Ari (Child of the Beastman Goddess)

The night was cold so brother Orson snuggled up with me and Gurion, while he was in his beast form to keep us warm as Dillon lay down in front of us. The warmth of their bodies calmed down my distressed heart as I slipped into my dream the moment I closed my eyes.

I felt as if I didn’t dream, but I was sure I slept early. I saw Dillon and Lowell swapped places as Lowell took his turn to rest for the rest of the night. They didn’t notice me and my head felt like it was floating. I tried to speak, but couldn’t. I was confused.

It felt the same as when I was younger in my previous life. I always had realistic nightmares wherein I couldn’t move nor speak.

The anxiety was overwhelming me, but I couldn’t move or scream to get the attention of others. It must be just a dream though it feels terrifyingly realistic. I can feel a cold mist of cloud-like shadow slowly crawling from my foot going up to my legs.

I felt disgusted and terrified at the same time.

“I finally found you… We can finally be one…” A ghostly voice whispered, giving chills down my spine.

I wanted to ask who it was but I couldn’t move nor speak so I just shut my eyes hoping it would end soon while calling out my father’s name in my mind.

“Ari… Wake up…” A nostalgic yet unfamiliar voice called my name as light started to cover me and brought me to a place beyond the living realm.

I was transmitted to a place where an abandoned temple where located. I can no longer determine if I was still in a dream or in reality. The sensation was so vivid while the details of the structure were so exquisite that I was wondering if I am still in the beastman world.

At the temple there were a few statues of seemingly gods and goddesses of the beastman world. A beautiful goddess was at the center of all of them while a familiar figure was kneeling in front of her.

Was it what I thought it was? A figure similar to my father and the woman who showed up in my dream numerous times already. There were also tiny figures in front and at the back of the goddess. Both have similar faces. A very familiar face that made me feel terrified.

What are these?

My head suddenly grew heavy as my sight slowly turned black. I can feel the ground rumbling as it splits open and swallows me into the unknown.

I felt the sensation of falling down, but I suddenly woke up as I hit solid ground.

Dillon, Lowell and brother Orson were surrounding me with worried eyes. They looked terrified and shocked as if they’d seen a monster beyond their sight.

“Ari… Are you finally awake?” Brother Orson asked worriedly.

“Brother… What’s happening?” I said as I gasped for air while trying to calm down my racing heart.

My brother was holding me tightly as if he was restraining me until he confirmed I was already awake.

Gurion was quite far from us, but he was still asleep. Lowell’s lower lip was bleeding as if it was bitten ferociously. He looked so shocked and puzzled at the same time.

Dillon was equally shocked that he couldn’t even utter a single word. He was covered with cuts from his face down to his body.

“What’s going on?” I asked with confusion.

“Ari… I think you were being controlled.” My brother said as he led me to sit in a comfortable position right beside him.

“Controlled? Is there such a thing in this kind of world?” I asked, unintentionally.

They all got confused when I uttered the words ‘this kind of world’. I got flustered when I suddenly realized that I had a slip of a tongue.

“What do you mean by ‘this kind of world’, Ari?” Lowell asked curiously.

I didn’t know how to answer. I didn’t know where to start. I wanted to explain but the words couldn’t come out of my mouth. I got caught. I felt like it was the end. They’ll hate me when they learn that I was not from this world. I was terrified as anxiety overwhelmed me.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Dillon held my hands worryingly trying to calm me down while brother Orson pulled me near to hug me tight as he whispered “Shhh… You don’t need to push yourself if you can’t say it. Your safety is more important for us.”

“Ah… So… Sorry Ari… It’s… It’s ok if you can’t tell us… You don’t need to answer…” Lowell said as he stuttered in panic.

“Can you tell me what just happened…? Was that my fault?” I asked while pointing out their wounds.

“We don’t think it was you. You would never do harm to us… Your body grew suddenly at that moment into an adult and half of your hair turned black while your eyes turned to ash gray. She said… Her name is ‘Ayla’… The goddess of the moonlight. It really… was not you despite the similarities of your face.” Dillon answered with hesitation.

I was stunned as I remembered a voice claiming we would become one. I was so terrified and confused at the same time.

“Goddess… She’s a goddess… Why was she taking over my body..?” I asked, hoping for clarification in a slightly hysterical manner.

“She is a goddess born from the beastman goddess and the first beastman ruler known as the lion of the gods and goddesses. She has a twin named Arie… But the information regarding Arie was limited. It is said that the other twin died right after they were born. Thus, Ayla became the goddess of the moonlight. She was isolated and was sent to the place where the sun never rises due to the death of her twin and father.” Brother Orson explained.

“Ari… Are you perhaps the rebirth of Arie?” Lowell asked in curiosity.

“How? I… I am not… No! It can’t be… It’s totally impossible…” I mumbled in disagreement.

“It’s alright little sis… We will know the answer to all our questions once we arrive at the dwelling place of the chimeras. I bet they all know the truth better than us.” Brother Orson said, trying to calm me down.

“Honestly… there is something I want to tell you all but I don’t know if you would believe me or not.” I started to hesitate.

“We will believe you no matter what it is.” Dillon said as he reassured me with his sweet smile.