Plans for Medical Research

After the moon set and the sun rose, after a night of wind and cloud, the clouds scattered and the air cleared. Morning sunlight spilled over the Lake Capital, and devout morning prayers were carried through the wind. The people of the capital had experienced yesterday's wedding and witnessed many miracles. Their prayers this morning were all the more pious, the rolling waves of sound shaking the clouds like thunder ringing all around.

Xolotl woke amid the sound of prayer, feeling sore all over, his shoulders burning with pain. He sensed the warm softness beside him, turned his head, and at a glance saw his sleeping wife. Alisa was curled up like a little cat, tear tracks still on her face, her hands tightly hugging his arm.

The young man bent his head gently and pressed a light kiss between the "cat's" lips. The cat twitched her nose, scrunched up her pretty face, and murmured unconsciously. The young man tilted his ear and listened for a while, only faintly catching a few blurred words.

"Mmph... no... bad brother..."

Xolotl smiled and stroked Alisa's cheek. Then he carefully pulled out his arm, rose, and got out of bed.

Nashu was keeping watch in the outer room, breakfast already prepared. The cool, aloof female warrior looked calm and respectfully greeted His Highness, yet her eyes somehow avoided him a little.

Xolotl ate a simple breakfast, loosened his muscles and bones, then brought some snacks back into the inner room and waited for Alisa to wake.

Only when the sun had climbed into the middle of the sky did the two of them, faces flushed, walk out of the bridal chamber together. Xolotl held his wife's arm and first went to his grandfather's dwelling to pay respects.

The High Priest sat cross-legged in