Haiban's advice for me to sleep was adjourned again. My time is more than gold to waste, consequently, I tasked Lanasia and Zaeramil without taking a break to publish a book that will brainwash the people.
I entrusted the task to them and need more hands than this to do my work. Shouldering the whole fate of werewolves is the most formidable job I have ever had and I even deserve to retire in the end!
After leaving the task to them, I requested an appointment with the mages in Venduque Academy to organize an occasion I implemented. Other than that occasion, Manjiro and Linly invited me to be one of the bridesmaids at their wedding to be held a few weeks ahead! But I can't tell when humans will ambush this city and I'm the only one who knows it!
Inside the palace a few days after, I've created a giant glowing sphere levitating above me while underneath it are my messy books and blueprints on the table. "This is the initial globe of my creation. And the migration shall commence today."
"Yes, we had informed all werewolves and they're ready. Wouldn't this be too risky to bring the werewolves into an inhabitable world?" Elibur reported, acting as one of my hands—and the strongest one.
"I told you it's too risky to let them be here. Hunters will ambush this city. And we can prevent it by leaving this place in the custody of humanity. We're choosing the less destructive path, child."
"We cannot doubt your abilities, Moon Priestess. You know what's best and I'm here to support the best for the pack."
I caught the sphere in a swipe of my hand, enchanted the messy table to divide it into two, and crossed between them. "Prepare yourselves. We're leaving this world. If any of them wish to cross the world, the only way is through me, but I'm too busy to approve that request."
I came onto the balcony of the palace to find out how many werewolves and humans have gathered for this migration. And I was impressed that Elibur convinced them all. I tossed the globe upward to the sky and there it expanded into a giant sphere again. However, the Earth reacts to the presence of my world. Thunderstorms overshadow the city and the lighting seems mad about this.
The evacuation must go on so I unleashed my spellbooks to commence the opening of my world, but the more I make connections, the more nature defies. The sphere glows immensely which lightens the dark clouds and brings the brightness of heaven here! Neither shadow can squint underneath us! Yet I am the only one who wasn't blinded by the light. The thunder spreads abroad, or particularly, thunderstorms cover the Earth!
My enchantment made me immovable. And when I finished the spell, I closed my spellbooks—beholding my world. The blinding light is gone. There are only refreshing clouds in the sky and the breeze of consumable trees surrounding the forest castle—crowned with abundant flowers that can please anyone's eye. The next thing I knew was the rejoicing of the werewolf children on the ground of soft green grasses—the youth were affected by the impression, too.
The sight melted my heart which made my hard work more fulfilling. It was the same impression Hessuel had when he met Asfara again. Meanwhile, the adults are speechlessly amazed and with the confusion that pins their feet from rejoicing as well. Elibur and Tanya stand side by side with me.
"So, what do you say? You know how much I love dogs. I wouldn't make a world whom they cannot love at first sight~" I bragged.
"I know," Elibur supports my arrogance. "If the Moon Goddess trusts you, then why can't we?"
I, together with the ranked werewolves, assisted the werewolves in building their shelters. I taught them everything they should know first about their world to survive. This beautiful forest is connected miles away from Asfara. And since this world opens, Asfara will remain disconnected from the Earth.
I came back to Earth in the same spot. More than half of the population of Plandreas city was deducted. The rumors about the disappearance of werewolves spread across cities in the following days. The project about our book publication is progressing in other cities, too. I set myself complacent regarding this to subtract the weight of my tasks in my mind. I provided a statement from Elibur to the human officials that Plandreas is free from werewolves and that humans can create their new government.
The next occasion I tackled is the alumni ball in Venduque Academy. Haiban was my escort to that ball. Countless mages with unknown faces to me attended just to meet and greet me, the newly elected Eldar of our day. That was why I was boosted with confidence when I made my announcement:
"You all might've heard about the disappearance of werewolves. But I assume none of you are aware of the world I created for them." My audiences exchange glances. "They are in their exclusive world now. But that world is incomplete as I know that I cannot finish it alone for the short time I had given myself. I need more power and hands. I need help from some of you to hasten my work, then your contribution will forever be a legend in that world."
It was I who chose whom to work with, yet Haiban—as my instructor, felt the right to choose his candidate too and it turned out to be expected and irritating! "Lady Eldar!" a neat man with shaved beard greets. "We met again. You've finally joined the picture of Eldars," he added. He was about to kiss my hand but I slipped my hand away.
"Thank you for coming, Captain Whatever." Looks like he's enjoying the spell of ageless I traded with him! He's the same horny pirate I met in the future! Moreover, because of that encounter in the wrong timeline, his appearance seems disgusting unlike what the enchantresses around here deemed to be hot. He shakes hands with Haiban who's excellent at pretending to be friendly now.
"He'll be a powerful contributor in that world," Haiban endorses, "and it's splendid to work with two Eldars! It never happened in history, so most mages shall plead to be a participant!"
I gave him a what-are-you-doing look!
"I will change a bit from my daily death routine. You can count on me if you like."
Since when did he become easily persuaded? Did Haiban play death with him prior to his attendance here? Perhaps this collaboration shall bring me assurance rather than assuming things from a distance with my pride. Contrary to what I should be doing to avoid cringy days ahead, I lifted my glass for a toast with him and said, "I'm looking forward to your cooperation. Hopefully, this will make my work faster. "
"You won't regret this decision."
I played along with the conversation, especially since we were fascinating every eye here just by standing in a group like this.
I came outside to feed my brain with oxygen. I suddenly ran out from that encounter. And after a short while, an adult woman approaches me. "Good evening. Do you mind if I join you here?"
"No."
"I came from a far region. And I don't want to miss this chance to meet the female Eldar. You have shaken the world of men! You bring honor to womanhood."
I was finally able to laugh tonight. "Thank you! It wasn't easy anyway."
"You're familiar with werewolves? It's impressive to come up with creating an exclusive world for them. Our world is too dangerous for them now. Hunters are advanced in my city."
"Well, you're familiar with werewolves as well."
"You have a bite mark, I have one too. But he was killed by the hunters. Your project will be enough to give justice for his death."
I looked at her bitter eyes. What if hunters will harm my boys? I can't do anything but hope that the news will brainwash those hunters before they could touch my family. "What is your name?"
"Ophelia."
"Ophelia, since you're familiar with werewolves, I invite you to be a contributor to the world of werewolves."
"I'm not an excellent enchantress."
"I need mages with compassion for the werewolves... then you'll learn to be good at enchantment."
"... You call that compassion...?" She remains silent in deep thought before she smiles on her own. "It is an honor! I will do my best." We shook hands and I noticed her fingers wearing rings, one of them has a jewel.
☪ ✧ ✧
I removed my slippers and tossed them somewhere. "I've got more than 99 problems and this pirate," then I slipped my hair tie and tossed it somewhere too, "is the worst!!" I washed my face in the sink, washed my mouth from the taste of wine, and strode back to the living room to resume my rant, "Father, did you invite him in the first place!? I'm not comfortable around that man! This is a disaster!" I never ran out of problems even at the age of 72 in 23!
"You've got more than 99 problems but our problem with him shouldn't be procrastinated."
I sat beside him on the couch in front of the furnace. He's leaning his nape too on the recliner, sluggishly caressing One on his lap. It intrigued me that he was staring blankly at the furnace.
"It's better to keep a close eye on him than to let him do his hidden schemes afar, that will be his disadvantage and we should shorten his moves even more. He's our only suspect for sabotaging my records. And he can do more if we let him slip from our guard. We cannot miss this chance even though your time is full."
"Well, I'm used to stretching my time. But what if letting him participate in this project is already his trap? He was pretty adamant when I first met him. And a while ago, he initiated the invitation. That alone is suspicious!"
"You're clever to not lower the standard of your trust. Once you find assurance for that hunch, then make his trap a trap of yours instead. Look at your advantage more considerately. He's getting inside the chamber of your dominion, you have all the parts necessary to plot his defeat. Do everything to keep him away from my son."
"... You're right. But... Are you alright?"
He turned his face at me and the rotten flesh on the other half of his face startled me! "I'm alright since I've done all my roles. I have taught you all spells you need to know for creation. I can trust the rest on you. Remember? I have to leave this body for the good of the owner's soul. You're on your own hereafter."
"..." Surprisingly, I didn't defy fate. I sat closer to him and leaned my cheek on his shoulder. "I understand. I will do my best to expose him. I will seek justice for silver wolves."
"Now that's a good 'rest in peace'."
"I love you," I whispered.
Silence came after and his hand that was caressing One slide from his lap. I hold his spiritless hand. It happened so fast. Perhaps Haiban's great purpose is to have a successor who'll inherit his specialty. And it's an honor to be the one. I took his body into the world of werewolves and became the very first werewolf buried in that ground.
☪ ✧ ✧
Marriage never was a part of werewolf tradition, furthermore, the humans' honeymoon is similar to mating. Honeymoon is the first step for werewolves before marriage. Since I don't want any strangers sitting at the same table, I brought all of my seven guards so I could meditate peacefully. I had the loudest clap when the bride and groom kissed as husband and wife.
My niece smiles the brightest! Yet the longer I watch this happy occasion, the more I pout at my engagement ring. Then I made my mouth full. A blink of shadow caught my attention. Before I could look up, we were daunted by the explosion in the city! It didn't just happen once but more explosions followed up in the different corners of Plandreas!
"Hide, children!" I coached my frightened dogs to hide underneath the table. I knocked twice on the table to enchant it into soundproof. The visitors were running away from the dust when I created a 50 feet enchast wall around this venue. However, the thing that overshadows the area is another nuclear falling from above us! I picked the fork, tossed it upward with my enchanting hand, and when it hit the nuclear, it scattered into rose petals.
I can't believe I had to use my enchantment on my day off! We later saw the airships above. These werewolf haters are insane! The rumors weren't enough for them to adjourn their ambush! The explosions didn't last long but the damages were massive. I approached the newlyweds and their family who've been hiding behind the stage.
"Auntie! Are you alright!?"
"What's going on!?"
"Please! Will you keep us safe!?"
They ask me.
"I'm perfectly fine. Obviously, there's an explosion going on. Yes, you'll be safe as long as I'm here," I answered chronologically.
I don't want to add this to my current problems either. I stayed with them until the situation calmed. Countless people died and they are those who were not near any mages. All buildings, except my house, were devastated.
"Come with me in the world of werewolves," I requested to the newlywed a few days after. "Oh, come to think. I haven't named that world."
"That's not a plea?" Manjiro clarifies.
"No. You hold your own lives now. You can live far away from your family. And if that's your decision, the werewolf world is the best option for Linly. I still have to work on the spell to separate Linly from the goddess while preserving her life."
"I mean— You're taking us to an empty world! You want us to start from the beginning of evolution like how this Earth was created! And we can't live among the werewolves, we're humans and we do human tradition!"
"Your concerns shall be solved. The world is new but the intelligence we have is not as clueless as the people from the beginning. We have knowledge about future technologies and we will use it to advance our world. I hope you rather choose to live among the werewolves than to let your wife return to death."
"Sure, I will! I'm prepared for adjustments, as part of my married life!" he suddenly agrees.
My house became the bridge between two worlds and none can access it without my consent. Most of the residents left the city. Some remained. The government also filed a case against the werewolf hunters together with the other cities that donated remedies. And I didn't wait for the secure condition of the city before I left to spend most of my time on my project.
I look around my house, to the spot where I spent time with Hessuel, and to the furnace that prophesied to me that Hessuel will visit this house. Therefore, I wrote a letter to him, sealed it with an enchanted kiss, and left it on the table. "Let's go," I said to my dogs.
I planned the world with the rest of my team for 5 years. The day is short and the night is longer. But we're still in the same universe as the Earth. So I could stare at the same moon humans can stare at too on top of the forest castle.
And I'll be home soon.
...
...
(Hessuel's POV)
The moon is so beautiful tonight. Her perfect shape is glowing. I sipped the last drop of juice and came inside. Before lunch the following day, I visited the mechanical shop for my cart in the queue. The short but brawny man was doing the maintenance when I arrived. He says, "You can travel the whole town now!"
"You're awesome as always! I have to recoup my loss."
"Your loss will depend on your outdated business. Aren't you aware that the production of vehicles is marketable in our neighboring cities? You'll be the founder in our town once you start it first! Oh, don’t forget to make me your engineer!"
I stared at the engine of the cart, recounting how excited I was in my field the first time I drove this cart "... That's not a bad idea," I commented. "So how do I start it?"
He demonstrates the navigation to start the ending and the cart sprints to the outside of the shop's garage whilst he's shouting. "Aaah!!"
"Is that how you start it!?" He's driving recklessly; bumped it on another stall in the market and almost ran over someone. I caught up in front of him immediately, grasped the handlebar, and drifted until it breaks. It took a while for him to stop the engine because of his shaking and we both gasped when he succeeded.
"It was an accident! But you see!? You can travel from city to city without riding a train!" Now he's proudly tapping the motor attached in front of the cart. "That will be an engaging business! But how did you do that...?" He looks at the distance from the shop to our location. "You're so fast! And... strong!"
"Ma-Maybe it means the cart still lacks speed?"
Then he gave me the key. Most people around are using carriages made legal on the road. I could imagine multiple carts running on the road, and if those carts were produced by my non-existing factory, that would be a lot of money to burn!
I drove the engineer back to his shop, then to my house to prepare all the ordered wedding vases for delivery. One of them almost broke when my left arm aches sorely again, cramping with the beat of my heart! I'm chasing my breath when I came inside quickly, removed my coat, stripped half of my shirt just to loosen my left arm from the sleeve, and rested on the round couch with my head up.
The contusion of Dandeline's bitemark is getting worse. I couldn't do anything for the past years but endure the pain... and swallow my own saliva whenever thoughts of her pass through my head; her face, her taste, her smell, her body! I want those now.