Her mansion is purely vintage. The walls are bookshelves overcrowded with books, even the lengthy table in the middle of this space is occupied with books and blueprints of magic—just like how messy a mage could be. I laid the carrier on the table, silently, observing her motions that might seem alarming while she's performing enchantment to Hedwelch and Danteleon.
"The atmosphere of this city contains an anti-werewolf swirling in the air," she generously informed whilst still acting grumpy. "This will be the safest place for them and your wisest decision would be to stay here for tonight. I bet the atmosphere has affected you as well." And then she finished her magic, Danteleon cried afterward.
"What did you do?" I formed my claws behind my thigh.
"Infants are healthy when they cry. It's your turn to feed him." Her response calmed my doubt. I looked at Danteleon and he's flushy again. I gave him a pacifier first. The woman slides sideward the bookshelf and behind it is a door designed like a giant book, she opens the door for me. "It's not safe for the babies outside. Think about your next move carefully while you're in a safe place."
I glanced at the door connecting to the train which is still running and glanced back at her. "Why are you helping me? Those authorities are hunting me. You already knew I'm a werewolf so this means you're risking your life to help me. I appreciate your hospitality but I don't want to implicate you—"
"Are you a criminal?"
"No. I'm a newcomer. Isn't that an exemption if one committed transgression in a foreign place?"
"You've got a point but it's 'pointless'."
"Wha—?"
"Let's just say your innocence is in the wrong place. Being born a werewolf isn't a crime. Those idiotic hunters are only defining werewolves as criminals to make their hunt appear legal but they are only after revenge convinced by their elders' brainwashing. That is not a part of my vocabulary. Why did you choose this city? I'm aware that your kind has gotten a hold of the great city and every werewolf is migrating there, but here you are, traveling in a city where werewolves are being killed. What brings you here?"
"My... pride took me here. I made several wrong choices and it wounded me even more. I am from there and I was exiled."
"... Oh... Makes sense. Then you're a criminal after all?"
"R-Right, and sending my family here is their punishment."
"You're penitent. Unfortunately, Plandreas and the cities surrounding it are accepting werewolves in their community but not around this region. If you stay here, you'll be killed. If you return, you'll be killed. You cannot lay your head anywhere to sleep peacefully," she walks toward me and taps my arm, "but under this roof, you will." She's looking straight into my eye, then am startled when the door behind slams. "Stay here for tonight."
"But why—"
"No buts! Ask your questions tomorrow!"
I clipped my lips. I think she's starting to find me annoying! Therefore, I express myself from my inner core genuinely by embracing her tightly! I made her shriek in surprise. "Thank you, madam...?"
"Ugh... Ophelia."
"Madam Ophelia! You have no idea how relieved I am now! It's definitely nice to cross paths with you!" I exclaimed. She's tapping my back, didn't see my real behavior and I hope she won't regret this after a minute.
I occupied the bedroom with my little ones and Acro. It's a vintage room too with two curtained windows. I laid the carrier on the swing, took off my coat, and dropped myself on the bed. I didn't feel like sleeping to keep an eye on Hedwelch and Danteleon in case Ophelia is trapping us to report to the hunters later. Such an act of kindness won't keep my guard down anymore. The tick of the pendulum sounds so relaxing like it's singing a lullaby to my weary body.
☪ ✧ ✧
Something is tweaking my hair so I swiped it away. I ran out of breath when I found myself in my dreams because of something covering my face: Acro! ["Congratulations!"]
"What?" I jerked up to see what was going on: nothing. It's just a peaceful room where the sunbeam passes through the window and the swing sways the carrier along with the beat of the pendulum's tick. It's a congratulation that nothing wrong happened when I failed to keep my guard up. Hedwelch and Danteleon are sucking their own breakfast already. The chirping of the birds outside lured me to relax outside through the window.
This is a third-floor vintage mansion built in the middle of clean hills of grass with tall trees. A similitude of a secluded castle ground because the town is far ahead but visible in this distance. No train railways are connected to this mansion. Last night was purely magic. Madam Ophelia enters the room and pauses after landing a sight at me.
"Good morning! It's me..."
"I know," she cuts. I thought she'll freak out because of the changes in my appearance. "There's no doubt these babies came from you. Prepare yourself now. I will wait here." She closed the door when she left. I kind of misunderstood her when I wore my coat again and brought the carrier with me only to be scolded by her outside. "I didn't ask you to prepare to leave! Wash and fill your stomach after."
"Isn't that too much for you? I mean, you took us in then now you want to clothe and feed us?"
"Sending you out now is similar to killing a stranger and two innocent beings. You're too concerned about me! Just think about that we're both doing this to spare your children."
I smiled at her from the idea that I think why she's been helping us. A maid accompanied me to their bathroom. And I still can't put away my smile. I sneaked to the same room after bath and found her playing an enchantment with Hedwelch and Danteleon.
She said without looking at me. "Your children have incredibly lovely eyes! I've never seen this breed of werewolves before. You are?"
"That's what pureblood silver wolves look like, madam."
"What a marvelous opportunity to be alive right now! Now! Let's eat." Her interest in my kids is loud. I probably know what exactly saved the day. She grabs the hem of the table cloth, then yanks it despite the mess above it! But the cloth along with the piles of books disappeared, turning the dining table clean. That's when the maids served breakfast. Other than me, there's no one else joining her for breakfast.
We feasted together. "The hunters have alarmed the whole city and villages alike about you. You are wanted. They set an order to shoot bullets in your head and your babies the second they found you. And now you're telling me you plan to play tag? You're too immature to have kids!"
"I-It's because I'm not familiar with this place. Can I have your advice instead?"
"Well, we received a messenger hawk last night." A maid gave me the letter. "It's an address outside this region where you're invited. I will take you there and the rest is yours thereupon."
I stare at the address and the familiarity of this name. I've been here... but it's still a foreign town for me! "Can you answer me now why you're helping us?"
She finishes her tea before she answers. A glowing magic circle illuminated around her finger as she scratched her neck, and a mate mark came into visibility. "I had a werewolf lover... he was killed by the hunters."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yes, you should be."
I choked.
"Werewolves are no different from humans. In fact, they are perfectly genuine when it comes to love. The only trouble they could cause is their inconsiderate choices that harmed humans. That's the only reason why humans are setting boundaries between them, but werewolves didn't exist to harm humans. That's where I invest my belief."
It reminds me of the slavery humans suffered. "Do you think humans and werewolves can get along in the future?"
"No. There will be wars."
"There won't be," I objected with an assuring smile. There will be an exclusive world of werewolves created soon—which is my source of confidence.
"Hopefully. I can see the hope in your enthralling eyes. So how shall you deal with the near future of your babies? How can you make sure they are safe?" She asks as if she's interrogating me to evaluate if she'll confiscate my little ones or not! And if I recount my own experiences...
"We could pretend as humans until I know we're secured," I suggested. Her nod is the approval that I passed her test!
After breakfast, she voluntarily blessed Hedwelch and Danteleon with a spell that shall conceal their werewolf appearance—but not their whole abilities—until they turn 18 years old. I put the coat on when we left the mansion to have an exclusive ride on the magical train that took us to the city near the address sent to me. I hopped down to the train station and gave her jewelry.
"What's this?" She's raising an eyebrow whilst examining the jewel.
"It came from the white wolves. They offered me that when I was elected the Alpha. I'm giving it to you as my token of gratitude!"
"You? An Alpha?" She glances at me from head to toe. Then she smiles at me for the first time—I think. "Alright. Don't forget to inform me of your new home once you find one. I would like to visit the twins more often."
"I'll keep that in mind. And I won't forget you!" I waved my farewell. The door closes and the train move onwards, I watch it disappear afar.
The town awaiting us brings back the same feeling I had the first time I came here: anxious! This dull crust of the earth unmotivated my excitement in most things. The ground is dry and the weather makes me sweat. Small stalls of their merchandise are on both sides of the road. I was trying to avoid the glances of the bustling villagers when someone in a rush bumped into my back.
"Hey! My bag! Be careful with that—!" I yelled. The gaunt but agile man is running away from me! If it wasn't for the carrier, I will catch up but the thief drops my sling back eventually. He escapes without it. I picked my bag from the dust and shook it off. This enchanted bag scorches anyone who holds it that has an intention to steal it.
Cardozen Vil. is still the town of thieves as if the government never implemented solutions for that, but less restrictions mean freedom—a perfect place for us! I know now why Matheo resided here and now he might be intending to settle me down here, too. "Are you going in?" an old man approached me after staring at the facade of Otakwen's Bar. He's holding the yoke of the wooden cart that contains jugs of ale.
"Is this bar open?"
"It opened recently! And we miss it! Are you invited for the reopening tonight?"
"It means the owner is here...?"
"Yes!"
I should be excited but I remembered I haven't reconciled with Matheo, or who should do it first.