Ari (Child of the Beastman Goddess)

The news about my pregnancy made my mood lighter and distracted me for a bit. It was nice seeing the people dearest to me at times of grief. I couldn’t utter a single word about what happened during the battle. I couldn’t bring up the topic because it hurts my heart thinking about the sacrifice of my sister. Luckily, there was other news that could keep them busy for a while.

“Wait… Who’s this little cutie?” I asked as I crawled near my brother to see closer.

Her brown eyes and hair were similar to my brother.

“She’s Nita, she hatched a few days ago,” Tora grinned.

“Aw! I want a mini Tora, but she’s cute. She looked exactly as Brother Orson when he was small,” I mumbled.

“Right?! She’s so adorable!” Tora beamed as she hugged me tightly.

“Don’t put your weight on Ahri,” Macan warned as he pulled Tora away.

“You’re so stingy, Brother! Hmph!” Tora complained.

I chuckled due to her cute reaction.

Dillon sat beside me, stroking my hair with a relieved expression, “Honey… Is this a dream?”

Lowell walked around the bed to crawl near me and hugged me on my waist while wagging his tail behind without uttering a word.

“I miss you all. I’m really glad that mother allowed me to bring you all here,” I jabbered while rubbing Lowell’s hair and leaning a little on Dillon.

“Since everyone is here, I’ll inform Ari’s parents about your arrival,” Dylan volunteered and went away instantly.

“I feel weird, this place feels oddly familiar,” Lowell mumbled.

I looked at him in surprise so I teased, “Really? I think I know why, but I won’t tell you right now. (I’m not ready to share a story regarding Ayla yet.)”

Lowell looked confused for a moment and looked at me with worry as he whispered, “It doesn’t matter. I’m just happy to see you again.”

“Quite clingy aren’t we?” An assertive voice suddenly echoed from the door.

They all looked confused and stunned, especially my brother.

“Father… Mother..,” I mumbled.

Lowell and Dillon suddenly looked mortified as they hurriedly rolled down from the bed to bow before my parents.

“Haha! Why were you both so jumpy? I was just teasing you. It’s nice seeing you both again,” my father teased.

“Greetings everyone, I am Herastia, Arie’s mother,” my mother greeted as she entered my room, walking with my father side by side.

“Everyone, give respect to the queen goddess and her consort, the god of life and death!” Dylan exclaimed.

Everyone was flustered and knelt down while lowering their heads in panic.

“Greeting to the queen goddess and to the god of life and death. We are greatly honored to be given a chance to have your presence,” they all greeted in unison.

They introduced themselves one after another after the greeting.

“Please drop the formalities. We are a family after all,” my mother chortled.

“Haha! Son, won’t you greet your father like you used to?” my father chuckled, looking at my brother and the baby in his hand.

“F-Father!” he hurriedly handed Nita to Tora and ran towards my father and hugged him.

My father welcomed my brother in his embrace and my brother cried like a child.

“Thank you for taking care of your sister while I’m away,” my father whispered.

My brother hugged him tightly and said, “I just did what I have to do as an older brother.”

My father smiled at him as he patted his back to console him, “You did well. I’m proud of you.”

“Ahem! Anyway… Welcome to Nirvana, everyone. I ordered my people to prepare a feast for all of you so please be at ease and enjoy your stay,” my mother announced.

“Let’s continue our conversation while eating. Adler, please lead them to the dining room,” my father ordered.

The others followed Adler and I accompanied my parents. My mother was especially clingy to me, wrapping her hand around my waist as we all walked side by side.

Mother used to lift me in her arms while Ayla was in Fathers hands, but now she’s gone, our family felt incomplete despite the facade we were showing to others. We cannot show others our sorrow, for the throne needs a stronghold.

We all headed down to the dining hall where an astonishingly plenteous mouthwatering meal was prepared on a very long table, decorated with flowers and fancy utensils. The chandeliers that lit up the room were made of crystals that glow using the power of the light.

My parents were sitting at one end of the table while I sat beside my mother, on her left while my brother sat on my father’s right. Next to me was Dylan, followed by Dillon and Lowell while Tora, who was holding Nita in her arms, sat beside my brother and Macan. The other Immortals were also present as they gave their greetings to us.

“This feast is a gratitude and thanks to all the effort of the people who gathered here in successfully bringing back the balance of the world, not only in Nirvana. We would also like to ask for a moment of silence as we pray for our beloved moon goddess, Ayla, as we send our love and blessings to her soul. May she find a peace in her new life beyond this world,” my father

We all lowered our heads and prayed for my sister’s soul.

The group looked petrified hearing my father’s words, but I averted from their gazes because I couldn’t handle the topic just yet.

Dillon held my hand under the table while Dylan rubbed my back to console me.

“Let’s also toast for the great feat of our beloved goddess of the sun, who is now the goddess of day and night, bearing the power of true light,” my mother praised.

Everyone stood up and raised their glasses towards me, congratulating me on my success while lowering their heads. My group followed their lead since they were not accustomed to the traditions of Immortals except for Dylan.

“The honor is not mine alone. Cheers to the peace of the Beastman World,” I cheered as I raised my glass before drinking the wine in front of everyone.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

They all drank the wine after I did and sat back down.

“Enjoy the meal, everyone,” my mother beamed.

We all started eating while chatting. My father has been peeking at Tora’s hatchling from time to time.

“Father, isn’t she cute? She looked exactly as Brother Orson when he was young,” I chuckled.

“Right! She does look similar to Orson. May I hold her?” my father asked Tora, who was currently struggling with eating her food.

“Yes. It’s an honor, my lord,” Tora agreed and handed over Nita to him.

“Goodness! She’s tiny… Look dear, she’s as small as the twins when they were born,” my father commented as he showed Nita to my mother.

“Oh! How adorable! Her name is Nita right? Let me give a blessing of good health for her so that she’ll grow up strong like her aunt Arie,” she babbled as she kissed Nita’s forehead and blessed her.

“Let us hold her for a bit so you can eat properly,” my father offered.

“Oh my… Thank you so much!” Tora gleamed in glee.

“Father, I can hold her so you can also eat your food,” my brother said.

“No, you both must eat properly because taking care of a child is exhausting and you need support from others,” my father insisted.

“Thank you, Father,” my brother beamed.

“By the way, I can see that the seal was already lifted. Do you feel unwell my dearest?” my mother asked.

“I honestly feel quite moody right now, Mother… And I feel like I want to eat something not prepared on the table,” I replied.

“Oh goodness! What kind of food do you prepare? I will ask the servants to prepare them right away,” my mother asked excitedly.

“Oh no, Mother! It’s just a craving. There’s a lot of food on the table,” I replied due to embarrassment.

“No! You must eat what you want to eat. It’s a part of pregnancy,” my father scolded.

“Babe, do you want some strawberries again? I remembered you usually ask for strawberries when you’re not feeling well,” Macan asked.

“Right! She did, multiple times… And then she falls asleep while waiting so that she can’t eat them sometimes,” Lowell chuckled.

The others also laughed and I felt embarrassed.

“Oh! Is that so?! Adler! Please bring some strawberries from the greenhouse. Just pick the ones with great quality,” my mother ordered.

“Yes, your majesty,” Adler replied.

Not long after, he came back with some quality strawberries that made me drool like a dog.

“Honey, let me help you remove the leaves,” Dillon offered.

I nodded instantly and passed the basket on him. He removed all the fruits in the basket and started removing the leaves while placing the cleaned ones back in the basket. Lowell also helped while Dylan hand fed me the cleaned strawberries.

“Ah! I want to help too, why am I sitting too far away?” Macan complained.

“Hehe! Sorry Mac… I’ll let you sit beside me next time,” I grinned while the others suddenly looked gloomy.

Macan blurted, “Yes!!!”

“It’s so delicious! Thanks, Mother! Thanks, everyone,” I grinned.

We all enjoyed eating while chatting during the feast. I almost overfeed because of my spouses and my parents.