Rebirth: Beasts Bound

"Oh my... it’s really you," I mumbled softly, and Liora flashed a smile.

"Why does everyone look horrified?" she asked, and my lips parted to say something, but Headmistress Lysandra’s voice echoed through the hallway.

"Everyone back to your dorms. This is unacceptable," she said, and the students gathered around immediately began leaving, except Azrael and me.

We were inside her room now, and Liora was sitting at the edge of the bed, humming softly while her eagle beastman stood beside her protectively.

"How? Is this your spirit?" Lysandra asked cautiously, and Liora laughed softly.

"I was indeed dead, but when I was about to begin a new life, I was told someone brought me back," she said, and her eyes trailed toward me. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

A smile flashed across her lips.

She had changed....Even the energy around her no longer felt weak. It was intimidating... radiating power beautifully.

"Thank you, Raven. I wouldn’t have had a second chance without you," she suddenly said, and Lysandra froze, staring at me before turning back toward Liora.

She looked both shocked and confused. "This hasn’t happened in years," she mumbled under her breath, and I chuckled softly.

"I guess I’m all-powerful," I boasted dramatically, and she rolled her eyes at my words.

She stood up, placed her hands behind her back, and flashed Liora a warm smile.

"Welcome back once more, Liora," she said before walking out.

The moment the door shut closed, I couldn’t move. I could only stare at her.

Liora immediately stood up and rushed toward me, wrapping her arms tightly around my shoulders.

"I’m so happy to see you," she whispered softly, and I chuckled shakily.

"Me too," I mumbled quietly, trying hard not to let my voice crack.

[Host, as a reward for going through grief and hardship, you have been given an Excursion Token. Explore any part of the Beast Tribe.]

Seeing the hologram, I couldn’t help but freeze.

Really?

Shouldn’t I at least spend time catching up with Liora first? My lips parted to reject it, but then..

"You know what? You can go. I’m totally fine," she said, and I froze instantly.

"What?" I asked in shock. Could she see the hologram too?

"Don’t worry, Raven. Your secret is safe with me," she said softly before giggling.

My lips parted slightly. How? I wanted to ask, but she gently placed her fingers against my lips, stopping me.

"You should rest up, Miss. I’ll take care of my master," her eagle beastman said calmly.

I stared at him before glancing back at Liora....Maybe I could explore only a few places, I thought quietly before nodding slowly in agreement, but then...

The door burst open.

"Is Liora back?!" Bibi screamed, and her eyes widened the second they landed on Liora.

"Oh my God!"

She rushed toward Liora immediately, and before Liora could even protest, Bibi had already wrapped her arms around her and lifted her clean off the floor. She spun her around excitedly while Liora laughed softly.

Her eagle beastman only stared coldly from the side, and jealousy visibly flashed across his face.

I couldn’t help giggling at the sight. "We should leave," Azrael said quietly, and I nodded.

I stood up and walked toward the door before opening it, but the moment I stepped outside, I paused.

A soft smile slowly curled against my lips as I gently closed the door behind me.

"You don’t seem happy," Azrael said, and I turned toward him.

"I am. I just can’t believe she’s back," I whispered, tears glistening faintly in my eyes.

"I think I shouldn’t go on the trip. What if something happens aga—"

"Raven, she’s stronger now, and she needs you to cool off some steam too. She isn’t dead anymore. She’s right here, healthy and okay," he said before gently pushing the door open again.

I pressed my lips together tightly.

"But I still feel guilty," I mumbled softly.

The second the door opened, my other beastmen didn’t waste even a second before surrounding me completely and pulling me into a hug.

"Where did you disappear to?" Veyra asked worriedly.

"I walked around everywhere, even deep into the woods, and I still couldn’t find you," Ryker added, and I chuckled softly.

"I missed you," Thyrian muttered quietly, and I sighed.

"I wasn’t lost. I was at the beach with Azrael," I explained, and they all slowly turned to stare at him before looking back at me.

"But you said you weren’t with her?" Thyrian said suspiciously, and I paused.

He said that? I slowly turned toward Azrael, and an evil grin curled against his lips.

"They flock around you like flies. It’s annoying," he muttered coldly, and I sighed deeply.

"Flies? Azrael..."

"It’s okay. Ignore him," I said before walking toward my bed.

The second I collapsed onto the soft mattress, my eyes instantly closed from exhaustion.

My beastmen slowly walked closer. "Change into something lighter, Master," they murmured softly, but I was too sleepy to respond properly and only hummed quietly.

Then I felt Thyrian’s cold hands gently removing my shoes before setting them neatly aside.

Veyra carefully pulled me upward before slowly unzipping the back of my dress.

I opened my eyes lazily and watched Ryker hand him a soft oversized gown.

I didn’t protest as the dress slipped from my body before I changed into the loose gown instead.

It felt soft... comfortable... free.

I didn’t even realize my hands had landed on Ryker’s fox tail the second it appeared.

I gently caressed it slowly. "So soft..." I mumbled sleepily before pulling it closer and snuggling my face against it.

I could practically see how red Ryker’s cheeks had become. "Raven, you’re squishing my tail," he complained softly, but I didn’t respond, Instead, I pulled his fluffy tail even closer.

He had been standing earlier, but my grip tightened so strongly that he fell straight onto the bed beside me.

I lazily placed my legs over his waist, trapping him completely.

"Guys, ple—" Ryker started helplessly, but the others were already walking away.

"Huh?" Ryker blinked in confusion before slowly gazing down at my relaxed sleeping face.

"You’ve been so stressed..." he whispered softly, and subconsciously, I nodded.

A tiny tear slipped from my eyes, and I felt his thumb gently wipe it away. He slowly leaned closer before placing a soft kiss against my forehead.

The door creaked open again, and he looked toward the others.

Veyra and Thyrian had already changed into softer clothing too. "Didn’t you guys go to sleep?" Ryker asked, and they chuckled quietly.

"We’re joining the bed," Veyra said casually before climbing onto it with Thyrian beside him.

They gently pulled me closer between their warm bodies protectively.

"Mm..." I mumbled softly.

I had never felt this safe and warm while sleeping before.

Azrael, who had already walked toward his own room earlier, suddenly stepped back inside again.

He stared silently at the rest of them... then at me.

His eyes remained dark and unreadable, but then he slowly bent down, and a soft kiss landed against my forehead... then another against my nose.

My eyes slowly flickered open. "Azrael..." I mumbled sleepily.

He instantly panicked and staggered backward, trying to leave quickly, but my hand shot out suddenly and grabbed his shirt.

He was dragged right back toward me, his hot breath only inches away from my face.

"You’re so cute," I mumbled softly before kissing him directly on the lips.

His eyes widened instantly...