Chapter 05: Wolf Demon
Northern Lands
287 years ago
Young Lyra ran around the huge garden area between the Mage tower and the northern castle. She ran around, playing with butterflies that happened to fly around the young princess. Her long brown hair moved behind her as she ran around.Young Lyra, the spirited princess of the northern realm, dashed around the expansive garden area nestled between the towering Mage tower and the majestic northern castle. The garden was a vibrant tapestry of colors, filled with blooming flowers and fluttering butterflies that danced in the warm sunlight. Lyra chased after these delicate creatures, her long, flowing brown hair streaming behind her like a banner of joy as she ran, her laughter ringing out like music in the air.
Nearby, seated comfortably on a bench, was Lira, Lyra's beloved aunt. Lira sipped on a fragrant cup of rose tea, her gaze fixed on the young princess as she played. A soft smile graced her light rose-colored lips, a reflection of the fond memories that flooded her mind as she watched her niece frolic in the garden. The sight of Lyra's carefree spirit brought back echoes of her own childhood, a time filled with laughter and innocence.
Accompanying Lira was Rain, the esteemed northern mage, who also enjoyed a cup of tea while observing the princess's antics. However, Rain's mind was clouded with thoughts of the future, her brow furrowed in contemplation. The responsibilities of her position weighed heavily on her, and while she cherished these moments of peace, she couldn't shake the feeling that challenges lay ahead.
Under the shade of a sprawling tree, Kai, the healer of the northern lands and the first to be claimed by the young princess, sat on a wooden bench engrossed in a spell book. He occasionally glanced up from his reading to check on Lyra, ensuring she was safe as she played. Despite his concern, he found himself drawn back into the pages of his book, the words captivating his attention.
Just then, Ryan, Rain's son, emerged from the castle and made his way over to his mother and Lady Lira. "Why isn't the princess taking her classes today?" he inquired, casting a curious glance at Lyra, who was still lost in her game.
"Because she needed a break from her studies. Even Kai agrees that it would be beneficial for her to have some time to play," Rain replied, anticipating Lira's response before she could speak.
Ryan let out a light sigh, his expression a mix of envy and resignation. "I see. So she gets to enjoy herself while I'm stuck training. It hardly seems fair..."
Lira chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ryan, dear, you will be her guard one day. It is essential that you train to protect her, even if it feels unfair at times."
He shook his head in protest. "Don't I get a say in this? I mean, I have my own dreams too!" He glanced at his mother, who was giving him a pointed look, and quickly added, "Never mind... I'll go back inside to train." With a heavy sigh, he turned to head back into the castle. Before he disappeared through the door, he paused for a moment, casting one last look at the giggling princess. He couldn't quite understand why he felt such a strong urge to protect her, especially since she often seemed to dislike him. Yet, he never questioned that instinct.
Suddenly, Lyra stopped in her tracks, her attention drawn to the edge of the forest that bordered the demon realm. She was aware that it was a dangerous place, filled with dark magic and peril, yet something inexplicable tugged at her curiosity. Compelled by an unseen force, she wandered away from the group, moving toward the source of the strange feeling that beckoned her.
As she ventured further from the garden, Lyra stumbled upon two injured animals lying just outside the ominous forest. Her heart sank as she approached them, recognizing a pure white wolf and a pure black dog, both in distress. The wolf had deep, bloody wounds marring its pristine fur, while the dog appeared to be in even worse condition. Kneeling down, Lyra reached out to touch the wolf's head gently, her voice soft and soothing. "Wolfie... are you okay?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
The white wolf opened its golden eyes slowly, meeting her gaze. "I'm... fine... But Sirius..." it replied, its voice weak and strained.
Lyra blinked in surprise, glancing over at the black dog. "Sirius... the dog demon from the west?" she asked, her curiosity piqued as she settled down on the grass beside them.
The wolf nodded slowly, its expression pained. "Yes..."
Shaking her head in disbelief, Lyra muttered a few words under her breath, her mind racing with thoughts of how to help.
Within moments, Kai arrived, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "What is it, Princess?" he asked, but before she could respond, he noticed the two injured animals and his eyes widened. "What happened here?"
The wolf struggled to sit up, revealing a deep gash on its stomach. "There was... a battle between clans... I just happened to side with... the dogs..." it explained, its voice faltering.
Kai sighed, fully aware of the ongoing feud between the Cat clan and the Dog clan in the demon realm. He knelt beside the wolf, his healer's instincts kicking in as he began to assess the injuries. "Why did you even join that battle?" he asked, concern lacing his tone.
The wolf flinched at Kai's touch but managed to respond. "Sirius here needed help. So I helped."
Kai shook his head, a mixture of frustration and sympathy washing over him. He understood the complexities of loyalty and friendship, but the consequences of such battles were often dire.
Meanwhile, Lyra remained silent, her gaze fixed on the black dog, Sirius. She couldn't comprehend how her old friend had ended up so badly hurt in a battle. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice that Kai had moved closer to her to begin healing the dog.
Noticing the worry etched on her face, Kai reached over and gently pulled her into his chest, offering her comfort as he continued to channel his healing magic. "Lyra, don't worry. I'll have him healed up in no time," he reassured her.
She blinked up at him, her expression softening. "I'm sorry. Seeing a friend in such pain is really hard for me..."
The wolf, now more alert, moved closer to Lyra and licked her cheek gently. "So you're the princess he would always mutter about," it said, a hint of amusement in its voice.
Lyra's eyes widened in surprise. "Doggie muttered about me?" she asked, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and delight.
The wolf nodded, a playful glint in its eyes. "Always. He never thought I would listen in, but he would often whisper small things about you."
A soft blush crept across Lyra's cheeks as she smiled. "I see. So, Wolfie, what is your name?"
"I'm Kaorun, the last member of the southern wolf clan," the wolf replied, its voice steadying as it regained some strength.
Lyra's eyes sparkled with excitement. "And you're friends with Sirius?" she asked, her curiosity growing.
Kaorun nodded, his tail wagging slightly. "Yes, we have been through a lot together."
Lyra thought for a moment, her mind racing with possibilities. A bright grin spread across her face as she exclaimed, "I want to have a wolfie!"
Kai sighed, shaking his head in disbelief as Kaorun blinked in surprise. "You're going to claim the wolf you just met, aren't you?" he asked, looking down at her with a mix of amusement and concern.
Lyra nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with determination. "Sis claimed a dragon, so why can't I have a wolf?"
"Soren is a half-breed, and she didn't claim him..." Kai pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
"Yet," Lyra interjected, her voice filled with conviction.
With a resigned sigh, Kai relented. "Do as you wish, Princess."
"Yay!" she squealed with delight, her laughter ringing out like a melody. She turned her attention back to Kaorun, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Would you like to protect me?"
"In other words, she's asking if she could claim you or not?" Kai clarified, a smirk playing on his lips.
Kaorun considered the question for a moment, then wagged his tail in agreement. "Sure, I don't mind being claimed by a cute princess."
Lyra giggled again, her heart swelling with joy. "Yay! I got two!" she exclaimed, her happiness infectious.
Just then, Sirius, the black dog, slowly sat up, his gaze scanning the surroundings before landing on Kaorun, who was affectionately licking Lyra's cheek. "Kau, what are you doing?" he growled, a hint of irritation in his voice.
Kaorun looked over at Sirius, a playful smirk on his face. "Licking the princess who claimed me. It's not like I'm hurting her," he replied cheekily.
Sirius opened his mouth to retort but then closed it, his expression shifting as he stood up and walked away, clearly feeling a mix of emotions.
Lyra pouted softly, her heart aching for her friend. "Doggy is hurt now..." she said, her voice tinged with concern.
"Seems like it, and I can't heal that type of pain," Kai said, standing up and preparing to return to the garden. He glanced back at the two animals and added, "But I will do my best to help them."
With that, he left the two newly bonded companions to navigate their own feelings, while Lyra remained in the garden, her heart full of hope and determination. She had claimed a wolf, and with that, she felt a sense of purpose blossoming within her. The bond they shared would be a source of strength, and together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.
100 years in the past.
Lyra wandered around the castle, her expression a mix of frustration and sadness as she turned out her paladins. Despite a few of them attempting to engage her in conversation, she remained tight-lipped about what was bothering her. Strangely enough, she couldn't even pinpoint the source of her discontent. To make matters worse, her beloved wolf companion was out on his run in the northern lands, and he wouldn’t be back for days, possibly even weeks. The absence of her wolfie only added to her sense of isolation and melancholy.
Just an hour prior, Kaorun had returned from his own endeavors, but he hadn’t thought to seek her out. Instead, he was currently in Kai's room, tending to a wounded dog demon. "Kai, do you think the cats are responsible for this?" he asked, glancing at the unconscious creature sprawled on the floor, its body marred with cuts and bruises.
Kai examined the dog closely, his brow furrowing in concern. "It certainly looks that way. But the real question is, why would Sirius get into a fight with them after all these years of peace?" he pondered aloud, scratching his head in confusion.
Kaorun shrugged, his expression serious. "I’ve heard whispers that some members of the clan still harbor a deep-seated hatred for the dogs. However, the elders of both clans had managed to put an end to the fighting after Lord Sesshomaru intervened in the battle... that was about fifty years ago."
"Should we go get our princess?" Kai suggested, his voice laced with hesitation.
The wolf shot him a sharp glare. "Are you out of your mind? You know how much she worries about her dog. She wouldn’t take the news well."
Kai sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I understand... but she’s been in a funk all day, and no one seems to be able to lift her spirits..."
Kaorun ran a hand through his tousled red hair, contemplating the situation. "I suppose I’ll have to be the one to break the news to her... while you start your healing magic."
The healer nodded in agreement as Kaorun left the room. Once alone, Kai knelt beside the injured dog and began to softly mutter the incantation for the strongest healing spell he knew. Unfortunately, he quickly realized that the spell was only mending the deep cuts at a painfully slow pace, and he felt a sense of helplessness wash over him, knowing he couldn’t speed up the process.
Meanwhile, Kaorun made his way through the castle, his heart heavy with the task ahead. When he finally found Lyra, he pulled her into a gentle embrace before she could react or voice her concerns. His white wolf ears drooped slightly as he searched for the right words to say.
Lyra looked up at him, her big eyes filled with curiosity and worry. "Wolfie, what’s wrong? Did you lose to Sin-chan again?" she asked, a hint of teasing in her voice.
The wolf flinched at the mention of that name, a slight shiver running down his spine. "Princess, I don’t train with that witch anymore," he replied, trying to keep his tone light.
"Then what’s wrong?" she pressed, reaching up to touch his soft red hair, her fingers brushing against the strands gently.
He sighed, the weight of the news heavy on his heart. "I... found Sirius, and... well... he’s up in Kai’s room..." he finally managed to say.
Lyra’s eyes widened in alarm. "Sirius... is hurt again?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He nodded solemnly, feeling the tension in the air grow thicker.
Without another word, Lyra pushed out of his arms and dashed up to Kai’s room, her heart racing with worry. She didn’t bother to knock; she simply burst through the door, her small frame trembling with emotion as she spotted Kai. Tears welled in her eyes as she rushed over to him, her gaze landing on her beloved dog lying on the bed, unconscious and battered.
Kai looked down at her, his expression softening. "Like I said last time, don’t worry. I’ll heal him until he’s all good," he reassured her gently.
Lyra looked up at him, her voice trembling. "Kai... can I just watch you this time?" she asked quietly, her eyes pleading.
"Of course..." he replied, unable to refuse her request, especially when he saw the tears glistening in her eyes. Yet, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Ryan if he ever found out about this.
Days passed slowly, each one dragging on as they waited for Sirius to heal. The cuts on his body gradually began to mend, but it took what felt like an eternity for him to wake up fully. Finally, after what seemed like an endless wait, Sirius opened his eyes, and Kai could finally reclaim his room. However, the moment Sirius regained consciousness, Lyra was right there, claiming him as her own without giving him a chance to voice his thoughts.
In a whirlwind of excitement, she declared Sirius her eighth paladin, a title he didn’t mind at all. Deep down, he had always wanted to be by her side, and now, he found himself embracing this new role with a sense of joy and purpose.