[Ark's POV] -back 1 minute-
'Do you wish to remain like that?' A thought popped into my head, but it wasn't mine.
'W-what?'
'Do you wish to remain weak and useless? Do you wish to remain a coward for the rest of our days?' Another uncontrolled thought came to mind again.
'W-what... What is this?' I thought.
'Do you not remember me?' The thought asked, and I got a sense of sadness and loneliness.
'R-Remember... You?' I 'asked' it.
I couldn't understand why, but I felt disappointed that I didn't remember, then confused as to why I felt disappointed.
'To forget oneself is to abandon everything they are. If you do not remember me, then I will remind you.' It replied.
Suddenly, memories I had forgotten about from years ago appeared in my mind.
The first was when I was little, maybe around when I was 3. I was in my wolf form, still looking like a puppy, running through the woods. The wind flowed through my fur as I felt a sense of joy and freedom, getting to explore my home.
I remembered this. It was before my father started treating me badly. He let my siblings and me out to explore the forest to explore and play while he had some time with our moms [1]. It was the first time I got to run on my own and one of the last good memories I had of freedom.
The memory ended, and it changed to a few months later, with me in my wolf form again, curled up and resting against a large wolf with black and grey fur. We lay together on top of a stone ledge on a mountain as we gazed at this beautiful sky of shooting stars.
'Grandpa...' I thought, remembering the day. Grandpa had left for a trip a few months prior, and this was the day he came back and learned that my father was beating me, something that started just after he left.
Learning what happened, he took me with him for a few days and brought me up a mountain, and we watched the stars shoot across the sky.
When I asked about them, he said it marked the end of a great evil, ended by a party of heroes who saved the people of our world. Seeing my amazed expression, he said heroes fought against evil beings to save others from suffering and protect people.
I asked if a hero would come to save me from my father.
He paused, conflicted and hurt.
He said he didn't know, but just because a hero wasn't there didn't mean someone couldn't save me; all I had to do was ask.
He apologized to me about not being there sooner and said he would try and stop it, but with my father being the current alpha, he wasn't able to do much, and with his other responsibilities, he...
He didn't finish, but even though I was young, I knew he truly cared, but wasn't sure how to help.
This was the first of many times I stayed with him after the abuse started, always thinking of it as my safe space.
The memory shifted again to me in my beastman form, around the age of 8, running from a wild boar in the forest.
I remembered this. I had tried to run away but got lost and ended up getting chased.
I jumped behind a tree and changed to my wolf form, and waited.
As the boar ran past the tree, I jumped onto its back and bit down on its neck.
We struggled a bit, but I managed to kill it.
But then my father appeared.
In his beastman form, looking down at me with anger, contempt, and disappointment.
I tried to run again, but he grabbed me by the scruff and brought me back to the village.
Many more memories flashed through my mind — me in the forest, me playing with Grandpa, me learning how to hunt — all memories where I was in my wolf form.
*Crack*
Memories kept coming back to me, bit by bit.
Until they stopped.
When I turned 12, the memories of my wolf just stopped.
Not that they decreased, like I transformed less and less.
They just stopped.
I had no more memories of transforming outside of the full moon, and even then, they were sparse.
'What... How did I forget all this?' I wondered, scared to learn the answer.
'Something happened that put me to sleep, and most memories you have of me were forgotten.' It replied.
'...Who... Are you?' I asked.
'I am you, and you are me. We are a werewolf, a combination of man and beast, in body, mind, and soul.'
Another set of memories was pushed to the front of my mind.
One from a few days ago of Jack asking if there is another personality that takes over when I transform.
Another from a few weeks ago, where I met some bandits while on my way to the academy. I fought one off, but don't remember actually fighting; my body just acted on its own.
Finally, one from when I was still a pup, being taught by Grandpa about our people.
He said that we have 2 sides to us. One man, the other our wolf. They are a part of us and our souls. When we fight, they fight with us. When we hunt, they hunt with us. When we meet our mate, they ensure we know who they are.
The memory ended, and I finally realized who these thoughts and emotions belonged to.
They were mine — or rather, the thoughts and emotions of my wolf.
'You're my wolf,' I thought, finally remembering, and a part of the loneliness I had felt for years faded just a little more.
I felt joy as my tail started wagging, as my wolf replied, 'Yes.'
'...Why did you only speak now and... How did you get put to sleep in the first place?' I asked.
'I don't know how I was put to sleep, but I do know why I woke up. It was because of him.' My wolf replied, as another memory came to mind.
This one I already remembered clearly. It was when I confessed to Jack that I had a crush on him, and he kissed me.
'I was always there watching but unable to act, almost like I was dreaming. Once you left the village, I started waking up.
I started fighting alongside you and guiding your magic, letting you grow into the hunter you should always have been.
But I was too weak. I was stuck in limbo, unable to act freely but still able to guide you. I had to conserve my energy for when you were in need.
I was not sure why I started waking up at first, but after you met Jack, I realized why.' It said.
'Why?' I asked, already knowing the answer.
'He is our mate. I started waking up so we could meet him. He is someone many people share a future with — as friends, students, allies, enemies, and so many more. He will change the fate of many worlds,' he told me in complete reverence and pride.
My eyes widened, and I asked, surprised, 'H-how do you know that?'
'That he is our mate?' He asked.
'N-no... Well, yes, but I meant about what he will do. He never told me something like that.'
I felt a sense of smugness as he replied, 'A few months ago, while I was still asleep, I was met by 4 beings. A Traveller [2], our first ancestor, the one who blessed him, and the one who blessed Jack.'
My eyes widened hearing that. 'Y-you met the first alpha?'
'I am not entirely sure, but there was no one else it could have been.' He said.
'H-how did you know?' I asked.
'You are the side that talks to people, the one to care and learn and grow. I am the side ruled by instincts, and those instincts told me he was the first true alpha.'
'You... are controlled by them?' I asked, a little worried.
Understanding my worry, he said, 'I am not controlled by them. I can ignore them if I wish, but that doesn't mean I don't know what they tell me.
Our instincts remained active, even while I was asleep, but without me to filter them, you were faced with them head-on, and since you couldn't remember what they meant, you became overwhelmed.
Your emotions when you first met Jack are a prime example.'
I looked down at my hands and remembered that moment when we first talked — how my heart beat so fast, and I couldn't think straight.
I was told things like that happened when you fall in love a long time ago, but that was way more intense than they described.
I thought about the past week. 'Normally, I would cower in fear or run when facing a monster or some powerful enemy. But after Jack kissed me, I started feeling more confident, I stopped feeling scared, and now I am helping him fight against a god.'
Then the conversation I had with Jack earlier came to mind, and shame hit me hard.
'I told him I was scared to continue trying to help Aaron. I wanted to help, but I couldn't find the words. Am I truly a coward?'
'...No. You are not a coward.'
'But I told him I was useless and scared! I said I didn't want to help anymore, even though I didn't want to stay behind! If I'm not a coward, then what am I?!' I shouted at him, angry, scared, confused, and sad.
There were many responses I was expecting, but what he said made my mind go blank.
'You are brave.'
'...W-what?'
'You are brave.'
'...H-how can I be brave? I'm scared all the time and completely useless in a fight. I'm sitting back here in the background as my friends fight!'
'But you haven't run away, have you?' He asked.
I paused, confused 'W-what?'
"Do you think everyone participating in this battle is fearless? Do you believe your friends have no fear? Do you think Jack has no fear?' He asked.
I paused before replying, 'Yes. they're brave, not scared.'
I felt his disappointment in that moment.
'You're wrong. They are all terrified.' He replied.
'W-what?' I said, shocked, as I looked at everyone's faces, and I finally noticed it.
Everyone looked scared.
I stared in shock when he asked, 'What do you think bravery is?'
'Not being scared...' I replied meekly, not really sure if that is the right answer anymore.
'No. I am sure Jack would say the same as I. Having no fear is absolute stupidity. Bravery is pushing on despite your fear.'
...
'H-how do you know all this?' I asked.
'The ones who visited me while I was asleep each gave me something. A message from the Traveller to our mate. From the first alpha, an expanded mind much greater than other wolves [3]. From his patron, the ability to use magic. And Jack's patron, the wisdom I now share with you.
I don't know how or why, but they all knew you would need a guide one day and made sure you had one. Of course, from what I know, we weren't supposed to meet Jack, but who could expect someone like him?'
I smiled with a slight blush at that.
He wasn't wrong.
'What now?' I asked.
'That is your choice. Your friend, Orin, is awake enough to stand, but he might need help walking. However, Jack is doing something, and he might need some help.'
I was confused when I turned to Jack and noticed many of the students had started running back while Jack stood still as a massive 7-layered magic circle was in front of him.
It was beyond anything I had ever seen.
'What kind of magic is he using?' I asked, amazed.
'Fusion magic. He is combining different attributed mana and giving the spell different properties. However, it shouldn't be possible to combine more than 3 elements at once, but the envoy of knowledge doesn't really follow the rules.' My wolf replied.
I continued to watch as mana from the crystal floating in front of him started pouring out and into the circle.
But that was when I noticed the troll, with only one arm left, grab a chunk of ice and throw it at Jack.
I watched wide-eyed as Jack did nothing to dodge and only noticed it after it was halfway to him.
His face paled, but he couldn't do anything.
'No!'
"Jack!" I shouted, panicked.
'Move.' My wolf said, calm and commanding.
Not questioning it, I moved, guided by my wolf.
I moved so fast I didn't even think. Wind magic surrounded me as I ran forward, and despite being over 200 meters away, I reached Jack and the ice chunk in less than a second.
Not wasting time, we concentrated mana around my hand as I threw a punch.
[Air Striker: Super-Sonic Punch.] [4]
*Crack*
*BBOOOOMMMM*
The ice chunk exploded, shattering into pieces and shooting into the wall.
-
[1]: Never said before, but Ark's father has multiple wives. Ark and his siblings don't know who their birth mothers are and never really asked, as they were raised like it were normal. They just call all of them 'mom' or by their first name to differentiate.
It is kind of normal on Primus since human nobles tend to have multiple spouses too, and their children do know which is their birth mother. And since Ark's father is the alpha of their pack, he is technically a noble.
His mothers do know he was being abused, but never got involved.
[2]: The word traveller, in context with that other being, does not have the same meaning as it does in English.
No, I will not share what it actually means. That is for later in the book, probably around the 8th arc, not sure yet.
[3]: A normal werewolf's wolf is not as sentient as Ark's. It would be more accurate to say they were like a normal wolf inside a werewolf's body. They are similar to us keeping dogs as pets, a companion and friend that will always be with them.
They can convey emotions and instincts to the humanoid side or assist in a fight, but arent able to talk or directly take over the body, just be a presence and aid.
They are also part of the mind that processes the heightened senses and controls instincts, like how Ark's wolf described. If there weren't a wolf, they might get overwhelmed. Ark was subcutaneously suppressing some of his abilities while his wolf was asleep because it was too much.
The First Alpha gave Ark's wolf the sentience it currently has, to the point it could be considered a separate being/second personality, yet still a part of Ark. the reason for this isnt fully known yet.
[4]: No, that name was not based on anything; it just felt right.
Also, yes, I know the speed of sound is 343m/s. Ark moved 200 meters in about 0.583 seconds, so just over the speed of sound at 343.05m/s.
I do acknowledge that I might be a little off and that, yes, other factors affect the speed of sound, like temperature and humidity, but I am not worrying about that. This is a book that takes place in a fantasy world.