The trip home was a sobering one.
Wolf had new perspectives on how things were. On Nina's hurt. On balancing relationships. On being a better person.
The berries were still on the porch, filled to the brim with the prize of his earlier effort. It felt less like a victory now after the events of the day.
It had been a long while since he'd felt this tired. But today, after everything, he felt it deeply. And it wasn't a pleasant feeling.
"Wow, brother, you weren't kidding!" Len rushed over to the berries. "How'd you get so many? The amount seems impossible!"
Wolf felt a bit of pride despite his exhaustion. "I think it's from nobody gathering them for a while. And new bushes growing in the area."
"I see."
Wolf watched as Len tried to lift the basket. She struggled a little at first, but seemed fine once she secured it in both hands.
"Come on, brother. Let's put these in the kitchen and find Mom."
After placing the berries inside and wandering the yard for a bit, they found their mother nearby. She was enjoying the pleasant weather, sitting peacefully.
"Mom!"
They both rushed over and hugged her happily.
"Oh my!" She was startled. "Both of you at this hour? Isn't it a bit early?" She looked concerned. "Is your father okay?"
Len smiled. "Yeah, he hasn't been needing us as much thanks to the added help. He's going into Crossroads soon for trade. Restocking a few things." She added, "I asked him for a new blanket."
"I see." Mom looked relieved. Then she turned to Wolf. "Well, did you need help with something, son? Are you okay?"
She saw he looked different somehow. But wasn't sure what it was.
"I'm fine," Wolf said, not wanting to tell the whole truth.
He felt a little shame hiding things from his mom—she was only showing love and concern. "I gathered berries."
"And you need help getting them?" Mom asked, unsure where this was going.
"Not gathering them. I got too many and needed help getting them home." Wolf looked away before continuing. "Nina helped me with that. But I still needed Len's help with... something else. And stuff."
He finished quickly.
Mom looked at Wolf, knowing he was hiding details. But she didn't pry. She let him be.
Len, sensing the mood was about to turn awkward, spoke up. "He really did gather a lot of berries. I thought maybe we could take turns as a family helping make jam. It'll teach him about responsibility. And he wants to share the jars with others."
"Really?" Mom asked. "How many jars is he planning on making? Three or four?" She sounded mildly amused.
Len spoke up before Wolf could answer. "We're thinking close to twenty. Maybe thirty or more, depending on how we blend them."
"Oh my!" Mom's eyes went wide. "How in the name of the gods did you manage that?"
Wolf beamed with a bit of pride. "I gathered them!"
Mom looked exasperated at the non-answer. She sighed in defeat.
"I see." Mom looked thoughtful. "Well, that will take a while. A lot of work. We still need to do other things too." She calculated in her head. "It could take a few weeks, depending on how we do it."
Wolf was worried. "Will they last that long? I thought we'd do it in a few days tops."
Mom laughed at that. "Sweetie, you forgot the amount of work last time we did this? That was only a few jars. And you want many more this time."
"But how will they stay fresh?" Wolf's voice grew more concerned. "I tried storing berries before. They went bad after a while. I never saw them last a week."
"Well, there are a few ways. But the easiest is magic jars."
"WHAT?!"
Wolf screamed it right in his mother's face.
She gave him a dirty look. Even Len looked disapproving.
Wolf quickly covered his mouth. He needed to stop doing that. He wasn't a child anymore.
"Sorry, Mom." His voice was muffled behind his hands. Then he lowered them. "Please tell me about magic jars. Can I see one?"
Len spoke first, looking confused. "You see them all the time?"
"Uh..." Wolf wasn't sure how to respond to that.
Mom giggled. "Son, magic is always part of our lives. Those jars are common. The ones that aren't magic—those are very rare." She smiled gently. "It's much easier to make items infused with magic than to try to make anything without it."
Wolf thought about the things he'd seen before. They'd seemed... well... non-special.
"But magic is special," he protested. "It should be magical, not plain."
He knew he was right.
Len sighed. "Little brother, your view on magic is too rigid. It's like water—always plain to see, giving life to all. But also nothing fancy, no matter how important it is."
Wolf didn't like that answer. Magic was special. He knew it. He didn't know why everyone saw it as mundane when it was so important.
After heading back inside, Mom saw the berries and was amazed. She immediately started getting batches ready.
"We should barely have enough extra supplies for all these jars of jam," she said, organizing things.
Wolf looked at all the jars they had stored.
He could see... nothing special.
The jars were like clear glass. They did have a light blue hue glowing in them. But that had always been there, so to Wolf, that was just normal.
Was that the magic?
He picked up one of the jars. Examined it closely.
Then tried licking it.
It tasted like glass. No power was given to him.
His sister burst out laughing, watching him.
"Are you okay, Wolf?" Len asked, clearly amused. "If you're that hungry, we can make you something."
"No!" Wolf said defensively. "I was trying to taste the magic."
Len laughed even harder at that. "You're always getting magic! We all are. It's part of our world, silly."
"Len." Mom's voice was stern. "Be nice to your brother. He's learning. He doesn't know how everything works yet."
It annoyed Wolf—trying to learn about magic and being mocked for it. But he knew he had to let it go.
His sister apologized and kissed his cheek. His mother rubbed his head gently and thanked him for thinking about the family.
Wolf was happy things were moving forward. Even though it wasn't really what he wanted.
Magic, he thought. Always around me, but out of my grasp.
A few days passed making jams.
Wolf, Len, and Mom took turns helping. They swapped out when someone needed to work at the shop or handle other tasks.
Wolf tried helping wherever he could to speed things along. But it was exhausting doing so much in such a short time.
He kept wondering what had happened with Nina. Eventually, he asked his sister.
"Len, where's Nina? She's been missing."
"We talked," Len said while stirring a batch. "She's okay. Just not sure how to meet you. She said it was awkward—how it ended last time."
Wolf nodded. The ending had been weird. But not knowing how Nina was doing bothered him a lot more than any awkwardness.
And the fact that she'd just wanted to help him—that made him feel worse than just needing to apologize.
Len spoke up again while Wolf was lost in thought. "I've been trying to get her to come with me. But she kept saying she was too busy." She smiled slightly. "Maybe tomorrow. She was much more cheerful today compared to the last couple of days."
"Okay." Wolf looked down. "Let her know I'm sorry. I didn't mean whatever upset her." He paused. "Maybe I do need to grow up. Just a little bit."
Len smiled warmly at that. "Don't rush it. When you do grow up, you won't be able to be a child again. So be happy with it while you can."
"Bah!" Wolf waved her off. "I'm not a kid."
Taking back his opinion immediately.
More time passed.
Mom and the shop were busy. Wolf offered to help, but they let him rest instead.
For once, he actually enjoyed the lull and calm of being home. But he did wonder why Nina still wasn't showing up. She seemed so spontaneous—this felt out of character for her.
While being lazy in his room, he heard Len's voice calling out.
"Brother, where are you?"
Wolf got up, wondering what was wrong.
"I'm coming! I was just in my room."
As he ran to meet her, he stopped dead in his tracks.
Froze in shock.
Nina was there.
She was looking around the living room, calm and relaxed. When she turned and saw him, she smiled.
"Hey, kiddo! Been a little while, no?"
Wolf wasn't sure what to say. Drew a complete blank.
So Nina ran up to him and hugged him without hesitation. "Missed you, little guy! Did you miss me?"
From the corner, Wolf saw his sister Len smiling. She spoke cheerfully.
"I'm going to the kitchen to start a new batch of jam. Meet me when you're ready."
Wolf felt exasperated. He pushed Nina away gently.
"I... I didn't—"
Nina's face fell immediately. Her ears dropped.
"I meant that little?" Her voice was small. "You didn't even want to see me?"
She looked like she was going to cry.
Wolf burned with shame. He'd shown indifference—again. Memories flashed of how he'd left things before.
"I'm sorry," Wolf said in a low voice. "Magic means a lot to me. But I do understand it's... not like that for you." He looked down. "So again, I'm sorry. I didn't think about your feelings."
Nina smiled through watery eyes. She hugged him again.
"Little Wolf," she sang his name softly. Then spoke: "All I want is just friends and family. To me, that's the greatest magic."
Wolf let her hold him. She was warm and comforting. He hated it, though—it made him feel like a child. But he remembered what his sister had said. Nina just wanted family. A little brother to care about.
Wolf hated what he was about to say. But he felt it was for the best.
"Len told me you wanted to be closer to our family." The words came slowly. "I don't mind being your brother. And you... can be my... second big sister."
He choked out the words, cheeks burning with shame.
He felt Nina go completely stiff. She was holding him, trembling.
Did he do something wrong? The way she held him, he couldn't tell.
"Okay." A soft, lovely voice—filled with sadness and near tears. "Thank you."
Wolf felt gentle drops touch his skin as she held him.
Did it really mean that much to her?
He thought about how bad her life must have been. That all it took was a few words of comfort to break her like this.
He'd never been in this situation. Wasn't sure how to act.
So he thought: What would I do for Len?
Wolf held Nina back and said, "It's okay, sis. We're family. I'm not going anywhere." He paused. "Not even the day I learn magic."
Nina laughed through her tears. "You really love magic, huh?" She still sounded sad. "Okay, kiddo. I promise—if I can help with that, I will."
The silence stretched on. Both of them holding each other.
If his real sister showed up right now, Wolf would run in shame at being seen this way. But he thought Len probably knew already. And Nina needed this—even if he didn't fully understand what she needed.
"Give me a few minutes in the bathroom," Nina said, pulling away and wiping her eyes. "And then I'll help with jam, okay?"
"Sure," Wolf said.
As she left, he made his way to the kitchen.
Len was there, smiling. She was cooking the jam slowly, swirling it in the pan as it bubbled.
"Did you have a good visit?" she asked knowingly.
"No," Wolf said, slightly annoyed. "Lots of things I still don't understand. But I guess that's part of being family."
Len smiled warmly at that. She reached over and brushed his hair gently.
"You are indeed growing up, little brother. And I'm proud of you."
"Whatever," Wolf muttered, uncomfortable with the praise.
A few minutes later, Nina joined them.
She was full of life—as if nothing had happened. The only sign was her slightly red eyes, barely noticeable behind the bright smile that drew everyone's attention.
"Well, isn't this the perfect trio together!" Nina exclaimed. "There's nothing we can't do! And we're making jam—my favorite too!"
Len smiled warmly. Wolf rolled his eyes.
There was light banter about random gossip. About life's small moments. Just... life.
It was nice, Wolf thought. Nina brought a spark he hadn't known was missing. He regretted rejecting her so easily before.
Eventually, things settled into a comfortable silence.
This surprised Wolf. He'd thought Nina would never lose steam. So he took the chance to ask something that had been bothering him.
"Where were you these last couple of days? I thought I'd see you sooner."
"Oh my!" Nina said excitedly. "You missed me that much? I'm embarrassed now!" She covered her face, giggling.
"You're wrong," Wolf said flatly. "I just didn't know what happened. And I was a little worried."
Nina rubbed his back affectionately. "Missed you too, kiddo. But my brother needed me. The hermit had a batch of herbs he needed, and Nebo wanted my help gathering them."
"You guys are still doing that?" Wolf asked. "I thought you were working for the shop?"
"We are. And we're not." Nina shrugged. "It's more part-time work in a lot of different places. You know—freelancing."
"Free what?" Wolf looked confused. "You don't work for money?"
Both Len and Nina laughed.
"No, brother," Len explained. "They do work for money. But they can work in different places at the same time. Or turn down any job. Versus trying to live off just one job."
"Kinda like you, kiddo," Nina added. "You're not always helping at the shop. Sometimes you help your mom, or visit others. It's the same for us—just more work-related versus playing."
"I see." Wolf thought for a moment. "How's the hermit doing?"
"Old. Pays okay. Same as before," Nina said indifferently.
Wolf thought about the hermit for a bit. Then spoke up.
"I wanted to give a jar of jam to everyone I know. I forgot about the hermit." He looked at Nina. "You think he likes jam?"
"Dunno?" Nina shrugged. "Never asked."
Len shrugged her shoulders too.
"We'll have extra," Wolf said. "We're up to twenty jars now. So everyone should be able to get one—even if we stopped making more right now."
"So who were you giving jams to, kiddo?" Nina asked curiously. "Don't remember you telling me."
"A bunch of random people," Wolf said casually. "Mostly friends and family."
"THAT INCLUDES ME?!"
Nina shouted and jumped up and down excitedly.
Wolf smiled at her reaction. "Yes, it does."
"YES!" Nina practically screamed with excitement. "THANK YOU!"
She grabbed him in a tight hug.
Len smiled warmly, watching them. Wolf noticed Nina loved hugging a lot. Even his sister gave him more space than this—not that he was complaining. Nina's joy could be infectious.
The time went by much quicker after that.
With things worked out between them, the days passed in a blur. There was random bickering between Wolf and Nina—playful arguments about the best way to stir, how long to cook, what ingredients to add.
Len and Mom oversaw everything, smiling at their antics.
Despite being older, Nina wasn't necessarily more mature than Wolf. But she did seem like the eldest of siblings—lost for so long and now found among this family.
The day the jams were all finally done felt bittersweet.
It was a bit tragic for all of them to have it end. It had felt like a true family bonding moment—even though Dad couldn't be part of it, always at the shop or away on business.
But they had twenty-three jars of beautiful berry jam lined up on the counter. A testament to their work together.
Wolf was unsure what to do with his newfound free time.
He still had to give out the jars—at least a few of them personally. His friends and family could handle distributing the others. But beyond that, he was free.
It was strange after so many days of constant work.
It was during this musing that Nebo—Nina's older brother—showed up at the house.
Wolf was surprised. Nebo rarely, if ever, visited their home. It was a bit of a shock.
"Good morning, Wolf." Nebo smiled warmly. "I hope you've been well. Has my sister caused you any grief?" He paused. "Well, more than usual, I mean."
Wolf laughed at that. "No, no more than normal. How have you been? I haven't seen you in forever—I almost forgot what you looked like!"
He was joking, of course.
"Pity you feel that way." Nebo's expression turned mock-serious. "I'm hurt that such a small passing of time can make us grow so distant." He sighed dramatically. "I suppose I won't trouble you with those gifts I promised..."
Wolf immediately regretted his joke. "Let's not be so hasty! Aha, I was playing! Your face is remembered clearly—as clearly as the lake I visit every other day!"
Nebo laughed at Wolf's panic. It seemed not only Nina could tease him effectively. Which annoyed Wolf slightly, but he held it back.
"Sorry, Wolf. Nina can be a bad influence." Nebo smiled. "She seems much happier lately, and it's infectious. I'm usually much more reserved—like yourself and your father."
Wolf nodded. He didn't really mind. After days with Nina's energy, everything else seemed calm by comparison.
Nebo opened a small bag at his side and pulled out four books.
"It took longer than planned," he explained. "But I managed to get the extra book I promised. They're not rare, exactly. But the city is having trouble mass-producing and shipping books all over the kingdoms and beyond. So stocks are limited right now." He paused. "They tend to go to the churches first."
Wolf was surprised. "They have books at the church?"
"They do," Nebo replied. "Since the churches are valued for teaching about the gods and helping others, they're the third-largest source of all knowledge—just behind guilds and the main kingdom's libraries. Everyone tries to support them because they give back to the people." He smiled. "It's a positive loop. Everyone wins."
He added more quietly, "Well, in theory. There are greedy people hoarding supplies. And some still suffer depending on their region or lack of resources."
Wolf nodded while taking the books Nebo held out to him. He read the titles eagerly:
Herbs and You by the Church
The Dungeons and What They Bring by the Church
Monsters and Legends by the Church
Magic Theory: Helping You Grow Your Magic by the Church
Wolf was happy with the gifts. But he was surprised. "All of them are by the church? That's... odd. Why all by the church?"
Nebo laughed. "There are many authors, of course. But the church still has to control what information reaches the public. The kingdom's personal books—or even guild texts—have more knowledge. But they also have more requirements to read them than just grabbing something off a shelf."
Wolf thanked Nebo enthusiastically for the gifts. Then he remembered—he had something too.
He rushed to get one of the jam jars and gave it to Nebo in exchange. A thank-you and a personal gift.
Nebo looked happy to receive it, though a bit confused. He didn't really like sweets himself. But his sister did—she would devour this easily, he was sure. Wolf wouldn't mind if the jam ended up with Nina. It would still be used either way.
Nebo visited for a bit longer.
He chatted with Wolf and his mother, accepting tea when she offered. They talked about the shop, the upcoming trade to Crossroads, and how Nina had been settling in.
During the conversation, Nebo mentioned his upcoming work.
"I'll be helping the church and my old tribe for a few weeks," he explained. "Teaching other kids. It's part of a sponsored learning program—they're a bit short-staffed when it comes to people with knowledge in certain subjects."
Wolf's mother smiled. "That's very kind of you, Nebo. I'm sure the children will benefit greatly."
"I hope so." Nebo finished his tea and stood. "But I should be going. I have preparations to make."
He nodded to Wolf. "Enjoy the books. And don't hesitate to ask questions when I return."
"I will. Thank you again!"
As Nebo left, Wolf felt excitement bubbling up. He wanted to start reading his new books immediately.
But then he realized something.
How could I forget my friends? Even if they're busy!
He gathered the books carefully and took them to his room. Placed them on his shelf where he could see them—a promise of knowledge waiting to be explored.
But first, he had responsibilities.
Wolf looked at the jars of jam lined up in the kitchen. He vowed to visit everyone today with gifts. His friends deserved that much.
The books could wait a little longer.
His mother approved of his plan and told him to be safe.
Wolf decided to try Coby first, since his brother lived closest.
But Coby was out hunting again.
Mrs. Crow answered the door with her usual warm smile. "Oh, hello, Wolf dear! I'm afraid Coby and his father are out on another hunt."
"Again?" Wolf was surprised. He kept missing them. "They stop back frequently, but since you've been busy and their time is short, they tend to go right back out."
She saw his confusion and added gently, "They're very dedicated to their work."
Wolf frowned. "Why do they hunt so much? Do you really need that much food?"
Mrs. Crow laughed at that. "No, dear. They hunt monsters in the forest."
"THEY'RE MONSTERS?!"
Wolf immediately covered his mouth, ashamed. He was already going back to old habits of shouting. But this was a major shock.
He expected anger from the outburst. But Mrs. Crow just gave him a sad smile.
"Yes, dear. I'm afraid it's true." She paused. "Why did you think his father hunted daily? Or even for weeks straight?"
"I thought..." Wolf felt foolish. "I thought food was rare. That he was trying to feed us all."
Guess I really am still a child, he thought. So much I don't know.
Mrs. Crow continued, not noticing his self-defeat. "Monsters tend to be bound by dungeons, so they're rarer than they used to be. They can't leave those places easily." She looked thoughtful. "The tales I was told say the old creatures were never truly eliminated—just thinned down to smaller numbers. They can still breed. And some are even born from magic itself. The farther you get from the city, the more likely you are to find monsters."
Wolf tried to process this. "How come I've never seen any? Or heard anyone talk about them here?"
"They do talk about them, dear. But the monsters around here tend to be weak. Scattered. Anything stronger gets hunted quickly." Mrs. Crow smiled gently. "How do you think you got your name, Wolf? It was from a great magic beast that looked like a wolf. Your father hunted it."
"Really?!" Wolf's eyes went wide. "My dad was a hunter?!"
"He was—before this village was established. He hunted dungeons regularly." Her voice grew softer. "Meeting your mother settled him down. That wolf was his last hunt, when they were still founding this village. He helped clear the area of monsters." She smiled. "And the rest is history, as they say."
Wolf stood there, stunned.
These were a lot of new things. He needed time to process them all. But he still had more people to visit.
"Thank you, Mrs. Crow." He bowed slightly. "Please let Coby know I tried to visit."
"Of course, dear. Stay safe now."
Wolf left her with a jar of jam and set off for the church, his mind spinning with revelations.
The church visit was brief.
Wolf gave them a few jars of jam. The priests thanked him warmly for the gift, blessing him for his generosity.
He made a stop back home for more jars—he could only carry so many at once. While there, he rested for a bit. The running around was starting to wear on him.
But he still had more people to visit.
The inn was busy for a change when Wolf arrived.
Customers filled the tables, and Icarus was moving between the kitchen and the main room with practiced efficiency.
The big bearkin looked a little startled when he saw Wolf, but happy. "Hey, kid! Good to see you. What brings you by?"
Wolf held up the jar. "Wanted to give you this. As a thank-you for being nice to me."
Icarus looked genuinely touched. He took the jar carefully, examining it. "You made this yourself?"
"With my family. Yeah."
"Well, I appreciate it, kid. That's real kind of you." Icarus smiled, showing teeth—but this time it looked warm instead of threatening.
Wolf looked around. "Is Teva here?"
"Nah, she's got the day off. Probably at home."
Wolf nodded. "Thanks. I wanted to give her one too."
As he left the inn, the exhaustion was really starting to hit him. All this running around was bothering him more than he'd expected. His feet were dragging as he made his way toward Teva's house.
Near her home, a gentle voice drew his attention.
"A lost wolf wandering to my home?" The voice was playful, teasing. "I wonder if I can keep it."
Wolf looked up to see Teva's mother standing in the doorway. He was too tired to react much after everything that had happened today. But he smiled the best he could anyway.
"Is Teva home? I got her a gift."
Teva's mother smiled and narrowed her eyes. Her tail swished slowly behind her as she watched him from the doorway.
"Ignoring the mother and still trying to court my daughter?" Her voice was amused. "Very bold, little wolf."
Wolf wasn't sure what she was implying. Much less what a court had to do with anything.
"Sorry," he said tiredly. "Lots of running around today. I'm a little worn down." He held up the jar. "I can leave this with you if she's not here."
Teva's mother sighed, opening the door wider. "Come inside, child. You're no fun." She tilted her head. "If you can't read a cat's mood, you're ignoring its tail."
Wolf nodded slowly. He did watch beastkin tails sometimes—it was interesting. But what did that have to do with anything?
As he passed her to enter, he noticed she smelled nice. Flower perfume. She was wearing a simple, loose robe in a pretty dark blue that made her white hair and tail stand out beautifully.
"Sit wherever you like. I'll get us drinks. My daughter is running an errand but will be back soon."
Wolf looked around, confused.
There was nowhere to sit. Just a bunch of random pillows scattered around a low table.
Teva's mother walked away but looked back when she noticed his confusion. She seemed to consider teasing him more, but took pity instead.
"In my tribe, we move around a lot. So we tend to use little furniture. Pillows offer comfort and are easy to transport."
"Oh." Wolf nodded, understanding now.
He sat down near the table. The pillows were indeed soft and nice to the touch. But it felt awkward being so low to the ground.
The house itself was lovely, though. Filled with plants and flowers everywhere he looked. He thought he might need to get a plant for his own room.
When she returned with the drinks, the quiet felt awkward. Wolf decided to break the silence.
"You like flowers?"
Teva's mother tilted her head sideways, her tail curling. "They're memories from home. I don't travel anymore, but I miss the flowers."
Wolf saw what looked like longing in her eyes. He wasn't sure if he should have asked that.
But she turned and smiled, surprising him with how easily she changed moods. "How's the tea?"
Wolf realized he'd forgotten to drink it—too focused on trying to find something to talk about. He took a sip quickly.
It was surprisingly good. It had a flower taste, almost like her perfume smelled. A little sweet and smooth.
"It's good. Thank you."
He felt stiff trying to talk to her. But she seemed so casual and free. He could see where Teva got it from.
"Mooooom!" Teva's voice echoed from outside. "Auntie says she needs another potion! Her cramps are coming up. I think it's her time of the month. You better get extra—I think I'm due too!"
Wolf froze.
Teva's mother never stopped watching him. She was smiling, as if waiting for a certain response.
Wolf wasn't sure what to say or do. He was more embarrassed for Teva—overhearing such a private conversation—than worried about appeasing her mother.
It didn't take long for Teva to turn the corner into the living room.
She saw her mother sitting calmly. But staring at someone with her tail swishing slowly.
Teva followed her mother's gaze. Stared at her mother's swishing tail in confusion. Then in dawning horror as she realized—
Wolf was sitting there. Looking at her with a completely blank face.
"...Hey," Wolf said lamely.
"Hey..." Teva replied weakly, her voice barely a whisper.
Her mother felt absolutely validated. This was unfolding better than she'd ever hoped. She'd wanted to surprise her daughter with the boy she kept talking about—having him waiting in their home. But to have Teva confess family personal affairs to him too?
Oh, so tasty.
"Daughter, sit down." Teva's mother's voice was sweet. "Wolf brought you a gift and came to see you. Isn't that nice?"
Wolf watched Teva fidget, clearly unsure how to act.
She was wearing loose leather clothing—much nicer than the grey robes she used to wear. It even showed off her stomach. But Wolf could see by the way her hands moved that she felt exposed. Like she wanted the robes back to hide behind.
He felt bad as she rushed to sit down, trying to make herself smaller.
"I should go," Wolf said, standing. "I don't want to make this worse."
He'd wanted to give her a happy memory. Not a tragic one.
"Nonsense!" Teva's mother waved her hand dismissively. "I know it's been a while since you both met. Don't waste this time—enjoy yourselves! I'll leave you be."
She got up to leave.
But Wolf suspected she was secretly staying nearby. She didn't seem like the type to let this go.
He couldn't change what had led to this awkwardness. But he could change how it ended. So he decided to buckle down and try to mend things—the way Teva had done for him before.
"I like your outfit," Wolf said gently. "It smells nice."
Teva was still fidgeting under the table. He could see her arms moving nervously.
"I did miss you," he added.
That got a blush from her. And a small gasp from somewhere in the distance—which Wolf deliberately ignored.
"While I was away, I made jam. For all my friends and family." He smiled. "I wanted you to have some too. And your mom, I guess. If she likes sweets."
"She does," Teva spoke in a low voice, her cheeks still red.
The color just made her stand out more—even as she clearly wanted him to look away.
Wolf felt better knowing she was okay. That she'd received his gift. But he felt out of place in her home. So he decided to leave before making things worse.
"I'm glad I got to see you again." He stood carefully. "It's been a long day. I'll see you around, okay?"
"Okay..." Teva still wasn't willing to look at him.
But her mind kept repeating silently: Don't go, don't go, don't go...
Even as Wolf handed her the jar of jam and headed for the door.
It was berry jam—Teva's mother's favorite treat, besides her special teas.
After Wolf left, Teva's mother emerged from where she'd been listening.
"Child, you're supposed to be bold. Or at least sly." She sounded disappointed. "Not just wait for him to pounce on you like cornered prey."
She sighed dramatically. "Pity. It was fun while it lasted."
"It's not like that!" Teva protested, her face still burning.
Her mother barked a laugh, which only annoyed Teva more.
"Dear, everything is fun and games. You're just not smart enough to play yet."
Teva was tired of her mother's antics. She summoned water magic, intending to splash her.
But she was shocked when she lost control—the water hit her own face instead.
"Don't forget who taught you how to use that magic," her mother said smugly.
She proceeded to sigh and walk away, clearly bored now that the entertainment was over.
Teva pulled the water from her face and dispersed it as easily as it had come. She stared at her hand, frustrated.
Next time, she thought firmly. Next time I'll be bolder.
Not because of what her mother said. Not because of games or tricks.
But because Wolf was her friend. Even the embarrassing things he'd heard—those were just part of life. Part of being close to someone.
Next time.
After leaving Teva's house, Wolf felt completely drained.
A random thought came to him as he walked—maybe he should go exploring for a bit. Just wander around like he used to.
But even as he thought it, he realized something.
The allure of exploring was losing its luster. Each day, it felt less exciting than before. It was the same scenes. The same forest paths. The same lake. The same village streets.
And he had responsibilities now.
Work at the shop. Books to read—important books about magic and herbs. He couldn't keep putting everything off on his family while he wandered aimlessly.
Especially after learning what he had today.
Coby was out hunting monsters. Real, actual monsters. Fighting to protect the area. Being useful. Being an adult.
And what was Wolf doing? Running around delivering jam. Avoiding work. Chasing after magic like a child chasing fireflies.
The comparison stung.
Wolf headed home slowly, his feet heavy. Not from exhaustion alone, but from the weight of growing up.
That evening at dinner, Wolf couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer.
"Dad, I heard from Mrs. Crow that you were a monster hunter. Is it true?"
He saw the surprise flash across his father's face. But after a moment, Dad nodded.
"It's not really a secret." His voice was measured. "But it's not something I care to talk about much. It was more necessary than fun."
Wolf looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"I don't like killing." Dad looked down at his food, cutting it slowly but not eating. "I used to brave the dungeons to prove myself. Hunted the edges of our lands for sport." He paused. "But over time, it lost its appeal. And then I met your mother."
He smiled as he looked at Mom. She smiled back warmly, patting his shoulder.
"And that's when I found what I really wanted."
As Dad finished saying that, Mom leaned over and they kissed.
Wolf rolled his eyes. Len smiled at the display of affection.
Wanting to stay on topic—and not watch his parents kiss—Wolf turned to his sister. "Did you know about this, Len? Did Dad hunt monsters? Did you ever see any?!"
Len was still smiling from their parents' kiss. But then she looked thoughtful at his questions.
"Hmm. No, not really." She tried to remember. "Though I did see the corpse of the wolf Dad hunted. The one you're named after. That was before you were born." She shrugged. "That was the only time I remember anything monster-related."
It was clearly a boring topic to her. She didn't really care about hunting or monsters.
"I was home with Mom mostly, until Dad got the shop established." She saw her brother's pout—losing his hopes for adventure stories. She felt a little guilty at disappointing him.
Dad must have noticed Wolf's disappointment too. He spoke up carefully.
"Monster hunting is very common in cities, you know. They even pay well for rare monster finds." He paused, watching his son closely. "I hope that's not your desire, though. I would help you if you really wanted it. But it requires hard training. Discipline. And no offense, son, but you don't seem to enjoy work very much."
Len laughed at that.
Mom slapped Dad lightly on the shoulder. "Be nice, dear. He's still young."
She looked at Wolf with love, letting him know he wasn't alone in this.
Wolf took it in stride. His father was right, in a way. He wasn't lazy exactly—but he was lacking ambition for most things. And fighting monsters would be a full-time commitment. Constant danger. Constant work.
"No," Wolf said firmly. "Just magic for me."
He saw his mother's smile fade. Turn sad. His father frowned deeply. Even Len seemed suddenly lost for words.
Why was everyone always against magic?
His father spoke first, his voice heavy. "That's a good dream, son. But magic is given by the gods—not by our desires." He looked Wolf directly in the eyes. "Just don't get your hopes up too high. I don't want you to be disappointed."
Wolf wasn't sure what he meant by that. Why would wanting magic lead to disappointment?
"Why not?" Wolf protested. "I can earn the right to use it!"
He saw both his parents exchange a meaningful look. Even Len looked slightly puzzled—it seemed she wasn't sure what they were about to say.
Dad took a breath. "Your mother and I... we're not blessed with magic. Not really." He paused. "We have some magic. Everyone does. But nothing that allows what you understand as spells. The kind of magic you want, son... it's much stronger in beastkin. Even their babies tend to show early signs of real magic."
He looked pained. "But for us humans, it's more of a struggle. The gods don't want us to abuse it like we did in the past."
Wolf wasn't sure he was following. "Why is one race okay but not another?"
"But they let the beastkin have more magic?" he asked, frustrated.
Dad looked conflicted, searching for better words. "The beast tribes tend to worship magic as a gift. A blessing. And they give back to the world with it." He paused. "Humans tend to take magic as power. To use it to rule over others."
His voice grew quieter. "It's not our place to tell the gods who can have magic. That's the god of balance's job. That's why they exist."
Wolf felt annoyance burning in his chest. Everything he knew and wanted—hanging on the thoughts and whims of some god of balance? A god deciding humans couldn't be trusted?
But he sighed and forced himself to relent. For now.
"Thank you, Dad. For explaining it to me." His voice was calm. "I understand."
It just means I need to try harder, Wolf resolved silently. Push the balance in my favor.
Dad saw something determined settle on his son's face. Some private conclusion reached. So he decided to change topics before the conversation grew heavier.
"Nebo mentioned the other day he got you some books." Dad's tone was lighter now. "I didn't think you liked to read, son. But I'd make an effort to get you some adventure books if you want."
Wolf shook his head. "These are for research. I need to understand more about herbs—if I want to do alchemy. Um, and magic. And creatures too. So I know more about... magic stuff."
He finished explaining the books he'd acquired.
Dad raised an eyebrow. "Nothing forbidden?"
"No!" Wolf spoke quickly, fearing his father might try to take his books away. "They were approved by the church! How would I even get forbidden books?"
When he thought about it, that made no sense.
"There are always ways," Dad said, relaxing a bit. "Lost ruins. Old magic books. Or even copies from those texts—people trying to sell forbidden knowledge on the black market."
Wolf was shocked. He wasn't sure how to respond to that.
Len patted his shoulder gently and got up to start cleaning the dishes.
Wolf rose to help her. The dinner conversation was wrapping up.
His mother and father exchanged concerned glances—worried about his mental state, his obsession with magic. But they didn't push the issue. They would let him find his own truth, make his own choices.
Later that evening, Wolf went to his room.
He looked at the books on his shelf—the ones Nebo had brought. Picked one at random to see what he could learn.
It was time to start finding answers for himself.294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7htrclTUR
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