Renny thought for a moment about what to call this new Hybrid. Why not Oliver? he decided. If the memory was true, then the real Oliver had long since passed. This one would carry his name forward. With that, he clicked yes.
In the next instant, the Tree spat him out of the trunk, the bindings unwrapping as he collapsed to the ground. He exhaled sharply, lungs dragging in air as though he'd been underwater for an eternity.
Tela, mid-bite on a slab of meat, turned at the sound."Oy! Ezraphor, ya back," he said with a grin. "So? How was it?"
"Almost died," Renny muttered.
Tela laughed, sharp and booming. "Ahahaha, of course ya weaklin'. But ya got a reward, eh?"
Renny nodded. "Yeah… and something else too. I also got to recreate Oliver."
"Oliver? What's that?" Tela asked, brows furrowed.
"A rothound, orange colored," Renny explained, glancing around. "But I can't see it…"
Before he could finish, the Tree stirred again, and Oliver was unwrapped beside him. The hound pounced, knocking Renny back as it licked his face eagerly.
Renny noticed immediately, Oliver's fur was no longer the pure orange from the memory. It was streaked, a mix of blue and orange.
"Why…?" he wondered aloud.
Tela's eyes widened with recognition. "Oy! He's a crossbreed. Rare, that. Back in the day, when Ezraphor created the orange rothounds, each royal had their own strain, their own colors. But the beasts were big an' heavy, slow as stone. They were meant to track down souls that fled from torture, but truth be told, they weren't much good at it."
Renny frowned, recalling. "That makes sense. When that rothound chased me back at the pier, I was only at seventy-eight overall, and even then, I outran it. It really was slow."
Tela continued. "So, Ezraphor, after long time, he go and make another rothound... what you all call Oliver now. Not just him though, five more like him. An' let me tell you, they different. Too good at tracking down anything. Way better than the blues. And the worst part?" He clicked his tongue. "You'd never even know they were on you. Not unless they wanted you to know. That's how sharp they were. So of course, the blue rothounds… they nuh happy. Not one bit."
He snorted, shaking his head. "One day on patrol, the ten blues turn on Oliver's family, want eat them all. Only Oliver escape. He run back to Ezraphor, tell him what happen. Ezraphor send me, drag all them blues to him. Since Oliver the only one of his kind left, Ezraphor force him mate with female blue. From that, the orange-and-blue strain born. That be what ya new rothound look like now."
Renny frowned. "Just I expected… would have been nice if I got the same rothound."
Tela shrugged. "What matter now is, ya get a dominion spell, or what?"
Renny nodded. "Yes. And a handbook too. I'll take my time to study it."
Then the thought struck him, how long had he been inside the Tree?Tela scratched his chin, chewing on the thought before answering. "Probably 'bout a month," he said.
Renny's eyes widened. "What? A month? That means… it's a new year already. I need to get to the Bureau for my contract!"
Tela nodded. "Oy. We can leave now. But once ya out, ya be careful. The Royals… they waitin' for ya return."
Renny exhaled through his nose, nodding firmly. "Then let them wait. I'm ready."
Tela gave him a pitiful smile and shook his head. "Nuh yet, Ezraphor. Nuh yet. If things get too heavy, ya run back here. Avoid them. Hide if ya must."
Renny frowned. "So you don't have faith in me, Tela?"
Tela sighed. "Me do. But still… come here if it get too much. Don't throw ya life away."
Renny tilted his head. "And what about you? We're both leaving the garden. You won't be able to get back in without me, why not stay?"
Tela snorted, chewing the question like a bone."Nuh, Ezraphor. I nuh need no keepin'. I been here long time. I got ways to survive." He tapped his chest with a grin that didn't reach his eyes.
Renny frowned. "You really sure you'll be fine on your own?"
Tela shrugged, flicking a scrap of dried meat aside. "Ya worry bout gettin' strong, not bout old Tela. Get strong so ya can free me one day. That's the plan, eh?"
Renny's expression softened. He gave a firm nod.
As they reached the garden's edge, Oliver padded up, tail low, eyes fixed on Renny like he didn't want to be left behind. Renny crouched, meeting him at eye level, and stroked the hound's orange-and-blue fur.
"Not yet, buddy," Renny said gently. "I can barely protect myself. I can't protect you too. I'll come back. I promise. When I need seeds or spells, I'll visit. For now… stay here. Be safe."
He pulled Oliver into a short embrace, burying his fingers in the beast's fur before letting go. "Go play with the gardeners."
Oliver whined, padding off reluctantly toward the gardeners.
Tela watched the hound go and shook his head. "Ya should get him a buddy. Hounds nuh like being alone. They move in packs. That's why the King gave Oliver a family in the first place."
Renny frowned. "And how am I supposed to do that?"
Tela grinned faintly. "All lie in ya growth. Faster ya grow, more ya can do."
Renny exhaled, accepting the words. He gave one last glance back at Oliver before walking with Tela out of the garden.