Wait a second, Gods exist!?" I ask incredulously.
"I cannot answer that because I don't know that myself. I refer to him as a God because for a time we worshipped him. He fits the exact description of Noctis only that he had blue eyes not red. There are myths about him but we stopped worshipping him a long time ago when he dissappeared without a trace." He answers looking a bit panicked, as if he said something he shouldn't have.
"But I doubt you will be interested enough in those myths when you can go home sooner than expected." Gw continued.
Wait, really?
Arthur voiced out my thoughts, "Really Gramps? We cab return home soon."
"Haha! Yes, the teleportation gate that was supposed to open in 2 years will be opened early due to the tournament taking place in the city of Xyrus in 4 months. This tournament will be a very important evenr for the future because both the dwarves and elves are sending youths as representatives for both the tournament and as preliminary students to your human academy. During all this we can sneak you two back into Sapin without anyone noticing." Gramps said with a smile on his face.
Aw hell yeah! We're finally going home and see our parents again.
"You're going to be leaving so soon, Art, Fay?" Tessia finally spoke up with a crestfallen expression.
"Relax princess, we will probably meet each other soon." I tried to reassure her.
"Yeah, we have to meet our family again. Maybe you can visit us in Sapin." He tried to cheer her up as well.
"We still have four months left you two. I expect you brats to train harder than ever. Your mana cores haven't developed at all in these past years, thanks to your assimilation. Remember your beast will is a trump card only to be used in emergencies." He warned us.
"Now go and take a bath. You stink, bith of you. Lets leave them alone to recuperate little one." He continued on.
Tessia looked a bit depressed about the news of our soon departure. Living with her for 3 years created a bond akin to those of siblings. On top of that she reminded me a lot of my sister before...
Anyways Arthur seemed to notice it too as he gave her a hug and said, "Tess! Cheer up, kay? I'll still be there for four more months. Even then I wont be gone permanently. I hope you can someday meet our parents."
"Arthur's right Tess, there's nothing stopping you from coming and visiting us in Xyrus. Who knows maybe we will even go to the same school?" I say while patting her head.
Our actions seemed to fluster her since she pushed us and ran away. I could see the steam coming out of her ears.
"Haha! Youth. Sleep well brats." Gramps chuckled and went away.
We followed soon after going to our respective room.
But as soon as I got in and closed the door immense pain from my mana core assaulted me yet again.
What the hell? Wasn't my assimilation over? Why is it still paining?
As if to answer my question a black mass shot out from my chest and the pain died down immediately.
Was that the reason for the pain?
Wait a minute. I checked my mana core and sure enough the mass that had been eating my mana for over 3 years was gone.
I looked towards where it shot off only to find a wolf cub with black fur with tufts of red and white, and silver eyes.
Dad!
Who? What? Where?
I frantically look around to see if anyone was around, but it was only me and the cub.
It couldn't be, could it?
Dad?
Wait it is the cub. So how is he talking to me, cause his voice was masculine.
Is he Noctis' son? If so why did he leave him with me? Questions for another time I guess.
"Yes I'm your father little one, now what should I name you?" I wondered out loud.
"How about Zeke?"
Zeek?
"Yup Zeke that's your name, like it?" I saw while scratching behind his ears.
He barks in agreement.
It is then when I look down at my chest and see a claw mark made of wisps of shadows.
Huh? What's that? Is that the reason we can communicate.
"Come on we need to take a bath" I say while gesturing him to come with me.
Bath? He asks but follows me anyways.
After cleaning myself I went to sleep with Zeke curling up beside me.
_________________________________________________________________________________
The next morning I woke up and walked downstairs only to see Gramps dumbfounded seeing a black....cat? No it has wings and horns, so a dragon? Neat.
"-tivating the will, I think that's what made her hatch!"
So he had a similar experience huh?
"Morning" I make my presence known.
And Zeke decided to make his debut at this moment.
"A shadow wolf? No his eyes and those tufts of white and red say otherwise, si what is it?" Gramps started musing.
"I have reason to believe that he is Noctis' offspring." I explained to them.
"So he left you his child too?" Arthur asks.
"Seems like it" I reply back.
After settling down I told Zeke to go back in my shadow and began training.
"Accessing the first phase is simple, yet may take a lifetime if comprehension of your Beast's will does not come naturally. While your mana core is only dark red, your body right now should already be beyond that of a dark orange stage mage. After the ceremony, you should feel a small area inside of your mana core that holds the will's power. That is where your Beast's will is stored. Accessing the Acquire stage should occur through your own learning, not through being taught. From my experience, the best way to trigger your Beast's will is to continuously be in combat."
"Makes sense to me."
"Got it."
Arthur and I spoke at the same time.
"Good, lets fight then." Virion sad with a smirk on his face.
Days passed and I kept trying to master the first phase of my beast will. Gramps also taught us to conceal our beast wills from other mages.
Zeke didn't grow much physically in these four months, although he did grow a lot mentally.
Tess managed to make us spend all our free time with us, trying to make as many memories as possible, and four months passed in a blink.
On the day before out departure Gramps pulled me aside.
"You remember the gifts I said were left behind by a wolf god?" He asked me.
"Yes, what about them." I reply.
"Well, I think its time you take them as yours."