A sudden cold breeze touched my back, causing me to grumble and blindly reach out for the blanket. My eyes were still closed as I patted around for it. Suddenly, I felt a hard surface beneath me. It radiated heat and was smooth to the touch.
"If you keep on going, it's gonna get dangerous." A thick morning voice spoke right behind my ear.
I jolt my eyes open to see Thalen, his bare chest blocking my view. Realising what I was touching, I instantly drew back my hand and shuffled backwards.
The curtains behind him were drawn back. The light from the window haloed behind his large frame. He leaned on one forearm, staring at me.
"Are you awake now?" He asked, the question filled with smug amusement.
I nodded stiffly, and I pushed myself up, "Y-yea. Good morning."
"Well then, I suggest you hurry up. We have a busy day today." Thalen stated. Thankfully, he had only removed the top half of his clothes, ensuring his lower half was still covered.
I let out a thankful sigh of relief as I stretched out, "Does Luman need more help? Because I have more items to give him."
The ache from a strange new bed and the smell of the fresh air, absent of modern impurities, felt abnormal. If not for the stabbing pain from my wound, I would have thought it all to be a dream.
Thalen looked like he was about to say something, but stopped. Instead, he stood up and walked over to get a bowl of water and a cloth and placed them in front of me.
"No, we need to go to the shopping district to get you some properly fitted clothes. The ones you are wearing are too old and loose." He dipped the cloth into the water and started wiping my face, "We can go there after."
The cloth, soaked in cold water, stung my face as it came into contact with my skin. I instantly felt my brain wake up. My half-asleep state evaporated. After a quick bite and taking my medication, I was ready to go out. Thalen proceeded to pick me up, once again without warning.
"Whoa, are you gonna keep carrying me all the time?" I asked, frustrated because I was being picked up at any given time.
"Well, you won't be able to walk that far with that leg. Just be a good girl and sit without complaining." Thalen waited until I shuffled around while sitting on his sturdy arm until I found the perfect balance.
I blushed as I did this, grumbling through an uncomfortable situation. I couldn't help but feel like a child, but given the city's terrain and the lack of public transportation, I had to comply.
I do need proper clothes. The system shop's clothes are too expensive, and even if I could afford them, they would look out of place here. Though... I am concerned about the fact that they have underwear... it feels too breezy right now. I'm fairly certain they disposed of my old clothes... I forgot to take it.
I sigh at the thought of this. The reality of living in an ancient civilisation meant that many things I loved were out of reach. If I didn't have the system's shop showing, allowing me to purchase many items from my world, I would have no hope of living in this era.
The street Thalen was taking me today was very different from the one we had taken before. The roads were rowdy and full of life. Kids and adults alike were walking about. It was like a full-blown high street.
People gathered in front of food stalls to eat. Carrying sacks of items from one shop to another. The merchants are shouting out prices of the amazing deals they are offering.
"We have a fantastic offer today: 1 bag of salt for only 1 small Astrae stone. Hurry up, limited stocks!" A shopkeeper bellowed, holding up a sachet with salt.
I looked at the bag, and I could feel my mouth start to salivate physically.
If I can get salt, I can make my food taste better. The only thing missing from my meat yesterday was the salt. But why would they need salt here? They eat it raw.
"What is an Astrae stone? How do I get one?" I asked Thalen urgently, not taking my eyes off the stall that sold the salt.
"Why? Is there something you want?" Thalen followed my finger and swiftly carried me to the salt stall.
"Master Thalen! It's an honour to have you at my shop!" The shopkeeper jolted at the sight of Thalen. His eyes were filled with awe, respect and a bit of fear. He slightly bowed his head, then looked up to see me on his arm. "Oh my, this child is heavily malnourished! Is this the rumoured stray? He's just skin and bones."
The shopkeeper looked at me with pity. In the oversized clothes, my figure was completely hidden, and with a face that was not as full and rugged as the female lionesses', I must have looked like a male child to him. Still, I could not help but feel the anger boil up inside me. I could feel the vibrations rumbling through Thalen's body as he quietly laughed at this.
Still worried, the shopkeeper kept pressing on, "Would it not be better for the healer to take him in. It's not safe outside for such a sick child. Thankfully, even with malnutrition, his face is very pretty, so he should be able to find a wife to feed him right away!"
Pulling the final straw of my patience, I snapped, "Hey, Mister! I am not a child or a boy. I am a fully fledged woman who eats like a king most days! Where I come from, I have the perfect body, okay! Not everyone wants to be a bodybuilder, alright?" I clenched my fists and wildly waved them around in front of his face.
"I apologise, merchant, but this is actually my bonded mate. She is not of the Lion tribe." Thalen kept grinning at the obnoxious expressions I kept showing, "Regardless of her build, she is quite strong and fisty. I may even struggle to match her energy in the future if she gets stronger."
"A bonded mate? Master Thalen! I congratulate you!" The merchant was celebrating in glory, which started to draw attention from the crowd. The whispers erupted as multiple people gathered to see the female who was bonded with him. There were looks of worry and confusion on their faces as they saw me. "May I know your name, miss?"
"Ivy." I gave a short reply, becoming annoyed with the crowd that had suddenly surrounded me.
"Well, Miss Ivy, I congratulate you on your bond with Master Thalen. We have all awaited this moment for a long time. I hope you two will soon welcome some beautiful litter of cubs. Here, please have this." The merchant placed a small bag of salt into my hands.
I looked at the bag and then at Thalen.
Who is Thalen? Why does everyone know him and call him Master? This is very confusing. Did I get myself involved with a problematic person?
"The Astrae stone?" I asked.
"No, please, this one is a gift from me, Miss Ivy." The merchant shook his head.
"Thalen, buy another bag. I will need a lot anyway." I casually ordered him, not fully comfortable with taking free handouts.
He smiled, pulling out a small red stone from his pocket and handing it to the merchant. The merchant was in shock as he exchanged the Astrae stone for another bag of salt. This was the first time people here had seen someone treat Thlen in this manner, and the person responsible was none other than a weak girl.
"Thank you, salt merchant." Thalen grabbed the bag and started to walk away. The crow instantly cleared a path for him to walk through.
I watched the eyes glaze over me and land on the brand mark on my neck. I felt exposed. A variety of emotions were on people's faces, including confusion, anger, jealousy, envy, happiness, and more.
"Thalen..." I paused and cupped my hand around his ear, "Who the hell are you?"
Hearing this question, he could not help but let out an amused chuckle. His soft tone and the flick of his eyes as he stared at me. " I am your bonded mate. Isn't it all that matters?"
Shy from his words for the first time, not him claiming me as his, but stating that he was also mine, made me flush red. Bit by bit, I could not help but fall for his persistence.
Finally, we arrived at a massive building draped with luxurious curtains at the entrance and a sign written in a foreign language. It was the first time I realised that this world had its own written system, one I did not understand, but the words we spoke were the same.
I pondered on the thought, but before I could question more, I was swiftly put down on a lectus. Looking up, I was surrounded by a multitude of fabric and fur varieties. All different patterns, shapes and sizes. The smell was pungent, while the fabrics were beautiful, the smell of hundreds of animal skins and fur accumulated.
I wrinkled my nose instinctively as a man entered through a door. The short whiff of the smell from the other side made it even worse. A quick peek through the door that shut instantly revealed multiple people working to clean up animal waste and carcasses, including fur and skin. Though I felt rude, I couldn't help but cover my nose as the man walked closer. The smell of the chemicals still lingered deep in his clothes.