Chapter 9 Are You Out Of Your Mind

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Xelrik's face, quickly replaced by anger born from humiliation. “It's just a house, and you're being so petty about it, Karina. I'm really disappointed in you. You can't even compare to Ava in the slightest!” Karina nodded nonchalantly. “Yeah, yeah, Avani is nothing but trash, yet you find her appealing. Are you a dog?” “You!” Xelrik was nearly beside himself with rage. Avani tugged at his arm. “Let's go, Xelrik.” With so many beasthumans watching, staying any longer would only humiliate her further. Xelrik took a deep breath, regaining his composure. His gaze landed on Avani's delicate face, and his anger somewhat subsided. “You're right, let's go. You've had quite a scare, Ava. Karina is just a barren female—once you're pregnant, she'll finally understand what regret feels like.” He gently rested his hand on Avani's belly. “Mm...” Avani lowered her head, a glimmer of guilt flashing in her eyes. Fortunately, neither Karina nor Xelrik knew her secret. The houses in Darkvale Tribe were all made of wood. Once engulfed in flames, they became completely uninhabitable. With no other option, Avani and her parents had to go to Xelrik's house. Without anything else to keep their attention, the beasthumans quickly dispersed. Karina noticed Ariel standing not too far away, her brown eyes fixed on the house as the fire consumed it. She seemed lost in thought. “Thanks for earlier,” Karina said, walking over and expressing her gratitude directly. If not for Ariel as their witness, the issue wouldn't have been resolved so quickly. At the sound of Karina's voice, Ariel turned around, her face once again filled with disdain and irritation. “Don't flatter yourself. I wasn't helping you,” she scoffed. “I just can't stand her, same as you.” She despised both Avani and Karina equally. Seeing Ariel's face twisted in disgust, Karina surprisingly felt no anger. Suddenly, a memory surfaced. In her past life, Ariel was the only one in the tribe who hadn't shunned Corvus Straven just because he was considered a fool. There was even a time when he had fallen into the river, and it was Ariel who had called the beasthumans to rescue him. Could it be that Ariel had spoken up earlier out of loyalty to Corvus? “I really like how straightforward you are,” Karina said, her gaze growing warmer. She gave Ariel a hearty pat on the arm. Ariel was speechless. She took two steps back, her expression as if she were looking at a lunatic. “Are you out of your mind?” I insulted her, and yet she's smiling? Karina raised an eyebrow. “How did you know? What, are you a beast doctor too?” In her past life, she had been imprisoned and tormented by that shameless couple for far too long. Even though she had been reincarnated, her body unharmed, the damage to her spirit was something that could never fully heal. When she had been taken in by the beastwomen, there had already been beast doctors saying she was mentally ill. Her temples throbbed incessantly. Ariel gave Karina a strange look before quickly turning around and walking away. “You don't seem angry, even though she despises you?” After burning down the house, Zareth approached Karina, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity. “Angry? Why would I be?” Karina shrugged. “I admit, I used to be pretty annoying.” She was foolish, mean, and wild. Isn't it abnormal not to be disliked? Zareth's eyelids drooped slightly, and a fleeting softness flickered in his eyes—so subtle it was almost imperceptible. “I don't dislike you,” he murmured. “Never have...” A thunderous crash echoed. The house, now completely burned, collapsed into a pile of embers, sending sparks flying into the night sky. Karina turned her head. “What did you say?” “Nothing,” Zareth muttered, pressing his lips together and looking away. His voice was muffled when he spoke again. “Should we keep the fire going?” “Burn it all. Clean and clear. I plan to build a new wooden house right here—our new home.” This year's snow season would be several times colder than previous years. Even though the house Corvus built was impressive, it still wasn't enough to withstand the harsh winter. Besides, she had always found the place where Avani lived to be filthy. Burning it down and rebuilding was the simplest solution. “All right,” Zareth agreed without hesitation. “Aren't you going to ask me why?” Karina was curious. The night they became intimate, Zareth had clearly been forced into it. Yet now, he was just going along with whatever she said. “No need to,” Zareth replied, his face unreadable. “I'm your beast husband. If you want to do something, you don't need to explain it to me.” Karina touched her chin. Is he still upset with me? Looks like I'll have to put in some effort tonight. After all, if a man had the energy to be angry, he definitely isn't tired enough yet. “I wasn't belittling your house,” Karina clarified. “Winter is just two months away. If we're lucky, I might already be carrying our pup. We need to start preparing.” In the world of beasts, nine was considered sacred. There were only three seasons—the season of snow, the season of rain, and the season of drought. Darkvale Tribe wasn't located in the far south or north. In the past, the snow season had only lasted three to five days. But this time, heavy snowfall had sealed off the mountains for an entire month. When the time came, many surrounding tribes would suffer. Even within their own tribe, countless beasthumans had perished from starvation and exposure in previous years. Before winter arrived, Karina planned to bring Corvus back from the Briarhide Tribe. In this life, it was her turn to protect her loved ones. Hearing her words, a glint flickered in Zareth's eyes. Pup? Does this mean she's willing to have children with me? The next morning, when Karina lazily woke up, she was alone in bed. Beside her was a basin of clean water—Zareth must have fetched it for her to wash up. Last night, the two of them had absorbed twenty Level-One Beast Crystals. Thus, Karina's body felt brimming with energy, without the slightest hint of fatigue. After washing her face, she spotted a fresh willow twig placed neatly by the basin for cleaning teeth. She paused. Females were delicate and couldn't hunt, so they had to sharpen their claws and teeth on their own. In her previous life, after being imprisoned for so long, she had almost forgotten about it. “This guy... he's pretty thoughtful.” Karina picked up the willow twig, a knowing smile on her lips, then left the wooden cabin and headed for the river. In this world, elderly beasthumans were rare. Whether it was protecting loved ones or simply surviving, one needed real strength. Karina was lucky to have awakened her talent. She wouldn't let it go to waste. The best way to grow stronger was through battle and hunting. But for now, the forest was too dangerous. Still, there were other small prey to be found within the tribe. At the riverbank, the water shimmered under the sunlight, and tiny fish darted past the surface. Holding her breath, Karina focused. With a slight movement of her fingertips, a thin streak of purple lightning shot toward the water. But the very next second, the purple light faded. A fish swam up, twisted its body, and flicked its tail at her, almost as if it were taunting her. Karina didn't give up. If it didn't work the first time, she'd try ten times, a hundred times, and even a thousand times. Until finally, a streak of purple light struck the water, sending a small splash into the air. A triumphant smile spread across her face. She had finally tapped into her talent. It might not be much now, but it was progress. Just as she was about to leave, she caught sight of something from the corner of her eye. A large fish—almost the length of an arm—had surfaced in the river.