Harem King's Collection: Turning Beastkins Into Desperate Wives!-Chapter 87: Burning Bridges

Oust could only stare at his teacher baffled. He felt like he was finally making some good progress, only to have the rug pulled from beneath him. He spoke, a hint of his frustration resurfacing.

"Master... I don’t think I understand?"

Sir Corper gave a burly laugh before he answered.

"No, I wouldn’t expect anyone to grasp it so easily... What I mean is, you already know how to fight well. You don’t need to keep trying to fight like me. You already know what steps to take. You already know what strikes work for your body, your style, so to speak.

"Now build from that, and apply what I’ve taught you on executing those movements. It’s time you start finding your own rhythm. It’s time to start building your own kind of dance, cub. That is how you will learn to use your body to its full extent.

"When you can move without thinking about the steps at all, when it all simply comes natural to you, THAT is when you’ll finally tap into a bit of that potential you have buried under all those layered on years of shit, my young student."

Oust grumbled a bit, still not certain he even knew how to go about the task. Should he just practice his training steps like when he was younger? The burly brown bear chuckled once more.

"Do not worry, I’ll be here to show you. I don’t plan on abandoning my student after only a day. You’re going to rise to the stars by the end of this, young one. I wouldn’t chance stunting that growth for the world at this point... It’s not like a grumpy old bear has much else to do these days, after all."

___

Mollis stood at the edge of the river with a look of sadness. Her thoughts were troubled ones. Sure, Captain Rix hadn’t returned yet, but that was within reason.

The hard-headed bull likely scouted all the way to the Thorned Thicket, knowing him... But Mollis was sad for the fallen and wilting tree. She knew who was actually responsible for the destruction... But she felt it was ultimately herself.

Mollis had let her fear grip her a bit too tightly when she had confronted Aster, an old habit the rabbit had failed to shake it seemed. She hadn’t meant to accuse Aster or his brother of foul play, but she just wanted some answers...

Answers Aster never had to give. Answers his brother may never be around to give. The rabbit had accused Aster’s own brother of treason mere moments before the boy had discovered he was missing.

What’s worse was the way the boy had looked at her when she had assaulted him with the accusations... At first, it was hurt, clear as the daylight, then followed by hatred, darker than the night...

Mollis realized how much she had actually meant to the boy then. Aster actually liked her. Well, HAD liked her... And then she undoubtedly broke that part of the boy, as surely as Aster had broken that tree.

Mollis felt like she had unintentionally just made the human’s life that much harder. That much more lonely.

The rabbit leaned down and started picking up some of the fallen fruit. The mage filled her pockets with quite a bit to begin building the crop for the orcs, and even grabbed a few extra just to keep some on her.

With a heavy sigh, the rabbit walked away from the sight, casting it one final glance of regret over her shoulder before moving on to where the orcs had designated they wanted the orchard to be planted.

___

Someone clearing their throat nearby interrupted the human’s embrace with his wolf, and Aster turned his head to see Prince Tyfin waiting patiently. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The young lion looked more fatigued than Aster had ever seen him before. As the human ended their embrace, the lion began speaking in a lower tone than normal.

"Sorry to interrupt you two, but Aster, I need a word. I promise, for once, it’s not bad news... I’ve already spoken with Stahl."

Aster nodded once and turned to give his wolf a final peck on the muzzle before following the prince a few paces away. The prince wasted no time getting down to what he needed to discuss.

"Aster... I’ve been talking with many of the beasts here about what we’ve learned a while ago. Some of our citizens are choosing to remain here until the future of our kingdom is more certain. Filling in Chief Crag was a bit difficult, as I had to essentially negate all of the promises we had made so far aside from our supply trade...

"All because I do not know if I will be the ruler of our country anymore... But he is comfortable with them seeking a bit of shelter for the time being. The Regicide’s Endeavor is a contest of physical strength as much as it is one of skill in combat... I don’t believe I stand much of a chance... If the Candori or Raxos line seizes the crown, as is likely, I’m certain you realize what that would mean for you?"

Aster only dropped his eyes a bit and nodded. He had come to the same conclusion. The lion picked back up.

"Well... Officially... As I am no longer your prince, nor your king at this time... I release you of both your obligations and of your duty to me. If... If you stay here, you’ll be safe. We can make the official story one where you died in the cavern. This may be the only way for you to survive, and I don’t want the blood of a friend on my hands... So-"

Aster stopped the lion there, kneeling down immediately to make sure his stance was respected and his resolve well spoken.

"Tyfin... I am happy that I can say this as someone you consider a friend... You are still my king. I pledged my loyalty to you, and this doesn’t change that, because I am nothing but happy with the way I’ve seen you rule... Yeah, I could hide here, live a life away from danger, and such hateful beasts...

"But I know Stahl can’t abandon her family. I know I couldn’t just let her leave me behind, either. I know I need to find Cortist... Nothing has changed, except your title, perhaps... And it is just as you said, the titles and labels placed on you do not change how I feel about you, nor who you are. Thank you for worrying for my sake, but I won’t abandon my post, nor my king... And you will always be a king worth serving in my eyes..."

The human looked up once more, smiling as he turned his king’s own words further against him.

"You may not understand your own value to those around you, but in time, I will teach you."

The lion only closed his tired eyes and smirked at the boy’s reversal before he answered in defeat.

"You really would’ve been a great king to your people, Aster... Especially since you’re letting your mane grow a bit... My father was many things, but he always did say a great king begins with a great mane. It suits you, as does your change in fur... Almost as much as your astounding capacity for benevolence does..."

The Beast paused for a moment, delivering his final verdict on the matter.

"If we reach a point your life will be in direct jeopardy simply for following me, I WILL make sure you are taken to safety, even if I have to have your wolf knock you out and drag you away myself. The Venatus family has lost enough, and your brother Talan shouldn’t lose anything more right now."

Aster winced as that name was spoken, visibly shifting in his demeanor. He answered that statement honestly, yet dejectedly.

"Respectfully, my king... I don’t believe Talan would give a single thought to slaying me himself if he had the reason... He faults me for replacing his true brother... He hates me for taking that same brother’s name. He only looks at me as a reminder of his failure to uphold his promise to his mother... And I understand that. I have understood that for many years now..."

The human resisted the urge to touch his scar, that same reminder from his childhood to NEVER look into his older brother’s eyes again... To never speak directly to him again.

The prince frowned a bit. Tyfin never did get the full story between Talan and the human, as the panther refused to say much on it when the prince prodded, but before he could ask Aster, Stahl approached once more, butting into the conversation between them at the news.

"Well, that’s a really awful reason to hate a sibling. It isn’t like you had ANY choice in any of that... It’s his loss. Sounds like Talan is a real shortsighted brother... Not that I can say much there..."

It was the prince that winced this time. He was silent for a bit but felt needed to say something.

"He isn’t that bad... He has a lot of hurt, and he felt betrayed by what your father did by bringing you home... But I do know he does care for you, at least to some extent... He did save you back at the Selection Grounds from those fiends..."

Aster scoffed a bit before he retorted.

"Yeah, cause Corty and Father were there. He hates me, I promise you, but he wouldn’t do anything that would bring them pain. That’s probably the ONLY reason he saved me... I know he is the second in command to your own guard, so I am sure you’ve seen a different side to him that even I haven’t yet... That I probably never will, but I’ve seen the worst side of him... I bear the scars to prove it..."

Stahl tensed up as her emotions flared, finally getting the information as to who had put those marks on her mate’s face... His own brother no less...

Before she could say anything more, though, Mollis interrupted the group with a small cough. When she locked eyes with Aster and the boy’s eyes narrowed a bit, the rabbit could only look away as she spoke.

"My prince... I have finished the grove of trees for the orcs. Our supply trade is secured, so I figured I should update you... Hey... Aster... Can we talk?"

The human was already walking past the rabbit, giving his answer flatly, and with a hint of resentment as he continued on to anywhere else at the time.

"No."

***