As Es’s eyes fluttered open, the world around her shifted into focus like a painting coming to life. Soft, golden light spilled through the window, casting gentle shadows that danced across the walls. The silence was palpable, almost oppressive, wrapping around her like a shroud. She felt a lingering warmth beside her, an impression left behind by soone who had sat there long enough for the bed to retain their presence.
Instead of calling out or searching for anyone, she whispered, "Beom." The na tumbled from her lips, a tender invocation to the powerful spirit that had always been her guardian.
In response, her eyes began to shimr, shifting to a radiant gold. A brilliant blue light pulsed around her, filling the room with an ethereal glow that seed to breathe life into the stillness. And then, in a breathtaking display of magic, BEOM materialized before her—a magnificent white tiger, its fur glistening like freshly fallen snow, eyes gleaming with ancient wisdom and untad power. The air crackled with energy as BEOM approached, each step reverberating with an unspoken command that demanded respect and awe.
Es reached out, her fingers trembling as they brushed against the soft fur of BEOM’s head. "So, you’ve grown even stronger," she said, a mix of pride and relief swelling in her chest.
BEOM responded by licking her cheek, a warm, comforting gesture that made her heart flutter. Yet, as she patted its head, an unsettling thought crept in, casting a shadow over her mont of peace. She had dedicated countless hours to unraveling the mystery of the poison that had threatened her life, and now, pieces of the puzzle began to align ominously in her mind.
Earlier that day, Jay had crossed paths with Noah, their encounter brief but charged with unspoken tension. Noah had rely nodded, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips as he walked away, leaving a trail of unanswered questions in his wake. Es’s stomach twisted as she considered the implications: could the poison that had afflicted Jay have originated with Noah?
But why would Noah wish her harm?
Shadows of uncertainty crept in. It seed a hidden puppeteer was orchestrating this deadly ga, soone intent on her demise. The Valhale family was too clever to risk her life—if she fell, BEOM would pass to another bloodline, a catastrophic outco for them. They lacked the cunning to wield such a deadly poison or even to acquire it.
No, soone else lurked in the darkness, plotting her downfall while ensuring BEOM remained safe. The thought sent a chill racing down her spine, igniting a fierce determination within her. This was not rely a fight for survival; it was a battle for the bond she shared with BEOM, a connection woven through magic and loyalty.
As Es sat quietly, her fingers gently petting BEOM’s head, she felt the soft warmth beneath her touch. Yet beneath this simple act lay a profound realization: soone had once been close to BEOM, perhaps intimately so. This person seed to know BEOM well, and their intentions appeared pure, devoid of malice toward the divine beast. But paradoxically, their hatred for her simred like a brewing storm.
Why would soone harbor such animosity toward her but still hold affection for BEOM? It made no sense. A divine beast was a reflection of its master, embodying their spirit and essence. In ancient tis, many families sought to eliminate their own children to claim a divine beast for themselves, and Es was painfully aware of that bitter reality. Mrs. Valhalla had attempted to take her life, driven by a desperate desire to ensure the divine beast passed to her favored child, Diana.
But that was no longer possible. When a divine beast’s master perished, the beast faced a crucial choice: it could either protect the family or vanish into the ether. And from what Es understood, both Diana and Mrs. Valhalla despised her—and by extension, BEOM. Their hatred radiated from them like an aura of resentnt. After all, BEOM had chosen her, not them.
The thought unsettled her. It was a strange reality that there seed to be no one who genuinely loved BEOM. People either feared him, remained oblivious to his existence, or envied the bond they shared. The only two souls Es could rember who had truly loved BEOM were her parents. They had embraced him as their own, cherishing him like a child—sothing that felt increasingly rare in a world filled with jealousy and treachery.
As she reflected on this, a sense of isolation washed over her. In a world where affection was as scarce as sunlight in a storm, she grappled with the weight of these connections. The very bond that had saved her life had also alienated her from those who should have been her allies.
"Why do you endure this, BEOM?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why choose when so many would cast you aside?"
BEOM tilted its head, golden eyes reflecting an understanding that transcended words. Es felt a rush of emotion swell within her—gratitude, frustration, and a fierce determination. She would protect this divine beast, the last remnant of love that connected her to her parents, and she would confront the darkness that sought to consu her.
Es’s hand stilled on Beom’s head as she caught the sound of approaching footsteps. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she sensed a change in the air around her—Beom, always attuned to danger, seed to understand before she could even react.
With a soft glow, his form shimred, a pulse of blue light wrapping around him as he faded into the mirror across the room. The blue light shot towards her, piercing through her chest with a soft hum, as though he had beco part of her once more. A rush of warmth and energy filled her body, like she had just taken a deep breath after being underwater for too long.
The door creaked open, and Es’s eyes snapped toward it just as Helga slipped into the room, a glass of water in hand. Her concerned gaze softened upon seeing Es awake and sitting up.
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