Chapter — Evening Shadows and Gentle Bonds
The moon hung low over the treeline, its silver light threading through the branches like strands of silk. The cool air smelled faintly of pine and damp earth, and the occasional rustle of leaves marked the passing of a small forest breeze.
Kael sat cross-legged on a moss-covered rock, leaning slightly back on his palms. The shadow wolf lay stretched out nearby, its black fur blending into the dark ground except for the faint shimmer of pale blue along its outline. Every so often, its ears twitched toward the night sounds — the chirp of crickets, the faraway hoot of an owl.
Liora was kneeling beside the wolf, her fingers brushing through its fur. She had been laughing moments ago, and now she smiled quietly, as if the stillness itself was a kind of comfort.
Kael tilted his head toward her.
"You really know how to surprise people," he said. "First, walking out of the academy like you've got some secret mission… and now this. Making friends with a monster."
"It's not just a monster," Liora replied, without looking up. Her hand paused in the wolf's fur. "He has a name. At least… I think he does. I can feel it."
Kael chuckled softly. "What, like the wolf told you in perfect human speech?"
"No," she said, meeting his eyes now. "It's not about words. Sometimes you just… understand something without it needing to be said. All monsters aren't the same, Kael. Some of them… some are just lost."
He leaned back, watching the wolf's glowing outline. "I guess I never thought of it that way. I mean, I've fought enough of them to know they can be dangerous."
Liora's expression softened. "Danger doesn't make someone evil. Humans can be dangerous too."
Kael didn't have an answer right away. The truth of her words sat quietly in his mind. The wolf looked up at him with those strange, moonlit eyes, and for the first time, Kael didn't feel the instinct to raise his guard. Instead, he reached out a tentative hand. The wolf sniffed his fingers once, then nudged against them in approval.
A faint smile tugged at Kael's lips.
"Alright… guess I can give this a try. What's his name, then?"
"I don't know yet," Liora said. "Maybe he'll tell you himself someday."
They stayed there for a while longer — Kael occasionally scratching the wolf's neck, Liora talking about the different creatures she'd read about beyond Astral City's walls. The night seemed timeless, but Kael eventually glanced toward the faint glow of the city lights in the distance.
"We should head back," he said reluctantly. "If the patrol catches us this far out, we'll both be in trouble."
Liora sighed, giving the wolf a last gentle pat. "You're right." She looked at the wolf. "Go on, we'll see you again."
But the wolf didn't move to leave. Instead, it padded silently beside them as they began walking toward the city.
The forest gave way to the outer fields, where the moonlight painted the grass silver. The city gates were still open for the last wave of returning citizens, and the guards barely gave them a glance. The wolf disappeared into the shadows before they entered, as if it understood it wasn't yet welcome among the walls.
Astral Academy — Later That Night
By the time they reached the academy dorms, the air was buzzing with the leftover excitement of the day's matches. Even in the dimly lit corridors, Kael caught glimpses of students in small groups, animatedly replaying their favorite moments.
"Kael! That move you pulled in the second round—"
"Dude, I thought you were done for, and then—bam!"
"Who even was that guy you fought? He's not gonna forget you anytime soon!"
Kael answered them with a mix of grins and half-shrugs, not one to boast. Liora walked quietly beside him, a faint smile on her face as she listened to the chatter.
They passed the common hall, where a handful of students were still gathered around the replay crystal, watching his match projected in shimmering detail above the table. One of them pointed and laughed as Kael ducked under his opponent's strike in the recording, countering with a quick sweep that brought the boy to the ground.
"You've got fans now," Liora teased once they were out of earshot.
Kael smirked. "Fans or trouble. Depends on how you look at it."
The night ended quietly, but Kael lay in his bed for a long time before sleep found him. The image of the shadow wolf's glowing outline stayed in his mind, along with Liora's words.
Not all monsters are the same.
For some reason, he found himself hoping they'd meet the wolf again.