Chapter 29: Chapter 29

DARAN

"Oh, you're back already? I hear you're on a trip with your betas."

I was visiting Evangelista at her shop. She seemed to be busy forging a sword. I thought it was an order from someone extraordinary.

"Well, we checked the magic seals at the border. I had to work hard because you refused my assignment, Eve. How outrageous. You are the commander-in-chief of our pack. But, you are also the hardest dissident to control."

Eve just chuckled.

She was wearing a dark grey jumpsuit. She took off her jumpsuit top and only wore a tank top. Then she tied the sleeves of the jumpsuit around her waist. While talking to me, Eve didn't even look at me. She focused on the blazing fire before her to forge the sword.

"Why did you bother forging all that iron? You can use your magic abilities, can't you?"

Sparkling embers.

"Something produced by shortcuts, then its useful life can't last long. No matter how great the magic ability, nothing can beat the pleasure of working on forging these weapons directly by hand."

I feel hot. The radiation from the furnace spread throughout the room. Even though it's icy outside, it's too hot here for me, who is already hot-blooded.

"How's that girl, Daran?"

"She's having fun in Blue Sapphire right now."

"I was surprised the first time you said you wanted to take her as your disciple. More precisely… to be your bride. It's not like you, Daran. Why? Have you finally found your ideal type and started opening up after hundreds of years?"

"Don't be impudent, Eve. She is even just a child in my eyes."

"Then what are you going to do with a child, Daran? The older you get, the weirder you act. You're even more annoying. I can't imagine how a girl as beautiful and pure as Jonea could live with you. She must be tough and troublesome to understand you."

"I'm not that bad!"

Eve glanced at me. "I know your real goal is sending her back to Blue Sapphire. By the way, does she know? She could die if the seal was released from her."

I paused for a moment and pondered what Eve had said. I can't even look at Eve right now.

“Daran, are you…."

"I will not let her die!" I answered loudly and earnestly.

Eve raised the half-finished sword and placed it on the table. She removed her glasses, put her hands on her hips, and looked at me.

"It was a good decision. I believe in you, Daran. You won't make the same mistakes you did hundreds of years ago. I hope you can make a wise decision this time."

Eve removed her leather gloves. She tucks the gloves in the back pocket of her jumpsuit and walks toward me. She lifted her head slightly to meet my eyes.

"Anyway… there is something I want to ask you."

"Say whatever it is. Besides, when did you have to ask permission to ask me questions?"

"Why are you still standing here, Daran Carver?"

"What do you mean, Eve? Now you're kicking me out?" I winced.

"Why don't you follow Jonea and live with her in Blue Sapphire? Are you sure you're going to just leave her to Owen?"

I'm annoyed to hear that. "I never gave Jonea to Owen!"

"Are you stupid, Daran? How old are you? You have yet to learn from your past mistakes?

I looked at Eve and gasped in realization. Why am I so stupid?

***

JONEA

I only have six months left to live, but I must live like hell for such a short time! How come? I must be vigilant and careful on such a large campus with hundreds or maybe thousands of students.

Every stranger I meet, I have to glare at his forehead.

Does he have a red mark? Is he dangerous for me? Would he be able to drain my energy and leave me paralyzed?

I really can't focus on activities.

I have to leave for campus early every morning to avoid the crowds. I also had to go last to avoid the crowds. I can't even get together and hang out with my new friends like I imagined all this time.

"Just stare! What is it? Are you sick? You don't look excited today." Marilyn appeared, holding a large cup of iced coffee at me.

I hold the cold and dewy cup of iced coffee. "Are you crazy, Marilyn? You give me iced coffee in this cold weather?"

"Oh, it's good that you're still awake! I thought you were out of your mind." Marilyn returned the iced coffee from my hand and exchanged it for a warm one.

"I've lost my appetite recently."

"Yeah, you look thinner since entering college. Have you read my message? How long have I been waiting, and you didn't reply!"

"What? Message?" I'm nervous. I rummaged through my phone in my bag and grinned at Marilyn. "Sorry, I didn't check my phone at all."

Marilyn rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Does not matter. We've met now. Let's go, or we'll be late. I don't want us to be made fun of by those annoying seniors."

"Late? Where to?"

Marilyn took my hand. "To the reception of the new batch of students. The seniors had a meeting at a bar not far from here. Come on, let's go now!"

"No! No! No!” I muttered over and over.

But Marilyn still dragged me.

"What's wrong with you, Jonea? I know you don't like crowds and don't like meeting lots of people. But our life on campus for the next four years depends on today! You don't want to be belittled again like when you were at Abraham High School, right? Now we are in a college that is free from social discrimination. However, seniority is highly respected here. Your opponents are no longer classmates but extremely terrifying seniors. Let's go!"

"That's not the case!" I protested at Marilyn.

I wanted to tell Marilyn that I would probably die if I ran into warlocks in a crowded place. But I knew this reason was too hard for Marilyn to reason with.

Again, I'm just keeping my problems to myself. After all, I didn't want to involve Marilyn in my growing problem. Especially my involvement with the Lycan families.

"The problem is you're too self-conscious, Jonea! Begin to open up. We live this life with more fun. There's nothing else to worry about. Because now we are all the same here. This is the land of werewolves. The whole pack joins and coexists here."

It was my turn to pull Marilyn's hand until she stopped. I glared at Marilyn.

"You don't want to tell me? How did you get that change, Marilyn? Operation?"

Marilyn looked down in embarrassment.

"Say!" I demanded.

"Sorry, Jonea. Many things have happened to us. I have no choice but to change my DNA to survive here."

I hugged Marilyn tightly. "I'm sorry, Marilyn."

It seemed she understood the anxiety I felt. "At least you got lucky, Jonea. You can still survive and live here without going through the long, painful process of changing DNA."

I took off the hug from Marilyn and looked at her fixedly. "It's not like you, Marilyn. It's obvious you used to hate werewolves."

"My point of view changes when I'm in a different place, Jonea. I have to adapt to the existing environment. You must understand how I feel. I was fortunate not to die during long and gruelling surgeries. You can't deny yourself, either, Jonea. Now we are equal. We are predators."

"Marilyn…" I lost my words.

As if I saw a different figure in my best friend. They are only two years apart, and I don't seem to recognize Marilyn.

Marilyn again held my hand and dragged me with a little force. I let myself be carried by Marilyn while continuing to think and digest every word Marilyn said.

"We are not human, Jonea. Even though we have empathy like humans, we are different from them. You have to open up and start practising to accept that fact. Now is our chance to show them that we are their equal. Elevate your head and puff out your chest. We are going to the meeting!"