Beastmen Love
Chapter 237: Life Decisions

Chapter 237: Life Decisions

The whole family spent the whole night reading the diary. Many times laughing, sometimes getting emotional, but none of them wanted to stop listening because it was Astri’s raw feelings.

For them, that diary is a treasure.

Kangki didn’t sleep that night, only held her in his arms while she slept. Claud was next to Astri, too, and he also had too much on his mind to sleep.

"I know you’re not sleeping. Do you want help?" Kangki talks to Claud in his mind.

"No.. I think I can’t and don’t want to sleep yet." Claud answers, opening his eyes.

"Why are you up?" Kangki asks.

"Because I want to find the best decision. The others won’t decide until I decide." Claud answers.

"I see.."

"And you?"

"Just thinking about her pain and the time she was in the dark... Could he feed himself from her? I hope not because he could only feed if she was corrupted.. But if he did somehow, that means he can have a form again and come after us again."

They stay silent for some time.

"I understand your thoughts. That’s why I believe that we need to keep her somewhere for purer majority of time. That’s why I’m so eager to learn from the Mizuryuus. Living in a pure place makes him weaker to do anything against us." Claud says.

"It’s true.. We will never know if he will ever appear again. I don’t want to ever lose her again. So I believe that we need to choose the most appropriate place for her safety."

"I don’t want people to think that they’re guilty, too. Astri will feel bad if people somehow believe they’re the reason the place to not be good for her. We would be feeding them with the wrong feelings trying to do the right thing. That’s why I think that we need to improve things where we live and in parallel build a better place. I’m just not entirely sure where." Claud explains his thoughts and worries.

"I agree. I’m not sure if it is because I don’t have the same feelings towards those people, but I would rather build here. The peace here is because their culture has been working for a longer time. It will be harder to break it." Kangki answers.

"You’re right on that side."

"Maybe you should talk to her and see what she has to say about this. Or if you don’t want to bother her with this, tell the others and vote."

"Maybe I’ll do both."

"You know.. Are we friends or just live in the same family?" Kangki asks.

Claud smiles, holding a laugh.

"Where did that come from?" Claud asks.

"It’s serious. Since when do we talk about our worries to each other?"

"...Since she was taken away. We needed each other. We’re more than friends. We’re family. All of us are family. Even the children."

Kangki smiles in response.

"Well... I don’t hate that. Do you want help to sleep now?"

"No. I would rather sleep naturally. Not that I don’t trust you. I just fear becoming dependent on your help."

"I understand. If there was someone capable of doing the same with me I wouldn’t ask for help too." Kangki says.

"Good night, Kangki. Thank you for listening and for giving me your perspective."

"Good night.."

Claud spoons Astri in a way that he can smell her neck. Her scent is calming and comforting, so it helps him fall asleep. Kangki sleeps a little later, also using her scent to calm down his mind.

Astri’s spouses wake up. Kenzou, Caris and Carist, and Galion were up already. Claud calls them to talk in private somewhere else. Kangki didn’t want to leave Astri, but he knew Claud wanted his presence in the meeting. Kangki pulls the children to sleep next to Astri, so they can rest longer.

All of them gather in a private meeting room.

"I called you here to help me decide on something." Claud says and explains what he talked to Kangki about last night. "I’m having a hard time deciding where we should build her palace. I think the best decision is to keep on with her improvement plans for United Tribes, but also build a better place. I need help to decide where." He says after explaining his thoughts.

The others take some seconds to say something in response.

"I love United Tribes, I grew up there, but I need to admit that here feels more appropriate for Astri and the safety of our family." Dieg says, thinking deeply.

"I don’t mind where we live. I just want Astri’s safety, and then children’s." Zin answers.

"Queen Deanora has more than one castle. She lives mainly at the center of Aquaterra, but she also has other smaller castles that she lives in during colder seasons, or to be in a more private place when she’s next due date. I think that we need to normalize this thought of Astri having several places to live depending on the season or moment." Beau says.

"I agree with Beau." Koa nods.

The others also agreed with Beau’s thought.

"But if we had to decide the main place she will stay, where do you think we should build between all the places we visited? Let’s vote. Each of you say your mind." Claud asks.

All of them voted in the same place: Tsukihina.

"Then, it is decided. We will build our main place in this realm. I’ll talk to the Emperor and find the best location for us to start preparations." Claud says.

"I felt like not being capable of voting since I grew up here and lived here for a very long time, and I also don’t know more places than here, Aquaterra, and United Tribes." Kenzou says.

"Who’s capable of sensing energies can’t deny this realm is great." Caris says.

"Can I ask you something that is out of this subject?" Shinkou asks.

"Of course." They answer.

"Astri said that her spouses develop powers like hers, but they’re the ones to find it. How can I find mine? I have no idea where to start."

"Oh, that is something that simply happens. The best one to guide you on this is Astri. She helped all of us understand our connection to Nature’s energy." Beau answers.

"It literally happens when you imagine less. Don’t think too much about it. That’s the best advice I can give you." Koa says.

"What I can say is that for sure, all of us found our powers with Astri’s help." Tyr mentions.

Shinkou asked about that matter, but Skalven and Bono were also curious to learn about that.

"You didn’t develop your powers yet, probably because you stayed with her while her soul was incomplete. Now that she’s complete, her energy is entirely connected to you, and naturally, you will sense this connection. It will not appear by forcing our training only on your body. Don’t make the same mistake that they did of training like idiots, hurting each other trying to force their powers out." Claud says to Shinkou.

"Hey! Don’t call us idiots. We were desperate that time." Lee mumbles.

"I know. Just don’t make the same mistake. Astri will get angry." Claud says and walks away.

"I don’t want to make her angry.. Best thing to talk to her directly then." Shinkou says.

"Best decision."

"Same for you, Kenzou, Caris, and Carist. You don’t have to be her spouses to develop some abilities from Nature." Galion says to Kenzou, Caris and Carist. "Caris and Carist didn’t live near Astri long enough to feel their connection. Kenzou lived long, but her soul wasn’t complete."

"I understand.. But now, I think my priority is helping you find the best place for Astri." Kenzou says, walking away, too.

"It’s impressive how centered you are." Tyr says to Kenzou, and walks away, too.

"We live now. Not the past, nor the future. Worrying too much about the future or things we cannot control brings wrong energies." Kenzou says.

Kenzou always looks so quiet, not calling attention, and always listening. They often forget that he’s someone that they need to hear more from since he kept a place pure enough for Astri’s body can be formed again. Kenzou is wiser than he looks.

Claud calls Kenzou to join the meeting with Seijuurou later, knowing that he’s also the best one to point out the best areas.

Astri wakes up and sees Atlas sleeping next to her. She smiles and removes their hair from his face slowly, but he isn’t sleeping anymore, and he opens his eyes to look at her.

"Good morning, mom." He says in her mind.

"Good morning, darling. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes.. Since you came back, all of us are sleeping better. I’m sorry to talk to you like this. I fear talking out loud and waking the others.. Not because I want them to rest more.. I’m sorry for being selfish." He softly says.

"You’re not selfish, my special boy." She says, hugging him.

She passes her hand slowly and kindly on his head. He smiles so happily that his eyes teared, and hugs her back.

"You were the calmest and sweetest baby. When I wanted to stay in a quieter place, I would always say to your fathers that I would bathe you. I took forever to finish bathing you, and then I would lie on the bed with you and enjoy the silence. Am I selfish for that?" She tells him.

He giggles.

"No. I like silence, too, sometimes."

"I completely understand. Having a big family has its bad sides." She giggles.

They stay talking with each other’s minds until the others wake up and prepare to go have breakfast with the rest of the family.