Rufus backstory

Rufus, a small beast, came into the world during the golden age of the kingdom alongside his three siblings.
However, his early life was far from pleasant, as he was the sole survivor of a litter of four. The reasons for his siblings' deaths remain unknown, though it is likely due to the weak vitality that characterized their mother.

His parents, Clunky Brutus and Williams Willow, raised him in a modest dwelling in the rural area of the kingdom. Financial fortune did not accompany his family; his father, a lumberjack of robust build, shared the same beastly mix as Rufus, and with his titan-like strength, he would cut down trees as if they were mere twigs.

Considered one of the best workers in the forestry sector, William instilled in Rufus the importance of effort and tenacity. His mother, on the other hand, with the delicate appearance of a white lynx, constantly battled her poor health, keeping the house in order with tireless dedication.

While his mother taught Rufus the value of respect and kindness toward all beings, his father longed for him to follow in his footsteps, wishing he would inherit his strength and position. Rufus, however, felt more drawn to his mother's peaceful outlook, finding in her a guide to live in harmony with the world around him.

This discrepancy in values did not go unnoticed by William, who saw his son as a threat to his legacy. In his desire to mold Rufus according to his expectations, he became increasingly severe—both in words and actions. His mother stood as a protective bastion against his father's tyranny, preventing the situation from worsening even more.

Despite the challenges, Rufus found solace in his mother’s unconditional love and her serene philosophy of life. However, his father's rejection and cruelty left deep scars on his heart.

The rejection issues weren't limited to the family sphere; at school, Rufus faced the harmful influence of a new student named Kerbero. This boy, a shameless troublemaker, delighted in sowing chaos without regard for consequences. With cunning and determination, Kerbero dragged others into problematic behavior.

Rufus grew uncomfortable with the transformation of his friends under Kerbero's influence. His kindness and gentleness clashed with the newcomer’s ruthless attitude, and he was gradually excluded from the group. As he drifted away, the teasing and bullying began.

The harassment episodes became frequent. Rufus became their target, forced to defend himself in brutal games of shoving and beating. His refusal to retaliate only escalated the violence, leaving him battered and vulnerable. Once satisfied with their cruelty, the aggressors would walk away, mocking his lack of bravery and masculinity.

Rufus’ mother suffered greatly seeing her son in such a state and sought justice to stop the culprits. However, Rufus resisted taking action, fearing repercussions that could affect his former friends. He preferred to justify the abuse as simple accidents, refusing to point fingers at the guilty.

Tragedy struck the family hard when his mother succumbed to an illness that left her in a coma for days before her inevitable passing.

The funeral was held at the local cemetery, attended by the few relatives his mother had.

The event plunged Rufus into deep sorrow and loneliness. Losing his mother was a devastating blow, but what impacted him most was witnessing his father’s slow decline. Though sometimes harsh and violent, his father had always held a deep respect for his wife. To him, she was like a queen, and her well-being had always been his highest priority.

Her departure left an insurmountable void in William’s life, immersing him in a sea of despair and melancholy that gradually eroded every aspect of his being.

His health began to fail, and to make matters worse, he soon lost his job—his only source of income. These events only added more weight to a life already burdened with worries and sorrow.

As the years passed, Rufus reached the age of 16, facing the challenge of choosing his own path in life. He longed to find a vocation he felt passionate about, something that would allow him to make a difference in the world and offer relief to those in need. He dreamed of studying something that would help others, providing a renewed perspective on life’s hardships.

However, his father’s expectations clashed with his dreams. William insisted Rufus pursue a more traditional path, one that would capitalize on his physical strength and emulate his legacy. He dismissed Rufus’ aspirations, arguing that such careers would be too difficult for someone like him.

Despite the paternal pressure, Rufus did not openly oppose him. He understood the lingering pain that haunted his father since his mother’s death. His deepest desire was to ease his father’s suffering, even if it meant sacrificing his own dreams. Deep down, Rufus hoped that by following the path his father wanted, he could bring a little comfort to a broken heart—perhaps carrying on the legacy of love and sacrifice his mother would have wanted.

After many years of study and trying different paths, Rufus found work as a bricklayer, dedicating himself to physical labor with the hope that his father would find some joy in his efforts. However, reality was disheartening; his father’s demeanor barely showed any signs of improvement, having completely lost motivation after being unemployed for so long.

Rufus felt lost. Although he worked hard, he found no satisfaction in his job and couldn't manage to cheer his father up. Overwhelmed by despair, he spent his days laboring to distract himself from his own problems, and his evenings reflecting on his life while watching the sunset over the kingdom's beautiful horizon.

It was during one of those contemplative sunsets that Rufus felt someone watching him. It was a young woman he remembered from childhood, a girl whose gaze always seemed filled with sadness and emptiness. Although he had seen her in his youth, he never saw her attending his school or any nearby ones, which always struck him as odd.

To Rufus' surprise, the mysterious girl turned out to be the newly appointed queen, watching him from below as they both admired the sunset. With a kind smile, she greeted him, and Rufus, surprised by her sudden appearance, nervously returned the greeting.

Over time, this situation repeated until one day the queen struck up a conversation, asking him why he always looked so sad and lonely. At first, Rufus hesitated to share his concerns, feeling he shouldn’t burden someone of such high status with his mundane problems. However, the queen's insistence eventually led him to open up and share many of the difficulties he had recently faced, as well as the source of his sadness.

The queen listened attentively to his story and offered him a change. She provided him with a position in the Solar Guard, a highly coveted post due to its proximity to the royal court and generous pay. Rufus was astonished by the offer, as the Solar Guard was mostly composed of fulgorized humans, and it was rare to see other species among their ranks.

Despite his doubts and the feeling that he might not deserve such a position, the queen insisted he accept. While it wasn’t exactly what he was looking for, Rufus realized that serving in the Solar Guard would give him the chance to patrol the kingdom, looking for people in need of help—allowing him to do what he cared about most: helping others.
Eventually, Rufus accepted the offer, and the queen bid him farewell, promising to send him more details in a letter.

Rufus returned home and announced to his father that he had quit his job. The news was not well received. His father didn’t believe Rufus’ story about the queen’s offer to join the Solar Guard. With disdain, he retired to rest, making it clear that if Rufus didn’t want to work, he’d have to find a way to survive on his own—without his help.

Though somewhat disheartened by his father's reaction, Rufus clung to the truth of what had happened, trusting that the letter with the details of the post would arrive soon.

A few days later, the letter arrived—a white, elegant envelope containing all the details about his role in the Solar Guard. When his father finally saw it, he couldn’t believe it.

At 23, Rufus had achieved something extraordinary. After nearly a decade of disappointment and despair, his father finally showed a smile of joy on his face. With tears in his eyes and a lump in his throat, he wrapped Rufus in a proud, emotional embrace.

A few weeks later, Rufus officially joined the Solar Guard, donning a custom-made uniform and equipped with the tools needed to begin his new life.
During his service, Rufus had numerous opportunities to help those in need. Occasionally, the queen herself would appear to check on his progress. Always grateful for the chance to be something more—to fulfill his purpose—Rufus greeted her each time with deep appreciation.

The queen, pleased to see him so happy and dedicated, began visiting him during her free time. Over time, their relationship grew into a close friendship.
This did not go unnoticed by the citizens and the press, who began to speculate about the nature of their bond.

To quell the rumors and allow them to continue their friendship without trouble, the queen came up with an idea: Rufus would be secretly promoted to royal advisor, allowing him to be at the palace whenever he wanted without raising suspicion. Rufus accepted the idea enthusiastically, though he chose to continue serving as a Solar Guard, holding onto his vocation to help others.

Meanwhile, Rufus’ father was receiving treatment and slowly began to recover his health, finding a glimmer of hope for the first time since his wife’s passing.
With time, Rufus and Rebecca—the queen—deepened their connection without even realizing it. They began to spend more time together, discovering a bond that went beyond friendship.

Their closeness became so strong that they shared their most intimate secrets. Rufus knew the queen’s deepest insecurities—a woman many considered perfect, an example of absolute kindness and boundless altruism.
But what few knew was that she herself doubted her role as queen.

Despite being seen as a symbol of power and leadership, she harbored doubts about her ability to perform her duties well. She feared her rise to the throne had been more a stroke of luck than a rightful choice and was constantly tormented by the fear of making a wrong decision that could doom the kingdom.

As a fulgorized human from birth, she had never dreamed of becoming queen. She felt like a lottery ticket for her family. Despite her innate power, ascending to the throne had been overwhelming—especially at such a young age. This insecurity persisted, even as she desperately tried to fulfill her role as the kingdom’s leader.

Yet Rufus, carefree and ever-comforting, was always there to reassure her. He constantly reminded her of her natural ability to lead, pointing out her tireless efforts for the citizens and her dedication to her work. Though she tried to believe his words, she couldn’t help but feel nervous about what the future held.

Not knowing what fate had in store for them, the queen did her best to trust her companion’s words.

Many months after joining the Solar Guard, Rufus, now 24 years old, witnessed a beautiful astronomical event that caught his attention.
A white sphere began approaching the planet, eventually revealing itself to be a white moon. Despite initial concern, further investigation revealed that its acceleration did not follow the laws of gravity; in fact, it appeared to be regulating itself.

As weeks passed, a massive moon formed in the night sky, illuminating the darkness with a bluish hue much brighter than the nights before. The kingdom was captivated by this wonderful phenomenon, wondering what could have brought such a thing into their world.
Rufus enjoyed the peaceful nights beneath the moonlight with his companion. Thanks to this mysterious celestial object, they could now watch two sunrises together and share even more beautiful moments.

However, the peaceful moments under the light of the new white moon did not last long. Soon, without warning, the moon began to emit a slightly different hue—an orange tint, subtle but noticeable when looked at directly. Yet this color change wasn’t the only new development that night.

Citizens began to experience nausea and paranoia, especially those exposed to the moonlight. Concerned about these unexpected effects, investigations began throughout the kingdom to understand what was truly happening.
As the weeks went by, the moon gradually turned more reddish, casting a tense and ominous glow across the nights. A curfew was enforced, urging citizens to stay inside before moonrise to avoid any harmful effects the celestial body might cause.

Meanwhile, Rufus stayed close to the queen, trying to comfort her as they searched for a solution to the crisis. However, the queen confessed to Rufus that she was terrified, as she had never faced anything like this before. She revealed that she was working on a plan to handle the situation and asked Rufus to take care of his father during these days, as it had been discovered that beastfolk were more susceptible to the moon's influence.

Though Rufus accepted the request, he felt disheartened—he couldn’t be of help to the queen as he had hoped, and it seemed as though she didn’t even want him near.

While caring for his father at home, Rufus watched the moon glow an intense crimson, stirring within him a deep sense of terror he couldn’t ignore.

Two weeks after the moon’s arrival, something happened on the 13th night...

Rufus awoke suddenly, startled, looking around for any sign of what had disturbed his sleep. His senses sharpened as he heard something terrible and horrifying: screams echoing from the streets.

Without hesitation, Rufus ran to his father’s room—but found the window open and no sign of him. Panic gripped him, and instinct drove him to leap out the window and dash through the streets, frantically searching. But what he witnessed left him frozen in place.

The blood moon dominated the night sky, illuminating a scene of chaos and horror.
Rufus watched in disbelief as the townspeople attacked their neighbors, overcome by uncontrollable violence.

Desperate, he intervened to stop the brutality. With determination, he lunged at one of the attackers to stop them by any means, but was overpowered in the struggle.
To protect the person being assaulted, he began to punch the aggressor. He tried to knock them out, but failing to do so, he kept hitting—again and again.
By the time he realized what he was doing, the attacker had long fallen motionless...

With bloodied hands and a heart filled with anguish, Rufus wondered how such horror could be happening. In a moment of clarity, he remembered the queen—Rebecca—and rushed toward the palace, seeking answers.

How could this be happening?
Where is my father?

As he moved through the palace halls, now filled with chaos, Rufus questioned the queen’s actions and her ability to handle the crisis. His thoughts filled with doubt and resentment—why had she sent him away?

Rebecca said she had a plan, right?
She’s the queen—surely she knows what to do!
It’s been days since the investigation began… they must have something!

When he reached the conference room and found it empty, his frustration deepened. He searched for Rebecca in her personal chambers.

She promised me everything would be okay, didn’t she?
But… her face… she was scared… she didn’t know what to do...
But she’s the queen. How could she not know?

With every step, Rufus was overwhelmed by disillusionment and anger.

“She told me she was afraid… that she feared making mistakes. I’ve always trusted her—but she doesn’t seem like a queen at all.
Shouldn’t a queen be confident? Why always so many doubts?”

...

He kept running through the corridors, his thoughts spiraling.

“And what did she mean by telling me to stay with my father? Doesn’t she trust me at all?
Has she NEVER trusted me!?”

Finally, he reached the door.

“Then why did she give me this position? Was it because of how I look? Was it out of pity?”

With a loud crash, he kicked open the door, shaking the wall with the impact.

“Why isn’t she doing anything? Does she not care what’s happening…?”

With each step toward her, countless thoughts raced through Rufus’ mind. Then, she turned her head and met his gaze—but she was no longer the serene and kind figure he once knew. Now, she radiated an aggressive aura, ready for anything.

Rage flooded Rufus.
He was convinced it was all her fault. After all, she was the leader, wasn’t she?
She should have fixed everything!

Without thinking twice, he lunged at her in a fury and bit her savagely—tearing most of her neck apart instantly.

He dug his claws into her back, and the queen’s blood spilled across the pale floor.
“This is her fault… She killed all these people. She destroyed the kingdom!”

I TRUSTED HER!
WE ALL DID!

The queen, barely holding on, reached out to Rufus’ broad back and gave him one final embrace, wishing she could have done more for him...
She wished it with all her heart—but it was already too late. Maybe… it really was all her fault… after all...

The queen lay lifeless in his arms.

Suddenly, the effects of the blood moon eased for a brief moment, and a rush of adrenaline struck Rufus' heart as he looked down at his hands and mouth—covered in blood and entrails.
Then, he understood everything.

“What have I done?”
“No... NO…”

He shook her body frantically as tears began to fall into the pool of blood around him.

“No... please, no…”

Horrifying images flashed through his mind… His neighbor—he, too, had died by his hands...

“How could I do this?” he repeated over and over in his mind.
“I’m a monster…”

Tears blinded his eyes, keeping him from seeing the horrific scene in front of him.
Overcome with rage and self-loathing, he pulled at his ears and let out a guttural scream—his mind unraveling under the red moon’s madness.
His body trembled as he tried to resist the pain...

Eventually, he collapsed.

Moments later, a massive explosion detonated in the lower part of the castle, setting off a chain reaction that brought down the palace, reaching the very room he was in.
But by then, Rufus could hear nothing, see nothing, smell nothing.
He had entered a deep, deep sleep—one from which he could not, or would not, wake.
A dream where he wouldn't have to face the future.

Death.

But that wasn’t the end...

After several days of unconsciousness, he finally awoke.
He looked around but didn’t recognize the place. A lifeless figure lay right in front of him. Though he felt an overwhelming hunger, something told him it would be better to find another source of food.

He walked through the ruined streets of the kingdom, scanning his surroundings. There was no sign of life. Many parts of the ground were cracked, and the landscape had been completely disfigured—showing the devastating aftermath of the kingdom’s collapse.
Rufus wandered into the forest in search of food and water. He thought of nothing else—he could no longer remember anything else.

Around five years passed after the tragedy when he joined a group led by Naomi, a fulgorized human who rescued him from his aimless wandering and asked for his help in defeating an unknown enemy.

Although he didn’t fully understand who he was or what he wanted, he chose to help her.

After intense preparation before the final battle against the enemy they had long sought, Rufus was left incapacitated during a fierce confrontation. His team had no choice but to leave him behind while they faced the long-awaited enemy.
But they never returned.

Once again, Rufus found himself alone.

Following that event, the few remaining powerful beings who had survived the catastrophe cast a spell around the devastated lands of the kingdom, repelling any monsters from the area and drastically reducing surface activity.

Over the years, Rufus learned to survive, and he became known simply as “The Beast.” Despite not being a blood monster, he hadn’t aged since the tragedy, and many generations caught glimpses of his figure—even challenging him.

Nearly a century and a half after the tragedy, he lost his arm during a battle outside the barrier of the kingdom against a blood monster. After losing consciousness, he fell into a pit of shadows, where a sentient shadow fragment fused with his severed limb, rebuilding it into a new arm.

This fusion granted him physical enhancements, but no mental ones.

Shortly after falling, he managed to rise from the accumulated shadow in the pit.

Then, another century and a half passed, during which he found no purpose or direction—until he encountered a bird-winged woman.
She turned out to be Relesis, who was fulfilling a mission from the Owl Grandfather, rescuing “The Beast” from his aimless drift.

A few years later, he returned once more to the ancient lands of the kingdom—now known as Farvintar. Though he didn’t immediately feel a connection, he vaguely remembered having once been there.

Thus began the journey that would lead him to his final destiny and the discovery of his true origin.
The destroyed kingdom was where both his past and future awaited him.