Beast Knights (KKM Fanfiction)

Unsaid Curse

With the flowing passage of time, what I repeatedly make are emotions deep within me — memories of the people that I meet, and part ways with once again... — Hoshi Ga Furu Yume (A Dream Of Raining Stars), Aoi Eir

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All of them felt nervous, for some strange reason. They couldn't deny that. But maybe because it would be the first time in a long while other than selected residents of the Blood Pledge Castle that someone would meet Shinou.

Even Rina and Chie couldn't help feeling anxious about the approach that Mari had made to meet the mysterious person who (in the Wind Tiger Knight's opinion) had the strongest desire to know a lot more than intended about the original Beast Knights after they left Shin Makoku 4,000 years ago. And now that same person had also expressed his desire to meet the current Beast Knights.

Who wouldn't feel anxious about that?

"Mari, are you even sure about this?" Rina asked as they all headed out to go to Shinou Temple.

The said black-haired Beast Knight just heaved a sigh and faced her friend who asked that question. "Do you think I would suggest this if I wasn't even serious? I mean... it's about time that something like this happened."

"What do you mean by that?"

But no answer came from her. She just smiled at Yuri who asked that to her.

"What made you decide to suggest going to the temple and meeting this person, anyway?" This time, Chie was the one who asked the question.

In a way, it dissipated the tension that seemed to slowly build around them.

But for some reason, it took a while before Mari chose to answer the question. It confused the other two Beast Knights, not going to lie, but they still waited. Not to mention, even Yuri and the others were also waiting for her to answer.

When the temple came into view, that was when she spoke.

"I need to make sure that what I saw and heard in my dream last night and the person in that temple were the same in more ways than one. That dream was surely more than just a part of my inherited memory of Queen Hyorin. I need to confirm a particular information I have at hand about that creature, as well."

With a frown, Yuri slowed down his horse and kept up with Mari's pace. "That creature?"

"Something from Esovia's legend that, I think, had been forgotten over time by those who didn't get to know them due to its extremely rare collected information," Mari answered and smiled at the Maoh.

"Well, considering that everything about that creature was just exclusively for the chosen Beast Knights' knowledge, it's no wonder the information was extremely scarce."

Rina nodded at Chie's explanation. It only provided the context that the other two Beast Knights knew the creature that Mari was talking about.

Even when feeling a little bit left out of the discussion, the others remained silent and observant at the same time. Perhaps they would come to know the truth some time soon, when given the chance.

Soon after, they reached Shinou Temple. To their surprise, Ulrike appeared to be waiting for their arrival. Together with her were some priestesses and even female soldiers.

"Does this mean they knew we were coming?" Chie asked around and Murata nodded.

"I let them know about it since this meeting should have happened already if it wasn't for the attack that had occured during your first day here in Shin Makoku."

Rina smiled and nodded. Before she could stop herself, she patted Murata's head that only made the young Daikenja pout. She laughed at the response, but still chose not to say anything.

And then she looked around.

"I don't think this place even existed 4,000 years ago in my inherited memories of Lady Jihae," Rina commented as she looked around the area.

"That's because this temple was built after Shinou died and his body and soul were placed here."

Mari nodded and faced the temple. "So that's how it was." She, too, looked around the area and smiled. But it soon turned nostalgic as she did so for a few more moments. "I wonder how that person felt after learning about the Beast Knights' predicaments at the time that made them leave Shin Makoku."

"Do you think he knew about the curse that killed our progenitors back then?"

That particular question that came from Rina, however, had only made the Mazoku face the three Knights.

"What do you mean by a curse?"

Rina faced Mari, as if asking for her permission even though both ladies were, in fact, the same in terms of ranking. But the Wind Tiger Knight nodded at her friend. It was enough as an answer.

"It was the result of the powers that came with being a Beast Knight. To be precise, it was the result of possessing two completely different power sources. In fact, even the current Beast Knights are still dealing with the repercussions of that curse until today."

Chie continued. "So unless we find a way to break it, the next generations of the Beast Knights will still continue to deal with this curse, whether we like it or not."

"His Grace did mention before that becoming a Beast Knight is like possessing both maryoku and horyouku in a single vessel, and it was a questionable magic art even in the distant past," Gwendal commented.

"That's the most apt way to describe it, yes."

It was then that they stopped and dismounted their respective horses in order to go to the temple. The soldiers and the priestess waiting for their arrival bowed not just to Yuri, but also to the Beast Knights, much to the ladies' surprise.

The guests soon approached Ulrike who bowed to them, in which they returned the gesture in the same graceful manner.

"Welcome to the Shinou Temple, Beast Knights," Ulrike started in her usual calm and soft voice.

But before the Knights could even say anything as a reply, another voice — this time, it was a man — resonated not so far from where they all stood.

"Welcome, current Beast Knights. I never thought I'd see the day that I finally get to see you returning here in my kingdom."

When they all turned to the source of that voice, the ladies' eyes widened at the sight that greeted them.

"It can't be..."

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Woah! I didn't think I actually placed this in the original outline for this story, but here it is! That's something, to be honest. In any case, here's my update for today. Enjoy reading!