While flying, I landed back in the forest upon spotting a tree similar to a rubber tree.Upon checking, I confirmed that it really was a rubber tree. I wanted to take some of its resin, but I didn't bring any containers with me and just tied a handkerchief on its branch to mark it, hoping no one would remove it till I went back to fetch some resin. Then, I decided to walk back to familiarize myself with the area.While walking for a while, I suddenly smelled something familiar nearby, but the scent was faint, and it was coming from the cliff just a few meters away.I flew straight to the cliff to check if my intuition was correct, and upon checking, I saw an idiot—I mean, I saw a male beastman tangled up on the vines just a few meters below the cliff smiling at me as if nothing wrong was going on."Ari?" he asked with a surprised smile while he was tangled up and hanging upside down as he pleaded, "Can you help me out for a bit—please?"It was Dillon, who was supposed to be married to
A few more glides through the air, and we were halfway from our destination when it started to rain hard, accompanied by a strong wind. We had to stop and seek shelter in a cave near the area to wait for the rain to stop because I cannot fly in such bad weather. Due to the sudden change in weather, we almost got blown away by the wind. We were soaking wet, but luckily there were dry small branches, leaves, and hard stones inside the cave, so Dillon lit up a bonfire to warm us up and dry ourselves. We didn't remove our clothes, and we just sat down in front of the fire to dry ourselves, patiently waiting for the rain to stop or lessen. The rain did weaken a little, but it was already too dark, and it would be hard for us to return to the tribe because the moon was still covered with thick clouds. It would be hard to see the way back since my eyes were not as sharp as a normal Lion beastman at night because I wasn't trained to function at night, all thanks to my overprotective father,
My heart was pounding so hard, and I was panicking while trying to keep my mind focused on the situation. I tried to check his pulse, but my gloves were too thick to feel a weak pulse. I had to remove it despite trembling as my eyes started to tear up in fright and my head got dizzy while my stomach was turning upside-down. I instinctively yawned a few times, fighting my urge to throw up as I touched his neck, checking for a pulse but finding nothing. I had to perform a consecutive set of chest compressions followed by an artificial ventilation by blowing air into his lungs through his mouth simultaneously until he regained his heartbeat and breath. By that time, I had totally shook aside my fear of males for the time being, as the fright of seeing someone die in front of me overwhelmed me like hell, subconsciously directing me toward saving the patient. I was not sure if I was doing it correctly, but I was sure I followed the steps taught to me during a hands-on practice that I fai
I woke up and felt that I was lying on a cozy, warm bed similar to my bed. There was quite a commotion, but I have not opened my eyes just yet. My father seemed furious while reprimanding someone—I could hear his voice even when I was still half asleep. My father roared at the person he was yelling at, "What have you done to my daughter for her not to wake up until now?!" I could also sense Dillon's scent from a distance. I guessed he was the one being scolded, so I opened my eyes and attempted to stop my father, but strangely, I was too weak to sit up. "Father," I mumbled, trying to get my father's attention. My father suddenly turned his head toward me, trying to help me get up. He suddenly ordered Dillon, who was kneeling just in front of the door, "You! Call out the elders. Hurry up!" It seemed like he was not allowed to enter my room as expected. It was a relief that his wounds were already treated, though he looked messed up because of my father. Even so, he obediently fol
Father was busy preparing for winter, but he still managed to give me some time. Due to the incident, a tribunal trial was scheduled to clarify the issue in front of all the tribesmen. My father had no choice but to follow the rules of the tribe, though he was hesitant to let me face the crowd due to my special condition since there would be a huge number of males who would attend to witness the trial. A few days before the trial, the elder healer allowed Dillon to talk to me. "Ari..." he whispered as he approached me while blushing. He walked right into my room, so I asked, "It seemed like you got permission from my father, was it?" He nodded with a smile—the elder healer stayed by the door, but she looked away to make her presence less awkward. He sat on the chair beside my bed as I sat on the bedside table, facing one another. "It hasn't been long, but I miss you already," he whispered as he held my hand and kissed it sweetly. "I wish I could be with you like this forever."
Everything went smoothly after the trial, as Dillon officially became one of our family. He became my father's assistant instead, since I was no longer allowed to accompany my father on his tasks all throughout the winter. One night, as the winter ended, I suddenly felt dizzy for some reason, so I went to bed early. In my dream, there was a beautiful woman, but I couldn't see her face clearly as I called her subconsciously, "Mom!" "It's time to go," the woman said as she lifted her hand to reach me. "To where?" I asked curiously. She smiled as she pointed out an island right beyond our sight. It was such a beautiful island separated from the other continent and was only connected by a small path created by the ancient race after their continent was separated by the Queen Goddess Hera, according to elders. I could see a pillar at the center of the island going to the sky. Was it a path to Nirvana? I had no idea because my knowledge regarding the Immortals was limited. The elders
Lev's POV The day of the duel arrived while I bid my last kiss on Ari's forehead as she was sleeping soundly on her bed. I couldn't stop myself from worrying, though I had already prepared everything that was needed to be prepared for. I stopped by the lake to drink some water as I talked to Dillon seriously and reminded him for the last time to protect Ari at all costs on my behalf if worse came to worst. He promised me that he will protect her with his life and might, so I believed his words, words he swore to the pride of a Lion beastman. I was sure that I was in good condition right before the duel, but I suddenly felt dizzy right before Bhari's punch landed on my stomach, and I vomited blood until I almost fell unconscious. My memory flashes back beyond my sight. I remembered when Freya and I grew up together—I have liked her since I was young. However, she fell in love with a Black Snake and a Bear. She loved them dearly, but the original rule of the tribe was that once the
Lev's POVWhen I woke up, I realized that the insignia on my chest had suddenly changed into a lion cub with a wing. I was baffled as I ran to the incubation room and saw that Ari had already broken out of the egg. It's a female, but she has a male passive form. What's more, she had a wing similar to the insignia on my chest before it disappeared.I held the delicate little thing as she clung to me while sleeping soundly. She was found to be allergic to males later on, so I was terrified for her safety, even as the alpha of our tribe. She was condemned by the tribe since it would be impossible for her to marry a male due to her state, but I did my best to protect her.I assigned the elder healer to take care of her and to find a way to cure and relieve her of her illness. We did many tests and trials just to find a way for her to live a normal life, but to no avail.My daughter was a rare genius; she could already do tough tasks at a young age, and she never stopped surprising me with