Rebirth: Beasts Bound

My eyes opened, but I froze as I felt three hands on my waist. I turned my head to the side: Veyra, Ryker, and Thyrian were all holding me.

Gawd, this was the life I wanted! I licked my lips and beamed happily. I froze when I sighted Orange...oh my. After everything, she was finally showing her face. She jumped onto the bed and walked towards me, then lay down and snuggled into my arms.

"Huh?" Was Orange ever this clingy? I thought and couldn’t help but reach out and gently stroke her fur. She purred happily, and I gently nuzzled my nose against hers, and she meowed.

[Congratulations: Host, you completed the synchronization mission. And you’ve been granted a transport system that can give you any beautification equipment needed.]

Staring at the hologram, I couldn’t help but gasp. Oh my! Really? I sat up and jumped out of the bed, but I woke no one.

[Would you choose now or later, host?] it said, and my lips curled into a smile. "I’ll choose now," I said, and the panel lit up. Staring at the equipment, I couldn’t help but smile, and I did a little victory dance. I turned to gaze at everyone on the bed and smiled. I cared for each and every one of them sleeping there. But I still wondered...who among my beast-men did I synchronize with?

[You synchronized with all your beast-men last night,] it said, and I pressed my lips together. The memories of last night popped up, and my cheeks flushed red. Nothing actually happened, but they kept playfully biting me, even Azrael had joined in.

I cleared my throat and stared at the panel. I swiped my hands, and other products came into view. I stared at the nail equipment, clicked on it, and saw some correct colors and a nail filer. For that—that’s what I wanted. I looked satisfied, but then....

Ding.

[That costs 1200 gems.]

Seeing the hologram, I froze, trying to stop the laugh about to escape my lips. "What do you mean?" I paused and ran my hands through my hair. "That was obviously free," I snapped, and the system popped out a laughing emoji.

[Just messing with you, host.]

Seeing its message, I rolled my eyes. "That was expensive," I said, and the hologram disappeared. I stared at Orange on the bed, and my eyes softened. I had chosen the nail beautification equipment because she seemed sad and grumpy, because of her nails, I’ll redo them for her so she can be happy.

Apart from that, I still have the mission with Bibi. I groaned. Really, why did that girl have to be listed in my mission and affection level? I sneered, biting my lip. I scattered my hair and stomped my foot on the ground. "I can’t even stand her," I blurted out.

But seeing the people on the bed move, I paused and gently moved to the closet. I took a heavy coat and placed it over my curvy body. I opened the door to walk out, but I turned and went to the table. I tore a paper out and gently scribbled.

[I’ll be out. I’ll be back in a second. Don’t look for me,] I wrote and walked out, closing the door shut, but I opened it again to stare at them one last time, and a smile flashed on my lips.

So this was the feeling of having a complete family... it made my heart race and kick with happiness. I closed the door and walked out happily.

"Hmmmm," I hummed, clearly in a good mood. And the students that passed by me...they didn’t look away or stare in fright as usual. Instead, they waved at me, and I froze. I waved back politely, and they blushed.

Hm. I shook my shoulders, pushing off the thoughts at the back of my mind. Right now, I just wanted to find a perfect gift for Thyrian’s parents. I wanted to make them gasp and be proud of Thyrian.. I wanted to show them he was loved by me very much... Also something to make them praise him, maybe he wouldn’t feel disappointed or sad about his family’s situation.

As I walked down the stairs, I sighted about ten students murmuring among themselves. I moved silently closer.

"She was really fun!"

"I enjoyed myself. I couldn’t believe she was so free."

"Of course she was drunk, that’s why all that happened. If she was sober, she would’ve ruined the fun."

"Alcohol brings out your inner self. She must be a really playful person. I’d like to be friends with her." A girl blushed, her cheeks and eyes showing she was probably thinking of last night. Were even girls crushing on me now?

The thought made me smirk. That’s a good thing. A little fame wouldn’t hurt, would it?

"She would snap your neck now. Last night is different from now," a girl sneered, and I let out a laugh. I was so absorbed in the praises, I didn’t realize they had noticed me.

I froze as I felt everyone’s gaze on me. As I stared back, they looked away and began to scatter.

"Hey, don’t go. All of you," I said, and they all froze in their steps. I could feel everyone’s emotions, some were thrilled, others probably scared. I walked down the steps, my eyes turning cold.

I moved to the girl who said she wanted to be friends with me. I gently tapped her shoulder, and she shivered. She couldn’t even look at me.

"What did you say earlier?" I asked, and her lips parted.

"I-I... un—" she stuttered, and I sighed. "I won’t bite, speak up," I said, and she looked at me skeptically, then looked away, but then I pulled her closer, and she trembled as her body slammed into mine.

"You are soooo cute," I said, and everyone gasped. They stared at me in confusion, and the girl gazed at me with wide eyes but looked away quickly, like she had stared too long.

"Cute," I repeated and let her go. "See you, late" I said, walking off, and the second I did, her friends surrounded her.

"Did it feel like you were going to suffocate under her cold look?"

"Come on, how did it feel?"

Hearing their words, I couldn’t help but slow down, waiting for her answer, and her lips parted. "She seemed different from the rumors. She’s really friendly," she mumbled softly, and the others gazed back in my direction.

Just as I was feeling sneaky, Elowen stopped right in front of me.

"Sister, were you involved in illegal activities in the academy? You do know that means expulsion for you and the students that attended," she said gently, trying to hold my hands, but I moved them back.

"Righteous saint," I said mockingly, and she froze. I felt like a slap to her face would help with that arrogance. She opened her mouth to utter another word, and I was ready to counterattack... when Bibi appeared right beside me.

"Don’t make a scene," she said, not to me, but to Elowen. Elowen sucked on her bottom lip. "I dare no—" she didn’t finish her words as Bibi dragged me away. I stared at her hands and suddenly felt like this scene looked familiar... from where? My eyes widened in realization.

...All those romance dramas I watched, especially K- and C-dramas...where the rich male lead drags the female lead out of a sticky situation...I couldn’t help but hold back the laughter about to escape my lips.

"So does that make me the female lead?" I thought and gently tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Bibi," I called out in a whisper.