Hans could not sleep. He was awakened by a gruesome nightmare where he witnessed Lilac being brutally killed and blamed him for her demise. The werewolf growled and held his head. Clearly, he wasn’t doing so well.

The sleepless night continued for at least three days, during which Hans’ mood soured and he became restless. Adeline noticed how he snapped at her whenever she asked him to do something, before quickly apologizing and asked her to repeat her request. He also lost his cheery attitude and became a sulking person, already made worse by the worry he previously had. He even tried to avoid Azureath. The dragon tried to talk to him, but he did not want to. Again, this made Adeline rather worried and apologized to Azureath.

“I do not mind him, Adeline,” said Azureath with a huff. “But it is clear he is hurt, and I understand that too well. Even if he did not suffer through it, the pain of losing a loved one is hard to mend.”

“His sister did not die, you know,” quipped Ulster.

“Yet her fate is still uncertain,” said Azureath. “He needs a distraction. Something to vent his frustration and anger. Something like…combat training.”

“Combat training? You mean, with a sword and a shield?” asked Ulster.

“What else would you want him do? It is time he knows the ways of Main, after all. It also gives him a reason to improve himself. Clearly, he feels helpless. I heard the severity of the situation in Ternor. If he returned home unprepared, then he is nothing but a prey to the demons. He must learn how to fight. Tell him that, and I am sure he will agree.”

Ulster and Adeline looked at each other before Adeline said, “I think you should tell him that. It’s your idea, after all.”

“Provided you convince him first.”

Yet, it wasn’t hard for them to convince Hans. The black-furred werewolf realized how much worry he caused his friends when Adeline and Ulster told him what he was doing for a couple of days. He was still unable to move on despite his own claims and found that it started to affect the people around him, too. Well, not just people, but also a dragon.

Feeling that Azureath might had some idea on how to deal with his situation, considering her own past, he agreed to meet with Azureath near the trade post building. When he arrived, the azure blue dragon was already sitting in wait, flexing her wings. Her eyes met with Hans’, staring them down.

“What do you need, Azureath?” asked Hans.

“Nothing more than perfectly understanding why you are not doing well,” said Azureath. She then revealed a broadsword under her dexterous, hand-like claws and took it. “Take it. Show me what you can do with it.”

“Any reason why?”

“You know the reason yourself.”

Hans wasn’t sure what, but he took the sword anyway. The sword was not heavy, and it was clearly dull and rusted. Nothing could be killed by it.

“Now,” said Azureath. “Tell me what you’d do if that sword happens to be enchanted with runes. Do not try and fool me. Tell me what you really have in your mind. I already know the answer, but you must show me that you understand what you are facing right now.”

Hans did not want to ponder about it, so he said, “I want to kill those hellhounds. What else should I do?”

“Then, why didn’t you go with Jamie and the steamer, hmm? Are you scared?”

“I’d be lying if I said no.” said Hans as he showed exasperation in his voice. “I am no fool. I would not survive the first step on Angla.”

“Then why haven’t you done so? Learn whatever craft you need to kill? Isn’t your sister heavily involved with these invaders from hell? Are you just going to stay here and hope that those hellhounds don’t know how to sail?”

“I don’t bloody know!” said Hans in frustration. “You asked me all these bloody questions and all I can do here is worried sick of my sister and content with the fact that I lost my bloody village! Yes, I feel helpless. Yes, I know I am a Lycan with flesh-rending claws! Yes, I am angry, and I want to tear them apart! But it will not matter if they are not scared of it! Those hellhounds clearly have seen worse things and killed monsters! A werewolf is nothing but a nuisance for them!”

“And you draw this conclusion based on eyewitness account.”

“What should I do, then?! Go home and see them for myself? Laugh when I realized I’m just making it all up? No! Those people…those…wounds…it made you realize that there are worse things than Lycans succumbing to their instincts.”

“Then why didn’t you start learning how to fight? This land may be at peace, but the people living through the calamities knew that one day, another will come, and they must always be ready. They instilled these thoughts to their children and tell them what they need to do or die trying. Main is not as safe as you think, Hans Rezmirn, and you know that." Azureath quickly reminded herself of her own traumatic ordeal, before emphatically said, "I certainly know that."

“I…I…”

“Fear will consume you as much as it will empower you. You want it to go away, but the path to that eventuality is a tree full of branches. You may find the right apple, but you can also find the rotten ones. Many roads to overcome fear will determine your fate. No, not just your fate, but every other being who knew what fear is. Even dragons.”

“But does simply fighting will help? Will taking up arms will be enough against them?”

“No, it won’t. But you are not alone. Your friends, including me, knows that you want to hide that pain. I know that feeling too well. I lived among the Raptors, but I must admit I never told them my grievances as much as I told you on the journey here. They never regarded me as their friend, only their guardian. You saved me from that, and thus let me do the same to you. To all three of you.”

Behind Hans, Adeline and Ulster nodded, agreeing with Azureath’s wise advice. She clearly showed her age by saying that, and by acknowledging that even she was vulnerable to it made her relatable, not as a dragon, but as a creature of thoughts and feelings, something more than just an animal driven by instinct alone.

Knowing that a dragon was always going to have their back, Hans realized how foolish he was for pushing them away. He may have lost his village. He may have no certainty on Lilac’s fate. But the least he could do was try and stay strong, for Lilac’s sake, too.

Azureath soon realized that it was unrealistic to consider the matter resolved. Hans still needed an assurance that he could try and do something else.

“If you really want to help your land, you must learn how to fight," said Azureath. "You are a werewolf, so you are naturally dangerous. But being dangerous isn’t going to help you against demons.”

“I understand,” said Hans with a determined expression. “So, where do I go?”

“Ask Terrence and Shrikel. They may be able to teach you the basics.”

Hans did not delay. With a newly determined face, he walked towards the town. Before he continued, however, he turned around and face Azureath with a smirk off his lupine face.

“I never thought I’d be given a sound advice by a dragon,” said Hans. “Thank you.”

Azureath nodded before Hans continued walking. The dragon felt content after seeing how she lifted the werewolf’s mood. However, she had a feeling that it might not be enough, at least not until he could finally do something to help his land. The dragon was willing to help, too, if the three wanted her too.

Even then, it wouldn’t take long before her words came to haunt her. In one week’s time, she would find that the world was built on ironic circumstances.