Chapter 4- It’s ok to Dream
By Sharkbait2000

Later that day, Baratus separated from his new friend who told him a great secret that no one would expect and he headed back to the palace right after he headed inside, he heard a dark but gentle voice coming to his head as the mysterious being went to within his mind psyche as he sees the large bear-like being with 4 arms in the shadow, laying down on his floating cloud, showing off his stomach mouth.

"Well, would you look at that? You made a new friend. Let's hope the king doesn't scare him away this time." The mysterious bear said with a gruff chuckle.

"Mmm yes indeed... I'm not going to lie. It is nice to make a normal conservation for once compared to "Father's idealism of talking." Baratus said as he kept thinking about his Father.

"Kid is right, you know. Eventually, you'll have to make him stop pushing you around." The mysterious bear said.

"I know I know. It's... it's complicated." Baratus said as he let out a sigh.

"It's alright. He doesn't know about us anyway... not yet. You'll show him one day." The mysterious bear smiled.

"Right... of course... Thanks again. For all these years to today..... Lucas." Baratus said, smiling back.

"Of course, Friend," Lucas said as he vanished within the psyche Baratus got back to reality only to get yelled at by the voice that he didn't want to hear from the throne room.

"Son! Why are you out again wasting time?! Daydreaming again? Come to the throne room."

"Coming, Father. Geez such a tyrant..." Baratus said as he walked toward the throne.

Baratus headed to the throne room, seeing his father at the chair, with his arm resting on the side, showing off tons of runes around the neck to his arms, looking like Baratus, but older with a gray beard. The very Tyrant King, Gorosh.

"Don't you get tired of doing this to me? ... for like 10 years already?" Baratus sighed as he crossed his arms.

"The hell, you say to me, boy? Whether I am your King or not, I'm still your father. You still haven't learned respect." Gorosh growled as he got up, grabbed a red whip from his hip, and uncoiled it with a fire-cracking sound effect. "You know your punishment."

"Tch...I'm practically used to the training... Father." Baratus said as he looked away as he takes off his top clothing, revealing tons of scars and torch marks of years of torture.

For that comment, The King got angrier and whipped the back a few more times than he should, Baratus didn't even bother to flinch and just took it and waited for the punishment to be over.

"Tch... May I leave now? This is getting a little tiresome." Baratus grumbled as he put his top clothing back on.

"Grr... Still spoiled brat as you are. Where have you been today?!" Gorosh growled.

He let out a sigh and huff as he turned back at his Father.

"Why are you so concerned about me going outside huh? It is not like there is anything better to do in this dump castle." Baratus said as he tried to leave the room but without warning, Gorosh grabbed him by the arm and then pushed him against the floor.

"I told you this is the only way to take my lineage is to be strong and push everything and everyone out of the way to win this war! You aren't going out making "friends" again, aren't you?" Gorosh said as he still kept him pinned against the ground. "My spies have been watching you all day. Perhaps I'll take him in and send him to hole like I did to other "friends of yours"?"

"Grrr... shut up. I haven't been able to make a single friend and I've been a single lone guy since you always scare everyone away with that grumpy attitude of yours!" Baratus shouted.

"This is for your good, boy, or have you forgotten what's happened to your mother?!" Gorosh shouted back.

"Don't you fucking dare bring my mother like that. You don't even deserve it! Do you even care or mourn for her anymore? You changed since you came back from that mission years ago! We don't even know who did it or if the perp is still alive after all these years!" Baratus growled as he pushed his Father away getting up quickly.

"I don't care. Even if he is still around, I'll know it when I see him. Now go to your room and don't you even think about sneaking out this time. I locked your window this time." Gorosh said as he swing his fist around.

"Tch....Fine... At least one place where I don't see your face." Baratus growled as he leaves the room.

A few minutes later, Gorosh called up his spies to his room, which was the pack of goblins.

"Goblins, bring my son's friend to me and do whatever it takes, but keep him alive for now. Bring a minotaur or two in case he fights back." Gorosh commanded.

The spies bowed down to him then left the room to start their mission.

Transition to Kuma

Later at night, Kuma had searched through the paintings and the books trying to understand the past and why but no leads.

"Grrr... Nothing... I thought coming here would give me some answers but it's a dead end once again...” Kuma sighed as he starts to yawn a bit when he realized it was dark once again.

"Damn I wasted the whole day huh? I wonder how Baratus is doing. Well, I can see him tomorrow."

He takes a walk heading to the hotel, with the street empty and some glowing stones in the high post, basking the whole light in the street, until some green goblin just jumped on Kuma's back as he felt the killing intention from it, quickly grabbing it and throwing it away, as it gets back up.

"What the? Who are you? Why did you attack me?!" Kuma asked as he unsheathed his sword, readying himself to defend.

"Get the Chimera!" The goblin commanded as he let out a screech as he takes out his pocket dagger as Kuma sees the large groups of his kind, aiming at him.

"Goblins! Are they trying to steal my runes?" Kuma asked as a Minotaur attempted to sneak behind Kuma but Freedo, who was hiding in Kuma's fur, jumped out as he instantly went into his battle form, let out an angry growl, tackling the Minotaur.

"Wha- oh thanks Freedo!" Kuma said as he is confused about what was going on as he started slashing a few of the first goblins as others just threw rocks and daggers at him, blocking it off. "Who are you guys?"

"What is this? No one says anything about a pet!" The minotaur asked as he uses his war baton to block and prevent Freedo's elemental fangs from biting him.

Freedo backed away and unleashed an ice blast at the Minotaur, almost freezing him by the bottom.

"Why you little pest!" The minotaur growled as he starts chipping the ice away with his baton.

Kuma grins as he chuckled as he inhaled. "Sky Breath!" Kuma shouted as he blew away most of the Goblins with his breath attack. "That wasn't so hard."

Before Kuma had a chance to say anything else, the spies regrouped as one of them managed to sneak behind him and put the bag over his head.

"What the?!"

Panicking, Kuma dropped his sword and attempted to move the bag out but at that moment, Minotaur punched Kuma in the stomach, quickly knocking him out.

"He said alive but not in what condition! Hehe" Minotaur said as he grins.

Freedo growled and rushed to save his owner but then the goblins stopped him as one of them just threw a rope to tie the lizard's legs together, making him collapse on the floor as it whimpered and reverted to normal form.

"So that little guy is with him. And I don't even know what this thing is. Never mind it, put it in a cage along with that boy!" Minotaur commanded.

Later, Kuma finally regained consciousness and he realized that he and Freedo were caged up in the dungeon.

"Wha- where am I?" Kuma said as he tries to get up as he sees he is chained to the floor, and he tries to use his ice magic to freeze the chains off to break their chains, but fails to activate it.

"Don't even try it. These chains are filled with a special crystal talisman that negates your magical powers." Minotaur said as he just clanged his axe against the metal bars,

"Damn it... the Black Onyx huh?" Kuma asked himself as he looked at his chains.

"You're smart. Perhaps not smart enough to be his friend. Hehe, you're lucky you are needed alive for now. I wonder if that creature likes Chimeras or your pet. Who knows. We'll see." Minotaur chuckled. "Perhaps he'll let me keep you if you survive tomorrow."

"What are you talking about? What did I do wrong? Who? Baratus? Why am I here? You leave Freedo out of this! What creature?" Kuma shouted as he tried to get to the metal bar but it kept him in place.

"Hmmm. If you're smart tomorrow, you'll leave the place alive. For now, prepare your mind for tomorrow." Minotaur said as he left the dungeon.

"Damn it... Second day here and I'm here." Kuma said as Freedo whimpered.

"Don't worry... I'm sure we'll get out of here... um...." Kuma assured Freedo as he looked at his chains and then scanned the room. ".... eventually..."

The whole night passed to the morning when Baratus sneaked out of the bedroom and headed back to the city where Kuma's residence was but when he knocked on the door, no answer, few more attempts but nothing.

"Kuma? Are you up? Mmm... maybe he's still asleep. I swear to god if Father-" Baratus gets interrupted as when a Minotaur comes to him. "Ah! Gah! Oh, it's you, Oh it's you, Liam! What now?!"

"Sorry to bother you. As much as I try to let you stay out. Your Father wants to summon you urgently to the throne room." Liam said.

"Again?! And this early? I swear that geezer is nothing but a pain in the ass. Yes, I'm going." Baratus groaned.

Baratus, wanting to see his friend again, still needs to do his duties, he goes and goes to see what his father needs this time.

"Good morning boy I hope you learn your lesson," Gorosh asked with a grin. "Did you come to respect and accept this now?"

"What now, Father? I swear if it's another day of being a pain in the ass, I'm not in the mood!" Baratus growled.

"Cocky until the end Huh? Let's see if you feel good when you see this. Bring him in!" Gorosh commanded as Baratus turned and saw the guards bringing Kuma in with the sack over his head and his hands were cuffed in the front and saw Freedo inside the tiny cage, looking powerless.

"Ugh let me go! I didn't do anything!" Kuma shouted as he couldn't see anything going on due to the sack covering his head.

"Kuma!? What are you gonna do with him!?" Baratus asked as he turned and faced his father.

Gorosh holds up Kuma's sword as he gazes at it and looks at his son when the sword automatically glows red.

"Too bad he had a nice weapon... such a fine craftsman, perfect as another collection of "Failed Friendships." And just like every person who disappointed me and who gets in your way. I'll feed them to the Beast!" Gorosh said as Baratus gasped, couldn't handle how fallen his Father was.

"Father, you're crazy! Going this far just to teach a lesson. Don't you know how to give mercy or understanding anymore?" Baratus asked angrily.

"I did give mercy long ago and look how I paid the price! Guard! Remove the sack so I can see his face before I end him for good as a snack for the Beast." Gorosh commanded.

The Minotaur just removed the sack as Kuma blinked his eyes a few times to adjust his eyes.

"Wh- Baratus... What's going on? What is this?" Kuma asked with a confused face.

"Kuma! Father, you're a very horrible leader. Even for you, this is too much." Baratus said.

"Shush! All he did was to distract my son from his goal, that's all! Hey Wait a minute you look sorta familiar..." Gorosh said as he got up from his throne and got closer and took a closer look at Kuma's face.

"Wait.... You are... Do you have the nerve to come back from all these years after what you did to your kind and us after we rescued you? Even we helped your family?!" Gorosh asked angrily.

"What?! What are you talking about? I don't even remember this place! I don't understand. My family you say? What do you mean you rescued me?! Rescued me from who?" Kuma responded, still confused with tons of questions.

"You must be destroyed! No farther, pull the lever! Put him in the hole!" Gorosh commanded.

The trapdoor below the throne room opened and Kuma fell in and crashed onto the floor.

"Gah! What the hell are you talking about?" Kuma said as he shook his head, getting up, still, his arms bound he looked around the dark room. "Where am I?"

Kuma scanned the dark room for a brief moment, the place was filled with bones of the last victims, scattered with blood all over the place.

Kuma attempts to try to break the chains but remains powerless. "Damnit... What is this?"

"Dammit no! Kuma, there is a beast here! Run! While you can!" Baratus shouted.

"Dammit, boy! Why are you aiding the enemy?!" Gorosh growled as he grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.

"Beast? What beast?" Kuma asked as he turned as he heard the growling noises with heaving walking steps he saw a large Centipede jaw with a large bull-like black body with a black rocky scorpion tail and spiky gray crystals around the body. "Ohhh.... That beast."

The large beast screeched as it charged at Kuma, and he jumped over as he barely dodged the charging attack.

"Geez... so fast..." Kuma said as he landed on the ground after that charge.

"Hehe the Falling Shatterbeast. Said to have been dropped from the sky due to meteors one day and found itself fusing our crystals, the main source we use for everyday technologies. And this is one of the few left." Gorosh explained as he smirked, enjoying the helpless Chimera fending for his life.

"Shatter... beast?" Kuma said as he sees the Scorpion-like tail raising to attack him, he ducked down last minute with his arms raised, using the tail to break the chain, allowing him to use the magical abilities again. "Dammit... too close for comfort. At least I can use my hands again."

"Haha nice one! But Damn it Father. Why are you doing this? You're just being a tyrant even more!" Baratus exclaimed.

"Hush son. This is for your own good! He is dangerous, but soon he'll be no longer of this world, you’ll see, boy! This is what our rule should be like, give everyone a scare enough to follow us! To show we're the most powerful clan in the world. I told you the last mistake I ever made was giving mercy!"

"If I can just freeze it..." Kuma thought in his head as he jumped and dodged the jaws as he get on its back, holding it tight as it tries to get Kuma off.

"Dammit freeze! Icebergs freeze!" Kuma shouted his spell name as he used all his energy to attempt to freeze the beast but had no effect regardless. "What! No effect?" Kuma said as Kuma saw the scorpion tail readying itself to sting Kuma but then Kuma gets off the beast and backs the distance away.

As Kuma can dodge attacks and make ice shields and all, he spoke in a loud voice for Baratus to hear.

"Baratus you know that's not true! Just because you have the darkness inside you doesn't mean you're evil! You can use it for good! Believe me, I know so! You can step in and talk to your dad to get him to listen! Taking control with Terror and power never works! You told me you had a dream! A dream where we can all cooperate!"

Baratus listened to Kuma's words as he watched the fight silently. Then he heard Lucas's voice in his head.

"You know he's right. He is fighting for his life and for you. The time is now!" Lucas said as he urges Baratus, supporting Kuma's words.

"It's useless, traitor! He had accepted his fate. Sooner or later, you'll be forced to use this power." Gorosh shouted.

"Wh- what power?" Baratus asked as he finally breaks his own silence.

"Only you know what is the right thing to do! I know it s-!" Kuma was then slapped hard by the Beast's tail, crashing Kuma into the wall. "

Gah!" He shook his head as he saw the Beast charging at him, with no time to move out of the way, Kuma miraculously caught the jaws and grunted as the beast was trying to bite him with Kuma using all his strength to keep it happening. "Gah.... So strong... if only I can just freeze it..."

"Kuma! Dammit, I can't just do nothing. I know he's right!" Baratus grunted as he pushed his Father away, grabbing Kuma's sword from his hand, turning the color to gray like glow for a brief second as he threw it to Kuma. "Kuma! Here's your weapon!"

"Tch...." Kuma grunted as he sees his sword coming to him but he is getting too weak to just use one arm to stop the jaws when he hears a dark but deep voice in his head as if the time slowed down for a brief moment.

"Tch.... Even for a chimera... you're all talk... take my power to prove the Orc wrong..."

The purple mark appeared again on his right arm to the face and this time it's more complete as it shows the head of some kind of reptile.

"Graaaahhhh!!!!!" Kuma shouted as he let out a roar as he pushed the Shatterbeast back with a kick with ease, then he grabbed the sword by the hilt and thrust his sword right in the jaw and the bright blue mix with purple glow bright in the jaw slowly freezing the beast from inside out, shattering it into pieces.

"Hahah! That's what I'm talking about, little guy!" Baratus smiled.

"Huff huff... I did it... but who spoke to me..." Kuma asked as he panted and got on his knees, catching his breath, trying not to collapse as the mark slowly vanished once again. " Damn, it... using this power drains my mentality and stamina much faster than last time."

"What the hell?! He killed my pet! But I was right! He is dangerous! He is that demon vessel from all these years ago! He has the mark to prove it!" Gorosh said as he pointed at Kuma,

"The... vessel?" Baratus asked.

Gorosh jumped down in the hole and faced down at weakened Kuma.

"I'll finish you myself like I should've killed you long ago when I had a chance! I figured as soon as I saw your face! You're a dangerous demon vessel!" Gorosh growled as he took his whip out, pouring his magic on it as it went into flame-like effect. "This time, I won't let you live as you burn to hell!" Gorosh said as he readied the attack.

"Gah... shit... not now...." Kuma said as he struggled to gather his strength to counter.

Gorosh readies the attack and is about to whip Kuma but then he is blasted away by the blue mystical energy against the wall. "Gah! What?!"

"No! I won't let you have this... Not anymore...!" Baratus said as he stood out with his arm extended forward with the blue mythical energy on his arm and to everyone's surprise, a mysterious blue-colored claw-shaped mark was all over his left arm with the mark of the bear around the forehead.

"Baratus..." Kuma weakly said.

"Grrr... what magic is this?! I never taught you this!" Gorosh said as he got out of the wall.

"You want to know something about me now? It is something I learned myself!" Baratus growled as he still emitted blue smoke out of his hand, clenching it.

"Impossible! No matter! Get out of the way, boy! This chimera is dangerous!" Gorosh growled.

"His name is... Kuma!" Gorosh said as he stood between Kuma and his father. "And I won't let you touch him!"

"You dare to face me, boy? He's dangerous! You want to find your mother's killer, right? Well, you're protecting him now! He's the one who killed your mother all these years ago! He is the reason why I can't find her remains! Get out of my way!" Gorosh shouted as he slowly walked to Baratus. "I won't ask again!"

"If he is so dangerous, he could have already destroyed this kingdom, or killed me, and you after! But not all he did was become my first friend! It's not always about violence, murder, or conquering, Father! If you were at least just like King Riyu from the Animal Kingdom, you'd have some sort of sense in your stupid war ambition head you bastard!" Baratus said as he unleashed another energy blast at his father. "And you want to know something! I am the demon vessel as well. And he's very nice!"

Gorosh gasped as he heard the truth. "Then you..."

"And here's the other truth. You're nothing but a good-for-nothing father who changed from that moment you came back home from that day and didn't even grieve or comfort me. You just started controlling me to make me like you. I never got to experience anything outside of this place. I had never been able to meet new people, or locations, study new experiences without getting out and running away before going back! Yes, I may get stronger. But I'll never be like you!" Baratus shouted as he continued to stand in front of Kuma.

"Grrr... You little ungrateful boy! Everything I did was for you and revenge on your Mother!" Baratus said as he uncurled his whip, glowing bright red.

"You don't even care about her anymore. I miss her too... but I doubt she'll approve of your methods! You just want to gain power!" Baratus said as he raised his hand ready for the attack.

"You do not speak ill of her! I'm still your father!" Gorosh growled as he whipped his whip to his son.

"A shitty one indeed!" Baratus said as he caught the whip with his own hands and he stepped his foot down the blue energy tentacles appeared around Baratus as they all charged at Gorosh.

"Such power...." Gorosh said he dodged most of it as he let go of the whip and burned most of the blue tentacles all as they get burned to a crisp with Gorosh's fire magic. "Have you been holding back all these years? You are a fool fighting over a nobody!

"Father you should know better than anyone what can a person do to make things right!" Baratus said as one of the tentacles just grabbed him by the hip and slammed him against the ground then to the wall then back to the ground.

"Gah.... You'll regret this when I get out." Gorosh snarled as he struggled a bit to get back up after all that slamming.

"Doesn't matter... your tyrant is over and it's about time. Guards!" Baratus shouted.

"W-what is it my liege?!" The guards asked as they were still shocked by what just occurred

"Tie him down and get him out of my sight. It's about time that this Clan has better leadership...." Baratus commanded.

The guards look at each other for a moment and back at Baratus.

"Face it they're with me. Not some fake leader who daydreams too much instead of focusing on reality." Gorosh chuckled as he smirked. "They will help me instead."

"Reality? Oh, that's funny. The reality is you're being overpowered by your son right now. Face it. It's over." Baratus chuckled as he turned to the guards.

"Tell me this, aren't you tired of being stepped on and in an act of fear of making such small mistakes, you would perish just because you're not perfect? Well no longer! If you're with me, I assure you I'm nothing like him. Sure he may have been a great King in the past but that time is overdue. Now you have a choice. Are you with me or against me? The choice is yours!" Baratus asked, showing a fearsome but gentle smile as he gave off the speech.

After the speech, the guards bow down onto their knees to Baratus.

"We are with you, sir"

"Good. Now take him away!" Baratus commanded.

"Yes sir!" The guards responded as they took him away. Baratus turned and checked on Kuma. "Little guy, are you ok?" Baratus asked.

"Gah... Baratus..." Kuma struggled to say a word as he collapsed on Baratus's arm, allowing Baratus to catch him.

"Whoa! I got you! Are you ok? Damn, he passed out. I need someone to check on him. He tuckered out..." Baratus said as he commanded some help.

A few hours later, Kuma wakes up with Baratus next to him and Freedo lying on Kuma's chest.

"B-Baratus? Ugh, my head.... oh Freedo you're ok!" Kuma said as he hugged him as he licks him back.

"Oh thank goodness you're awake! Yeah, the poor thing was in the cage but I can tell he is with you so I let him free. You had me spooked there. Are you ok?" Baratus asked.

"Feels like I got hit by a brick... Kuma said as he rubbed his head then he gasped loudly, getting up from the bed. "Wait...What happened?! I didn't kill anyone, did I?"

"Hey hey, it's ok. No, you didn't. Except that Shatterbeast that my father used on you. But everyone else is fine. Calm down." Batatus said as he put his hands on Kuma's shoulder, trying to calm him down.

"Oh, I see... Thank goodness... and your father...?" Kuma said as he lay back on the bed.

"Oh him? We put him in the dungeon below. He won't be ruling here anymore. So I guess I have to step up." Baratus chuckled a bit.

"I see... Listen to whatever you see... It's complicated for me to explain. I recently found out about this mysterious power and I can't control it and I get really tired... and that's why I'm here. To find out more about me and my.... family but it was a dead end for me." Kuma said. "I'm sorry for dragging you in unintentionally...."

"No kidding. You were out hard as the sleeping troll blocking the path. But listen I heard you. I understand what you have. But don't listen to him. He is a guy who always gaslights everyone including me. And no need to apologize to me. You needed answers. I understand that as well." Baratus said.

"Even if he is... I doubt he was faking the truth... when he saw me, I could see his eyes. He was scared of me... and I didn't even know him." Kuma said as the flashback came to his head, thinking about that moment when the sack was removed from his head, and seeing Gorosh's expression.

"There are not many things that scare him that easily but Geezer is just being himself," Baratus said. "It is complicated what happened years ago."

"Is there anything he keeps a record of, like a diary or journal, anything? Something that is not released to the public but to keep himself?" Kuma asked.

"Mmmmm... I suppose it should be in his safe in his room. He never let me touch it or read it." Baratus said as he rubbed his beard.

"Then that's where I start. Can you take me there? I came here to find out what happened in the past and what happened to me... and maybe something for you?" Kuma asked as he got up from the bed. "I'm ok now don't worry."

"Sure. Whatever to help my friends." Baratus said gleefully.

"Thanks Baratus." Kuma said as he smiled.

Baratus and Kuma went to one of Gorosh's master bedrooms and looked around for a few minutes, until they found a secret cabinet behind a picture frame of the Baratus's family as a child, showing a journal in it.

"A journal? This might give me something I need to know about myself..." Kuma said he flipped to the pages and found the page that talked about that day. "There we go," Kuma said as he started to read them out loud with Baratus listening in.

As he began to read, the scene transitioned into a flashback

"Yesterday we had a few kidnapped. Chimeras, orcs, and even trolls were abducted within my domain. While I was holding off enemies, I had my wife and a search team go out to rescue said children, but my decision ended up as regret, as I do not know who's responsible for this. All I saw was the people who were wearing clothing, covering their species and masks with their expressions. The one I tried to face had a mask of anger, I was able to break the mask but the villain was vigilant as he was able to escape. I didn't get his name but it was a Tarantula spider. His fighting style was nothing like I ever experienced. I was fortunate enough to escape. Or our child, Baratus would grow up with no Father and Mother.

No one came out alive... not even one child came back, no one knows who kidnapped the kids! Or what happened, but there was this one kid I saw going on a killing spree in that fortress, I arrived too late seeing him eating my wife whole! Blood was everywhere but no bodies remained to be found... he left no trace. This chimera was forced to be a demon vessel and his eyes showed the terror of a killer! The animals or the Arthropods are responsible for this! They attempted to convert our kids to turn against us to turn the tides of the war! I know it! There is no other explanation!

I attempted to end him myself but couldn't. He is just a child who has a bad fate. So I left him to die on his own. With no remains of my wife, my son, Baratus is only 5 years old and has no mother... I had so many days where I kept thinking I could have done things differently... I just don't understand why He caused this. Even his family was begging us to help them to safely after leaving the underground. Only to kill my wife."

The scene went back to the present as Kuma closed the book.

".... I was that kid... It's my fault..." Kuma said as he closed the book, shaking a bit.

Baratus got a bit startled by what he's read. "Y-you... killed my mom when you were a child? You were the perp my father was mentioning...? That can't be. You just seemed like a cool guy when I met you and..."

"I... I... don't even remember this... it just said I was forced to be a demon vessel and I was lost in rage... I..." Kuma started to cry and stuttered "... I just..."

"This is just.. so much to process right now..." Baratus said as he tried to process what he just learned.

"I didn't find out I had this mysterious power until like a month ago when I used it to save my Father. That's why I came here to find out more about my origin... Baratus... I'm so...." Kuma said he couldn't bring out the words to say sorry." .... You must hate me for making your life miserable so suddenly...." Kuma covered his face as he turned away* ".... I..."

"I...." Baratus paused as he took a look at the state of Kuma looking guilty and realized that being violent towards him wouldn't do any good... and he thought for a moment that... maybe it wasn't his fault completely. "Wait, Kuma!" Baratus exclaimed as he placed his hand on the shoulder. "Calm down..."

"I shouldn't have come here! I thought it would give me the closure that I needed but it's not...." Kuma said as he tried to calm down, feeling guilty about Baratus's life.

"No wait... I know that... to me this is a lot to take in that you... killed my mother and my father was kind of right... but I just feel like... none of this is right... Why would you even wanna kill or eat flesh, to begin with? It must have something to do with your powers and someone has been using it against your will I guess...? It wasn't your fault. I tried to sense your demon. But for the whole time, I couldn't sense it at all. Just only when you use him. Or rather... When you needed him." Baratus said.

"What do you mean? You're like me? That's right... you had a similar mark." Kuma asked as he looked at Baratus with a confused face, wiping his tears.

"Yes... but it was a secret not even my father knew... when I was a child. I had tons of nightmares after losing my mom and being scared of my dad. But then he came to me and gave me pleasant dreams. And stayed with me for my whole life. He can leave anytime but choose to stay... but in your case... it's like something is preventing him from leaving your body... and only comes out when you need him." Baratus explained.

"Grrr... all this demon stuff is so confusing... Why did he come out just now?" Kuma asked.

"It seems he responds to your anger or stressful situations such as that Shatterbeast from earlier when you were pinned by it," Baratus said.

"I see... just another dead end I guess..." Kuma sighed.

Then Baratus hugged Kuma tightly, trying to comfort him even more.

"Listen! We can find out more about it together in other places! This is not where you should stop the journey! This just can't be it." Baratus said

Kuma just suddenly feels like he woke up by Baratus's hug trying to calm him down.

"... I... y-yeah you're right..." Kuma said as he took a breath to calm down. "It is just one piece of the puzzle for me to solve.... but Baratus I'm so sorry! About you know... I don't even remember..."

"It's ok... I know it's heartbreaking but I gotta be strong with my emotions... It's been so long already that I don't know why I should be mad about something I'll never get back... but it'll be alright. You'll find out eventually, whether it's good or bad. Got to start from somewhere." Baratus said

"Yeah... you're right... Thanks, Baratus. You're the first friend I ever had too. Well..." Kuma chuckled as he looked down at Freedo as he nuzzled against Kuma's leg. "Beside Freedo."

"Hahaha, he's sure cute!" Baratus said as he let out a chuckle.

"As much as you're right, the journey is not over yet... I need to process all this first, I should send the letter to my dad and tell him what happened and I'll leave tomorrow. Wait, what about Your kingdom? I mean you're the king now, right?" Kuma shouted as he just realized the situation.

"Hush, little guy. For now, you need to rest up and process it all. You can figure it out tomorrow." Baratus said.

"Ahhhh .. right... you're right. Thanks again." Kuma said.

Chapter 4 ended.