The group woke up the next day, groggy but alive. After a quick breakfast, they decided to squeeze in some training.
Fidi: That fight yesterday was solid, but you all still have room to grow.
Lykos: Actually, I got a question. What the hell happened to Thor? One second he's fighting, next thing you know, poof, gone.
Lykos lunged at Fidi with his axe, but Fidi easily dodged, hopping back with a smirk.
Fidi: Wait... you didn't know?
Lykos: Man, I was tired. I just wanted my damn sleep.
Fidi hurled his spear at Lykos. He barely managed to block it with his axe, the impact making his arms shake.
Volk: I got your answer, kid. Whenever a Telum breaks, its user starts disappearing. That's why you gotta protect your Telum in a fight.
Lykos: Huh... but like... why, though?
Volk flung his shield at Okami, who smacked it aside with his scythe like it was nothing.
Fidi: Your Telum is you. If that breaks, so do you.
Lykos: Oh... that makes way more sense now.
Lykos jumped up, chucking his axe at Fidi again, but Fidi deflected it with his spear, eyes sharp.
Fidi: Just make sure it never happens to you. There won't be an afterlife waiting.
Lykos: And how do you know that?
Fidi: ...I have my sources.
Okami: Those being?
Fidi: I've met some afterlife gods... Hel included.
Volk: No way. You serious? How the hell did that happen?
Fidi: Let's just say Accalia was built different.
Before anyone could press him further, Sobaka strolled outside, casually spinning an orb in his palm.
Sobaka: Yo, anyone need this? Thor dropped it yesterday, and I forgot to ask.
Lykos, Okami, Volk, and Fidi exchanged glances before collectively shrugging.
Lykos, Okami, Volk, Fidi: Nah.
Sobaka: Cool. Guess I'm keeping it, then.
He gripped the orb, and the second he did, electricity exploded from his hand, sending a stray bolt straight into Volk.
Sobaka: ...Why did I expect it to be anything else?
Smoke drifted from Volk's mouth as he exhaled sharply.
Volk: You're lucky that hit me, you cunt.
Sobaka: Not my fault it just burst out.
Lykos: Okay, can we take a break now? We're already talking, might as well sit with the others.
Fidi: Fine by me.
The five of them sat outside, idly chatting until Skylos, Alepou, and Kitsune eventually wandered over and joined in.
Skylos: Hey V, you've never really talked about growing up in Russia. Did anything interesting happen?
Sobaka: I could answer that, you know.
Skylos: Sure, let's hear both your sides of the story.
Sobaka: Bet. Who's going first?
Volk and Sobaka locked eyes, immediately launching into a game of rock, paper, scissors. Volk won twice in a row.
Sobaka: ...Hold on. Did you just use your future-seeing power to win?
Volk: Why the fuck would I waste that on this?
Sobaka: Because you're like that.
Volk: Fuck off.
Sobaka: I'm not wrong, though.
Volk ignored him and started recounting his past. He talked about being taken in by a family of three after his parents disappeared. He spoke about a girl named Caia, who was like a sister to him, and how her parents had cared for him like he was their own.
Then came the day when two Telum users broke into their house. They killed Caia's parents. That was the day Volk awakened his Telum, driven by sheer rage.
Okami: ...How old were you when this happened?
Volk: Ten.
He went on about how he had to live in a shelter after that. But the worst part? He was separated from Caia when they discovered his Telum.
Alepou: What happened to her?
Volk: No clue. They never let me contact her. No calls, no messages, nothing.
From there, he got forced into a military academy, where he eventually met Sobaka.
Volk: Didn't last long, though. Got sick of that place. Ran away.
Sobaka: The motherfucker actually pulled it off, too.
Volk chuckled before shifting gears, talking about the day he ran away. He met a girl—Lisa. The best thing that ever happened to him. Turns out she was the Czar's daughter.
Volk: Never really understood what she saw in me.
Sobaka: And to think you pulled all that while hiding from me.
Volk: The signs were right there, you were just too blind to see them.
Sobaka: My bad for being too busy guarding the motherfucking Czar's daughter.
Fidi: ...Hold up. You were in the Russian Royal Guard?
Sobaka: Yep.
Fidi: How old even are you?
Sobaka: Take a guess.
Fidi: Uh... 23?
Sobaka: Close, 22.
Fidi: Man, when I was in my 20s, I was still figuring out what the hell I wanted to do.
Sobaka: Perks of academy life.
Fidi: From Volk's perspective, there weren't many perks.
Sobaka: Oh, trust me, that place sucked ass. But... depending on how you got in, there were some benefits.
Lykos: Yeah, I really don't see a benefit in getting ripped away from your only family.
Alepou: That sounds awful.
Volk: Eh. It is what it is. Can't change the past. Your turn, Sobaka.
Lykos: Actually, I'll be back real quick. Start without me.
Lykos got up and headed inside for water. Kitsune followed him in, tugging at his hoodie when he grabbed a glass. Thinking it was Alepou, he turned with a smirk.
Lykos: What's up, hon—oh shit, my bad. What's up, Kit?
Kitsune: I need an answer. Ever since you talked about Argos, there's something I've wanted to tell you.
Lykos: ...Please don't tell me his comment about you is still bothering you.
Kitsune: What comment— NO. It's not that.
Lykos: Alright, then. What's up?
Kitsune: Okami knows, but I wanted to tell you too. Just in case anything happens. There was... another me. Was.
Lykos set his glass down.
Lykos: Was?
Kitsune: She's been gone a while. I haven't heard from her in ages.
Lykos: Did you do something?
Kitsune: I don't remember. I never looked into it—I was afraid.
Lykos: Well, you can't just erase a part of yourself.
Kitsune: I guess. I just... I don't want another one showing up out of nowhere.
Lykos: If life stays smooth, you shouldn't have to worry. I'm sure it'll be fine.
Kitsune: ...I hope so. Don't tell anyone, please, Ly.
Lykos: I won't. And Argos didn't hear anything, so you're good.
Kitsune: Thanks... If something happens, I'll come to you.
Lykos: Haha, I don't know much of it myself, but I'll help how I can. Always here, Kit.
Kitsune: Heh. Alright. Let's head back before Okami gets jealous.
The two walked back outside as Sobaka started his story.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LBYWT2K9l
