Vol.2/Chapter 2: Wake-up Call

Luca's POV (present time):

How long did I fell asleep? My head hurts. My surroundings' so dull and quiet. Last time I remembered...

I-I remembered...Tyla...No. Why did it happen? That lifeless expression of the one person that cared for me is now etched on my memory forever. I feel like dying.

"Are you awake now, son?", The oh-so-gentle voice of my mother soothes my aching soul. "Thank our God, you are awake. I've missed you. You've been sleeping for almost 3 days.", She grasped and hugged me for a long time while I stare silently in the horizon with tears in my eyes.

"Mom, how is Theo?! Almira and the Chief? Iresh? The other wolves? Please tell me they are okay.", I pleaded to my mom to bring some good news.

"The tribe, they are...preparing for Tyla's burial. W-we lost so much, my son.", The voice of my mom trembles as I hug her to comfort her. After a short while, we came back to our senses and accepted the grief.

The wounds in my body are slowly healing, the Bells of Death promptly shut down, and the memories of that disaster is hurting me. Still, there's a missing link between my memory of Tyla and the present.

What happened? Why are we alive? I really want to know.

I asked my mom Samira to recall what I missed when I was unconscious. She grew quiet for a while when she finally decided to tell me what's up.

"The moment we stopped grieving with Tyla's death, all the wolves attacked simultaneously towards the humans. Many were slaughtered, gutted, decimated. But the bloodlust and anger we felt aren't satisfied. We felt we were losing control and were reverting to our primal instincts." Mom paused a while before continuing.

"Then a dark cloud like aura engulfed the whole tribe, the sky got dark and covered the moon. It was almost pitch-black, but fortunately, we wolves can see in the darkness. That's when I saw you...The source of that cloud. You were treading towards the humans, chanting some spell I do not know." She was confused while telling me.

"Ever since we rescued you and Theo from that Slave Trader, we assumed you are a human. Humans are not best known for their magical powers so only a selected few become sorcerers among them. As, I guess, you can remember from the attack, some sorcerers are with that man." She gritted her teeth angrily.

"That's why everyone was confused. No human can achieve that magical prowess even if how hard they try. The spell you used was almost indistinguishable as if it was meant for you to use." Mom stood up as she got a book from the shelves before continuing again.

"Then if I am a human and I can use that spell, how could it be possible without it ever killing me?", I asked.

"Azrael...Azrael...There! This spell was the one you use that time." She pointed out an inconceivable spell with ancient runic text. Only the title can be seen. "It is said that Azrael is a forbidden spell, or more like a curse, that grants its user powers in an angel like manner. But instead of using holy magic, the user will use dark magic and in return, lose control of their self. Only the race with strongest magical output like moon elves, hellspawns, sirens or spirits can use this spell. So I am confused why you can use this."

"Mom, can you tell me in detail what happened after the black cloud engulfed everything? I lost consciousness after that." I requested for her.

She was silent for the whole time, staring at the grimoire she's holding. Her eyes filling up with fear.

"Y-you grew wings, black wings, and horns. You controlled black flames that can't be put out by normal water. You move at fast speed, decimating every human you've found. That was the time the Inquisitor, as he was called, retreat with his other few troops. The majority of his troops, including his golems and other sorcerers, tried to stop you with all their might but to no avail. You burnt everything, you reek of bloodlust and anger far more superior than ours." She was trembling as she was telling me everything that happened.

I was shocked and dumbfounded of what happened. I didn't know I destroyed everything. I knelt in front of her, scared and regretful. My hands were shaking. She instantly held my hand and knelt in front of me.

"That thing didn't harm us, my child. In fact, it helped a bunch of other wolves trapped in their homes and protected slaves in a cart full of children and women of all races, even orc men. The wolves also got a wake-up call to try and stop spreading the fire. Almira says that the fire you caused cannot be put out by normal means so she purified most of the water used as holy water. She almost run out of stamina and faint. After all that, the angel clad in black stood silent before losing consciousness. Runic marks were over your body before returning to normal." She smiled as she cried, hugging me tightly again. "Underneath the devil, my sweet child remains. And I am very glad you didn't change." I hugged her back and cried silently.

After she finished telling me everything, I stood up and cleared my head. I asked to take a shower first before going out to see Theo and his family.

I took a shower and ate lunch. After that, I went outside. The tribe is looking grim, the grey skies compliments the sad vibe this place is giving. Many of the wolves are still injured, and for those who aren't, they are tired for taking care of them. Not to mention the great loss of us - Tyla. Everyone was mourning, sad and crying. I slowly strolled along the street, watching the afraid eyes of everyone looking at me. Whispering can be heard throughout the area as I just slowly lowered my head and continued throughout my path.

I end up in front of the Chief's tent. Theo was sitting in front of it, looking heartbroken. He's frail and weak. Her eyes welling up with tears while holding the anklet her sister last gave him.

"Theo...", I solemnly called out my best friend.

"Luca! You're awake! Thank our God for protecting you. I don't want to lose you too." Theo said with a weak smile as his facade was broken immediately. "T-tyla...S-she was killed. Those humans, I will forever hate them. All they do is ravage and take what isn't theirs." Angry and melancholic, Theo ranted up.

Almira and Chief Rakthu went out the tent and saw me. The Chief immediately rushed upon me and knelt.

"Thank you, Luca. For whatever reason you became that creature, I still thank you for protecting our tribe. I am ashamed of myself for not doing my best and now, I lost my daughter. She treated everyone kindly but now she's gone." He stood up and looked at me, dead in the eye. "That's why now, you are the only human I will ever trust from now on. I will never ever hear anything from them. I will kill each and every one of their kind. I hope you understand this grudge, Luca." Chief Rakthu enraged.

Almira just looked at me with sadness, yet still observing as if I was a threat. Then, she just look over a small coffin in the distance, scattered with flowers of every color. Theo and I cried immediately when we saw it. As I slowly walked towards it, memories of me and Tyla comes to my mind. The sweet wolf who always give her best, no matter the situation is. I knelt besides the coffin, hugging it tightly.

Alas, the time of her burial came. All of the remaining wolves in the tribe came, alongside the slaves I previously saved, according to my mom, Samira. Also, alongside the coffin of Tyla are the countless lives of wolves that gave their best was given a proper burial. Under the apple tree that sparked the friendship of me and Theo lies the end of the life of her sister and the other wolves. Iresh, my Shadowmane, even while injured, came to pay her respects. She bellowed sadly and the wolves cried while they slowly bury the corpses. My mom hugged me while I watch how I unfold the reason I hate humans more. I despise them. I don't care for them anymore.

"Yes Luca, you can despise them all you want." I was surprised with the voice of Almira from behind, whispering in my ear.

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You're not human, anyways...