Beast Monarch

The city past noon is bustling as usual. Everybody continues to go about their business in preparation for the festival, stopping only to look upon the strange sight we create.

"Is that a beast?"

"Who is that guy with it?"

"Are we safe? I know its hands are tied, but still!"

Her ears and tail draw a predictable amount of attention. Everybody wants to ask questions, but nobody is willing to step forward and face the beast. Even some knights on patrol look perturbed by the sudden visitors.

"You there! Identify yourself now!"

A knight with actual guts pulls ahead of us with his spear at the ready. Others in the area follow suit and surround us.

"You bring a beast within these walls!? There had best be a reason!"

Peo's eyes glare at the knight, but I place a hand out to stop her. I readjust the wooden staff in my arms and face down this inconvenience.

"My name is Clement Liutfrid. I'm a humble knight that participated in an attack on the nearby beastfolk village."

My right hand rotates and displays the gold and white emblem against its black fabric.

"I must speak with the king at once."

"T-The House of Aufrey!?"

Sunlight highlights the sweat now running down the side of his face. His hesitation causes the rest of his patrol to become restless.

"A-Allow me to escort you!"

"No need."

We push past the stunned line of knights without waiting for him to press further. His desire to follow is obvious, but he appears to be more than knowing of his position. Peo and I continue with stares the entire way into Melior's most defended fortress.

* * * * *

"The Blessed Knight has returned!"

Massive stone doors swing open with a rumble as I step into the audience of a king. There were no further delays as knights in this part of town are aware of who I am.

A greyed man in purple robes rises to his feet at my entrance. Duncan and Prudence are at his side.

"Clement? I did not expect you to return alone."

The surprise on his face turns into scorn when Peo steps up beside me. Her arms are restrained by rope in their eyes, but something this light wouldn't possibly hold her strength back.

"Why have you brought this beast? What of Thorsten or Hessa?"

"I'm afraid I bring unfortunate tidings, Your Majesty."

From a bag, I lay the shattered copper shortswords on the fine rug along with a wooden staff. Gasps of knights can be heard throughout the grand hall.

"Our forces were ambushed. I was separated from the rest and was forced to fight through beast after beast. At my soonest respite, I found Lady Hessa dead amongst her guards and Sir Thorsten dying on the grass."

"T-This can't be!"

King Aufrey stares in shock at the bloodied weapons. The old king seems to age rapidly as he processes the fate of his two trusted generals. To the side, Duncan bites his lip and turns away from the evidence. He manages to hold in his tears, but the pain is obvious on his face.

"Their sacrifices were not in vain, Your Majesty. The beasts have been vanquished. Any that may have survived have fled our lands."

My words snap the king out of his listless stare. Grief still hangs closely over his shoulder, but those eyes have returned to that of a powerful leader. The target of that deadly glare is the beast girl beside me.

"You say the beasts are vanquished, yet you bring one into my castle!"

If he had a sword, he would have likely already drawn it. Other guards in the room find motivation in his roar, raising their spears to aim at the Peo.

"This is the beast monarch, as marked with Beast Titan fur. It is a noncombatant that will pose no threat."

"You test my patience, Clement! Why bring this wretched creature here after what it did to my knights!?"

"For this reason."

A red flash in my palm. My right hand extends out the side and aims the barrel directly at Peo's skull. Everybody in the room appears flustered, but one man stands out among the rest.

Even during the brief moment of mourning for his fellow generals, Prudence had a look of horror on his face. The deaths of all two hundred men and women in the conflict don't seem to even cross his mind. All he has done since I arrived is stare at Peo with trembling hands.

"Even with this village destroyed, other beastfolk settlements may arise. With a monarch in our hands, we can display to them Melior's might. A warning of their fate should they plague our forests."

I fire a red bullet just past her nose. Metal strikes into polished stone, creating a thundering boom throughout the room. The only ones unfazed are Peo and myself.

"I will personally watch over our hostage. Thorsten, Hessa, and many brave knights lost their lives to earn us this advantage, so no expense shall be spared in protecting it."

King Aufrey falls in thought while stroking his beard. Whispers can be heard among his knights, but they have no say in his deliberation. However, the one individual with rights to advise his king attempts to step in at the last minute.

"Your Majesty! You must not—"

"Silence, Prudence. I have made my decision."

His warning falls on deaf ears as the king pushes his hand forward.

"First, allow me to express my sincere relief that you have returned safely. I accept your proposal! Having this creature as our pawn will serve us well!"

The king steps down from his throne and approaches one the two of us. I can feel a small itch against the back of my neck, dreading the possibility that Peo loses her cool in front of the man who ordered the elimination of her people.

"Are you certain that you wish to watch over the beast? It may become a hindrance."

"I'm quite certain, Your Majesty. I have a way of always keeping it in check. I would provide an explanation, but it understands our language well."

"Very well."

The old man nods at my words with heavy eyes strung into the distance. Before he departs, King Aufrey speaks in a hoarse voice.

"Tell me, Clement. Did Thorsten die with honour?"

This isn't the same fearless king I met yesterday, this is just another man experiencing tragedy. I lower my voice and add an extra layer of roughness.

"I fear we may never be a match."

"I see…"

He pats my shoulder and nods. Duncan follows his father to the inner reaches of the castle. The prince looks at me with damp eyes before also disappearing.

"Blessed Knight, Clement!"

The last person I wanted to see approaches from beside his king's seat. Prudence marches forward with his intricate blue robes, standing with my body between him and Peo.

"I must speak with you privately. Come to the East balcony alone. Do not bring the beast!"

Those words were mostly cordial on their own, but the way they were spoken was something else. I'm not given a choice as to whether I will attend his meeting or not. Granted, this provides me with a perfect opportunity.