Ari (Child of the Beastman Goddess)

It was quite exhausting to transcribe the whole translation of the engraved characters from the stone. I felt like my power was constantly draining every time I touched the stone with bare hands. It was as if it was using my energy to translate the characters into a language that I could understand. It felt like a sort of magical translator. It was kind of amazing though it was extremely tiring and depressing at the same time since I remember my nightmares every time Sephtis was mentioned in the text.

Even so, I felt closer to some of the answers I needed regarding the god named Sephtis and the twin goddesses named Ayla and Arie.

One day, I specifically asked Tora to pick up some new sets of papers while I am storing the finished written parts in the stock room for safe keeping. I asked Centaurus to accompany Tora and carry the papers back.

I was about to finish storing the papers properly when I sensed two scents approaching near the stock room. I was startled. I unintentionally hid myself in an old closet right beside me due to panic. The scent of one of them is the scent of a male, while the other one is the scent of a young female.

For some reason, I was feeling strange about their presence.

“Father, are you sure it will work out?” The young female said upon entering the room.

“Shh… Lower your voice, someone might pass by and hear us.” The adult male said.

“I’m really irritated with that female outsider who sticks to Centaurus and the handsome winged lion all the time. Will Purple Flower be really effective?” The young female asked.

I was stunned upon hearing the voice of the female who was speaking to her father. It was Falla and she sounded extremely jealous. I can feel the tone of hate from her words, though I was baffled because the ‘Purple Flower’ is actually an herb used for relieving headaches.

Why would she give Tora that herb?

“Of course, I already filled all the lamps in the house with oils made from Lune Leaves. It will become a lethal poison to the person who’s holding the Purple Flower. That is why we need a host so that we won’t be needing to touch the flower. The youngest would be a perfect bait for the plan since she trusts you so much.” The man explained with a menacing tone.

My jaw dropped and I felt shivers down my spine hearing them say the youngest. They are talking about Nyala. For some reason, I felt terrified because I suddenly remembered the menacing voice of the god Sephtis in my dreams. I felt nauseous and worried at the same time for Tora and Nyala.

They are not only planning to poison Tora, they also planned to poison a member of their family. I couldn’t explain how terrifying it was. I wanted to open the door and check if it really was Falla, but I couldn’t move from fright. My hands were feeling cold despite wearing my gloves back on. My cold sweat kept dripping from my face, back, chest and hands. I was getting quite suffocated from the cramped place I was hiding in.

Their scents are also suffocating me. It stinks like rotten flesh.

How can they talk lightly about killing people?

How can their conscience bear to kill their kin?

Their brief talk ended, but I was still stunned inside the closet. I couldn’t move myself due to fright. The steam from my heavy breath filled my mask making it so uncomfortable, but I could move even an inch due to shock and anxiety.

I don’t know how long I stayed still like a lifeless corpse in the closet. I almost passed out due to the shock I felt. My body was trembling and my mind kept on thinking about the things I’ve read in the translations.

I felt like I was being pulled into the abyss, but I still tried to bring myself back to reality, thinking that I need to inform the others about what I have heard. I tried to control my breathing to calm myself down, but it was too hard to do so. I need to keep myself together, this is not the time for this. However, my body doesn’t comply with what my mind was telling me.

I tried thinking about good things to divert my thought and Dillon suddenly came to my mind. I remembered he used to tail around my father, like a duckling who’s following its mother duck. I even think sometimes that he fits more as the real child of my father than I was.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Thinking about it only helped me calm down a little. However, I suddenly felt sad thinking about my father.

Fortunately, I heard a set of footsteps approaching the room.

“Ari? Where are you? Are you here?” A familiar voice called out desperately.

A faint familiar scent suddenly lingered between the gaps of the closet door.

“D-Dillon….” I gasped with a trembling tone, though I still couldn’t move.

The door suddenly opened beyond my eyes revealing Dillon’s worried face. My tears kept rushing down involuntarily despite the sudden relief.

“W-what happened, Ari? Why are you here? W-why are you crying?” He asked while panicking.

He was flustered by my disheveled look. He wanted to pull me out of the closet, but he was afraid of worsening my condition.

“Can you stand?” He asked worriedly.

I shook my head lightly while trying to calm myself down. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about the menacing voice that has a similar vibe to the god Sephtis.

“*Sigh* I can’t transform into my beast form because it might cause a commotion… Wait here… I’ll be back with Tora…” Dillon mumbled in a hurry as he turned his back at me.

I panicked for some reason. I don’t want to be alone. I’m too scared.

I grabbed his tail as he was about to leave.

“Ah… Ari… What’s wrong?” He jolted and moaned in pain due to the sudden pulling on his tail.

I don’t know how he reacted as I unintentionally tightened my grip on his tail. I was looking down, distressed from the shock. I don’t even understand what I was doing.

“S-Sorry… C-Can you s-stay for a while… I don’t want to be alone… P-Please…” I asked in a low voice.

He faced me and bent down as he transformed into his beast form. I loosened up my grip as he pulled his tail gently away from my grasp. He rubbed his face and his thick mane on my face and neck. I hugged him tightly, trying to calm myself down.

He patiently waited for me and tried to comfort me despite being baffled by the situation. He didn’t force me to explain the situation.

We stayed still for a long time until we suddenly sensed Lowell’s presence.

“I-I’ll call Tora and the others. Wait for a little bit.” He uttered suddenly upon seeing me trembling on the floor while hugging Dillon tightly.

His expression and tone was a mixture of jealousy and worry. He tried to conceal his distress by clenching his fist as he ran off immediately after his brief statement.