A/N: So this one is an interlude, now most of the time when these show up in the future they will have no plot relevance. If there is plot included I will point out that fact in the A/N. For the most part, these interludes will normally be just a bit of fun or a bit of history on a character.
There is a small bit of plot included in this particular interlude.
I would also like to thank ArchmageNaoki for proofreading this chapter.
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6 years old Rebecca’s PoV
I’m quietly sitting alone in my room because mama said that papa would take us out today if I was good. Mama said something about papa having a duel of succession. I don’t really understand what succession means, but mama said that papa and another beastman have to fight. I don’t like the idea of papa having to fight, but mama said that papa fighting was really important. So I should be a good girl and not bother the adults.
I don’t really like leaving my room without mama anyways because sometimes I run into papa’s wife. She always makes a really scary face when she sees me and I hear her yelling at papa through the window a lot when I am in the garden with mama. But mama said if I was good today it would be just me, mama, and papa.
As I’m happily smiling to myself I hear the door get thrown open, but I don’t manage to turn around before I get picked up. As I am about to start struggling I hear mama’s voice from the person holding me, but she sounds really sad, “Rebecca, I know I said we would spend the day with your papa after his duel, and I know you were really looking forward to today. But things are going to be different from now on. We won’t be able to see your papa anymore.”
I’m confused why is mama saying we won’t be able to see papa anymore? I was being really good today too. Did I do something to make papa dislike me and mama, but I don’t want to never see papa again. I don’t even mind if papa’s scary wife is there too.
When I think about never getting to see papa again I start crying and mama strokes the back of my head while trying to soothe me, “Shhh, shhh it will be ok, mama is still here with you. We are going to be just fine.”
“Come now telling a child that they will never see their father again. Of course, they would start crying, but I suppose it is better than hiding the truth behind a veil of fragile falsities. So would my assumption that you are the previous lord’s mistress and child be correct? Yes, judging by that expression I am completely correct. Such a shame the girl is a half breed, she would have made a wonderful gift for my son otherwise.
Ah, but it will be what it will be. With things as they are, I would like to ask that you vacate my new estate. The servants will help you with what little goods you wish to keep and a property will be prepared for you on the edge of the city,” Confused by the voice I don’t recognize I start wiping the tears out of my eyes and I see a wolfman standing in the doorway, but he is saying a lot of complicated things I don’t understand.
Suddenly, I see papa’s wife yelling angrily as she pushes past the wolfman to get into the room, “This wasn’t the deal, you told me that you would get rid of them if I helped you!”
“And I am indeed getting rid of them, am I not?” the wolfman answers back very calmly, but mama starts squeezing me tighter, it kinda hurts a little so I struggle which only makes her squeeze tighter.
Before I can complain to mama, Papa’s wife starts yelling at the wolfman again, “No! You were supposed to dispose of them, not just send them away. Even after I fulfilled my part of the deal and pois-.” as papa’s wife is yelling the man pulls out the sword at his waist and before anything I can see what's happening mama covers my eyes.
While I wonder why papa’s wife suddenly stopped yelling, I hear the wolfman's voice again, “How irritating now I have to get the servants to clean this up. Now that the nuisance is gone I will once again extend to you my generous offer. Take your daughter and accept the prepared property on the edge of the city, or I will have to soil this fine room further.”
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16 years old Rebecca’s PoV
“Ah, so many chores to get done once I get home, but mom is trying her hardest for me, so I have to try my hardest too,” I quietly mutter to myself as I walk down an alley carrying a basket of groceries meant for tonight's supper.
A normal 16 year old girl probably would be scared to walk down back roads, not to mention a back road alley, by herself, but since I am a beastkin my worries are next to none. I don’t think there is any beastmen in the city that would ever touch a beastkin because we are “disgusting half-breed filth”. Otherwise, everyone that lives on the outskirts of the city otherwise known as ‘The Slums’ tends to keep to themselves.
Looking around at the subpar living conditions reminds me of when me and mom first got here. At first, I was too young to understand what had happened. I went from the beastkin daughter of a noble's mistress to nothing more than a common beastkin, before I was old enough to understand the implications. But I grew up fast, the slums are not kind to naive children.
Eventually, mom got enough money to send me to one of the few beastkin schools in the city. If they can prove themselves useful, even a beastkin can find employment somewhere and the better educated you are, the more useful you can be.
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I know what mom has had to do to send me to school and make sure we get to eat anything at all. I have seen the bruises and the look in her eyes when she comes home late at night. I offered to take her place before, but when I did she could only hug me tightly and start crying so I never brought it up again.
Rounding the last corner before reaching the place me and mom have called home for the ten years brings me back to the present. Approaching our home I see that the door is open, but mom wouldn’t leave the door open. No one just leaves their doors open in the slums.
Now panicking I sprint towards the door. Crossing the threshold into our one room home I see a group of robed people standing around the room and mom is sitting on the bed. Now panicking, even more, I tentatively ask, “Mom is everything ok, who are all these people?”
“Is this the girl?” ignoring my questions one of the robed figures asks mom a question, which she answers with a nod.
The same robed figure talks again though I can’t discern whether they are male or female from their voice, “Hmph, this kid better be worth it, we went a hell of a long way for this,” another of the robed figures, this one's voice decidedly female, follows up on his statement, “Well not that it matters, so long as we bring back who they want we get paid anyways, right?”
Panicking more than before I try calling out again in a trembling voice, “Mom please, tell me what’s going on, who are these people?”
“Rebecca, you’ve always been a smart girl and I want you to have the best possible chance at life. I just can’t give you that, but these people can give you a better life,” mom has tears in her eyes and she can hardly keep her voice steady as she talks.
Before I can say anything else the robed person with the androgynous voices walks over and picks me up, dropping me onto his shoulder, while talking in a standoffish manner, “Right well this is a touching moment, but we have a job to do. I’ll be taking the girl while you guys clean up here.”
“Hey, wait, put me down! No, I don’t want to go! Mom, mom, MOM!” yelling while being carried away, the last thing I see before rounding the door is a sword jutting out of mom’s chest as the light fades from her eyes.
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Present Day Rebecca PoV
“MOM!” I yell waking up in bed covered in a cold sweat. Taking a moment to take in my surroundings I murmur to myself, “That same dream again. Thinking about it I started having that dream more frequently after leaving specimen 56 with that ogre didn’t it?”
Since I probably won’t be able to fall back asleep I get up and dress. As I finish dressing I hear someone knocking at my dorm door. Walking over and opening the door I see one of the younger researchers that often gets used as a message delivery boy standing there.
Seeing me he jumps a little before he starts stuttering out his message, “m-m-miss Rebecca, u-um, I-I wa-was s-s-s-sent t-to t-tell y-you-,” but the poor boy gets cut off by the man standing behind him, “What our nervous friend here is trying to relay to you is this, your precious specimen has escaped.”
Looking up at the man I see a face I truly despise. The man in question is, Lucain, the lead researcher on the project running parallel to mine and due to major differences in opinion we have always been at odds.
Under normal circumstances I would slam the door shut, thinking nothing of it, but after what Lucain just said I ask, “What do you mean escaped?”
“It’s a simple concept really, but since you don’t seem to understand let me simplify it for you. Due to the hired SS not returning within estimate, a scouting team was sent to verify the situation at the target town.
However, while in route they found a highly devastated stretch of forest, well the reports actually say they found a devastated stretch of what used to be forest, but that’s a technicality. They also reported finding a trail of blood leaving the area but following it all they found was what little remained of the hired SS. No traces were found of the weapon and while a search is still underway, it has been assumed lost.
This is my favorite part, Finally because of this loss, the Chimera Program will be put on indefinite hold until further notice. Along with this, all staff presently working on the Chimera Program will be moved to the Andro Project. That means you now work under me.”
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???'s PoV
“This is what you called me down here for? I do hope you understand, all, the consequences.” I hear that annoying woman's voice behind me as I look upon the tattered mess in front of me.
Without looking up I answer in a low voice, “you don’t think I understand? I was nearly turned into a goddess by that witch!”
After a moment's pause I feel that damn woman loosely drape her arms over my shoulders and rest her hands on my chest as she whispers into my ear in a playful tone, “How is that a bad thing? I think you would make an adorable goddess, considering how cute you already are it’s only a matter-.” before she goes any further I interrupt her through grit teeth, “Naofa, Just shut up and do it.”
“Fine fine, but you do realize this is the last favor I owe you, right?” as she reverts back to a business tone I can feel Naofa backing off and without any hesitation I answer, “Yes, good tools are hard to come by, especially with everything I have invested in this one. No matter how much trouble he has already brought and will continue to bring, he is an excellent tool that I can’t afford to lose.”