Starting Out As The God of Beasts

Roy didn’t move.

He remained facing the open window, his hands loosely clasped behind his back, watching the morning sun completely clear the horizon.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating, yet his breathing never faltered.

Showing no signs of nervousness.

"Alisa," Roy spoke softly, his tone completely flat, devoid of any anger or surprise.

He slowly turned around, his crimson-golden eyes locking onto her kneeling form. "Why are you so eager to know the truth?" he asked.

"What changes if I am a beastman, or an apostle, or something else entirely?"

"Ain’t I your master?" he questioned.

"You are"

Alisa did not flinch beneath his gaze.

"But...."

She kept her head slightly raised, her voice calm, measured, and entirely honest.

"But what?" Roy interuppted.

"I am asking because I want to trust you, Master Jarden." she answered.

"You want to trust me?" Roy’s eyebrows slightly furrowed at Alisa’s answer.

"Yes" Alisa nodded, "I want to dedicate my life, my name, and my blades to the future of Varania. But... I refuse to serve a second Troll King."

"I refuse to bleed for a master who simply views beastmen as disposable pawns, waiting to be sacrificed on an altar for a fake god."

Roy stared at her for a few silent heartbeats.

Then, the corner of his lips slowly tilted upward.

A soft, genuine smile broke across his face, and a low chuckle escaped his throat.

"I see," Roy murmured. "Then I suppose it’s time to put your mind at ease."

OMMMMM—

The shadow clinging to his black trench coat suddenly surged, wrapping around his body like a cocoon of ink.

The heavy, sharp beast-like pressure radiating from his frame completely melted away.

As the dark aura dispersed into the morning air, the transformation was absolute.

The rugged, feral contours of his previous form vanished.

Standing before her was his true human form.

His sleek, golden hair cascaded elegantly down his waist, catching the warm rays of the dawn.

His porcelain skin was flawless, shimmering subtly in the light streaming through the arched window.

The sheer, striking elegance of his true appearance was so sudden, so breathtakingly ethereal, that Alisa’s heart violently skipped a beat.

"I-I was right"

Her breath hitched in her throat, her eyes widening as she stared at the man standing before her.

"You really are human" Alisa stated at Roy, not hiding her bewilderment.

"I am indeed a human, Alisa," Roy confessed calmly, gesturing down at his true form.

"A human who traveled across the vast seas, all the way from the southern part of the Ten Continents to this barren wasteland." he paused.

He walked over to his grand mahogany desk, trailing his fingers along the edge before turning back to look at her.

His expression turned solemn, his eyes reflecting a deep, fabricated sorrow.

"But you must understand... I truly serve the God of Beasts," Roy continued, beginning to weave a flawless, calculated lie. "I was once the heir of a noble human family in the south."

"We had a peaceful barony, a home." he had a sorrowful look written on his face, "But the greedy churches of the human kingdoms—worshiping gods who demand nothing but blind obedience—waged a holy war." he clenched his fist.

"Those accursed bastards" he gritted his teeth, "They destroyed my home, slaughtered my people, and burned my lineage to ash."

He let out a cold, bitter breath, his golden hair shifting as his shoulders tensed.

"For years, I wandered."

"Ihated the gods."

"I grew to despise their hypocrisy, and I stained my hands with the blood of every follower of those false deities I came across."

"The stronger I grew, the more exposed I was to those churches.....the more my hatred grew!"

"I was entirely consumed by vengeance... until I encountered Him." he paused.

"Lord Varanus?" Alisa asked.

"Yes"

Roy answered with a smile, his voice dropping into a tone of absolute reverence.

"Deep within the forgotten ruins of the world, I met Lord Varanus."

"No....I met his ancient altar"

"The true God of Beasts, who had finally awakened after slumbering for thousands of years."

"He saw my hatred, yet he didn’t smite me"

"He comforted me and he gave me a purpose."

He stepped closer to Alisa, looking down at her with a gaze that felt entirely sincere.

"Lord Varanus sent me here, to the Hudeii Desert." he smiled, "He did not send me to conquer or to enslave, but to liberate this land from the corrupt churches of misfortune and the false kings who exploit you."

"I am here to build a sanctuary where beastmen can flourish."

"I am here to help."

Hearing his tragic past and the grand mandate of the Primordial God, the tight knot of anxiety in Alisa’s chest completely unraveled.

She heaved a deep, profound sigh of relief, her shoulders finally relaxing.

The man before her wasn’t a tyrannical monster or a deceitful parasite like Razarak.

He was a deeply scarred survivor, a true apostle chosen to save her people.

"I’m sorry forcing you to recall such tragic past" she said, "Please punish me"

She lowered her head slightly, her loyalty entirely cemented.

Yet, as she looked at his shifting, ethereal human aura, a new wave of curiosity washed over her.

"No" Roy shook his head, "There’s no need for you to apologize, there’s no need for me to punish you for you have done nothing wrong"

"It’s only natural for you to be curious" Roy grinned, "To be honest I was expecting this day to come"

"I was only worried you would do it in front of the rest"

"Thank you for understanding, I hope it stays as a secret between us" he said.

"No" Alisa smiled, "I should be the one thanking you for sharing your truth with me, Master Jarden," Alisa murmured softly, before tilting her head up, her dark eyes gleaming with intrigue.

"You could have simply killed me and lied that the assasin of the Troll King took me out, they’d believe you" Alisa stated.

"Hahahaha....well that’s true" his eyes slightly narrowed, "But if I did that....Lord Varanus would surely punish me"

"You are cherished by him after all" he added.

"Is that so?" Alisa’s lips curled faintly, "Praise be to the God of Beast"

"But if I may ask... to wield such terrifying power and command the likes of Lord Manuses..."

"What is your current cultivation realm?"