is interesting.

She has two tails, an affinity for Mana which hasn't been seen in hundreds of years, and her physiology is unlike anything from my studies. I tried to convince the leopard woman to let our Majin have a look at her, unsuccessfully. She is fiercely protective of her 'friend.'

My cousin, Kori, and I hypothesize that this girl, Mika, is a Beati. If her Mana capacity is high enough to create flames like that, there is no doubt that her vitality must also be significant.

I can't wait to document this! Oh, how I wish I could talk to Don Suben about this!

I pushed open the door to my office, nearly yelping in surprise.

Standing by my desk, looking though my notes, was the devil himself. Don Suben.

He's a huge, imposing man. He stands almost twice as tall as me, with broad shoulders and a bulky physique. He has thick shaggy brownish hair and green eyes. He has told me once that he is a lion Demi-human, which explains his imposing aura.

I bowed deeply, "Don Suben. What brings you here?"

I broke out in a cold sweat as I realized that I left all the documents about Mika on my desk. I have been locking them up but with today's emergency I completely forgot.

"What interesting things you have been working on, Karlos." Suben's deep voice shook my very soul, making me cower in fear.