Ari (Child of the Beastman Goddess)

“Arie!!! My dearest… Please! Pull yourself together!” a voice suddenly echoed all over the Abyss and caught me right before my body hit the surface of the lake.

The scent of the meadow in the spring filled me with warmth despite the agony in my heart.

I felt my tears gushing down my face as I tried to open my eyes.

A familiar face I missed so much though his image differed from what I remembered. Half of his hair and one of his wings became black. His eyes turned golden like my mother’s eyes and his hair became longer.

“Father… Ayla’s gone… It’s all my fault..,” I agonized as I wept curling in his arms.

“It’s not your fault, my dearest. It’s your Father’s fault. It is my fault..,” he trembled as we fled away from the Abyss.

My father brought me back to Nirvana holding me tightly in his arms.

Dylan ran worriedly towards us while looking around confusedly as he knelt before us without uttering a word.

“Follow us,” my father ordered.

Dylan followed us from behind as my father turned around and walked through the garden where Ayla and I usually play.

I remembered when we had an argument regarding the Stone of Oath I awarded to Dylan, then she learned that I was bullied and got angry at the other children of the Immortals. She had never left my side since then.

I remembered the time when we chased after Owell to change his color and changed his name while riding Gurion’s back.

I remembered when we made wreaths together, then placed it on Owell and Gurion’s head. We laughed together because they extremely disliked it.

I trembled due to the pain in my chest that I couldn’t handle as I whimpered and drenched my father’s silk clothing.

My father walked to a familiar building with a huge staircase with multiple glamorous rooms painted in white. The pillars and tiles were made of marble, with multiple huge windows that enabled the light to enter and kept the place bright and warm.

There were three main rooms in it; the center one was our parents’ room, the one on the left used to be my room and the one on the right was Ayla’s room. All the main rooms had an overlooking view of the garden through the balconies. The other rooms were allocated to the other gods and goddesses who stayed with us in Nirvana.

He brought me to my bed and had the curtain to the balcony closed as he lit up the light of the crystals around my room.

He healed my wounds and burns as he asked Dylan to get some new sets of clothes.

I suddenly felt light, but still felt horrible as my chest ached and my mind was a mess.

“Stay here for a moment and rest. I will have the servants prepare some meals and inform your mother about it,” he said as Dylan came back with a new set of clothes.

He looked at me while cupping my face and wiping my tears with his trembling hands. His eyes were dampened though he kept his posture firmly. He loved Ayla the same way he loves me, but I was the one who caused her death.

The feeling of guilt was so overwhelming that I couldn’t speak a word and just kept crying. I held his warm hands tightly as I wept silently.

I wanted to tell him I miss him so much and I wanted to share the story of our journey, but no words could come out from my mouth. I was so overwhelmed by the mixed emotions of grief from Ayla’s death, though I was relieved that he was finally alright.

“I’ll be back with your mother. Stay with Dylan for a moment. I won’t take long,” he consoled as he briefly hugged me tightly before leaving me alone with Dylan.

My father kept the door open so I agonized as I stared blankly at the opening where Ayla usually peeks while grinning as she greets me every morning when we were young.

Dylan closed the door and walked near as he helped me change my clothes.

I looked at the mirror and saw that my appearance didn’t change so much unlike my father, despite gaining Ayla’s power except my longer hair and my eyes that turned golden.

“It’s both a light power after all,” I mumbled while touching the reflection of the insignia of the combined moon and sun on the mirror.

Dylan looked away with pity without uttering a word upon seeing me weep silently in front of the mirror.

I faltered and fell on the floor in despair.

“I should have been… the one dead..,” I grieved, staring blankly at the mirror.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Please… Don’t say such things my dear. She loves you so much, enough to give her life for you,” he trembled as he hugged me tightly in his arms.

“I just had my memories back… We just got reunited after a long time… Yet… She died before my eyes.” I mourned as I remembered how her core and soul fluttered and disappeared right in front of me.

“Get some rest first. The floor is cold,” he said while trembling as he lifted me in his arms and brought me back on my bed.

“My dear… It breaks my heart seeing you like this. I’m sure your parents would be the same. Even your sister would be sad if she sees you right now,” he whispered as he hugged me tightly.

“But she’s no longer here!” I bawled and let out a loud cry.

“I’m sorry… I don’t know how to comfort you at times like this, but you can keep crying on my shoulder until you feel better,” he consoled as he stroked my hair gently.

I kept on weeping in his embrace until the maids and my parents entered my room.

“Hic! Mother… Father..,” I whimpered as Dylan loosened his grip.

I ran towards their direction and hugged them while sobbing.

“Oh my poor daughters..,” my mother wept, trembling as she wept in my arms.

My father remained silent as he began to pule while stroking my back to console me.

They fed me after I calmed down and consoled me until I fell asleep due to exhaustion.

************************************

In my dream, I saw a familiar river and a familiar tall figure with long white hair, tanned body and golden eyes. He looked young, but felt like his existence was far greater than any gods.

I faltered as I knelt down realizing who he was.

“Grandfather..,” I mumbled with a trembling tone, weeping with a defeated tone.

“I’m sorry for your loss and congratulations for fulfilling your role,” he consoled as he hugged me tightly crouching down to reach me.

“Ayla died… It was all my fault,” I mumbled in anguish as I wept in his arms.

“You did your best. She also knew it. Weep as much as you want. I know how much you love one another. I know how much you’re hurting right now. I know my child. However, when you’re already tired of weeping, stand up and move forward and don’t forget,” he coaxed me as he stroked my hair.

“Where do the souls of an Immortal go after death?” I whimpered.

“Somewhere similar to the world you know,” he replied calmly.

“W-Will she have a good family?” I asked.

“I’ll do my best to bless her,” he answered.

“I couldn’t even say goodbye to her..,” I mumbled.

“She’ll be proud to see your success,” he replied.