Ari (Child of the Beastman Goddess)

The next day, the elder healer approached me with a baffled expression on her face while carrying the cute little hatchling in her hand.

“Ari dear, did you do something to this hatchling last night? His condition became stable right after you visited him while I was brewing the herbs for him.” She asked me curiously.

“Nothing! I just patted his head a little, but I promise I washed my hands before doing so and did not use my gloves. Then, I left the room to go to sleep early.” I nervously answered.

“Oh?! Really?! You touched this hatchling with your bare hands and you didn’t get ill afterwards?” She asked excitedly upon hearing that my condition didn’t get triggered when touching the hatchling.

“Yes grandma Lony, I didn’t. I slept well after.” I answered briefly.

“Would you like to try holding him for a while? I want to check if your condition is stable when holding a male hatchling.” She suggested.

I nodded and took the hatchling from her hand.

She observed me as I held the sleeping hatchling in my hand.

“Grandma Lony, can I name him?” I curiously asked.

“Sure! It seems he is also comfortable with you and you seemed well while holding him.” She answered happily while smiling at me sweetly.

“I want to name him Gurion. If possible, can I raise him? I want to take care of him until he becomes old enough to take care of himself.” I suggested as I looked at the little hatchling on my hand.

“Hmm… You can ask the alpha for permission first once he goes back from the meeting at lunchtime. I will also report to him some good news regarding you and Gurion.” She smiled as she replied to me.

We waited for my father to arrive and the elder healer talked to him in private to report a few things regarding me and Gurion, but I don’t think she asked my father’s permission for me to take care of the hatchling.

I went to my father and hugged him while I was still holding Gurion after he and the elder healer talked in a distance.

“Did you help the elder healer to take care of that little hatchling? He looks better now than yesterday.” He asked as he patted my head and smiled.

“I did! He looks so cute. I petted him last night, but I suddenly felt so sleepy, so I went to bed early. I slept so well last night that I woke up late. Sorry I didn’t wake up early to accompany and help you today, father. I don’t know why I was so lethargic till this morning. We fed him some milk given by the lactating female mothers and elders in the nursery. I thought he was about to die last night, but he miraculously became healthy overnight according to grandma Lony. I felt so happy seeing him healthy like this. Can I keep him?” I responded excitedly while asking permission to keep the hatchling as if asking for permission to keep a pet.

“No!!!!” He immediately answered in an angry tone as if he was roaring in disagreement.

I was stunned. It was the first time my father got too emotional about my crazy request. I wasn’t even sure what impression I made at that time.

I felt like my eyes got wet and I was about to cry not because I was rejected, but I suddenly got scared at the thought of my father getting angry at me due to my absurdity.

His expression suddenly softened when he looked at my surprised face. He sighed a few times thinking carefully about how to redeem the situation.

“*Sigh* Ari dear, you do know this is a male beastman even if he is still a hatchling, right? You also know you are still too young to keep a hatchling. I can hunt and tame a pet for you, but this is not a pet, but a little beastman. Do you understand?” He answered while taking the hatchling from my hand by grabbing Gurion’s scruff, raising him in the air.

Gurion looked helpless while he was looking at me as if he was begging me to get him back.

“Ok father, I understand.” I replied as I frowned, then walked away from my father with a defeated look.

He was taken aback. He placed Gurion on the table, then chased after me and hugged me.

“You can still visit him in the nursery often if you like. You can play with him and take him here to learn herbs with the elder healer once he has grown enough to communicate properly, but we just can’t keep him here all the time. You can also adopt him officially, only once you have already come of age.” He stated emotionally as if he was afraid of something.

“Okay, father.” I replied, then hugged him back.

“I’m done preparing the food. Let’s eat!” The elder healer exclaimed as she finished preparing the lunch.

I took Gurion from the table who almost got scalded by the newly heated food on the table then sat beside my father. My father always glanced at my hand as I stroked Gurion’s back while we were eating.

After eating, he took Gurion from me and observed me as if he was confirming something.

“Are you sleepy? Take a nap and I will take this brat to the nursery now.” He suggested as he took the hatchling to the nursery in a haste.

My father was right, I suddenly felt exhausted as if my energy was drained for some reason I don’t understand, but I was sure that my father knew the reason.

I decided to ask him the next day and took an afternoon nap to regain my strength.

When I woke up, it was already morning the next day. I was shocked upon seeing the sun rise.

My father was sleeping on the chair just beside my bed. He seemed exhausted and stressed out.

He opened his eyes upon hearing the rustle of my wooden bed as I sat down.

“A-awake? Are you hungry?” He asked with a worried tone.

My stomach suddenly grumbled loudly, making me embarrassed in front of my father. I nodded while looking away due to the awkwardness.

He laughed as he sighed in relief. Sure enough, I made him worried for a reason I didn’t quite understand. He prepared a light vegetable soup for me to eat then sat beside me while I was eating my food.

“Do you understand why I refused to keep Gurion by your side for a long time?” He asked me in curiosity.

I shook my head, baffled by the connection of Gurion and my sudden exhaustion.

“I can see your energy being transferred to the hatchling while you were petting him a few times. Though unnoticeable by a normal beastman, I believe you can see a faint light glistening as you stroke his head. Am I correct?” He asked eagerly for confirmation.

“I thought it was just my imagination so I didn’t mind it. Isn’t it that only males have the ability to transfer energy to others?” I replied in confusion.

Only males have the ability to transfer or share energy to other beastmen, but they can never perform healing using this method. Hence, they can use this method to prolong the life of another beastman in dire condition until a cure is provided.

“It’s true, but promise me not to tell this to anyone. Someone might take advantage of your ability and I am not sure how long I can protect you inside the tribe.” He insisted.

I agreed and limited my contact with Gurion until he became healthy.

After Gurion recovered fully, I always went to the nursery after accompanying my father on his daily task. I played with him and took good care of him like a sister would and we grew up together despite him staying in the nursery.