Akira stumbled along, the distant is howling and fading behind them, replaced by pale fog and empty, treeless plains. This was the border of the human world. He walked between the two men with unsteady steps, his small feet aching, his clothes still marked by the fangs that had dragged him away from his mother's arms. He didn't understand where he was being taken… only that the forest where he was born was no longer behind him, and his mother's voice had become a fading echo.
Calix stopped. His body began to change right before Akira's eyes. The dark brown fur shrank back, bones reshaped themselves, claws receded into human fingers. Within moments, he was no longer a wolf. A tall man stood in front of him, his hair a deep brown like Mira's, his red eyes still holding the same harsh glint. Even in human form, nothing about him grew less intimidating.
The second wolf shifted next. The gray fur vanished, replaced by a man with pale gray hair and cold yellow eyes. Akira froze. He stared at their newly formed bodies with childlike disbelief. He had never seen humans before… but he felt something strange. He resembled them. His small pointed ears, his tail he tried to hide… all of it made him realize for the first time that he wasn't a wolf like his mother nor fully human like these two.
He took a hesitant step, his voice trembled:
"Where… where is my mom?"
Neither of them answered.
He swallowed, his eyes are filling again:
"I want my mom… I want to go back to her… please…"
Calix turned slowly. He looked down at him with cold indifference and took a single step toward him… enough to lock Akira's body in place.
Calix spoke in a low, final tone:
"Forget her."
He leaned in until he was eye-level with the child.
"She's gone. You won't see her again. Not today, not tomorrow… and never."
Time froze. Akira's eyes widened as if the words couldn't settle in his mind. Then suddenly… he burst into tears. Silent at first, then breaking into painful, shaking sobs.
"No… no! Mom! Mom!"
He reached out with trembling hands toward something that wasn't there anymore. His small body shook violently, as if the ground had vanished beneath him.
Calix's voice was merciless:
"This is the price of staying alive. Remember that."
The other man spoke:
"Your life begins here, Akira. This is the human world. There's no going back. Understand that."
But Akira wasn't listening. He heard nothing except his mother's fading voice.
They walked for a long time. The remnants of tears stayed in Akira's eyes, but his small body grew too tired to cry anymore. His steps slowed, his hand dangling weakly in Calix's grip. At last, they entered the human capital "Noxar".
The city was alive in a way the forest never was. The cries of vendors, the clatter of carts, the shuffle of countless feet. No one paid attention to the two men… but Akira was different. As soon as they stepped into the crowds, heads turned. Whispering. Staring. Eyes lingering too long on his pointed ears, his tail, the strange mix he couldn't hide.
A passing young man stared openly:
"Oh my god… look at those ears! Is he… human? Or something else?"
Wolf 1 stepped forward, glare sharp.
"Back off."
Akira felt the weight of their stares. He didn't understand why he had suddenly become something to gawk at. He knew he was different… but not like this.
His voice came out barely audible:
"W-why are they looking at me like that…? I don't understand…"
The whispers grew, but Calix and the other man didn't stop until they reached the towering black-stone building of the Darkova Grand Library. Calix stopped in the open square, scanning the faces. He turned to someone nearby.
"Excuse me, do you know where Filippo lives? He lives alone near the Darkova Library. Black hair, medium-sized white house."
The man eyed him warily, then nodded:
"Filippo? Yes. The house right next to the library, on the right side."
"Thank you,"
Calix answered.
They moved again until they stood at the door. Calix looked down at Akira.
"This will be your new home. You're not a wolf, you can't live with us. The human world will be better for you."
He raised his hand and knocked. A moment later, the door opened. Filippo stood there… pale-faced, exhausted, a cigarette between his lips. The moment his eyes fell on Akira, they widened in raw shock.
"You… how? What is he doing here?!"
Calix stepped forward.
"This is your son, Akira. We brought him because his mother can't raise him anymore. He's not like the wolves… but he's not fully human either."
Filippo stared at Akira, then glared back at Calix.
"What is he doing here?! Why didn't you keep him with his mother? How am I supposed to deal with this?"
Akira took one tiny step.
"A-are you… my dad?"
Filippo's voice exploded:
"You are not my son! How am I supposed to live with you?! How do I raise something like you?! You're a human monstrosity!"
Akira froze. His eyes widened.
"But… Dad… Mom said I'd live with you…"
Filippo shoved him aside with a harsh movement.
"You think I'll keep you here? Live with a monster like you? Get out of my sight! I don't want you here!"
His words hit harder than blows. Tears fell silently as Akira stared at the man who was supposed to be his safe place.
Filippo turned his back:
"Go. Go anywhere else. I don't want to see your face again."
Calix stepped forward sharply.
"How dare you talk like that?! You are his father whether you like it or not!"
Filippo snapped:
"You don't understand! I can't live with something like him! I can't stand the idea of raising something so ugly!"
Calix answered coldly:
"You chose this. You made this child. That responsibility doesn't vanish because you don't like it. Mira did everything she could, and now it's your turn. You will take him."
Akira whispered:
"Dad… why do you hate me? Why don't you want me?"
Filippo looked at him, his voice tangled in anger and panic:
"What will people think if they find out I had a child with a cursed wolf? I wish you were never born, Akira!"
Calix shouted:
"That's enough! You're his father. You will take him. End of discussion."
Filippo hesitated, then suddenly turned, grabbed Akira by the arms—his grip harsh as if holding a burden he despised.
"Fine. But don't expect life to be easy here."
He dragged him into the kitchen and threw him onto the cold floor like something unwanted. He stood over him, and said with a sharp voice:
"You'll live here. But if you don't listen, you'll live on the streets like you deserve. Don't think I'll treat you like normal people. You're staying here, and you'll learn how to live without causing trouble. Understand?"
Akira trembled on the floor, tears streaming. He lifted his head with difficulty:
"I-I'm… sorry, Dad… for being born!"
Filippo stepped closer. A cruel smile twisted his face.
"Sorry won't save you. From now on, you obey me. If you don't… things will get worse. Remember that."
He turned and left. Silence swallowed the room.
Akira whispered through broken breaths:
"Mom… Mom, where are you? Why did you leave me here? Why can't I stay with you? I don't want… I don't want to live with Dad…"
Suddenly the door burst open again. Filippo returned, rage twisting his face, holding a wooden stick. He marched straight toward the boy.
He shouted as he raised the stick:
"You noisy little brat! Stop crying!"
The blows rained down. Once, twice, again. Wood striking small limbs, pain spreading like fire. Akira screamed between choked sobs.
"Mom… Mom…"
Filippo grew more furious, lifting the stick higher.
"I don't want to hear her name again! Say her name one more time and you'll regret it!"
Akira tried to shield himself with weak hands.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry!"
Then suddenly, everything stopped. Filippo lowered the stick, looked at him blankly, then walked out without a word. Akira remained on the floor, trembling.