Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Damn, what's wrong with me? It's hot and incredibly painful. I remember this sensation. I experienced it last weekend, and it feels the same. I struggle to walk slowly towards my room. Even taking steps is difficult. Sweat is starting to drench my entire body. My blood feels like it's boiling, ready to burn me to ashes.

And finally, I can't endure this pain anymore. I collapse on my bedroom floor, my breathing heavy. Someone's grip tightens around my neck, making it hard for me to breathe. All I can do is clench my fists and try to control myself as the sound of the door being forcefully opened interrupts my concentration.

"Gray, what's happening to you?" I can't even answer Brenda's question. I can only see her concerned face.

"Damn it, I need to do something," she says, and then a blue light radiates from Brenda's hand. She's my sister, capable of doing anything with her powers. Unlike me, who's now writhing in pain in front of my sister.

Brenda directs her power towards my chest, and that's when the pain vanishes, along with my consciousness. Vaguely, I hear a conversation between two people around me, but it's hard to open my eyes.

"Isn't this good news?"

"But what's the cause? All of this can't happen for no reason, right?" And as that sentence ends, I slowly manage to open my eyes. Brenda and Lauv are around me.

"Are you awake?" Brenda asks and helps me sit up. My head still throbs, and Lauv comes closer. He immediately grabs my wrist and examines my arm before I pull it away.

"What's wrong?" I ask, making Lauv glance at Brenda.

"But there's still no significant sign yet, just some initial symptoms he experienced," Lauv says, causing Brenda to look at me. I'm still confused by their conversation.

"What's happening to me?" I finally ask, not wanting to appear more puzzled in front of Brenda and Lauv.

"Since when did you start experiencing changes in your body?" Brenda asks.

"What's happening to my body?" I ask back, avoiding answering her question. Brenda sighs and gives me an annoyed look.

"Do you not remember the pain you just felt, or is this the first time you've felt it?" she asks again, and I finally understand what my sister is getting at.

"This is the second time. Last weekend, I experienced something similar, but I could still control myself. However, for some reason, the pain that hit me just now was unbearable. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come in time," I explain, as that's the last thing I remember. How the pain seemed to be stripping me alive.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Brenda says with a mixture of concern and frustration.

"Why should I tell you? I can handle it," I reply, thinking that it's not an important issue that I need to report to my sister who's been watching over me all this time. Brenda looks annoyed and roughly rubs her face before fixing her gaze on Lauv. Lauv seems to understand Brenda's look, as he turns his attention towards me. It seems like he wants to explain something.

"I don't know, and this is just my assumption. What you experienced is just a small sign of your awakening," Spencer says, leaving me speechless. It's been a very long time since I've heard the word 'awakening,' ever since I was exiled from my homeland to the place where humans now surround me.

"Well, that's good news then. It means I can go back to where I belong, right? I'm tired of being among these humans," I say, provoking a sharp look from Brenda.

"Come on, Gray, stop acting childish. We need to find out why you're experiencing these symptoms. Did you maybe do something recently?" Brenda questions, making me shrug nonchalantly.

"I don't know. I don't remember anything specific I've done. You've known what I've been doing all this time. Just enjoying myself and living among humans," I answer casually, which further triggers Brenda's emotions.

"What Lauv means is that these are just small symptoms. You haven't fully awakened yet, and there haven't been any clear signs of your awakening. So, we need to figure out the cause so we can address it. Try to think maturely," he says, causing me to fall silent. Eventually, Brenda and Lauv give up on my behavior. They leave me alone and move to Brenda's office, presumably to discuss things further. As for me, I remain in my room, trying to process what they said. I recall the incidents from the first time I felt this pain. Not much stands out to me. As usual, I would simply enjoy my time with my human friends, relishing all the luxuries in the human world. There's nothing special, in my opinion. So why did Lauv say these are early symptoms of awakening? Something that should've been clear to me from the beginning. My head throbs again. I try to halt these thoughts. I need something to distract me from this mood. I attempt to get out of bed, but my movement is halted. For some reason, the face of the bread delivery girl comes to mind. Yes, for the past week, nothing's been special except for her presence. She's the only one who's been different around me lately. I snort.

There's no way these symptoms are because of her. I start to consider if humans could potentially aid in the awakening of a wolf. But the answer is clear: it's impossible. I stretch my arms. I need to get ready to embrace this life of exile. I don't want them to hear about my downfall in this foreign place. I'm going to show them how well I can enjoy it, with all the facilities, money, and status. Those are the things humans respect in their lives, and I have them all. Turns out it's not so bad living in this supposed exile. I want to forget all the pain inflicted by my own kind, including the king. I can't wait to take his seat. He underestimated the son who should've been his heir and chose to banish me. I walk down the hallway toward Brenda's workspace. She and Lauv are still discussing my issue. They won't dare to report it to Wentira Curse.