Chapter 30 - Tale Under The Stars (2/2)
As this happened, the tension between human and demon empires became more intense as multiple genes appeared in both factions. But it was when two particular individuals emerged, that situation between the two races degenerated. One was a human with the bloodline of the white dragon and took the lead of the humans obtaining the title of Hero; the other was a demon who had the bloodline of the black dragon and controlled the demons as the new Demon Emperor.
When the two reached the sixth grade and were approaching the seventh, a big war finally broke out to decide who would dominate the whole world. In that great battle, there was a high possibility that the winner would reach the divine rank and become a God.
Your father, therefore, organized an offensive with all the remaining fighters of our race. The goal was to get in the middle of the fight and kill the strongest humans and demons that possessed bloodlines. Your father personally engaged the Hero and the Demon Emperor in combat by himself.
I don't exactly remember what happened that day. Around me, there was nothing but destruction and death. But, at one point, there was a great roar, and the earth began to crack. Your father took me from the collapsed battlefield and told me that he had reached the divine rank; however, unfortunately, his body couldn't hold all that power.
Before everything went to pieces, he teleported me elsewhere, telling me to live, and that was the last time I saw him. Later I woke up in the Multicolored Leaf Forest, where I then met you, Hei.'
Like that, the long speech of Bao Bei ended. Although it was only a summary of the many years she had lived in that atmosphere of war and tension, from the tone of his mother, Hei could perceive all the emotions she must have felt. Joy and love for a new partner; the fear and pain of her companions' deaths and of always being in danger; anger to be treated only as an object without consideration for their lives.
Ye and Xing were silent, with their eyes turned to the ground. Although spiders and snakes couldn't physically cry, it was easy to understand that they were doing so inside them.
Hei stood up and approached them. His own eyes were also filled with tears. Although he hadn't known him, from their mother's story, it was clear that he had been an extraordinary being who had struggled with all of himself to forge a future for Bao Bei and all the other divine beasts. To that being, he had nothing but respect; unlike instead, the sensation he felt for himself: in fact, Hei was cursing himself because he was human, the same race that had caused so much pain to his mother and that it could also endanger his two little sisters.
Shui instead bellowed at the moon full of anger. Even though it was a very young spirit beast, considering their long life span, an innate emotion of belonging to those who had died was firmly rooted within it. In fact, in the struggle for survival, it wasn't only the divine beasts that fought. Even the spirit beasts that hadn't reached the sixth level struggled with everything they had to give a future to their descendants.
Lian was silent as usual, but unlike her expressionless look, she was crying, and her gaze turned towards Ye and Xing. At that point, she stretched both her hands to caress the two little spirit beasts as she rested her forehead on the ground as if kowtow herself to apologize.
Sensing their thoughts, Bao Bei came closer, and with some spider webs strings, she touched the cheek of all of them.
'What has happened cannot be changed. Although I lost your father and my companions, in the end, I got you. Hei, you don't have to feel disgusted with your human origins. Not all humans are like that, and you know it. One hundred thousand years ago, together with us spirit beasts, several humans fought too. They were beast tamers who loved their adventure partners and died with us, even going so far as to deny their race.
As for the protection of Ye and Xing, you don't have to worry. The humans and demons of my past belong to an area called the Destiny Continent. According to my hypothesis, Rainbow Island is one of the various islands that surround this Continent. Although it is possible to reach it by boat, there is still a long way from here to there. So you don't have to worry.
You should instead concentrate on becoming strong, stronger than everything and everyone so as to protect those you love. That's why I gave you my bloodline. Although it is a taboo for us divine beasts, I am convinced that you are the hope for all of us, but at the same time, I don't want you to follow this tortuous path that brings suffering and pain. If possible, I would like you to stay here with your sisters far from any danger.
To reach the divine rank, your father sacrificed the very essence of us divine beasts, precluding future spirit beasts from reaching the sixth level while sealing the cubs of divine beasts that were too small in a safe place. I'm not sure if there were other survivors, but I doubt it, and in any case, after all these years, they must already be dead.
Therefore, in the eyes of the world, divine beasts should be extinct. Although it was a huge sacrifice, it was the only way to prevent the death of all of us and the whole world. So, unless they show too many big powers, Ye and Xing will be confused as simple spirit beasts.
Honestly, when I picked you up that night, I didn't know what I had in mind. Inside of me, I was angry, sad, and scared about being alone, but then I saw you, so small and helpless yet so tenacious in wanting to continue living. Your father once told me that the differences between the various races are dictated by the society in which they grow. So I decided to raise you as a spirit beast because I hoped you could one day secure our future: a bridge of understanding between us spirit and divine beasts and humans.
Although this is what I wanted, over the years, I have learned to love you more and more, and in the end, I want you to decide the path you want to take. As a mother, I don't want to put up with such a burden. I just want you to be happy with Ye and Xing.'
After talking to Hei, Bao Bei turned to her two little daughters.
'I know you are sad and angry, but remember that the faults of the past shouldn't be placed against the future descendants, not to mention that even we spirit and divine beasts are not without fault. For the sake of freedom and our future, we have committed so many crimes. I don't want you to make the same mistakes. Stay by your brother's side and protect each other, okay?'
Ye and Xing nodded vigorously to communicate that they had understood. So she switched to Shui, who was still bellowing in anger.
'The same goes for you, Shui. A future with humans is possible, and the living proof is before you. Don't let the pain of our species dull your judgment.'
Shui bent hits legs and rested its head on the ground. Even though it was angry, it certainly couldn't forget the kindness and compassion Hei had shown to it and the other buffaloes, not as something inferior but as a peer worthy of being treated with respect.
Finally, Bao Bei turned to Lian, who still had her head resting on the ground and in tears.
'I have a vague idea of what you suffered in your prison. Unfortunately, you had to go through all this, but now you are safe. You are part of our family, so don't be afraid. The only thing I ask is to help my children on their journey. Please, Lian.'
Lian, therefore, looked up and in a hoarse, weak voice answered with a simple ”Yes.” By the tone used, one could see that it was some time that she didn't use her voice. But it was a good thing that she wasn't mute.
At that point, Hei, who hadn't said anything, stood up with a determined look and told his mother what he had decided.
”I don't need time to decide, mother. I promise you here, that I will protect my family from all dangers, even if it cost me my life, and I will create a safe house for us spirit beasts. A place where we can all live peacefully! ”
Upon hearing Hei's statement, Bao Bei was suddenly stunned. His firm tone and his resoluteness reminded her so much of her late companion.
'You were right, Hei An, all our sacrifices weren't in vain. Our dream will be handed down to the next generation, and I'm sure Hei will be the one who will accomplish it for us. But for them to be ready, in the meantime, I will train them and protect them until I am able to do it.'
This was the thought that Bao Bei expressed in her heart. She prayed for the future of her children to be different from what she had to face in her past.