Beastmen Love
Chapter 239: Quick Interchange

Chapter 239: Quick Interchange

Kenzou is watching Astri’s spouses discussing in silence, now understanding the reason for Astri’s decision to bring all of them, as they were too tense to stay in a sacred place. He has to admit that he just wants to protect Astri and tell them to act like grown males, but he also can understand their side, so he feels they need this moment to vent out simply.

"Are you pretending you never held on to us? Especially on Claud, always going to him to make decisions. We held all the weight of carrying people everywhere to look after Astri, draining our energies and still making decisions you’re not mature enough to make." Kangki spits.

Kangki, always the most direct one, not caring much if the other side will end up hurt. The others bite their lips in frustration.

"Of course, we would hold onto you. You two are the most powerful and wiser than we are. We wanted to make sure we were doing the right thing." Cyprian says.

"If it was a burden to do your job as spouses, then why didn’t you just leave?" Dieg asks, growling.

"It wasn’t a burden, you mangy dog. Don’t put words into others’ mouths." Kangki says, with his eyes darkening.

Claud sighs, seeing that things are getting out of control, and feels guilty for that.

"Kangki.. Calm down. Everyone, calm down, please. If we keep fighting in front of the children, Astri will lock us up, who knows where." Claud says, and sighs.

"Then don’t imply we don’t do anything." Lee says, calm but hitting with his words.

"It wasn’t my intention. I am not saying you didn’t struggle. I am not saying that you were using us for some reason. I am just tired.. We spent so many years looking for her. Like we were always looking in the wrong direction. I don’t even know what’s best anymore. I fear making any mistake and not having the best decisions, so in the future, I have to carry one more pain in my heart and mind."

They instantly quiet down after hearing Claud admitting his feelings, and they didn’t know that he was feeling this way. All of them knew that the other was struggling; they would help each other somehow, but Claud was the only one whom they never helped because he always looked strong and always kept their minds on the right path. The only ones who could see through the mask were Kangki and Yuki. Yuki several times simply offered a hug or her presence to soothe his soul somehow.

"And I feel guilty for feeling tired. I feel I don’t have the right to feel this way. And if I feel this way, it will seem like I don’t love Astri." Claud gives a trembled sigh.

"No.. You kept strong to hold our family while Astri was out. You might be powerful, but you are like all of us. You get hurt. You get tired. You get confused." Cyprian softly says, holding Claud’s shoulder.

"Cyprian is right. I’m sorry for never noticing you were also struggling. You were always our leader, and I failed to see, even if I was a King once, that even leaders suffer in their minds." Tyr says.

"I’m sorry.. Don’t ever feel alone. Trust in us. We might not be as powerful or mature, but we are family." Lee says to Claud.

"Thank you. You all are my dear friends. I believe that more than that. You are brothers of the heart. Astri gave me the best feelings since I met her. The feelings of being like everyone else. You are my family, and I also don’t want to ever lose any of you." Claud admits.

They smile.

"I feel the same. But I won’t hug you. You look like Astri, but you are not her." Dieg lightens the mood as usual.

They laugh together.

"You don’t have to. Thank you." Claud answers.

Claud looks at Kangki, smiling.

"Thank you, brother."

Kangki only smiles and looks away.

"Now we have someone else to ask for forgiveness." Kangki says.

"Let me talk to her. I made this mess." Claud says.

"No. All of us need to talk to her. I have to admit that I made the mistake of putting everything on your back, not wanting to expose my own fragility to her. Letting you talk to her alone is not assuming my responsibility." Beau interjects.

The others nod in agreement.

"You were not the only one who made this mess. All of us are guilty." Zin says to Claud.

"She is not angry. She is just feeling put aside. I couldn’t look too much into her mind because she blocked me outside when she noticed I was there." Kangki says.

As always, Kangki is always more direct. He knows Astri is angry, so he tried to search for answers in her mind directly, but when she felt he was there, she blocked him outside.

"I hate this feeling of uncertainty. This anxiety of not knowing what she is feeling.." Bono softly says.

"Me too... But if we think better.. That was what we were feeding her somehow. I admit I cried all my heart out to her about how I felt in her absence. I thought we all would simply live like we always would, but for some reason I couldn’t, and I felt bad all the time for feeling this heavy feeling that I do not know how to name." Lee softly says.

All of them are understanding better their own feelings, energies, and that in some way all of them were feeling the same. They wait in silence until Astri comes back from the ship with Seiryuu, Renzai, and the King of Aquaterra.

"Please, lord Mizuryuus, stay to feast with us. It is our honor to have you here." Deanora says.

"Yes. Please know that our realm will always be your allies. We might live far from each other, but if there is anything you need, we will gladly help." The King says.

"Thank you, Queen and Kings of Aquaterra. We say the same." Renzai says and bows.

Even though they are visibly different from each other in the way they dress, it is also clear that they have mutual respect.

"I already talked to your servants and let them know that you will spend some hours here." Astri says to Seiryuu and Renzai. "Would you welcome two more special guests, my friend?" Astri asks Deanora.

"Of course!" Deanora answers.

"Marvelous!" Astri says.

She concentrates and opens a portal in front of them. Claud and Kangki took a sharp breath again when they saw her doing one more portal without them knowing or doing anything to help.

On the other side of the portal are Seijuurou and Masayori, who have wide, shocked eyes. Astri motions them to come.

"It’s all right. You can come through. Nothing will happen." Astri says, motioning them to walk forward in her head.

They slowly pass the portal, lowering their heads in a natural instinct to protect their heads. Once they are in Aquaterra lands, she closes the portal. She does the presentations as usual, even though she’s presenting the leaders of two different realms.

They walk together to the castle slowly, while Astri talks to Renzai, Seiryuu, Seijuurou, and Masayori, pointing at interesting things and aspects of that realm. They look around the stalls, looking at the different clothes, accessories, and food.

"What amazes me the most around here is the technologies they created for keeping the water circulating through the city." Astri says, pointing at the pipes and structures that keep moving the water.

"That is very interesting. This way, all of them have fresh water all the time." Renzai says, also very impressed with everything he’s learning.

"Fresh for them because they can drink seawater. But the idea is amazing. I was projecting a water system years ago, but it’s been paused." Astri says.

"You can build one in your new palace." Seijuurou says to her.

"Are you building a new place for you, Astri?" Deanora asks.

"I think so. My spouses are leading everything, and I don’t know what is being planned." Astri answers.

That affirmation was like a punch to her spouses’ guts. She always loved projecting, building things, and they took her away from something she loves just to protect themselves. Now they are feeling like horrible villains.

"Oh.. That is new for me to hear. You are not projecting things. You love to do that, it is almost annoying." Deanora says, smirking at Astri’s spouses.

They glare at her mischievous smile, angry that she’s putting more wood into the fire. Astri ignores Deanora’s teasing and then points to a shower.

"That is what I like the most about here." Astri says.

"What is that?" Seiryuu asks.

They see a male, dirty with sand, stepping under the shower and then pulling the rope to open the shower and let the water fall on him, amazing the new visitors.

"It is so relaxing. It is like a massage on the head and shoulders." Astri says.

She takes them to a shower, they pull their sleeves to avoid their clothes from getting wet, and feel the water massaging their hands.

"It feels like a little waterfall." Masayori mentions.

"I know, right! So good."

"Please, tell me that you built one for her." Deanora asks Beau.

"I did." Beau softly answers.

They keep on the tour until they arrive at the castle.