Free Web NovelChapter 116: Grooming for Ren (1)
Ren ambled back to his dormitory. Streetlights at twilight were faint, the ground chilly and damp. Now and then, folks wearing tattered clothes pulled their coats tighter and quickly walked by the road.
Even though this was the heart of the Empire, aside from the special area around the Tower, most spots seemed pretty shabby. In this world, life wasn’t easy for most alphas and betas. For regular folks, it was even tougher.
Underneath the dorm, a coal cart was parked. An older man with silver strands in his hair, along with his petite, frail granddaughter, was trying to lift a hefty box of coal, slowly lugging it up the stairs. The old man had to pause for coughs, while the young girl, probably seven or eight, did her best to hold the box higher, hoping to ease the strain on her grandpa.
As Ren approached the tight staircase, he effortlessly hoisted the coal box. A few quick steps later, and it was on the next floor.
The old man slowly followed Ren. He wanted to thank him but paused, noticing his coal-smudged hand. Ren, though, simply grabbed it.
The man’s hands were a testament to hard work — swollen knuckles, plasters with curled edges, and rugged palms.
"You’re a lifesaver. Always there for us," the coal man smiled gratefully at Ren.
Ren observed his hand. The handshake’s sensation was still there, mingling coal residue with the warmth of another’s touch.
"She’s greeted everyone but me," Ren mused aloud, making the elderly coal-man and the child look at him, confused.
Inside, Ren’s room was modest. It’s what Cass set up for him when he returned to the Imperial Nexus.
Even with a better position, he didn’t seek a fancier room. Everywhere felt the same to him. He’d rather be in older, quieter spots than surrounded by the Tower’s royal guards.
The room was small, round, with its own bathroom and a cooking balcony. Apart from a bed, wardrobe, and some workout gear, it was plain and tidy.
After facing several tough challenges that day, Ren was drained. But, as always, he still managed to squeeze in a solid half-hour workout and a bath.
Dressed in fresh clothes, he sat on his bed’s edge, toweling off his hair. Although physically beat, a soft melody seemed to play in his mind.
He remembered that time, standing outside with Kestrel, when a song floated in from a courtyard. A girl’s soothing voice.
No mighty psychic blast, no fire or shadows, no sharp weapons involved. Just a gentle song from a girl. Yet, under the combined glow of moon and lantern, while looking into Kestrel’s reflective eyes, that tune had moved something deep inside Ren.
Many thoughts that Ren had suppressed suddenly rose to the surface, leaving him feeling light-headed. Chaotic thoughts swirled in his head, uncontrollable. They persisted as he walked home, did his chores, and sat on the bed, continuing to cloud his mind.
Ren stood up again, donned an apron, and fetched a bucket of water to clean.
His room was already spotless, devoid of any clutter. It hardly looked lived-in. Still, he cleaned every nook and cranny meticulously. Kneeling, he scrubbed the floor with a damp cloth.
"She’s shaken hands with so many, except me."
"She did a psychic groom for that unicorn."
"She seems to like fluffy things."
Ren knew how silly he sounded, like a petulant child. It was embarrassing. All because of that mysterious song that played earlier.
He wiped the gym equipment twice, the floor gleaming enough to reflect an image, but he remained ensnared in his jumbled thoughts.
Finally, Ren tossed the cloth aside, sat in silence for a while, removed his apron, put on his coat, and walked into the night.
Kestrel sat in the dining room, having dinner with Locky and Kaworu.
Kaworu never ate, just sipped water during meals, joining them for the company.
Locky had a big appetite, mostly eating raw seafood and fruits. She sat at the other end of the table, a huge crystal bowl filled with food in front of her. She ate gracefully, yet the food disappeared remarkably fast. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Kestrel, for some reason, felt listless, even her favorite dish lacked appeal. She shared with Kaworu and Locky about her day at the Tower, mentioning the Queen and the head of the royal guard, and the competition.
"In our time, a king usually ruled. queens were rare," Kaworu recalled, holding his golden cup, thinking of a world centuries ago. "I vaguely remember hearing about a queen about to ascend to the throne towards my last days."
Kestrel hummed in response and mentioned witnessing the psychic incarnations of a panda and a unicorn.
"So, both alphas gave their all and got injured. But you only did a psychic groom for one?" Kaworu asked Kestrel after putting his cup down.
Kestrel gasped, it hadn’t occurred to her.
She had reasons, of course. The unicorn was in severe mental distress, had endured long-term suffering, and Ren was... one of their own. But she couldn’t articulate these complex feelings and chose to occupy her mouth with a juicy steak instead.
"Hey, did you know that when Ren was in the Polluted Zone, he got really messed up by this ’crimson egg’ illusion? It did some damage inside," Kaworu said, pointing to his chest with a gloved finger. "Since he came back, I don’t think he’s had any psychic grooming from a beta. He seems pretty worn out."
Kestrel didn’t know what to say. Her tendrils twisted behind her in surprise.
Kaworu stood up, pushing his chair back in. He gave a small nod and then left the dining table to go to his garden.
He let out a sigh near the section where the moonflowers were and began to water some new flowers.
Being a gardener wasn’t simple. There was a lot to keep track of. But having stuff to do and people to care about made things better than he thought it would be.
After growing a new body, he stayed busy. He’d chill out by listening to Vanessa’s songs or playing with the groundhog that lived in a tree. He might not be human now, but he still loved feeling the sun.
Sometimes, he’d remember what Vanessa once told him: "Don’t grieve for me; I hope you’re happy and live in the light..."
Later in the evening, Kestrel was reading when the doorbell rang.
Kaworu wasn’t around, and it looked like Locky was sleeping. The garden was quiet, and no one went to get the door.
Kestrel decided to check who it was. Walking through the soft-lit garden, her tendrils danced around like they’d discovered some cool secret.
When she opened the door, she found Ren, out of breath.
"I..." Ren paused to breathe, "was wondering... can you do a psychic grooming for me?"
He was nervous but seeing Kestrel’s surprised face made him blurt out what he wanted. It felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
"Only if you’re cool with it," he said with a chuckle. He felt a bit silly but also, strangely, happy.
Kestrel was caught off guard. But she was also kind of excited. Not many alphas had ever asked her for another psychic grooming. The only other person was her fiancé, but those memories were fading.
This was the first time someone showed up at her place in the middle of the night, needing her help.
She knew she should be happy about it. And she was.
But the happiness felt a little intense.
She guided Ren back, walking through the garden. She felt like humming.
"What’s that song again?" She remembered hearing it in the garden, sung by Vanessa.
It was a soft song sung under the moonlight by a girl, all about the moon that she held dear in her heart. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
With her white beta skirt swishing, Kestrel walked through the wild grass, sometimes even skipping with joy.
As Ren walked behind, one of Kestrel’s tendrils boldly reached out and took his hand, guiding them both toward the warmly lit house.
