Lost In Thoughts

< Normal POV >

"That was a nice nap!" Phineas stretched his arms when he came out from the bedroom.

‘But I am impressed. The Seer doesn’t have any maids around and with a weak affinity to magic, he definitely had a lot of time to clean here.’

He arrived at the living room and spotted the Seer reading one of the books he lent months back.

Up until now, he hadn’t returned it to him but it didn't matter. Samael didn't know how to return what he borrowed, after all.

His head perked up and his eyes lit. “Oh, about time you’re awake. You slept like a log for five hours.”

‘That long?’ He thought. He yawned again as he stretched his arms.

"With the events yesterday and some renovations in the aftermath, would you really blame me if I wanted to take a break?"

He gave him an odd stare. “The current Alpha leader hasn’t rested until now.”

Phineas ruffled his hair. “Well, I need more energy to gain more mana. Do you mind if you cut me some slack when I’m this tired?” He yawned again.

In fact, Phineas needed a long break before they would set up for another upcoming war. He had a feeling the other packs were notified by the invasion and were ready to strike when they were at their most vulnerable.

“By the way,” the Seer eyed him with disdain. “You knew I hated the color purple.”

He sneered. “Well, you kicked me out even though I needed more information last night. I couldn’t come back to Lord Varick with no information, you know.”

The Seer laughed as he shut the hard-bound book. He stood up as he returned it back to its shelf.

As Phineas observed, he wouldn't be seeing his old book anytime soon.

“A payback then? My, you might have the brains for academics but your brain operates like a child, High Mage.”

Phineas's frown deepened while he clenched his fists. If he had the chance, someday, he could teleport the Seer while he bathed in the Town Square just to give him a taste of humiliation.

However, that would only prove Samael's point.

He sighed. "This is why I hate talking to you when you are too unpredictable. You would be the nicest wolf to talk to and next thing I knew, you easily piss anyone off with your words alone."

He only received a laugh from the Seer and Phineas knew dwelling on this topic would only irritate him more.

So much for a great nap.

He scanned the room. “Which reminds me, where is the Luna?”

The Seer was busy picking a book from the shelf as he replied, “She left.”

Phineas’s lips twitched as his brows furrowed.

“What?”

The Seer faced him as he feigned ignorance. “You heard me. She left hours ago.”

“A-And you let her be?” Phineas’s troubles continued to pile up and it wouldn’t last long before the Alpha Leader would finally cut his head off.

“She was in a hurry. Most likely to see her husband.” He added.

Phineas couldn’t believe his ears as the blood on his face drained. “You should have awakened me, you damn Seer!”

Apparently, his rage only encouraged the Seer to reveal his hidden sadism as he scoffed.

“I only wanted to meet her and give her what she needed. Besides, she didn't want to wake you from your slumber."

“Y-you! Oh, for crying out loud!”

Phineas knew he had no time to waste as he pulled out the magic mirror and thought carefully of Rosaria’s face and name.

These are what he needed to locate her whereabouts.

The magic mirror revealed a familiar forest that led to the path to the Alpha Leader’s home.

He could see Rosaria’s blueish hair in the front view as if he was just behind her.

He signed in relief as he placed the mirror back to his pouch.

“It seems you have a fascination towards her, High Mage.”

Phineas grimaced. “I don’t have time for idle chitchats, Samael.”

“I was wrong.” Seems like the Seer was in a cheerful mood for a conversation. “I apologize, I have offended you.”

'Now, just ignore him and focus on getting to the Luna.' He closed his eyes and he was ready to teleport.

“I have forgotten that you were still in love with the former Alpha Leader.”

Phineas’s body stiffened before he gave him a deadly glare and grabbed his collar.

“I don’t recall mentioning that detail even when drunk.”

“Oh? So I was right then?”

‘Fuck,’ Phineas had been fooled by him. He released him and sighed.

“No, you’re wrong. Stop jumping to conclusions with your assumptions,” Phineas snapped while poking with his finger on his chest. “He was the reason why I decided to work hard honing my magic.” And then he clenched his fists. “And just to make things clear: I deeply respected the former Alpha Leader. My lack of lust for any wolf or any fucking race is my proof of that.”

For Phineas one thought that came to his mind whenever the Seer showed his playful side.

And most of the time, it always riled anyone up.

In other words, that was his nature as a borderline sadist.

Now, he was starting to regret leaving Rosaria alone because he was sure that Samael was greatly fascinated knowing her.

…unless she was the one who riled him up.

“Anyway, I am leaving,” he said. “If Lord Varick shows up here, tell him to call my name.”

"Just one last thing, Phineas."

"What? I don't have time for you mind games, Seer."

"Why didn't you ask Rosaria about her questionable mana?"

'See what I mean? This is the reason why I couldn't stand talking at random times.'

"Well, it is something I would rather observe than to ask directly." He frowned.

"She isn't aware of it yet and…" He sighed. "Samael, I'd rather you keep this between us. The Alpha leader doesn't need to know."

The Seer gave a mystic smile. "Why, of course. I do know how to keep secrets."

He glared at him. "You better keep your word."

'Because who knows how long the Alpha Leader would revert back to his old habits. With the Luna pregnant, hopefully, he wouldn't wreak havoc like last time…'

He sighed.

Because the last time he had witnessed Varick in a state of madness was when he received the news of his upcoming death.

The other time when he became a broken soul? Was when he lost his father.

=====

Even though it wasn't a long time since I stepped in the marketplace…I wasn't ready to see the area.

The buildings were mostly turned to rubble as some were burned and others collapsed.The pavements were murky dark color which I predicted to be dried blood that hadn't been washed.

But what made me petrified were the piles of bodies in the form of a hill engulfed with fire.

I clasped my mouth as I recognized the pungent smell strong enough to make me faint.

I decided to move forward. Passing by the sturdy buildings which were occupied by the injured, I heard screaming and crying and I bit my lower lip when I caught sight of wolves weeping on the ground as they held small flowers for their beloved.

Then I heard a voice of a wailing child and I dashed to locate its source. As I turned at the corner, there I witnessed a child crying in front of his father.

I gripped my arm.

Hatiist spells were banal in the presence of the Skollist wolves and so, the Hatiists stopped practicing them and were all hidden in the store room.

I was only eight when I practiced them in secret.

And now, when I witnessed someone's life fading away.

I was in a turmoil of whether to rush to her aid…

….and experienced the wrath of the pack.

"Papa! No! Don't leave me!" The child's wail echoed in my ears and looking at the sight of the man who tried to fight his fate of death, I gulped.

"Boy! Let me see him!" I exclaimed as I skidded and slid to kneeled next to the child and I faced the wounded man.

His lips were of purplish color and seeing the dark blood slipping through his ears, he was pierced with poison.

I smiled at the child. "I will save your father, trust me."

The hope of the child's eyes encouraged me to take this risk.

It was a risk, I could take so there won't be unnecessary deaths!

The crystal blue circle grew as I raised my hands in the form of a prayer.

"Hati, la—"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

The circle stopped as I was distracted with a thunderous voice and the sight of the Counselor, Magellan and his men saw me.

They looked mortified at the sight of the circle and when it disappeared, Magellan cut his trance-like thoughts as his expression morphed into anger.

"GUARDS! SEIZE THAT WOMAN THIS INSTANT!"