Episode : Children Return
A sound began to swell from the forest, a sound that was not the rustle of leaves nor the call of some common beast. It was the heavy, determined tread of a pack. Great werewolves were moving through the trees, their forms like hulking shadows, their eyes fixed on the ruins where Lian and Kairen stood. They were the adult Fenrius, and they had come for their children.
They believed their young had been captured, a conviction that ignited a primal fury within them. There was no time for words, no room for reason. With a flash of claw and fang, the battle began. The adult Fenrius threw themselves at Lian and Kairen, their desperation making them ferocious. The two men moved into a defensive stance, their goal not to kill, but to subdue.
"We have not harmed your children!" Lian's voice cut through the chaos, but it was lost on them. Their battle lust had consumed their reason; they would not hear him.
Kairen's senses reached out, feeling the storm of their ki. "The desperation of a parent seeking their child," he said, his voice grim, "has made them all the more savage."
The Fenrius's assault was a relentless storm, but Lian and Kairen held their ground, parrying and deflecting, their movements a careful dance of defense. The fight raged on for a long while, a stalemate of fury and control. Then, a new sound pierced the din of battle—the voices of children, clear and high. "Father! Mother!" The Fenrius children, now in their human forms, were running toward their parents.
The adult werewolves froze, their attack faltering. Confusion warred with rage in their eyes as they beheld the human children. For a long moment, they did not understand. But then, they caught the scent, recognized the way they moved, and knew. These were their young.
The children ran to their parents. "We've come back! We're human again!"
The adult Fenrius hesitated. Seeing their children, returned from the werewolf form, their hostility began to recede. The fury in their eyes was replaced by something far older, far deeper—the love of a parent for their child.
"Are… are these truly our children?" one of the Fenrius muttered, staring at his kin. He finally tore his gaze away and looked at Lian and Kairen, the beast within him quelled.
Lian stepped forward slowly, his hands open. "We meant only to help your children. We used the Mirror of Souls so they might be free from the curse."
The adult Fenrius stared at the mirror, finding it hard to believe their children had been returned to their human forms. A new question began to dawn in their minds—could they, too, be freed from this curse?
A child looked up at her parents. "Mama, Papa, you can use the mirror like we did. You can be human again."
Lian held out the Mirror of Souls to them. "This mirror reflects what lies within you. It offers you a chance to reclaim yourself."
The adult Fenrius hesitated before the mirror. A few of them, gathering their courage, stepped forward. The first one closed his eyes and slowly gazed into its surface. As his inner self was reflected in the mirror, his coarse werewolf form began to recede, replaced by the shape of a man. He stared at his own two hands in astonishment. The rough, sharp claws had returned to the soft, human hands of his past, and his red, glowing eyes had cleared, becoming human once more.
Others, emboldened, stepped before the mirror. Some returned to their human forms, embracing their children in joyous reunions. But a few, even after gazing into the mirror, could not transform.
One of them bowed his head before the mirror. "I cannot return to my human form…" But his eyes had changed. Though he still wore the form of a werewolf, intellect and emotion had rekindled in his gaze.
"My form remains this way, but my mind has returned," he said quietly. "I can still protect my children, even as a wolf."
Lian inclined his head slightly, respecting his decision. "Whatever form you take, you are no longer a being bound by the curse. To your children, your human love and protection will remain."
Some had returned to their human selves, while others found their intellect even while remaining as werewolves. They were no longer monsters trapped in the shackles of the Fenrius curse. They were beings who had chosen themselves, who had accepted their own fate.
The children, reunited with their parents, laughed and ran with joy. The parents who had become human again, and those who remained as werewolves, all laughed and rejoiced with their children, finding a new hope.
Kairen smiled. "Even if they cannot all return to their human forms, what matters is that they have reclaimed their inner selves."
Lian gave a brief nod of understanding. "They are no longer simple monsters. They have been given a chance to find themselves again."
They began to consider how they would return the Mirror of Souls. Though many of the Fenrius had now chosen their own destinies and the artifact had been a great help, the responsibility of resolving their conflict with the Kronatians still remained.
"We must find a way to return the artifact," Lian said quietly. "I believe what we did was right, but there are times when one must take responsibility."
"Indeed," Kairen replied. "It is crucial to restore the trust of the Kronatians. In their eyes, we will appear as thieves."
They began to plan their next steps, thinking of how to return the Mirror of Souls. The Fenrius curse was not completely broken, but they had been given the chance to choose, and through that choice, they had begun a new life.
***
Episode : The Humanity Contagion
After the adult Fenrius used the Mirror of Souls, some returned to their human forms, while others, though they retained their werewolf shape, had their intellect restored. They returned with their children to the Fenrius den, and from that moment, a subtle change began to spread among them.
At first, no one noticed. The Fenrius pack still maintained their werewolf forms under the powerful moonlight, ruled by their savage instincts. But as time passed, a change occurring deep within them could be sensed. Even the Fenrius who had not looked into the Mirror of Souls began to show signs of reclaiming their humanity.
A phenomenon that could be called an 'internal contagion' had begun to take hold within the pack. Some of the Fenrius who had not directly seen the mirror were transforming into their human forms overnight, or at the very least, partially reclaiming their humanity. The change was slow, but it was spreading with certainty.
The first sign was their speech. The Fenrius, who had once communicated with simple growls and short commands, gradually began to speak in more complex sentences. Words expressing emotion slowly returned to their language.
"We are returning," one of them muttered. "This feeling… it's like when I was human."
A few days later, some of the Fenrius had completely transformed into their human forms, and while others were still werewolves, their eyes were markedly different. They were no longer ruled by the beast's instinct alone; they began to control their own emotions and thoughts.
Kairen and Lian watched this change, astonished. "This is something we didn't expect," Lian said quietly. "I thought only those who saw the mirror would change, but the others are experiencing it as well."
Kairen nodded. "It seems the Mirror of Souls affected not only their individual inner selves, but the consciousness of the entire pack. We could call this a kind of 'contagion of inner humanity.'"
Lian mulled over his words, realizing this was not a simple breaking of a curse. "It's not a complete release from the curse… but they are accepting the change themselves. They are reclaiming their humanity on their own."
However, not all of the Fenrius were experiencing this change in the same way. There were still those who were bound by the werewolf's instinct, and when the moonlight shone brightly, most of them still transformed. But even in that transformation, their inner selves were gradually returning to human. Even under the moonlight, they no longer attacked each other and were able to control themselves.
But not everyone welcomed this change. Some of the Fenrius who had lived by relying on the powerful instincts of the werewolf rejected it. They could not accept the fact that they were returning to their human forms and wished to remain as werewolves.
One of them refused the mirror, saying, "I do not want to be human. Our strength is in this werewolf form. Why should we give that up?"
But another thought differently. "We are no longer beings who live by instinct alone. Even if we return to our human forms, we can still retain the strength of the werewolf. What's important is that we can now choose for ourselves."
Lian and Kairen respected their decisions. "Whatever path the Fenrius choose, what matters is that they can now decide for themselves," Kairen said.
In the end, several factions began to form within the Fenrius pack. Those who wished to return to their human forms, those who wished to remain as werewolves, and those who accepted both forms and sought to find a new path between them.
All this change was thanks to the "contagious humanity." The humanity reclaimed through the Mirror of Souls was spreading among them, and the Fenrius pack was gradually transforming into a new form.
Lian watched this process of change and whispered, "It's not a complete release from the curse… but they are finding a new path. They can now choose their own destiny."
Kairen nodded in response. "Our role here may not be over yet. Whatever choice they make, we will have to continue to watch over them."
The Fenrius were no longer simple monsters or cursed beings. They had reclaimed their inner humanity and had been reborn as beings who could choose their own fate.
**
Episode : A Dialogue with the Kronatia
One day, as the Fenrius were struggling with the conflict between their human and werewolf selves, Lian and Kairen spoke with them. The Fenrius who had returned to their human forms spoke first.
"We are no longer simple beasts," one of them said. "We have regained our human forms; we can think and speak. But our brothers who remain as werewolves are still precious to us."
A Fenrius in his werewolf form also nodded. "Even though we remain in this form, we can now understand each other. Instinct may rule us, but intellect is with us as well. We, too, are ready to accept this new opportunity."
Lian and Kairen respected their decision and asked, "In that case, are you ready to speak with the Kronatia? Cooperating with them and forming a new relationship could be a great opportunity for you as well."
A long silence fell. Both the werewolves and the human-form Fenrius were in deep thought. They had been enemies of the Kronatia for a long time, and the fact that they had returned to their human forms did not mean everything was resolved. But in the end, one of the werewolves made a decision.
"We must be the ones to extend a hand first," he said slowly. "We are no longer simple monsters. We need to speak with them, to tell them our story."
The human-form Fenrius agreed. "That's right. Now is the time to start a dialogue, not a war."
Lian and Kairen supported their decision. "Then we will go with you. We will mediate the conversation with the Kronatia. And the matter of the artifact can be resolved naturally as well."
They took the Mirror of Souls and left to meet the Kronatian elder, Tiovan. Tiovan was a respected leader in Kronatia, but due to the long conflict with the Fenrius, he had maintained a hardline stance.
When Lian and Kairen first crossed the city's border, a sharp tension awaited them. The Kronatian soldiers strengthened their guard the moment they stepped over the walls, drawing their weapons and watching the two men.
"What business do you have here?" a soldier shouted, his voice firm.
The soldiers' faces were filled with hostility and caution. Lian and Kairen sensed they were prepared for a sudden attack. A few had already drawn their swords, and the mages were gathering magical energy at their fingertips.
Kairen stepped forward and spoke in a calm voice. "We have not come to fight. We carry a flag of truce and have come to see the Kronatian elder, Tiovan."
Lian, behind him, slowly raised his hands to show the soldiers he meant no harm. There were no weapons in their hands, and their eyes held not hostility, but the will for peace.
The soldiers hesitated for a moment, looking at each other. They could see that Lian and Kairen had not come for war, but they still weren't sure if they could be trusted.
"We have come for the purpose of meeting Elder Tiovan," Lian said once more. "We are here to resolve the matter with the Fenrius, and we desire a dialogue, not a fight."
A few soldiers still watched them with tense eyes, but finally, one of them nodded and replied, "Very well. If you truly wish for a dialogue, I will convey your message to Elder Tiovan. Until then, you will wait here."
Lian and Kairen lowered their hands and waited quietly to show the soldiers their sincerity. Before long, one of Elder Tiovan's aides arrived to guide them. They led Lian and Kairen to the center of Kronatia with tense eyes, heralding the grave conversation that awaited them.
Arriving before Elder Tiovan, Lian and Kairen slowly bowed their heads in greeting. Tiovan's eyes were a mix of caution and surprise. After all, the two adventurers before him had come to resolve the problem related to the Fenrius in Kronatian territory.
"I know why you are here," Tiovan spoke first. "But the Kronatia have suffered much damage from the Fenrius over the long years. It is not without reason that we have had to treat them with hostility."
Lian slowly raised his head and said, "We have found a way to save them. And now, we wish to show you that they are no longer simple beasts. Please give us a chance to resolve this through dialogue."
Tiovan was silent for a moment as he listened to Lian. His face was still etched with a deep mistrust, but there was also a hint that he wanted to hear their story.
Lian and Kairen sat before Elder Tiovan and explained the change in the Fenrius. Tiovan, who was watching the Fenrius who were in their human forms before him, had at first thought they were simply people. The conference room was quiet, and Tiovan's eyes were still filled with suspicion.
"What you say is interesting. But if these are truly Fenrius, you will need to show me proof," Tiovan said, his voice laced with doubt.
At his words, the one who had stepped forward as the Fenrius's leader quietly came forward. His name was Kardo. Kardo was the wisest and strongest among the Fenrius, and his every word held great influence over the entire pack. He nodded and quietly used his power. His human form gradually transformed into the savage form of a wolf. Fur grew, claws and teeth sharpened, and in an instant, the intense energy of a werewolf filled the room.
Tiovan's eyes widened in surprise as he watched the transformation. "They... were truly Fenrius?"
Then, Kardo slowly returned to his human form. He spoke again in a human voice. "We are no longer simple monsters. We now have our intellect. We have no need to be your enemies any longer."
Tiovan looked at him as if in disbelief, then his expression turned cautious. He turned his gaze to Lian. "How was this possible? How were they able to regain their human forms?"
Lian hesitated for a moment, then finally, he carefully took the Mirror of Souls from his pouch. "This is the artifact that changed them. We used the Kronatian artifact, the Mirror of Souls."
Tiovan's face instantly hardened. "You dare to steal a Kronatian artifact? You should pay the price for that!" His voice was filled with anger, and the air in the room instantly became thick with tension.
Kairen slowly spoke from the side. "What we did was certainly wrong, but in return, we were able to save them. As you can see, they are no longer simple monsters. They have regained both their human forms and their intellect."
Tiovan clasped his hands before his chest and was lost in thought for a moment. His face was still filled with anger, but as he saw the Fenrius who had returned to their human forms and regained their intellect, he slowly began to regain his composure. He let out a deep sigh and said.
"The fact that they have returned to their human forms and regained their intellect is a surprising turn of events. But nevertheless, secretly taking a Kronatian artifact is an unforgivable act. Returning the artifact to its proper place is, of course, what must be done." His voice was still calm, but it held a strong warning.
Lian bowed his head and carefully handed the artifact to Tiovan. "We are returning the artifact. It played a great role in helping the Fenrius reclaim their humanity. They are now intelligent beings once more and no longer wish for war with the Kronatia."
A heavy silence followed as Tiovan accepted the Mirror of Souls. He slowly nodded and said, "To speak of this matter to outsiders would be a great problem. The Kronatia do not wish for such things to be known to the outside world. If this fact were to spread, we would not stand for it." His voice was firm, but within it was the sincere wish to no longer have a needless war.
Kardo and his pack also listened quietly to his words and nodded. They, too, no longer wanted war and now wished to reclaim their own lives. The tension between the Kronatia and the Fenrius gradually began to ease, and the threat of war faded.
Lian bowed his head once more to Tiovan and said, "We will not speak of this to outsiders. And we will strive to ensure that a war between the Kronatia and the Fenrius never happens again."
Tiovan slowly nodded in response. "Then it is settled. The Kronatia cannot completely forgive you, but we no longer wish for war either."
And so, Lian and Kairen, having laid down a heavy burden, were finishing their final conversation in Kronatia.