Aura of the Moon - Chapter 19-21 (Patreon)

Chapter 19

“How are you going to repair this, Haron?” A gravelly voice echoed from a darkened perch. Two red eyes stared out from the shadows. The temple was lit at the center with sunlight spilling through the ruined ceiling, but the edges of the room were still rendered pitch black. Pillars of marble-like stone circled the large chamber with some being long-since broken and crumbled. The floors cracked with weeds and grass becoming overgrown.
“What you promised in exchange for my Patronage was a wave of new 'children.' So much that they would call it a plague, but now your only subject is captured and all but dead, my offering of tooth and claw wasted. The guarantees that you brought to me; your two loyal Aurars of immense power are gone. The mercenaries you hired have been wiped out. A partnership should have benefits for both parties. All you bring now is wrath upon this temple and myself. How will you solve this problem? My favor for you is dwindling and when it runs out, why should I not just consume you, Haron?” The bitter voice asked. Haron continued to work on grinding various herbs in separate mortars. She began the process of measuring and combining.
“Are you ignoring me!?” He snarled.

“Of course not, my Patron. I have listened to every word. To each point I believe you are, respectfully, mistaken.” She claimed boldly.
“Firstly, I can say with certainty that the child is not lost, simply stored somewhere else temporarily. He will still be of use to you as the moon comes.”

“How can you be sure?”

“A number of factors point to it being so. Castezin is quite protective of his people. Hans was not killed , he was taken away. I believe he will be given the chance to fight it.”

“A chance?”

“Ah, about that. I said that it was roughly one-percent but truthfully there is no possibility. If it was too high they would become suspicious, but one-percent is believable and enough for someone like that Duke. To be frank, some things about him I missed until meeting him in the flesh. But, none of that changes the fact that the child will be remade under the full moon and will rejoin us promptly, regardless of who or what is in his way. He will be a greater child to you than even Zero-One.”

The voice grumbled quietly. “Intangible.”

“Don't be like that. To the second point; the Brothers are not dead. Varsham is at great risk but I have already set him on the path to survival if Reyod decides to let it be so. Reyod is effectively silenced... For now. I believe in his ability to overcome this issue. These two will become a greater asset in the future. One of the Divinities is Exchange, as you know. Hardship is a part of exchange. Those who go through great turmoil are given great power if they can overcome their trials.” She added an exact amount of water to the mixture she made and began stirring it carefully while slowly adding more of a ground herb, then more of a second liquid intermittently.
“The mercenaries are gone, but only those that would never have been of use, anyway. They were simply for keeping everything safe and guarded from the regular folk in these initial stages. Technically speaking, they did what they were paid to do. There is still one of them left who helped bring Rayod and Varsham back. He can provide some value, still. Aside from that, we still have a wild card. The man from the East.”

“Him? What was he called?”

“Shokujin. Becoming a mercenary is taken very seriously over there. Travelers from the East are highly sought after and this one is only interested in challenging fighters from this great Empire of Sol.”

“Great!?” The voice growled.

“Oh lighten up.” Haron waved him back.

“You just lost another Favor.” He warned.

“Very well. I will make it back.” Haron lifted the mixture to her lips and drank. She walked into the next room. Sitting quietly with his legs crossed and his thin, curved sword over his lap was the Shokujin. He was meditating. The man would sit like that for the entire day, then sleep in the same position. Haron knew that if she could sense Aura as she used to she would feel the thrum of Aura from him. She knelt down beside him with the bowl. He did not turn or open his eyes to suggest he noticed her, but he seem to know of her presence.
“That chance I promised? There are many strong individual headed for the temple. It was confirmed by contacts that saw them leave. The messenger bird just arrived so they will be here quite soon. The horses would be barely an hour behind the bird.”

He nodded, finally opening his eyes. They were purple. He looked down at the bowl. “What is this?” He asked in his own tongue. Haron barely spoke the many languages of the east, but she could understand what his meaning was without knowing what he was saying. Luckily, the Shoujin himself to understand her as well, even though he would not speak to her in any western tongue.

“There is a Shape from the Duke that can push others into dreams while he remains awake outside. It is a guess, but this common mixture to cure nightmares should last until next morning and may neutralize his Shape. That way-”

“No.” He shook his head.

“But-” She stopped herself and smiled at him, getting his meaning. She knew what he was going to say.

“I will fight with them, Shape for Shape. If I am meant to lose to it, I will lose. But, I will not.”

“Will you at least hear the details about it?”

“I will hear you.” He granted her that.

“Good. What I found is that he can place someone into a dream. Possibly just by looking at them. The actual trigger is uncertain, though. The dream that we were in was time dilated and a minute inside was roughly equal to a second outside.”

The Shokujin looked to her. “In that second he was able to disable your man, Rayod, on the outside?”

“Correct.”

He inhaled deeply, a smile forming on his thin lips. “Interesting.”

“For the dream, what we found was that we needed to die. But, you obviously need to know if you are in the dream or you may end up killing yourself for nothing. The dream feels as real as us speaking right now, and there may not be any good indicators here. It is why I would prefer you have this protection. Think of it as armor.” She offered hopefully.

“As armor? Very well... It sounds more annoying to deal with than most Shape I have seen.” He relented. Haron smiled gratefully, lifting the bowl to his lips. He took it from her before she could and drank it himself, leaving about half.

“Perfect. I know I can not order you around, but I know you will be useful without me having to ask.” She commented. He offered a short nod and went back to meditating. She returned to the chamber and looked around.
“Where is...” She gasped.
“Oh Patron, did you eat all the meat!?”

“...” The two red eyes stared at her in annoyed silence.

“Just kidding.” She laughed, opening a chest that was in the corner, slightly buried. She pulled an almost rotten haunch out and rubbed some of the mixture on it.
“Zero-One! Lunch!” She whistled cheerfully. As she heard moving in the dark she tossed the haunch in that direction. A massive black hand with dark fur reached from the shadows and took it, pulling the meat into the pitch black. There were ripping and cracking sounds as the item was devoured.
“That is sorted... My Patron, you should drink some as well.”

“I will not be taken by the Shape of a mere mortal.”

“Are you sure?” She asked.

He pounced out from the head of the room and snapped at her. A Giant black wolf with deep red eyes. He towered over her, able to swallow her whole if he truly desired. Haron knew she was barely a snack for the Patron. He was a god of low order, but still a god in mortal terms.
“You think me a mere animal!?”

“Nonsense, Reus.” Haron leaned back, lowering slowly to kneel humbly.
“I was simply hoping you would allow me the gesture of offering you help.” Lips pulled back from pearl white teeth, long as daggers, right before her face. She lowered her head as well.
“Please...”

“You are one of the most annoying mortals I have ever been Patron of.”

“About that... I know that my favor is already quite low, however the battle will actually go quite smooth if you offer me a portion of your power. Since your goal is to-”

“You get nothing. Not even a spec of my vast Aura will be yours. You promised me that you would bring my revenge to fruition despite your condition. Perhaps you thought yourself clever? That mind of yours would make good use of me, no? Even a fraction of my power could bring you nearly to full strength... Is that what you were truly after?” He had the cadence of a paranoid madman, but she was quite used to it.

“Never did the thought cross my mind, oh Great Reus. I am merely a servant. Even if I ask for such a blessing, I only ask so that I may be of more use to you, oh Patron of mine. My calculations did not have me losing both of the Brothers. There is currently no Aurar in our midst.” She claimed gracefully.

He closed his black lips over his sharp teeth and turned, his tail swishing over her bowed head as he walked back towards the darkened head of the room haughtily.
“A fraction. A taste. Just enough to allow you to not be useless to me.”  

Haron smiled widely and closed her eyes. For the first time in many years she felt the flow of Aura through her. She felt her blood shape and her other Shapes and concepts of Aura beginning to take shape once again within her mind is if they had never left. It was not much, but it would allow Haron to be a fraction herself for a night. She considered that the night was the full moon, and the small fraction belonged to Reus, a child of Lun. It would only grow once Lun rose at full strength. She was quite prepared

Chapter 20

The group did not travel in silence for most of the ride through the woods up to the drop-off point. There was constant banter between Jasmine, Aneth and Priest. The others were quite happy to remain silent unless addressed, like Ayla. The Duke rode far ahead of them for the first portion of the trip, oddly, even though he was meant to trail behind them when they started off on foot. Just as was estimated, the trip took until afternoon, despite them starting before dawn. Ayla knew that the time they had seemed like a lot, but it was nothing, considering they had to get to the location and back before nightfall. All things considered there was no leeway for mistakes. At the drop-off point there was a small squad of Knights and soldiers waiting to receive them and their horses. As soon as that was sorted, since there was no change in plans along the way they set off without a word.

Ayla ran ahead at her maximum travel speed. It was a pace that was not the fastest she could go, but it was the fastest she could maintain consistently over hours. As she started running through the woods it reminded her of times and hunts in the past. She had run through the woods like this many times for far more unsavory reasons. The hunts on a full moon like the one that would soon come were always the most exciting. As she opened up her senses she felt Chantelle behind her, keeping back at around fifty yards. She guessed that trailing behind Chantelle and losing ground slowly was the assault team. At fifteen minutes in she performed a necessary test of the equipment. She reached to the rod attached to her belt and without looking or slowing down she sent out a precise signal. The purpose was purely to make sure the equipment worked, but it was also a status update that allowed them to know if anything had gone wrong since the last check-in. No response constituted such a problem. Ayla concentrated while holding the rod and nodded, receiving positive return signals across the board. She nodded to herself.

In a moment after she sent out the signal she felt someone behind her. She felt it was Chantelle, so she was tricked into reacting more slowly and positively. The woman pushed Ayla into the base of a nearby tree and held a dagger to her neck. Ayla did not move, but she also did not feel anything like an intent to kill from Chantelle. No Aura, no Energy being flexed. Ayla relaxed.
“See... This is what I don't like about you.” The Head Maid claimed.

“What's that?” Ayla's experience with getting knives held to her suggested that it was wise to keep them talking as long as possible.

“You're too cool. Like an actual professional. At your age.” Ayla's eyes swiveled down to the dagger, and the hand holding it so well, then back to look Chantelle in the eye. When she said that it clicked with Ayla as well.

“What about you? You can't be much older than me.”

Chantelle narrowed her eyes, then pushed back from Ayla and relaxed. “I thought you'd be a bit more upset.”

“You've got His Grace's interests at heart. I'd do the same if it were me in your position.” Ayla checked herself for cuts. Nothing.

“Hah.” Chantelle let out a short scoff.

“Do they know you're vetting me like this?” Ayla looked in the direction that the others should be coming from. They were still a ways behind.

“This is just me.” Chantelle claimed.

“What's the issue? I was taught at the Academy. They have different standards, and I also learned from another Master before attending. I've had time to learn these things. Some are just built differently.”

The Head Maid cocked her head to one side. “What Master?”

Ayla shook her head lightly. “If I say it's none of your business?”

Chantelle looked at Ayla suspiciously, pacing slowing back and forth. “You're forthcoming with everything else. It makes me wonder... Would the name of your Master make the Duke your enemy if spoken?”

“No.” It was the truth so she had no apprehension in saying so, though in actuality it was difficult to say with her Master that she had not made enemies of Castezin. That was better left unsaid, however and Ayla left it at not knowing and assuming not.

“Then why?”

“It's... Embarrassing.” That was also a true response. The woman that taught Ayla was... Unique, to say the least. Everyone knew her name and everyone had an opinion. She did not regret being taught but having such a person as a connection was not her style at all.

Chentelle's dark, thick brows lifted. “Embarrassing? That's an unexpected answer. Doesn't feel like you're lying, either.” Her assessment told Ayla that the Head Maid had some sense for detecting lies and truths.

`If she continues asking the wrong questions I've got nothing to worry about.` She decided, asking a question of her own.
“You talk differently when you're wearing a different uniform.”

“Don't you? You used to talk like a Noble.” Chantelle added a conclusion more accurate to reality.
“Or, a Noble's servant.”

Ayla gave a shallow bow. “From one Noble's servant to another. I picked it up at the Academy, it's a cadence that they like to hear, of course.”

“That's fine.” Chantelle waved the answer by. Ayla shrugged.

Ayla finally turned to walk away, feeling Chantelle was done. She should have addressed all of the concerns and left some reason to doubt, but not enough to cause a fuss over.
“I'm guessing we're done?” Before she could go back to sprinting ahead Chantelle shook her head. Ayla stopped without turning.

“The rods... They were invented by Aneth. Only used by us.”

Ayla sighed. “That doesn't  mean I-”

“They were invented last month and tested in private.” Chantelle smiled smugly, looking down her nose at Ayla with both hands tensed around two readied knives. She breathed in, then out, prepared.

Ayla stared down, trying to think. After a few moment she threw her head back in frustration and moved her hands. Chantelle jumped back a few paces. Ayla let her sword drop from her waist-band and crossed her wrists behind her back.
“Do whatever you need to do, but I'm not a spy or a threat to His Grace.”

Chantelle sighed, stepping forward cautiously. She dropped her guard, seemingly, and bent down to grip Ayla's sword. She stopped, leaving herself open for far longer than necessary. Ayla simply refused to move.
“Hah...” Chantelle scoffed, lifting the sword and handing it back.
“That's true. For now.” Ayla took it and stared quizzically at the woman.”There's nothing I know that His Grace wouldn't also know. He has his reasons for trusting you. So, for that reason I'd say that it's true, for now. Besides... I've seen how you talk to people and you're either the most dangerous charlatan on the continent, or completely unable to trick another person, unless they're as thick as you..”

Ayla attached her sword to her belt, blushing at the accusation. She shrugged off those words. “I can't exactly say anything, then. I guess it remains to be seen.”

“That your attempt at a joke? Watch it.” Chantelle pointed, sheathing her daggers once she was done.
“Let's go. Daylight's burning.”

She watched Chantelle for a few moments, then continued on as she had been. Ayla could tell as she kept moving that Chantelle had stopped, and the others had caught up to her. She closed her eyes, groaning internally at the mistake. The Dame was likely to tell the whole team, and then it would make it back to the Duke.

`If what she says is true, though, he already knows somehow. Of course I just had to show off to such an extent. What a mess!` She kicked a stone in frustration as she ran. She went over the conversation in her mind once more.

`She said I used to talk like a noble. It means she's had someone reporting every little thing on me the whole time I've been here. She would also be the one to notice that I hadn't actually been told how t o use the devices by anyone. The others could've easily believed that. Since I'm not a spy it's not really an issue, but it's still annoying.` She pushed it all to the back of her mind.

`I should never have set aside the fact that I need to earn these people's trust. There's no reason for me to be accepted here with how suspicious I am.` She decided.

`Show that I'm loyal. Show that I'm useful.`

Ayla opened up her senses further. They were beginning to get close to the reported area where evidence of Werewolves had been found. Her job was a scout, so she could not miss anything and claim it as ignorance. Her job was to know and to not be ignorant. She saw a few tell-tale signs that cleared the zone around her for the next quarter of an hour.

`There's game here. Game attracts the beasts, but then that presence scares the game animals into picking another spot to graze if the beasts are supernatural. Coupled with the number of birds in the trees I can guarantee that we're clear from this point back.` She sent out the signal to show that everything was okay, and kept moving and searching around her with her advanced senses.

After another fifteen minutes she was a quarter of an hour off from the target area and there was nothing to show. No traps or wards. There was also suddenly no game and the birds were higher up in the trees, which did not tell her that a Werewolf was near. It was simply an indicator that things were not clear. Then she felt it far ahead and to her left. It was not hunting, so it was  not alert to her in particular, but the sound of the Assault group would undoubtedly draw it. She marked it using a collection of codes. Enemy. Werewolf. Bearing. Undetected. She would have liked to flex her skills, but she instead ran past as she received confirmation. The assault squad would decide their course of action. She needed Aura to defeat a Werewolf on her own, anyway, and that was ill advised.

She had been moving down hill for some time since she detected the Werewolf and began to feel the lower elevation and what it was doing to the terrain. Solid dirt gave way to soupy ground where she needed to slow in order to find proper footing that would not suck her in and stall her. It was easy to escape, but the sucking sound on a boot could make a hell of a sound when the woods seemed as calm as they were. As Ayla moved towards the target without much movement around her she realized with the latest signal that she made a miscalculation. The ground had slowed Chantelle and the others significantly so she had to stop and wait. She was able to navigate land like this without issue due to years of experience, so she did not consider the others may have trouble. To begin with, walking through terrain like this was not a treat and only a few would be able to find the best route. She sent the last signal before arrival. All Clear. Standing By. She found a dry clearing to land in. It would be a good staging point, especially for Priest in his armor.

Ayla's eyes widened and her senses lit up. She held perfectly still and stopped doing anything. She just concentrated. Her heart steadily picked up a beat every second like a band was playing in her chest. She  almost placed her hand on her sword, but then remembered the importance of communication first and gripped the signal device tightly, flicking switches to send the signal for enemy. She dove swiftly out of the way as a blade swiped through the spot she was standing. She felt the rod and cursed; it was cut in half. The dials she flipped stopped short before she could finish and therefore sent out the code for a bearing other than where she was. The worst possible miscommunication. She tossed the rod and grabbed her sword before even looking at the figure. She considered drawing it, but huffed, choosing instead to bolt back in the direction of Chantelle.  She judged communication to be more important to the mission.

As she ran she tried to keep aware of any more attacks against her. Instead, she felt something latch onto her with seemingly no way for her to detect or avoid it. She looked back over her shoulder quickly and saw a golden tether with some leeway that attached her back to the figure that attacked her. She kept running and the moment the tether became taught she felt a jarring shift. The Tether was still attached, only it was attached to the front of her chest around her heart. She took her bearings and realized she was standing at the direct opposite end, on the other side of the man that she had been running from. He was between her and Chantelle and the assault squad. She gritted her teeth. The tether was almost taught so she stepped back. The man nodded approvingly as she did. She appeared once again where she was standing, on the other side of him, facing the same direction with the tether attached to her back. Ayla drew her sword and turned around to face the man. The tether moved through her. It was clearly attached to her heart and would simply go through everything else, but she did not know how else he could use it.

Once Ayla was focused on fighting she could see the man clearly. He was wearing some type of two piece robe that covered most of his body. It was loose and baggy around the lower body. His hair was probably long, but had been tied up into a bun with only a few strands falling at the side of his head. He had pale skin and observant eyes that watched with an amused tilt. His sword was long and thin, and had an unsubtle curve to it. She noted the lack of a guard above the hilt. Rather, it had a very small guard that would not do him any good. The man wagged his finger at her and said in a broken, yet recognizable tongue.
“Shape of Tether.”

“Obviously...” She shook her head and placed herself in a stance that she would actually use. Not the dueling position she showed, or the two-handed guard stance. She observed his dominant hand by seeing which foot he lead with and where his hand was on the hilt She found his weapon to be long, but light and maneuverable. The worst to deal with for her if he could use it well. She made a call and curled her right arm over her chest and her left arm while pointing the tip behind her. Her arm was wound in that position, ready to strike. She stood with her feet close together and waited. The man looked confused, a normal reaction. She held her own light, maneuverable sword one-handed and had it placed behind her back, not in front of her. He actually seemed perplexed enough to adjust his footing slightly, while also moving the position of his blade into  a place that favored his left hand against her swing from the left. It looked as if he was ready to stab up, or slash in many possible directions. The difficulty of the sword he was using.

Ayla spent her gathered Aura, slicing towards the man. He batted the simple attack away easily, but she expected that. She merely did so because she was changing the position of her blade, regardless. The Aura would be wasted if she used it or now. Ayla moved her sword in front of her, still in her right hand, then switched her left foot forward with her sword handle placed behind her right hip with her arm still bent, not extended. With that she simply dashed forward to his right. The man's eyes light up as she closed the distance quickly. The tether went completely loose as she moved closer and Ayla had to wonder what else it could do, if anything, as she had no choice but to step over it. All she could do was to avoid touching it directly.

As she got close he stepped far ahead and used his reach to jab at her before she could reach him. Ayla had planned to counter a parry by curling her sword in a similar way that she did to Miller during training, just with her Aura licking out at him in a spiral from the tip.
`It was a jab after all...` She breathed.
Ayla was forced to stop short and stabbed at him anyway to release her Aura as planned. He laughed out loud and simply shifted out of the way by less than an inch, since she had to jab from further away. She stepped back, nodding a little towards him in acknowledgment. Such strange exchanges were the nature of two fighters with Aura doing battle. If a sword could be made or extended with Aura then truly the only way to adequately fight that was with Aura. Soma was a defensive measure that weathered the attacks, but it was no way to fight back. When it came to two combatants with Aura, the sword was constantly wrapped in it. If the blade was normal it could be cut when either the Aura faltered or failed to wrap the sword correctly. In a sense it returned to a standard battle, as with all else being equal, the only thing to do was to hit the other guy with your sword. If Aura was equal, the blade against unprotected skin, or an unskilled blade was the tie breaker that decided things.

She looked at the man and noticed he was enjoying himself. “Who are you?” She asked. He shook his head at her stubbornly. Ayla pointed more insistently.

“You. Who.”

He waggled his head side to side a few times before responding. “Shokujin.”

She visibly recoiled. `Great... A Shokujin.` The men of the east were said to be so strong and so mad for battle that they traveled to find better challenges after they ran out back home. The men that left to perfect their craft like an artisan, rather than serve a master, were called Shokujin. The man threw his head back and laughed at her unexpected reaction. Throughout the whole exchange he kept both hands on his sword with the tip pointed in her direction, even as she attempted to circle him. She tried to ready herself. Then she saw his feet move and his expression focus on her as if he had finally become serious.

`It actually starts now.`

The Shokujin darted towards her. Ayla lifted her sword to block with no chance to parry or counter. The strong downward strike he made against her was followed by a slash up. Down. Horizontal. She had to focus completely upon moving and blocking because while fast the attacks were also strong enough to stagger her were she to stand still. Her hands were ringing from taking his blows. Because of how difficult it felt, and the possibility that she could really die in some forest before accomplishing her personal journey, she began to hate him. She tried to plan out in her head the best way to kill him. Every spot on his body a target. If she thought about it a bit less gravely, it was similar to when she challenged the difficult training dummy back at the manor. She could think of striking him as her twenty. He was without a doubt stronger than her and faster than the dummy at nineteen. He was on the level of a Named Knight because he had Shape. His Aura was powerful and his Soma had surpassed hers. Moreover, she felt as though he was not even going all out. He was enjoying himself while she seethed in front of him. As he finished another flurry of blows against her Ayla finally felt overwhelmed enough to dart back out of range.

She noticed too late the tether. It had become shorter. Before she could get out of range it became taught and he was already turning and moving back. In a hurry she tried to turn and throw a swing backwards as he appeared behind behind her in close range due to his own clever use of his Shape.
`This is the true advantage of it! That he's used to it and his opponent isn't... Anyone would be utterly lost. But I'm not just anyone.` Ayla shook as her wild, nearly blind swing threw his sword off before she could even fully turn. She had simply guessed based on experience. Her eyes widened as she made herself face him once again. She saw that there was no longer any way to leave the range of his sword without being ported around him awkwardly. She breathed a bit more heavily. She was getting anxious and was beginning to wonder if she had a chance to kill him at all.

The Shokujin stopped and laughed, pointing to her. She narrowed her eyes.

`What's he saying? 'You?'” He kept his finger pointed at her, then said something she could understand.

“Killer.”

She gritted her teeth. “I'm a killer? Is that it? Isn't that unlucky for you?” She did not usually take part in banter, but she was always frustrated to fight an opponent stronger than her. For a Knight it was an odd quirk that she had owned quite readily in her past life. Caelin loved it, even. She would always pick on the weak first, and the strong... When she had to.

She flinched back as he brought his fist down, then became confused as he raised his thumb at her. In a broken, accented version of her native tongue he said Happily.
“Good job!” Then he placed his hand back on his blade. Due to the shortness of the tether she was within the range of his sword no matter where she was and there was nothing she could do. Her nerve alignment and senses were the only things keeping her alive against an opponent of his level.  She noticed in time when he stepped back. She swung as she turned and struck his sword. He moved to the side and she spun again. His feet moved, but it was a feint, she managed to attack with that chance instead of just attacking his sword, since she had seen through it. Her senses were too good to allow it, but he would not do that again once he knew. He laughed like a mad-man at her attack through his feint and sped up in response. As he increased his speed his movements felt as though he was simply appearing all around her without moving.

Slowly he began to outpace her. Scratch on her shoulder cutting through her Soma plating. Scratch to her thigh as she was forced to redirect a blow unfavorably. On her back. On her side. A shallow one on her neck. He was trying to kill her, and she was living by a hair each time. After a few more unfavorable exchanges she had to use the tether herself to attack instead of block and dodge, since she would be taking a blow anyways. When she moved and attacked unexpectedly he seemed surprised and had to block her sword. She felt like she could take momentum, but he was far too aware of that and simply kicked her swiftly in the stomach to push her away. The kick served a dual purpose because it not only got her off him, but took her feet off the ground for an instant and sent her out of range of the tether. Since she was flying backwards, facing him, she knew her back was also going to be turned when she appeared on the other side. Her Aura could not maneuver herself in air fast enough. Ayla felt the killing blow coming. Instead of the pain of a slash or a stab she heard a loud clang, and the Shokujin exhaling deeply. As Ayla fell back she turned and scrambled to her feet. The range of the tether had increased. She jumped, feeling a hand on her shoulder and relaxed once she could tell it was Chantelle.

“What's this?” Chantelle asked, pointing to the tether in her chest. It was connecting her and Ayla.

“Damn... It can extend to multiple people. We can't escape.” As Ayla said that, Chantelle had the same thought Ayla did originally. She immediately changed gears from flight to fight.

“Is it a Shape? How does it work?” Ayla thought of so many words, but smiled. Chantelle was smart and she would understand immediately. Then, she would also get what Ayla had in mind. Ayla pictured it. The way to kill the Shokujin, but she was not fast enough by herself to challenge him with his own Shape. She showed off the full range of the tether and it's logic to Chantelle by jumping back and forth around her.
“Oh! I know what you're thinking, now.” She exhaled through her nose sharply.
“You're crazy...”

“Maybe.”

“Or we wait for help.” Chantelle offered reasonably. As she said that, she moved her pupils towards the Shokujin as a signal. Ayla grinned with catharsis and charged forward. Chantell stayed close behind. The man readied his sword and inhaled. Ayla readied an attack. She held her sword above her head in her right hand while keeping the other arm out for balance. The Shokujin found it a bit odd and disappointing. As Ayla came close and he began a swing towards the wide opening that was her belly Chantelle jumped back while turning. The man's eyes widened and he cut his attack against Aylas short to wheel around and swipe Chantelle with her daggers away from his back. Ayla took the opening to bring her sword down. Her arm was wound tight and her arau was surrounding the blade so it was as deadly an attack as any of his. Without turning or even glancing back he reached his sword behind his back, blocking the attack while using that position to bring a slash down on Chantelle. Ayla happily tied up his sword with her own to help Chantelle. He was not laughing anymore.

His attacks were fast enough to reach either of them individually, but the opportunity cost had effectively become neutral for him. Chantelle smirked as she and Ayla both stepped back at the same time to switch places. Instead of facing Chantelle he was facing Ayla with a parry ready for his already slowed slash. For the first time he was thrown off kilter and she was allowed to attack naturally. He crouched down low bellow Ayla's slash and let one hand off his sword. He was already turning around fluidly as he swung one-handed behind him at Ayla's legs while thrusting his palm up to Chantelle's collar. She was surprised to have his weight suddenly under her, and her body flying in the air just from being grabbed with one hand and flipped over him.

Ayla was already out of the way by stepping back while turning to occupy his front. Chantelle landed easily, like a cat behind him. The man was not laughing, his breathing was too controlled, but in his expression he looked jubilant. He was grinning ear to ear, sweating and breathing more intensely than before. Every strike used energy and Aura. The same was true for them, but he was using his Shape the whole time on top of fighting with his Aura and Soma. It could not have been easy, no matter how efficient it was.

“They have to be here by now.” Ayla complained, slashing at his sword to take advantage of his one-handed grip. Her goal was to slide her blade down towards the handle and cut his hand but he easily divined her intent and got under the attack, blocking it easily with just one hand.

“Not quite.” Chantelle groaned, thrusting both daggers into his back. He slipped out, forcing Ayla and her to clash with each-other instead. They separated and moved around him again swiftly.
“The signal you sent was good short-hand, but I saw every signal you sent and they were all quick and precise. You wouldn't do something like send a short hand change of bearing signal so I continued forward. The others were fighting the enemy that was marked earlier, and then they also probably will assume the signal was accurate.”

“You already sent one to correct it, right?”

“Naturally. Give them a minute.”

Ayla nodded towards the Shokujin. “Think he will?”

“Probably not.”

“What about His Grace?” Ayla asked.

“Is this an emergency?”

She looked to the man, sizing him up. She took in a deep breath and shook her head. “No. I don't think so.”

“I agree. Let's take this guy down, Dame.”

The tether that connected Chantelle and Ayla, as well as the tether connecting Ayla to the Shokujin had all been lengthened. He seemed to get that it was no longer to his advantage. Ayla steadied her breathing completely. She was ready.
“Would it help you to know what my Sword Foundation is?” Ayla was hesitant to even offer up such a thing.

“It wouldn't hurt.” Chantelle said without taking her eyes off the man. She was moving into a better position.

“Serpent's Sword.” Ayla admitted.

Chantelle chuckled. “I get why you were embarrassed. That's fine, though. Now I know that we basically can't lose. All you have to do is hit him, right?”

“You are aware of my Master's ridiculous instructions?”

“Famous instructions.” Chantelle winked slyly. She went first. Ayla followed, winding her sword back with her arm bent. The concept was simple. The only goal stated by the style is to find the line the sword needs to by either edge or point to hit the enemy. The way the arm was meant to curl, and the position of the sword like a fang ready to bite was supposedly the source of the name. It kept the swordsman's front consistently open in every wind-up for an attack. It was expected to attack faster, or attack the sword, whichever it had to hit. A style who's main defense was attacking. This was suicidal, but every single Serpent's Sword disciple was Nerve aligned to make it practical. If they could not handle that misfortuned Soma Alignment they would have to find another teacher, because the Master that taught the style only taught children that were unfortunate, and capable.

As Ayla moved on the Shokujin with Chantelle as her partner she began to find the lines more easily. Where as before she could barely manage to do anything but block his sword through attacking, Chantelle created openings. She fought with daggers and seemed to understand her role well. She would not be the one to take him down with her reach, but she would tie his movements and create opportunities. Ayla was surprised by how they were so easily on the same wavelength with so little practice together. It was a credit to one or both of them.

To the Shokujin's credit he was still keeping both of them at bay. His feet moved as if he was dancing and his sword swung around him to parry, attack, and block all in a seamless fashion. Ayla was not scratching him, but she was no longer getting scratched. It was exciting to put the man on the back foot after being pushed back for so long. She relished it. Before her next attack Chantelle gave her a look. Ayla nodded and went in for a feint disguised as a reckless attack. The shokujin, fitting his usual pattern, Saw through Ayla's feigned attack to instead swing at Chantelle as she made it seem like she was attacking the gap. She moved as if she was going to parry, then loosed her dagger towards the knot in his hair, cutting it. If Ayla was unable to land a killing blow his sword would cut her, so it took absolute faith in Ayla's abilities to pull the move off without showing any telling nervousness. He made a confused intonation as long, smooth hair fell over his eyes for a fraction of a second. His pupils searched desperately through the strands.

Ayla made her actual attack towards his exposed self. Through pure intuition and no sight at all he  pulled his sword from Chantelle and raised it in front to stop Ayla's swing towards his neck. Another dagger was thrown into his sword at that exact moment with Aura, forcing it off just enough. The Shokujin looked at Ayla with wide eyes, then looked down. The hair was out of his eyes. In fact, it had been all cut at his shoulders. As he felt the strands of hair fall over his hands his head fell from his shoulders and the foreigner toppled forward.

Ayla fell back onto her rear, laughing. Her whole body was shaking. She felt an incredible high from killing that man.

`He was stronger, but we won!` She felt so pleased.

Chantelle noticed, of course, and turned her back. “You should hide that grin when you can...” She warned, collecting her daggers.
“Most people don't find it so fun to kill people.” Ayla realized as soon as the Dame said it and stopped, adopting a straight expression. She breathed out and in as the woman also took his sword and hilt, inspecting it.
“Ever consider something like this?” She tossed it, then the hilt to Ayla.

Ayla caught both. She cocked her head to one side. “A Shokujin sword? Long. Thin. Curved for cutting but it only has one edge.”

“Isn't it the type that Serpent uses?”

Ayla nodded. “Yeah... Something like this. Most people that learn from her use curved swords, really. For this sword in particular it's flexible. It would be hard to find the tip when thrusting and there's a few tricks to it.” She would be lying if she said that she had never considered it in all her years. A Shokujin sword was quite a famous tool. Moreover, the one she held was fine. Not completely made out of Soma material, but with definite signs that it was folded in at some point in the process. The material that was typically used for human training also made metals tougher and sharper. It was quite a nice sword, with a slick diamond pattern along the whole length, and an engraving on the side to show it was even named something in the man's native tongue. She had a full Soma Sword in her past life that would cut through anything without even needing Aura, but she did not have that in this life. She sheathed the blade and attached it to her belt. It sat rather unnaturally at her waist with the curve up.

`This could take some getting used to... How do I even draw it?` She wondered.

Chantelle looked down at her device. “Signal is to get out... We have-” She blinked.
“Multiple werewolves.”

“Shit.” Ayla turned, then stopped. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The woods were quiet. It was the feeling of Aura being sent out with the intent to kill laced within. Werewolves gave it off naturally, like an Aura. The feeling was immediate goosebumps, and a fear response that needed to be managed with constant training. The creatures always basically announced themselves with such a presence. Then there was the feeling of a Werewolf with Aura. Worse. It was uncanny to those who were familiar with it. She turned quickly and drew the new sword as if it were a long-sword. Her eye twitched as it felt difficult to get out, as if it was too long. Then, as she finally drew with some effort she brought it up only to see that the blade was facing her.

“Shit.” In that moment she saw the black beast diving out of unnatural shadows towards her. A werewolf of massive proportions with dark fur and red eyes. Before she could turn her sword around the right way it swiped. She raised her Aura and managed to only have it destroy most of her Soma plating on her left side while also being checked several yards. Ayla wheezed as she skidded to a halt against a tree. Her senses screamed as more creatures closed in.

“Get out!” She shouted, struggling hard to get to her feet quickly enough. She had just ended a hard fight and so had Chantelle. As the creature barreled towards her again she had finally turned the new sword around the right way, not that it would be enough. The Werewolf was unusually strong.

`This type is already showing up? Was it always like this?` She questioned. There was a flash and a loud slam, like something hitting a steel wall.

Ayla saw in front of her the back of a heavily armored, broad-shouldered knight. “Then what will you do, little Lady?” He asked over his shoulder. The huge werewolf was beating against his shield in frustration to no avail.
“This fellow-” He grunted, getting pushed back simply due to the dirt sliding beneath his feet.
“Is not used to being stopped, I see.”

“Priest.” Ayla said. She was not sure how they would get away. Priest needed to keep his shield up, and they would never be able to turn their back on the beast, but more were showing up. In that instant another flash of silver and black rushed into her field of view, pushing the huge werewolf back with sheer force, enough to send it back several yards easily as if it was to the figure what Ayla was to it. The Duke stood in front of Priest with a neutral expression, as if it was really nothing. He held his sword loosely in his hand.

“It is an emergency, so naturally you all should leave.” Almos stated.

“What about you?” Ayla asked. Priest grabbed her arm and pulled her away.

“No time, little Lady! Trust His Grace!” She nodded and began running. They caught up with the rest and Chantelle was with them as well. Jasmine was covered in blood, which showed that they had fought one or two already.

Ayla looked up. “We should basically get out of here as the moon decides to show itself.”

“Good!” Aneth shouted.

“Being here on the full moon is as good as suicide. It's a nest.”

“I can see that. So many...” Ayla confirmed. They were not moving in an organized fashion, they were more just going towards where the action was. Only the large, Dark werewolf seemed different. They began running. Ayla felt herself worrying about the Duke.

Chapter 21

- Earlier -

“That Ayla girl.” Jasmine said admiringly.

“What about her?” Aneth asked without looking back. He was focusing on keeping pace.

“I like her. Seems like His Grace does, too.”

Aneth shook his head. “Doesn't matter. How could you say something like that around an outsider?”

“What? There wasn't an issue.”

Aneth reached down. “We have an enemy bearing left. Werewolf. I like the signals. Wish you all could do it as clearly as her. Eldrich must've taught her.” As Aneth said that, Eldrich looked at him subtly before returning his gaze to the front.
“No? Then who taught her?”

“Still getting used to your silly rod. Aren't short messages the whole point?” Priest chimed in.

“No more banter.” Eldrich warned.

“This isn't a capture target, is it?” Priest asked.

“Not at all.” They found their way to the origin of the signal. The forest was quiet, which was a definite sign. Eldritch kept his head on a swivel, hand on his sword.
“Priest.”

“Yep.” The armored knight drew a heavy hammer from behind his shield and began making noise.
“Come out!” He boomed. No sooner than he said that did a medium-sized Werewolf burst from the woods. Priest readied his shield with one hand. He planted it low and angled it up at a steep angle while placing his leading foot directly behind it.

Werewolves ran on all fours, despite having a body similar to a man. Their torso, arms and legs all had the shape of a muscular human with plenty of fur, but the code diverged somewhat bellow the ankle where they had something more resembling a wolf's hind paws with the high heel and the long foot tapering down into a big, wide paw with vicious claws. Their hands were more traditional. Human-like, just with another set of deadly-looking claws. Their head was the least human thing about them. A lupine skull. Werewolves were naturally fully formed with Soma, making their bodies hard to any attacks made without Aura, or enough Soma to match.

“Come on!” Priest taunted. The creature ran into his shield and the moment he felt it's large body against it Priest activated his Shape. Chains wrapped around the werewolf from the shield. He grunted, lifting the flailing werewolf up, as if his shield were a plate he was being served up on. Jasmine jumped onto it's back and his head simply flew off. Jasmine's axes had short poles that the blades sprouted from, and the blades of the axes were long with the extent of them stretching over her grip like a guard, and up past the end of the pole to a sharp point. She had crossed them, closing the dual crescent blades like scissors around it's neck.

In the less-than a minute since they stopped the Duke ran past. “Your Grace?” Priest blinked. He looked to Eldrich.
“Where's he going?”

“Stay on track. Being 'reserve' is just an excuse for him to go wherever he wishes.” Eldrich stated. They moved back onto the bearing that Ayla set.

-

When Ayla rejoined the assault group with Chantelle and Priest they all took a straight path out of the area while battling any of the werewolves or beasts that caught their scent.

`When the Moon rises in a few minutes the attacks may worsen.` She observed the way they all fought. But could not get a full picture. Without fail, no enemy survived long enough against Priest and Jasmine for there to be anything for Aneth and Eldrich to do. She did gather that Eldrich's main job was to protect Aneth and provide support if needed, but she could not guess what the capabilities of the Aurar were. At Sixth Ring, the level that Nealin was at, things started to get strange in terms of what could be done with Aura. It was the introduction to the monstrous stages.

Ayla looked up as they ran. The full moon was out. As was often the case, her senses felt as though they opened up without her even trying and despite just finishing a difficult fight she felt invigorated. Her heart pumped quicker and her muscles felt looser, but also stronger. She could move faster, easily. A smile crossed her lips, then her eyes widened. Ayla stopped and glanced to her right. Eldrich had jumped back and placed Aneth behind him. Aneth had his hands out. They were both facing her. In front, Priest was readying as if she were a beast with his shield between him and her and his hammer at the ready.
“Calm down, little Lady!” He shouted, inspecting her visually where her armor was torn. Ayla looked down curiously, picking at the clothes. No rips, and she was not cut. She checked. A simple scratch could spread the infection in a normal person, but for a Knight that had developed Soma the chances were actually quite slim to get turned from just that.

“What? I am calm.” Ayla looked back up at him without blinking, then turned to see over her shoulder behind her and to the left Jasmine readying herself cautiously. Chantelle was directly behind.
“Why?” She felt her blood boil in annoyance.

“We should ask you the same question!” Chantelle shouted.
“What's with that killing Aura!?”

“Huh?” Ayla felt confused and frustrated. Then it hit her.
“Ah... It's like that. I promise I wont hurt you. This is normal, I swear.” To an observer, Ayla's appearance was like a beacon of danger blaring at them. Her Aura snapped at them passively like one would expect from a cornered beast, not a human.

“Find that hard to believe.” Priest said calmly, advising her in smooth tone with his words and his eyes.
“Lay down your weapons.”

In a normal state of mind she would have, just as she had conceded to Chantelle before. However, as she gripped the hilt her hand tightened around it and shook at the thought of letting go. She felt paranoid. She was telling them that she was not a threat, but they did not believe her. She knew she could seem a bit threatening, but there was no danger to her allies. Unless...
`Is this... Betrayal? What if they actually want to kill me... Capture me. If Chantelle told them, maybe it's all over?` Thoughts such as these came all to easily to her under a Full Moon.
“It's not necessary.” Ayla argued, trying and failing to sound calm. Her voice shook and her eyes were wide and mad.

“Was she bit? Scratched?” Aneth asked from behind Eldrich.

Ayla turned to glare at him. “No! I am fine! There is nothing wrong. Are you all... Are you really going to do this?”

Eldrich stared back at her harshly. “Why are you looking at me like you want to kill me?”

She exhaled slowly, looking up. “This-” She twitched as a howl shook the ground and the trees. It washed over them like an earthquake and seemed to hold in the air for a few moments after it ended, somehow. It felt as though her very blood threatened to jump from her skin as if drawn like a magnet towards the booming howl. Ayla turned quickly. She could not stop or allow herself to be held up so she ran directly at Chantelle.
“Out of the way!” She growled. If Chantelle got in her way Ayla felt she really would have to kill her.

Chantelle dove out of the way and lifted her guard only to see Ayla run past. “Stop her!” Chantelle ordered.
“She's headed towards His Grace!”

“Shit shit shit.” Priest waddled forward, then transitioned into a full sprint that was surprisingly fast for the heavily armored Knight. Eldrich and Jasmine moved together and flanked her, then Ayla simply  increased her speed and both of them slowed to a halt, realizing it was perfectly useless to chase her. Nerve alignment made her unable to be caught even if they were close, and her speed in general was unnatural for a Knight at her level. Priest stopped in front of them, fiddling with the device.
“What are you all waiting for? We need orders.” He tried in vein to flip the nobs on the rod on his own, then Aneth simply did it for him.

“What the hell was that? It was like she turned!“ Aneth shouted..

“It wouldn't look like that.” Jasmine concluded, shaking her head.
“Also... How's she gonna run instead of fight if she's turning?”

“The howl.” Chantelle observed.
“The moment that howl rang out she began moving like she couldn't stop.”

Priest tapped his chin. “Her presence felt like the large one on the outskirts of the temple.” He looked to Aneth.

The Aurar nodded after having received the signal from the Duke. “His Grace says we meet at the drop-off point and wait.”

Far away Ayla was moving at breakneck pace towards the temple. In far less time than it took them to leave she arrived at the spot where the Shokujin fell. His body was mangled with parts eaten. She began to sweat. As deadly as the situation felt, nothing could stop her from running to the source of the howl, as if it was a command that rang in her very soul.

`This has never happened before. I've always felt stronger on the full moon. Caelin told me it was down to my blood and didn't say much more about it. I should've asked for more information... The Duke said something about my blood as well. What the hell is it?` She expected to be a sitting duck for the werewolves but each one she saw was moving in the same direction as her.

Eventually she arrived at the broken temple. An exterior wall hidden by brush and vines. As she walked through the massive stone arch she looked up and could see the roof was missing from the entryway and most of the structure. Only the walls remained and the floors were covered in dirt. She realized she was walking. Still, she was moving in one direction but it felt like she had reached her destination so there was no longer an urgency to the sensation. She moved through a large courtyard with a felled statue of some four-legged beast. Past that there was another long hallway where the roof was intact. One last entryway into a wide room before another large arch that seemed to lead into some type of temple or throne room. As she walked steadily towards it Castezin landed beside her.
“You came back?”

“I couldn't stop.” Ayla explained cautiously. He was not acting like the others. Either he was unaffected or completely unconcerned.

“Do you know why?” Almos probed.

“I do not.”

He nodded to her. “I could fight the woman and it was almost equal, however her Patron awoke and there are now many werewolves, as well as the unusually big one.”

“Sounds hopeless.”

“Not as much as you might think. Do your best. I made them think I left. At the right time I am going to ambush the woman. Remember that. My plan is to Ambush the woman.” He explained with a confident smile. He spoke a bit too obviously, so it caught Ayla off guard, but she took in the information, regardless.

She walked through the large stone arch. Flanking the room, behind the pillars in the shadows werewolves gathered, shaking as if restrained from their baser instincts. Ahead of her she saw the woman with the eyes similar to hers shining in the night. Only seeing them on someone else did Ayla finally understand why some confused her for a demon on the full moon. Beside her a great wolf with black fur and red eyes waited. Off to the side the massive werewolf perched, eyeing her strangely, lifting his nose to sniff at her with interest; it was not like he saw her as a meal, it was different. The woman looked uncomfortable as Ayla approached the head of the room where she and the wolf stood.
“This is unexpected. Finally, some results!” The wolf said excitedly.

“Why did you not tell me about this, Haron? The Human with my blood falls under my control? How could you keep such a thing from me?”

“How could I know, oh Patron.” Haron argued. She attempted to put on a friendly face.
“Hello, Ayla.”

“You again... What happened to me?” Ayla questioned. She felt very exposed before them. Her senses were running wild due to the number of enemies present, but she could not move.

“Kneel.” The wolf barked. He walked towards Ayla as she was forced to do his bidding, then circled her while sniffing.
“Incredible... So she is that child's daughter?” As he let that slip Haron planted her face in her palm and rubbed her eyes wearily.

“What are you talking about?” Ayla asked through gritted teeth.

“You see, Ayla. Subject Zero-One back there is in fact-” She hesitated, the discomfort growing very strangely in the usually jovial figure.

The wolf filled in the blank. “Your father. He said gleefully. This is finally something to work on. More children like her. Human-like beings that can blend into their world.” The term human-like assaulted her psyche harshly. She felt it ring in her mind and loop, sinking in a little more each time.

Ayla's world felt like it was shaking her mouth opened and closed and her eyes stared at the floor straight ahead. As it began to set in more she gripped her head with both hands, sweating even more than she had been. Her face felt hot. She shook her head side to side.
“There's no way...”

“It is actually true.” Haron finally admitted delicately, walking in front of Ayla. She knelt down to get on the same level and rested a hand on her shoulder.
“And as distasteful as it may feel, I am the one that birthed you.” As she saw the disbelief and pain in the girls eyes Haron looked away.
“The father and brother you knew were actually people I had planted you with. Not anyone that worked for me, mind you. They were simply a random family, because they had to be.”

“That doesn't make any sense!”

“To protect you from the Emperor while I carried out my plans. You began as an experiment, but having a child really does change a person. I wanted to simply use you but I really did grow fond of you. When you turned four, I was no longer able to take care of you due to an incident so I manipulated a father and child to think of you as family. This year I sent someone to check up on you and potentially bring you back, but... I think you know how that turned out.”

“It was you!” She screamed.
“You killed my Father and Brother!”

“Well... No. The Empire did. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense that they died at all... The person I sent was not even a monster, just fugitive, so there really was no reason for them to do what they did. But you know that already. Besides, those people were not your real family.” She thought about what she had just said.
“Actually, I suppose in a sense you have spent more time with them than you have with me. Did they treat you well?”

“No...” Ayla admitted.
“But they were my family.”

“I didn't mean for you to be here, Ayla.”

“This babble is annoying. You will have time to catch up later. Tell me where that Duke is! What is he planning?”

Ayla could not stop herself from speaking. “He... Is still... Here. At the right... Time...” She struggled to hold back the information, even if it was useless. Eventually it all just came out.
“He will ambush 'the woman.'” Ayla stared into Haron's eyes as she spoke. She could tell by the look on the woman's face that she could see through something. A smile crossed her clever lips.

“I see. Reus, I will raise defenses around the room for myself in preparation for another attack. In the mean-time I would... Probably advise you drink the mixture I prepared now. It worked for all others.”

“You are weak. Just do it.” He growled, searching around for any whiff of the man, since Ayla said he was near. When he found nothing he quietly sauntered over to a bowl near his perch at the head of the room and licked the liquid from it.

As Haron wandered, placing wards, Ayla stared into the eyes of the dark-furred werewolf. It stared back at her. “So... This is why I have always been the way I am. There was a beast inside me.”

Haron touched her lip as she finished a ward on one pillar. “Well... In reality, you are special in multiple ways. You have the blood of myself and Zero-One and that could potentially have had some effect, but you are also unwell.”

“What do you mean? Of course I'm unwell...”

“In a way that is not exactly simple. You lack natural empathy. It is an illness of the mind. You must have noticed that it was difficult to understand people?” Haron shook her head and changed the subject. “I have no idea what you have been doing for so long. How did you grow up?”


“I grew up to kill people. Many people.”

Reus laughed. “Many more to come.”

Ayla sneered quietly to herself. “May I stop kneeling?”

“Fine. Do what you like, but if any of your people come, attack them. You are mine, now, just like these children gathered around.” He said, referring to the werewolves. She guessed that he had the ability to control them.

“Very well.” Ayla said through gritted teeth. She held her head.
“Is this what is feels like to be a thrall?”

“Yes.” Haron appeared beside her again and gave her a rather suspicious look. She pulled Ayla to the side of the room, far from Reus. She pretended to work while speaking in a hushed tone.
“How many times have you gone back?”

Ayla blinked. She looked to see Reus sniffing at his paws. She lowered her voice as well.  “How did you know?”

“Because it's our Shape. Well... One of them. The Shape of the Moon. It takes various forms. Yours is the New Moon. In addition to strengthening you under the moon as it does for all of us, you have a peculiar skill... If you die you may return to a point of regret. The New Moon represents new beginnings. It is rather poetic, no? How long?”

“Ten years.”

Haron looked shocked. She cringed. “Oh god...”

“What?”

“You can not simply go back freely. The ability steals from your total lifespan. You may have saved yourself from your former life, but even if this one is sweeter than the last you have lost ten good years of your life, Ayla. That is why I wished you would not use it freely.”

“You sound like you care about me.” Ayla uttered with disdain.

“I do. I was being honest, as well. I did not intend for you to be here.” She finished the ward she was working on.
“I will take care of it, so do not worry. All done...” She muttered, sitting down on a bench. Ayla sat down beside her. She was unable to leave, so she might as well sit.

“Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to harm innocent people? Haron, was it?”

Haron shrugged. “I am not a good person. Am I warming to you simply because I claim that I love you? You should dislike me. I am doing bad things for bad reasons, and this is just the surface layer of what you are seeing from me. I will not give you a reason to try to forgive me or call me Mother. I have not been that to you for a long time. This may be hard to believe but I expect nothing from you as a daughter.”

It sounded cold, but it was for the most part everything that Ayla wanted to hear. The frank, cold response was far more comforting than any other platitudes Haron could have left Ayla with. She smiled and nodded.
“This is my life now? I serve this... Wolf?”

“Reus. God Reus.” Haron corrected.

“Yes... I suppose it does seem like you are now stuck in this with me. Reus will not let you go, and now I have to deal with the fact that he will wish to make more like you for his benefit.”

“You don't sound happy about that.”

She shook her head evenly. “Yes well...” Haron trailed off.
“Do you have any questions for me?”

“The Shape. How do I materialize it? I have Aura.”

“For your Shape of The New Moon you will only activate it upon death. Mine is-” She motioned towards herself.
“Was The Waxing Crescent. In simple terms, I was able to find exact paths towards desired outcomes.

Ayla stared at Haron pointedly. “Is there a limit to how far ahead you can set goals?” As she asked that, the lips of the woman curled up subtly and genuinely. Haron gripped Ayla's shoulder affectionately.
“Your Shape, my dear?”

Ayla relented. “Fine, tell me. Is it just the regression? That feels bad.”

“No. In reality, you have free reign to build your Shape however you like, in addition to that power. Both the Full Moon and New Moon Shapes are limitless in that sense.”

“That doesn't make sense. I worked for years trying to develop a Shape and all of the attempts failed.”

“Were you developing them within the context of the New Moon? Of course not. You did not know.”

Ayla stared at the woman in disbelief. “I simply have to know of my Bloodline Shape, and then develop it through that?”

“Yes.” Haron said brightly.

Ayla felt so incredibly angry. She held her head in her hands and felt close to pulling her hair out. “It's not fair... I was so strong except for that one thing holding me back.” She had a more important question in mind, rather than continue to wallow in misery.
“What specifically is wrong with me? Why do I feel fine killing people when others don't? Why do I need to 'act' as a normal person, instead of simply being normal?”

“It is simply a quirk, Ayla. From raising you as a baby to a toddler, I began to see the signs and confirmed the potential for there to be some disorder after conferring with others.”

“So that's it? I'm  crazy and that's it?”

“Not necessarily. Based on what you told me, what it means is that you have to try harder than everyone else. The average person, even I, have an uncanny emotional reaction to things. Killing, torture, or even just putting someone down with words. Tell me if this is accurate; I am assuming that you live most of your life rather logically. You do not have any aversion towards torture or death or unhappiness if the underlying actions makes sense to you.”

“If it's something that I feel should be done, I also feel a compulsion.” Ayla thought back to being in the same room as Hans.

Haron remembered it as well. “Yes. I am sorry. The blood of your father flowing through you would only make it worse, not better, but we can not say that it is the cause.”

Ayla sighed. “How did it come about? My birth?”

“We decided that we would like to attempt an insemination. The people of the Tower were split. I decided the vote with the promise that I would be the test subject so that I could satisfy both parties.” Haron chuckled to herself.
“Truthfully, it was not that bad. You were an easy birth. A calm child, despite your problems. I would have liked to raise you to womanhood, but circumstances required I let you go. If I took you with me, you would be beholden to all of my same obligations.”

“That beast?”

She nodded just slightly too late, as if she were thinking of something else in the first moment. “Yes. Reus is my Patron. I currently exist to accomplish his goals. I suppose in a strange way, you do too.”

“What are those goals?”

“The Empire must fall due to the sins of it's ancestors. Before the fall, Reus and Raulos guarded against Night on behalf of Lun together. Reus created servants out of men to help battle the Night, and Raulos, for his love of Humans, established temples to guide people towards the Aura of the Moon, which could empower humans to protect themselves when Sol could not.” She paused, looking down sadly.
“But... People forget. What was once a defender against Night can quickly seem like a rabid beast. A monster. Let's ignore the fact that it was their land to begin with. The land that Reus and his children defended nobly. It was taken from him. Eventually even the temples that Raulos established fell, such as this one. Reus was angered and vowed revenge.”

“What about Raulos?” Ayla was mildly curious.

“Out of sadness and betrayal he left. His sensibilities did not allow him to vow revenge as his brother did, so he simply left it all.”

“I don't get you.” Ayla had watched Haron closely as she relayed her whole supposed purpose.

“What do you mean?”

“You don't show any kind of sign that all of that stuff even angers you, but you're serving him for the sake of his revenge?”

Haron smiled widely, staring back at Ayla. “Sharp.” Haron pinched Ayla's cheek affectionately.
“Many forces are converging on this place.” Haron opened her arms in front of Ayla. She wondered about the gesture, but then noticed Reus across the room with his eyes on them. His ears were perked. Ayla reluctantly embraced the woman. Haron whispered once they were close enough for her voice to carry right into Ayla's ear.
“You do not want to be under Reus's control when it all happens, I am guessing?”

“Of course not.”

She nodded, patting Ayla. “Just checking. I will show you my sincerity concerning my feelings for you. Trust.” Haron released Ayla and continued to work in the background after their talk.