CH 49

The symbol of Thersion shone with blue light on Ysildus’ forehead. The same symbol was also shining on Alexa’s forehead. 

It means that Ysildus accepted Alexa as his companion. As soon as he realized that his companion was in danger, Ysildus’ body grew in an instant. The big wolf the size of a small mansion managed to catch up with Alexa’s fall. Ysildus pulled the limp Alexa into his arms. Alexa was scratched by a tree or something, which made her look like a mess. 

Ysildus licked Alexa’s face. The latter was frozen in the cold rain. Ysildus’ blood also seemed to freeze with the cold rain. Ysildus grabbed Alexa with his muzzle. Then he flew – to the highest and safest place. Ysildus landed on the balcony, opening the door with his snout. As Selina had said, Ysildus entered a room with a high ceiling in the mansion. 

“You’re looking good, Ysildus.” 

Sitting on the table and casually drinking, Carlisle smiled. If there was something that Selina had overlooked, it was this. If a strong wolf wouldn’t fall asleep, the Grand Duke and his wife wouldn’t as well. It was something she hadn’t thought of. That there were witnesses to her doing something like this, which she thought was a perfect crime. Essellia, who was in Carlisle’s arms, jumped up. She pulled Alexa out of Ysildus’ muzzle. 

“Goodness, she looked pitiful. She’s frozen….” 

Essellia hugged Alexa and laid her down in front of the fireplace. Pulling off the blanket from the bed, she wrapped it around Alexa like a cocoon. Ysildus lowered himself while revealing his teeth. He looked like he was about to pounce into Carlisle at any moment. 

“There’s no need for that, Ysildus.” Carlisle whispered softly. “I made a promise with your mother. If that child survives tonight, I won’t kill her.” 

“Krrrr –“ 

“You must be tired. Go to sleep. You had an incomplete awakening. Tsk, tsk, to think that you’ll take a human as your companion.” 

Carlisle was smiling even though he clicked his tongue disapprovingly. As if this situation couldn’t be more enjoyable. Carlisle turned and left the bedroom. 

Tonight, Alexa survived. It was some sort of gamble. Carlisle wanted to know how much of an influence Alexa had to Ysildus. He was curious as he watched the foolish human tame and stimulate Ysildus. It was Alexa who awakened Ysildus’ dormant obsession. To think that it was also Alexa who led to Ysildus’ incomplete awakening. 

‘I have no choice but to admit it.’ 

Carlisle burst into a sudden uncontrollable laughter. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Ysildus hovered around Alexa anxiously. Finishing her rough treatment, Essellia took a step back from Alexa. Ysildus glanced at her and then curled his body, holding Alexa in his arms. Alexa’s body was now buried under his thick fur. Ysildus sniffed Alexa to make sure that she was safe, burying her head between his paws. 

When she saw him like that, Essellia muttered, “She’s really small.” 

Essellia left the room with the thought that she should prepare some nutritional supplements to feed Alexa with. Only the sound of the crackling fire filled the silence in the room. Fortunately, Alexa only passed out due to immense surprise and didn’t appear to have any serious injuries. Essellia closed the door for Alexa and Ysildus to rest. 

You must have been exhausted tonight. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Alexa had a dream. In that dream, she was running away from a huge wolf and was crushed by its huge paws. She gasped for breath and woke up just as she thought she was about to die. 

“Hmmm….” Alexa blinked. “Huh…?” 

Alexa couldn’t think properly as she was still in a daze, and it took her quite a while to come to terms with the present situation. 

“Where am I…?” 

Alexa blinked her eyes again. She was in a place she had never been to. It was a room that seemed to have a twice higher ceiling than her own room. Other rooms inside the Thersion Castle also have high ceilings, but they aren’t as high as this one. Moreover, the ceiling was made of glass where you could directly see the sky. She could see the sun slowly rising and the clouds swimming in the sky. 

Was there a place like this inside the Thersion Castle? Alexa rose to her feet. She stood up as she treaded on the soft hair wrapping around her and saw the burning fireplace. The scene inside the room with no other furniture other than a bed, the balcony, rugs, and tapestries  caught her eye.

Lastly, 

She saw a huge wolf with fur like pure white snow and eyes like blue sapphires. Alexa was the sleeping main character whom it was waiting for until now. The wolf licked its paws with a relaxed expression. Alexa’s figure was reflected on the wolf’s big eyes as he lowered his head. 

Unknowingly, Alexa asked, “… Ysildus?” 

The wolf quietly rubbed the back of his nose on the back of Alexa’s hand as if it was correct. 

“Why are you….” 

She couldn’t figure out everything. Her head goes murky when she tries to think of yesterday. Something definitely must have happened…. Her whole body was aching, and Ysildus suddenly grew into a huge wolf. I remember that he still had about a year and half left for his secondary growth though. 

Alexa touched Ysildus’ nose. Ysildus had grown beyond recognition, but his face resting gently on Alexa’s palm was the same as before. Alexa’s heart thumped. It was an act of intimacy that Ysildus only showed to Alexa. Every time Ysildus breathed, his warm and humid breath swept through Alexa. 

“He had an incomplete awakening.” 

Surprised, Alexa turned her head when she suddenly heard a voice. Carlisle was leaning on the doorway. 

“He will soon return to his original form.” 

Carlisle walked in calmly and put more wood in the fireplace. 

“Incomplete… awakening?” 

Carlisle stared at Alexa with an amused look. “Do you remember what happened yesterday?” 

Alexa thought for a moment and then shook her head. 

“Oh, my.” 

Carlisle smiled. His reddish eyes softly curled. Ysildus stood up behind Alexa. He was revealing his teeth and pulling Alexa towards him by his tail. 

“Ohh?” 

“I won’t touch what’s yours even if you don’t give me that look, Ysildus. It was also stipulated in the laws of the same race.” 

“Krrrrr –“ 

Alexa was startled and clung to Ysildus’ side. When he was small, he just looked cute no matter how he looked threatening, but she was really scared now. 

“Scared?”

Carlisle asked in a soft voice. Taken aback by the sudden situation, Alexa nodded her head. 

“Where is this place…?” 

“The bedroom of the Family Head of Thersion, Endeltherium. Do you see that over there?” Carlisle pointed his finger toward the ceiling. Alexa nodded her head. “Moonlight pours in there when there is a full moon – right where you are.” 

Was there a setting like this? Endeltherium was never described in the novel, and up to the part that Alexa had read, Ysildus was mostly on the battlefield. She never imagined that Endeltherium was a place like this. 

There were so many unexpected things. Like things that Alexa didn’t know about, and the change of a person’s character settings; people who should have died survived. It was clear that it also affected the flow of the world. Gradually, the flow of the novel was also heading towards the unknown.  

(T/N: Into the unknown~ into the unknown~~ into the unknown oh oh oh~~~)

“What… happened to Ysildus? Can he turn into a human now?” 

“It was literally just an incomplete awakening out of necessity. He’s still just a little wolf. He will return to his original state soon.” 

“Does it mean he can’t turn into a human yet?” 

Carlisle lightly shrugged his shoulders. 

“It’s still unknown. As is often the case with unpredictable incomplete awakening.” 

“There is… nothing wrong with Ysildus, right?” 

“Nothing. Ah, it seems the time has come.” 

The tail around Alexa started to shrink. Already expecting it, Carlisle was looking at Ysildus. 

Shrinking to the same size he was before, Ysildus drooped. Alexa looked at him with curiosity and thought for a moment. For some reason, it feels like Carlisle will answer whatever question Alexa asks him now. 

Alexa hesitated before asking, “Why am I here? Did something happen yesterday?” 

“You don’t remember anything?” 

“Yes.” 

“There must have been a reason for you to forget, so forget it.” 

Carlisle gave her a light answer and ordered Alexa to get out of the room. 

“Stop talking now and get out. Essellia is waiting for you in your bedroom.” 

It means don’t ask him any questions. He thought that it would be better to ask Essellia questions, who was waiting for her.

(T/N: I thought Ysildus became a human… ears drooping)