Chapter 136: The Man and the Wolf
Thelma Zane’s POV
his
After relentless persistence, my father finally relented and gave his approval. However, agreement was just one small victory in a series of insurmountable challenges. The next mountain to climb was my mother, who was vehemently against the idea of taking such a drastic risk. She refused to even entertain the notion until I uttered the words I had been
dreading to say.
don’t do this, I will die.”
The look on her face was heart–wrenching. She seemed utterly stricken, her eyes filling with tears almost instantly. My mother, who had always been a pillar of strength, now looked fragile and broken as she tried to grapple with the harsh truth I had laid before her.
“I didn’t want to tell you this,” I admitted, the weight of my confession settling heavily in the room. “But you need to understand that we’ve tried everything. All the methods we’ve used so far have been ineffective against my mutation. Even the purification runes, when merely drawn on my skin, are no more than a drop of water on a blazing fire. It’s not enough.”
My voice wavered, but I forced myself to continue. “If I don’t take this chance, my death is inevitable. This might be the only way to save myself. We can’t afford to wait any longer.
Her composure shattered. She began to cry uncontrollably, clutching at the chair beside her for support. Seeing her like this made my resolve falter for a moment, but I knew I couldn’t back down. This was my fight, and I needed her to understand that.
Finally, amidst her sobs, she managed to speak. “Don’t leave me behind, my baby,” she pleaded. Her voice was a whisper, trembling with grief. “I don’t care about anything else in this world. I just want you to stay with me. Don’t leave Mommy alone. Please, I beg you.
I nodded solemnly, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. “I promise,” I said softly. ” I’ll do everything I can to come back to you.”
I couldn’t bear to see the anguish in her eyes any longer, so I turned and walked into the treatment room, shutting the door behind me. The sound of the latch clicking echoed like a finality, a step closer to the unknown.
Inside, the werewolf grandmaster who specialized in ancient incantations awaited me. Her preparations were meticulous, the tools and potions arranged neatly on the table. She was tasked with engraving the purification runes onto my body, a procedure that would bind divine power directly to my flesh.
She looked at me gravely and said, “You still have a chance to reconsider. What you’re about to endure is excruciating. The pain will be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. The divine power within these runes will continuously erode your muscles and nerves. It is not just
Chap 16 The Man and the war.
physical but spiritual agony as well.”
I began removing my clothes, exposing my arms. My voice was steady, even as my heart pounded with anticipation. “No matter how painful it is, it can’t be worse than the thought of becoming a monster. Let’s begin.”
The engraving started. The first cut felt like a blade slicing through not just my skin but straight into my bones. The pain was sharp and searing, a torment that seemed to resonate within my very soul. It took everything in me not to cry out.
To distract myself, I began a conversation with the werewolf grandmaster. “You’re unfamiliar to me. Have I not attended any of your lectures before?”
“That’s correct,” she replied, her hand steady as she worked. “My name is Hayley. During the time you were receiving your sorcery education, I was on an assignment in Asia. Unfortunately, our paths didn’t cross then.”
Her words piqued my curiosity. “You look somewhat familiar, though. Have I met someone related to you?”
A faint smile touched her lips. “You likely attended classes with my twin sister, Mary. She’s also a master in sorcery.”
“You and Mary are twins?” I asked, surprised. “If you’d been around, I’m sure your classes would have been just as engaging as hers.”
Hayley chuckled softly, shaking her head. “I doubt that. Ancient spells are by far the dullest. subject in the entire curriculum. Staying awake through one of my lectures would be a rare feat
Indeed.”
“What exactly do ancient spells encompass?” I asked, curious despite the pain coursing
through me.
“They’re an extensive collection of knowledge,” she explained. “Ancient werewolf languages, arcane sorcery, elven tongues, and even the dialects of ancient humans. Every conceivable language or spell used by living beings falls under this category. But because it’s so intricate and tedious, very few people pursue it seriously anymore. Even among the elves and sorcerers, it’s a dying art.”
“Why would such powerful knowledge be neglected?” I wondered aloud.
Hayley’s expression turned thoughtful. “The world has changed,” she said. “In the chaotic. past, these spells were indispensable. But now, with relative peace and the advent of modern methods, their practical value has diminished. Substitutes for most ancient spells are readily available, often more effective and efficient. As a result, the time and effort required to master them no longer seem worthwhile.”
As she completed the
last stroke on my left hand, Hayley added, “Whether we like it or not, human influence has shaped us more profoundly than we care to admit. They’ve gone from
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being prey to becoming the dominant force in the living world, and their culture has permeated every aspect of our existence.”
Her words lingered in my mind, sparking deep reflection. It was true that the world was no longer what it had been centuries ago. Humans, once seen as fragile and insignificant, now stood as the unchallenged rulers of the mortal realm. Their strength lay not in physical prowess but in their ingenuity and adaptability, traits that had reshaped the dynamics of power among all races.
Even the werewolves had adopted many human customs. Our once–pristine wilderness had given way to modern lifestyles, and our values were subtly but unmistakably influenced by human ideals. For instance, traits like purity and fragility, once mocked among werewolves were now admired by some, a shift fueled by human media and culture.
As Hayley moved to my other arm, I found myself contemplating the future. If human influence continued to grow unchecked, how much of our identity would remain intact? And if we lost ourselves entirely, what would we become?
The pain of the engravings persisted, but it felt secondary to the storm of thoughts within me. As the final lines of the purification runes were etched onto my skin, I realized that this was more than a physical transformation. It was a declaration of who I was and what I stood for. Though the path ahead was uncertain and fraught with challenges, I was determined to face it head–on, embracing both the scars and the strength they symbolized.
