Rebirth: Beasts Bound

I looked down slowly. Azrael had stepped in front of me, and the knife had gone straight through his right wrist. He stared at Danny, and his eyes dimmed coldly. With a swipe of his left hand, Danny was sent flying. He crashed against a nearby tree and landed hard on the ground.

Azrael made a step forward, but I quickly reached for his hand. The knife had gone deep. Even if I removed it... it would still hurt badly.

"Why did you do that? You shouldn’t have," I snapped while glaring at him.

He didn’t say a word, but I reached for the lower part of my dress and tore it apart.

"What are you doing?" he asked, but I didn’t answer him.

I reached for the knife. "I’ll pull it out at the count of three," I said, but Azrael just chuckled.

"I’m not re—"

He froze the second I pulled it out. Blood drizzled down even more, and I quickly wrapped the cloth tightly around his hand. He just stared down silently... I was panicking.

Danny... how dare he hurt my beastman.

I gritted my teeth, especially when I felt Danny approaching again.

My sword appeared instantly and slashed through the air. I paused and snapped my head to the side.

Danny stood there, his neck slit open while blood drizzled out heavily. His neck bent awkwardly before his head slipped from his body, both crashing against the ground with a sickening thud.

"You killed him," Azrael said, and I nodded slowly.

I didn’t even realize my other beastmen and some people were staring from the forest.

"System, help me," I snapped, and then it popped up.

[Encyclopedia has been rewarded. Open now.]

My eyes widened instantly. I had completely forgotten about the task involving getting Bibi on my side, so I had apparently won it all along.

I wanted to open the Encyclopedia, but people were already rushing toward us.

"Are you okay?" Ryker and Veyra asked at the same time, and I nodded softly in response. "Azrael is injured. Get him to the academy doctor," I said, and they nodded instantly, they grabbed Azrael and disappeared that same second.

"Did he hurt you?" Ryker asked, but I shook my head negatively.

"Who is he?" another person asked while taking Danny’s dead body away.

I sighed softly.

I wanted to ask him if he got away with my death back in the modern world, but what exactly was needed from a dick like him? Absolutely nothing.

"Let’s go," Ryker said, and we disappeared.

Back at the academy, no one seemed tense. The flutes were still playing while laughter echoed through the carnival.

"Do you need something to drink?" he asked, and I nodded.

He walked off while I collapsed onto the chair behind me.

"I heard what happened! Who dared try to strike you?" Bibi asked, rushing toward me and grabbing my hands.

I flashed her a smile. "Don’t alert the academy. I already took care of him," I said, and she sighed in relief.

"I was scared for a second," she muttered, and I gave her a faint smile.

"Where’s Azrael?" I asked, and she pointed toward the infirmary.

[Host, the medicine wouldn’t be able to heal Azrael. You need to gather the herbs and heal him.]

Seeing the hologram appear again, I couldn’t help sighing in frustration.

"Follow me," I said and dragged Bibi by the wrist, she didn’t protest as we moved deeper into the forest.

When she wasn’t looking, the Encyclopedia appeared in my hand instantly. I flipped through the contents quickly until my hand landed on the healing section.

"What ingredients are needed?"

The second I saw the page, I memorized the leaves carefully before the book disappeared again.

"What are you looking for though?" Bibi asked, and I turned toward her.

"A purple glowing leaf. I don’t know what it’s called," I admitted, and she hummed softly in response.

She bent down, observing the nearby leaves carefully. "How did you know about it?" she asked suddenly, and I froze.

"About what?" I asked carefully.

"The Purple Oriol Lotus. That leaf is extremely rare," she said, and my lips parted.

I wanted to lie or make up another excuse, but nothing came out. "It’s to heal Azrael’s wound... someone told me to fetch it," I said instead, and her lips formed a small "oh."

"But what does it do?" I asked curiously, and she flashed a smirk.

"It’s just a healing leaf. It works really well. We mostly use it when magic fails to heal certain wounds."

"Magic doesn’t heal all wounds?" I asked in shock, and she nodded.

"Some wounds are too stubborn. Since magic can’t fully heal them, we resort to physical methods instead. The rest depends on the individual and how quickly they can recover naturally," she explained, and I listened attentively.

My lips parted to ask another question, but I froze while staring at a glowing leaf nearby. It looked green at first, but when sunlight reflected against it, it shimmered purple beautifully.

"The Oriol Lotus."

I rushed toward it and gently plucked it carefully. It was still forming, which meant once it bloomed completely, it could be useless.

"You found it?" Bibi asked in shock, and I nodded instantly. She stared at the leaf in my hand before flashing me a warm smile.

It didn’t take long before we found the remaining herbs too, and I carefully held them in my arms.

We walked back toward the academy. Everyone was busy eating, laughing, and enjoying themselves while some students danced around happily.

I headed straight toward the infirmary.

There he was....Bandages were wrapped around Azrael’s hand while he leaned lazily against the bed, laughing softly.

"Is he okay?" I asked worriedly, and Ryker held my hand gently.

"He’s healing," he answered, and I sighed in soft relief. He stretched his hands to give me the drink from earlier but I refused.

"Get me a bowl," I said loudly, and Thyrian nodded before walking off instantly. When he returned, I gently poured a little water into the bowl before mashing the leaves carefully with the rolling spoon in my hand.

Once everything fully blended together, I took Azrael’s hand gently and slowly removed the earlier bandage. Seeing how bloody it still looked and the deep hole at the center of his palm made my eyes soften painfully while guilt lingered in my heart.

"I’m sorry... you ended up like this because of me," I apologized quietly while gently smearing the mixture around the wounded area.

"I’m sorry," I whispered again, but then his left hand suddenly moved and landed gently against my head, he softly caressed my hair.

"It wasn’t your fault. I stepped in because I didn’t want you getting injured. So don’t feel guilty or sad about it. It’s just protection. I know how to do that well," he bragged proudly.

I accidentally touched a sore spot, and he hissed softly while I chuckled.

"Tough Azrael," I teased, and he looked away slightly embarrassed.

"It’s okay, Azrael. You can hiss if you feel pain. It doesn’t make you any less of a beastman," I said softly, and a smile appeared on his lips... but disappeared the second it came.

"I was never less of a man."

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