Beastmen Love-Chapter 38: Her True Identity

They get startled at first.

"Higher Priest.." Cyprian softly says after realizing who that voice was.

"What?" Lee asks, looking around and then to Zin.

"I’m not sensing anyone around." Zin speaks.

"I’m not anywhere near you. I’m in the Great Wall Temple."

"Since when did you know about her, my old friend?" Cyprian asks.

"Since before she met Wayde." Claud answers.

"How do you know my name?" Wayde asks.

"I know all of you. Astri tells me a lot about you." Claud speaks.

"So you know her longer than us?" Cyprian asks.

"Yes. We talk everyday since before she met Wayde."

"Wait. Wait! Explain from the beginning." Lee speaks.

"I’ve been looking after her for 20 years. It was known that Pegasus were extinct, but when I discovered that the last Pegasus were found and killed by the monster king, and that he sent his cub somewhere distant to try saving her. I started my search and finally found Astri. I guided her for a few days until she found Wayde." Claud explains.

"So she knows you for all this time?" Cyprian asks.

"Yes."

"Why were you after her?" Zin asks.

"Pegasus are God beasts. After her father was killed, the beast world is unbalanced, and the devils that eats the souls of beastmen are growing stronger. Her existence makes Nature stronger and purifies the world."

"Why didn’t you come to take her?" Cyprian asks.

"...I wanted her to try to live a normal life with her mates. But day by day her energy is getting stronger and it will call more monsters’ attention. Also from evil beastmen." Claud answers.

"I’m sorry to tell you, my friend. I know you can beat me, but I won’t let you take her there." Cyprian says.

"I am not planning to."

"And what are you plan to do? Lee asks.

"I’ve sent six of my guards there to help you finish building the castle and the walls and also guard her. And another two guards will go to you to discuss finding more tribes to unite with yours."

"You want to strengthen where we are." Cyprian says.

"Yes. Astri projected a new city with me, what you’re doing is the beginning of a new beast city. But its growth will be planned and will have rules to keep peace the most possible. You will have the power to keep her protected."

"Why did she never say she knew you?" Wayde asks.

"Because I asked her not to. I didn’t want to expose myself until I was sure it was time to do anything."

"I see. You were waiting for her to shift." Cyprian says.

"At first it was my intention, but then I decided to try building a safe place for her before she shifts. Now plans will need to happen faster. My guards will be arriving there in 7 days."

"Does Astri know they’re coming?" Cyprian asks.

"No. She knows about building a city, but she was applying the project slowly with you according to what you could do. She will know now."

Lee, Zin and Wayde sit thinking deeply.

"What about her? Were you teaching her in secret?" Cyprian asks.

"You did most of the teaching, actually. I taught more about other things like medicine."

"I can’t teach her to control her energy along with Nature’s."

"I know.."

"You will come here..." Cyprian says impressed. "But you never leave the temple."

"I never had a real reason to leave. Now I do. No one should know about this or else the King and Council will try to kill me midway. Or send scouts there to know things before I arrive. I’m not saying this for my safety, but for her safety."

"Wait. Just let me understand something. Astri talks to you like this everyday? I never heard her talking to you." Lee asks.

"She learned to talk to me in her mind. That’s why every morning she seems distant."

"So every morning she was talking to you? And you think I’ll let you be closer to her?" Lee says, jealous.

Claud chuckles. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

"He’s the only one who can teach her to control her powers. I told you before that he’s the closest one to what she is." Cyprian speaks.

"Are you a Pegasus too?" Zin asks.

"I’m an unicorn. And unicorns came from Pegasus in the past. Like lizards came from Dragons."

"And how can you help her?"

"We have almost the same powers. She has more powers than I have, but I can guide her on her first steps."

"She was capable of talking to us when she was shifted." Wayde says.

"She’s capable of communicating like me, but she doesn’t know how yet. While shifted she does it instinctively."

"When are you planning to come?" Cyprian asks.

"I’m not sure. Hope that soon. Until then, focus on finishing building the castle, walls and city walls. Protect her and widen your patrols perimeter so no army surprises you like that anymore. Remember that Astri feels things differently than us, even if you are capable of protecting her she will do anything to protect you. Dieg’s loss was enough for her to know what kind of pain she doesn’t want anymore. Avoid putting your life at risk so she doesn’t fear losing any of you and end up risking herself too."

"Why is she different from others? Pegasus are like this?" Wayde asks.

"Pegasus are like Nature. Gentle and dangerous when need be. She was raised not knowing what love is, she knows that everyone has weak sides, insecurities and needs like she does. She only decided to give what she desires. Same as plant and harvest. You should see her as how things should be, don’t you think?"

"She’s perfect the way she is. I was just wondering if it was because of her beast or because she fears losing us. As I can see the answer is both." Wayde speaks.

"Yes. It is both. I’ll have to leave now. Please, protect her. Cyprian, if you need to shift and destroy half of a village for that, do it."

Cyprian smiles and chuckles.

"Sure."

Claud was preparing to go to the temple when he felt his heart jump from nowhere. Like a call.

At the same time he thought about Astri and he rushed to his bedroom to check on her. When he found her she was already shifted.

She didn’t know he was in her mind, she was too focused on saving her mates. When she fainted, he knew he would need to put his plans to work before he expected.

Without her energy controlled, she will call attention from monsters and soon from evil beastmen.

Lee went out again to organize wider patrols and check casualties. They lost one female and her five spouses died with the backlash.

Eight more beastmen died too, but Lee is impressed that only a few of them died after such a big attack.

"We need to widen our patrols. I’ll put feathered beastmen to patrol from the sky and you should put your wolves to patrol on land. After the great walls we’re building." Lee says to Shung.

"Yes. We need to be more prepared for new attacks like this. I believe we should also have patrols around the villages too for now."

"Good idea. Layers of security. The great walls will have the function of keeping danger outside, so we need to focus on finishing the walls too."

Shung nods.

"I’ll tell my tribesmen to work harder for that. If it wasn’t for you and Cyprian we would have had many more deaths, thank you leader Lee. " Shung says.

"Thank you too. I’ll be going now to talk to my tribesmen and then go back home."

"Is Astri all right? Was she attacked? I heard Wayde’s call." Shung asks.

"She was attacked but she’s fine thankfully. She’s not hurt." Lee answers.

"For a moment I thought a thunderstorm would hit us, but I think it was a quick cloud." Shung speaks.

Lee stays quiet, because what Shung heard was Astri.

"True. I think the rain went somewhere else." Lee says.

He flies away to his tribe, but his mind is on Astri.

The Higher Priest was her friend since the beginning and she never told them that. Lee is always jealous of Astri, and he takes time to accept a male courting her.

He doesn’t know the Higher Priest’s intentions with her, but Lee is sure he doesn’t like their closeness.