WORLD OF BEASTS: A Girl For The Beasts

Father

Chapter 033: Father

Afternoon gradually gave way to evening. The wind slipped gently through the leaves, carrying the scent of earth and dried foliage. High above the ground, atop the towering treehouses, the two young women were still absorbed in their conversation.

"What's wrong with your face? You're acting strange..." Zia was beginning to look uncomfortable with the odd questions Anindira kept asking. "Anindira, maybe we should go see Hans. I think there's something wrong with you that Halvir didn't notice when he rescued you."

"What? Hans?! I already saw him yesterday when I arrived here," Anindira replied.

"He didn't say anything about your health?" Zia asked.

"Nothing unusual. He said I'm healthy and that there aren't any problems..."

"Didn't he examine your head?!" Zia frowned, her eyes fixed on Anindira with concern.

"I'm worried there might be something wrong with your head. That's why you're acting so strangely..."

"What?! That's what you mean?! No... there's nothing wrong with my head," Anindira answered.

"But you're strange!"

No, you're the strange one! Anindira screamed inwardly. Five fathers! Seriously...? Wait... damn it! I forgot... why am I insisting on my own way of thinking?! This world is different... i***t, just go with it! Gather as much information as possible...

Anindira cleared her throat after taking a long breath.

"Um... Are you close to all five of your fathers?" she asked curiously.

Because of Zia's openness, Anindira felt comfortable enough to ask about something she had originally considered sensitive.

"Of course. They love me very much," Zia answered.

Zia seemed completely unconcerned by Anindira's skepticism. Their perspectives were simply different.

"And you... love them too?!"

"Of course. That's not even a question!" Zia replied firmly with a smile.

"Um... well... so... your mother has more than one mate?" Anindira's voice trembled slightly. A subtle fear tied her tongue—fear of saying the wrong thing, fear of misunderstanding.

Zia nodded confidently.

"Yes!"

She raised her hand, spreading all five fingers clearly in front of Anindira.

"Five of them," she added in a calm but certain tone.

Anindira fell silent. Her eyes stared blankly ahead while her thoughts drifted far away. Zia's voice seemed to echo through an empty space inside her head, yet her body remained rigid, frozen as she restrained any impulsive reaction.

Little by little, her awareness crept back.

Has it really become that severe? she thought as her heartbeat slowly quickened.

Hans's explanation about the imbalance between men and women resurfaced in her mind. Anindira remembered reading about the Guanches, the indigenous people of the Canary Islands. During the famines of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, many girls had perished, leaving women vastly outnumbered by men. To survive, polyandry had emerged—a woman could marry as many as five men.

Her thoughts moved on to another mountain tribe, where difficult farmland demanded extraordinary physical labor. Strong women married multiple husbands so they could manage the land together.

Anindira drew a long breath, gathering her composure.

"Zia!... Is it normal here for women to have more than one mate?" she asked. Her voice was steadier now, carrying a deeper curiosity.

Zia stared at her sharply, her brows furrowing. There was something in Anindira's eyes that felt strange.

"Of course," she answered seriously.

"Why?... Is it necessary?" Anindira pressed eagerly, trying to unravel the logic behind a custom so foreign to her.

Zia sighed and frowned even deeper.

This time, however, the reason was different—not confusion or annoyance, but the need to choose the right words.

She thought carefully. Lowering her gaze, she rolled her eyes for a moment while weighing her answer.

"I don't know whether it's necessary or not... All women are like that. But according to Mother, if there's only one man in a household, life becomes difficult for a woman. One man alone isn't enough to protect a woman by himself. That's why Mother always taught me to find mates who can truly protect me, and to choose two men at the same time. And if possible, choose two men who can get along with each other," Zia explained, her eyes wandering as though searching through memories of her mother's advice.

"Huh?!... TWO AT THE SAME TIME?!" Anindira exclaimed, nearly shrieking as her body jerked in surprise.

Their different cultures and backgrounds made it difficult for Anindira to accept that logic. She stared at Zia with wide eyes, as though searching for a flaw in the argument, but the words caught in her throat.

"Didn't your mother tell you anything?" Zia asked, her voice turning investigative. Her hazel eyes carefully studied Anindira's reaction.

"Uhh... well... no..." Anindira hesitated. Her lips trembled slightly as she lowered her gaze, unsure how to explain herself.

Zia frowned, slightly annoyed but sincere.

"Maybe it's because you're beautiful. Your family probably isn't worried..."

"Beautiful?!... Who?!... Me?!" Anindira stared at her in disbelief, her eyes widening before a small laugh escaped her.

"Hahaha..."

The laughter was light, yet relief lingered beneath it. The word beautiful had only ever come from her parents or grandparents. Other people rarely said it, including her three older brothers.

"Of course you're beautiful. I've admired you since the first time I saw you," Zia said innocently, her tone light but completely genuine. "Your skin is nice, and your hair isn't all sticky and tangled like mine. How is that possible?!"

Anindira looked at her, slightly embarrassed.

Anindira had healthy dark-brown skin, moisturized without being oily, and short black shaggy hair that suited her practical tomboy personality. Her body was small but athletic, with lean muscles. Standing under 150 centimeters tall made her look cute, yet her sharp black eyes carried a strong presence that could not be ignored.

Across from her stood Zia, slightly taller, with shoulder-length caramel-colored straight hair, pale skin free of freckles, and sharp hazel eyes. Her aura was firm and captivating, while her blunt attitude only added to her charisma.

"Zia, you're very beautiful. You just need to take better care of yourself, and I'm sure you'll become a truly charming girl," Anindira added softly but confidently.

The conversation, once awkward, gradually shifted toward lighter topics—the kinds of things women often talked about together.

"How?" Zia asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling. "Can hair really stop clumping together and sticking like that?"

Anindira began explaining in detail how to make use of the fruits and plants around them, drawing from her experiences during three months of travel. A world still untouched by civilization offered countless organic resources that could be processed for everyday needs.

Using the knowledge taught by her grandmother, a botanist, Anindira explained the purpose of each plant, how to prepare it, and the tricks for maximizing its benefits. Every word that left her mouth was clear, organized, and precise.

Zia was different from most women in the Beast World. Like Anindira, she was naturally curious and loved exploration. That similarity quickly brought them closer.

Every piece of knowledge Anindira shared left Zia amazed. She felt as though she had discovered a new idol—someone fascinating because of her intelligence and experience.

"Really?!" Zia exclaimed, her tone serious yet full of excitement. "We can actually improve our appearance that way? Are you sure?!"

Her eyes shone brightly with enthusiasm. She remained completely focused on Anindira's explanations, fascinated by methods of using wild flora she had never imagined before.

"Of course," Anindira replied, her face glowing with pride and confidence.

Their friendship grew rapidly. What had begun as an awkward exchange now flowed naturally, lightly, and with plenty of laughter. They continued talking, sharing stories and experiences, until the call for the next meal finally echoed through the village.