-Wolf territory. Midday. 3RD POV-

About 15 minutes after encountering the genderless Wolf, the white-haired girl and the purple-blue Dragon reached the half-meter tall grass surrounding Marshland shores. A sandy mud bank extended for 5 meters up to where the water surface just a meter below ground level. The shoreline divided the plains to their right and left while the shallow waters, disturbed by the southern winds blowing small waves, extended as far as the eye could see to the Northwest.

""Wooahh..."" The two sounded in awe as the sound noisily brushes the grass all around and critters chitter in unison.

"It looks soooo big from down here!" The girl commented, leaning on the Dragon's right.

"Imagine all the fish we could get here..."

"Ueh!? That's what's on your mind??"

"What? It's just a large pond. I can't even see a deep part... The Ocean will blow your mind!"

"Is-is that so?"

The Dragon prepared to enter the water when the girl crossed her legs, feeling urges from her neather region, and called out. "Um, Nefi..."

"Sup?"

"I can't...hold it anymore."

"Oh, I gotta take a dump too..."

"..."

Nefiru balanced his body, then used the left hind paw to carve a hole big enough to fit a person. He took a step forward and turn right before ordering. "Go."

"Erm... So close...?"

"Hurry up, Shaila."

"...Yes..." The girl resigned and rushed to the hole before crouching down on the edge. After finishing her businesses, she demanded. "Done. Wash me! And my clothes..."

"Use grass, and go to the water..."

"Ehhh... No way! That's dirty..."

"Ugh... My poor Elementals for healing..." The Beast lamented with his ears hanging and complied begrudgingly. Well, there's more nearby...

After a moment and a few giggles, she rejoiced. "Huuah~ All clean! Mn, much comfortable..."

Nefiru waited until she dressed up and said. "Okay, help me here..." He requested, lowering his body.

"Uhn? Oki..."

The girl ripped out the metal shards from the wing bones in the wounds and pulled the broken scales, then helped fold back the mingled wing as it cracked uncomfortably.

"Huuuu~ Finally!" She breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a bloodied hand.

"Yeaahhhh... Good work. Too bad we can't tie it..."

"You need a lot of stitches too hihihi~" Shaila mocked with a mischievous grin and started poking a finger through a tear in the scaly leather.

"Ow...ow...ow--Stop that!"

"You can feel that?"

"A little... It's not entirely dead tissue."

"Is it like skin?"

"I wish..." He replied, moving back over the hole.

"...I'll wait in the water."

"Okay."

A moment later, the Beast finished his business, covered the hole with the surrounding dirt and followed after the girl that stood 25 meters away from the shore. *Pwuash! Pwuash!* He walked on the half-foot-deep waters, leaving paw prints just as deep, stopped behind the girl and looked down. Shaila was about done washing her Hair and turned while gathering it with a hand, then tied it with a metal wire carefully.

"...Your Hair looks more frizzy now."

"Ugh! Being a Human girl isn't easy! I'm not at Home..."

"My bad... We'll prepare more next time, okay?"

"Mn. But I need something now."

"...I'll...do something later..."

The two magicians concentrated on replenishing their reserves. With plenty of Water Elementals, the Dragon continued healing himself, and after trial and error for several minutes, he managed to reattach the bones.

...

Past the first afternoon Quarter, The Beast had recovered his injuries but kept molding Mana for the Rank advancement.

"HUUuuu~" Nefiru exhaled deeply and announced. "Alright, that's enough Healing..."

The girl standing in the water in front of him turned around and asked, tilting her head while looking up. "Done already?"

The Beast lifted the right forepaw and showed her the rosy new skin. "Just the flesh. The Hide on my paw and Wings will take much longer. But I'm mentally exhausted." He declared and slumped on the spot. *Thuoampsh!* He crossed his forelegs and rested his head over them, then let out a deep sigh that blew waves on the water. "HUUuuufff..."

"Well...rest then." The girl said as she crouched next to the scaly head and patted it.

...

A few minutes pass in silence as the Beast relaxed, and the girl started to get bored. She walked up to the left forearm, stepped on it and washed the mud from her feet before climbing over his shoulder and onto his back.

The Dragon opened his right eye lazily while grumbling. "...NNNG...?" He lifted his head and looked at his back with slanted eyes.

The girl noticed his reproaching gaze and blurted. "I'm bored! I can't practice Magic until we are safe." She declared unhappily and sat down leg-crossed, then crossed her arms while pouting.

"...Alright." She'll fall asleep when she relaxes... "But be careful with the Left Wing. The bones haven't hardened yet."

"Eeeh... Why aren't healing them? Dummy!" She admonished, reaching for one of the sensitive wounds missing scales on the left wing and started rubbing the rosy membrane.

"Mmmrrrmm..." He started purring with eyelids lowered comfortably as all the pain was gone and the weather invited him to rest.

"Hihi~ Are you a cat?"

"...Because it will only take a few minutes with an Earth user?" He retorted, looking at the sleeping wolf in the distance. And it would take over a day to harden naturally. If I didn't learn Healing--Yikes!

"...Lazy!" She admonished and pointed at the East while looking at the Dragon. "A-and I don't want to rely on that Wolf! We almost died because of it! It deserves to be enslaved as punishment!" She disgruntled angrily while gesticulating.

"Shaila..." The Dragon spoke with a serious tone and stared into her silver eyes. "I didn't tell you to be angry and irrational. That's just how things happen. And even if it did lure the other Mokua to us on purpose, it will compensate with service. There is no need for punishment."

"Nefi! Don't be soft on a coward that abandoned its own family! That wolf cannot be trusted. Other wolves would reject it if they knew as well."

"Yes, you are right." He praised and nodded with a smile. The girl visibly relaxed and eased her anger, then went back to caress his wounded wing. The Dragon then continued. "But making use of someone is better than disposing of them. I would use my enemies if I could. We'll just 'educate' it."

"Mhmm..." She thought for a moment while looking down, and then turned left with a skeptical expression. "Is that Wolf really worth all that trouble?"

"Yes." Nefiru replied with a big nod and tilted his head. "Can you not see its 'potential?'"

"Umm... To produce Elements and Heal?"

"And much more!"

"Uh-huh... Nefi...Dual-Magicians with High-Talents is better. They'll Rank up much faster than that Wolf. And there should be many in this Tribe. Just call for them."

"Oh, yeah! I gotta do that..." He approved, taking a mental note before continuing. "BUT! Dual or even Tri-magicians like me are more limited than we thought."

"How so?"

"Well, I've noticed some Earth and Fire users have trouble learning and producing certain compounds. This limitation looks similar to how not every Magician with Water and Light can be a Healer, doesn't it?"

"Uhn? You think it's because of 'rejected Affinities' too?"

"Exactly! Having two Elementals overlap their influence over the Periodic Table increases control over some Elements, but having a matching Aptitude might have a similar effect..."

"Huh? Like those who can do things without the required affinity?"

"Kind of. Manipulating Spiritual properties doesn't involve Elementals, but the only way to use Magic is by accepting the Elementals to mark our Souls, so how do natural Aptitudes have an influence on other Affinities?"

"Um... They are connected?"

"Well, yeah. Since the Elemental System quantifies Aptitudes, they have to be some kind of attunement of the Soul that grows Spiritually..."

"So...it's an intrinsic capability of the Soul then. Like a Key that can open other doors."

"Oh? Nicely put, Shaila."

"Huhun~"

"And this capability to use Elementals to a greater potential can work even below the threshold that qualifies for Low-Affinity markings."

"Oooh! A threshold explains the inability to sense or choose other Affinities..."

"Indeed."

"Why isn't this common knowledge!!?"

"Well...knowing doesn't change anything..."

"Oh...right..."

"But Aptitudes could be cultivated to choose at Divine Rank..."

"Aaah! That sounds enticing! If...we could do it too..."

"Yeah, our Grand affinities won't allow us to accept another Elemental--ever!"

"Aawww~ I wanted Darkness to control the whole electromagnetic spectrum..."

"And I want Fire!" He announced enthusiastically, and then, turned serious. "Though Lightning would love to get rid of my other Elementals. I hope nothing happens at Divine Rank..."

"...You speak as if they are alive."

"Yeah... Ever since that deal, I've been sensing their intent just as they sense ours through Spirit. They are part of an interdimensional sentient System or maybe Aspects of a Cosmic Entity..."

"What's the difference?! And these Aspects hate each other anyway..."

"Ha ha..." The Dragon laughed hopelessly and hanged his head downcast. "Let us lament, together."

"Hehe..." She chuckled and reached out to scratch his chin. "But Nefi--..."

"Hm?"

"I spe--Shimmer spent a very long time on that Icy place, and...environment affects natural Affinities, right? So I should have an Aptitude for Water--others should have it as well, but we cannot make Lifeforce for others!"

"Oh, yeah, about that... I got some more ideas about the hidden effects of Affinities and Aptitudes."

He never stops with the conjectures... "Like what?"

"Like...Affinity markings on our Souls enhancing our natural Aptitudes."

"Ah, yes...our Grand Affinities certainly did that... Wait... Shouldn't Light suppress my Water Aptitude instead?!"

"Hm? I...don't sense anything like that from Lightning. I probably wouldn't be able to Heal if that happens."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I think that Healers need more than Two Affinities or Aptitudes to Make Lifeforce for others."

"Huh?! You got that from rumors and inconsistencies?"

"And correlations!" He pointed out gesticulating with his head.

"O...kay..."

"Look, everyone can Mold their own Lifeforce, probably because our bodies makes the compatible Frequencies naturally, but to make Lifeforce for others, we need certain Attunements to the Elements, and uh...capabilities because of the composition and structure of foreign organisms."

"...Huh??!! But...but Healers only have Water and Light!"

"And the Human body is mostly Water. Not mine though..."

"Ehh... But Grandma said it's because Water is Life."

"Just as Light is Life for many lifeforms. But not all. And non-water based life could exist as well. The Wolves even said that talking rocks might exist."

"Pfff! Ta-talking rocks hehehe..."

"Anyway, the Human body is made up of 65% Oxygen and 10% Hydrogen...which would be Fire Affinity, but Molecules and their properties changes which Affinity controls them more, so Water affinity dominates H2O."

"I see... Wait, even the Humans of this World?"

"Uhh... I guess we need confirmation, huh?"

"Yes... But keep going."

"Right, so...it's 18 % Carbon, 3% Nitrogen, 1.5% Calcium, 1% Phosphorus, and the rest under 1%..."

"Ohh... I was expecting more Calcium."

"Well, you aren't covered in Scales or Fur, so..."

"Uh-huh..." The girl acknowledged and tapped the colorful scales with her nails. "So...Earth if most compounds are solid?"

"Yeeeeah... Although Elementals overlap their control over substances, so certain Affinity and Aptitude combinations could still grant the ability."

"I see... And your Aptitude for Earth is strong enough?"

"Yup. I remember sensing other Elementals before awakening. I think Earth and Fire felt the strongest after Light..."

"Oh..." The girl lowered her head disappointedly before murmuring. "I don't remember that, but mine is probably too low..."

"Yeah... But you could be close..."

"Huh?! You think so?"

"Yeah, since you love falling down and squirming in the mud!"

"Aah--! Y-you fall too! And you have four legs!"

"But you fall in cute ways hahaha!"

"Geh! S-shut up!"

"But seriously though, your Aptitudes could grow enough to Heal one day."

"Really?"

"Yeah, if you sit under a Waterfall for a few decades!"

"Ack! Stop teasing!" Shaila shouted angrily and pinched the Beast's soft tissue.

"Owowow! Words don't hurt!"

"Hmph!" She harrumphed in displeasure and released her fingers. "And you left Light out of your theory!"

"Meh, it probably just supplements or something."

"That it?? Light is more important! It does something great!"

"Okay, okay... Hmm, yes, Light and Darkness are common denominators in Healers and those creepy guys, but they don't produce Elements, they are just...Electromagnetic radiation--Waves!"

"Waves... Ah! Could it be that Light is what allows healers to make the Life force of others? The Key to Spiritual manipulation!"

"Hmm... It's a hell of a coincidence that Electromagnetism which propagates in waves allow us to make waves in Mana haha..."

"I'll take it! That explains a lot, Nefi."

"Oh, well, I can't think of anything better. We'll try to confirm it later."

"Uhn. Sorry for doubting you so much."

"Nah, I need you to be skeptical like that. I actually perfected my theory with you."

"Oki..." Shaila affirmed and looked into the watery distance. "So, I just have an activator, but not the substance to Heal..."

"Oh? Nicely put. But Shaila, did you even try molding Life-force aside from Humans at all?"

"Huh? Of course not! Why would I--? Ah, you-you can't mean--?!"

The Dragon smiled and declared. "It's possible that you can make non-Human Life force."

She looked happy for an instant, then turned gloomy again. "Oh... But that's useless..."

"So greedy..."

"Uuh... I just...wanted to do more..."

"Well, it's good to be versatile, but it's better to develop your current abilities more."

"...I understand." She acknowledged and looked down at the purple-blue shades glistening in the sunlight while pondering. "Heey... What do you heal with Lightning?"

"Hmm?!? Not sure... It's a little different than the other non-Elemental Affinities, but it should allow me to do something too."

"Is that so? Haaa... I wish I had these answers for you..."

"It's okay. I am speculating things outside the norm. I am out of the norm!"

"Hehe... Hold on... Can you Heal plants too?"

"Well... I tried on the way here..." The Dragon replied and glanced behind the girl, at the grass plains. He continued. "While collecting Elementals, I found some random Weeds that have a stronger Lifeforce and Spirit than the rest."

"Wa? Weeds?" The girl scanned the grass but saw nothing out of the ordinary and the shore was beyond her Magic range to probe. "I didn't notice. Strange..."

"Anyway, I tried on those, but I couldn't reproduce more than 30% of their Lifeforce frequency."

"Aaww... I remember that frustration! So, your Earth Talent isn't potent enough?"

"Maybe. Or maybe I need a better affinity for Fire or Wind."

"Ah..."

"Unfortunately..." Nefiru started saying, paused and continued with a heavy tone. "My Affinities may have been taken along with my Soul pieces by that asshole who must-not-be-named. Grrr! I must find a way to confirm what happened in the past..."

"Nefi..." The girl uttered sympathetically while petting the beast. "It's okay... We are making progress. One day, we'll be ready!"

"Yeah... I need every advantage possible...not just for this world, but for the far future."

"Yes. I understand what you mean about that Wolf now. It can make any Element, any chemistry compound, and heal any creature. It makes me somewhat envious..."

"Indeed. We'll have to explore the capabilities of that wolfen fully. But I'm confident that it can strengthen my body in ways, impossible for other Magicians."

"Uhn... Like making Dimond and Tungsten bodyparts for you?"

"Not just that. It can probably find Lifeforce frequencies that can glue my Spirit to inorganic materials like those and expand my Domain to aid Soul growth."

"Waaaa--?! T-that...that's crazy! Is that even possible?"

"I think so. I made another interesting discovery."

"Oh?"

"Apparently, there's a whooole spectrum of compatible Lifeforce Frequencies for Cells and other tissue. But, of course, precision is the best..."

"Ahh... Yes, Healers do Heal instinctively."

"That's important, you know? It has various applications. We could even make HP Potions!"

"Umm, Nefi...those might exist already."

"Huh?"

"Some Tinkers drug stores sell 'miraculous Potions' for poor people who can't afford a Healer."

"Seriously?!!"

"Yes, but they aren't that effective and expire fast."

"Well, the Wolves said that the expiration of Lifeforce depends on the Magician's Rank, and the compatibility can't be helped."

"Oh, that's true."

"Well, anyway, this means that Frequencies that can stick Lifeforce to different structures and compositions exist. Normally, I would've needed to find Magicians with the right Affinity combinations, but that Wolfen...has them all. Although finding those combinations will be the hardest Magic experiment in the world!"

"Uwaahh... Suddenly, I'm not envious anymore."

"Haha..."

...

The minutes pass as the Dragon and the girl replenished their resources while moving around in the marsh. With nothing else to do, he recalled the long fight and asked the girl on his right. "Hey, Shaila... Does fighting improves magic more than just training normally? Because right after the fight up there, the automatic Fragment notification appeared in my vision."

"Mhn? I don't remember being told that specifically, but 'being creative' should include battle as well. But maybe it's random or it has conditions?"

"Erina also mentioned something about it, but she acted like it was a rare thing..."

"You should've asked her then, not me."

"Ugh! Damn wolves won't tell me everything! Why does everyone hold back knowledge so fucking much??!"

"Because it's precious? Perhaps they even do it subconsciously in fear of being overthrown. It's just the norm to hide discoveries and only reveal the bare minimum. Also, for your own safety. You need to spend time with a teacher since there is no practical system in this world to pass on knowledge as effectively as yours. It's all so vague and descriptions of feelings. Even the books are cryptic."

"I see... We should look for trouble and test it!"

"Ayyyy..." The girl stopped what she was doing and facepalmed. "I think I just realized why they didn't tell you."

"Oh, yeah?"

"They were worried about you!"

"Haha..."

"There is no revival in this world, you know? Only idiots would risk their lives fighting for a slight improvement."

"Hmm... But it will be worth it if we prepare enough."

"...Maybe..."

"We need to return to the Mana Vein as soon as possible."

...

Another 20 minutes go by. By now, the two Wolf groups were now minutes away from the charred insects. The two magicians continued moving west in the shallow waters, then started returning to the shore.

Nefiru looked around and saw no signs of any enemies, confirmed his reserves were nearly full, then announced. "Alright, I'm gonna start advancement."

"Oh? Go for it, Nefi."

"HUUuu~" He took a deep breath and exhaled then commanded in his mind. Display Fragment Notification.

[Attention! Conscious Spirit Density Has Met Realm Requirements For Partial Soul Materialization...]

"There it is..." The Dragon blinked several times and shook his head but the message remained floating in his vision regardless. "Good thing this game-like message didn't appear during the fight..."

"Eh, there's nothing in your eyes."

"Nah, it must be happening at conscious-level since I also remember the warnings before birth. It's my first memory."

"Eh?! How??"

"I was probably inside the egg already but my consciousness was mostly active within the Fragment at that time..."

"Wow... Cheating since birth... I wanna see."

The Dragon used Light Magic and showed her the translated message in red letters.

"Um, I get the rest...but what does conscious Spirit mean?"

"I wondered that too. I think the Spiritual density where your consciousness reside determines control over your own Soul."

"So... Divine is full control over the Soul, huh? That must feel wonderful..."

"Who knows? Anyway, I'm starting."

"Oki."

Ok, Google, resume Soul Materialization process.

[Warning! All Necessary Forms Of Energy Available Will Be Consumed...]

Haha, just the intent works, huh? Do it, Siri! *Zoooh~!* The surplus Spirit threads weaved in the brain regions like roots of a tree down to the subatomic level began sinking in the veil of reality increasingly faster, dividing and changing thier properties while dragging Mana threads along and doing the same to them. "Uuurgh! T-this feels...unpleasant..."

"Really?"

"Guh! It-it hurts a little... My Spiritual sense is also disappearing..."

"Well, the Spirit has the deliver the Mana somehow, right?"

"I guess..."

"Can I probe your head?"

"Be gentle."

"Heh Heh." The girl chuckled mischievously with a nod and wriggled her Magic within his head. "Huhum~ This is interesting. I can feel your Magic threads unraveling into smaller strands beyond my senses."

"Oh?"

"It doesn't look like they leave our Realm. It's no wonder the common belief that Mana just forms the Soul persists."

"Shaila, is there anything that stands out in my head? Like Mana threads converging in one spot?"

"Hm? Umm... Everything seems evenly... No, hold on...it's not completely random." She revealed and did a wider inspection. "A portion of Mana threads are unweaving towards one spot--"

"That must be where the Fragment is!"

"The angles point...below your brain, on that bony tip of your cranium..."

"Ohh! Excellent work, Shaila."

The girl waited for a moment before asking. "Can you sense it?"

"Hnnng... No...nothing. Dang! It must still be smaller than a Bacteria. Even after a thousand years..."

"Don't you already interact with it?"

"Not freely. The commands are restricted to this Soul Stage."

"I see... Well, at least you know where it is..."

"Yeah..."

...

A minute passed, and by now, an inch of Spirit was swallowed every second. "GWUAAH!" The Dragon roared and lowered his head while shutting his eyes. "Ugh... I thought this was gonna be amazing like in Xianxia, but this sucks!"

"Just a little more and it's over!"

"Yeah..."

...

A few seconds later, all the Spirit threads had disappeared form the Dragon's body. His body became heavy and felt mentally fatigued. He left the swamp and laid down on the grass while staring at the water.

The girl followed behind and sat on his left foreleg, then asked a moment later. "How are you feeling?"

"Wuokumfulable! Twuaiiire, weeeak, adnn kants zense aneeetheeen. Uugh!" I feel so weak... This state will be so much dangerous at Rank 10...

"Ah, you lost the Magic assisting with speech."

"Hesshh..."

"What about Wolf growls?"

"Wuoh, yheeah... Gohum! Twuesting, tesshtling...teshting--I gol it! Feels like Hyuman language gets halder the biggem I get dough."

"Or maybe you should practice more without magic!"

"Guh! Alaigt..."

...

A few minutes after.

"Wuooohh! My Shpirit is retulning!"

"Already?!!!"

"Elm... It stopped at the shol length of the head... Wut da fuk?"

"Oh, umm... That must mean you still need more Mana. Keep replenishing."

"Ugh... Why ish my maghik nol enuff?"

"Umm...maybe because you are small?"

"Uaagh... Grrrwuuorrruen..." He grumbled feeling disappointed and slumped.

"Be patient. It's not supposed to be fast..." The girl advised and stretched her limbs. "Uuunngg~Ah!" She finished then leaned against the Dragon's head and stared at the clouds passing above.

...

Some time later, the Dragon was still feeding the Spiritual process.

"AAAHH! So tedioooous!"

"Un? What can y--" Shaila encouraged when a distant howl interrupts her.

"WhoowOOoo~!"

""...!!?"" The two looked to the right, and traced the source to a distance figure wandering aimlessly in the shallow waters some hundred meters away.

"Another wolf survived??"

"That was clearly outside of your calculations!"

"They all looked dead!"

The girl narrowed her eyes and announced. "But it doesn't look alright."

"The Mokua got to him, huh? How troublesome."

"...It might be too late to save him--or her."

"We could try after my Magic returns--" Suddenly, out of the corner of his left eye, the Dragon saw movement. He turned his head to look behind and saw the colorful Wolf running northwest. "Oh, you gotta shitting me!" He uttered before getting up to chase. I should've tied its legs!

The girl followed his gaze and conjectured. "Ah, that must be her Alpha who called."

"She'll get killed!" He assumed and prepared to dash, squeezing the grass beneath his paws.

"Wait! You can't fight..."

Nefiru stopped, turned to her and declared frantically. "I need that wolfen!"

"I know," Shaila said while nodding sternly and pulled the Diamond daggers from the Collar.

The Dragon looked at the retreated Wolf gaining distance and rolled his eyes. "Be careful of that foolish Wolf too."

"Mn!" The girl nodded firmly and dashed after the canine. *Sha Sha Sha~!* Here I go...risking my life again... I want to be rewarded for this!

Ahh~ Look at her go... The Dragon admired as he paced behind at a comfortable speed to keep his injuries from reopening and the newly fused bones from breaking.

...

A few minutes earlier, the colorful Wolf woke up and struggled to look around feeling scared and vulnerable but found no visible threat. The danger seemed to have passed, its wounds were healed and its body cleansed, perhaps done by the unfamiliar smells left behind. Now, the ambiance had returned to normal. Not much time had passed since the Pack was attacked by the unknown insects and it wanted to confirm their condition, but it felt too weak under the effects of sedatives to move about. The only thing it could do, was recover Magic resources and ponder about its situation.

Time passed as the lonely wolf reminisced about the Pack. It was harsh being the Omega, but they were its family for many years, and they were all gone now. When the little wolf became fully aware of its reality, it felt regret for not doing anything to help them and a crushing guilt for being the sole survivor, for using their deaths to escape. It remained melancholic until a familiar howl reached its ears like thunder and echoed its mind wondering if it heard wrong. Father?!! The Wolfen practically jumped on the spot and looked in the direction of the sound. There, it saw a figure waddling on shallow waters. Father is alive! He's alive! The wolfen rejoiced that it was the caring member to have survived and rushed towards the blue wolf with an incredibly happy expression. "Wuuuu...!"

The blue wolf turned to the moving figures and targeted the closest one before charging. But before leaving the water, the multicolored Beast entered to meet him. *Pu-ruash! Pu-ruashhh!* It slammed its paws to stop and lowered its body with a submissive posture, wagging its tail happily above the water and glancing up. However, the larget beast stood towering, casting a domineering shadow with an indifferent expression, and looked down snarling. "GRRNN!"

"Fa-Father ?!?!" It looked up whimpering, its expression changing to panic as the large maw above began to open. "I-I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry for leaving! I'm sorry. I'm not brave--Eep!" "WRUAHH--!" *WHAP!* The blue wolf bit down on the neck of the smaller wolf and continued pressing. "HYARRRK! HEEEP!" The canine yelped, feeling its neck crack under the pressure and struggled, splashing water and mud away. "GRRR." The blue moved the right paw to hold the smaller canine and pulled his jaws trying to snap the furry neck while tasting the flowing blood. *Kruk! Krakk!* "HEEK-EK--!" The pinned down Beast lost the strength to resist and started frothing from the mouth.

"GUOOO!" The Dragon roared in the distance and sped up.

No no no NO! The White-haired girl panicked, running as fast as possible on the uncomfortable grass. The blades slicing and scratching her legs. She grabbed a dagger by the handle before entering the foot-deep water running. *Pwuash! Pwuash!* She slowed down, as her foot sank in the mud and splashed water, leaving a mist cloud that produces rainbows under sunlight. The girl swung the weapon back with her right hand and threw it at the large Wolf as hard as she could. "Hyah!" *Swoosh!*

However, the crystal projectile flew in a trajectory that would land under the Wolf's head. The girl had no experience in throwing weapons after all. But Shaila couldn't afford not to cause enough pain for the Beast to release its jaws. She immediately crystalized Light Magic and guided the crystal blade towards the left eye of the blue Beast. *Chak!* The sturdy crystal buried in the large eye up to the handle before bursting out the liquid inside. "GWOOOOO!" The Water Beast roared while releasing the smaller Wolfen simultaneously. *Twuomp!* "GWOOO...!" The Water Beast roared again while letting out its magic infuriated and shook its head trying to detach the lodged object as watery blood gushes from its left eye.

*Fwuash! Shuu~* The Water of the swamp began shaking, raising into peaks and valleys showing the mud around the Beast. "Ugh!" The girl noticed the danger and stopped 8 meters away from the blue wolf and ordered in simple growls. "RUN! Monster!"

The colorful Wolf perked its ears and coughed while looking around. "!!? Gahak! Who--?? Guhak! Huuuf!" It took deep breaths, recovering its strength and backpedaled away from the large Beast, confused. The colorful wolf pushed its body off the ground and looked up with an expression of despair. "Fa-father, father! W...w-whyyyyy?!?!" It pleaded desperately but was ignored completely for the moment.

"RUN!" The girl barked again, getting the attention of both wolves in the process.

"!? GRRRN!" The Blue wolf snarled again, and was about to rush when it noticed the Dragon approaching due to his height.

The small Beast opened its eye wide and questioned in utter disbelief. "A-a talking Eel??!!?"

"Me Hyuman!" Shaila barked back angrily.

The befuddled creature looked back and forth, unsure how to react when it noticed the semblance of the crystal weapons. "Fa-Father--what did you do to Father?!?" The genderless Beast accused, with his hackles raised.

"Ugh! This smart idiot!" She cursed in Stilus with a disgruntled expression. What do I do now?