“I just had an idea. Could you gather all the people in Rosedorn who can use aura? We might be able to have another class just for aura users.”
It honestly baffles me that I hadn't had this idea before, but now it seems so obvious. A time when magic is widespread once more didn't seem so far away after all, if enough people just put in the effort.
“A class for what?”
“On how to form their own mana stones, of course.”
“I'm not sure if all of them could meditate as you do… Some of them are rather rough around the edges.”
Janus seemed unsure, but I was already convinced it would work.
“It can't hurt to try, and once they see the results, there is no way they wouldn't at least give it a shot.”
“Well, I guess you are right. This really is so like you.”
“Of course, don't you know I'm always right?”
“No, on your first free day in weeks, you find another way to eat up your free time.”
“Ah…”
I haven't even thought of that. But now that I had the idea, not pursuing it wasn't even an option. If all the soldiers we had at hand could use body-strengthening magic and form shields and weapons with non-attribute mana, the death toll would drop significantly during all future sieges. Even if one considers all the time that would need to be dedicated towards meditation instead of physical training, it would still be worth it in the long run.
While I was still absorbed in thought, Janus approached the bed and sat down behind me, pulling me back slightly until he was leaning against the bedframe, and I rested between his legs with my back against his chest. His hands gently settled on my swollen belly, moving in soft circles. As I leaned further into his embrace, instead of focusing on the familiar scents of leather, mint, and the fruity aroma of his mother's favorite tea blend, I found myself attuned to the rhythmic beat of his heartbeat in my ear, steady and reassuring. Each beat harmonized with my breathing, filling me with a sense of calm and a faint sense of security.
“This is rare, you would have tried something already.”
“Hehe, true, normally I would have, however, I have been thinking about what you asked me yesterday… I'm just trying to spend some time with you that isn't well… you know.”
It is still rather curious that we have done quite a lot of dirty things, and yet he is still embarrassed to talk about it. I hope this will fade in time, though watching his embarrassed face is certainly amusing. However, now there is something else bothering me.
“Oh, okay then, mister, “you know,” could you explain to me what is poking me in my back right now?"
“I said I'm trying. But just holding you like this is also nice. Now that I think about it, we haven't really done something like this yet.”
“Like this?”
“You know, cuddling and stuff..."
Yet another thing we did in the wrong order.
"It couldn't be helped, we have both just been too 'busy' lately." My eyes wandered across the room before landing on the hooks in the ceiling from which our wedding band would be hung, where two stars would be joining it soon after, and I said, "Maybe in the summer, after the wedding, after the babies are born, we can calm down a bit."
It seems Janus liked the idea, rested his chin on my right shoulder, and asked,
“Do you like it?”
“I don't dislike it… it… does feel nice, I guess.”
It seems he isn't the only one too embarrassed to spell it out.
Gently, I put my hand over his until I could feel… something?
Something moved!
Both Janus and I looked at each other, then down at our hands that were still around my belly.
“Did they just…"
“...move?”
Under our hands, we could feel our babies move!
It wasn't fast nor erratic, but still a definite movement!
I felt a smile that threatened to spread across my face forever. Excited, I looked to Janus, who had the same expression. For a moment, there were no words, just their first movements and our smiles. Until they stopped and we released the breaths we had been holding.
Janus let out a booming laugh, filled with pure joy that matched the moment's excitement. "Hahaha, they moved! They really did! How did it feel?"
"Hehehe," I could scarcely contain my own laughter, more subdued but equally full of joy. "That was so weird! It's hard to describe like a... flutter! It felt like something living inside me."
I know this sounded dumb, but I was just so excited! For months, there were just all these annoying symptoms, but now I finally get to see and feel some actual results. Now more than ever, I understand that I will be a mother. That we would be Parents.
We continued to excitedly talk well into the night before eventually falling asleep still in our embrace, still in our streetclothes.