Ari (Child of the Beastman Goddess)

The other Immortals performed their skills to entertain the guests in between meals as part of the celebration. It was fun since Nirvana rarely held a feast, but it was also exhausting because it lasted until dinner time.

“Son, I’ve prepared a room for your family near Arie’s room. I’ve also asked the servants to prepare the bath and new sets of clothing to change. Go ahead and have your wife and daughter take an early rest. I bet they’re tired from the whole day of celebration,” my father said to my brother.

“Thank you, Father,” my brother replied while hugging him briefly before following his instruction.

“Mother… Father… May we go ahead to my room? I feel quite exhausted and sleepy,” I asked.

“Sure, my dearest! Take an early rest. The servants already prepared your baths. But, will your spouses be staying in your room? Would you like me to have them bring some extra blankets and pillows?” my mother asked.

“Yes, please, Mother. Thank you and goodnight!” I replied in gratitude as I hugged her tightly.

“I love you, my dearest. Rest well,” she smiled as she hugged me back.

“How about me? Won’t you hug your father too?” my father prodded with a playful smile.

“You’re so silly, Father! Of course I’ll give you a big hug too!” I grinned as I pulled away from my laughing mother and jumped on him to hug him tightly.

“Honey! Be careful!” Dillon scolded.

My father looked stunned for a moment, then gave a wistful smile.

“*Sigh* You’ve grown so much this time. It still feels like it was just yesterday when you just reached the age of a youngling,” he sighed.

“It’s been years now father, but I’m still your baby even if I grew older,” I grinned.

“Baby..? Right. You’ll always be my baby daughter no matter how old you are. I love you my princess,” my father smiled while stroking my hair and resting his other hand on my back.

“I love you too dad. Nightie night!” I replied, weeping silently in his arms for a moment before pulling away.

I ran back to my spouses’ side and waved to my parents before going away in a hurry.

“Babe, how did your father know the word ‘baby’?” Macan asked while following from behind.

I looked back at them and grinned, “He’s been my father for all three lives.”

They all looked amazed hearing my words except Dylan.

“Didn’t your father die when you were still young?” Macan asked.

“Yes, he did. Let’s hurry up! I really want to take some rest,” I replied, trying to dash to my room.

Dillon suddenly lifted me in his arms and scolded me, “You’re so careless, honey. Are you forgetting that you’re pregnant?”

“Oh! Is it not good for the babies?” I asked as I pulled down his clothing a little to check the pregnancy mark.

“Not exactly, but it could be dangerous at times. We need to have you checked as soon as possible. I’ll study more about pregnancy from now on,” Lowell announced.

“Pregnancy… Hmm… Can’t you check my condition, Mac?” I asked.

“W-What?! Me? B-but I only know how to treat animals, babe!” Macan stammered in shock.

“Oh… I see… To be honest, I still feel anxious with male healers and I was planning to give birth at Dylan’s palace,” I mumbled while frowning.

Dylan looked happy while the others looked anxious.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“O-Okay, babe. I could study with Lowell if you’re really uncomfortable with others,” Macan conceited.

“Yay! I love you all!” I beamed and they all looked flushed.

We arrived at my room and they helped me with my bath without them doing anything weird this time. Though they teased me sometimes.

The servants have already delivered the extra pillows, blankets and comforters. Only two of them can lay down beside me because my bed was smaller than the beds in Dylan’s palace.

“Let’s play a game of who shall lie down beside me,” I suggested.

“What kind of game, dear?” Dylan asked.

“It’s called ‘Rock Paper Scissors’. Mac will explain the mechanics,” I replied.

“Why me, babe?” Macan was flustered.

“Please…” I grinned.

“Oh… Okay..,” he conceited while blushing.

Macan explained the mechanics to them and had them practice until they’re ready. I was quite sleepy already while watching them and I wasn’t able to see who won. I suddenly dozed off and slept for a few hours.

However, during midnight, I suddenly jolted up due to some bad dreams that I couldn’t recall. I realized that Macan and Dillon were beside me.

“They must have won the game,” I mumbled as I sneaked out of bed to go to the balcony.

It was a cold, moonless night. The stars twinkled in the sky. It was quite dark because of the absence of the moon.

“It’s dark. The same as my heart without you, my dear sister,” I mumbled as I looked at the garden below.

I stood up on the cemented railing of the balcony trying to feel the breeze as I danced to the tune of the chirping crickets. I could hear the waves of the water from a distance and the occasional hooting of the owls.

“Ari! Is there something wrong?” he asked as he hopped on top of the railing facing towards me.

“I’m dancing,” I grinned as tears started to stream down my face.

“Would you like me to hum a song for you my dear? You can dance with the wolf, but you need to go down. You might fall,” Dylan offered.

“Oh! Well, then down I go..,” I replied as I deliberately jumped from the balcony, transforming to my passive – aggressive form, then spread and flapped my wings, watching his brief horrified reaction.

“Relax! I can fly. Can’t I?” I chuckled while hovering in front of the balcony.

I pulled Lowell and hugged him to bring him to the garden while Dylan looked from the balcony before starting to hum a melody. The song felt nostalgic that I couldn’t hold back myself.

“Let’s dance. Shall we, Owell?” I invited as I extended my hand with a melancholic smile.

He looked at me with confusion, but he still held my hand without uttering a word.

“Do you know? You used to play with us here,” I asked as I pulled him near.

“I’m confused, Ari. I don’t have any recollection of going here in Nirvana,” he replied as he walked near me and grabbed my waist.

“Not now. During your previous life,” I said as I started to step forward, waltzing in the tune of Dylan’s song.

“My previous life?” he asked while following my lead.

He’s quick to grasp the movements of the dance as if he already knew the dance. I transformed back to my passive form, making him more confused and used my power to create animated figures of our past to show Lowell.

“Do you see the wolf those two children were playing with?” I asked.

“Yes..,” he answered with a confused look on his face.

“That was you when Ayla and I were small. Your name used to be Owell, a silver wolf, but Ayla and I dyed your fur in blue, but accidentally dirtying it caused it to become bluish-gray. Then we named you Lowell. However, you and Gurion died when Sephtis attacked Nirvana. I’m so happy both of you reincarnated again. It’s such a relief,” I explained, dancing while weeping.

“Ari..,” he mumbled.

“I’m really sad… I should have been the one who died back there. It should have been me who disappeared if not for her..,” I wept as I pulled away, pushing him back as I walked a few steps backwards.

I twirled around releasing sparkling lights on the flowers of the garden, mimicking the glow of the light of fireflies. I stepped, twisted and turned around, raising my hand in the air as I shot a beam of light that showers glistening star-like lights that scattered in the sky like a silent firework in my previous life.

Dylan suddenly stopped singing and jumped from the balcony. He used his power to lower the impact of his fall and ran towards me. Then, he pulled me near and hugged me tightly.

“My dear, you might exhaust yourself. Your body is quite cold already,” Dylan said.

“I’ll get her a coat,” Lowell said as he ran with a drenched eyes.

He came back in a few minutes with a thick coat in hand. Dylan took it and helped me to put it on while Lowell looked fazed for some reason.

“Lowell, can you transform into your aggressive form? Please?” I asked.

“B-but you’re afraid of my wolf form,” he stammered in hesitation.

“Please..,” I pleaded eagerly.

He looked hesitant, but he still followed what was asked of him.

He walked back a few steps before transforming to his aggressive form and didn’t dare to move. He waited for my reaction with his worried and drenched eyes.

I pulled away from Dylan and walked near him. I could no longer recall why I was frightened of his form because my memories with Ayla, Owell and Gurion dominated my mind. I hugged his huge furry body as I mourned while reminiscing about my past.