Rearing Demons
Chapter 84: Intrusive Thoughts

Chapter 84: Intrusive Thoughts

Yur walked behind the two girls as they led him outside the castle. He didn’t care what they did; he wanted to scout the kingdom and survey the area—not merely out of interest, but for other reasons.

"He’s following us openly!" one of them complained.

"What do you want me to do?" the other asked.

The two exchanged weary glances, clearly exhausted. In the past, when Julian protected them, he did so privately, allowing them to roam with peace of mind. But Yur did not; he followed them like a shadow—always near, like a chain restricting their freedom.

"Sir Yur, if you want to roam around, feel free. We know the area," Xia said hesitantly.

"I’d rather stay close, in case something happens," Yur replied, cutting off any thoughts of escaping his presence.

The girls sighed in relief, finding the situation pitiable. Their lives were already tightly controlled by constant tutoring, training, and lessons; only once in a blue moon did they get to explore outside.

Wartime offered more opportunities to venture out, yet with Yur trailing them, it was impossible.

"Why are we even worried?" Xia asked, glancing at Ley. It wasn’t as if Yur did anything to harm them.

"Sir Yur, would it be alright if we go explore? You won’t mind, will you?" Xia suddenly inquired, surprising Ley.

"Why would I be bothered?" Yur replied in mild confusion. "I’m protecting you, not restricting you."

The two girls finally exhaled deeply in relief. Feeling more at ease, Ley smiled at Xia. "So, where should we go?"

"What about the botanic garden?" Xia suggested eagerly. "It’s one of my favorite places—so many old, beautiful plants and trees, and interesting wildlife to see."

At that moment, both girls wore inconspicuous clothes; having rarely left the castle in their royal attire, few actually knew what they looked like. Besides, most people were too busy with their own lives to notice.

"Fine, you really love that place," Ley teased, but happily led Xia through the streets.

Yur kept his eyes on them while Zul assisted with other tasks. Show me all the current quests, he commanded.

[Afloria Quest: Beat Julian in Battle! (Complete!)]

[Afloria Quest: Protect the King’s Family (In Progress)]

[...]

Dozens of quests loaded up, outlining a clearer path toward his goals.

Soon, they reached a large building surrounded by wooden fences.

"Let’s quickly enter," the two girls said with excitement, eager not to waste any time.

Yur followed them, curious about the place.

Inside, the building was modest, with only a few booths where people lined up to pay.

Xia and Ley quickly joined the line, and Yur stood behind them.

"Where should we go first?" Xia asked, excited to see the familiar sights.

"Let’s grab a drink. The really sweet one," Ley said, more interested in the food than in the garden.

"You and those stupid drinks," Xia rolled her eyes, but said nothing.

As they conversed, they reached the front and quickly paid for their tickets.

Yur paused for a moment; he hadn’t been given a ticket, so he turned to Quin, who had followed him.

"Get me a ticket," he commanded.

"Yes," she responded promptly and purchased the ticket.

Though now loyal to Yur, Quin was similar to Velmira in that she technically didn’t have to obey his commands, assuming Yur didn’t use his abilities to compel her. She was much weaker than him, but she still obeyed, knowing that the Freau Mortal Kingdom stood no chance against his power.

"Here you go," she said, handing him the ticket, and they both walked inside.

Quin stayed close to Yur as they entered the large garden.

Yur looked around but was not particularly impressed. The Land of the Mother was somewhat entertaining, at least in its own way.

Ever since his emotions dulled, his capacity for enjoyment had diminished so much that life felt monotonous.

He began noticing the negatives of a body that felt no pain.

"Over here!" Someone called out. Yur spotted the two girls running and calling to each other in an almost childlike manner.

He decided to keep his distance and watch from afar. The area seemed safe, yet he grew increasingly bored by the idle spectacle.

Oddly, boredom was an emotion that hadn’t dulled. In fact, it had intensified.

"Shall I grab some food for you too?" Quin asked, standing beside him, unsure how to express herself.

"No," Yur replied simply.

The food in the endless garden did not interest him; nothing there was captivating.

Do I truly crave action? he wondered, taken aback by the sudden intensity of his boredom.

With everything progressing so slowly and no immediate threat to his life, he felt increasingly detached.

[Host should use this time to reflect!]

What do you mean, reflect? Reflect on what? he asked.

[Goals and desires. Wants and needs.]

Yur scratched his head, uncertain where to begin.

He already had a goal—freedom.

He had a desire—freedom.

He had a need—freedom.

It was all about freedom, and nothing more.

What else could he reflect on?

[The Human world is unlike Zulmasharr. It is generally calmer, so the host should use this chance to learn about himself!]

He recalled a memory from Mal mentioning something similar.

Self-reflection, learning about oneself, was the key to mastery—the key to strength.

How should I begin?

From afar, Xia and Ley sat on a bench, sipping their bubbly drinks.

"Ley, what do you think of Sir Yur?" Xia glanced at Yur, who was standing a bit away.

"What do you mean?" Ley continued sipping, her curiosity piqued.

"Look at him," Xia gestured toward Yur.

"He seems normal to me," Ley said, still confused.

"Dummy," Xia flicked her forehead, shaking her head. "Haven’t you noticed his looks?"

Ley looked at Yur again, suddenly taken aback. "Woah, he’s really good-looking."

"That’s what I was thinking," Xia nodded.

They had both been wary of him lately, so they hardly focused on him until now.

"He’s strong and handsome," Ley remarked. "Do you think I should try to get with him?" she teased with a smirk. "I wouldn’t mind."

Xia rolled her eyes. "You, get with him? Forget it—can you even focus on anything besides food?"

"I’m not that dumb," Ley responded with mild annoyance. "Romance and all that have always seemed too far-fetched for me. No one in this kingdom would be approved by my dad, so what’s the point?"

"How do you think I feel?" Xia said bitterly. "My dad is even stricter than yours."

The girls sighed, but their gaze fell on Yur’s tall, handsome frame. The more they looked, the more they realized how attractive he truly was. There was an aura around him; not essence, but something that set him apart.

"Honestly, I wouldn’t mind being with him," Xia suddenly declared, shocking Ley.

"Huh?" Ley looked at her with surprise. "Are you serious?"

Although Ley considered Yur extremely handsome and intriguing, she remained fearful; that barrier prevented her from viewing him romantically.

"I’m serious," Xia nodded. "You know how it feels to have a father no one can compare to? Forget finding a partner; my expectations are high because of it."

"And now someone beat him, huh?" Ley finished, understanding Xia’s implication. She rose and patted Xia’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, I’ll help you if you want."

"I’m not saying I like him," Xia shook her head. "But I am interested in learning more about him. If he truly has a good personality, then he’d be perfect for me." His looks captivated her; his strength astonished her.

"Sure, I’ll help with that too," Ley agreed with a smirk. "Worst case, just get naked in front of him. Your body is very hot; it might win him over."

"Idiot," Xia retorted, rising as well. "Let’s explore for a bit then."

"You seem uninterested in exploring. Are you that interested in him?" Ley observed, noting how Xia spoke about her favorite garden—a place that never bored her in the past.

Xia blushed. "For some reason, after a moment, I’m imagining myself with him..." Her face flushed even more. "Never mind."

Ley looked confused, not entirely understanding.

"Let’s go, let’s go," Xia urged, grabbing Ley’s hand and pulling her away as unexpected thoughts flooded her mind.