The Psychopathic Beast Emperor-Chapter 54: Bonding in the Woods

Bahamut washed his hands in the stream again, stood, and moved toward the fire as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. The night had fully settled now, and the forest dimmed into layered shadows, the canopy above swallowing what little light the sky offered.

The fire had become the center of the world, its light pushing the darkness back.

He skewered thick strips of the Treant Bear’s meat onto sharpened branches and set them over the flames. Far sizzled as it dripped, causing sparks to jump upward in response. The smell was heavy and rich, filling the clearing and overpowering the lingering scent of blood and burned flesh.

’I wonder just how this all real...’

Ren hopped over and sat beside the fire, his ears twitching.

"You didn’t even hesitate," Ren said, watching the meat cook. "Most would cry first, panic, or apologize."

"I did apologize before doing it," Bahamut replied without looking at him.

Ren snorted cutely, his nose twitching. "That barely counts."

Exildra lay propped against a tree trunk a short distance away, wrapped in Bahamut’s shirt. Her breathing had slowly steadied, though it was a bit shallow. Her eyes were half-open, golden pupils following the crackling fire with dull focus.

Bahamut turned after a while, pulled one skewer free, and tested the meat with his fingers. He then tore off a piece, blew on it once, and then walked over to her.

"Open your mouth," he said, flatly.

She blinked at him. "You’re... surprisingly very gentle with your tone for someone who just burned me alive."

"Open," he repeated coldly.

She did, wincing slightly as he fed her. She chewed slowly, like each movement might cost her something. Her eyes suddenly widened... just faintly.

"...That’s good," she muttered with a beautiful smile at Bahamut. But Bahamut was expressionless; his eyes seemed to say, "Is she alright?"

Ren commented cheekily from the side. "Obviously... He cooks better than he talks."

Bahamut shot him an annoyed look. "You are not eating," He slowly said each word.

"See? Kindness..." Ren said, standing on his hind legs comically and beckoning towards Bahamut with his two front limbs.

Bahamut just groaned in exhaustion, completely ignoring Ren.

They ate like that for a while... quiet. The silence was only broken by the fire and the forest settling into the night. No beasts approached strangely around these parts. It was either the scent of blood or something else they didn’t know about.

After a few more bites, Exildra swallowed and let out a long, satisfied breath.

"I guess I should introduce myself properly," she said weakly with a smile. "Exildra Esteria."

Bahamut paused and looked at her. "Noble?"

She smiled faintly, though there was a bit of pain in it. "Former nobles. My family deals in information now. Relics, artifacts, techniques, and forbidden knowledge. We like things people forget... we take them."

Ren tilted his head, his red eyes glinting slightly. "Sounds unhealthy."

"It is," Exildra agreed without an ounce of hesitation. "But it paid for my tuition until now. It also paid to bring me here..."

Bahamut fed her another piece of meat. "Why join the trial? Your family is rich, I’m sure. Probably even more than some nobles."

Her smile faded. "Because knowing things from books isn’t the same as surviving them." She glanced down at her crudely bandaged wound, the bandage made from the torn parts of her clothes. "Turns out the world doesn’t care how much you know."

Ren hummed, biting a piece of meat. "Relatable."

She looked at Bahamut. "And you?"

He shrugged. "I just came..."

"That’s it?"

"That’s it."

Ren suddenly laughed out, causing Bahamut to stare daggers at him, but he didn’t stop.

"He’s underselling it. He broke the fifth stage of the combat test and scared more than half of the contestants. How come you didn’t notice him?"

Exildra’s eyes widened slightly. "You’re that Bahamut."

He grimaced. "Don’t say it like that."

"So the rumors are true," she murmured. "Blind, broken, and still terrifying. Fights like a beast..."

"I can hear you... And, I’m not broken," he said calmly.

Ren glanced at him. "You are. Just... efficiently."

Exildra chuckled, then immediately winced and hissed through her teeth.

"Don’t laugh," Bahamut said. "You’ll tear something... And, I don’t have the strength to do it again for you."

"Bossy," she muttered.

"Say it again, and I will tear it myself." That made her keep quiet... for now. She knew he would do it. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

She took another bite, then spoke more softly, her eyes staring vigilantly at the boy who had taken off his blindfold, exposing his grey eyes.

"You know... I didn’t expect help. Most people here would have left me. And, I didn’t think I would cross paths with another participant, considering the distance between the areas. And, most especially, I didn’t expect to meet you."

"Most people are stupid," Bahamut replied.

Ren nodded sagely, his action comical. "And selfish. Very selfish."

Exildra studied them both, the blind boy tending the fire with quiet focus and the strange red-eyed bunny lounging like a king beside him.

"You two are... strange," she said.

Bahamut turned some meat over the fire. "You talk too much."

"And yet you listen," she countered weakly.

Bahamut turned to her, grey eyes boring into her gold ones.

"Because it is difficult dealing with an Easter Bunny."

"What is that?"

"A bunny that speaks. The annoying kind." Bahamut said with a faint and mischievous smile.

"This motherfucker!" Ren billowed, his aura flaring briefly.

"Keep that too a secret, please," Bahamut sighed as he looked at Exildra, whose face had turned paler.

"T-Tier 2?" She asked in a shaky voice.

"Yes..."

"I-I want to ask... Why did you save me? Do you wanna..." She asked, her voice shaking as her eyes turned glassy.

"We are not cannibals. I saved you out of instinct," Bahamut answered before she could finish, catching up on what she was thinking.

Ren stretched out, lying on his back. "You know," he said lazily, "this might be the so-called ’calm before the storm.’ Enjoy it while it lasts."

The fire crackled faintly in the background.

"Sorry for thinking that..." Exildra said as her eyes closed from fatigue. For the first time in two weeks since the trial, she slept without fear.

...

A/N: I just want some castles. Thanks for the support so far though...