Ari (Child of the Beastman Goddess)

“Ahri? Tora? Are you both ready? They were all in the prayer hall,” Macan asked as he knocked on the door.

“Yes! We just finished dressing up,” I answered as I opened the door using my power.

He looked stunned seeing the two of us wearing dresses.

“Wow… Those kinds of dresses were expensive back in our previous life. I couldn’t even afford one for Tory with just my salary for a month,” he mumbled.

“Haha! You decided to buy something without even thinking that your sister’s birthday was around the corner. How could you afford one if you still need to pay the remaining mortgage for the house you previously bought?” I said while laughing, remembering what he just said a few days ago.

“Right. That was a foolish move. I haven’t even had the chance to give it to the recipients,” I murmured with regret.

“Hmm? What were you talking about?” Tora asked.

I explained everything to Tora since he forgot the details. She laughed at her brother and he ended up being embarrassed though his eyes looked sad while looking at his sister.

“Let’s go! We can’t let everyone wait for us longer,” I said, trying to distract Macan.

He held both of our hands and led us to a huge door right across the dining hall. Dylan’s people opened the door before us while lowering their heads greeting us for a joyous day. My brother greeted us as he extended his hand before me to lead me inside while glancing at his bride, blushing with a subtle smile.

I held and pinched his hand, then whispered, “Can’t even praise her beauty? Such a disappointment, my dear brother!”

“N-No… It’s just… Not a single word could describe her beauty… Her beauty is on par with the goddesses,” he responded with a bright smile on his face.

Tora looked flushed and couldn’t utter a word while looking away with embarrassment while I was stunned seeing my brother smile brightly for the first time.

“I’m relieved. I felt like I really made the right choice,” I murmured, looking blankly as he looked at me with confusion.

“Sorry, my dear sister… What did you say?” he asked in confusion.

“Nothing. You should smile more instead of always being aggressive,” I nagged as I walked ahead pulling him lightly.

“What?! Am I really like that?” he asked embarrassedly.

“Yeah! This is the first time I saw that smile. I’m so happy!” I grinned, smiling sincerely at him.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

I was stunned looking flustered so I pulled him towards the center of the hall where the others were waiting for us. The tribesmen were watching at a distance as they looked at us in awe. My brother stroked my hair, patted my head before handing over my hand to Dillon as he extended his hand to Tora. Macan kissed Tora’s forehead before handing over her hand to my brother. A drop of tears slid down from her eyes as she smiled brightly.

She looked at me and grinned sweetly as my brother took over her hand. He whispered to her and she chuckled as they moved to their designated position.

“Are you alright?” Dillon whispered.

I nodded and answered, “Yes, I’m just happy.”

Lowell held my shoulder gently as he wrapped his other hand on my waist, leaning his head lightly on mine while standing behind me and whispered, “We’ll make you even happier.”

Dylan suddenly approached near and took my hand and led me in front of my brother and Tora while the others stood on the side. It was the first time for me to see a wedding, but I have to officiate it since I have the highest authority being a goddess.

I stuttered while trembling at most of my words, despite memorizing my lines. Tora chuckled, trying to hold back her laughter and my brother smiled lightly as he looked downwards, trying not to make me feel embarrassed. I looked at the side and saw Gurion at a distance grinning sweetly at me as he held his mother’s hand. I smiled back and continued with the embarrassing act.

Lastly, I had to bless them using my power after Dylan.

“May the blessing of the power of the sun protect the union of my most beloved people? Let your bright smiles never fade like the mighty sun in the morning, the sweet subtle light of the moon and the playful lights of the stars at night,” I mumbled as I cast my blessings for them.

A glimmering light showered the couple as I released my power before them. Everyone was astonished from the sight as they all kneeled down, murmuring words of praise.

After the ceremony, Tora hugged me crying, “Thank you, Ari. I’m really happy.”

“Yeah! I must have looked like an idiot stuttering my words in front of everyone,” I mumbled, flushed in embarrassment.

“No! You did well!” she said, hugging me tightly.

“It’s a relief then,” I mumbled, hugging her back.

The next ceremony was my wedding, but our wedding was different from Tora’s. There was no officiant because I am an Immortal and so one of my grooms. The only one who can bless us was my mother, the queen of Nirvana.

I knelt in front of the altar and prayed to the goddess for our blessing. I prayed clasping my hands to the ceiling-my eyes were shut as I utter the words of praise taught to me. Four males knelt behind me lowering their heads as I spoke words that only one of them could understand.

I felt a warm light showering me from above, then heard everyone gasping for some reason, but I proceeded with the prayer as I utter the last words, “Valeat voluntas tua. [May your will prevail.]”

I opened my eyes and saw a familiar figure, though it was faint.

She smiled at me with tears in her eyes, “Floreat in anima tua dignitas a Patre tuo. [May the prestige vested by the Father flourish within your soul.]”

I faltered and mumbled, “Mother…”

Everyone was kneeling, lowering their heads on the ground. I strangely felt a longing in my heart that I couldn’t explain as my tears kept streaming down.

“I and your father shall wait for your return,” she said while briefly caressing my cheek with one hand and holding my hand with another before her body glimmered and vanished, leaving a ring on my hand.

“Hic! But Mother-” I cried and whimpered without moving from my position, looking blankly at the space where she disappeared.

I had a lot of questions on my mind that I needed answers to and a lot of things that I still don’t understand.