(S1) CHAPTER 7: Metropolis

I don't have the coat with me!

That's not really surprising for my power is unleashed and lively. But I have to retrieve it. The only problem ahead is its whereabouts. And I can't show myself like this in the crowd. When returning slides into my thoughts, I knew somehow that it was absolutely late. Good thing, I saw the archer on a window of the tower fired at me and I was able to dodge.

The arrow pierced onto the roof and I lost balance when I lifted a leg; I stumbled, rolled down the roof, and fell into a pile of laundry. A lady on the ground squeals when I ruin her space and cause a clutter. Her hands are on her chest while the wet bed sheet is within her clenches.

"I'm sorry—!"

She shrieks even more after landing sight on me. I'm supposed to ask her for the exit but her mouth isn't in good condition to spill assistance. I run away into these narrow and congested pathways outside the houses as fast as a silver wolf can—seven steps in a click of a clock.

Someone wearing a hooded brown coat is ahead of the road I'm running on. I diverted and surprisingly, I found the same person ahead. I guess I'm not the only supernatural child living here. I kept on charging and was about to leap under that person when I stumbled and my face hit the ground, ultimately painful and mind breaking!

It's because of a shackle coming from the underground that bound my right leg, it's like my leg was trapped in an unfriendly plant. The person with the brown coat is walking behind me. When the pain was relieved, I pushed the ground to lift myself up and swayed a fist behind me. My attack hits the left temple of the person. I have to get rid of them to keep my path clear.

They're lying on the floor when I sat above them to give a non-serious blow—since I don't want to kill anyone as much as possible—but my fist fell back and I was startled when I saw the face of the person. "Ah... so, you…?" The eggplant enchantress! She's hopeless against me but lucky to have the advantage to besprinkle powder on my face that paralyzed me the moment I inhaled it.

I fell onto her, feeling completely numb. She's having a hard time dealing with my weight; she slipped her arms through my underarms and dragged me into the shady space between two houses. She fell down on her knees and I'm lying on it, trying my best to move a finger. But a twist of understanding occurred when she formed a square with her fingers then an image of a wall and window was built in from on me, just like we're inside a house.

The shape in her fingers appeared to be the same shape as that window. We saw the knights with their steeds passing by without us getting caught. And when it was over, she dragged her arms down and chased her breath.

She saved me.

I can move my body again. I raise myself and stare at her suspiciously. I know her. She's the lady who helped me before in the countryside. The one with the cake scent dominates my sense of smell at the moment. She unhooded and unmasked herself but the first expression I received from her was a glare.

Dark eyes, white skin that matches her red lips, tied hair, slim, small birthmark on the right side of her jaw; these assets are present in her. "You betrayed your own kind?" I asked.

"My own kind? I'm not on their side in the first place."

"Then you're my ally! You're a lifesaver!" I clapped my hands.

"It's too early to celebrate. We have to leave this city immediately."

"Sure."

The next action was doing nothing in silence.

She asserts, "What're you doing!?"

"You said we're leaving?"

"You lead the way. I'm a foreigner in this city."

"But it's my first time here, too."

“...” She sighs and I scratch my head.

I thought I'm safe but wherefore we're doomed. The knights found us! And our perfect option is to escape from their steeds like stupids. There’s even a circumstance where she stumbles midway. I looked around cluelessly until hope came to my mind. The higher we stand, the perfect view we'll have.

I sat in front of her. "Hop on my back!" I said. She cooperated as expected. I can deal with her weight. I had her at my back when I hopped on top of a roof.

"What's your plan? You're exposing us even more!"

"Calm down, miss," I teased. "Can you see the way out?"

"You can with your sharp eyes."

I blink and wince my eyes multiple times then narrowed them. The metropolis isn't surrounded by walls. We can leave the place therefore without a specific route. I run and jump several times to different roofs. One knight caught up on the ground with his steed. He's firing arrows on us yet it's a piece of cake to dodge it even with a load.

We've finally reached the corner houses of the metropolis but it seems like the knights have read my cheap escape plan. The outside yard of the metropolis is surrounded by them. I jumped down from the roof and touched the ground. They formed their threatening arrows and shields against us. I have no way to slip through or bump them.

"Growl at them," she said.

"But I'm a wolf, not a dinosaur."

"You're a werewolf! Then growl like them!"

She's scarier than the knights! I took a deep breath and cried like a wolf 'til the last restored breath. I can’t tell if I did it right. That howl quivered my head but unlike the knights, I can handle it. All of them, including the horses, became stiff and weak. What have I done? Nevertheless, it's an opportunity to escape.

I run farther from the metropolis whether it be inside an unknown forest. I followed the river, then jumped down beside the stumpy falls. I bent my knees to give way for her feet but to my surprise, she fell down to the ground. Weak and stiff like the knights. I almost forgot that she could be a victim of my howl, too! "You're affected. What can I help!?"

She's panting when she looks around and then lends me the jar of water. "Will you refill that from that river?" She pointed to the waters, and I plunged the water jar there then returned the item. Before she held it, the tip of her index finger sparkled a glittery light, she then grabbed the jar and poured the water onto herself from the top.

The whole thing made me think she was thirsty but because of that magic she performed, her body is cured. Unfortunately, her drenched dress reveals the shape of her body, her breasts. I have to avoid my glance. “Miss, you won’t be able to survive a zombie apocalypse.”

“Huh? And why?”

“Because you always stumble~” I remember she stumbled the first time I met her.

She threw the jar at me and I simply bent to avoid it. "Why are you acting like you know nothing?" she asked, passive but terrorizing.

I shrugged my hands. "Because I know nothing."

"You're powerful. But you have no idea how it works?"

"You heard me." I look far ahead to the north. "Thanks for saving me again. I have to see someone right now. Becare—"

"No, wait. I'm coming with you. You need remedies for this person, no? I can give it."

I tilt my head. I never would've thought that someone as philanthropic as her exists. Even with my skin color and identity. "Or else... you're after something beneficial in exchange for your service?" I suspected. She responded with nothing which led me to the right conclusion. "You've done your part. I guess I'll do mine, too. But my uncle told me not to mingle with my real identity for they might catch me... just like what occurred." I caress my nape. I'm already disobeying his counsel.

"So, you've been hiding from them?"

"I have to go. My apologies—" She halted my farewell steps again.

"If you can conceal your identity, then you can mingle with me?" She shows forth my coat, waving it with her left hand. My eyes twinkled with this talented lady. But just like the old wizard old man, it seems that she belongs on their side. I dashed and snatched my coat from her clasps without her restraining it. I wear my coat immediately and keep my distance.

"Thanks again." I wave my hand.

"Don't you trust me yet?" she pleaded. Her resolve screams in great need of assistance.

"I don't even know who you are."

"Alright." She placed her hand on her chest—and I remember that I had to look away from her wet clothes! "I am one of the Moon Priestesses. I have the authority to use the Moon Goddess's power to maintain peace in the werewolf race even according to the dictates of our own conscience. I'm aware of what you are because of this oath in my palm," she presented me her right palm where an image of a book is tattooed, "and that's why I know how to resist your power."

I chuckled. "You sound so defensive! You can just tell me your name."

She pursed her lips for a second then speaks, "Dandeline."

My arms fold while inspecting her. "Dandeline… did you know that you smell like a cake?"

"Ca—? Food is the new perfume. And don’t smell me!"

I shrugged. "It's like you're telling me not to breath." I made my way before her. "I bet you know that my name is Hessuel. It's wonderful to meet you, Ms. Dandeline, even just for trade. But first, I have to see my uncle. Shall we?"

"Don't try to leave me behind," she said with emphasis. She clings to my coat as we make our way back to the countryside.

☪ ✧ ✧

Acro is here, perched on top of the pendulum clock. "Oh, you're here!" I cuddled her intimately. I thought I lost her, too. The same thought with my coat.

"Is that your pet?" Dandeline asked.

"My pet ever since childhood. It's weird sometimes that you can hear them talk. Maybe that's how being a long-time pet parent feels."

She's staring at Acro, and Acro is the same as her. Even if I move her, the stares won't part. "You have unique taste when it comes to pets," Dandeline said. And then she stand nearby Cormelio and asked about the diagnosis.

"He's in a coma."

"I see. I'm afraid I can't assure you that he'll open his eyes again after I heal him. Some wise, I'm confident that I can heal these injuries." When she opened her palm with the tattoo, imagery of the book levitated above her hand. It flips 'til the target page is opened. The next gesture she made is facing her other hand to Cormelio, magic circles appearing in three layers. It's the same light that dazzled my eyes earlier.

Seeing Cormelio's injuries close is relieving, it's like how my wounds regenerate fastly. "I've done what I could. The full recovering is up to him henceforward." She closed her hand and the lights and images vanished. She took a seat on the bench attached to the wall. And I knelt down beside Cormelio's cot. I leaned my jaw and caressed his hair, staring at his dormant face.

No one knows when someone will lose a beloved. Worst of all, I thought I'll experience that in the middle of a case where I need him the most. I'm poking his ears and cheeks. Pinching his nose. But it seems that the coma is still fulfilling its role. And that's lonesome.

I walked closer and stood in front of her. "So, what is it that you need from me?"

Her lips pursed then licked it. "I need you to abdicate Mraz."