Ari (Child of the Beastman Goddess)

The shadow hands kept exploring my body like worms crawling and wriggling on my skin, causing me to feel nauseated and disgusted. I wanted to puke.

I prayed so hard for someone to help me or wake me up in this disgusting nightmare.

“Sephtis! Stop it!” A familiar voice shouted suddenly out of nowhere.

I was sure I heard her voice, but I couldn’t see her.

“Ayla… Help me… Please…” I mumbled as I cried, pleading for help.

“What? Are you going to choose your sister over your own father?” The man asked in irritation.

I was baffled because I thought Ayla was my twin if I truly was Arie. Even so, I couldn’t deny their similarities. His black hair and gray eyes that shimmer despite the darkness of the abyss.

I was so frightened, but I had no other choice. She is the only one who can save me. The only one I can rely on at times like this, despite not knowing the reason why I trust her so much.

Maybe because she really was my sister and our souls might still be connected to one another. It was the only conclusion I could ever think of.

“Close your eyes my dear sister…” She said as she covered my eyes and pulled me away from the abyss.

I could hardly hear the man’s voice at a distance, angry at Ayla.

“How dare you?!!! You ungrateful child!!! Give her b-….” He shouted until we successfully escaped from him.

“It’s time to wake up…” She whispered abruptly before disappearing suddenly as I felt myself drifting back to my body.

I opened my eyes with tears. I was still trembling from fear.

“Ari… Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Is it a nightmare again? Why are you crying? Do you feel unwell?” Lowell asked consecutively.

He tried to check my temperature by touching my forehead, but I suddenly vomited when his skin touched mine. He was shocked and terrified when seeing the frightened look upon my face. He instantly withdrew his hand in panic. He couldn’t understand what was happening.

The others also woke up due to the commotion.

“Ari? What’s wrong?” Dillon asked while rubbing his eyes.

For some reason, I felt uncomfortable seeing them. I threw up and felt disgusted involuntarily. My tears kept falling as I trembled in fear. I couldn’t look at them.

I tried to think of only good things we’ve been through so far, but the image of my uncle kept popping into my mind.

My stomach is turning upside down. I’m losing my mind. I don’t want this feeling. The intense sensation of mixed feeling of disgust and fear overwhelmed me despite trying so hard to calm myself down.

I can hear their panicking voices as I involuntarily back away from all of them with my eyes shut and my hand covering my ears.

“Ari… Please calm down… What is going on?” Lowell asked in worry.

“Everyone, back away… Ari… It’s me… Your older brother…” My brother whispered as he transformed into his beast form.

I looked at him and let out a loud cry.

“Brother… I-I’m scared! H-He’s here! He knows I’m here!” I cried as I grasped on my brother’s thick and brown fur.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

“Is she okay?” Tora asked in worry.

Everyone looked at her, shocked. She knew I was a female. She knew because she was the youngling who was eavesdropping when Dawon was trying to convince me to accept his proposal.

“Everyone… On your beast form…” My brother commanded in a low voice as he tried to carefully stroke my hair.

I was surprised how my brother knew that I can only feel discomfort when they are in their passive form.

The other’s followed, but Lowell knew he was in a tight position. He still transformed, but he moved further back.

“Tora, please hold her for a while.” My brother pleaded.

Tora followed and gently hugged me while the others cleaned up after my mess. Luckily, Gurion was still sleeping soundly despite the commotion.

Quite a long while later, I finally calmed myself down though I still couldn’t bear the sight of their passive form. It was kind of awkward talking to them in their beast form, but it helped so much with my condition.

“Ari… Are you feeling better now? Lowell is already cooking something for you to eat. It will be ready soon. Would you like to wash up first?” Dillon asked worriedly.

I nodded lightly, but I couldn’t get myself to say a single word.

“Can I help Ari to clean up?” Tora asked eagerly.

“Please do… I will prepare her water and cleansing oils.” Dillon responded politely as he prepared the tools for us before going to Lowell to help in preparing my food and medicine.

“You know, Ari… I was so shocked when I learned that you were actually a female. Me and my brother were so amazed on how knowledgeable and confident you were despite being a female. You could even tame our alpha easily despite your condition. It was so impressive. We really wanted to be friends with you so we decided to follow you. Can we be friends from now on?” She mumbled as she helped me clean up and change my clothes.

I nodded and tried to smile despite not being able to utter a word. She was so ecstatic with my answer and hugged me tightly that my mask almost fell off when she accidentally hit it.

It was already the break of day and everyone was exhausted. Dillon, Lowell, Blake and my brother were all trying to calm themselves down as they felt helpless about the situation.

They prepared an early breakfast for me and we all had a meeting while eating.

“*Sigh* Tora, I will let you both join us. However, you will need to stay with my sister all the time. She needs a female companion. Since you already knew her condition, I couldn’t let you go arbitrarily.” My brother said decisively.

“I will do my best to help, especially for Ari…” Tora responded happily.

Macan was excited despite not being able to express it in words.

“Ari, are you calmer now? Will you be able to tell us what happened?” My brother asked worriedly.

I tried my best to explain about the dream I had and how realistic it was. Their faces darkened as if they felt defeated.

Tora hugged me tightly and they all promised that they will do their best to help me fight my condition.

They decided that we should head first to the village to find any information regarding the deity named Sephtis.