The snow fell slowly, pouring on my head while the rain drizzled too. I suspected it was due to my transformation, that I couldn’t feel much of the weather.

My skin felt a million thicker and impenetrable.

I in fact, felt so much stronger, as I approached Master Zu. My face wrote of a determined look.

My sword dragged on the floor, making linings on the snow that fell. And breeze blew off my already short hair, which I had earlier cut.

I must win.

I had to win.

If I wanted to defeat Knight Lydia, I had to pass the hurdle.

By defeating Elder Zu himself.

“Come on!”

Master Zu exclaimed, stretching his hands forward.

I suddenly began running towards him, swaying my sword as I ran in the air. Instead of a sword, Master Zu took out a wooden stick.

What was he doing?

I stopped on my spot immediately.

“You’re using that?”

I asked. My face in a shocked expression at his piece of weapon.

“Yes, why child?”

“I-I don’t want to hurt you.” I stated immediately.

Master Zu rubbed a hand on his beards. Suddenly, he began chuckling furiously. His body trembled as he laughed.

My sword shook ferociously in my hands, as I looked at him, wondering what he was laughing about.

“It’s funny you think you can hurt me, Ava.”

He think I could hurt him?

I was beginning to get a bad energy from this.

“I um--“

I wasn’t given time to voice out those words as he suddenly approached me in a full speed and force.

I didn’t even see him coming.

By the time I noticed, he was already behind me and hit my back with the wooden stick that he had held earlier.

The effect made me fall down with my face flat on the floor. My eyes bolted at the fact that he, a human had just beaten a wolf.

“Too slow.”

He remarked.

His voice was as stern and harsh as ever.

I groaned in agony when I felt the pain which radiated on my back, but good thing I had a faster healing now.

It was gone in less than a milli-second. Thus, I stood up quickly, firmly holding my sword.

I made a move towards him again, this time, elongating my fangs but he dodged it again.

Kicking my both legs this time at the back. I fell weakly to the ground, with snow splattering on my face.

“Certainly not worthy to be a wolf,”

He stated, walking round me in circles.

I stood up, after recovering immediately. This time I tried to match his energy with my sword which I did.

But he was too fast.

Much too fast for a mere human.

It made me wonder how long he had to train. To attain this stage.

It was short-lived when he took flight with the support of a training statue. Elder Zu swiftly lifted his legs, kicking my jaw which knocked me off balance.

I fell harshly, with the back of my head connecting with the snowy floor.

It was just like a dream.

Droplets of rain, splattering on my face. Some mound of snow supporting it too, as I groaned in a heart pain.

“You’ve learnt nothing,”

He simply said.

“Not even a single breathing technique,”

I panted, already out of breath on the floor as I recovered.

The minute I did, I jeered up on my two legs.

“Nothing?”

I snarled. “Don’t you dare say that. I tried every single day!”

As a newly turned beast, thought it would help me.

“But…it’s no use. You’re more skillful than me, Elder Zu.”

My face wore a pained expression.

I didn’t even know when I began to cry out of the frustration.

I knew I had to get it.

I had to not die? I had to win, because people depended on me.

But how could I? How exactly could I?

“You’re going to die then? Remember Lydia’s a beast on the battleground,”

“She won’t spare you, Ava.”

He added.

“She won’t!!”

Elder Zu exclaimed with so much aura radiating from him.

“A true warrior will fight! A true knight will never give up! Ever!!”

His words spiked something in me. My nose flared and I suddenly began to feel an overturn of anger in me.

I had flashbacks of how those girls were miserably killed.

How I swore to put an end to it. My wolf was struggling to take over.

“I won’t give up, Master Zu!”

I said, approaching him with a rapid speed.

“That’s the spirit.”

He made a move towards me, which I hastily dodged. Trying to focus on bringing him down.

I will fight till the end.

“Not bad, Goodchild.”

Last thing I saw was the wave of Master Zu’s stick, with snow falling on my face, as I blacked out.

…

Delicate hands shook me.

I opened my eyes only to see a woman with a long crimson hair. Her eyes were silver grey and they stared right back at me.

“Did you see that?”

I stood up, asking her.

“See what?”

“How Master Zu beat me to it, in spite that I was a wolf?”

“I wish I could do that. Perhaps, I will win Knight Lydia in the combat.”

I sadly let out, with so much hurt.

The snow had reduced a bit. Yet, my dress was coated in it. My sword was already buried in the fallen snow.

Seemed like I had passed out.

But where was everyone?

It was then I realized that I didn’t even know her. I didn’t remember seeing her around here.

“W-who are you?”

I said, directing my eyes to the woman in front of me. She seemed elderly and was dressed richly, in a fine robe.

In her head, was a crown which sat gorgeously on her crimson hair.

“I am Lady Archer, the ex-queen of the castle.”

I froze on my spots at her words. Quickly, I stood up…taking multiple steps back in total fright.

Caspian had talked about his mum.

But didn’t she die in a war?

“Is this a dream?”

Lady Archer ignored my words totally. She made it seem like I didn’t ask those questions at all.

“Come with me.”

She said, with a warm smile on her features.

I watched as she walked ahead of me. We got into the castle. Everyone was present but it seemed like no one could see us.

This was strange.

“Where are we going?”

I asked, as I followed her.

She didn’t say anything, instead she looked back and smiled again.

I made timid steps, following her. When we did get there, I gasped in surprise.

It was the Royal Library.

Totally off-limits for females. When caught, punishments could be severe.

“W-why are we here?”

I startlingly asked.

“It’s my favorite place to be in. Why? Isn’t it your favorite place too?”

She rummaged through the shelves, bringing out a novel. It had an old covering but it looked like a romance one.

“Common, feel free. No one can penalize you here.”

“They can’t even see us.”

I narrowed my eyes, on how she knew this, with my hands running through the shelf too.

My lips spread out in a wide smile as I brought out a book, sniffling it.

That understanding mother I never had.

Who thought I was a freak for reading books, or chasing knowledge as a female.

She was Lady Archer.

...

Sorry for the late updates, my gadgets were not working. Good thing I fixed them today.

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