My master was... you?

I watch the back of the woman retrieving. She's definitely got my interest. Having put my status in this pack behind, I would genuinely start to make this woman fall for me. At least until we've found our mates.

Would she even fall for a loser like me?

"Hey!" Another group of boys approach me, blocking my view from Oiko. Her brilliance had me striking so bad... I wasn't responding to these boys in front of me too!

Snap out of it, freak!

I scold myself.

"Oh, were you starin' at Oiko, mister?" This group was slightly older than me. Now I see. The hand of the one who holds a conversation with me is mid air, for me. Clearing my throat rather nervously, I nod my head while being dragged up.

"Ah, he is new so he doesn't know that right?"

"What should I know about?" I curiously ask them.

"Oiko Yelene, the only remaining Yelene on the continent." The- the only remaining Yelene?

"You're from the castle. And you're not aware of the Yelene clan?" Asks a tall man with rough, blond hair. They're definitely two or three years older than me. Also... I'm not sure if I've ever heard about the Yelenes, but maybe I've caught the surnames quite a few times around in discussion.

"They're direct descendants of extinct Vikings, my boy. Viking Yelene, does it ring a bell?" Asks the same boy. Out of the group of five, only we two were conversing while rest of them stare at Oiko.

"Viking Yelene... Don't tell me...!"

"Yup. The last Viking defeated 10,000 dragons with her slayer technique while she was pregnant illegimately with our kind. Viking Yelene bore the twins and died shortly after. Werewolves of those times took care of them and just a few years ago... their whole descendant line was wiped off from the face of Earth." Oh lord...

"How old... was she?" I ask.

"Maybe five. She was really young when greedy men sold her to our alpha. Thank god our alpha was kind enough and killed most of the sellers around... but it was too late. We don't know any other Yelenes left anywhere, but alpha Jack said one or two maybe remaining around." Said the blond guy.

"Um... thank you for sharing your knowledge with me. I hope we become friends." I say genuinely and with a smile.

"Huh?" He scratches his head and looks at his three other friends.

"What is it...?"

"Oh, nothing. We thought you'd be a stuck up snob since you're from the main packhouse. You know, royal blood. But you're pretty much like a shy girl." Says he.

"I'm not a girl!" I exclaim.

"We can see that. Well. I'm reminded of a girl who's waiting for us at the quarters. We're from the third quarters from six of them. Maybe we can have an extra in our team."

"Oh, thank you. I was about to ask the higher ups for my placement."

"Cool. But let me introduce us to you, Riley. This is Keith, Jr.Opo, Hans and myself Gray. Nice to meet you Riley."

"Likewise to you all."

"Now, Where's your armor?"

Gray asks as I make a face and look back.

"Huh? Aren't you aware that you're never supposed to leave your armor on the ground? An attack might sneak up from anywhere." He says.

"O-oh. I'm aware." Quickly sliding past, I gather the heavy armor and meet up with them.

"Hmm! I can smell Hana's cooking from here already!" Says Gray while the others participate with a hum. Is she a great cook?

"She's a really good omega, you know. You might as well turn healthy from your skinny look, Riley." Another blond guy with a bowl cut whom I believe is Hans says.

"It's furious. You're in the main packhouse but don't they feed you enough?" Jr. Opo asks as I shake my head.

"It's not like they feed me less, but I'm not much of an eater, you see."

"Hmm... that's sad. Don't worry! Living with us, you'll turn wide and round like that fatty over there. Isn't that right, Sunny!?" Gray points to a man across us and the guy screams back at Gray. They must be friends of a sort.

"Go stick a baguette in your a$$, Gray!"

Yup. Definitely the love-hate kind of friendship.

Soon after, we sit at the common table of the cottage like atmosphere. I felt like I should help around so I begin to light up the candles around the hut along with this sweet girl I've met. She's older than me too.

As I look out of the window, the breeze makes my nerves calm. Although, there is a dancing sight of a girl with short hair with her armor on. She was... practicing.

Practicing this late at night?

It's almost 9pm...

"Is that...?" Opo was passing by me as I pat his shoulder and ask him.

"Told you. She's the strongest cadet of us all. That armor barely weighs a pint for her at this point." Opo says, walking away.

It was Oiko, practicing so effortlessly with the heavy armor, I almost thought she was dancing with it. I was caught in her bliss.

Suddenly, her movements halt. She snaps her head towards my direction. I forget how to act and... wave my hand.

"Idiot." She mutters, but I couldn't possible hear it. Ugh. Way to go, loser. She's walking away now. I wanted to see more of her moves!

The night which passes by is peaceful. For everyone else, not me.

"Riley~" a whispering voice calls out.

"Please... let me sleep." Let me tell you about this voice. I've been hearing it ever since dad told me my mother had disappeared. I've often times caught him in the shadows too, but too bad that I was afraid of ghosts. This voice, this entity had been training me more than my dad in the packhouse. He's taught me skills of value education, moral development... all through bizarre exercises which often led me into trouble.

Dad was often furious, so I stopped complaining of this entity that was controlling me- no, he wasn't controlling me. He was being a master to me. Giving me tasks...

"Come to the training grounds, my boy." The hazy voice like the breeze says. I've been accustomed to this ghost voice. I know it won't fool me.

"Okay." Whispering that, I slowly make my way towards the training grounds.

"Today is the day you shall begin your training, personally," The voice was slowly turning clearer and clearer. Wait... I recognise this voice.

"With me."

It was... Kal Rogen.

So I ask him, "My master... was you?"

His subtle smile gives me my answer.