Chapter 1005 1005: The Lover's Nature

Chapter 1005 1005: The Lover's Nature

A tree.

Some would say the perfect summation of life itself, of creation. A victim of time, and yet in the most beautiful way; it feeds, it grows, and with its growth, it feeds others.

And in turn, those it feeds scatter its essence, furthering its roots...

...But then men came, and what was once a summation of the very essence of life itself became a mere tool.

For the nature of men is not life, but violence and death.

Try as they might to avoid their nature, they will always be reminded of it through tribulations and advancement. For without violence, they are stagnant; for without death, they have no will. Unlike the tree that waits for the water of life to fall upon, men seek it.

"Do you understand?"

"Yes. It was... very poetic, Ambrucx."

"...I feel like your attention is wasted in this."

Riley and Ambrucx's shadow were currently painting a cliff, overlooking the horizon of blue in front of them; peacefully sitting on the dry ground, unperturbed by the rest of the world. The top of their head and their shoulders were covered with all sorts of things; leaves, twigs, and even bird poop, and yet none of them moved.

"Despite your reluctance and saying that you're not capable of closing your so-called darkness..."

Peaceful, yes; but perhaps only for Riley, as Ambrucx could not really concentrate at all while the person in front of him was the epitome of calmness. They were here to meditate, and yet Riley did not even seem to need to, as his default temperament was already being as calm as he possibly could be at all times; everywhere, and anywhere he could be.

They had been here for 3 days, and yet Riley had remained sitting in the very same spot; without drinking or eating anything. Beastmen could survive 6 months without eating, and she knew that Riley could probably survive for even longer — but there was a difference between eating to survive, and eating for the sake of eating; for the tingling of the lips and the tongue.

"...Zero, I don't think you need to meditate."

"But you are the one who told us to do this, Ambrucx," Riley blinked a couple of times as he finally opened his eyes fully and looked at Ambrucx, "I am merely following your advice so that I fully get rid of the darkness inside me."

"Can you tell me again why you're doing this?" Ambrucx sighed as she broke all pretense of meditating and just fully stretched her limbs on all fours, raising her hips and muscular thighs while yawning; blowing away all of the dirt attached to her as her entire body shivered violently.

"I am doing this for my children and those who expect me to not become what I am, Ambrucx. My sister, Megawoman, the mothers of my children," Riley also let out a small sigh as he slightly leaned back. He still remained seated on the ground, however, as he looked over the blue horizon.

"Honestly, Zero—can I call you Riley instead?" Ambrucx let out a small groan before just sitting brashly on the ground.

"Please."

"You know, Riley..." Ambrucx looked Riley in the eyes, "...I do feel that this darkness inside you is bigger than all of us, but believe it or not, I think the change you want has already passed and happened."

***

"..."

"..."

"I take back what I said about releasing a little darkness."

There were a few seconds of silence after Katherine told Ambrucx everything she needed to know, but after Ambrucx's mind was done registering everything, she quickly looked at Riley from head to toe,

"...I'm glad we've met when you're... this version of yourself. By the forest, you were a monster."

"Yes," Riley nodded several times, "Yes, I am."

"Was," Ambrucx pointed at Riley, "You were a monster — and I swear to you, Riley Ross — you will never again become the monster you were. I have been holding on to this information just because I thought we didn't need it... but we do, we need it urgently."

Ambrucx then stood up and she looked at Katherine and Riley,

"My kind, you see... we have a ritual that we do to ensure that our primal instincts do not take over," Ambrucx let out a small groan, "We...

...release it, never to be seen again."

"Release it?" Katherine's eyebrows lowered, "Did you not listen to a word I said? If we let Riley release his monster, all of us are dead."

"We release it somewhere else, in another way," Ambrucx shook her head, "You want things to disappear, that's your obsession."

"And do you... have any idea in what way he could release it?" Katherine raised an eyebrow.

"...No," Ambrucx shook her head, "I will ask my people and I will also do some research — but for now, just meditate. I'll leave first."

"Ambrucx..." Katherine grabbed Ambrucx's arm before she could leave, "...No one must know what I told you here, especially not my niece and nephews."

"You have my words, Katherine," Ambrucx looked Katherine in the eyes, nodding before just quickly leaping away and disappearing into the distance, leaving Katherine and Riley alone overlooking the blue horizon.

"...We didn't get the chance to speak back in the house," Katherine let out a sigh as she glanced at Riley, "You just... disappeared again."

"I apologize, I had to take care of Joao — and I was sidetracked by my hobbies," Riley nodded before looking at Katherine, "You wanted to talk to me about something, Katherine?"

"What are we, Riley?" Katherine did not mince her words at all as she stood closer to Riley,

"Besides the mother of Karina, who am I to you?"