Settling in.

Casmir and Rose spent a few hours talking to his family, his grandparents were very talkative people and felicity, their daughter was very interested in Rose.

Felicity was looking to have children of her own and would take any opportunity to learn from someone who had successfully gotten pregnant.

There was however a couple of people who lived here that were absent to this revelation.

Hiraka's younger brother Ling and Casmir's granduncle, Alonso's brother, Harold, were away at their jobs during this time.

Ling worked as an assistant to the city Guardship, he was young and inexperienced which meant he had poor working hours. He worked long 14 hour shifts and mostly stayed at the guard barracks, this rotated a couple of weeks at a time meaning he had 2 weeks off and 2 weeks on.

He would be finishing his rotation in a few days, so he would find out about Rose, then.

Harold, Casmir's granduncle, worked by lending himself and his cart out to people who needed to move large loads. He regularly worked for smaller businesses moving stock between warehouse's and store fronts but also helped people to move house.

He was busy today and likely wouldn't come home until dark.

Regardless of their absence, Casmir's family seemed to be very excited because of Rose's pregnancy. They smiled and laughed as they spoke, Casmir hadn't seen his grandparents like this in a long time.

Even though they were technically unrelated to Casmir, he didn't see it that way, he had grown up believing these people to be his family and that was what they were. Gloria was perhaps the only exception, she occupied a strange position in mind, she was strict and authoritative like a mother, yet distant and hard to understand like a stranger.

Casmir didn't know how to feel about her at times, but as he spoke warmly with his grandparents and aunt he forgot all about it.

Eventually Rose started to try and excuse herself, explaining that she had arranged to meet someone and should leave soon, Casmir's family was reluctant to let her leave but Rose succeeded soon enough.

After Rose left the excitement in the house died down, Casmir's family members came to bother him a few more times in the coming days but things turned back to normal soon enough.

The days passed by quickly as Casmir spent most of his time practicing the Life Body Cycle and the rest attending to Elena, occasionally studying with her.

=======

Soon enough 4 days had passed, it was Friday the 1th of November the day that Casmir had arranged for Rose to move in.

It was currently late morning, the days were started to grow colder but even so, it was still warm thanks to the climate of the region. Ellaris would rarely ever see snow, even in mid-winter and even then it would need to be under extraordinary circumstances.

Casmir and an old man were riding a cart as they made their way towards the inner city. Their cart was pulled by a large bull like beast, the beast was quite large for a bull and it's body seemed full of muscle without an ounce of fat.

This animal was a type of beast often called a Burden beast, specifically bred to haul heavy objects they were very common in smaller cities and towns but less so in larger cities. This was because cities had the infrastructure to maintain vehicles, which were far more efficient and easier to maintain.

This specific beast was a very low grade Burden beast, other Burden beasts can in a variety of different species each with there own advantages and disadvantages.

Casmir's granduncle, Harold, had bought this beast over a dozen years ago now, he had raised it from a calf, training it properly and it had served him very well.

As the cart moved through the city streets Harold couldn't help but smile slyly as he looked at Casmir.

"Haha.. Remember to properly introduce me to this young lass you've accosted...." Harold teased, he had a strange accent and combined with his gravely voice it made it hard for people to understand him.

Casmir however was very familiar with Harold so he understood him perfectly, yet as Casmir heard him, he couldn't help but awkwardly smile.

"Uncle.. come on... you can't say that kind of thing in front of Rose..." Casmir said worriedly, afraid that Harold would embarrass him.

Harold nudged Casmir playfully saying "Oh don't worry yerself, I'm not gonna scare her off. Besides you've already hooked her in, she can't get away from you anymore..."

As Casmir heard his mildly sexist attitude he couldn't help but feel bad. It was too late to try and correct this old soul's choice of words, all Casmir could do is hope that Harold wouldn't say anything he shouldn't.

Soon enough the pair made their way to the address Rose had given them, it was a small side alley that lead across the back of the nearby Golden Flower house and a few other buildings.

After all, they couldn't waltz in the front entrance and start bringing through Rose's luggage, they needed to use the back entrance.

Fortunately this also stopped Harold from seeing exactly where Rose lived.

Casmir told Harold to stop the cart and wait here while he went in the back entrance and started bringing through the luggage.

He insisted on Harold waiting with the cart to avoid any accidents.

Casmir made his way through the alley to find Rose already waiting for him, standing next to her were a few other ladies.

"Ah, Casmir, perfect timing. A few of the girls have helped bring all of my stuff down, we just need to take it through now." Rose said with a smile.

As Casmir looked at the pile of suitcases and differently sized boxes, he asked "Are you sure that this is everything?"

"Yep." Rose said with a nod.

"Ok well I'll start bringing this stuff to the cart." He said grabbing a couple of heavy suitcases.

The girls standing next to Rose were looking Casmir up and down like a piece of meat.

"Oh, he's young and he looks quite strong.."

"I heard that he got Rose pregnant on his first go..."

"Ooo, he's just my type..."

They spoke flirtatiously as they teased Casmir however they were really intent on teasing Rose.

Casmir's face flushed red as he quickly ran off with the luggage, as he did the girls quickly focused their attention back on Rose.

"You said he was young but I didn't think you meant this young. Are you sure that you're not committing a crime?" One girl teased.

Rose laughed in response saying "Says you? Don't you give yourself freely to that young baker boy?"

They gossiped for a minute until Casmir returned then Rose spoke, "Ok girls come on, lets help him out a bit... and don't tease him! That's my job..." Rose said with a sly smile.

With the help of half a dozen young women, the filled up the cart with Rose's belongings in a few minutes.

Rose went back to say her goodbye's to the girls before while Casmir waited by the cart.

Harold had been seated on the cart the entire time, as he watched the young women bring out the luggage he smiled and greeted them. He even took the occasional glance at their young round buttocks.

However as he delightfully watched the young girls, he suddenly realised something.

He quickly stopped speaking as he face turned wooden and he started lightly sweating.

When he was finally alone with Casmir he quickly got off the carriage and pulled him over.

"You.. you... You said Rose was some kind've scientist of somethin' didn't you?!" His said quietly but firmly as if panicked.

Casmir saw his face and realised that Harold had clocked on to what was happening. He quickly pulled Harold away from the alley and spoke quietly to him.

"You can't tell anyone! She is a scientist and a smart one! However we did meet in a brothel... You can't tell Alonso or Barbara! They'll go nuts..." Casmir quickly said.

Harold was slack-jawed as he looked at Casmir, the only reason he had realised what was going on was because he recognised one of the young women, it was someone he had visited!

He cleared his throat before speaking.

"Ahem.. Ok.. Ok.. I'll cover for you but she knows she needn't be doing that kinda thing anymore right?" Harold asked nervously.

At this point Casmir heard Rose walking through the alley towards them, he quickly said "Yes, Yes she only did that because she wanted to get pregnant. Now act natural, don't say a word about any of this!"

Casmir quickly walked over to the alley to meet Rose as Harold got a hold of himself.

When Rose came back to the cart, her eyes were a little red and she looked a bit dazed, apparently she was quite reluctant to leave this place and her friends.

"Are you ok?" Casmir asked nervously, his nervousness coming from his Harold's realisation.

Rose didn't seem to notice Casmir's nervousness, she was lost in her memories as she simply nodded and walked over to the cart.

Thankfully Harold had gotten a hold of himself as he got back on the cart, Casmir helped Rose up onto the seat before getting on himself.

Their ride back wasn't very eventful, Rose was very quite as she thought about her time at the Golden Flower House.

Meanwhile Casmir and Harold were each nervous because of the other, this prolonged silence seemed to torture them.

When they arrived home, Alonso was the only person home so he guided Rose so her new room as Casmir brought her belongings inside.

Rose was quickly settled in with a nice room nearby to Casmir's, even though the family believed the two were a couple they understood they each wanted separate rooms for now.

Casmir strictly told Harold that he couldn't say a word and it seemed to work, he didn't say anything about it.

All Casmir could do was hope that things would go smoothly.

=======

Over the next few days Rose got used to her new accommodation, she especially enjoys the hot water and the well prepared food.

Casmir checked in on her everyday just to make sure she was alright, everything seemed to be going fine and soon enough It was the evening of the third of November.

Tomorrow Casmir would attend his first day of university.

Casmir was currently training with the Life body cycle in the training hall, as he finished and sat down he noticed that someone was watching him.

"Wow, Casmir I don't remember you ever training this seriously before? What's gotten into you... Oh wait.. you're trying to impress your new girlfriend aren't you?" A young but deep voice spoke to Casmir.

The man watching him was Ling, just like his brother he was from the Lion race. Ling was very familiar with Casmir, he was only a few years older than Casmir, Casmir viewed him as something like an elder brother.

As Casmir saw Ling he smiled.

"Ah you're finally back.. I was just exercising, nothing special...." Casmir said trying to avoid Ling's questions about Rose.

Ling walked over while laughing.

"Hahaha, you can't fool me. Come on, I can see right through you." He said as he sat down next to the exhausted Casmir.

"You're going to have to tell me everything that happened over the last few weeks. Starting with how you met this Rose girl..." Ling said enthusiastically.

Casmir had just finished using the Life Body Cycle and was exhausted, he didn't have the strength to runaway.

All he could do was explain everything that had happened to him, Ling found Casmir's suffering over the past week very amusing.