History

The newly built house was quiet, save for the faint rustling of leaves outside. Both Ark and Delta lay side by side on the smooth wooden floor, exhausted from days of hard work. For the first time in what felt like forever, Delta wasn't lying in a cave or hiding behind bushes-she was in a place she could call her own.

Ark stared at the ceiling for a while, then slowly sat up, resting his elbows on his knees. "Delta," he said, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Hm?" She turned her head, her long black hair spreading like silk across the floor. Her ears twitched slightly, catching the seriousness in his tone.

"If you wish..." Ark hesitated, then asked, "can you tell me the history of beast humans? I mean, why does everyone hate you so much?”

Delta's expression froze. Her bright golden eyes darkened, her fluffy tail stiffening against the floor. For a long moment, she didn't answer. Ark noticed the discomfort on her face and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry. If it's painful, you don't have to-"

"No." She shook her head, sitting up beside him. "You deserve to know. You're the only human who's ever asked me without hate in your eyes."

Her voice was soft but heavy, carrying years of sorrow inherited from generations. She clasped her hands together, staring down at the wooden floor as she began.

"Four hundred years ago... beast humans lived in peace. We had kingdoms of our own-proud, prosperous lands where wolfkin, catkin, foxkin, and many more lived together. Our people laughed, traded, and even welcomed travelers. Humans and demons visited our lands, and most treated us as equals. Back then, everyone loved beast humans."

Ark tilted his head. "Then what happened?"

Delta's lips trembled. "The gods."

"The gods?" Ark says.

"Yes." Delta's voice cracked, but she forced herself to continue. "The gods declared us a mistake. They said beast humans were flawed creations. They whispered lies to the world-that we were dangerous, unworthy of the light. And then... they gave an order: destroy the beast human kingdoms.”

Ark's heart thudded in his chest. He leaned closer, listening intently as her eyes were serious and focused.

"The human kingdoms and demon lords-all of them-formed an alliance against us.

Armies marched with banners high. Our warriors fought bravely, but..." Delta's voice broke, tears welling in her golden eyes. "Our walls fell. Our capital burned. Millions of my people were slaughtered in days.

Mothers, children, elders-it didn't matter. Their screams echoed across the world."

She covered her face with her hands, but her words poured out like water from a broken dam. "Those who survived had no choice but to flee. To hide in forests, mountains, caves-anywhere the alliance wouldn't find us. Night became our only safe time. Even after four hundred years, humans still hunt us. They say beast humans are cursed, good only as slaves, tools, or toys.”

The small house filled with silence. Delta's shoulders trembled as her tears fell onto the wooden floor. "Four hundred years... and their hatred hasn't faded. Do you see now, Ark? That's why I told you... humans are monsters."

Ark's fists clenched. His young face twisted with anger-not at Delta, but at the story itself. He couldn't imagine such cruelty, yet he could feel the truth in her every word.

For a moment, he didn't know what to say. He stared at Delta, who looked utterly broken, and then placed his hand gently on her head.

"Delta," he said firmly, his voice carrying a warmth beyond his years, "I believe you. And you're right-it's not fair. But..." He forced a smile, though his eyes burned with determination. "That was the past. The future doesn't have to be the same.”

Delta blinked at him, tears glistening on her face. “The future?"

"Yes." Ark nodded. "Someday, the hatred will end. Humans and beast humans will live together in peace again. Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow-but it will happen. And I'll prove it. I'll become strong enough to make it possible."

Her lips parted in surprise. For the first time since telling her story, a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Ark..."

He grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Besides, how can people hate beast humans? You're cute. If they got to know you, they'd realize it too."

Delta blushed, quickly looking away as her tail swished behind her. "Idiot..." she whispered, but her voice was soft, touched with warmth.

The two sat in silence for a while, side by side. The air was heavy with sorrow, but also with something new-hope.

After a few minutes, Ark stretched and stood up, dusting off his pants. "Anyway, it's getting late. If I don't head home soon, my mom will kill me."

Delta chuckled weakly, wiping her tears. "You really are afraid of your mom, huh?"

Ark pouted, crossing his arms. "Of course I am! She's scarier than any goblin or monster."

That earned a real laugh from Delta, her sadness fading just a little.

Ark walked to the door, then turned back with a smile. "I'll come again tomorrow. Until then, stay safe, Delta. This is your home now-don't ever forget that.”

Delta placed a hand over her chest, her heart pounding. "Thank you, Ark... really."

As Ark left the small wooden house, the sun dipped behind the hills, painting the sky crimson. Delta sat on the floor, clutching her chest as warmth spread inside her. For the first time in her life, she dared to believe in tomorrow.

Ark walked down the dim forest path, the cool night air brushing against his cheeks.

The stars above twinkled, but his mind was far away, still tangled in the story Delta had shared. He clenched his fists as he recalled her trembling voice, her tears spilling over the memory of her people's suffering.

That time was not good... Ark thought, staring at the moon. But in the future, things will be different. I'll make sure they are.

Just as he whispered those words to himself, a strange voice echoed through the silence.

"You really think like that?"

Ark stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening. The voice was deep, calm, and carried a weight that made his very bones tremble.

"Who's there?" Ark said, spinning around, scanning the surrounding area 

A soft laugh echoed, neither close nor far, as though it came from the air itself. "Have you forgotten me already? I am the one you named long ago-the Supreme God. That name was given by you, child."

Ark's breath caught. "Supreme... God? What do you mean? Why now?"

The voice ignored his question, its tone shifting to something sharper. "This is not the main point. If you truly wish, I can grant you a chance. A glimpse into the future you so desperately dream of changing."

Before Ark could answer, the sky above shimmered with a strange distortion. From the void tore a hand, jagged and glitching, like reality itself was breaking apart. It reached toward him, glowing with impossible light.

Ark's heart raced. Every instinct screamed danger, but something stronger-the need for answers-drove him. After a long breath, he reached out and touched the strange hand.

Instantly, his vision shattered.

He stood in a wasteland, the skies black with ash. Around him, corpses of beast humans littered the ground, men, women, and children piled together like broken dolls. Fires burned across the ruins of villages. Screams echoed faintly, then died into silence.

Ark stumbled, shaking. "No... this can't be real.”

But the vision continued. He saw cages-rows upon rows-where the few surviving beast humans were shackled. Men in white robes with cold eyes wrote on scrolls as they dragged screaming children into laboratories. Their cries for help pierced Ark's ears, stabbing into his heart.

"Stop!" Ark shouted. "This isn't true! This can't be true!"

The voice returned, calm and merciless. "No, this is not true now. But it will be. This is the future that awaits. I only wished to clear your misunderstanding."

The vision cracked apart like glass, and Ark collapsed back onto the forest path, gasping. His face was pale, his body trembling as cold sweat dripped down his back.

"I... I didn't do anything..." he said, clutching his chest, trying to steady his pounding heart. His face was tense, haunted by what he had seen.

Wordlessly, with heavy steps, Ark turned toward home. The image of burning villages and dying screams refused to leave his mind.