The Beginning After The End novel Chapter 88

ARTHUR LEYWIN

Tess didn’t wake up until late into the afternoon of the day after. Virion had left in the morning to deal with what had happened to their home, and left a note on the other side of my door telling me to take "good care" of Tess until he got things sorted out. It normally would’ve sounded serious if not for the winking face he crudely drew at the bottom of the note, making me question what exactly Gramps’ definition of taking good care of someone was.

And furthermore, what was going on inside his crooked head.

"Grandpa?"

I was meditating on the living room floor with Sylvie still sleeping on my lap when Tess came out, rubbing her half-opened eyes, bedhead ablaze.

"A-Art? Where’s Grandpa?" Flustered after realizing it wasn’t Virion who she had called out to, Tess quickly turned around, frantically matting down her hair.

"Good morning, or rather, good afternoon." Smiling, I got up and handed her a glass of water. "Your Grandpa went back to your house in the morning to get everything sorted out."

"Oh. Maybe I should go too... I was the one responsible for all of this, afterall."

"There’s nothing either one of us could do. Don’t worry too much for now. Virion and your parents will probably be back here later tonight. We’ll go back to my house in Xyrus after making sure everything is okay since we have to go to school tomorrow," I explained.

"Still... there must be something I could help out— wait, what? I’m going to your house?" She still had her hands glued to the side of her head when she reeled back in surprise, once again unleashing her bedhead in all of its glory.

"Yup. Virion asked me yesterday. It’ll be easier that way, and it’ll probably be more comfortable than staying at this inn."

"I think my heart would be a lot more comfortable staying here."

"Well, none of your family will be able to be here with you, so I’m sure Virion would feel a lot more reassured if you stayed with my family until we get to the dorms," I rebutted.

She remained quiet for a moment before timidly nodding in consent. Even with her hair reminding me of an unkept lion’s mane, she was still somehow cute.

"Kyu!"

Sylvie woke up to the lingering scent of food and leeched a few bites to eat from Tess.

After finishing her breakfast, the princess sat down next to me on the living room floor where I was training and pet Sylvie, who made herself comfortable on Tess’ lap.

"Hehe, so cute," Tess cooed as she rubbed my formidable draconic Asura’s belly.

"Tess, what did it feel like when you activated the first phase of your beast will?" I asked.

"Umm, it felt like a sudden surge of power spilled out and surrounded me. Then, all of a sudden, I couldn’t really move my body," Tess explained. "It felt like I was trapped in someone else’s body, but I wasn’t really scared though, for some reason."

"Mmm," I nodded.

The beast will wouldn’t attack its host so it made sense for Tess to have a lack of fear. It didn’t make sense, though, for the beast will to have such a strong sense of defiance. Even if she skipped the integration stage, Tess’ body still had fully fused with the beast will. The will might be difficult to control and to use properly, but it shouldn’t have gotten that out of hand. Ironic as it sounded, it felt like the beast will had its own...well, had its own will.

"I want you to rouse the elderwood guardian’s beast will." I kneeled down in front of her before instructing.

"W-What? Is that safe?" Tess looked up, her eyes widening.

"It should be; you’re not going to initiate the first phase. Just get a sense for the beast will inside of your mana core and let it stream out into the rest of your body. That way, I’ll be able to sense more clearly what’s going on." I scooted until I was at arm’s length of Tess, making the princess shuffle away.

Wasn’t it her that so boldly initiated a kiss last time? Why was she being so shy now?

"I’m going to have to place my hand on your abdomen, Tess. Don’t move," I sighed, scooting closer.

"You make it sound like touching a girl’s belly isn’t anything serious," Tess pouted, clicking her tongue.

"It’s not if it’s for the sake of training."

"Tch..."