I stretched out. My body cracked and popped. My new purchases were on my person, as if I always had them. Others on the bus were noticing that as well. Hushed conversation broke out as they stood. Groups gathered and spoke.

  Exclamations of exhaustion broke out between those that had made friends, or networked, but there was no real attempt to cross aisles, so to speak. Stepping out onto the street, I gave a final nod to a clearly exhausted Diva, and once more shouldered a withering gaze courtesy of Diana.

  Amanda gave me a sad, but soft smile, Serenity avoided my gaze, but didn’t appear to harbor any ill will. Those I had fought with exchanged nods, but little else. Everyone was looking forward to kicking back or getting food. I was among them.

  My body ached. My stomach felt like a blackhole gnawing away at my being. I went and got a meal. Eating and eating until I not only was full but felt completely bloated. After that, I desperately wanted a bath and sleep, but the pain throughout my body, and Kiyo’s words held precedence. Meaning, it was time for me to visit the hospital.

  It wasn’t far. It looked like an old institution, since it, like everything else had a gothic slant to it. Instead of a place of healing, I wouldn’t doubt that it could have been a mental hospital. The interior was clean, white tiles, and it smelled of antiseptic.

  For the most part, it seemed normal. If not for the nurses…

  They wore older nurse uniforms with caps, like from the olden days. If that were all, perhaps it wouldn’t have been notable. But… they had long glitzy nails. Makeup done or lipstick on their lips. They wore all manner of heels, and their uniforms were just a bit short, with garter belts exposed, keeping up stockings.

  They were oversexualized, so much so, that it felt like I’d stepped into a hospital themed strip club…

  Filled with dread, I walked towards the front desk. The nurse manning the front desk was idly licking a sucker in perhaps the most salacious manner. With a loud pop, she looked at me and spoke.

  “Yes, can I help you?”

  “Ah, yeah…” I pause. Reconsidering if I really wanted to be here. I glance over and see a nurse leading an older man. His eyes stuck to her swaying rear end…

  I couldn’t imagine being here as a man. Hell, my eyes were wandering even now.

  “Do you take walk-ins?” I finally said after the nurse cleared her throat.

  “We do, what did you need?” She said with clear disinterest.

  “A check up, I’m from out of town and…” Her eyes lit up.

  “We can do that, no problem! Out of towners like yourself are always welcome here at the Purgatory hospital!” She said with far too much energy.

  “I’ll put you in and…” A few clicks and clacks later. “Head to the third floor, and the receptionist there will get you set with a doctor.”

  She then gave me more precise directions. The main lobby was fairly upper class. A large fountain dominated a portion of the main lobby, along with various statues. There was also something in the air, something mildly electric that I couldn’t quite place.

  The elevator worked like a dream and after a few more activities, I found myself weighed and put into a typical doctor’s office. Blood pressure taken by a nurse with a heavy tan and sparkling eyeliner. Ears checked. It was mostly normal, except when she checked my throat, and it felt like she was trying to thrust the stick down my throat.

  She was also a little… handsy.

  Blessedly, it didn’t take long to finish, and I let myself breathe when she finally left.

  Again, I questioned if I should really be here. Were these people even professionals? Was this really just a fancy bordello? It didn’t help that the nurses were all giving me hungry gazes and licked their lips while looking at me… I swear, if I were a man still, they’d likely have jumped me.

  For once, I truly was glad I was a woman now…

  Kicking my feet, I waited for the doctor arrive, only, when she arrived, she didn’t exactly ease my growing fears.

  Long crimson hair that went down to her waist, it trailed behind her as she stepped in on red heels. Her eyes were red as well, though dull, like dried blood. She wore a doctor’s coat that trailed down to her ankles, the front open, exposing a corset that left her midriff exposed and pushed up her chest. Her lower body was covered in denim shorts, with her underwear straps sticking. The final addition were the pair of small square glasses on her face.

  “You must be the patient, Prima Belle, correct?”

  “I believe I’m in the wrong place.” I hurriedly spoke out and stood.

  She laughs at that. “No, I believe you are, little rabbit.” She said those words with a lustful note, her tongue trailing her lips, exposing sharp fangs.

  I froze. Her eyes were like that of a predator.

  “Now now, I’m not going to hurt you sweetie. I was told you’re here for a checkup, yes?”

  I nod, not trusting my voice.

  “Wonderful, and I imagine you just finished your trial event? Baby’s first full moon?”

  Again, I nod.

  “Fan-ta-stic~…” She said, drawing out each syllable. “Now, if you would. Please sit down.”

  I knew it wasn’t a request, but a command. I sat down. She then walked over and ran her hands along my body, humming and nodding to herself. Occasionally pausing to make notes on a clipboard she had. She then pulls out a stethoscope out of her pocket and wore it.

  I follow her commands on breathing in and out. All the while, I feel like I’m being eyed by a serpent. Almost unconsciously, I was pulling on my ice to keep my heart beat nice and level.

  “Mm…” After all that, she hums. “It looks like you’ve had multiple healings in the last few days. Lots of damage to your body and muscles. Which was exacerbated by the incomplete healings by multiple sources, which just made things worse…”

  She said it with a dry tone, but… it sounded bad.

  “You’ll be fine in a week without healing.”

  “What?” I voiced stupidly before my mind could even keep up.

  “Yup, a week, give or take. As long as you’re eating and sleeping properly. It could drag out if you’re being overworked, which you probably are.”

  “That… really? I figured the damage would be worse.” Especially if Kiyo suggested we visit.

  “Normally, yes. If you were a normal human, the damage to your body would be bad. You’d probably see severe organ failure in the next twelve hours and probably die within the next week or so. Even if that was dealt with, you might contract a serious case of cancer or worse.”

  I just stared at her. I could tell, she was having fun with this.

  “But, you aren’t a normal person. Not anymore. Not since you were chosen by those beings. Everyone has a different name for them, but when they brought you here, they remade you just like everyone else.”

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  She took a moment to let out a sigh and sat down on a nearby chair. Her legs crossed. Her clipboard placed in her lap.

  “As we are, we’re closer to magic beasts. Regardless of the damage we take, we’ll eventually get back to perfect health. Our bodies will grow stronger over time, to a point, and illness will generally not be an issue. Barring exceptions such as magical illnesses or outer entity nonsense.”

  She then went quiet, letting me process what she just said. It made sense… Recalling all the damage I took. How I literally froze over and didn’t die. How I could freeze my heart still and yet keep moving…

  It really did make sense… “But, that’s not quite true, right? I nearly died when I had my time of the month a week or so ago.”

  She nods. “Happens to everyone. Ambient mana rises and lowers with the cycles of the moon, in many ways we have our moments of weakness. Well, most of us, men don’t ever have that issue, but they have lower mana capacities to make up for it. It balances out overall.

  As for almost dying, it’s rather typical for ice magic users like yourself.”

  “Is it?” I asked.

  “Of course, after all, it’s only natural. Ice type users tend to bottle up their emotions. Your type relies a bit too much on the frost to dull emotion and pain. Ice makes you feel invincible. Untouchable. In the end, it’s like stuffing all your problems in the closet. Eventually, it becomes too much, and they fall apart.”

  The way she spoke, her tone laced in melancholy, the distant look.

  “Does that really happen so often?”

  “You tell me.” She said, and I became all too aware of the frost leaving my lips. Perhaps what she said was true…

  “I’d suggest, you take the time to loosen up. Let the ice recede and face those emotions you’re bottling up instead of running away.” She continued after a momentary pause.

  Then she shrugged and continued in resignation. “But what do I know. I’m just your doctor, not your mother.”

  “I understand.” I admitted, though, I didn’t release the ice. Not yet.

  “I hope you do.” She said and stood. “Now, I understand you might be confused, but I assure you, despite our attire and attitudes, we’re the best hospital in the city. The only hospital too.” She adds with a playful smirk.

  I found that less amusing.

  “As this is your first visit, we’ll have to establish a medical history from the start. We’ll run you through a battery of tests, get you out by evening at the latest. And if you’re wondering if you should, I’ll tell you now, since you probably weren’t told already. One of the pre-requisites to become a full citizen is to have at least half a year of medical documentation.”

  “Ah…” I muttered. “No, I wasn’t told that.”

  “Yup, they like to keep it a big secret until you’re near completing the basic requirements of holding a job and residency for a year. Now, before we begin the tests, let me…” She walked up and placed a hand on my back. All at once, I felt something inside me shift. “There… all patched up. You’ll feel a bit tired, but by tomorrow you’ll be full of energy.”

  I blinked. The sudden loss of pain was… distracting. The ice I had embraced receded, almost like an instinctual clench when in pain or tightened shoulders when stressed that had only now loosened. I hadn’t realized just how deep I had been. Not until I pulled back enough that I could again feel the warmth around me.

  “Nice, right? Now, we should get a move on. We don’t have all day.”

  “Right.” I answered back and thus began a mess of tests and examinations, not all of them were… nice. Hours flew by. I’d arrived late morning, the bus had arrived at the city around six, I spent a few hours finding a place and then eating, then there was the travel time to the hospital.

  I spent close to a full workday doing tests. If I wasn’t exhausted before, which I was, I’d be exhausted now. Which meant I was far beyond exhausted. I stumbled out and was doing my final test, though…

  “Do you really need to test my blood?”

  “Hm? Test?” The doctor asked with a confused tilt of her head.

  “You’re taking my blood for tests, right? I mean, why else would you take so much?”

  “Huh? Oh, oh, yes, of course. We need to be extra thorough. That’s all.” She said with a bit of laughter…

  Okay… I was just beginning to warm up to this place, both literally and figuratively. Now… Now I wasn’t so sure that was a good idea.

  After taking a LOT of blood, I was kicked out, told to eat and rest.

  I stumbled back to my apartment. Changed and went out to take a nice hot bath. My body crackled and popped. The little bits of ice I had yet to fully pull back melted in the hot bath. I went home, and on the way grabbed some food and beers like always.

  Once more, on the balcony I drank and ate. Letting the tension leave my body. In the corner of my room were my new items, the pouch of coins was sitting there, each coin represented countless possibilities. Then there was the book. A thick grimoire of sorts on Necromancy.

  I was tempted to give it a read. A few hours to start, but it was getting late, the sun had nearly set, the streetlights flickered on. Night descending.

  I might as well get a good night’s rest. I had work tomorrow… Huh, what a strange thought. The last few days, I hadn’t really thought about work and suddenly… suddenly I was looking forward to work. Even if the hours were absurd with no break. Even if I only saw my room a handful of times over the month.

  A testament to that sad fact, was the steadily accumulating dust that I hadn’t had the time to properly wipe away. I’d bought so much, expecting that I’d be back in my room… only to not use any of it.

  Perhaps that will change in the near future? Who knows?

  With a shrug, I walked back into my room, shut the door and settled into sleep. My body, craving it, needing it, immediately succumbed to the sweet call of slumber.

  There was a thump. A ba-bump that ran through my entire body. It was hot. The walls seemed to close in with each beat. The air smelled sweet, every breath cloying and wet. I could taste iron, blood on my tongue. Every breath felt like I was trying to breathe through a wet cloth. Like I was being waterboarded.

  I was running. Sweat dripping down my brow. The oppressive heat pressed down on me. I could hear it. The thrum, the beat, and something else. A slow crackle. A click, click, click. Lights flickered on and off, on and off. Shadows, figures in the distance, just out of sight closing in between flashes of light.

  I tried to cool myself. To call the ice, but it felt so very far. The chill in my veins just enough to cool my rapidly heating body, but no more.

  I was being chased. Figures gaining. The walls pressing in. The constant thrumming heart. The sounds of lights clicking on and off grew ever more rapid. They gained on me ever faster.

  I ran down a hallway, the walls and ceilings red. The floors squished underfoot, like I was walking on fresh meat.

  Over it all… I heard it. Laughter. A mocking laugh. “You’re just like me. You realize that?” The voice spoke. The light flickered off. Then on. A bloody man stood before me. A mad grin on his face. A pen jammed in his eye, blood running down his face, pooling to the ground. “After all, you did this.”

  I gasped awake. A strangled scream barely left my lips. The morning sun bled in. My body was covered in cold sweat. Every panting breath came out hot and heavy. My room was cold but did little to make me feel any cooler. All I felt was hot, burning hot.

  Yet, with every passing second, I felt the ice stir, slowly cooling me down. I took a moment. Breathing. Replaying each moment of that dream, but it felt like I was trying to grasp sand. Trying to hold it in my fingers.

  It slipped away, leaving only echoes of the terror I had felt.

  Strange… Strange that I hadn’t had nightmares until now. That, was what I thought.

  My phone buzzed and beeped. Alerting me to what time it was. Time to get ready for work.

  I stood, went to the public bathroom, brushed my teeth in the sink. The usual routine. Dressed in one of the spare suits, and a spare set of gloves I had bought.

  I’d likely need more suits eventually, and outfits for adventuring. Something light that covers the body to maximize the protection of my ice. I will have to look it over on my next day off. For now, I was good.

  Dressed, I went down to the lobby. Checked my mail in the mail room.

  “, advertisement, credit card offer, scam… Mm?” Last piece of mail caught my eye. It came from my place of work. Taurus Company. I opened it up and…

  “Oh, paystub.” It noted down my pay… Mm? That can’t be right. I looked it over again. No, that…

  I ignored everything and pocketed the stub. Making my way to work. Almost as a sidenote I grabbed something during my commute. I didn’t feel like eating. The breakfast burrito I bought tasted like ash in my mouth. I almost stumbled into my workplace. Catching my co-workers in the process. I returned greetings but kept my eyes open until they fell on my target.

  Terada.

  The moment my eyes locked on him, he looked over. Our gazes met. A grimace found its way onto his face. As if he knew exactly why I was looking for him. He moved, and I followed into a corner of the office.

  “Terada.” I stated and pulled out my paystub. “What is this?” I hissed, trying to keep my voice low.

  “Your pay.” He said calmly after inspecting the stub I had thrust into his face, but his eyes darted away right after.

  “I know that, but…” I showed it to him. The numbers. “I’m not being paid for all those hours!?” It took all I had not to scream. Even with the ice. “I’m being paid as if I’m working a forty-hour work week, and no overtime!?”

  At this point, my voice rose just a bit. I could feel eyes on me. I was working myself to death, for PEANUTS!

  Terada cleared his throat. Straightened his back. “I’m sorry, but you’ll get your money eventually.”

  “Eventually!?” This time, I really did scream.

  “Yes. Unfortunately, we’re under budgeted. Of course, your extra hours are being pooled and will be paid out when we have the budget. I can promise you that.”

  I opened my mouth and stopped. Slowly, I closed it. I looked over the office space. Near everyone was looking at me. At us.

  “Are you?” I looked at him.

  “Yes, everyone is paid about the same.”

  Well… fuck.

  “And unfortunately, we don’t know when it will be resolved.” He pressed on.

  …I stared. I stared at him with a far off, dead look in my eyes. Eventually, I mustered something. Something that could pass for life and bowed.

  “I apologize for making a scene Mr. Terada.”

  “It’s nothing. I understand that this can be hard. But, we’re a team and together we can figure this out. And I hope that this won’t impact your work.” He laid a hand on my shoulder and pulled me up. A soft smile on his face.

  This… this…

  “Don’t worry Mr. Terada. This won’t affect anything…”

  “Great.” He patted my back and started to walk off.

  All the while… I was thinking…

  THIS MOTHERFUCKER!!!

  Worst of all, even with a strained smile on my face. I couldn’t hate the damn guy.