After that exhausting flying practice was over, we headed home in Sis Ange's car.
I watched the shimmering orange light glowing from beyond the window.
The ocean radiated brilliance from the setting sun's light, spreading in every direction. I even caught sight of dolphins leaping together in the distance.
Sis Ange smiled as she drove.
"You want to look outside, do you?" She then pressed a button to lower the car window.
The window came down, and I stuck my head out.
Charlotte held onto me from behind.
"Don't stay out too long — this counts as a dangerous scene, you know."
I took in the beautiful view passing by outside the moving car window.
Accompanied by the wind sweeping through my fur, my tongue hung out without me even noticing.
Now I understand why dogs love this — it's genuinely wonderful!
AWWOOOOO!!!!
I let out a howl without realizing it. For now, perhaps I would just go along with my instincts.
For now, that's not a bad decision, is it?
Birds began flying home from the sky back to their nests, to feed their young.
I rested my head against the side of the car window with a sulky expression.
I was very tired — not because of the day's activities, but because of my own thoughts.
Charlotte then pulled me back inside.
"That's enough — you'll catch a cold." She said.
Alright, Char...
The car entered a dark tunnel to exit the rift.
That particular rift had been created specifically to bring peace to those who had been consumed by their own power — so there weren't many creatures or islands within it.
But still — an environment that beautiful seems far too precious to be used only as a purification arena, doesn't it?
Night arrived. Charlotte and Sis Ange went to put away some things and clean themselves up.
Of course I waited outside the door — I'm not a shameless creature!
But...
The sounds of them joking around inside the bathroom were clearly audible...
No! I must not be tempted!
"Hyaaa! MISS! Don't do that in the bathroom!"
"SIS ANGE! Look — the rubber duck didn't fall!"
I eventually flew up to the roof because I couldn't take it anymore. I would meditate up here while breathing in the fresh night air!
AWOOOOO
I finally howled at just the right moment!
Beneath this moonlight! I AM THE RULER!!!
AWOOOOOOOOO
Inside, Charlotte and Sis Ange — already dressed — heard my howl.
"Goodness, she's so enthusiastic." Charlotte took a sip of warm tea and settled into a soft chair.
"There's a chance she was raised by her wolf mother, so now she's trying very hard to match the adult wolves in her pack." Sis Ange explained.
Sis Ange then looked down with a worried expression.
"I actually feel quite sorry for hybrids like her."
She glanced toward the window, watching the moon shining outside.
"Animals born as hybrids are usually rejected by both of their groups. I worry that she keeps howling and pushing herself so hard because she wants to be accepted by one of them."
Charlotte then rose from her seat and hurried outside.
"Where are you going, Miss?" Sis Ange asked.
"I'm going to call Puppy inside, Sis."
"Alright."
At the outer door, Charlotte called out to me.
"PUPPY?! PUPPY?!"
I came gliding down toward her from the rooftop.
Charlotte caught me and hugged me close.
"Puppy, don't go outside at night — there are a lot of horrible council members around here who like to extort and bully others. They also love to deceive people and boast about their seniority." Said Charlotte in an irritated tone.
I looked at her face. This one seemed serious.
She then placed me on a small, soft bed and gave me an orange-colored magic stone with a ginger milk flavor.
"Goodness, this is so warm." I thought, with an expression of pure contentment.
On the table, they were also eating a warm braised meat dish. I really wanted to try it, but...
Right now I'm just an ordinary magical creature...
We each enjoyed our own meals. Afterward, they tidied up the dishes, gave me a piece of cloth as a blanket, and a bone-shaped toy.
They turned off all the lights and finally returned to their respective rooms.
Have they gone to sleep?
I tried closing my eyes to sleep.
I CAN'T!
I stood up from my bed.
I GENUINELY CAN'T SLEEP!
Seriously?! I shouldn't have slept all the way until late afternoon this morning!
I bit down on my bone toy in frustration.
It was already midnight, and I was still completely wide awake!
Thank goodness Charlotte gave me a toy — otherwise I'd probably be bored out of my mind right now.
I bit into the toy until it made a sound.
SQUEEK!
Then, all of a sudden, I heard someone approaching...
NO! THAT'S NOT JUST SOMEONE!
I HAVE TO WARN CHAR!
I went to Charlotte's bedroom door and began scratching at it, barking, and throwing myself against it.
CHAR! CHAR! CHAR!
PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR! THIS IS VERY SERIOUS! WOOF!
I looked toward the front door and saw that it was already being pried open by them.
I heard their voices.
"Hey, are you sure there are only women inside?" Said a man with an average voice.
"Of course — I checked yesterday." Answered a man with a deep, heavy voice.
They were using a metal wire to break the door open.
"WHAT DO I DO?! CHARLOTTE, PLEASE WAKE UP!"
AWOO
WOOF! WOOF!
Eventually they ran out of patience and kicked the door open with full force.
They saw me!
"Wow, looks like we hit the jackpot, boss!" Said a tall, lean man with short brown hair.
"HEHEHEHE." Someone behind them laughed.
Their leader...
Seemed familiar!
Wait?!
WASN'T THAT THE COUNCIL TEAM LEADER WHO ATTACKED ME IN THE TOWER?!
I DON'T REMEMBER HIS FACE CLEARLY, BUT THAT TALL, HEAVILY MUSCULAR BUILD, AND THAT DISTINCTLY DEEP VOICE...
The leader walked toward me with heavy, deliberate steps.
"A hybrid magical creature, huh? The madam is going to love this." Said the leader with a sly grin.
The leader — the boss of the group — had long, disheveled black hair and was dressed like a corporate boss of the present day. If I remembered correctly, he was a greatsword user.
I backed away slowly as he advanced toward me.
In this form of mine, I felt completely overwhelmed by him. He looked like a massive monster right now — especially wrapped in the terrifying shadows that clung to him from all sides.
I'm scared...
Charlotte, please...
WAKE UP!
Light shone from Charlotte's room.
"I heard noise from outside, and I also sensed an energy I don't like in here."
Charlotte then stepped out of her room wearing the armor I had seen hanging in the corridor before.
She stood there gripping a sword in her hand, adorned with flowing lengths of fabric that fluttered around her.
"Puppy, I'm sorry for all this commotion."
Charlotte held me close.
"Can you close your eyes for a moment, Puppy?"
I closed my eyes as she instructed.
Charlotte drew her golden light sword from its sheath and took her stance.
"What did I tell you — there's a beautiful girl in here." Said a man of ordinary build.
The boss of the group then spoke.
"Well... it seems you're no ordinary girl. Could you put that sharp sword away, Miss?" The group leader pointed at Charlotte's sword.
He then stepped closer to Charlotte.
"Miss... neither of us wants to drag this out, so..."
He then pointed at me.
"Hand over that dog, and come play with me." The boss reached out and grabbed Charlotte's hand.
Charlotte furiously slashed the air around the group's boss.
At that very moment, Sis Ange emerged from her room — startled, she froze in the doorway.
The boss went still for a brief moment, a small amount of his hair cut clean off.
He rapidly shifted his expression into something deeply, profoundly terrifying — the corners of his mouth pulled down to an extreme, his eyes bulged open with a sharp, piercing glare, the veins around his eyes stood out visibly, and his brows sharpened into a harsh angle.
Even with my eyes closed, I could sense the dangerous aura radiating from him. I hoped Charlotte was alright.
I have to peek just a little!
I opened my eyes slightly and saw Charlotte glowing golden, her wings spreading wide.
The air around her began to surge like a storm about to tear through.
I was nearly swept off my feet by the wind.
Looking at the situation — she... no, they were both truly at the very edge of their limits.
Charlotte swiftly slashed through the shadows encircling the group.
They suddenly went limp and collapsed unconscious.
On one side, I caught sight of something flying away from them — I didn't know what it was, but what mattered was that we were safe now.
Charlotte released her armor and let her wings disappear, then walked toward me.
At that point my body was rigid and tense from watching it all unfold, on top of all the pressure of the moment.
Charlotte crouched down and extended her hand toward me.
I approached her and she pulled me into a hug.
"I'm sorry, Puppy — you must have been so scared." She said.
She whispered.
"I'll take care of all of this now — please wait for me." She set me down, then went to rouse Sis Ange at the doorway to deal with the troublemakers.
After they left, I collapsed.
My body, which had been so rigid moments before, went completely limp the moment it was all over.
But I truly, genuinely still could not sleep.
AWOOOO!!
TO BE CONTINUED