Congratulations, it’s a …
When I wake up again, it’s still night. I’m in some foreign room sharing a bed with Scarlet and Rayla. Carefully, I try to stand up without waking anyone up to drink some water and go pee but I accidentally wake up Scarlet.
“Rose? Where are you going?”
“Just to the toilet.”
“Okay…”
She really has a light sleep despite being able to sleep for days at a time…
I then do my business and before going back to bed look out the window. There are tons of people outside, drinking, working and hanging out. It reminds me a bit of the view from our room in the Cat’s Den, just a bit bigger in every way.
After a few minutes of people watching, Scarlet walks up next to me and also looks out the window, “Are you nervous about the test?”
“Not really. You heard what John said, it will probably not work either way.”
“Are you going to have a bit more confidence in what I say when it shows that you are female?”
“Maybe. What about you? What will you do if it shows I’m male through and through?”
“Then I’ll have em retake the test just to be sure.”
“And what if that also shows the same result?”
She chuckles, “Then I’ll ask them to heal my nose because something has to be wrong with me if that’s the case.”
“And what about me? How will your opinion change if that happens?”
“Hmm, I’ll have to think of a new name for you but that’s about it. But to be honest, I would be very surprised if you were actually male.”
“Because of the smell?”
“No, your scent is an indicator but you don’t really act like a boy in my opinion.”
“How so?”
She gives me a cheeky smile and answers, “I dunno, call it a woman’s intuition if you want.”
“Pfft…Wouldn’t I have that too then?”
Ruffling through my hair, she answers, “Of course not, you’re just a baby right now. You have to at least have gone through puberty for that.”
“I see…”
We continue watching people for a few more minutes, quietly taking in the sights, before going to bed again.
The next day after breakfast, we meet up at the doctors office. Rayla looks visibly nervous, John looks tired and both Scarlet and Sher Aka look like always.
“Oki…I just want you to know that whatever the result I’ll still love you.”
“Pfft, I know, ane.”
A male Elven nurse carrying a clipboard walks out of the room and smiles at us, “Thoma Ahad? Room 2 please.”
We then move into room two and shortly after a human doctor in his late thirties appears.
I can tell from his voice that he is the same one from yesterday.
“Alright, the results came in today. First of all, the sample I took in your polymorphed form was inconclusive. We were unable to determine your race or your sex from it. The sample from your draconic form however was different, while it was also a bit xxx from the cursed blood, we were still able to determine that your race is indeed Dragon and that your sex is female.”
“Hah! Told ya, Rose.”
Rayla then repeatedly looks between me and the doctor, “So…Does that mean that my little brother is…”
“Your little sister, yes. I’m sure this must be confusing for all of you. Especially since Thoma Ahad has taken on a male polymorphed form but dragons are able to change their sex freely in their polymorphed form so it’s possible that ‘his’ curse just makes it so it is permanently locked into the male form. I know that dragons are very secretive but I’m sure it would be beneficial for Thoma Ahad to be under ‘his’ people, since they would be most understanding of the situation. I will give you a bit of space to discuss things while I file my findings to the Guild. I’ll be back in about ten minutes in case you have any questions.”
As quickly as he came, he leaves the room again and with him leaves behind awkward silence.
Rubbing my arm to soothe myself a bit I ask, “Does it matter to you guys?”
John laughs, “Of course not, you’re my friend whether you’re male, female, Human, Dragon or lizard. If you’re going to live as a girl though, I'm going to have to teach you how to treat your hair. You already have such unique hair it’d be a shame if it gets split ends.”
Rayla then holds my hand and says, “Whether you’re going to be my oki or my oko doesn’t really matter as long as you’re happy and we’re together.”
Scarlet gives me a wide smile, “To me it totally matters! Because now you can finally have some clarity and don’t have to think you’re a guy anymore.”
Sher Aka walks over to my seat and squats down to my eye level, “We of course accept you for whoever or whatever you are but what’s more important is, does this revelation matter to you?”
“I’m not sure…On one hand it’s confusing and makes me feel happy. On the other hand, it also makes this ugly body I’m in sting so much more…No matter where I’ll go as long as this curse is on me I will never truly fit in. I’ll either be an ugly creep that is secretly female or an ugly creep that pretends to be a woman.”
There is a bit of silence before John stands up and offers me his hand, “Hey, at least we can be creeps together, right?”
After hesitating a bit, I take his hand and stand up with a smile, “You always know what to say don’t you?”
Flicking his hair theatrically, he answers, “What can I say, it’s a gift…I just wish I would stop attracting women toward me. I’m honored of course but how come all my friends are female? I need some men in my life too!”
“Well this city is REALLY big, so why don’t you and ane go look for some men together?”
“Hmm that’s actually a good idea…Rayla, you wanna do that?”
“Well, I guess if someone passes me up they would have to be gay so I can just send them to you.”
“Right…" Looking at Rayla in complete bewilderment, John looks over to me and puts his hand on my shoulders, “Thoma Ahad, please don’t become like her when you grow up. If you need a female role model use Sherry instead. Please, I beg you. The world doesn’t need two of her.”
Rayla slaps him on the back of his head, “Can you be even just a bit less theatrically insulting?”
“No sorry, theatrics and insults run in my blood. Ironically quite literally now that I think about it. I believe my mother was a performer.”
Rayla sighs, “Can we stop making this about you for a second?”
“Right, right. So, Thoma Ahad, you want us to still call you by that or call you Rose instead?”
“Both are fine for now. Thoma Ahad is probably better because we won’t have to explain it to people.”
“Makes sense. Let’s hope we get this bureaucratic aspect done soon. Even with the money we scammed from those tough guys we won’t be able to stay here long without working. This city is really expensive...”
Rayla interjects, “I’m sure it will be fine, we have an appointment this time and Scarlet is really strong. I'm sure we’ll get her on the team.”