Morning.
Arion stood near the door.
Arion: I'm going to the forest.
Keal: This early?
Arion: I have something to check.
Liora: You'll come back… right?
Arion looked at her for a moment.
Arion: Yes.
He turned and walked away before they could ask more.
Deep forest.
Arion walked far beyond the usual herb area. The trees grew thicker. Sunlight barely reached the ground.
Arion stopped walking.
Arion: …Where are you?
He looked around slowly.
Arion: They didn't leave anything… did they…
His jaw tightened.
Arion: Those damn gods… not even my beast…
He clenched his fist.
Arion: They will die. All of them.
A sudden growl came from behind.
A large forest beast stepped out from the bushes, eyes locked on Arion. It crouched and prepared to jump.
Arion didn't move.
Arion: Not now.
The beast leaped.
Before it could reach him, a faint pressure spread from Arion's body.
The beast froze mid-step.
Its eyes widened. Its body trembled.
Arion slowly turned his head and looked at it.
Arion: Leave.
The beast let out a small whimper and immediately ran away into the trees.
Arion exhaled and sat under a large tree.
Arion: …Everything gone…
He looked at the ground silently.
Minutes passed.
Soft footsteps approached.
Another beast appeared — smaller, calm. It stopped a short distance away and lowered its head.
Beast: Immortal… are you searching for your beast?
Arion slowly looked up.
Arion: …What did you say?
Beast: Your divine beast.
Arion stood up immediately.
Arion: You know where it is?
Beast: We saw everything.
Arion stepped closer.
Arion: Speak.
Beast: You fought the gods in the sky. The entire forest saw it.
You fell… badly injured.
Your divine beast came here carrying you.
Arion stayed silent, listening.
Beast: When you lost consciousness… those gods thought you were dead.
They tried to kill your beast too.
Arion's eyes darkened.
Arion: And?
Beast: It escaped… but with severe injuries.
It came back here… to this forest.
Arion's voice dropped.
Arion: …Where is it?
The beast lowered its head further.
Beast: It could not survive.
Before dying… it entrusted something to me.
Arion froze.
Arion: …Entrusted?
Beast: Eggs.
Its children.
Arion's fingers tightened slowly.
Arion: …Take me there.
Beast: Follow me, immortal.
They moved through the deeper forest. After some time, they reached a hidden place between large roots and stones.
The beast stepped aside.
Several small eggs rested there, carefully covered with leaves and fur.
Arion stopped walking.
He stared at them silently.
Arion: …
He slowly stepped closer and knelt.
Arion: You protected them…
His hand hovered above the eggs but didn't touch.
Arion: Foolish beast… you should have lived…
His expression didn't change, but his eyes grew heavy.
Arion: …Thank you.
Beast: It told me… if you lived… you would come.
Arion finally placed his hand gently over the eggs.
Arion: You did well.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Arion: I couldn't protect you… but I will protect them.
He opened his eyes again.
He return to the home with eggs, the small beast also followed him.
Arion: Why are you following me?
Beast: Sir..! I don't have any family here, i treated them like my eggs, like my babies
Arion: Okay Okay, I understand you can come with me but listen don't ever spilt a word about these
things
Beast: Yes Sir.
It said happily