Rowan's grip on his sword tightened. "And you didn't fight him?"
The Fenrir gave a faint, broken chuckle. "No. I didn't. But even if I had, even if we had clashed that day."
It lifted its head slightly, pride still flickering in its dying eyes. "He was stronger than me. Yet even then, I would not have fallen the way I fell to you."
The ground trembled as the Fenrir's massive frame began to fade, particles of silver light drifting upward into the night.
"You ended me with a single slash," it said softly, almost reverently. "A divine beast, born from the will of the heavens, undone by one stroke. That is amazing."
Rowan watched silently as the glow consumed the creature, his reflection flickering in the fading light.
A whisper echoed through the forest, half fading, half divine.
"Be careful, human, when you seek the Demon Lord. You may find more of yourself than you wish to see."
Rowan's gaze hardened.
"Good," he said quietly, his voice steady but cold. "That's all I wanted to know."
He lifted his sword. A deep green aura flared around the blade, rippling like fire in the wind.
"Now, I come for your head."
The air split as he swung. The arc of energy tore through the night sky like a comet, striking the Fenrir with blinding force.
For a brief moment, time seemed to stop. The divine beast's golden eyes widened, then softened. It closed them, accepting its fate.
The world shook as the slash passed through. The forest trembled. The light faded.
Then something impossible happened.
The Fenrir's massive body began to glow. Silver light erupted from its wounds. Its severed legs regrew, its flesh reformed, and its body stood once more, whole.
Rowan raised his sword, ready to strike again, but paused when he saw what the creature did next.
The Fenrir, about 15 feet tall, lowered its head.
"Thank you," it said, voice deep and resonant, echoing through the trees. "For sparing my pride and my life. You are the first being to defeat me fairly. For that, I swear, from this day onward, I shall serve you."
Rowan blinked, taken aback. "Serve me?"
The divine beast nodded solemnly. "It is an oath bound by my soul. From this day, my fangs and power are yours."
Rowan sighed, lowering his sword slightly. "That sounds like a lot of work for me."
The Fenrir froze, disbelief flashing across its glowing eyes. "What? You reject me?"
Rowan shrugged. "I didn't fight you to make you serve me. I just wanted to test my strength. So no, keep your freedom. Just don't cause trouble for humans again."
The Fenrir's expression softened once more. Then, slowly, it smiled, a terrifying yet majestic sight.
"As you wish, master," it said quietly, bowing its head one last time.
Rowan turned, glancing one last time at the fallen Fenrir. The divine beast met his gaze in silence, its golden eyes glowing faintly beneath the moonlight. Rowan gave a small nod before taking off into the sky, wind rushing against his face as the forest stretched and shrank beneath him.
When he looked down, he could still see it, that colossal figure, motionless yet dignified, as if bowing to something unseen. Then he turned his eyes toward the horizon and flew home.
He slipped through his window, landing softly on the wooden floor.
A snap of his fingers, and his clone dissolved into mist.
"Finally," he muttered, yawning. "What a night."
He crawled into bed, the first rays of dawn brushing against his face. His sword rested by the bedside, faintly pulsing with light, almost in rhythm with his heartbeat.
Before long, sleep claimed him.
The Next Morning
The distant sound of trumpets jolted Rowan awake.
"Ugh, so early?" he groaned, burying his face into the pillow. "Who's even blowing that? Dad, I'm trying to sleep."
Before he could close his eyes again, a firm knock sounded on his door.
"Rowan," came a deep voice. His father, Aldwin. "Come downstairs."
"Ugh, fine," Rowan mumbled, rubbing his eyes as he stumbled to his feet.
When he stepped outside, sunlight poured across the courtyard. His father stood beside his mother, Mira, near a polished black carriage adorned with silver crests. Knights in gleaming armor lined the path, blowing long trumpets that made the air tremble.
One of the knights stepped forward, holding a sealed envelope in both hands. He bowed deeply before Aldwin.
"My lord," he said, offering the letter with reverence.
Aldwin accepted it with a polite nod. "Thank you."
He broke the wax seal and unfolded the letter. His eyes moved across the page, then stopped. His brows furrowed.
"What is it, Dad?" Rowan asked curiously.
Aldwin exhaled. "It's from your grandfather, Duke Will."
Mira's expression stiffened. "Father?"