My consciousness fades and my body slowly succumbs to a cold and dreadful slumber where one cannot return from. It is a permanent state of nothingness, a deep sleep without waking up, a consciousness devoid and disconnected from the living.
I am dying.
In front of me is a white cedar ceiling of the hospital room and the only sound I can hear is the machine inside the room that supports my life and the beeping, fading sound accompanied by it. There are also murmurs coming from the doctor and the nurses inside the room but there are no wails coming from someone I know.
It was a lonely death with no one weeping for my passing.
A person’s death comes with thousands of realization. That is something I am learning right now. I just realized how painful is a hundred times painful that this life of mine fleeting. Rather than lamenting at my own death, I am ridden with nothing but emptiness in my heart as I seek anyone to still my voided chest. There are no warm voices. There are no warm hands. There are no saddened tears to send me off.
No family, no friends, not even a single acquaintance. All of them gave up long ago.
The twenty years of my life was unfulfilling with almost half of it spending in this stale and mundane hospital bed. I can’t cry despite this sullen fate slapped in my face. I can’t cry despite the misfortune I had in my life. I can’t call anything or anyone that I love.
Do I have any attachment to this miserable life of mine?
I do…
I wanted to fall in love…
I am a man who wanted to fall in love. Just having my heart race in front of a girl I like and to even hold hands is already satisfying for me. Just seeing the girl I will fall in love with once a day will be a dream I don’t want to wake up from. Unfortunately, I never had anyone like that.
Ah…But…
I don’t hate the world for it. If anything, I’m just sad that I wasn’t able to experience everything this world can show and offer me. I wanted to experience the four seasons and travel all over the world. I want to experience both joy and grief together with people I am going to be friends with. I want to experience what a work-related stress feels like where my thinking capabilities and physical limitations are challenged.
But all I could do was look at videos and stare at the map slid into my room. I can only daydream about the happiest time of my life and wonder about how good my life will be if I have a healthy body.
My time has come…
I can tell that I am no longer breathing and doctor, who has been one of the people I’ve been seeing for the past years, painfully writes my log on the sheet he is holding. He too gave up; both of us gave up. I could no longer bear being a burden so I convinced him.
Slowly, my eyelids felt like they are lead. It was so heavy and uncontrollable. I can no longer feel anything other than my life escaping this body. It’s sad to leave like this but it feels even more pathetic to cling to a life that never had any future.
That’s why…I obediently died; submit to my death.
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I feel like drowning in an endless pool of water where my world is surrounded by nothing but deep blue. My body slowly floats towards the endless depths of this cerulean world with no indication of the end of the horizon. My consciousness is alive but my body cannot move a single inch of muscle, however, I can definitely feel I am sinking.
Is this what people see when they die or is the place I belong to?
Even in this afterlife, I am still alone, nothing but emptiness; like how my heart is. It is cold like tundra but devoid like the endless expanse of the skies. Death is certainly so cruel but what waits is seemingly even far crueler than what religious sectors describe.
Contrary to my expectation, the endless sea gave me a pat on the back and I stopped. My body lands flatly on a cold ground and together with the sensation, my lids started closing on their own again without giving me any hints of what’s awaiting me.
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Once again, all sensation came crashing to me as the surreal coldness becomes an astounding chill. I felt that my whole body is drenched and I am lying down on a fetal position.
The sensation was too real for someone who died.
“Quickly, fetch something to dry her and warm clothes! Elder Iarann, would you please check her condition?!”
“Certainly, I shall do so!”
Unfamiliar voices tinged in panic started to resound and countless footsteps trudge on the earth. My body is extremely weak and my mind is still trying to figure out the situation. With that said, I slowly open my eyes in dire curiosity.
Dim light starts to enter my sight but there is still foggy haziness to it. Focusing on the object in front of me, my sight slowly shows signs that my eyes are adjusting. The first the came into my sight are countless people. A sensation of a cloth immediately hovers over my body that stilled the chilling coldness and my body was lifted up daintily and gently.
I instinctively grab on the cloth that was offered to my body to keep myself warm. The suddenness of my actions created a commotion.
Suddenly, a man came into my view with an extremely relieved face.
“Have you come to now, O’ Divine Beast?” He said while cocking his head closer to my countenance.
“I…I’m alive…?” I lifelessly asked. A sweet voice; seemingly similar to a girl came out from my lips.
“We have no knowledge of your circumstance but we are glad that you are here.” The man said as his hand gently takes my hand and grasped it between his palms.
It was a warm sensation that gave a tingling shock throughout my body.
This is certainly the warmth that proves that one is alive. His hands are big and rough, however, I can feel that his touch is certainly one with great care and filled with gentleness.
It asked the question of why. Why is this man certainly and genuinely relieved?
But this; this chance meeting doesn’t feel even close to a dream. I am certainly alive and well despite my body limping in weakness.
I just can’t believe it. Did the gods play a prank on me? Was it a prank or a blessing?
Death should have been something I already embraced, however, the cruelty of the god’s whims gave me a sensation I always yearned.
That instead of death, I was given a new life…
I do not care why or how. The fact that I was given this new life is all the meaning I need to surmise everything.
That’s right; whatever I think of, the only thing I can cheer on now is that…I am alive.
“Uhhh….I…I am…uhh…” I sobbed as tears start spilling from my eyelids. An uncontrollable sob starts coming out from me while I grasp that hand that held mine. Whatever the gods wanted to play, to live another life was all I could think of.
I squeezed his hand and I cried myself from this new opportunity. Before I knew it, I lost my connection with this fleeting moment from my excessive sobbing.
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As I came back to my wakefulness, I immediately felt a soft sensation of cotton under a white clean sheet pressed at the back of my head. The smell of a freshly cleaned room mixed with the oozing smell of wood enters my nose.
A stone ceiling with wooden supports immediately enters my sight and the warmth of the sunlight that bathes the room illuminates the room. I slip the white sheet of blanket slightly down from my body and I tried to sit diagonally to survey my surrounding.
I was in a simple room filled with wooden shelves and potted plants. The open window with glass panel is slightly open in which lets in a cool but relaxing wind that brings fresh air. The floor is not made out of tiles but an extremely intricate stone paneled with alternating colors from dry red to dry orange. Beside the bed that I am lying down is a simple tabletop with a pitcher of water and an empty glass.
As I was observing the room, a slight gust of wind enters, cooling the place. At that moment, the wind gently passes onto me, however, as the wind brushes on my body, an unusual twitch immediately overcome my sense.
“Hngh…” A slightly surprised moan slip from my lips. My finger instinctively brushes on the place where something twitched and to my surprise, I felt something triangular a top of my head. It even sent tickling sensation throughout my body.
There was something soft and fluffy and each time I stroke it, my body is slightly stimulated that it repeatedly sent a wave shock into my body.
I am quite unfamiliar with my own physical appearance but I am aware of human physiology. To my surprise and panic, I start inspecting the place where my ears should be. Sadly, I found none.
I am quite appalled of this and my curiosity shot up of what happened with my appearance. With that in mind, I move my legs and feet towards the edge of the bed. I tap the sole my foot on the ground and the hard and cold sensation sends back to my nerves. With a resolve, I tried propping my body upward while using the tabletop beside me as support by placing a hand on it.
Previously, there’s no feeling that would send back to the sole of my foot whenever a stimulation had been performed. Even a rigorous therapy couldn’t even help me, however, right now, my feet tried standing on its own. My legs are shaking and I can feel the imbalance in my center of gravity. It was like learning to walk again for me.
My hands, my feet, and my body; they are definitely alive and moving. Because of the extremities of the action that I am trying to take, I started working up a sweat which I dearly missed. It’s hard and taxing, however, I don’t hate this sensation of trying to take the first step.
Slowly, as I lifted my body upright, I tried to take a step while keeping my own self-supported. The first step that I took was quite heavy and I can feel the foot I am trying to move to lift. I manage to land my right foot first and I felt the strength building up as I took the very first step.
“I did it…!” I cheered happily, however, that also spelled my carelessness as my hand slips from the table that I was using as support. “Eeep!” I cried.
As I fell, a blunt sound reverberates and I hit my nose. My body was sprawled on the ground while I hold my nose with my left hand. A droplet of tear sprouted from my eyelids as the pain nags on me. Accompanied by the tears is a dripping liquid from my nose, probably blood.
Whenever I had seizures and spasms, nosebleed becomes quite a normal occurrence so I am quite familiar with it.
“What did just happened here?!” A voice echoes as the door of the room was slammed open. A hooded old man entered in a hurry. He immediately saw my fallen visage and his face quickly turn for the worse.
“Hi…?” I squeaked weakly while struggling to fix my posture.
“Domhan, what happened?!” Another hooded figure came with the voice of an aged woman. Her face was immediately painted with flabbergast as she saw me.
“Doiteain, call for the king and report to him that the Divine Beast has awakened. I shall treat her in the meantime.” The man called Domhan said with an exasperated countenance.
“What? Won’t a common guard will do for the job?” The woman called Doiteain called for an armed man and started issuing an order angrily. The man that received the order swiftly run like his life depends on it.
The two people approached me and helped me to get back on the bed. I felt like my whole body was frigid from their touches but I am still glad that they do care. I firmly grasp on their hands when they helped and that’s one thing I am happy about too; to finally use my hand to touch someone else.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“I’m quite astonished of how lively you are after sleeping for five days. Really, are all Divine Beast this troublesome? Not that I actually met one, not until now.” Domhan said while furrowing his brows together as he fetches a cloth from one of the shelves in the room.
“O’ Divine Beast, please do not mind the rambling of this fool. He hasn’t had any decent sleep because he was supervising your recovery. In reality, he is fond of children.” Doiteain immediately followed Domhan’s words with refined gentleness.
“Oh, shut it, you woody hag! Here, wipe her down!” Domhan shouted as he passes a basin with warm water on it and a dipped clean cloth to Doiteain.
“Here dear, let’s take your clothes off to wipe the sweat off you.” Doiteain deftly moves her hands onto the hem of my one piece dress and raise it up while Domhan brought out a pebble-like jewel from his pocket.
The only fabric that I am wearing right now no doubt is a pair of frilled drawers. I think that’s what they are called. Doiteain starts wiping my body with the cloth starting from my neck. She dabs and swipes the cloth as gently as possible; as if she is handling a fragile ceramic.
Meanwhile, the emerald pebble that Domhan took out starts glowing. It was warm and soothing and above all, I feel like the knee that I actually scraped earlier starts fading.
“Curious? This is a healing rune. We inscribed precious stones with spellcraft. Through runes, we can communicate with nature to enable us to use their powers and special properties.” Domhan explained with a smug on his face. I can only tilt my head as I didn’t understand a single thing.
“This lass is quite clueless, huh. You’ve been quiet for a while now. Unexpectedly, you have quite a weak reaction to everything.” Doiteain pointed out while she starts wiping my chest. “How old are you anyway? Divine Beasts are supposedly an ancient race that existed millennia ago.”
“I’m twenty years old.” I replied weakly from her query. She is right, I am taking everything lightly but I don’t have any reasons to overreact. If I say myself, I like to just watch things.
“Holy heaven of Urst! So we actually pulled a welp?! Domhan, what are you going to do if Divine Beasts actually starts invading Tirheaarn!?” Doiteain shouted in panic towards Domhan.
“Huh?! Don’t ask me. When that time actually comes, we’ll just come up with an answer ourselves!” Domhan argued with an annoyed countenance.
“You useless goon! Well, what’s done is done. We’ve finally got her, the hope of our land, no, the hope of the world.” Doiteain warmly said.
Domhan clicks his tongue while turning his back and starts ruffling on something on the shelves again while I am still having my body wiped and this time, it was my thighs turn to get wiped.
“I’d say, you are oddly comfortable with me, lassie. For someone of your age, although you don’t really quite look your age, shouldn’t you have been a little embarrassed?” Doiteain asked with a small chuckle under her breath that my ears felt her breath.
“…I’m used to it.” I replied to her question. It was not a lie since back in the hospital, the only way I can get my body clean is someone to wipe me with a towel and warm water. In comparison, I like how Doiteain does it to me.
Silence return to the room as each of the two starts doing their own thing. After wiping my whole body down to my feet, Doiteain starts brushing my hair while Domhan put down a set of clothes in front of me. Come to think of it…
“Can I have a mirror?” I abruptly requested that made the two people turn their heads to me. Both set a flabbergasted countenance while looking at me with widened eyes.
Domhan once again returns to the shelves and start rummaging. After a while, he got frustrated while clicking his tongue and proceeds to the side of the shelves. There, he starts dragging a huge rectangular mirror with an intricate design in front of me.
I peered into my reflection and the next thing I know, I was staring at the figure that reflected back to me. It was a prepubescent girl with a ruffled black hair and a pale crimson iris. The nose is cute as a button and the cheeks are as rosy as a ruby. The lashes are beautifully lengthy and the lips are pinkish, like a cherry blossom. Among everything else, the most outstanding feature was the triangular fox ears atop of the head. It has a fluffy draped black fur and it twitches. It also has a tail…
That girl is me, no doubt.
It makes sense if I need to live another life.
…No, it really doesn’t make sense.
“Um…this is not me.” I told Doiteain and Domhan hesitatingly.
Well, I lost my previous life and without a doubt, my body should be cremated by now. If they are remotely responsible for this new life of mine, I cannot express my gratitude with words. If I may, I will use this body to be as useful as possible for them.
I don’t know up to what degree they trust me but I am going, to be honest to them and place my utmost trust. Whatever happens to me, I owe it to them. I am not throwing away any sense of pride but it is the fact that I am now alive and well.
Upon my words, the two look at each other with seemingly lopsided opinions.
“Is this what it is, Domhan? Transmigration, no?” Doiteain tried to asses with Domhan.
“It seems so. But the fact that she is a Divine Beast was also confirmed. Whatever she may be in the past, the fact that she is now the Divine Beast that answered our summoning is the reality. We can’t change that. Also, a brat is a brat, you see? Twenty years old is a mere number against us who lived for a hundred years now.” Domhan said with a smug again. I really don’t know why you are trying to compete with the standard of age but I get that you slid a comforting fact in your words.
“Thank you for those kind words. It makes me so happy that you easily accepted me.” I smiled at Domhan.
“Y-You cheeky brat!” Domhan shouted with a flushed countenance. Although old, I can see features of a chiseled handsome face on him. The same goes to Doiteain.
“Hahaha! What’s wrong, Domhan?! Anyway, here lass you better wear your clothes.” Doiteain unfurled the dress in front of me and starts assisting me in putting them.
Doiteain helps me with unfamiliar clothes. Forget about the latest trends for men’s clothing, all I can remember wearing is a hospital gown, nothing more. Wearing women’s clothes never crossed my mind so that’s why I cannot fathom how to wear it; nay, even where the head and hand goes.
The clothes were something I can’t describe. I do not know the basic standard for beauty or prettiness but the clothes are at least neat. A sleeveless white shirt with a frilly collar tucked in a pleated cerulean blue skirt with buttons to fasten it. I wore a comfortable knee sock. The only problem was where I should insert my tail.
In the end, Doiteain skillfully created a slit on the back of my skirt where my tail goes.
It was my first time dressing up, either as a man or the current me so I’m kind of excited and because I am excited, the excitement shows in my tails as it starts wagging left and right.
“The records regarding about the divine beasts always dictates that they are unbelievably attractive and charming. I believe the people who wrote it absolutely have their facts straight. How I hope my great great great granddaughter is as cute as you.” Doiteain said with a tone of doting while she brushes my hair and tail.
“What are…Divine Beasts anyway? Although you said Beasts, a huge aspect of my appearance looks like a human.” I asked the question as it was bothering me. They kept saying that I am Divine Beasts but what does it really means?
“Hmm?! You really don’t know? I guess this is really a case of transmigration. We can talk about that after the king arrives. For the meantime, I want to take this opportunity and ask you this. Did you leave anything back in your world? Regrets? Attachments?” Domhan asked me with a pitying gaze as he squats down into my eye level. If he still got some spare to spare after squatting down so much, he must be really tall.
It’s not a difficult question by all means. Rather, I can just flatly say that I don’t miss anyone or anything back in my own world.
But…I ought not to lie to myself anymore.
I know already what made my heart so devoid and empty. Even though I easily accepted my death, it doesn’t mean I easily accepted everything that I wasted. I feel like it will be nothing but self- pity if I admit it.
“I wished that…my parents could have even shown that they care for me. I don’t mind even if they just fake it but…in the end, they abandoned me. I wished more people could have shown up before I drew my last breath, even though just for the sake of appearance. I wished I could have experienced genuine love with someone before I even passed away. Rather than attachment and regrets, they are all unfulfilled wishes…unheard and unheeded.” Those words are paired with my melancholic voice.
Born in a family of elites, I was ridden with an impossible expectation. My parents built their own dreams and ideal and forced it unto me. I swallowed every word that they speak until the day they learned of my chronic disease.
No, the dismay didn’t start with my constitution. I knew it myself that I am nothing exceptional. I am just above average about everything and before I can even discover anything about my potential, I found myself living inside a four-wall room of a hospital.
A lot of people laugh at my back and at that time, I know that they kept laughing at me despite my best efforts to achieve the ideals my parents set for me. Because I was a disappointment, the hospital became my prison; never again to set foot outside it.
I don’t hate anyone. I am the one who failed.
“You are an interesting child indeed. How can you just speak about yourself like it’s not the biggest deal in the world while you shed tears with empty eyes.” Domhan said with a default countenance. Upon his words, I gently place a finger on my cheeks and immediately felt the tears streaming down from my eyes.
“Ah, I’m not as good in controlling my own emotions as I thought I am…” I gave a faint smile upon my own words. I feel like I am vying for attention from the people around me.
“By Urst, just how much of a pessimist you are, child?!” Domhan asked with an infuriated tone while he massages both of his temples.
I am Pessimist? I won’t deny that. It actually sounded wonderful in my ears.
This kind of psychological well-being doesn’t necessarily say that I am bad. Optimist and pessimist act accordingly to the situation. Extrovert and introvert work the same way. It’s not necessarily evil or condemning; in fact, I believe these are the people that make up the world.
I have a lot of time to think about in the confines of the hospital’s four walls. Anger, detest, sadness, and all negative emotions predate to nothing logical. Even if I felt those emotions in the past; learning how detrimental they are in my own way opened an opportunity for me to live quietly at my own leisure.
But that also means that in my life, I have nothing to lose as I stopped gaining anything important.
Even my life is devoid of any reason and meaning.
Doiteain tidies up my countenance by wiping the tears I unconsciously shed. In the midst of it, the door to this room opens gently and Doiteain and Domhan heave a fed up sigh. The one who emerges from the door is two figures.
One is an old man and the other is a man his mid-twenties. If I recall correctly, he was the man who held my hands upon my arrival. The old man is like Doiteain and Domhan; he wears an ornate robe that flows up to the ground and his beard grows up to his waist. The younger man dons a rough cape and leather armor seemingly made from a hide of animals. The only thing that distinguishes him from everyone else is his crown.
“O’ Divine Beast, I am glad to see you awake. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am King Corcairdhearg mac Nessa the Sixth, the king of Tirheaarn by the continent of Gaul. You may call me Cuh Rux or just simply Cuh. I am honored to meet you.” The man, King Cuh, proudly introduced his self with a majestic bow. Afterward, he deftly handed me a bouquet of roses arranged elegantly.
“Umm…the honor is mine King Cuh. Due to some circumstances, I cannot return a curtsy. Also, these flowers…” I spoke casually while cradling the flowers handed to me. It feels like someone is actually giving me retribution for a funeral. Because I am yet familiar with walking, returning a proper bow is impossible so I just bobbed my head.
“The Divine Beast bowing down back is unthinkable. I am Iarann, the Head Elder of the Druids of Gaul and the king’s advisor. Your standing far outweighs any of our standing here.” The old man who called himself Iarann said so while bowing his head towards me.
“No, aren’t kings supposed to be the most important figure in a country? I still don’t get it but first, it seems I just transmigrated to this body; second, I am still in the dark about the Divine Beast business.” I rebutted as the confusion building up inside my head spills.
Upon my words, Elder Iarann looks at Domhan and Doiteain. Their eyes sharpen and each of them nodded knowingly as if they reached a conclusion. King Cuh who also watched the scene made a slightly surprised countenance but not long after, returned his sight on me.
Elder Iarann stood up from his position and approaches me while he flaunts an air of a dignified man. King Cuh did the same thing and the atmosphere around him dictates his supremacy as a king.
“O’ Divine Beast, first of all, a king is just a grain in a desert. However, it doesn’t do the same for you. Your very existence alone is brought by a miracle. We’ve been trying to summon a Divine Beast for more than twenty years until our answers were called. Calling you out to the Hall would be unthinkable, moreover when you have your own circumstances to consider. Even King Cuh Rux knows of that fact and came here for himself. As to what significance a Divine Beast brings…” Iarann halted his words and shifted his sight towards Domhan.
“To tell you the truth, we are currently fighting a losing war. The country of Gaul is currently clashing against the neighboring country, the Empire of Rousse. We don’t know what may befall us. The Empire of Rousse treats our Rune and Spellcraft as heresy and barbaric even though they are also using a similar method to conjure mana in the air. They are spreading their influence all over their neighboring kingdom and we are the first to resist their propagation, especially their beloved religious beliefs.” Domhan took over the explanation. He mustered a face of bitterness while his brows are furiously knitted together.
Are they going to use me, a supposed Divine Beast, to turn the tables around?
“It’s not what you think, lass. Your purpose is not to become our country’s leeway for this war. You have a better, nobler purpose. It’s up to you whether this is to be realized as our hopes or not.” Doiteain reassured me with a gentle pat on the head.
“Divine Beast, we do not wish for you to fight the war with us. Rather, this war is a problem only me and my people can battle. You, on the other hand, will be the most crucial existence to bring this world's absolute peace.” King Cuh said as he gave a bitter smile.
“My…purpose…?” I uttered those words. It made me felt a little warm inside. I didn’t know that getting relied upon by people can be this fulfilling. But it is up to me whether I can do what they want me to do. Failure means disappointment after all…
In a society that population outweighs purposes, someone such as I had little to zero opportunities. Rather than claiming a role in the society, I’ve become an anchor that drags people down. It was unacceptable from a lot of people’s perspective. Even if I reasoned out that the hospital bed was the only place I can move to, it means nothing to them. Society keeps their standard and judged people, whether they are useless or not; no mercy spared.
“O’ Divine Beast, you are to become the counter-force against another Divine Beast summoned by the Empire of Rousse.” Elder Iarann said with a sharp tone.
“…That sounds challenging.” I commented bluntly that immediately blew away Elder Iarann’s fierce grunt. I don’t mind how hard it is. I am slowly grasping the severity of the task they want me to know. “In the end, I still need to fight?” I added.
Upon reaching a conclusion by myself, King Cuh gave me a wry smile before breaking into a sincere laugh. Elder Iarann mulls over King Cuh’s action and gave a glint of desire to admonish him, however, he just silently stared at my reaction, expecting a negative outcome.
“You are quite interesting.” King Cuh told me before fading into a still silence with a crestfallen countenance. “I apologize in advance but, we, even the elders, are clueless about what a Divine Beast can do.” He added while showing a face tinged with uncertainty.
“If I’m hearing this right, you summoned a being you clearly do not have any knowledge of what it is capable of. Was it a gamble on your side?” I asked with the same anxiousness by frowning a little. It’s quite a problem if they do not have any idea what I can be capable of.
“There are few to almost no records regarding Divine Beasts. Most of what we can make out of the old tomes and relics is that they are said to bring both calamity and peace. It was also stated that Divine Beasts are a miraculous entity that brings absolute luck and bequeaths victory.” Doiteain intervenes in the conversation. I’m quite unsure whether I feel comfortable sitting on her lap or not.
Whether I am fine with this situation or not; it is undeniable that I have nothing else to lose and have nothing to return back in my own world. I feel like risking my life here is far more worthwhile than lying down on a hospital bed.
Despite being given a vague purpose in this world, these people are asking me of my help already granted me more than what I’ve desired for my whole life.
“I…don’t know anything about you people. I don’t know what to do or what I can do at this moment. In fact, I might need help myself rather than helping. I am…not too confident of myself either. Despite all this, please…never…ever…abandon me…” I squeezed those words out of my lips. Maybe no more than later, they may throw me away. Maybe no more than a day, they may despise me.
“Hmph! We can’t promise you anything. We never abandon comrades or even betray them. At most, we may need to leave you behind for a day might come when we need to move for our endless journey towards the other life. Until then, we, of the Elders and the King, shall appropriately provide you with everything you needed, Divine Beast or not. We are responsible for remotely calling unto you in this world.” Domhan said to me with a default tone.
After Domhan told me those calm words, King Cuh took this opportunity to take my hand in his grasp with a gentle touch and kisses it.
“If we win this war against the Empire of Rousse, O’ Divine Beast, if you do not desire to return to your own world or you lost any place to return to, I am willing to accept you as my beloved wife. This King Corcairdhearg mac Nessa the Sixth shall vow to be faithful to you. Come to think of it, we never asked about your name.” King Cuh tilts his head for a bit while gazing straight into my eyes.
His query for my name came to me as a bit of shock. After all, I give my previous name a little value; the same as my life. I do not want to be disrespectful to the parents that gave me my name, however, as I left my original body, I feel like a new name shall be in need.
Indeed, I do not want to keep using the name that I am once called. It is filled with nothing but dreary memories.
“I do not want to use my former name. I want it long forgotten. Is it fine if I call myself a new name?” I asked them just to be sure and for the sake of honesty.
Set with no opposition as everyone nodded, I calmly open my lips and utter the name I wanted to be.
“Please, do call me…Aster from now on.”