[Unknown POV]
Sitting on a ledge, high atop a mountain, I gazed over the forest my kin have claimed as their home.
I watched as the cubs played under the careful gaze of their parents, the young adults going off on their first big hunt, the elders teaching lessons about monsters and magics, the adventurous ones deciding to travel the world, and so many more things.
This was a calm and safe place for my descendants, the Werewolves, to grow and nurture their pack, even though the current Alpha was a muscle-headed brute who couldn't tell the difference between an average wolf and his better.
"Hm... I wonder how that child is doing." I wondered to myself as I remembered one specific wolf.
"A child of beast and wind. Blessed by beings beyond comprehension, yet so timid he cannot muster any power," I spoke to myself, not intending for anyone to hear me.
"Do you really believe that?" a woman's voice spoke from behind me.
Recognizing it, I calmly turned around and saw her. Tall with pale white skin, eyes shining like the moon, waist-length silvery white hair with a few streaks of black on her left side.
She was wearing a long silver dress with designs mimicking the moon and night sky, and a pendant with a nearly full moon shining within.
"Lady Luna, it is good to see you again," I said as I stood up and bowed.
She smiled and said, "To you as well."
I stood straight and looked her in the eyes. "To what do I owe you this visit?"
Her smile turned sombre. "I spoke with an old friend, and I know someone who can heal your arm."
My eyes went wide as I instinctively reached for my left arm.
Feeling its discomfort, I remembered that day from years ago when I fought the Demon Lord of Assimilation.
During our fight, he managed to scratch me with a cursed blade before he fled.
At first, I didn't notice anything, but as time went on, I noticed my arm getting weaker, and some of my powers were beginning to weaken.
I started to travel, hoping to find out what was happening to me. I travelled to healers and temples, hoping to find someone to tell me what was wrong.
I never tried priests or the religious places, though. The gods never cared for the beastkin, and I never liked them, especially the Sun God.
But as time went on, I only got worse.
Eventually, I had to swallow my pride and get a meeting with the Dwarven God, the only one I was willing to talk to since he was once a Primogenitor too.
It was then that I learned I was cursed.
Some sort of cursed poison was inside my body, likely some sort of effect from the Demon Lord's blade.
He performed a surgery, using his divine power, and removed some sort of ball of flesh that seemed to be releasing the cursed poison into my body.
Almost instantly, I felt my strength return.
I thanked him and returned home, and while it hurt to stay on the sidelines, I couldn't get involved with the current Alpha until my strength fully returned, which was taking a long time.
But then, a few months ago, I realized I was getting weaker, the cursed poison was back, and stronger this time.
The first time, my healing factor slowed it down a lot, but now it couldn't keep up.
That was when I asked for help from someone higher than gods: the Primordial Spirit of the Moon, Luna, the one to bless me with the powers of the wolf.
"You have truly found someone who can help me?" I asked, a slight quiver in my voice.
She nodded. "Yes. There is someone in the Second Academy in the Kingdom of Rumia. He is the disciple of another Primordial, and he should be able to help you."
I nodded, relieved that I could finally get some help, but then I remembered something.
"Wait... you said the Second Academy in Rumia, right?" I asked, just to confirm.
She nodded. "Yes. Where the child you were just talking about is now."
"D-do they know each other or what he is?" I asked, cautiously.
She shook her head. "I wasn't given that information. I was only given the location."
"Do you know their name?" I asked.
She shook her head again. "I was not, but he shouldn't be hard to find. Look for someone radiating spiritual energy."
I nodded and said, "Alright. I will head out now." And I turned to leave.
But before I could turn away, she raised a hand. "I'm sorry, but you will have to wait."
I stopped and turned back to her with an eyebrow raised.
"You should wait for 2 months, then head out like a normal person heading to the Academy Tournament. This will limit suspicious movements and give you a reason to enter school grounds without suspicion."
I paused and thought about that answer, then nodded. "Alright. If you believe that is the best option, then I will wait. Thank you, Lady Luna, for helping me."
She smiled. "Of course. I chose you as the Werewolf Primogenitor for a reason."
I smiled.
*Whoosh*
A gust of wind blew by from the north-west.
I felt something in the air in that moment.
Something so almost impossibly familiar, yet so small, I can't place what it was.
I turned in that direction, curious.
That was when I felt something else in it.
The reawakening of that child's wolf.
"What! How did that happen all of a sudden?" I said, dumbfounded.
I turned to Luna and saw her face also showing confusion, but I knew it wasn't about the wolf.
"The death of a... but... but it's too early for a new one to even be born, so why?" she said, worried.
~
[Kion's POV]
Zareth, sitting at his desk, turned to the window with a look of confusion.
"Something wrong?" I asked, looking up from a report he had asked me to look at.
"I'm... not sure... I just felt some strange power from the Academy," he said.
I raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you think it could be Jack?"
He shook his head. "I don't think so. Spirit magic is like aura, unique to each user, and I know Jack's spirit magic, and that was different."
"The labyrinth then?" I asked.
"Possibly... their combat class is happening right now. Maybe their teacher used a Domain or some magic item," he said.
My eyes went wide. "You can sense Domains? I thought that was impossible?"
He shook his head. "For a normal person, it's impossible. However, my specialty is isolating beings in pocket dimensions. Domains and pocket dimensions follow similar concepts, so I can, to a certain extent. Jack can probably as well, but I'm not sure.
Though I should also point out that it's not perfect, and at this distance, I can't tell if it was one or just some spell."
I nodded. "I see. Didn't think there was anyone at the academy capable of using domains... maybe a minor domain but still..."
i shook my head and got back on track. "Well, back to this report, I think you should put out a scouting quest. It seems likely there is a large goblin camp in the forest." I said and handed the report back to him.
He nodded and took the report. "Thought so, just wanted a second opinion."
I nodded. "Of course. Now, is there anything else you need right now?"
He shook his head. "Not at the moment."
"Ok then. I saw some rookies practicing in the training area. If you don't mind, I will go and train them a bit." I said, picking up one of the straw dolls.
Zareth nodded and said, "I appreciate it. But please keep your rank a secret. If Rook gets word you are here, he might panic and do something."
I waved him off. "I came here for him originally, remember? I know how to lie low. Besides, I have an alias and a fake B-rank card – with approval from the Main Guild – that I was planning on using regardless."
He nodded with a smile, and I left, heading down the stairs to the training area.
~
[Zareth's POV]
After Kion left, I looked out the window again, wondering what I felt.
It was vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place it.
I shrugged and got back to the paperwork in front of me.
*Brooom*
I heard a noise, barely noticeable, coming from the Academy again.
I looked out the window and saw a bright glow from where the arena should be.
'Odd... probably someone using light magic,' I thought and got back to work while taking a glance at the straw doll.
'If Jack needed us, he would have burned them by now,' I reassured myself despite the odd sensation in my stomach.