A King's Legacy
Chapter 31: Mercy
"You truly have done incredible work with him. In all my years, I haven't seen many beasts capable of doing what he did back there. I can't even say for certain I could have managed such a feat in my prime." Byron Aschefell had been filling the younger coyote's ears with such boastful praise ever since the bandit attack two days prior. Syphur Ictus, the young coyote, and first in command of the prince's guard, could only respond as humbly as ever.
"I'm certain we can both agree that Talan did all the hard work, I was simply the yapping distraction so he could pick them off... Still, even I find it hard to believe he had reduced their numbers so drastically before they ever even noticed him." Byron was lathering the praise on thick that morning.
"It was almost comical in a sense to watch... I almost felt bad for the poor fools. You really have trained him to be a great asset to our young king-to-be. He has the talent and the skill, but it's your tactics that have really set him a cut above the rest." Syphur was almost blushing, Byron quite aware how bad the younger coyote was at accepting praise, but giving it all the same. The older wolf had been the one to scout the common born beast in the first place, after all. The coyote answered the older wolf as respectfully as he always did.
"Perhaps, but even then, you hold the credit once again. I wasn't even through my adolescent years at that point, but you took me in as a student anyway... I learned what I did, and became who I am today only because you saw something worth teaching in a sickly looking stray who was smaller than most other beasts." Byron dismissed the very idea.
"Evidently, I was correct in my assessment that you were capable of far more than life had dealt you. I am simply thankful that I can still turn to you for aid all these years later... There are so many of us who aren't around for that anymore..." Syphur nodded in agreement, Byron quickly changed the subject, not meaning to sound so solemn.
"So, it has been over four years since you were placed in charge of the prince's personal guard. Has the title been treating you kindly?" The coyote let out a half groan, half sigh before he answered that question.
"Right now? It's treating me like a training dummy... The kingdom is falling apart at the very core, the prince was declared dead, but was actually transported to the other side of the world, and now I soon have to convince the regents that with the prince alive, the Regicide's Endeavor should be called off... All without a lick of proof at this time... Not to say your word isn't trustworthy! It's simply..." Byron chuckled as he dismissed the coyote's alarmed expression at the unintentional insult.
"Do not worry, I understand what you meant. No single beast's word alone would be enough to sway such a heavy decision... With any luck, we will have that proof in the form of the prince himself soon enough." Syphur nodded in agreement, continuing where he had left off.
"I certainly hope so... Because right now, I'm feeling like a pretty big failure as the one sworn responsible for the prince's well-being... And since Talan carries that burden as my second in command, He too feels responsible... Even more so considering he was actually there for the attack on the Capital. All the smooth victories against all the bandits in the world wouldn't ease his unrest in this moment... Not that I can blame him." Byron went silent for a while before answering that statement.
"In truth, who could? His family has been torn apart... Once again. His prince has been stolen out from under his watch... And even should we reunite with that prince, the crown still rests on an undecided brow... I know Talan has his faults, but I truly can't help but pity him." Syphur answered that a bit quietly.
"His fault, is carrying so much blame, and burden with him... That's truly the one weakness I know of on that panther... He is much like his father when it comes to that. General Venatus carried more weight than most could bear for many years... Sometimes, I am almost thankful the prince is inherit..." The wise coyote stopped himself before he ever said something so treasonous, but the older wolf was tired, and had no trouble saying what the other beast had reserved.
"There is nothing shameful about being grateful for a new king to serve... Jagón did his duty, as we all did back then... But I am convinced Tyfin will bring this country what it actually needs... What his father had lost somewhere along his path. It is alright to be hopeful that the future goes better than the past has." It was Syphur's turn to go silent for a moment before replying in a low voice.
"Do you remember that night? When the last human kingdom of Adamare fell? We were both among the few that were still in that hall when the great General Venatus walked out holding that human cub... Sometimes, I still can't believe he was allowed to keep him... I wasn't part of the battle back then, per your orders, but I remember how terribly sad it all was... It didn't feel like a victory at all to me, it barley even felt like a battle... Do you still think of that war? Do... Do you try not to?"
Byron took a deep, concentrated breath in, and exhaled slowly into a sigh. The veteran dropped his eyes just a little as he replied rather softly.
"I think about what we all had a part in often... More so as of late it seems... Sometimes, I even wonder if the reason I had to lose a son was to compensate for all the ones I have taken from their mother's... But then I remember that it was a demon that killed my son, and if there were any true justice in this world, it would have taken me back then instead... Silbern would've lived, as the innocent should, and I would have perished, as the corrupt, and misguided should... Yes, I think about the things I had a part in often, young Syphur... And I do everything within my power to ensure those that follow after me don't end up making those same mistakes as well."
Syphur looked to the retired general with a faint smile, grateful the older wolf was still here to lend such counsel. Syphur had quite the reply ready for that, but held his words when the noble wolf lowered his head as if in pain, and rested his right palm against his right eye. The coyote immediately recognized the gesture, and was eager to hear an update through the bloodskill, but remained silent so the veteran could concentrate. A moment later, Byron raised his head and spoke gently in reply, so the coyote could hear as well.
"Daughter, I must admit, this is a surprise. How are you, Erdie?" Syphur tensed up a little as the noble wolf spoke his daughter's nickname. The coyote quickly looked down as the conversation continued onwards. Lady Erden was there, and Syphur was quite preoccupied with his thumping heart... Byron received his answer shortly, his daughter speaking a bit cautiously.
"Hello father... I hope the trip hasn't been too hard on you? Is Amboss around?" The father replied, still speaking so the coyote could hear his words.
"Not at all! I've rather enjoyed the countryside. Besides, we are only a few days away from you now, and getting to see the rest of my family is motivation enough for these old bones to remain sated. Amboss is actually sleeping right now though, do I need to wake him?" Erden ignored half of that statement, opting instead to get to the point.
"I am elated to hear the trip has been steady, and no need to wake Amboss, you can have all the fun filling him in later. My head is hurting enough as it is... But there is news father..." Byron answered optimistically.
"There will always be troubling reports, my daughter. I don't think I have to tell you of all beasts how uncertain and restless the people are right now." Erden shook her head as she swiftly dismissed the outlook.
"Not like this... Father, can you handle taking some of Stahl's memories right now?" Byron was shocked, but his response came swiftly.
"If you have news of your brother or Rust, then yes, I can handle it, just give me a moment to ready myself." Byron closed his eyes, and steeled his resolve, preparing his war-torn heart for news that may stop it all together. With a shaky grunt, he mentally signaled his daughter to go ahead. The memories came like an arrow sinking into flesh.
Loss, confusion, fear, anger, self-loathing, and an overwhelming sense of failure... His son had taken quite the beating, and certainly needed some rest... But Stahl was alive, and so was Rust, and that was more than enough for the older wolf to breathe out a sigh of relief. Erden was quick to question that reaction.
"For some reason, you don't seem too concerned about what has transpired... Did you not get the memories?" Byron took a steadying breath in, and spoke his answer as if it were all so easily dismissible.
"I received them, thank you, daughter. My son lives, and though his heart is heavy and his duty grave, I may soon embrace him again... I can talk with him about the rest then." Erden was almost annoyed by that passive reasoning, but understood what her father really meant by it. Instead, she shifted the focus.
"And Rust? He inherited the Sicario bloodskill... Stahl has been teaching him to fight... And now he's alone with both a traitorous bear, and the son of Reiner Candori. Does that not bother you?" Byron chuckled a little as he replied to that question.
"Oh, that's going to be quite a mess for certain, but Rust is allowed to choose his own path... He just gets to be the one that convinces his mother, because not even I have that kind of bravery left in me." The wolf paused for a moment before commenting a little more on that.
"The former General Corper Paxus still living comes as quite a shock to me, I had heard he'd perished before King Alocer's war on humanity had even concluded... But if he is still anything like the beast I once fought alongside, then Rust is with one of the safest escorts possible. He was the head of Queen Talia's own guard, after all. Keeping people safe and alive was his job, and he was very good at it. If he is considered a traitor for failing to stop an unstoppable assault on the queen, or for simply falling in love with a human and trying to save her, then he is a traitor that I would still welcome into my own home, for neither should be considered any crime." Erden went silent for a long while, and finally addressed what her father had been dodging.
"Alright... I tried to give you time to do it yourself, but my head is throbbing, and I'm getting tired father. Stahl pretty well drained me with that conversation, and I still have to try and reach him with a response... And you are going to give me that answer, father. Please don't make me force it out of you." Byron considered the challenge for a moment, but brushed the thought aside quickly enough. Not even his experience was a match for his daughter's capability when it came to their bloodskill, she was the prime user for a reason. More than that, though, Byron knew Stahl needed to know what he had done... His son's mate needed some true hope now. The retired general answered his daughter with a statement instead.
"I do not know what that demon speaks of, as I don't believe I've ever had any encounter with him before the ceremony... But it said something similar to me back then. It called me the beast of mercy, and it spared your brother Amboss because of it. I have thought heavily since, and I cannot fathom what I could've ever done to aid such a monster... But I am not so certain that demon is the monster I believed it to be anymore, not after what it did for Stahl... Certainly, it is an enemy to our country, but I can't help but wonder..." Erden replied a bit cautiously to that.
"I believe you, but there's something I do still need to know... Why did you tell Stahl to go north, and keep it hidden from everyone else? I didn't even catch that the last moon, but I saw it in Stahl's memories... He asked me to find out, and even if he hadn't, I was planning to. What aren't you telling us, father? You aren't the kind to keep such secrets from your family in such dire circumstances, or at least, you didn't use to be." Erden felt something unusual from her father then, something she had rarely ever felt from the old, and noble wolf.
Byron Aschefell was truly afraid to confess his reasoning, but his son deserved to know... Even if it was nothing short of treason. Although the wolf was speaking mentally, his voice was still quite shaky as he confessed a secret well buried for over twenty years. A secret that could get him, his family, and an unknown amount of others killed if it ever got out. As he focused on the hidden memory, he let out a heavy sigh as he began.
"It feels like a lifetime ago..."
===
The sword demon stood gazing into the distance, seemingly deep in thought ever since his son had lost that arm. Calium was growing uneasy, knowing what lie just before them now... His master had confirmed as much, after all. He believed in his son, and had given everything so that boy could make it to the other side of that mountain... But he was almost worried that Solis may take the easy choice at this point.
Calium was starting to worry that his son may just surrender everything after all. That was his choice and right if so, and it would certainly serve those beastmen justice... But it still wasn't what the deceased king wanted to happen. Regardless, he just wanted his son to have the freedom to choose in the first place... That freedom was all the former human king ever wanted for his son... But the part of his heart that remained alive just couldn't help but be afraid now. Of all the things possible, the once human never would've believed that a demon could feel fear...
The thought was momentarily paused as a spear of light erupted through his chest, the demon feeling his presence crumble away before reforming just as quickly. It didn't hurt, and he was still able to process thought in between after so many times... But Calium was growing pretty bored of being Cortist's target for practice. The demon turned after reforming, and spoke with a bit of a defeated sigh.
"That's about the twentieth time you've speared me today. I think you've got it down by now." It was Death that answered the pessimism, speaking in an almost belittling manner, only to his soldier.
"Now, now. No need to put such a damper on his progress. You know as well as I do what he has to prepare for. He's going to need all the practice he can get, my old friend." As his master answered him mentally, the young panther apologized verbally at the same time. Calium just sighed again and grumbled out a response.
"It's fine... So you've mastered four bases now? That's more than we were expecting at this rate, but that's for the best." Cortist was a bit surprised. The demon hadn't exactly been talkative since Aster lost his arm... Cortist still wasn't certain how he felt about that besides angry on his brother's behalf, but Death had told him it wouldn't be an issue either way, whatever that meant, so the panther had tabled that anger for the time being... Mostly due to his master also informing him that he had another fight just ahead of him, one Aster would need him to truly be ready for, so the panther had doubled down on his practice to learn this magic that just felt so alive, that worked off of his intent alone rather than his chanting. Cortist was making decent progress considering he didn't even know it existed a few days prior. The young panther spoke enthusiastically.
"Fire is still my strongest point, but I can mentally command lightning easily enough as well. Earth gives me trouble on the offensive side of things, but I think I can use it defensively at least. This light magic is a bit odd though... Hard to feel what it wants, but it usually does what I ask of it." Death answered both his envoy, and his soldier this time.
"Your personality holds a lot of the blame there... You have both solid morals, and foundation, which is what the earth seeks out in a master. Do not worry, little kitten, It will yield fully to you in time. Furthermore, your energy is vast, and even stronger is what the lightning aspires to become, so it believes you quite a benevolent wielder when you are able to feed it's current so thoroughly. The light magic shines brightest unhindered, so it remains rather undecided about you with such a clouded heart. Frankly, you haven't impressed it too much, but it sees your potential... You need only stop casting such shadows of doubt over it. The fire suits you so well because of your heart..." Death grew silent, letting his words fade off. Cortist found that stopping point strange, and pried a little further.
"What about my heart makes the fire serve me so easily?" Death answered, but did not answer what was asked. He would not lie, after all...
"You'll learn for yourself soon enough, for now, simply know that those flames are your greatest tool in battle right now. The other magics will have to wait... You're pretty off-putting to most of them. I'm not certain water nor ice will serve you easily, factoring in your lack of level-headedness, but darkness can gain an affinity for nearly anyone with enough coaxing. There are others more within your reach... But for now, my kitten, you will rest. You are going to need it."
Cortist groaned a little at that order, not exactly thrilled to be still with his thoughts once again, but knowing that if his master was actually warning him about something beforehand, then it was probably worth taking seriously. Death never seemed to worry about much, and certainly seemed unbothered by most things, but the mage just had this sneaking suspicion that the demon wasn't the only one growing uneasy about whatever was approaching... Cortist certainly would've never anticipated what his master's first true role for him would turn out to be, but he would finally know that answer shortly... And to discover the second one, he would only need to wait just a short while after.
===
"You seem distracted." Corper was speaking Oust's way, still holding his palms up in various positions all the while as he made his usual movements. Oust watched Rust trigger his bloodskill twice in quick succession, landing a tap on each of the bear's palms with a quick jab before repeating the process all over as Sir Corper shifted positions. Corper had decided Rust needed to work on his stamina the first official day of his training, and the little fox was making as steady progress as before. Oust felt it obvious he was distracted... It was like his master was doing his usual dance, and the fox was jumping all through the air around him like a fly all the while. The tiger spoke, still chuckling a little at the thought.
"Sorry... It's just strange watching you two... Do you always teach so unconventionally?" Corper laughed, Rust landing another quick tap on his palm as he teleported before the bear again. The adolescent was growing pretty tired by that point, but didn't want to let the morning training session end yet, something that he was beginning to make a habit of it seemed. The bear spoke as casually as usual.
"I just adjust my methods to fit the student is all... Perhaps you should try adjusting yours. Go, get a little alone time, as I have already told you to. It can do you some good after all of this. Besides, this cub won't be letting me stop for a while longer it seems..." Rust beamed at that response, and snickered as he spoke his trigger, landing another rapid jab against the bear's palm. Oust just grumbled in protest. He wasn't exactly fond of being alone now, it almost worried him... It made him feel like he would wake up any moment now, and his father would be standing there... But the tiger yielded, and turned to head west a little further. Rust cheerily yapped out to the tiger as he stepped off.
"Take your time! Remember to learn something from it!" Oust only grumbled out another grumpy response to that as he stalked off a ways. They had been making pretty great progress, and the forest was thinning out a lot where they were now. The three expected they would reach the edge of it before the afternoon was up, and Oust was never more grateful. He had some precious memories in these woods now, but things that were beyond his understanding had also occurred there, and so the tiger found peace a hard thing to achieve under such circumstances. Instead, as it usually did when he was all alone, Oust found his mind simply swirling nonstop in circles, worry and fear were nipping at his confidence as usual, but hope, resolution, and a touch of tenderness were keeping the tiger plenty afloat for the first time in a long time.
Oust stopped suddenly, not even realizing he had been walking for over fifteen minutes. Despite his earlier hesitancy, he was actually enjoying the walk it seemed... But there was a reason the tiger stopped so suddenly, so Oust raised his nose a little higher, and took another sniff at the light wind rolling in from the mountains to the north. Whatever trace of scent that the wind had carried to him had all but vanished, and Oust certainly didn't have the nose of a canine, but he was almost certain he smelled Aster for a brief moment...
The beast turned away with a sigh, lowering his head back down as he berated himself.
`Just your mind playing tricks on you, Oust. Trying to make you see what simply isn't there.' The beast turned back west, and took several steps forward as his mind churned around in those damned circles again... The beast halted once more, turned his gaze back to his right, and cursed his curiosity as he changed course. Oust started north for a while, feeling foolish as he dared to hope for a moment. He found himself dazing out as he walked again, the runt being at the forefront of his thoughts once more since the last he had seen him... Since that night.
Oust jolted to a halt, his eyes going wide as his ears snapped forward... Even with his excellent hearing, he had to strain to hear it... But the tiger was certain, he had heard somebody talking just now... The tiger felt that familiar twinge of hope that he would stumble across the runt flutter in his heart once more, and began silently shifting his head, waiting for more of the speech to come to him. As the wind died down for the shortest moment, Oust located the voice. It was coming from just a little further ahead...
===
Flose was not in the best of shape... He felt unbearably hot, fatigued beyond all reason and, possibly worst of all, his breathing was getting heavier by the second. His lungs felt like they were sticky... Not even he couldn't deny the truth anymore, he had contracted it, and even if he did find the daisies he needed at this point, he was probably going to die in that forest before he could ever get the chance to use them... But that wasn't going to stop him from trying. He spoke raggedly, his voice coming out rather squeaky as he did so.
"Mercy... We just need that flower... If you can find even one, maybe I can make enough to test it... Maybe everyone else won't have to die... Maybe I don't have to die here..." The little red cardinal chirped a bit sadly, and took off once more, desperately trying to find what was asked of it. Flose watched her go, and turned to lean back against the larger tree trunk as he worked on trying to breathe. He went into a coughing fit a moment later, his head throbbing as he struggled to catch a breath that just didn't want to come to him. His chest felt bubbly the few times he did get some air in, and he was truly beginning to fear what was to become of him.
Flose took a moment, but managed to stand for a short while after his cough had died down. He leaned forward ,and rested his hands on his knees, fighting for balance. A bead of sweat rolled off the tip of his nose, dropping down to soak into his mother's cloak still drawn over him. Just as he finally started to reach a short reprieve while the dizziness cleared, he heard a small twig snap behind him.
Suddenly, Mercy was screaming at him to run as she circled back into the edge of the small clearing... Before Flose could ever even fully turn around to see what the cardinal was trying to warn him about, there were two large hangs gripping at either shoulder. A monstrous weight slammed into him, hard enough to knock his cowl down from over his face just as the pair began falling to the ground below.
Right as Oust pinned the mysterious, hooded figure to the ground for questioning, his jaw fell open, drawing in a sharp breath of pure shock. As his mind raced to make sense of what his vision was showing him, Oust's fingers trembled against what now lie trapped just below him... Something that was trembling far more than the tiger himself was... Not that we can blame Flose, though, sickness or no sickness, most beasts didn't exactly have a reputation of mercy when it came to humans like himself.
===
It felt like a lifetime ago, but Byron Aschefell could still remember it all so easily... Twenty years was a long time in some ways, but it was merely the turning of a page in others... Never enough time to truly forget what those faces looked like as their home was decimated.
In truth, Byron was disgusted with how far this entire ordeal had went... Sure, his king deserved his justice... But was that truly what they could call it at this point? After watching the final human kingdom of Adamare fall, no... After playing his part in its very demise, the wolf general was left with only his empty heart in such now empty halls... Halls his own soldiers were responsible for clearing, per the king's order.
Alocer had given the command just as he stepped off into the human king's throne room. "Search the grounds, kill any remaining human on sight." Even those orders had been followed to the end... And the beast couldn't help but think it...
`We went too far...' Byron was disgusted. He had signed up for the army not only for his duty as an Aschefell, but to fight and slay demons... Such slaughter was not something he justified, but even so... His pleading had been silenced, and the wolf fell in line, just like nearly every other beast of Alora had. The wolf turned away in self-loathing anger, slamming a fist against a door hanging half-closed. As the wood flew open, the wolf noticed a movement just before him.
There was a child... Maybe on her eighth or ninth year... Around the same age as his little Erdie-Birdie was. She was staring at the opened door wide-eyed, clutching onto a book of all things. Byron looked a bit closer, and noted her appearance. Her clothing alone told him she was certainly of noble descent, her curly hair was a deep red, one that almost looked like pooling blood to the beast. As the girl stood there petrified, Byron turned his head to the other side of the room. That's when he realized what had transpired here.
There was a small passageway in the stone, hidden behind one of the paintings. The door had been left wide open, meaning the girl had been hiding for the initial raid, and was likely coming back out to retrieve something with the coast being clear. Evidently, she hadn't expected the general to be making his final check of his assigned wing. As the two stood there in frozen shock, simply gazing at one another, a call from down the hall came to the noble wolf.
"General Aschefell, the king has claimed his victory! The human king is dead! King Alocer has requested us to regroup in the main hall." Byron looked away from the child, and back to his soldier. He answered after a momentary hesitation.
"Thank you... I'll be there shortly..." The great general looked back to the room, and saw the girl had taken a few steps back to a vanity. She was now clutching a pair of scissors in her shaky hand, holding it before her defensively as the other clutched at that book. She had lowered her head a little, preparing herself to fight to the end. Byron saw she was starting to shed silent tears now, and wondered if it was related to the news of the human king's death, or simply because she was afraid of dying now that she had been discovered. Byron's soldier called out once more as he started down the hall.
"Is everything alright, General?" Byron turned to his approaching soldier, and glanced back to the human girl one final time. He decided then and there... He didn't sign up for murdering children...
"No. This hall is all clear... Good work you beasts. Come, our king awaits." As the noble wolf turned, and swung the door closed behind himself, he could feel the girl just staring at him in disbelief. Perhaps it would make no difference at all... But maybe, just maybe... That kindness would be enough to actually make some kind of difference in that girl's fate... Maybe it would even help him sleep at night after the last four days of genocide he had played his part in.
Erden came up from the memory with a jolt, gasping for air as her father spoke in a sadder tone.
"I am sorry you had to see so many of my emotions from that night... I wasn't in a great state of mind as I'm certain you noticed, but that is what I meant by what I told Stahl. I never heard any reports that another human was found after that search, so I could only assume that maybe there was a chance..." Erden cut in, feeling a lot more sympathetic to her father than she had for quite some time now.
"It's alright... I understand why you did it father, and honestly, I'm a little proud to know you did. That girl was not our enemy. She did not kill our queen... But you could've told us-" Byron cut his daughter off this time, answering hastily.
"No, I could not... I've seen beasts questioned under forced truth give up their entire families as traitors. I've watched friends slay the loved ones of allies by order of life-oath... No, I could not tell you, because in this world of ours, the more people that know a secret, means the more people who can be harmed by it... And now, with Stahl falling for that human boy, and that same boy's fate being so uncertain, I couldn't risk telling any of you before, lest it be forced out of you in questioning... I haven't told anyone of that before, and my daughter, it only travels to Stahl... Please, do not reveal this to anyone, it is not truly even my secret to tell anymore..." Erden replied thoughtfully.
"I won't, father... Only Stahl, I promise you." Erden huffed as the strain doubled down, processing a memory locked away for so long was more draining than a recent one. Byron spoke warmly then.
"If you need to go, I understand, my Erdie-Birdie. I truly hope I helped you some with all of this... I find it a bit hard to feel I have much use left at all some days, so I really do appreciate you doing this for your brother. You two were always close, and I'm glad to see it once again... Oh, and speaking of..." Byron resumed speaking aloud once again, finally bringing the coyote back into the loop with quite a statement.
"Sir Syphur says hello, by the way. I'm certain he's eager to see you... It has been years since you two last saw each other, after all. " Erden sucked in a breath of realization that the coyote was sitting right beside her father the entire time, already well on his way to her... She began panicking almost as much as the coyote did. Syphur nearly fell off the wagon from being caught so off guard at the proclamation, quickly having to readjust the reigns before the horses tipped the very carriage he was steering. It was Erden who quickly tripped over herself to get a shrill response out.
"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU WERE BRINGING SIR SYPHUR!!! FATHER!" Byron Aschefell used every bit of experience from his years as a knight to both hold in his laughter, and to keep a straight face as he casually answered this out loud as well.
"I'm not certain why it needed mentioning? He's the first in command of the prince's guard, it's only natural he come on a mission to retrieve the prince... Besides, you both have quite a bit of arguing with stubborn beasts ahead of yourselves, and I figured it would only make sense to simply have you two working together beforehand. You know, get a little head start over the other regents on the matter of the crown's succession."
Byron held his composure valiantly as he could feel his daughter absolutely glaring through the connection... She always had a soft spot for that young stray her father took in all those years ago. She had watched him go from squire, to full blown knight, after all. Syphur, unknowingly to Erden, had developed those same feelings years ago, but out of respect for both her, and her father's kindness to him, Syphur had never made the move... Finally, Erden snapped back in response to that nonsense.
"YOU DO REALIZE I CAN FEEL YOU FEIGNING IGNORANCE, RIGHT?!? UGHH! DAMMIT FATHER... I have to go... I need to handle some things before you arrive... Do you need anything else? Or can I get a little rest now? I still have to talk to Stahl again." Byron flashed a fanged smile as he answered that truthfully, speaking only mentally to his daughter.
"Yes, there is one more thing that would be nice actually... I love you, my Erdie-Birdie." Erden Aschefell just sighed loudly before pausing for a moment. Here she was almost on her thirtieth year, and he still insisted on something that she had come up with when she was seven... A soft smile formed on her own muzzle as she humored the older wolf. Erden didn't realize it, but she was finally starting to let her family back in after closing them off for so long. Byron certainly saw his opportunity, however, and was desperate enough to press his luck.
"I love you too, my bother for a father." The two hadn't spoken that little word game since she was barely an adolescent, but neither the younger wolf, nor the older one could help but flash a fanged smile when she repeated it after so long...
===
Oust was stunned. He had assumed it must be an enemy sent to spy on them... Why else would anyone be wearing a cloak in such heat and humidity? After he had snuck up behind the figure, he noticed they were a little small, and assumed it was probably just a rodent... But he had overestimated how hunched over the figure was, and put way too much force behind his pounce. Pinning a small human boy beneath himself was the last thing Oust had expected to happen way out there...
As the beast gazed down at the startled human, his mind raced to identify all he could about the boy. He was fair, far more fair skinned than Aster was, even with the current redness to his flesh, and far less muscular for certain. In fact, Oust was almost certain that this human had to be smaller than Aster was in almost every way... Even though they seemed roughly the same age. His golden blonde hair was wavy, and ended in small tufts that poked out, giving a semblance to lighter fields of hay bending in the wind as it framed his more narrow face. Oust couldn't help but notice the faintest tint of a lighter orange mixed in that hair as well where the sun shone upon it.
The boy had a few small, brown dots littered over his cheeks, something that made the beast a bit curious. Where Aster had a good deal of facial hair growing in, this human apparently didn't have that feature at all, but what he did have, were the most brilliant, and darkest green eyes the beast had ever seen set into a face before. It was like he could smell the heart of the forest itself as he gazed into such verdant, emerald orbs... And then, Oust was drawn back to reality as a bird, of all things, dived down at him, pecking him right in the eye. The beast released the human momentarily to shield himself from the unexpected assault.
Flose wasn't going to waste the opportunity Mercy had made for him, and quickly shrugged free, darting off from the terrifying tiger, stumbling a bit as he strained to keep his footing in his condition. He was honestly just so afraid... They had told him stories of what those monsters did to his kind his entire life, and Flose had no intentions of being such a victim. It wasn't until a startled cry sounded behind him that the human finally stopped fleeing, and quickly turned back towards the tiger. As afraid of such a massive beast as Flose was, he couldn't abandon Mercy like that... Oust had snatched a hold of the little cardinal after it made another attempt to dive at him. Before Oust even knew exactly what was going on, he found himself in an extremely uncomfortable situation... One that was far too familiar in the worst of ways.
"PLEASE! STOP! DON'T HURT HER! I'LL SURRENDER... Just please, don't hurt her..." The boy was positively frantic, he fell to his knees, and strained to hold his hands up to either side, staring straight into Oust's piercing, red eyes, as he panted so heavily between words. Oust realized the human was crying with another jolt of shock... He had surrendered, and he was crying, and he done both for the sake of a single bird...
Suddenly, the tiger found himself recalling a similar night... Only this time, this boy was where Oust once was, and he was standing Where Richta was... Where his father was... Where they killed that little friend he made in the garden right in front of him... Oust was far too dumbfounded to really make much of a move, but the boy repeated himself once again, his voice slurring a little as he struggled to keep breathing.
"Please... You have me, so just let her go. You're hurting her wing..." With a final shake of realization that this was actually happening, Oust looked down at his hands at last. The small cardinal was flailing vainly to escape, flapping its one wing desperately as the other was crumpled roughly in his palm. In his own moment of panic, Oust quickly opened his hand, and released the bird. She plummeted straight to the ground, flapping the broken wing vainly as she spiraled. Oust caught her far more gently this time before she ever hit the ground. The tiger knelt, and held her out before him carefully in his large hands. Oust spoke slowly, realizing how afraid this human was of him at last.
"It's alright. I didn't mean to scare you, or hurt her... I was simply caught off guard is all. I'm sorry about her wing, but I think I can help... Hey... You don't look so great..." As Flose's fever rose to an unbearable temperature, as he gave up any hope of survival after being discovered, and as his exhaustion overtook him shortly after, the weak little human's eyes fluttered briefly, and he mumbled out a final plea for his feathered friend's sake. A plea that Oust heavily misinterpreted.
"Mercy..." While carefully cradling the injured bird with his left hand, Oust bolted forward, reaching out with his right to catch the collapsing human just before he really faded off. As the boy slinked against the large beast through his sickness, Oust was left both stunned, and wide-eyed at what had transpired...
After recovering from his shocking discovery at last, the tiger carefully placed the bird down, pulled the boy over his back, (much as he had transported Aster on more than one occasion,) and picked the small, yet protesting avian back up gently. Oust almost missed the satchel sitting near the tree, but was able to get it over one arm before all was said and done. With a final glance back at the unconscious, and impossible cargo resting just on his very shoulders, Oust Candori found the biggest smile forming over his muzzle as he hurried back to the others. Aster was going to be so happy...
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Well, I've been so eager to tell this chapter for so damned long, that finally getting to write it is as surreal as ever. Weird not writing Stahl or Aster's PoV for an entire chapter though, but that isn't a bad thing in my opinion. Lets start with Byron, the Beast of Mercy himself. If you haven't noticed, he's pretty well been the one good hearted beast moving behind the scenes this entire story. I hope you enjoyed my reveal of one of his earlier kindnesses, just don't ever believe that our older wolf doesn't still have his secrets and methods for making shit happen when he needs to. Now, for the bigger reveal...
Humans. Yep, we are actually pretty hard to kill off... Historically speaking. You'll get the details as to the how soon, and plenty of those answers this next chapter when Flose wakes up before. I do hope it didn't come off as too unbelievable, as it's been in the background since the beginning, but one of my few cards I only very, VERY vaguely foreshadowed or gave hints on. The loneliness Aster felt for being the last of his kind shaped much of both who he is, and how his story began, so I felt keeping y'all just as in the dark as he was to the answer there was the appropriate way to get those feelings across.
No spoilers, but being raised by beasts was also just as important for our little protagonist's journey. I also hope this helped give a glimmer of the light at the end of this tunnel, because I know its been raining on our heroes for quite some time. As always, thank you for reading my story, and I'd love to hear your thoughts or questions if you have some. I appreciate it. See y'all next chapter, and I hope you enjoy what is coming, because I'm certainly excited to write it as well! -Pup Bayou