It wasn't so bad to be outside, Aurelia told herself for what felt like the thousandth time that day. The midday sun was merciless, and a sheen of sweat covered her fair skin. She stooped down, and carefully cut a few seed-pods from the next patch of silphium. The trick was to take enough to fill her bag by the end of the afternoon, but leave enough so that the pnt survived.
As she bent down, her hair, usually tied back in a long braid, came undone and fell over her face. she paused, and neatly braided her hair back into pce. She was nearly finished with this days harvest, soon the time would come for her to return to the temple and help the others make the droughts and elixirs that the temple of Ceres was known for. It wasn't a bad life, all in all, being raised by the temple meant that she had more freedom than some, and she got to choose how she worked her days.
She usually preferred to be one of the children who ventured out into the grove and harvested the needed ingredients for the temple's work. Children, she thought. I'm nearly an adult now, just a few days left, She reminded herself. Being outside and away from the leering eyes of the public was a relief, the solitude broken up by the occasional encounter with a squirrel or some other small creature meant that she could rex and be herself. The temple had specific ideas of what a young woman ought to be, and being out of sight most of the day gave her brief escape. With that thought, she subconsciously straightened her back, and drew her wings close, neatly creating the impression that she was wearing a long white cloak. They were always the first thing people noticed about her, they marked her clearly as non-human, it was usually fine, with the protection of the temple. Though occasionally one young man or another might get ideas. With her wings in pce, her gait steady and as graceful as she could manage, she turned back to the city proper and began to walk.
She had been told that Rome was the greatest city the world had ever seen by some of it's more patriotic denizens. She wouldn't know, she hadn't been to any others. The temple of Ceres was located on the northern outskirts, near enough to the wilds beyond the city to maintain it's groves, but close enough to the city itself for easy foot-traffic from eager supplicants and customers. She stepped out of the shrubbery of the grove and emerged onto a wide cobblestone road. The Via Fminia, she told herself. every hundred meters or so, old stone markers stood on the sides of the road. Each covered with names engraved onto their faces, some old and faded, barely legible. Others new and crisp, with flowers occasionally pced at the bases of some. They bore the names of soldiers and adventurers, the hero's who ventured forth into the wild nds and brought back honor and glory. She looked at them wistfully as she walked. So many, she thought, so many who gave their lives. If they start over and do it all again, would they choose the same path, or would they choose a simpler, safer life within the city walls, she mused. She didn't know herself, in three days, when she turned 18 and could choose which path she took, she hoped she would finally have made up her mind.
As she crested the top of a hill, a sprawling expanse of brick and stone nestled amongst the rises of seven great hills came into view. People looked like little dots going in and out of the gates, seeming as ants to her in that moment. One great hive, living and breathing. As she gently plodded closer to the gates the city grew rger, the wall taller, and she wrinkled her nose. That was another reason she liked to work in the groves. The stench of so many people crowded together was intensely pungent, Rome was better than others, she had been told. With many bathhouses and trines with flowing water, it was a point of pride among the Romans.
"By Venus, look at the tits on her." excimed a passerby. "Rivals that Cow bitch at Marcus's". Adventurers, she muttered to herself. Four of them passed by her on their way out of the city. Likely on out to kill some beast or root out some goblins, she thought to herself. The first was a big brute, all muscle and hair. He carried an axe half the size of her. The next was a slighter man with a bow slung on his back. He leered at her, his eyes sliding their way up and down her as he passed. The next was a short stout fellow. He shook his head apologetically at her, though he made no comment to the others of his party. The st was older man, around forty if she pced him correctly. He walked with a tall staff, and wore a long toga a rich shade of blue. She smiled politely at them as she walked, years of temple training sliding easily into her composure. Letting their lecherous words ease from her memory as she took the final steps to the city itself.
The crowded streets rang with the shouts of merchants hawking their wares to passersby. it was a riot of colour and noise with people from all walks of life making their trips to the street market. There were bakers selling sweets made fresh that morning, weavers offering bright coloured clothing, from togas to small clothes. A hundred stands manned by a hundred eager craftsmen and merchants all competed for attention and customers. The crowd was mostly human, but there were non-humans dotted around occasionally, a dwarven bcksmith had a shop by one street corner, boasting his wears for those who can afford it.
A scantily cd beastwoman sashayed in front of what could only be a brothel. Cat, Aurelia thought, noticing the woman's ears and tail. She wore smallclothes which covered her dybits, and nothing else, the sign advertising the name of the establishment she held up just barely covering her nipples. She winked at Aurelia as she passed. She tried not to think about what her life might look like if she had been raised somewhere other than the temple.
She let go of a breath she hadn't realized she has been holding as the temple came into view, it was rger than the surrounding buildings, a tall white marble structure of pilrs and prayers. The front steps crowded with devotees seeking audience with one of the priestesses, or ying offerings by the sacred fme which stood front and center. Aurelia walked past the main entrance, and entered through a side door, stooping as she went to get her tall frame and wings though the small entry way. It seems smaller everyday, she thought. She remembered when she had been just a girl, running and pying throughout the temple grounds when she had finished her chores for the day. Nowadays it was a struggle to navigate anywhere indoors with her rge frame. Sometimes, she had to enter sideways, her generous curves being wider than some doors.
"Back already Aurelia?" came a friendly voice as she entered through the servants entrance. The chamber inside was buzzing with activity, servants, and orphans under the care of the temple worked hard to turn ingredients she and others gathered into brews and potions to be sold to the public. "It was a good day for silphium" Aurelia replied simply, and embraced the smaller figure who had come to greet her. Livia was an orphan like her, given into the care of the temple from a young age. She tried not to squish her chest into the smaller woman's face too much, but there was only so much she could do to resist the tenacious affections of her friend. "Come over here! fertility potions have been selling like crazy today. You can drop that batch right there, we've almost run out!" Aurelia stepped carefully around the various stations being worked diligently by the temple staff. Keeping her wings close to her body, and stooping occasionally when she came across a ceiling beam. She dropped the seed pods she had spent the day collecting onto Livia's worktable, and began to help the woman separate the seeds from the pod.
The work was slow and monotonous, but the company was appreciated. Livia babbled about the gossip of the temple, who had come to make an offering, which priestess was squabbling with which other priestess. It was all very interesting stuff to Livia, Aurelia thought, she indulged her friend. Gd to be kept appraised of current events while she had been out for the day.
"Oh! one thing you should know." Livia interrupted herself mid speech. "Domitia is close to bursting today, so we've got to be on our best behavior!". Domitia was the priestess assigned to organizing and keeping track of the orphans in the charge of the temple until they came of age. Aurelia had spent many nights sleeping on her stomach after being spanked with a reed by Domitia's firm hand, and her backside ached slightly with the memory. She looked around the room, taking in the dozens of people at work cleaning, sorting, brewing, and otherwise preparing the many products the temple sold. Salves to rub on a pregnant belly, potions of virility for men, fertility for women. Potions to ease childbirth or to quicken one's conception.
Ceres was ostensibly the goddess of mothers, grains, and agricultural fertility. Though, the temple tended to focus on the first of these as it was the most profitable. People were always willing to part with some coin to better themselves, and it is harder to make enough product to influence the harvest of an entire field, Aurelia thought. That had been the expnation given whenever she had asked at least.
The temple had been in friendly competition with the temple of Venus for as long as she could remember, both filling simir niches. Where the temple of Ceres sold products focused on fertility and motherhood, the temple of Venus specialized more in beauty itself. Oils to make one's hair shine, to eliminate body hair if one chose. Salves clear one's skin of blemishes, or to firm a sagging chest. Under the surface this competition was a way for the temples to compete for patronage of the popuce. Aurelia occasionally overheard one of the priestesses many ploys to attain more customers or to retain those already buying. She didn't put much stock in it all, but it certainly drove the priestesses to demand more from Aurelia's foraging with each month.
A slight hush fell over the room as the drapes parted in the main entryway to the temple proper. A vast belly entered sight first, followed by the rest of the body of an extremely gravid form. Domitia half walked, half waddled into the room. The lower curve of her pregnancy hanging by her knees and protruding far in front of her. She wore the loose, cream coloured robes of a priestess of Ceres, two dark spots over chest where she was leaking. She surveyed the room, taking in all those at work preparing the temple's main revenue, and nodded to herself. All was in order apparently.
She slowly waddled around the room, occasionally giving advice, and often criticism
"Stir faster Fulvia, you should know this by now"
"Licina, that's far too much calendu. Dump this batch and try again."
Eventually, she made her way to Aurelia and Livia's station. Aurelia could see faint movement under the robes of the priestess, slight bulges and ripples as dozens of children stirred inside. "Hmm, good enough I suppose." she said with a small frown. Then she paused, and looked up at Aurelia. "You're nearly of age aren't you Aurelia? I'm gd to see you've been ripening recently. Motherhood will suit you well." she said frankly.
"Its a shame you've got those wings of yours, otherwise you'd make a fine priestess." she added after a seconds thought. Then she turned to Livia,
"Hmm, you're nearly a woman too aren't you. Too bad you aren't as favoured by Ceres." she said, looking up and down Livia's comparatively more modest form. "Or Venus too, I suppose." she muttered as an afterthought.
With those kind words, Domitia waddled back across the room, and into the main temple chambers. Apparently satisfied with the state of her charges for the day.
"I can't wait to be rid of this wretched pce in a few days." Livia said softly, making sure only Aurelia could hear "The second I come of age I'm leaving this temple and never looking back". Aurelia nodded her agreement in sympathy.
"Where will you go? What will you do?" Aurelia asked. They had had this conversation many times before, but Livia's answer changed every time. "I'm going to find a nice retired soldier, and marry him" she said with determination. "I'll give him four children, smile and nod at everything he says, then when he dies I'll take his pension and be a widow." she said with finality.
"You don't want to be a sailor this time?" Aurelia asked. "Last time you seemed to like the idea of seeing a new pce with every sunrise." Livia paused, "Neh, that was yesterday. Now I want to own my own property after my husband dies, I'll be my very own matron, and rise to become a new Patrician house with my fwless management of the estate!" She decred proudly. "It'd have to be quite the catch for you to inherit an estate." Aurelia chided. Livia just blew a raspberry at her in response.
The rest of the day passed by quickly, and after the day's harvest had been processed, Aurelia retired to her chambers. It wasn't "her" chamber's so much as it was a small closet which the priestesses let her use. She knew how lucky she was to have space to herself, the rest of the orphans all bunked together. The all female group shared one rge shared chamber, with rows of bunk beds in much the same style as an army barracks. To have her own space, no matter how small was a unique blessing she enjoyed.
It had a small cot, a few meager possessions which Aurelia had collected over the years, a few sets of clothes, though most were too small for her now and a cy chamber pot in one corner. A temporary addition was a wooden bathtub she had brought in just now, and painstakingly filled it by filling it up one bucket of water at a time. The reason for her privileged solitude became apparent as stripped off her simple robe and veil, tossed them in a pile. and began to unwind the fabric bindings she applied to her figure every morning. When she had finished, she leaned over and gazed at her reflection in the wooden tub.
She was self aware enough to know that she was beautiful, gorgeous even. With long, almost metallically lustrous golden blonde hair. Her namesake, she thought. Her rge wings framed her form, creating a pure white background with which to contrast the rest of her body. Below them was a body she took great care to obscure with long robes.
Towering above all but the rgest non-humans she had to maneuver herself to see each part of her body individually in the tub, she had an hourgss figure which could tempt a eunuch to sin, a chest prodigious enough to get in the way of her work, the lowest curves in line with her navel. She kept them bound most of the time, it got too bouncy under her clothes otherwise .
Below that was a slight waist which fred into wide hips which strained doorways. She couldn't bind her rear, so it was often a target for lustful comments from men, and envy from women. Long, powerful legs from days spent among the groves finished the ensemble.
Her beauty was one thing, what began to emerge between her thighs was something else entirely. Aurelia exhaled, slowly releasing all the tension of the day, and as she did so, a great column began to protrude between her legs. She knew enough from overhearing others speaking that she was much much rger than the average man when it came to size, she even outstripped your average male tauren from what she had seen when nobles paraded their sves around.
She was always grateful that she didn't have to have her titanic shaft out all the time, it would interfere with her daily chores, and receive far too much attention. As it finished emerging, it began to rest between her knees, and behind it, a rge sac filled with testes too rge to fit in one hand slowly lowered into pce. Walking with them out was a nightmare, whenever she'd attempted it, it left her waddling worse than Domitia. Behind her sac was what one'd expect to find on a woman, though again she knew she was above average in that regard too. A plump flowering cunny was present she knew, though she couldn't see it at the moment. Once she had made the mistake of wearing tight fitting bottoms, and her pronounced womanhood had left her with a bulge to shame most men. She had hurriedly rushed back to her chamber to put on a much looser robe, and hadn't tried since. The memory still made her flush with embarrassment.
She washed quickly, though her rge frame and wings made it take longer than it ought to. when she was clean of dirt and grime from the day, she dressed in fresh clothes, and then returned the bathtub to clear some space in her cramped room. She settled down on her cot. Finding a serviceable sleeping position had been difficult for her, and had grown more difficult with age. She couldn't sleep on her stomach, as her chest raised her too high off the ground. She couldn't sleep on her sides, as her hips left her comically lopsided. So she had to arrange her cot such that she could sleep on her back, with her wings cushioned as well as she could manage, her small bnket being used as a pillow, she wrapped her wings around herself, and began to dream.
SarcasticMisfit
