Jongdae’s knees hit the ground, feeling a heavy rainstorm pour over his mental state. The pool of crimson liquid flowed in front of him, the collective blood from the two wolves mingling together as one. Nari died as the beauty she was, and no paleness or stiffness would change what he had once felt for her. Sungjong died as a wolf, the most honorable way to die in their race. Born as a wolf, died as a wolf. Jongdae managed to honor Sungjong in a twisted and sickening manner.   “Hey.”   Jongdae recognized that familiar voice, followed by a gentle hand resting on his back. He could pick up a fellow wolf’s scent from miles away, and despite having grown up with the elves, it didn’t mask away Jihye’s true identity.   “Did you see it?” He asked, lips quivering as much as his fingers trembled. He looked so dejected.   Jihye kept quiet, moving her hand to his shoulders to give light pats. “It’s not your fault,” she said, bending down on her knees in front of him. “I would’ve done the same thing in your place.”   Unknowingly, Jongdae accepted her offer when she embraced him. They were the last remaining of their kind. Without the other, the werewolves would lose a chance to reign the land of Ephemerus.   “We need to keep going. There’s nothing left for us to do but to win,” Jihye spoke, tightening her grip around him. Something in her gaze switched, and she was thankful he couldn’t notice the change.     From the moment Maerin had her eyes locked on Jinah, the human knew she was screwed. The tiny dragon added to the intimidation. Negotiations wouldn’t work on this human girl. The only way out was to fight.   Her hand moved to her back, picking up the air where her crossbow should’ve been. Panic crossed her face, remembering her weapon was broken. She was completely defenseless.   Maerin, on the other hand, wielded out her two blades. The playfulness in her usual dumb look morphed into one of grimness. There was hunger, a dark craving for revenge. She would stop at nothing until blood was spilt.   “It was all in the past, Maerin,” Jinah spoke. With every backward step she took, the goblin closed in their distance easily.   “Ten years from now, your death shall be in the past as well,” Maerin spoke, letting her swords glide across the dirt. The metal tip traced a crooked line on the ground as she moved. Bacon loyally flew behind her, ready to back her up if necessary.   Jinah whimpered, her eyes scanned the surrounding for anyone who could come to her aid. But they were completely secluded. Fear struck her at once, realizing death was in front of her. She needed to get help. She needed a savior. She needed…   “Jangmun!” She yelled on the top of her lungs, screaming to the point her vocal chords started hurting.   Maerin stopped her movements, cocking her head sideways. She was willing to wait for the other to come, confident she could take them both out. It would be two against her and Bacon.   Jinah’s frantic cries filled the sinister sky, and tears began to dwell, knowing no one could hear her. Jangmun was a wendigo, not some psychic who heard her pleas whenever she needed him.   Suddenly, the bush beside them began to rustle. It was the single bit of hope Jinah had. To her greatest surprise, the one appearing from the bush was none other than Jihye, the wolf girl.   “What’s going on here?” Jihye questioned, sensing the tense atmosphere.   “You must help me!” Jinah begged, knowing she was close friends with her boss, Sungjong. She held unto Jihye’s arms, digging her claws into her skin, leaving red marks of indents. “This goblin is trying to kill me!”   Jihye widened her eyes, turning to Maerin searching for some explanation.   “If you’d like to help her and get killed altogether, be my guest,” Maerin said lazily, swinging her swords around her wrist with ease so they’d be in a battle position. She was a complete different person on the battlefield.   “What did you do to her?” Jihye asked again, this time staring at Jinah. There was no sympathy to her voice, as if things had been strictly business to her. “Tell me the truth.”   “She killed my mother by stoning her to death. Because of her mistakes, I stabbed Taemin by accident and lost him!”   The grim memories invaded her mind, and at once, all her bitterness and anger pooled together for revenge. She let out a loud battle cry, running towards the target in front of her. Whether she killed the human or both girls, Maerin didn't care. She wanted Jinah dead.   “No!” Jinah cried, turning to Jihye with tear stained eyes. Her beauty had faded into that of a pathetic beggar. “Please help me, Jihye.”   In that split second, Jihye saw Maerin charging towards them. She balled her hands into a fist, weighing the consequences each option came with. Right before the attack, Jihye grabbed Jinah by her shoulders, pulling her away from Maerin.   Jinah smiled in relief, knowing she was saved. The same force that had held her suddenly pushed her forward, right into the blades Maerin had outstretched to her.   Maerin blinked her eyes, hardening her gaze at the sight. Her fingers released her swords that remained penetrated through Jinah’s limbs.   Bacon was quiet, flying in silence. He was as shocked at the twist of events.   The human girl was bleeding terribly before she fell to the ground, pushing the sword out of her. It tore off more flesh instead. Soon, she was no longer breathing.   Maerin picked up her swords from the ground, now stained with the filthy girl’s blood. But importantly, she tilted her head to Jihye, unsure what to say.   “She killed people,” Jihye simply explained herself, her eyes glaring at the dead body. “This is the punishment she deserves.”     Yeonji had grown frantic ever since her beloved dragon went missing. She presumed it had something to do with Maerin’s disappearance. The others seemed to have other, more important plans, on their mind.   “So we’ll need to find these raw materials to recreate Biah’s Adamas staff,” Baekhyun said to the three humans circling around him. He took his job as a blacksmith very seriously and always set his heart on making the most powerful weapons—although he added deliberate defects to have his customers return.   “Alright! Let’s go find them,” Biah said with excitement, she was ready to walk when Hoya held her back by the wrist.   “It would be dangerous if you come along. Maybe we should wait here while they look for these… Items,” Hoya said, looking at the napkin Baekhyun had vaguely scribbled on. The sun was about to set soon, and the darkness would be their disadvantage.   “Oh, so we leave you two alone to have your y time while we get to do all the dirty work? Fine, I get how it is,” Baekhyun uttered, clearly complaining.   “What is y time?” Biah asked innocently.   The others stopped with whatever they were doing, giving her an are-you-kidding-me look.   “It’s when a man and a woman let out their beastly instincts and—”   Hoya quickly placed his hand over the noisy goblin’s mouth, filtering the rest of his words into muffled sounds. “Never mind him,” he then told his confused wife with staggered laughter.   Baekhyun released himself, and continued. “Geesh, married for three months and you haven’t even given your wife some—”   “Shut up.” This time it was Yeonji, using the power in her voice to command him.   At last, the silence returned.   Yoongi looked at the bunch and began to clear his throat as he got up. “Hoya, since you possess more knowledge about locating the necessary items, why don’t you go with this,” He looked at Baekhyun and twitched, “Obnoxious goblin to locate them?”   Baekhyun wanted to protest, but the hypnosis had greater power over his sealed lips.   “What about Biah?” Hoya asked, flashing his wife a worried look.   “I’ll stay with her and look after her on your behalf,” Yoongi spoke.   The worries in Hoya’s gaze disappeared, and he looked at the