The Psychopathic Beast Emperor

The door slammed open so hard it rattled the entire residence.

"WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?!"

Lily’s voice cracked as it echoed through the room, her red hair disheveled, her chest heaving as if she’d run all the way there. Exildra didn’t flinch. She stood by the window, her golden hair catching the light, her expression calm, too calm.

"Welcome back," she said softly.

"Don’t you dare greet me as if nothing happened!" Lily snapped, her tail bristling violently behind her.

Exildra turned fully now, facing her.

"What do you want, Lily?"

The silence that followed this question would make even Bahamut shiver.

"What do I want?" Lily laughed bitterly. "You really don’t know?"

Exildra didn’t answer.

"Say it," Lily demanded, her voice trembling. "Say that you don’t know."

"I know," Exildra replied quietly.

That was all it took. Lily’s eyes burned.

"Then WHY?!" she shouted, stepping forward aggressively. "Why do you get to have him?!"

Her aura flared uncontrollably, sharp and wild like a cornered beast. But Exildra didn’t move.

"You think you’re special?" Lily continued, her voice rising. "You think you’re the only one who can love him?!"

A sharp claw of energy formed around her hand.

"Then MOVE!"

She lunged.

SLASH!

The attack stopped inches from Exildra’s face.

Lily’s hand trembled violently as her breath hitched.

"Move," she whispered.

Exildra didn’t. Her golden eyes met Lily’s furious, red ones, calm and unyielding.

"No."

Lily’s arm shook harder.

"MOVE!" she screamed.

Exildra stepped forward instead, and the distance between them vanished. Lily staggered back instinctively, her attack dispersing as if it had never existed.

"W-what are you doing?!" she snapped, shaken.

Exildra’s voice was gentle.

"You won’t hurt me."

"Don’t act like you know me!"

"I don’t."

There was a pause as Exildra moved closer to Lily, their face just inches away from each other.

"But I know how you look at him." That broke something. Lily’s knees hit the floor hard.

"Shut up..." she muttered. Her hands clenched as tears began to fall.

"Just shut up..."

Exildra said nothing this time. She simply walked forward slowly and carefully, and Lily didn’t resist.

"I hate you," Lily whispered, her voice hollow.

Exildra stopped in front of her.

"I know."

"I hate how calm you are."

"I know."

"I hate that he chose you."

Exildra didn’t speak for some time, but she smiled softly in the end.

"I know."

Lily looked up, her face wet with tears, eyes red and shaking.

"Then WHY ARE YOU STILL STANDING THERE LIKE THAT?!"

Exildra crouched down in front of her.

"Because I don’t hate you."

Lily froze.

"What?"

"I don’t hate you," Exildra repeated softly.

"That doesn’t make any sense!" Lily snapped. "I tried to take him from you!"

"Yes."

"I insulted you!"

"Yes."

"I would do it again!"

"I know."

Lily stared at her like she’d lost her mind.

"You’re insane."

Exildra smiled faintly.

"Maybe."

Silence fell between them again, but this time it wasn’t sharp. It was... heavy.

"Tell me," Exildra said gently. "Why him?"

Lily’s lips trembled.

"I don’t know..."

Her voice broke.

"I just... I saw him and..."

She clenched her chest.

"It hurt."

Exildra’s expression softened.

"He’s reckless," Lily continued weakly. "Arrogant... rude... violent..." A small, broken laugh escaped her.

"But he looks at people like they matter."

Exildra’s eyes flickered.

"When he grabbed me..." Lily whispered, "I should’ve been scared."

Her fingers tightened.

"But I wasn’t."

Tears fell harder.

"I was happy."

Exildra didn’t speak, causing the place to become silent.

"That’s messed up, right?" Lily laughed bitterly.

Exildra shook her head slowly.

"No."

Lily looked at her, stunned.

"It just means you fell too hard."

That... broke her again.

"I don’t know what to do..." Lily whispered, her shoulders shaking. "I can’t stop thinking about him... I can’t stop wanting him..."

She looked down.

"Even knowing he doesn’t want me."

Exildra reached out but hesitated, then, gently, she placed her hand on Lily’s head. Lily froze.

"Then don’t stop," Exildra said softly.

"What?"

"Feel what you feel."

Her voice remained calm.

"But don’t lose yourself because of it."

Lily’s lips parted slightly.

"I won’t give him to you."

That hit her hard.

"But I won’t push you away either."

Lily’s eyes trembled.

"Why?"

Exildra smiled faintly.

"Because loving him isn’t a crime."

Lily lowered her head slowly, her shoulders still trembling.

"I really hate you..."

Exildra chuckled softly.

"I know."

But this time, there was no venom in it, only pain and something else, something unresolved. Outside, the wind passed gently, but inside, two hearts, tangled around the same person... had just taken their first fragile step toward understanding.

...

The training ground was a mess: cracked earth, collapsed patches of soil, with dust still drifting lazily in the air like the aftermath of a storm, and right in the middle of it, three figures lay flat on their backs.

"I can’t feel my ribs," Bahamut muttered, staring up at the sky.

"Because they’re broken," Sel replied calmly from his side.

"They’re not broken," Ren added lazily. "They’re just... reconsidering their purpose."

"I hate you," Bahamut said.

"Get in line," Ren yawned.

A few seconds passed. Bahamut exhaled deeply.

"I think I’m in trouble."

Sel turned his head slightly.

"That’s not new."

"This is different."

Ren lifted a paw.

"Ah. Girl problem."

Bahamut didn’t even deny it.

"Yeah."

Sel closed his eyes.

"Let me guess. Exildra and Lily."

Bahamut turned his head sharply.

"Is it that obvious?"

"She’s not deranged," Bahamut muttered.

Sel and Ren both turned to look at him.

"You’re defending her now?" Sel asked.

Bahamut frowned.

"I’m not defending her. I’m just saying... she’s not wrong."

Ren slowly sat up.

"Oh, this is good."

Sel propped himself up on his elbows.

"Explain."

Bahamut ran a hand through his messy hair.

"She’s just... honest. Too honest."

Sel hummed.

"That’s one way to put it."

Bahamut sighed again.

"I don’t get it. Why me?"

Ren blinked.

"You’re serious?"

"Yes!"

Ren pointed at him.

"You’re strong."

Sel added, "You’re reckless."

Ren continued, "You’re unpredictable."

Sel: "You don’t follow rules."

Ren: "You say whatever you want."

Sel: "You fight like a madman."

Ren: "And somehow,"

Sel: "You care."

They both looked at him.

"That combination is dangerous," Sel concluded.

"For hearts," Ren added.

Bahamut stared at them.

"You’re making me sound like a disease."

"You kind of are," Ren nodded.

Bahamut groaned and covered his face.

"This is so stupid..."

Sel’s voice softened slightly.

"No, it’s not."

Bahamut peeked through his fingers.

Sel continued, his tone calm but firm.

"No girl would go that far... if it wasn’t real."

That hit differently.

"She looked like she was going to break," Bahamut muttered.

Ren tilted his head.

"And Exildra?"

Bahamut paused.

"She didn’t even get angry."

Sel let out a quiet breath.

"That’s worse."

"What do I do?" Bahamut asked, genuinely confused now.

Ren shrugged.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Be yourself," Ren said simply.

Sel nodded.

"Don’t try to fix it. Don’t try to understand everything."

Bahamut frowned.

"That sounds like bad advice."

Sel smirked faintly.

"It is."

Ren grinned.

"But it works."

Sel continued,

"You’re not the kind of person who can handle things by overthinking."

"Hey."

"You’re the kind who deals with things as they come."

Bahamut went quiet.

"So just be you," Ren said again.

"Let them deal with their feelings."

Sel added,

"And try not to make things worse."

Bahamut snorted.

"No promises."

A small silence followed. Ren stretched.

"So... speaking of girls."

Sel immediately tensed.

"Don’t."

Bahamut’s head snapped toward him.

"Oh, we’re definitely talking about this."

Sel sat up.

"No, we’re not."

Ren leaned forward, eyes gleaming.

"Yes, we are."

Bahamut grinned slowly.

"Apollonia."

Sel stood up instantly.

"I’m leaving."

Bahamut grabbed his ankle.

"You’re not going anywhere."

Ren hopped up, blocking the other side.

"Sit down, lover boy."

Sel looked between them.

"I regret everything."

Bahamut sat up, crossing his arms.

"Explain."

Sel sighed deeply.

"There’s nothing to explain."

Ren tilted his head.

"You like her, and we know."

"I didn’t say that."

"You didn’t deny it either."

Sel glared.

Bahamut leaned closer.

"So what’s the problem?"

Sel went quiet.

For a moment, he actually hesitated.

"It won’t work," he said finally.

"Why?" Bahamut asked.

Sel looked away.

"Because it just won’t."

Ren frowned.

"That’s not an answer. I thought we already talked about this."

Sel exhaled slowly.

"She’s... different."

Bahamut blinked.

"They’re all different."

"That’s not what I mean."

Sel’s eyes lowered slightly.

"She’s already walking a path I can’t follow."

That made both Bahamut and Ren pause.

"Core Disciple?" Bahamut asked.

Sel shook his head.

"No. Something else."

Silence settled between them.

Ren smirked.

"So you’re scared."

Sel’s head snapped up.

"I’m not scared."

"You are," Ren said casually.

Bahamut nodded.

"Yeah. You are."

Sel looked between them.

Then scoffed.

"You idiots."

But he didn’t deny it again. Bahamut grinned.

"Don’t worry."

Sel narrowed his eyes.

"Why do I feel like I shouldn’t trust that?"

Bahamut stood up, cracking his knuckles.

"Because I’m going to help you."

Sel’s expression dropped.

"Absolutely not."

Ren laughed.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."

Sel turned to leave again.

"Stay out of my business."

Bahamut and Ren moved at the same time, grabbing him from both sides.

"Too late."

"I hate both of you."

"Love you too," Bahamut replied instantly.

And just like that, the chaos continued.