Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 181: Puula’s Apology

“He’s alive... He has to be alive...”

Netra mumbled to herself, using the silencing effect of her chamber to try and calm herself down. As cultivation was the last place of true solitude, Netra wanted to hurry up and slow her mind in order to properly meditate. But sometimes sharing your thoughts out loud, even to yourself, only make them more rampant.

“Oli has to be alive... He didn’t need to die for me. I could’ve helped him if he was going to run... Why aren’t you back yet, Oli? Why is Vloz taking so long?”

Knock, knock, knock... A voice called out from the other side of the chamber down, surprising Netra. “Netra, it’s Ania. If you can hear me, can you please open the door? There’s something we need to talk about involving Oli.”

Without much thought, Netra steadied the few energies she was emitting and took a deep breath. Netra then turned off the timer formation and opened the door. “Ania, thank you for... Mom?”

“Netra, we need to talk and I need to apologize for something,” Puula stated outright, making sure that Netra wouldn’t just close the chamber door upon seeing her. “May we both come in?”

“Well... Yes?” Netra answered hesitantly but obliged. The younger fox stepped aside and allowed her mother and teacher to enter the room. “What’s this about?”

.....

“First, close the door, sweetie. I’m not sure how long this may take.” Upon resealing the room, Puula blinked and took in a long, sharp breath. “Netra... I’m so sorry for not believing you.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

Suddenly, Netra felt her mother’s tails pulling her into a hug, pressing Netra’s face against her Mom’s bosom. “I’m sorry for doubting you all this time about Oli...”

“What? But... how did you–”

“Your mother mentioned how you once told her about Oli’s dark essence,” Ania spoke up from the side. “She finally confronted me about it and convinced me to answer her.”

“You were right all along and I kept trying to change your mind... Thank you for not letting my incorrect reply stop you from getting close to Oli,” Puula mentioned, leaving Netra speechless for a moment. “I’m not entirely sure how I can make up for all the times I told you otherwise, but I can try first by finding Oli’s whereabouts.”

“You... What?! But you don’t even–”

“It’s been nine moons since Vloz left to go find Oli. If there was evidence of Oli’s death or him being impossible to track down, wouldn’t Vloz have given up the chase? He doesn’t seem to be the sort of person to waste time tracking down someone proven impossible to reach,” reasoned Puula, glancing at Ania.

The mother gorilla sighed and nodded, “I agree... I have no clue why Vloz hasn’t returned but he’s not the type to waste his time and effort. If he still hasn’t returned, there’s likely a chance that Oli’s still alive.”

“I may try to think realistically, but that doesn’t mean I can’t try to see the silver lining behind Vloz taking his sweet time to return,” Puula mentioned with a smile. “Also, there’s something that Ania and I have come to agree on... May I, Ania?”

“You’re the one who proposed it, so go ahead.”

Netra blinked as she listened to her mother speak.

“Netra... Given the circumstances and your own feelings, I’ve proposed that you and Oli be secretly betrothed.”

“WHAT?! Since when did–”

“There are some conditions, though.” Puula continued, “Upon locating and recovering Oli, you and he will become engaged in secret. That means no more unexpected suitors will be allowed in our home and you won’t need to worry about me trying to upset your feelings. Of course, this is all dependent on finding Oli and making sure that he’s still alive, which I want to believe is the likely case. Though I can’t assume what he’s currently going through, I find it strange that we found his supposed kidnapper dead and how Vloz has yet to return regardless of how long he’s taking.”

“Then... you’re accepting us?” Netra asked softly.

With a gentle nod and smile, Puula answered, “Yes.”

“You’re still not allowed to officially wed until you’ve become perennials,” Ania added, “but that means you two won’t be arguing as much and Puula will likely be leaving for some time.”

Realizing what Ania meant, Netra’s eyes widened. “You mean... you’re going to go find Oli?”

“I’ll try my best. I’m not Vloz but I’m still a capable hunter and intelligence expert. Don’t think I’m unqualified for the job.”

“You are qualified! I just... You’re really going to search for him, like Vloz?”

“Yes, Netra. I won’t believe that’s he’s dead until it’s confirmed, and I won’t believe he can’t get back until I find out for myself,” added Puula.

“I’m sorry to interrupt such a sweet moment, but I must ask you not to do that.”

Without any warning, Ania and Puula immediately took a battle stance, Puula standing to protect her daughter. They both looked to one end of the room in search of the man behind the sudden claim.

“There’s no need to be frantic. You should understand how much deeper my strength runs given how easily I hid from you, right?” A man with a hood made from shadows had finally become visible, sending chills down the spines of all three women. “See? I’m calm, so you should be as well.”

“Who are you?! How did you get in here?!” questioned Ania with a hammer in hand.

But the man shook his head and brandished a faint, amiable smile. “I’m the one who saved your son from a king cultivator. Or must you test my strength before believing me?”

“That... Yet you match Vloz’s description of the man who dared threaten Oli’s life during the school tournament.”

“Guilty as charged.” Raising his hands as if to give up an act, the man continued without any hint of fear or doubt. “But that no longer matters. Puula saved your son back then and it seems she’s more open-minded than I had expected, at least when it involves making her daughter happy. But I must ask you to not leave after Oli.”