Episode 3

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K'lian didn't know how long he'd been standing there, watching the female. But apparently he was satisfied with just watching her sleep. The fear and fatigue must have caught up to her, and she fell asleep without realizing.

K'lian suddenly felt his whole body tingling. The sensation was foreign and he growled as he started feeling pain all over his body. He looked down on his hands, they were shrinking, his nails and fangs retracting. His madness was dissipating too. He couldn't believe what was happening as he stared at his hands in disbelief. He thought he would never see them again. But there he was, staring down at his fingers.

For the first time in many cycles, he has finally reverted back to his original form. What was the catalyst for this? He wondered.

His gaze turned to the small female who has been sleeping this whole time. He had been trapped in his beastly form for 5 cycles, and this was the first time he had transformed back into his old self. Was she the reason, perhaps? 

K'lian unconsciously reached for Erica's cheek. "Who are you?" He whispered.

It had been years since he had been able to form words from his mouth. 

Incredible.

Excitement filled his chest as he approached the doors to his cage. He needed to have his blood studied. He had to understand how it was possible for him to regain his true form after so many years of living as a beast. As if it was prepared for this moment to come, the security lock of his cage detected his bio-signature and unlocked itself.

Good.

"Looks like the mechanism is still working fine after many years," K'lian murmured to himself as he stepped out of his cage. It was then in that moment that his beast started surging forward. Clawing for control. "No," he growled. He had just returned. Why was his beast triggered again so soon?

Closing his eyes, K'lian focused on calming himself down. Knowing how powerful his beast was, it would overpower him if he doesn't control himself and his emotions.

K'lian took a deep breath when he caught the female's scent. His beast reacted by becoming silent. Interesting...

K'lian took a step back into his cage and he felt his beast receding. Thanks to the female's scent, he was gaining control of his beast and his transformation. When his beast was finally quiet, K'lian's silver-grey eyes flickered open. He looked down at the sleeping female once again.

It was intriguing; her scent subdued his beast within seconds where he failed for many cycles.

He started transforming into a beast when he was 10 cycles old, and ever since, he's been fighting the beast for control.

5 cycles was the longest time the beast took over him while he struggled for control in the darkness of his mind.

How was this even possible? Surrounded by scholars and healers his entire life, they all strived to find a cure for his affliction. But nothing had effectively helped him reign his beast inside as much as this female.

"So small," K'lian murmured as knelt beside her sleeping form, gently lifting her in his arms. The female's head lulled until it rested on his bare chest. He was naked, except for the Magtech Shorts covering his lower regions.

Curiosity urged him to explore the effects the female had on him, but he couldn't linger in his cage much longer.

Carrying her like this, he decided to bring her back to his chambers, and in the morning, he would seek answers. That's for sure.

And he was naked, another reason for him to return to his room. He needed his clothes.

Carrying the female up to the dungeon stairs posed no difficulty for K'lian. Upon reaching the top, he opened the door leading straight to the gallery located on the first floor of his castle.

As K'lian made his way to his chambers, he couldn't help but look around, reminiscing the memories he had within the frozen walls of his home. Something felt different though. Some of his prized art was missing, and dust had accumulated every corner he saw.

K'lian clearly recalled giving strict orders to S'bran to maintain the estate, and this was not what he had expected to see upon his return. He wondered what S'bran had been doing during the last five years.

As if summoning his caretaker with his mind, S'bran appeared at the bottom of the stairs, his gaze fixed on the credits displayed on his datapad screen.

"S'bran," K'lian called. Startled by his voice, S'bran dropped the datapad to the floor, his credits forgotten.

The old butler's eyes widened in shock upon seeing his lord and master, standing in front of him in his original state.

"M-My lord," he stammered, fear filling up his chest as he looked down, unable to meet K'lian's eyes.

"Clean the estate. My art gallery is filled with dust, and some of my artwork is missing. I want everything restored when I wake up," K'lian commanded.

"O-Of course, my lord. Right away, my lord," the old elf stuttered in a high-pitched voice, clearly in shock.

K'lian pursed his lips, feeling displeased by S'bran's performance. He knew he would have to address the situation with his butler, but that could wait until tomorrow.

At that moment, his body protested, and he desperately needed sleep. So without further delay, K'lian ascended the grand staircase to the south wing where his chambers were located, leaving the pale faced S'bran panicking all by himself.

Similar to the art gallery, his bedroom was also filled with dust. Frowning at the sight, K'lian removed the blanket using telekinesis, revealing a soft bedding.

Gently laying the small female on the right side of the bed, K'lian sank into the softness of the best, feeling drowsy all of a sudden. He had intended to retrieve clothes from his wardrobes, but sleep overcame him. Instead, K'lian settled beside the female, unconsciously wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her back towards his chest with her head nestled just below his chin.

A profound sense of peace enveloped K'lian, and his eyes began to close. Within seconds, he entered a deep sleep.

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