The wolf remained paralyzed, but slowly its body yielded and leaned to the side, causing the animal to fall to the ground unconscious.

Nina widened her eyes and moved away from her brother's arm, quickly running towards the wolf, getting close to the animal, seeing that it was still breathing.

Alma walked up to the wolf and then looked at Viktor, saying, "So, was Wolverine ultimately just a giant wolf?" Alma glanced at the sword and continued, "This sword, this story... what was its end?"

"I don't really know..." Viktor looked at the sword and noticed slight blueish traces inside it. "Our father told us very little about spirits, but yesterday he didn't attack to kill, and today when I approached the weapons and fought, he went mad, but not to the point of coming after me to kill."

"So, your idea was to go for the only sword that was separated from the others?"

"Conveniently, he only appeared near it; I thought there might be a connection, and apparently, I was right..." Viktor brought the sword close to his face and touched the non-bladed part.

"What if it hadn't worked?" Nina looked somewhat downcast, gazing at the wolf. "Do we have to kill it?"

"It worked, that's what matters to me." Viktor rested the sword on his shoulder and said, "But if it hadn't, we probably wouldn't be as well off as we are now."

Alma sat down, covered in wounds, and Nina lowered her head.

"The horn is here, there's no more Wolverine, and judging by the amount of Diyo, this wolf doesn't have magical flesh." Viktor used a rope for the scabbard of the bastard sword and tied it to his body, using it to hold the sword's hilt. He then turned towards the tombstone on top of the hill.

Although as worn out as the others, there were also recently placed flowers on it showing a name: Johaness Spada.

"He seems to have a connection with those resting here; if he was just protecting his companions' place, I have no reason to hold a grudge against him; I already have what I want." Viktor sighed amidst a smile, bending down to pick up the horn before descending the hill. "Let's attend to this beating you took, Alma, but don't hold a grudge against him."

"You never stop talking, do you?" Alma sighed deeply and leaned on something, looking up as she saw the day slowly brightening. "Let's just go; I'm so tired that I just want a decent bed to sleep in after all this."

"Are you sure you're not resentful?" Viktor said with a smile.

"You're already looking for a fight." Alma grumbled, then looked back. "Nina, come."

The girl looked at the wolf, still unconscious, but unlike before, it breathed peacefully.

Slowly, a greenish glow emerged from its wound and slowly covered the entire injury with a green shine.

In an instant, the scar closed, and Nina looked surprised, but then gave a slight smile, quickly getting up and running towards the two who continued walking away from the cemetery.

Viktor walked, twirling the horn between his fingers, while Alma grunted with each step.

As they distanced themselves, the three heard a distant howl and turned, seeing the silhouette of the wolf on the hill, which then descended and disappeared, signaling the beginning of dawn. Nina faced it with a smile, saying, "I think it was a good mission..." She turned to look forward again and saw Alma furrowing his brow, making Nina awkwardly say, "Sorry, brother..."

"Whatever..." Alma said, resuming walking.

"Need my help?" Viktor asked with a smirk.

"I'd rather you stick that horn in my eye." Alma grumbled again, and Viktor laughed as the sun slowly illuminated the sky, starting a new day.

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Some time passed, and the sun was already at its zenith.

The three were already in Elioth's shop, Alma with bandages on his body, Viktor with a bandage on his face, and Nina without injuries.

Elioth gave a slight smile and said, "You're back; you didn't show up yesterday, so I thought you had left. Honestly, I'm happy to see you again." He continued to smile and walked with his cane behind the counter where the horn was positioned. "So, what happened? You seem to have improved weapons too, so you prepared to face it."

"In fact, he broke two of my swords, so I hope this horn compensates..." Viktor spoke, slightly furrowing his brow. "We faced him, but there was something strange; he protected a cemetery and seemed strangely attached to it and the weapons there. Why was a spirit so attached to a place?"

Upon hearing Viktor's question, Elioth continued to look at them with a faint smile and began to explain.

"If you know what spirits are, that saves me some time," Elioth said as he settled into a chair, sighing before continuing. "The Diyo we cultivate in our lives is transmitted to the environment. When we kill creatures, we absorb a bit of theirs, but this also applies to humans. The energy is never entirely absorbed and doesn't just vanish."

"So..." Viktor raised an eyebrow, while Nina continued to gaze, but Alma interjected, "Was that Wolverine the materialized energy of those people or something like that?"

"Those men were known as the Wolf Fangs, a group of valiant warriors who fought for the General, but unlike me, did not escape with their lives," Elioth explained, his expression turning somber. "I don't know if they were lucky or unlucky for it, but it doesn't change the fact that it happened."

Elioth went on to recount the story of a group of youths who acted as protectors of the roads with tamed wolves, combating bandits and criminals attempting to attack convoys near Aldanna.

Despite being just a few youths, they were known as heroes in the vicinity of Aldanna. However, when the war arrived, they were called upon once again.

Even during the war, due to the mobility of their mounts, their main mission was to act as scouts in enemy territories and camps. Given their success in espionage missions and owing to their mounts, they eventually became known as Wolf Fangs.

Their entire army was armed with variety, but one man could unite all these brave souls.

"Johanssen Spada," Viktor said with crossed arms and a bowed head.

"Exactly..." Elioth gave a slight smile and continued, "Johanssen's charisma was infinite, always smiling and friendly to everyone. Because of this, he united a band of misfits and made them recognized soldiers... but war is never fair, and due to the lack of numbers, they were sent to the battlefield."

"But..." Nina took a step forward and said, "Scouts are responsible for gathering information; they shouldn't be that strong..."

"And because of that, the Wolf Fangs met a tragic end," Elioth's smile faded into a bitter expression as he continued speaking. "They didn't stand a chance, and even though they weren't weak, none of them escaped... when the news came out, all of Aldanna was devastated, and all we could do to honor them was to create that small cemetery."

Elioth's memories continued to flood back.

All the graves had been made by the local blacksmith, their bodies buried, and their weapons placed on their tombs to remind everyone that they died as warriors.

The leader, Johanssen, was buried atop the hill, where he always declared he would be a brave warrior. His sword was also laid in his grave with a special bouquet of flowers adorning its blade.

"They faced thieves, so Wolverine didn't attack us seriously at first. But as soon as we stepped onto the cemetery grounds, he became aggressive," Viktor looked at the sword on his back and said, "Apparently, I was right."

"Wolverine is nothing more than the remaining Diyo of the Wolf Fangs. Although Diyo can be absorbed into weapons to make them stronger, the energy became that wolf that somehow escaped. He protects the cemetery from thieves and attacks anyone trying to desecrate the warriors' cemetery to steal their weapons," Elioth smiled and said. "But you didn't need anything from outside that sword, right? If Wolverine was defeated, you could have brought everything."

"No, it's okay." Viktor turned his gaze forward and said, "If there are still weapons from those guys, the wolf will continue to protect them for a while. When everything's over, I'll return them to him."

Elioth smiled calmly, and Alma sighed, saying, "We have the horn. How much are you going to pay us, and where's the next map you'll give us? We've completed the mission, but depending on the next one, we might just take the money and the map."

"Even after all this, you've told us your story and that of the Wolf Fangs, but you still want to train us for war while also wanting us to give up. What do you truly want?" Alma crossed his arms, eyeing Elioth from the doorway.

Both Nina and Viktor turned their gaze to Elioth, who remained smiling.

"For this horn, the fair price is 5,000 gold coins. With that, you'll be able to exchange your existing equipment and buy new, stronger ones. After all, you'll need them," Elioth leaned on the table and stood up, reaching for one of the shelves, then producing a bag brimming with coins, placing it on the table. "You'll need it because I think missions will have to wait, as something is happening."

As he tossed the bag onto the table, Viktor's eyes widened with a smile, Nina looked surprised, and Alma once again asked, "What's happening that we need new equipment?"

"You wanted to enlist; you'll have the chance now. Due to a few unforeseen events, the army is recruiting again. With the strength you have, you'll obviously be called upon," Elioth said with a slight smile. "A third force has just emerged alongside the General and the Prince.