“Do I need dressings on these?” she asked as she gathered her clothing.
“The area has been micro-bonded with a protective sealant. It is clear and will simply wash off as the dermis heals. Judging by how the test area is already healing from yesterday, I do not think it will take you long. But you will need some rest for atleast a day. The initial bonding of the pigment to your body can sometimes be a bit taxing.”
“Noted,” she replied, slipping on her clothes. “I guess that’s it then.”
“It is. Be well, Olivia. My assistant, Lithos, will be waiting outside to escort you to your quarters.”
She slipped on her shoes and headed for the door. “Thanks. That wasn’t bad at all.”
“I am glad to hear it.”
Olivia exited and followed the young understudy quietly waiting for her to a different lift platform than the one she’d arrived by. As they descended, she noted that while her sense of smell had somehow strengthened from just the prior day, this young man did not seem to possess any interesting scent beyond a vague hint of sweat.
Once they hit the surface and stepped out into the air, more scents became clear to her as they walked. They’d surely been there all along, but now she somehow noticed them much more easily.
I wonder if this is the sort of thing Nijello was talking about, she wondered.
Fortunately, it would be a relatively short walk to her place, and once there she could better assess herself. The thing was, she felt pretty good, truth be told, but the idea of just sitting alone to take in the sensation of the new tattoos and any ways they might be affecting her was an appealing one. The way her skin tingled a bit. How some areas felt tight, while others did not. How she could smell things much clearer than before. It was all part of the process, she knew, logically. But accepting her new reality on a deeper level was different than a calculated, mental note.
Her guide took an unexpected left turn.
“Hey, is this the right way?”
“We are almost there,” Lithos replied. “I just thought you might like seeing the meditation pond on the way.”
“There’s a meditation pond?”
“It’s quite popular, but at this time of day it tends to be less crowded,” was the reply.
Olivia could smell the water before she saw it, a fresh, clean scent that made her whole body feel rejuvenated.
This enhanced smell thing? Yeah, I think I could get used to this, she mused.At least, so long as I steer clear of any trash dumps and teenage boys, she added with a quiet chuckle.
Dozens of men were seated around the scenic pond, quiet in their meditations, seemingly oblivious to her arrival. All but one, that is.
A familiar whiff smacked into her senses before the man even rose to his feet to come greet her. Olivia felt an electric twinge in her belly as a powerful sneeze erupted without warning, making her nipples harden like rocks and her legs tingle with a most disconcerting but pleasant sensation.
“Arkness,” the young man quietly called in greeting, though a good many eyes were now upon them, courtesy of Olivia’s sneeze.
“Lithos, my greetings. And Olivia, it is good to see you up and about from the Skrizzit’s work so soon.”
She swayed a little, his scent almost overwhelming now, not in its strength, but in the way her body reacted to it. It was like the new runes had revealed an ability she didn’t know she possessed, sort of how a wine connoisseur could detect the faintest hints of tobacco or berry in a wine anyone else would say smelled like just plain old grape juice.
“Are you all right?” he asked, gently placing his massive hand on her shoulder to steady her.
She shook it off, breathing deep through her mouth instead of her nose. “I’ll be fine. I just think the whole tattoo thing wore me out a bit more than I thought, is all.”
“I see. I will not keep you, then. But, if you are amenable to the idea, perhaps we could share a meal tomorrow. I would be honored to show you more of our fine city, and perhaps the hills surrounding it, should you feel up for an excursion.”
Olivia liked the sound of that, but right now his scent was just too distracting. She needed the peace and quiet of her own space to sit, focus, and think.
She gave the best smile she could manage, given her discombobulation. “That’d be nice. But right now I really need to get back.”
“Of course. Rest well.”
Lithos led the way, Olivia close behind, all of the men watching her leave, but none so intently as Arkness, the unexpected bulge pressing against his trousers surprising him with the speed and ease of its arrival. He shook his head and returned to his seat, breathing deep as he slipped back into his meditative state.
“We are here,” Lithos said as they arrived at Olivia’s domicile.
