Chapter 86: It’s Alright
By the time Aster had realized what he had done, it was already too late. For some reason, he didn’t even fully understand himself. It was what the big cat has said that have kicked his senses back to reality. But, it seemed he’d taking it the wrong way.
He had left himself vulnerable to the tiger in the midst of his torment. A beast who wouldn’t hesitate to cut him down when they had the chance.
As the human quickly pulled away, his face blushed deeply as he rapidly sucked in a hollow gasp. The prior turgid storm of emotions had almost dissipated entirely, replaced by fresh waves of embarrassment, appreciation, and confusion.
Sulking on the shoulders of your enemy had it own way of making one feel stupid.
Oust only remained silent with his eyes cast to the side. His ears were still pressed flat against his head, and a rumble of his own feelings stirred within his heart where he had long since buried any such concept of friendship, of longing for a shred of camaraderie from anyone in this world.
Aster may have been regretting it as he came to his senses, but surprisingly enough, Oust wasn’t certain he himself did. Despite the beating he had endured for the sudden change in his understanding of the human’s turmoils, this was the first time something good actually came after someone’s anger towards him.
It was the human who broke the unbearably awkward silence between them as he stood, dismounting the tiger’s wide torso.
"... Sorry... If your father wins the crown, you can execute me for it then... And thank you, Oust... For letting me win..."
Oust had even more questions after that statement but found himself incapable of asking a single one at that moment.
Without another word (or even mustering up enough courage to simply look at the tiger again,) Aster made his leave, heading back towards the village. Somehow, the boy was feeling lighter than before, despite both his regret at losing his temper and an entirely new problem weighing heavily on his mind.
He felt stupid.
Oust could only lay in the dirt and watch the human leave in thoughtful silence. Of all the things he had imagined, that runt giving him a reality check like he had certainly was nowhere near what he had prepared himself for through years of both training his body for a single purpose, and of building that seemingly impenetrable armor around his heart.