Harem King's Collection: Turning Beastkins Into Desperate Wives!

Stahl shushed the bear and looked around warily, making sure nobody was within earshot of that conversation. She slowed her pace for a bit, letting the pair fall further and further behind the wagon. She finally turned to the bear sharply and whispered to him quietly.

"Who else knows?"

Corper replied flatly, dropping his own tone for the wolf's sake.

"Nobody else saw it but the simple beast and a younger orc, and they won't be telling anyone."

Stahl replied swiftly, her tone a serious one.

"What do I have to do to keep it that way?"

Sir Corper answered honestly.

"Nothing. Whatever the reason, your family has chosen to protect that cub. I never liked the Sicario line... Too sneaky... Too underhanded... Too scummy. That's what got most of them killed in the first place. That fox is nothing like them and never will be. Your house undoubtedly saved his life, regardless of the circumstances that landed him in your care... But he is in danger once more. Have you told him?"

Stahl sighed, relieved her nephew's secret was safe for the time being.

"No... He has no idea about any of it. His parents decided that would be best until he came of age... We thought it had passed over him, that bloodskill... We were praying it would, to be honest with you... Because now, he has one of the most powerful skills among all beasts in Alora, but he can't ever use it. It would give everything away, like you stand as proof to."

Sir Corper listened to the wolf in understanding but poked holes in that logic all the same.

"He is going to use it again. The truth is going to come out. How he finds out could determine how he handles the news, and without him knowing why he shouldn't use it, he won't understand. That cub is truly good, but there was something else back there that awoke, too... I was there, I saw it. For just a short moment, as he drove that dagger into the demon's heart and took his revenge... That cub was smiling. He is a warrior, whether you want to see it or not. He will start behaving as such, sooner rather than later... Teach him what he needs, or risk losing him by keeping him in the dark. I know you are not his father, but you are forced into his role in this moment. A fire never culled or given fodder will always burn out of control or burn itself away... But a well-built one will thrive how it needs. That is all I had to say. Thank you for the conversation."

The bear nodded in departure, picking up his pace a bit as he walked off. Stahl called out to the bear once more before he was out of earshot.

"Hey... I don't know what your plan is here, I don't know what you hope to accomplish by joining us... But stay away from Aster, and leave Rust to me. I won't have any more threats made to my family by you."

Sir Corper almost paused to let the wolf catch up, but instead only kept on walking as he left the younger beast behind. He spoke his answer with a laugh, never turning around.

"You truly are Byron's daughter. He was just as protective of his family as you are. Keep that fire burning strong, Aschefell, for one day, the beasts that actually do want your lover dead may just come for him. I pray it ends better for you than it did for me."

Sir Corper didn't say another word, leaving Stahl both very uncertain of how much she could actually trust this beast and even a bit sympathetic towards him. More than this, however, Stahl couldn't help but agree with what the bear had said about Rust... Whether or not she should really go against her brother's wishes on the matter was something she struggled with, however.

___

Rust was not exactly having a great afternoon. In fact, the young fox was very much feeling a bit defeated. He had been so proud of himself... He was so excited to tell his uncle and auntie about his power, and Stahl just completely squashed the conversation. Rust was not to use his bloodskill yet... Rust was not supposed to talk about it until he reached his father... Rust was not happy about that, and neither was Aster, who finally broke the silence of his pacing beside the cub to ask him something.

"So... How are you feeling?"

Rust simply looked away, mumbling as he did so.

"I doubt I'm allowed to talk about that either at this point."

Aster understood the frustration but wasn't planning on just leaving the cub to be so angry at Stahl.

"Not what I asked, Rust. I know how it feels to not know where you come from. I get how belittling it can feel when you aren't allowed to show the world the most amazing parts of yourself... When it feels like everyone around you is always lying to you and whispering around you... How even if they say it is to keep you safe, it doesn't stop it from just feeling like nobody trusts you. You can talk to me, Rust. I promise, I won't lie to you... But I probably don't have the answers you want right now..."

The cub turned his head towards the human and stared at him with sad eyes for a moment, thinking about what Aster had said before he spoke out again.

"I know you understand it more than most... Was it like this when you got your shield?"

Aster deflated a little himself as he answered that question but did his best to play it off for the cub's sake.

"Yeah... I was a little younger than you when it manifested in a sparring match with my caretaker. You should've seen the way Cortist freaked out the first time, haha! After... I showed my father. I was told to never use it unless I had to, because it would reveal exactly who I was to the world... I didn't realize fully what he meant back then, but in truth, he was right about that... I've recently learned some things about myself that only proved my father made the right decision, even though I couldn't see it back then... In fact, using that shield almost got me executed back at the Selection, because it did reveal who I was. So I've learned to trust his judgment a bit more, and I've learned that things that may hurt me today can often someday be looked back upon as necessary."

Rust was silent, pacing beside his uncle with a serious look. The cub turned back forward, feeling a bit awestruck at that answer. Finally, Rust did ask another question, one Aster wasn't ready for.

"So who are you, Aster? Did learning your past help you see it more clearly?"

Aster looked off into the horizon, taking a deep breath before answering that.

"If anything, it has only made it all the more confusing... I just wanted to stay who I was, To simply be who I knew myself to be... But I'm starting to see that change isn't always so bad, even if we don't always like the change we may see in ourselves at first... Would you like to know a little about what I learned? Just... Please don't tell anyone about what I'm trusting you with yet... Not until Tyfin is back on that throne."

Rust nodded, hoping at least somebody would actually stay honest with him. Aster smiled and started where he felt was appropriate, telling the cub not a single lie as promised.

"Well... My true name was Solis Aureus..." Aster continued on, filling the fox in on everything he had learned since the ceremony. He told him of his lineage, of the heartbeat, and of the news about his adoptive family. He told Rust about his revealed human sibling and all about his panther siblings. When he finally felt he had said enough, Rust thought deeply for a while, seemingly hesitant to ask his next question.

"So... That shadowy fire a while back... You don't really know anything about it? It's just that demon showed up again..."

Aster visibly flinched at that inquiry, not too certain he had much to add there.

"Mollis had a guess... she thought somebody hid something inside of me with a forbidden magic when I was young... But no, I really don't know what happened."

Rust was making sure to think over his wording carefully, not wanting to offend the human.

"Are you going to be alright? Nothing is going to happen to you, right?"

Aster frowned, appreciating the effort, but still not having a good answer.

"I try not to think about it, to be honest, Rust... I just don't have any way to deal with whatever it is right now... I think I'm going to be alright. I don't plan on going anywhere if I can help it..."

"And I am ever so grateful to hear that."

Another voice chiming in came to Aster's rescue, changing the subject. Prince Tyfin was smiling as he closed in, resuming his praise.

"I have come to enjoy having you as an ally, Aster."

The human bowed lightly to the young king, always humbled by his commentary. Prince Tyfin gave his usual wave of dismissal, feeling they were beyond the point of formalities.

"I hope I'm not interrupting?"

Aster quickly shook his head, assuring the prince he was not before the lion continued. "Good to know. I had a question of my own, if you don't mind?"

Aster agreed, but the lion looked past him to the fox, speaking directly to Rust. "It's actually a question for the young Aschefell cub here. May I ask a favor of you, Rust?"

The fox was startled, to say the least, but scrambled to answer.

"Yes, Sir... How can I help?"

The lion smiled softly, motioning towards the wagon just ahead of them as he spoke.

"I'd like you to try your prayer magic on lady Alice. I don't know if it will actually help or not, but maybe it can bring her back... I'm admittedly starting to worry. She's been out for almost four entire days now."

Rust happily agreed to the request and darted off for a bit to go try his luck. He returned a few minutes later, a disappointed look upon his face as he gave his report.

"I'm sorry, I don't think it's something I can fix... She doesn't actually seem hurt at all."

The lion gave the cub a nod, thanking him for the effort all the same. Rust looked back to the wagon and spoke another question.

"So... I never really thought of this before... But what's Lady Alice's story? What's her family name?"

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