In the middle of training
“Just it’s yours imagination, Selene,” Lira said firmly as she held my arm tightly. I could see the desire in her eyes to calm me down, but I could also feel the weight behind her words—as if she didn’t want to show that she was worried too. “You shouldn’t think too much about what you heard. If you judge it, it will only make you more anxious.”
“But, Lira—” I warned, but she immediately shook her head and patted my shoulder.
“That’s enough, Selene. Come, come with me. Aeron, Zach, and Elder Marvic are there. That’s where you’ll see the truth, not the voices that only you hear.”
I sighed and just nodded. I didn’t want to admit it, confusion was overwhelming my chest. But I wanted to see Aeron more than to continue to have nightmares about the voice that haunted my mind.
⸻
As we walked towards the woods, my heart beat faster. With each step, it felt like something was sucking my breath, as if something was coming that I didn't know whether to be happy or scared of. When we finally arrived, I was immediately stunned.
Aeron and Zach were there, both of them with their t-shirts off. Their bodies were sculpted with strength from fighting and suffering, glistening with sweat in the sun. I could barely stop my heart from beating faster at that moment, not because of shame, but because I knew this was their weapon, and now they would use it to overcome weakness.
Elder Marvic stood a few steps away from them, silent but with a sharp gaze, as if his experience was measuring their every move.
“Are you ready?” he asked, low but firm.
Zach nodded, his face confident. Then he slowly shifted. I saw his back arch, his bones crack, and in an instant his half-form appeared—not a full wolf, but only half. His eyes shone with gold, his ears pricked up, and his mouth bared dangerous fangs. On his hands grew sharp claws that looked like gleaming steel.
He wasn’t quite an animal, but he wasn’t quite a human either. A balance between two worlds.
“Aeron, you too,” Elder Marvic said.
I saw Aeron’s body stiffen. He took a deep breath, and pain immediately settled on his face. He held his head, his veins exposed, and I could almost hear his bones breaking and re-forming.
“Aeron…” I whispered, feeling the pain in every fiber of his body. I knew it hurt—more than the pain of a physical wound. This was a battle of flesh and soul. But even though he was shaking, he didn’t back down.
“Do it, Aeron. Don’t let go,” Elder Marvic ordered.
Gradually, his appearance changed as well. His eyes turned blue, his ears pricked, and his fangs appeared. His hands trembled before the sharp claws finally emerged. Although he was clearly struggling, he still stood up straight and faced Zach.
“When you are in this form,” Elder Marvic explained, “you have the ability to control both sides of you—the human and the wolf. This is where you find the balance of your strength. You are not completely a slave to the beast, but you are not limited by your nature either.”
Zach nodded, and in an instant he attacked.
Very fast.
Aeron could barely move during the first burst of attack. Sharp claws met him, and every time he dodged, it seemed like there was a faster strike. I could feel Aeron’s pain, and every time he fell to the ground, it was as if I was being hit myself.
“Aeron, fight!” my mind shouted, but I couldn’t say it out loud, afraid that he might be distracted.
He got up several times, fell again several times. His face was covered in mud and sweat, his chest heaving, but he didn't take his eyes off Zach.
“Just let him go,” Lira whispered next to me, her gaze fixed on the two of them. “He'll be stronger if he doesn't give up.”
“But… his body might not be able to handle it, Lira,” I replied, barely able to hide the tremor in my voice.
“If he stops now, he'll stay weak for life. Let him fight.”
But in the next moment, a powerful blow hit Aeron. He flew and fell heavily to the ground. The sound of his body hitting the hard ground echoed throughout the surroundings. I covered my mouth, feeling the pain of that fall.
“Aeron!” I screamed, almost running towards him. My eyes welled up with tears of pity and fear.
“Enough!” I shouted, full of anguish. “Don’t go on, I can’t stand to see Aeron hurt!”
They all froze. Zach backed away, panting but ready to fight. Aeron was on his knees, sweating profusely and almost unconscious. He slowly lifted his head, and there I saw his eyes—not full of fear, but full of fire and determination.
But at that moment, I didn’t see a wolf or a warrior in him. What I saw was the person I cared about, wounded and forced to stand up for everyone.
And I… I couldn’t watch any longer.