4

My breath was ragged, my legs felt heavy when lifted, and my hands continued to feel the walls to move. Today, I was truly unlucky, facing four mysterious people who could control Beast Tigers was terrifying! Luckily, they immediately retreated when their two Beast Tigers vanished upon touching my arms. However, that didn't mean the monsters disappeared forever. My power was still not that strong.

Despite being in poor condition, I finally arrived at my destination. Slowly, I opened the library door, finding Old Joe sitting in the chair that used to be mine.

I quickly sat in the chair where Old Joe usually sat when he visited me, then said, "Old Joe, there's something I want to ask you!"

Silence... No answer. The old man seemed to just sit quietly with his eyes closed. Was he sleeping? Haah... typical old man. He often scolded me for sleeping while working, but here he was doing it himself.

I took a moment to regulate my breath, then observed Old Joe again. Something seemed odd. "Hey, Old Joe..." I reached for the man's hand. His body immediately slumped onto the table, but he still didn't wake up. Afraid that my suspicions were correct, I checked his pulse.

What the... is this...? Today truly isn't my lucky day, huh...? Why...?

That feeling came back. When tears dripped onto the table, all the memories of the past five years whirled in my head. This old man may have scolded me often, but he treated me like his own child. Ah... I don't know what else to say. Until the end, he tried to give me the best.

My head suddenly turned towards the door as someone rushed in. It was a girl I didn't know, with long flowing hair. Without wasting any time, she immediately approached me, or more precisely, the corpse of Old Joe.

The girl fell silent, her eyes seemed to be trying to hold back tears. Before I could speak to her, she suddenly shouted, "I won't cry! This Old Joe..." It was clear that her words now contradicted her true feelings.

***

Evening arrived, and the girl with long hair, Sunny Everdeen, and I had finished burning Old Joe's body. From the conversation between us, I learned that she was Old Joe's only student. Besides that, I also found out that Old Joe didn't have a wife.

"I think it's time for me to go, Ars," Sunny said after taking a small urn containing the ashes of Old Joe's body.

"It's already night, why don't you stay overnight in the library?" I replied. "I think you'll have a long journey to scatter the ashes, right? So, it wouldn't hurt for you to rest at the library."

Sunny shook her head. "You're right, but I have my own reasons for needing to leave immediately."

"Well... actually, I wanted to ask something." My words piqued Sunny's curiosity. "Can I accompany you to scatter the ashes at the place Old Joe loved so much?"

Sunny gave a faint smile and answered, "I'm glad you care so much, but I'm sorry, I can't fulfill your request." She paused for a moment before continuing. "But I believe, if it's truly meant to be, we will meet again someday."

It was disappointing that I couldn't go with her, but there was truth in her words. "Alright, then I will entrust Old Joe's final rest to you, Sunny!"

"Yes! Trust me!" The girl immediately activated her right eye, which then turned blue. However, there was a slight difference there. The pattern wasn't triangular, but diamond-shaped. It was one of the unique eyes described in the black book I read!

The difference didn't stop there. Just like in the book, the diamond-patterned eye had a Beast Sphinx. The Beast resembled a large black cat. It had golden bracelets on its four legs, and on its head, there was a golden crown with a snake's head at the front.

Sunny climbed onto the Beast Sphinx and waved her hand. "Goodbye, Ars!"

I waved back. "Yes, goodbye, Sunny!"

Sunny quickly left while still waving her hand. For her, the possibility of meeting again someday might not exist, but for me, it would definitely happen. The reason is simple because I will search for her! Not as Ars Salazar, but as the 'Cursed Human'!

"Well, it's time to return to reality." I then walked towards the library. It would be a lie to say that I wasn't sad anymore after losing Old Joe. However, what could I do about that fact? It was heavy, but I could only accept the reality and learn to let go.

***

The darkness of the forest at night was one option for those who wanted to escape. That choice was now made by a young man with short hair who was fleeing with his father from the pursuit of several security guards. The young man's father was accused of corruption, accepting bribes to free prisoners, and as punishment, he was to be executed.

"Father, faster! Those bastards will catch up with us soon!" the young man exclaimed, pulling his father, who was badly injured.

"Naville, kill your father and save yourself..." Naville's father groaned.

"How could I possibly kill my own father!" Naville was still stubborn, then he carried his father on his back to escape faster.

"You're a good son, Naville. But, you have to kill me to obtain the Beast. Don't you want to have it?"

"Who wants a creature from hell?!"

"There's no time left, Naville. Hurry..."

Sure enough, a Beast Tiger leaped high, blocking their path. Naville had to stop his steps. But the worst part was the fact that they were now surrounded by ten security guards and their Beast Tigers.

"Benjamin Donatien, you're surrounded, surrender!" shouted one of the security guards.

Naville racked his brain, trying to find a way for him and his father to escape from here now. "Damn, damn, damn, how can I deceive them...?" Naville mumbled, slightly desperate about the situation.

"Naville," his father whispered. "I'm proud of you."

Naville wasn't sure how it all happened, but one thing was clear, his father—Benjamin Donatien—handed him a small knife. His father immediately moved Naville's hand holding the small knife, causing Naville to stab his own father to death.

"Father!" Naville's cry echoed in the forest. He hugged his father's lifeless body, and then his power surged. "You all!"

Blood flowed from Naville's right eye. The right eye glowed, and in its pupil, there was a pattern like a flower. A black aura enveloped his body, and then that aura formed a Beast. The Beast formed by the black aura was not an ordinary Beast.

The Beast had a body like a skinny horse, with its bones visible, small horns, and large bat wings. This was one of the unique Beasts called Thestral.