Joshua awoke with the early rays of dawn seeping through the windowpanes. Stretching his sore limbs, he sat up, rubbed his eyes, and rolled his shoulders with a long sigh. The nightmares had faded, but a heavy weight still clung to his chest. Quietly, he changed into fresh clothes, made his bed with practiced efficiency, strapped his sword across his back, and stepped into the hallway with a clear goal, training.
The castle's corridors were hushed in the morning stillness. As he passed through one stretch, he spotted Tiffany coming the other way. Her eyes darted down toward the floor the moment she noticed him. Joshua didn't stop, nor did he speak. But as he passed her, he caught sight of something that made him falter, a dark, unmistakable bruise wrapped around her neck.
His jaw clenched.
(Yeah… that was super awkward. But why didn't she heal her neck? She's a witch, isn't she? I'll ask Merlin about it.)
He pivoted on his heel and made his way toward Merlin's room.
He knocked once.
The door creaked open. Merlin stood in a loose robe, brushing her purple hair to one side. "Hey, little bro. You look better. Did you and Blanchette work out your problems?"
Joshua nodded. "Yeah. We're good now. But… I wanted to ask you something. Yesterday, when I lost control, I hurt Tiffany's neck. But she still hasn't healed it. Why not?"
Merlin's easygoing expression hardened. "Hurt her neck how?"
"I, uh… went into my awakened state. Julia triggered me. I kind of… attacked everyone I saw."
Merlin crossed her arms. "Joshua, you have to get that power under control. You could've killed someone."
"I know. I was planning to talk to Captain Percival about helping me control it."
"Good idea." She exhaled. "But to answer your question, most witches can't heal their own wounds. They can only heal others."
"But you can heal yourself," Joshua pointed out.
Merlin smirked. "Yeah, I can. Maybe it's because I'm a Mutated Awakened. I never really thought about it."
"Can you go heal Tiffany for me?" he asked with puffed cheeks, playfully.
Merlin sighed dramatically. "Fine. I'll go clean up your mess. As usual."
"Thanks, big sis! I gotta go train!" Joshua called, already jogging away down the hall.
At the training grounds, Captain Percival was already waiting, arms folded, his massive greatsword slung over one shoulder.
"Morning, Captain!" Joshua beamed. "I wanted to ask if you could help me control..."
"No need," Percival interrupted. "Blanchette already told me. Draw your sword."
Joshua blinked. (Aww, it's like she read my mind.) He unsheathed his weapon and assumed his stance.
Captain Percival drew his own colossal sword with one hand. "Now go into your awakened state."
Joshua flexed, grunted… but nothing happened. "I don't think I can."
Percival narrowed his eyes. (Blanchette said it's triggered by emotional trauma… like Amy.)
He tried carefully. "Joshua, Amy was a bad maid."
Joshua tilted his head, confused. "Huh? What's that got to do with anything?"
Percival went for the gut. (Forgive me for this, Joshua.)
"You were weak. That's why she died. If you'd been stronger, smarter, she'd still be alive."
Joshua's face darkened. His breath hitched.
"And really, who cares? Livestock are born to be eaten. She was livestock, died the way she was meant to."
Joshua dropped his sword with a gasp. Clutching his head, he fell to all fours. His eyes glowed an eerie green. His canines lengthened. His ears and tail twitched into form. Saliva dripped from his snarling mouth.
"YOU BASTARD, SHUT YOUR MOUTH ABOUT AMY!"
He launched at Percival like a beast unleashed. Percival met him with a swift knee to the gut, followed by a hilt smash to the head, dropping him flat.
"You won't win fighting like an animal," Percival said calmly. "You're easy to read."
"THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY!" Joshua growled, leaping again with a claw swipe.
Percival countered with a front kick to the face, sending him skidding across the dirt.
"Stay in that form, without losing control. Pick up your sword."
Meanwhile, back in the hallway, Merlin caught sight of Tiffany.
"Hi, Tiffany. You okay?"
"I'm… okay," Tiffany said quietly, eyes lowered.
"Joshua asked me to heal your neck."
Tiffany's eyes lit up. "He did?"
Merlin blinked, surprised. "Yeah…"
She gently placed her hands on Tiffany's neck. A soft glow pulsed. The bruising faded.
"All done."
"Thanks, sis." Tiffany turned to walk away but bumped into Jonathan, whose face was wrapped in thick bandages.
"Tiffany," he said sternly, "you need to leave Joshua alone. He doesn't love you. Stop forcing yourself into a fantasy."
Tiffany's shoulders sank. "…I know. I'll stop flirting with him. But I still want to be by his side."
Jonathan nodded. (That's good enough… for now.)
They parted ways.
Far away, in the Werewolf Kingdom…
Sam stood on a balcony, toes at the edge, eyes hollow. She leaned forward...
"Sam!" Jack's hand shot out and pulled her back.
She stumbled, heart racing, and shrank into a corner.
"Don't touch me," she whispered, curling into herself.
"Sam… it's me," Jack said gently. (She fears all men now… because of what Siegfried did to her.)
"I can't take it anymore," she sobbed. "Just let me die, Jack. Why won't you let me?"
"Because I love you."
Sam's eyes widened.
Jack sat beside her. "Siegfried's away. It's our chance. I've been planning this. I have a house ready in the slums. Let's escape."
Sam trembled. "Really…?"
They moved like shadows through the noble house, avoiding guards. At the back exit, a figure stepped into the corridor, Catherine.
Jack's blood ran cold. "Catherine…"
But she stepped forward and embraced him tightly. "Please… don't get caught."
Jack's eyes welled. "Thank you. For everything."
They parted, and Jack and Sam fled into the night.
Back at the training ground, Joshua lay in the dirt once again, his face bruised and bloodied.
Captain Percival sighed. "How many more times before you listen? Pick up your sword… or I'll beat you to death."
Joshua gasped for breath. (Control our anger… without losing the form… control it.)
He reached for his sword.
"Okay, Captain… let's do this."
His eyes glowed bright green. Fangs gleamed. Blood poured down his chin but he stood steady, sword ready.
Percival grinned. "That's more like it. Now… I can start fighting seriously."
They clashed under the evening sun, sparks flying, steel against fang, fury against discipline. The beast within was no longer in control. Joshua was beginning to take back the reins.