Lupa understood what she had to do quite well. No matter who the enemy was, they needed to pay. Vincent boldly announced how she was his girl, and he would allow no one to mess with her. Lupa felt a sudden rush of adrenaline blazing in her body by such realization. Being called "my girl" made Lupa happy to have someone appreciate her so much as to become enraged for her sake. Suddenly her eyes shone golden in the night. Her arms shapeshifted into that of a werewolf. Her senses became enhanced, and her terrified self became lost in the calmness of the focus she felt. Time slowed down as her perception became faster, slowing, and bending time to her awareness. The strong instinct activated on its own to help its user in their time in need. Lupa felt no fear as the side-effect of this predator instinct. She picked the snail with her claws post-haste and gazed at it. As the snail with a multi-colored moldy shell felt her presence and touch. In the blink of an eye, it hid in fear of the predator before it. The predator instinct lasted long enough for Lupa to get ahold of the snail and juggle it a few times. When the predator instinct presence disappeared, the snail peeked out of its shell, covering her hand sticky and slimy. Ester quickly slapped the snail from her furry hand. But Lupa declined when Ester tried to clean her white sticky fur. Then Lupa raised her dirty hand and said, "Vincent has to clean me, not you." Ester stared in surprise. Lupa didn't shiver anymore but didn't look at her hands either. She tried to act tough, but her weakness stayed apparent. 'This is sticky blood and nothing else. Ugh... so slimy. But if I don't get dirty, Vincent will not clean me.' Lupa thought. Lupa soon gulped, mustering her courage. She picked up a snail, closed her eyes, and dragged it from her shoulder to her hand, leaving a stickiness slime trail behind. "Vincent, please clean me as you promised. " Lupa said with a weary voice. Shortly, she dropped the snail while slyly peeking at Vincent. Vincent sighed, yet felt relieved that somehow the issue resolved itself. However, he needed some private time to talk with Kazumi regarding the outburst he had. It felt like it wasn't him, but something fueling anger to his emotions. After Vincent cleaned the joyful Lupa who looked like nothing had happened in the past few minutes, he excused himself to have some time alone in the cave. "Sister, did I do something wrong? I touched the sticky snail and won. Isn't Lupa a good girl?" Lupa felt like she was the fault of the strange behavior in Vincent. Everything was fine until he tried to help her overcome her fear. Ester raised a fake faint smile to easy Lupy from any worry, but she was concerned about Vincent. Ester had seen Overload Vincent in action. The anger to protect Lupa from the Great Gray Wolf had a hint of the same feeling he displayed. An unexplainable cold devouring bloodlust. "I'm sure Kazumi can help him. Vincent didn't appear to be himself, so let him think for a bit. After Vincent returns, he should be the same old Vincent." Ester tried to encourage Lupa and herself with these words. Lupa nodded while averting her gaze from the snails on the ground. "I cut the mushrooms with my claws. You touch the yucky snails. I the brave Lupa will touch them for emergencies only." Lupa puffed her chest as if it was an accomplishment worth boasting out. Then began preparing the mushrooms post haste. "Yup, you are a brave sister. One day you will manage to win against your fears." Ester continued with the happy Lupa, who whistled as if nothing happened. It felt like the reward of Vincent cleaning her arm made the silly wolf forget what happened. Vincent spent some time talking with Kazumi about what he felt at the time. Kazumi could only watch from a third-persons view when she focuses on the mana surrounding Vincent's body to see. Things such as feelings couldn't be felt. [I understand now. I hope the mutation isn't the cause since now you can wield it at your disposal. We spent half an hour in the cave, so why don't we head back?] "Yes. I have calmed down, but I'm afraid of this change. My body is becoming more toned and muscular each day. My hair is abnormally growing too fast than normal, and my personality is changing. I think you might be my next savior." Vincent nodded and slowly exited the cave. [Vincent, remember that this soul is here to stay. I have your back twenty-four seven. When you sleep, I'll be there. When you eat, I'll be there. When you take a dump, I'll be there. When you make love, I'll be there.] -Ok ok, gees. You didn't have to make it sound so creepy like a twenty-four seven stalker.- Later, Vincent returned a bit bothered by the recent comment. In front of him were two girls. One was swirling the soup while the other staring with a wagging tail as if composing a tune. Lupa stared attentively at the pot of boiling mushroom and snail soup. Ironically, the thing which made her shiver at the sight of it, now made her become impatient to eat it. Sometime later, the food was ready to fill their bellies. A bowl filled with chopped mushrooms and snail was in their hands. It didn't have a bad appearance. However, the taste took the crown. When they bit the snail, it was spicy as hell. "Drink drink!" Lupa exclaimed while her lips and tongue felt hot. She waved her hand for cool air while drinking water. "*cough... It's spicy, very spicy." Ester coughed while doing the same. "Yep, this is spicy. Did the inspection ability prank me? How is this relaxing?" Vincent asked, but no one had the answer. The effects stated that it should give Minor Relaxation, but it was currently doing the opposite. Both Ester and Lupa stopped eating the soup from feeling their lips and tongue on fire. However, they couldn't stop staring at Vincent in amazement. He kept eating the spicy mushroom and snail soup while drinking every few bites. Lupa frowned and took this as a challenge. She restarted eating, but as a wolf who never ate anything spicy in her life, the challenge was predestined to be a loss. [Lupa is hilarious, haha. She's huffing and puffing, but her hardheaded competitive nature is making her continue eating. I can see tears in her eyes.] -I could give you some if I can, we as a team should share the pain and happness.- [Ok ok, I have a solution. Why don't you try the numb mushrooms? Take a small bite to numb your lips, tongue, and taste buds.] Vincent liked the idea. It was quite ingenious to try this solution out. He rushed to the cave and brought out a small bag with Numb Mushrooms inside. "These are Numb Mushrooms, take a small bite to lose the sense of your burning lips and tongue. You might not be able to taste for quite a while, but at least you will have food in your bellies." Vincent said with a Numb Mushroom in his hand. As the person to propose this to them, he took the plunge. A minute later, Vincent took a few taste tests and said with a weird lisp, "Hmm... I can't taste nor feel the spicy snail meat or make my lips or tongue burn." Ester "Pff..." Lupa "Haha...' Both girls laughed at Vincent's voice as he heavily lisped to say how the soup could now be eaten. He nodded while saying, "Ye ye, laugh all you want. Here take a bite. I want to hear both of you speak too." Ester and Lupa took a bite, each filled with curiosity of how stupid they would sound. A minute later, the effects of the Minor Numbness took effect. The three lisped and laughed at each other while enjoying the tasteless soup of mushrooms and snails. [Somehow, this turned into laughter and smiles. This feels quite a nice change of pace. You were lucky to meet with them.] Vincent agreed with Kazumi while laughing at the two girls funny lisping. Time passed, and half of the soup remained in the large pot. The effects of the Minor Relaxation effect slowly crept, making the three tired to rest. [Name] Vincent Agius [Condition] Healthy, Minor Numbness(Lips, Tongue, Throat), Minor Relaxation (28:11) [Soul Power] 0sp [Class] Soul Hero [Class] Soul Mutation Vincent inspected himself to check the duration of the Minor Relaxation buff. The three of them had approximately the same duration while it caused them to feel relaxed, and their eyes felt heavy ready to sleep. *Day 12 Morning dawned, but the three remained asleep. After eleven days of sadness and pain, it felt like it all washed away in a single night of laughter. As the tension dissipated, a great night's rest welcomed them. *Yawn Lupa woke up first. She opened her eye, looked to her sides, and raised a smile. The two humans to care for her lay sleeping beside her. They felt defenseless sleeping under the warm pelt, yet she knew an invisible guard protected them. Lupa approached Vincent and pecked his cheek, then turned around and pecked Ester's cheek next. Lupa felt as if their life could finally continue and the mission to leave the forest to mate with Vincent reactivating. Kazumi saw all this transpire, but she said nothing or her words would directly enter Vincent's mind might cause him to wake up. Kazumi didn't have enough control over her telepathy, and the scene before her made her somewhat happy. If the wisp body had a mouth, then a grin would be plastered on her face. Sometime later, Vincent and Ester woke up. Ester felt a bit embarrassed staying with Vincent alone in the cave as Lupa seemed to be outside. She quickly left while her eyes gazed nervously at Vincent. [Good morning, Vincent. How does it feel to wake up with three beautiful women? I'm a sexy wisp, and you know it, hehe.] "Are you adding yourself into the mix? That's a good one pff... " Vincent almost laughed at Kazumi for her constant boasting of being a pretty wisp. When Vincent was a wisp, he wasn't very different than her. [Hey, I was a sexy Japanese girl back in my day. You saw how pretty I was.] "Ye, the one who as per your words, is a nerdy woman." Vincent woke up in a good mood, teasing the sly Kazumi was fair game. [Ahem... You didn't dream anything out of the ordinary correct? I didn't get pulled into a dream-like vision last night either.] "No deja vu dream or that vision-like dream happened last night. Maybe meeting you was a one-time memory lane trigger." Vincent pulled himself up and stretched. He felt his throat a bit sore. He thought it was because of the shouting, laughing, or the spicy soup.