Below the
inexplicably
completed task appeared a new entry in my sight. One that proved that, while it might not
exactly
talk back - it is definitely listening.
| TASK: Seek Medical Verification |
My hand instinctively went to my
abdomen
again. I knew that the meaning could be only one thing.
The System wanted me to
confirm
what I’d been both assuming - and doubting - since I arrived in this body. I needed to verify whether this
pregnancy
was real.
If its seeming
manipulations
I expect are real, tricks... or simply something I don’t
understand
.
I closed my eyes, trying to
sense
anything different about my body. Any
sign of life
supposedly growing inside me.
The way of
shifting
I was taught avoids affecting that area - the ’uterus’ it is called here - as much as possible in the first place. The times I’ve done it in this body, this fact was
no different
from my world... as far as I can tell.
So there was nothing
tangible
or certain I could say.
And while I do know of some ’pagan’ magics that maybe could be used for
confirmation
... this world sees such things as fiction. Werewolves are real, but
sympathetic magic
is not?
"The rules here are so vague. More things to test..."
Vrika
stirred
in my mindscape, so I appear to see what it’s up to. Padding closer to my fox form, its gaze is fixed firmly on my
lower half
.
> Where exactly are you looking? Huh? Disappointingly, not that enjoyable either. I guess mood is important. And another person... Nope, no time to think about that. Stop it, why would you even think I’d want to use your Alpha as the one who cares? Even taking that it... is the case, she is a very public figure. <
Scandals
took down famous merchants in my kingdom all the time. The last thing I want is to
ruin
someone’s image who has only been kind to me.
We’ll see how I feel...
after
she
stops
.
"Yeah, there’s a women’s clinic about... fifteen blocks from here. Down on 12th and Pine."
He
paused
, before narrowing his eyes at me. Seeming to consider
how much
to say.
"As far as I know, they don’t ask too many questions. Cash or credit. Some free slots too, if you wait."
"Thank you."
I nodded at him, rather relieved at the
straightforward
answer. I was honestly
dreading
how long it might take me to learn the answer on my own.
The guide book only mentioned the
major hospitals
in the city... and I’ve now been saved from approaching such a place just to ask where a place that is
not expensive
might be.
"Could you please point me in the right direction?"
He grabbed an old looking
tourist map
from under the counter before marking it with a pen and handing it over through the slot.
"Right here. Silverton Women’s Health Center. Old red brick building with new looking frosted glass windows."
As I took the illustration and opened the system’s map, the red marker appeared in
rough confirmation
to what he showed to me. Still, I
pretend
to study it for a while before handing it back.
"Thank you, I think I can find it now."
With an eyebrow raised at my returning the
cheap printed
map, he turns and glances at the clock on the wall. An analog piece, polished metal with neon tubing around it... that is
thankfully off
at this time of day.
It looked interesting and
eye-catching
at first, but already I have grown tired of the
hum
and glow they produce at night when active.
"They open at nine. Sure you wanna check out already?"
"No, that’s perfect. Thank you for your help."
He nodded without
arguing
. Clearly used to when not to
continue pestering
his customers.
Though as he picked up his paper again and I turned away, he did part with a
final phrase
.
"Good luck, miss."