JP - The Keep - Morning Training

Lek was already up and training before breakfast. He had a heavy iron bar in each hand and was running along the walls.

Miyuki was sitting outside, just trying her best to relax as she summoned fox fire to form in her palm. It would spark and sit there as a soft blue flame before she would close her hand, causing it to fade. There wasn’t even any smoke.

Lek worked up a sweat by the time he climbed down from the wall and ran towards the spring. He spotted the fire before Miyuke. He paused, hoping she was as okay as Difyr had claimed. “Good morning.” He greeted.

Miyuki looked up and gave Lek a small smile. “Good morning,” She told him. “I hope my fire didn’t surprise you…”

Lek shook his head. “How are you?” He asked.

“I’m well,” Miyuki answered as she rushed fingers through her hair absently. “I guess I really needed sleep. I don’t feel as tired or tense as yesterday.”

“That’s good.” Lek said. “I hope I didn’t hurt you when I crashed into you yesterday.”

“You didn’t,” Miyuki reassured him. “It was just a simple fall and I’m not one to bruise easily.” She let out a soft laugh to lighten things. “Thank you, again, for your help.”

"Fascinating" Alex replied as he approached the duo "I didn't know there was a Kitsune here."

Miyuki froze and seemed to shrink back into herself, hiding her stomach with her bag.

“It was the least I could do after - Hello Alex.” Lek greeted. “Miyuki, this is Alex.”

"Apologies I didn't mean to startle you" Alex replied with a blush "I've never seen fox fire in person before."

“Thanks…” She looked at Lek and kept her distance from Alex, frowning. A part of her was scared he would instantly notice her pregnancy.

Alex took several steps back guilt on his face for upsetting her unaware of her pregnancy. " I can leave if you're uncomfortable around mages."

At that last word, Miyuki moved even further from Alex and got to her feet, quickly turning to walk away. Mages, dwarves…she was afraid of it all at this point. As much as she’d like to stay and chat with Lek, she had to get away. Memories were swarming her mind, sending her into a panic and causing fox fire to flutter up in the air behind her.

Alex jumped back startled as he fell and hit his head. Jumping back he apologies before leaving. Blaming himself he retreated to his room.

Lek did not know what to say to Alex, he guessed Miyuki was afraid of him because she had been raped- though was not sure why she did not seem afraid of himself (after all Pinja was afraid of him)- but of course Lek was not going to just announce that Miyuki had been raped to Alex or anyone. Even Difyr he left to figure it out for herself last night. But before Lek could say anything Alex ran away.

“Alex is okay…” Lek said softly after catching up with Miyuki.

She was gasping for air where she had finally sat down again and looked up at Lek. “Is…is he?” Her voice was small, fear in it. “The men that hurt me…they were…” She glanced in the direction Alex went.

“Were they like Alex?” Lek asked. “Alex isn’t like that…”

“W-what kind of mage is he?” She asked in a shaky voice.

“I don’t know.” Lek admitted. “He’s a different mage than Bai… I think Bai’s a hedge wizard or something? I never understood the differences. I don’t think Alex has ever hurt anyone like that though. His own family was hunted as witches.”

“That’s terrible…I’ll apologize later…I just…” Miyuki blushed in shame, thankful that her fur was hiding it. “I fear mages…” Her hand settled on her stomach, thinking back to those horrid moments she had been held down and used.

“Pinja is afraid of men after what happened to her.” Lek said, understanding Miyuki’s fear at least on one level. “All men… Including me.”

“I know not all men are…like that,” Miyuki admitted. “But I…” She trembled and hugged her bag tightly. “I’m sorry, I can’t talk about it anymore. It’s not your fault. It’s my fear.”

“It’s okay, I understand.” Lek said. He knew too many women who had gone through this. He loosened his shoulders a little, he was still carrying the iron bars. “Have you had anything to eat yet?”

“Oh, uh, no…I haven’t.” That was when her stomach decided to make a loud growl. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry!”

“It’s okay.” Lek realized he said that to Miyuki a lot, but before he could try to come up with another way to express that, his own stomach growled. “I’m hungry too. C’mon.” He said, turning towards the main building.

Glad she wasn’t the only hungry one, Miyuki smiled as she followed Lek to the Main Building.