SUMMONED BY FATE Chapter 1 The Forest Under Two Moons
The forest was silent.
Not the normal kind of silence.
Not the peaceful quiet of wind through trees or distant animals moving through the brush.
This silence felt wrong.
Heavy.
Like the entire world was holding its breath.
Lena stood frozen in the middle of a clearing, her heart hammering violently against her ribs.
"…Okay."
Her voice sounded small in the vast stillness.
"…Okay, this isn't real."
Just minutes earlier she had been standing in her apartment kitchen on Earth.
She remembered it clearly.
The dim kitchen light.
Her phone sitting on the counter.
A half-written text message she never sent.
And then—
A flash of light.
A strange pulling sensation.
Like the world had suddenly folded in on itself.
Now she stood somewhere else entirely.
Tall trees surrounded her in every direction.
Their bark shimmered faintly silver under the strange glow of moonlight.
Moonlight that didn't feel right.
Lena slowly looked up.
Her breath caught instantly.
Two moons hung in the sky.
Not small ones either.
They were massive.
One pale blue.
The other glowing softly gold.
They illuminated the forest in an eerie mixture of colors that made the entire landscape feel dreamlike.
"…Yeah."
She laughed nervously.
"I'm definitely dreaming."
But the cold air brushing across her skin felt real.
The scent of damp earth and strange plants felt real.
And the fear building slowly in her chest felt very real.
Lena wrapped her arms around herself.
"Okay… think."
Panic wouldn't help.
She needed to understand where she was.
Or how she got here.
Her thoughts raced.
Had she been drugged?
Kidnapped?
None of it made sense.
The ground suddenly trembled slightly beneath her feet.
Lena froze.
A low growl echoed through the darkness.
Her stomach dropped instantly.
"…Hello?"
The bushes nearby rustled violently.
Something large moved through the undergrowth.
Then it stepped into the moonlight.
Lena's heart nearly stopped.
The creature looked vaguely like a wolf.
Except wrong.
Its body was larger than any wolf she had ever seen.
Its limbs bent at unnatural angles.
And it walked on six clawed legs that scraped across the forest floor.
Its eyes glowed an eerie green.
Another growl sounded behind it.
Two more creatures stepped forward.
Three monsters now surrounded the clearing.
Lena slowly stepped backward.
"Stay back…"
Her voice trembled.
The creatures didn't hesitate.
They lunged.
For one frozen moment Lena thought:
I'm going to die.
Then—
Steel flashed through the air.
A blade cut through the nearest creature with terrifying speed.
The monster collapsed instantly.
Lena blinked in shock.
A figure now stood between her and the remaining beasts.
A man.
Tall.
Dressed in a dark cloak that moved slightly with the wind.
A smooth black mask covered his face completely, hiding his identity.
In his right hand he held a long sword that gleamed faintly in the moonlight.
The monsters snarled and attacked again.
The masked man didn't even flinch.
Instead he raised his right hand.
A glowing circular symbol ignited across his palm.
Ancient runes spiraled outward in bright silver light.
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
"Fenris."
Light burst from the ground.
A massive white wolf erupted from the summoning circle.
The creature was enormous.
Its fur shone like fresh snow under the twin moons.
Its eyes burned with bright blue intelligence.
The monsters barely had time to react.
Fenris moved like lightning.
Within seconds the two remaining creatures lay motionless on the ground.
Silence returned to the forest.
Lena stared.
Her brain struggled to process what she had just seen.
"…What the hell."
The masked man turned slightly as if preparing to leave.
"Wait!"
Her voice echoed through the clearing.
He paused.
Lena took a cautious step forward.
"…Are you from here?"
The masked man hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Then he spoke quietly.
"…No."
His voice was deeper than she expected.
Calm.
Almost distant.
Before she could ask anything else—
He vanished into the forest.
Like he had never been there at all.
Lena stood alone in the clearing once again.
Except now there were three monster corpses lying nearby.
And a giant white wolf pawprint burned into the dirt where the summoning circle had been.
She stared at the ground.
"…I'm not dreaming."
High above the forest canopy…
Kai watched her from the branches of a massive tree.
His heart pounded heavily in his chest.
"…Lena."
Five years.
It had been five years since he had last seen her.
But he recognized her instantly.
The same brown-red hair.
The same stubborn expression.
The same sharp eyes he used to know so well.
Except now…
She was standing in the world he had nearly died learning to survive.
Kai slowly looked down at his right hand.
The summoning mark glowed faintly across his palm.
"…Why you?"
The ritual earlier that night had been routine.
A simple spirit-binding meant to strengthen his connection to his guardians.
Instead…
The magic had reached across worlds.
And pulled Lena here.
Kai closed his hand slowly.
He never chose her.
The ritual chose the soul with the strongest connection to his.
And now fate had forced them together again.
But Kai understood something very clearly.
Lena never wanted to see him again.
Not after what happened on Earth.
Not after the mistake he made.
The memory still burned.
The moment his Feelings got the best of him while speaking with a friend of hers
All the built up Confusion he felt the Feelings he let them out
He Broke her trust .
The betrayal.
The anger in her voice when she found out.
The Regret, The Feelings, All came Flooding back
I've Regretted that moment more than anything
I Thought I'd Never see her again
I will do what I always wanted to do for her
Care for her, Be there for her
And most of all the one thing needed in this world
Learning to Survive
She never wanted to see me again
For now This is the Only way
I Don't Wanna see her Get hurt
Or worse..
And the silence afterward.
Kai exhaled slowly.
"…So be it."
If Lena never wanted to see him again…
Then he would protect her the only way he could.
From the shadows. Chapter 1 END.
Chapter 2 Five Years in Another World
The forest did not sleep.
Lena learned that very quickly.
Night in this strange world was nothing like the quiet nights she knew back on Earth. The moment the sun disappeared beyond the distant mountains, the entire forest seemed to come alive.
Creatures moved through the darkness.
Some howled.
Some screeched.
Others made sounds Lena didn't even have names for.
Every branch that snapped made her jump.
Every gust of wind made her think something was hunting her.
She sat beside a fallen log, hugging her knees tightly as she tried to calm her breathing.
"Okay… okay…"
The words came out shaky.
"This is just… temporary."
But she didn't believe that.
She didn't even know where she was.
The forest stretched endlessly in every direction. The strange trees with silver bark towered high above her head, their branches forming a thick canopy that blocked most of the sky.
Only the twin moons pierced through the gaps.
The blue moon.
The golden moon.
Even hours later she still couldn't accept that part.
Lena exhaled slowly.
"Focus."
Panicking wouldn't help.
If this was real—if she had somehow been transported to another world like some weird fantasy story—then survival came first.
She had no phone.
No food.
No weapons.
And apparently monsters existed.
Her eyes drifted toward the corpse of one of the creatures the masked man had killed earlier.
The six-legged beast lay motionless, its twisted body half hidden in the tall grass.
Even dead, it looked terrifying.
Lena quickly looked away.
"…Great."
She was definitely not equipped for this.
A faint rustling sound came from the trees behind her.
Lena's entire body stiffened.
Her heart slammed against her ribs again.
"Hello…?"
No answer.
The sound stopped.
Then started again.
Branches shifted.
Something moved in the shadows.
Lena grabbed a thick stick from the ground and held it out in front of her like a weapon.
"I'm warning you!"
Her voice cracked slightly.
"…I will hit you!"
A moment later a rabbit hopped out of the bushes.
Lena stared.
The tiny animal blinked at her.
Then casually hopped away.
She slowly lowered the stick.
"…I'm losing my mind."
Above the forest canopy, Kai watched quietly from the branches.
He had been observing her for nearly an hour now.
Long enough to confirm something important.
She had no idea how to survive here.
Not even the basics.
Kai sighed quietly.
"…Of course."
Why would she?
Five years ago he had arrived here just as confused.
Just as terrified.
And he almost died within the first day.
Kai shifted slightly on the tree branch.
The memories still lingered.
Five years earlier…
He had woken up in a burning village.
Monsters everywhere.
People screaming.
The first thing he learned about Aetheris was simple.
This world did not care if you lived or died.
He survived by pure luck.
Then stubbornness.
Then sheer desperation.
Over time he learned.
How to fight.
How to hunt.
How to read the strange magic that flowed through this world.
Eventually he found the Adventurer Guild.
That was where everything changed.
They taught him how to control his summoning mark.
How to contract with guardian spirits.
How to survive in a world where monsters existed everywhere.
Five years later…
Kai had become something very different from the confused man who first arrived.
An experienced adventurer.
A summoner capable of fighting creatures that could wipe out entire villages.
But Lena…
She was still the same person he remembered.
And that made this situation dangerous.
Kai glanced down at his right hand.
The summoning mark glowed faintly beneath his glove.
The circular symbol pulsed slowly with ancient energy.
A reminder of the ritual earlier that night.
The ritual that accidentally summoned Lena.
He never meant for it to happen.
But summoning magic didn't work the way most people believed.
You couldn't simply pull a random person from another world.
The ritual always followed a rule.
Connection.
It searched for a soul that resonated strongly with the summoner.
A bond.
A link between two lives.
And out of billions of people…
It chose Lena.
Kai looked down at the clearing again.
She was still sitting near the fallen log, staring at the sky.
She looked exhausted.
Scared.
Lost.
"…Damn it."
Kai stood up.
He didn't want to interfere directly.
Not yet.
But he couldn't leave her alone either.
This forest was part of the Grayveil Wildlands.
A monster territory.
Weak creatures roamed the outer edges.
Stronger ones lived deeper within.
And eventually…
Something dangerous would notice her.
Kai closed his eyes briefly.
"Fenris."
A soft glow appeared beside him.
The massive white wolf materialized silently on the tree branch.
Fenris' tail flicked once as his blue eyes scanned the forest below.
The spirit wolf spoke through their mental bond.
She is fragile.
Kai nodded slightly.
"I know."
Fenris tilted his head.
Why hide?
Kai didn't answer immediately.
Instead he watched Lena again.
Her expression looked distant now.
Sad.
Like she was thinking about something far away.
Or someone.
Kai exhaled slowly.
"…Because she hates me."
Fenris studied him quietly.
The spirit wolf didn't need more explanation.
Some things could be felt through the bond.
Regret.
Pain.
Memories.
Kai looked toward the distant mountains where the city of Ardin lay beyond the forest.
"…I'll guide her there."
Fenris' ears twitched.
Without revealing yourself.
"Yeah."
The wolf sighed.
Humans are complicated.
Kai couldn't argue with that.
Below them, Lena suddenly stood up.
She looked around nervously.
"…Okay."
Her voice sounded tired.
"I can't stay here."
Good decision.
Kai watched as she began walking slowly through the forest.
Completely unaware that she had chosen the correct direction.
Toward Ardin. Toward civilization. Toward him. Chapter 2 END.
Chapter 3 The Masked Protector
Morning in Aetheris arrived slowly.
The golden moon faded first.
Then the blue one.
Eventually sunlight filtered through the silver trees, casting long beams of light across the forest floor.
Lena had barely slept.
Every strange sound kept her awake.
Every shadow looked like another monster waiting to attack.
By the time daylight arrived she felt completely drained.
Her legs ached from walking.
Her stomach growled loudly.
"I need food…"
The problem was she had no idea what was safe to eat.
Some of the plants looked familiar.
Others looked like they belonged in an alien ecosystem.
Lena crouched beside a bush covered in small red berries.
"…These look normal."
But she hesitated.
For all she knew they could be poisonous.
Or explosive.
Or magically cursed.
She sighed.
"Great."
Hunger was winning the argument though.
Lena reached toward the berries.
Suddenly—
A knife embedded itself in the tree beside her hand.
She jumped backward with a startled cry.
"What the—?!"
A figure dropped down from the branches above.
The masked man.
The same one from last night.
His dark cloak settled behind him as he landed silently on the ground.
Lena stared.
"You again."
The masked man stepped forward and casually plucked one of the berries from the bush.
Then he crushed it between his fingers.
Black smoke hissed out of the pulp.
"…Poison."
Lena's eyes widened.
"…Oh."
He tossed the berry aside.
"You would've been dead in an hour."
She crossed her arms defensively.
"Well excuse me for not knowing the plants in your weird alien forest."
The masked man didn't react.
Instead he pulled a small leather pouch from his belt and tossed it to her.
Lena caught it awkwardly.
She opened it.
Inside were strips of dried meat.
"…Food?"
"Yes."
She hesitated.
"You're not poisoning me, right?"
"…No."
Lena studied him carefully.
Black cloak.
Mask covering his entire face.
Sword strapped across his back.
And that strange glowing symbol she remembered from earlier.
"…Who are you?"
The masked man turned slightly.
"Just someone passing through."
"That's not an answer."
He didn't respond.
Lena frowned.
"You saved me twice now."
"Yes."
"Why?"
The masked man was quiet for a moment.
"…Because this forest isn't safe."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I figured that part out."
Silence stretched between them.
Finally Lena sighed and sat down on the log again.
"Well… thanks."
She began eating the dried meat cautiously.
It tasted surprisingly good.
Better than anything she expected in a situation like this.
The masked man stood nearby silently.
Watching the forest.
Guarding the perimeter.
After a few minutes Lena glanced up at him again.
"You're not very talkative."
"…No."
"Do you have a name?"
He hesitated.
Kai felt the familiar tension in his chest.
The weight of memories.
If he told her the truth right now—
Everything would collapse.
So he said the first name that came to mind.
"…Ash."
Lena nodded slowly.
"Okay, Ash."
She wiped her hands on her jeans.
"My name's Lena."
Kai almost laughed.
He already knew that.
Of course.
But hearing her say it again after five years felt strange.
Like reopening an old memory.
Lena looked around the forest again.
"So… where exactly are we?"
"Aetheris."
"…That sounds made up."
"It's the name of this world."
She blinked.
"…You're serious."
"Yes."
Lena leaned back against the log and stared at the sky.
"…So I got summoned to another world."
Kai didn't confirm or deny it.
She sighed.
"Great."
A moment passed.
Then she glanced at him again.
"So what now?"
Kai looked toward the distant mountains.
"There's a city two days from here."
"Civilization?"
"Yes."
"People?"
"Yes."
Lena immediately stood up.
"Lead the way."
Kai paused.
"…You trust me that easily?"
She shrugged.
"You already saved my life twice."
"…And?"
"And if you wanted to kill me you probably would've done it already."
Fair point.
Kai turned toward the forest path.
"Stay close."
Lena followed behind him.
Completely unaware that the person she trusted most right now…
Was the one person she once swore never to speak to again. Chapter 3 END.
Chapter 4Ghosts of Earth
They walked for hours.
The deeper they traveled through the forest, the stranger the world felt.
Lena noticed small glowing insects drifting through the air like living lanterns.
Strange birds with translucent wings perched on tree branches.
At one point a herd of deer with crystal antlers ran past them.
"…Okay this place is actually kind of cool."
Kai said nothing.
His focus remained on the forest.
Monsters were still nearby.
But none approached.
Fenris had been scouting ahead silently.
The spirit wolf's presence alone scared most creatures away.
Eventually Lena broke the silence.
"So… Ash."
"Yes."
"You said you weren't from this world either."
"…Correct."
"Where are you from?"
Kai felt his chest tighten slightly.
"…Earth."
Lena stopped walking.
"…You're kidding."
"No."
She stared at him.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
Lena's mind raced.
"You mean like… the same Earth?"
Kai nodded once.
"…Then you understand how insane this is."
"Yes."
"How long have you been here?"
Kai hesitated.
"…Five years."
Lena's eyes widened.
"Five years?!"
"Yes."
She looked around the forest again.
Then back at him.
"…How are you still alive?"
Kai glanced toward the distant trees.
"Practice."
Lena laughed.
"Yeah that's not a comforting answer."
They continued walking.
A few minutes later Lena spoke again.
"…Do you ever miss it?"
Kai knew exactly what she meant.
Earth.
Normal life.
The world they both came from.
"…Sometimes."
Lena kicked a small rock along the path.
"…There was someone I left behind."
Kai's heart skipped slightly.
"…Oh?"
"Yeah."
Her voice sounded distant now.
"…Someone important."
Kai said nothing.
He didn't trust his voice.
Lena sighed.
"…But things ended badly."
Kai kept walking.
"…What happened?"
She shrugged.
"He betrayed my trust."
Kai felt the words like a blade.
"…That's unfortunate."
"Yeah."
She looked up at the sky again.
"…I guess I just wish things had ended differently."
Kai looked ahead toward the distant mountains.
"…Some people regret their mistakes."
Lena smiled faintly.
"Probably."
Then she changed the subject.
"So summoning magic."
Kai blinked slightly.
"That's random."
"Not really."
She pointed at his hand.
"That glowing symbol thing you used."
"Oh."
"That's how you summoned the wolf, right?"
Kai nodded.
"Yes."
"…Can anyone do that?"
"No."
"Figures."
They walked in silence again.
But something had changed.
Kai could feel it.
The distance between them didn't feel as sharp. Not yet. But maybe… Just maybe… There was still a path forward. Chapter 4 END.
Chapter 5The Road to Ardin
The forest finally began thinning near sunset.
Lena noticed the change immediately. The trees grew farther apart.
The ground became less wild. Eventually they reached a dirt road cutting through the woods.
Lena stared at it like she had discovered civilization itself.
"…A road."
"Yes."
"This means we're close to people, right?"
Kai nodded. "Half a day."
Lena exhaled in relief. "Thank God."
They followed the road quietly.
The sky slowly darkened again as the twin moons rose overhead.
Lena glanced sideways at him.
"You know something?"
"What?"
"You're kind of mysterious."
Kai raised an eyebrow behind his mask.
"That's not intentional."
She smiled slightly.
"You wear a mask."
"…Yes."
"And you barely talk."
"…Yes."
"And you just randomly appeared and saved me."
"…Yes."
She grinned.
"That's mysterious."
Kai shook his head slightly.
"Focus on the road."
But inside…
He felt something he hadn't expected.
For the first time in five years…
Talking with Lena again felt natural.
Even if she didn't know who he was.
Ahead of them, the distant lights of a massive city finally appeared on the horizon.
Tall walls.
Towering structures.
Airships drifting slowly across the sky.
Lena stopped walking. "…What is that?"
Kai looked toward the city.
"Ardin." That's huge." "Yes It Is."
"What kind of place is it?"
Kai smiled faintly beneath his mask.
"The kind where adventurers change their fate."
Lena stared at the glowing skyline.
Her new life had officially begun. And neither of them knew yet…
That the world itself was about to change. Chapter 5 END.
Chapter 6 The City of Adventurers
The closer they walked toward the city, the larger it seemed.
At first Lena had thought the glowing skyline on the horizon was just a trick of distance.
But now that they stood only a few miles away, the scale of it became overwhelming.
Ardin wasn't just a city. It was enormous.
Massive stone walls surrounded it like a fortress built to withstand an apocalypse. Towers rose from the walls every hundred meters, each topped with glowing crystals that cast pale light across the surrounding plains.
Above the city floated something even stranger. Airships.
Huge wooden vessels drifted slowly through the sky, carried by massive crystal engines that hummed with magical energy.
Lena stopped walking entirely. "…You've got to be kidding me."
Kai paused beside her. "This is Ardin."
Lena turned slowly in a circle, trying to absorb everything.
"This place looks like someone mashed together medieval Europe and a fantasy RPG."
Kai didn't respond. Mostly because she wasn't wrong.
Ardin had grown into the largest adventurer city on the continent precisely because it sat at the crossroads between several monster territories.
People came here to hunt. To grow stronger. To chase fortune. And sometimes To survive.
They approached the main gate just as the evening crowd was entering the city. Merchants guided carts full of strange glowing fruits. Adventurers in armor walked past carrying weapons Lena had only seen in video games.
A massive man with horns growing from his forehead laughed loudly while arguing with a dwarf about ale prices.
Lena blinked."…Okay hold on."
Kai looked at her."What?"
"Did that guy have horns?" "Yes." "And the short guy with the beard was like three feet tall." "…Yes."
She rubbed her temples. "So there are different races here too."
Kai nodded. "Humans. Dwarves. Beastkin. Elves. Several others."
"Fantastic." They finally reached the gate.
Two armored guards stood watch. One of them glanced at Kai.
"Evening." Kai nodded slightly.
"Evening." The guard's eyes shifted toward Lena. "New arrival?" "Yes."
The guard gave her a brief evaluating look. "…Another summon?"
Kai didn't respond directly. Instead he handed over a small bronze token.
The guard inspected it. Then nodded.
"Adventurer access granted." The gate opened.
Lena stepped inside Ardin for the first time. And instantly froze again.
The city was alive.Bright magical lanterns illuminated the streets.
Shops lined the roads selling weapons, armor, potions, and strange magical artifacts.
Street performers created small illusions that danced through the air.
Adventurers laughed loudly in taverns.
The smell of food drifted from restaurants packed with people.
Lena slowly turned to Kai.
"…This place is insane."
Kai crossed his arms. "You get used to it."
She looked at him. "I don't think I will."
He began walking. "Come on." "Where are we going?" "The guild." Chapter 6 END
Chapter 7 The Adventurer Guild
The Adventurer Guild hall dominated the central district of Ardin. The building looked less like an office and more like a war headquarters.
Massive wooden doors stood open as adventurers moved constantly in and out. Inside, the hall buzzed with noise. Conversations. Arguments. The clanking of armor.
Lena stepped inside and stared. "…This place is bigger than a mall." Large quest boards covered one entire wall. Dozens of adventurers gathered around them searching for jobs.
Kai approached the main desk. A woman with short silver hair looked up from a stack of papers.Her sharp eyes immediately recognized him. "Well well."Her voice carried mild amusement. "If it isn't Ardin's most elusive summoner."
Kai sighed. "Hello Mira."
The receptionist leaned forward slightly. "You disappear for three months and then walk back in like nothing happened." "Work." She raised an eyebrow. "You mean wandering the wilderness alone like a lunatic." Kai didn't argue. Mira's eyes shifted to Lena. "New recruit?" "Something like that."
Lena stepped forward. "Hi."
Mira smiled slightly. "Name?"
"Lena." "Last name?" "…I'm not sure that matters anymore." Mira chuckled softly. "Fair enough."
She pulled out a small crystal orb and placed it on the desk. "Place your hand on this."
Lena looked at Kai. He nodded. "Go ahead." She placed her hand on the orb. The crystal glowed softly. Symbols flickered inside.
Mira studied them carefully. "…Interesting." "What?" "You have no registered origin." "Yeah that sounds about right." The receptionist scribbled something down. "Congratulations Lena." "On what?" "You're officially an F-rank adventurer."
Lena blinked. "…That sounds bad." "It just means you're new." Kai added quietly.
"Everyone starts there." Mira slid a small bronze badge across the desk."Welcome to the Adventurer Guild."
Lena picked it up. "…So now what?" Mira grinned. "Now you survive." Chapter 7 END
Chapter 8 First Lessons
Kai led Lena to the training grounds behind the guild.
Several adventurers were sparring already.
Sword clashes echoed through the air.
Lena crossed her arms.
"…So."
"So."
"You're going to teach me how not to die."
Kai nodded.
"That's the idea."
She grabbed a wooden training sword from the rack.
"…I've never done this before."
"I know."
"Comforting."
Kai picked up a second sword.
"First lesson."
He raised the weapon casually.
"Try to hit me."
Lena swung immediately.
Kai stepped aside effortlessly.
Her blade cut through empty air.
"Again."
She attacked faster this time.
Kai blocked the strike easily.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Within minutes Lena was breathing heavily.
"This is impossible."
Kai lowered his sword.
"You're trying to use strength."
"Well yeah."
"That won't work."
He stepped closer and gently adjusted her stance.
"Balance matters more."
Lena looked down at her feet.
"…Oh."
"Try again."
This time her strike landed. Not cleanly.But it connected.
Kai nodded slightly. "Better."
Lena grinned. "See? Natural talent."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Beginner's luck."
She rolled her eyes.
But for the first time since arriving in Aetheris… She felt something unexpected.
Confidence. Chapter 8 END.
Chapter 9 Fenris
Training continued for several hours.
By the time they finished Lena collapsed onto the grass.
"…I can't feel my arms."
Kai sat beside her.
"That means you worked."
She stared at the sky.
"…You know what I realized?"
"What?"
"You fight really weird."
Kai glanced at her.
"Weird how?"
"You're not just a swordsman."
"No."
"You're waiting for something."
Kai didn't respond.
Lena pointed at his right hand.
"The symbol."
Kai sighed.
"…Fine."
He stood up.
"Fenris."
The summoning circle ignited across the ground.
Light burst outward.
The massive white wolf appeared once again.
Lena's jaw dropped.
"…Okay that is still the coolest thing I've ever seen."
Fenris walked calmly toward her.
The spirit wolf lowered his head slightly.
Lena hesitated.
"…Can I pet him?"
Kai shrugged.
"If he lets you."
She slowly reached out.
Fenris allowed it.
Her hand touched the soft white fur.
Lena smiled.
"…Hi Fenris."
The wolf wagged his tail.
Kai watched quietly.
And for the first time in years…
Fenris spoke through their bond again.
She feels familiar.
Kai didn't respond.
Because he knew exactly why. Chapter 9 END.
Chapter 10 A Shadow Awakens
Night fell over Ardin.
Kai stood alone on the roof of the guild hall.
The city lights stretched across the horizon.
Behind him a second summoning circle slowly formed.
Dark energy spiraled outward.
A massive shadow wolf stepped from the portal.
Rex. Unlike Fenris, Rex radiated raw destructive energy.
The spirit's glowing red eyes scanned the city. The girl.
Kai crossed his arms. "Yes."
She is the one.
Kai looked toward the distant guild dormitory where Lena was staying. "…Yeah."
Rex's voice echoed again in his mind. You are afraid.
Kai didn't deny it. Because Rex was right. After five years…
After everything that happened on Earth… Lena was here again.
Closer than she had been in years.
And she still didn't know the truth.
Kai clenched his fist slightly.
"…Not yet."
But Rex gave a quiet rumble.
Secrets never stay buried forever.
Kai looked up at the twin moons.
He knew that better than anyone. Chapter 10 END.