Traversing Through Beastmen World

🐇 19. Byron's Past

It started as these types of conversations always did, with assurances. Didn't that just make you more worried? In Bree's past life, her mom had always started with assurances when she had conversations with her dad. Assurances and promises, both of which were based on lies as flimsy as her nails when they weren't covered in dried acrylic goop. She wasn't sure if she missed her mother. There was a definite hole inside her heart where her constant longing for love and approval from her parents had been. All of the drive that had been guiding her, amounted to nothing in the end. But it didn't just cleanly end, even after Bree's death, because the unfulfilled drive had left her empty.

At the core of her being, she was a deeply flawed human, just as all humans are. It was the human condition in general, to hurt; to be hurt, to hurt others, to regret, and to lie to yourself, because some things were just too hard to face. So even though she came to this world and ended up in a different shell, she was still essentially the same flawed human that she always was. Even though she was vastly different, she didn't feel different, but she wondered if this world, as strange as it was compelling, would be able to change her in a deep and meaningful way. The thought was both thrilling and frightening, just as the unknown usually was.

She wanted to be different, if she could allow herself to love, to be open to it, perhaps even she could have a sweet romance. She just hoped that she wouldn't become so scared that she sabotaged herself again.

Byron's thumb continued to rub back and forth along the side of her hand while they held hands. It was a nervous little tick that she was allowing him to indulge. Whatever was bothering him, he seemed worried that it might upset her. Part of her was tempted to interrupt him and say that whatever it was, he didn't need to tell her, but curiosity plagued her, that and selfishness. She knew that if she stopped him now, she would think about it tonight while everyone around her was asleep.

She took a deep breath and then another one while she told herself to be patient, it wasn't the end of the world and even if it were, surely she would be fine. After all, she couldn't actually die, not really, even if she wanted to.

Their eyes meet and she lightly squeezed his hand in encouragement. Then he cleared his throat and looked away towards the water again. This time his eyes remain unfocused and it's clear that he isn't seeing the water, but is picturing somewhere else entirely.

"Many years ago, back when I lived in the village I was born into, I had a childhood friend, a young girl who lived in the house next to mine. Her family wasn't from my village and in fact no one knew where her family had initially come from. They were quiet about what kind of species she was and that of her mother, but everyone had their suspicions," Byron said.

"Her father was a full blood common mole, not overly attractive as moles tend to be, and was blind. Her mother only had the one mate and had no desire for any others, so she kept entirely to herself. Her mother and the young girl didn't talk much and when either of them went outside, they always wore a hood and scarf to cover their faces. Everyone thought that they must be incredibly shy, but I suspected there was a different reason."

"It wasn't until one surprisingly hot day during the summer that my suspicions were confirmed. I was catching fish in the river when my eyes were drown to a sound further up. When I looked up, I saw the most breathtaking girl I had ever seen in my life."

He paused his story momentarily to glance at Bree apologetically, but she just motioned with her hand for him to continue.

"There she was, the neighbor that I'd seen often, wearing only swimming leathers. She had long white hair that sparkled like newly fallen snow, skin as pale as moonlight, and large dark purple eyes framed by thick white lashes. She was thin with a small body, a cute little nose, and had plush cherry pink lips . She was absolutely stunning, so much so that it was frightening. As I held my breath and studied the space between her collarbones, my fears were confirmed. There in plain sight was the sign of her elemental blessing. It was a marking that all of her kind gained once they became able to wield magic. It was the unmistakable sign of a Legendary Muse Beastman."