Aoshi placed his large palm on Kalia's forehead, his expression serious, and remained silent for a long time.

Aoshi's silence made Tsuruga realize something. He gently held Kalia's hand by the bedside, "It's okay, my dear. You'll get better."

The woman on the sickbed struggled to turn her gaze toward her husband. Just as she was about to speak, a violent cough replaced her words.

Aoshi gently helped her sit up, and Tsuruga brought a bowl of medicine, placing it by her lips. She stubbornly pushed the medicine away.

"Take it away. I don't want to drink it."

Tsuruga looked troubled but couldn't force his wife. He knew that these medicines were no longer effective for her condition.

At this moment, Kalia's eyes suddenly brightened. She saw someone standing at the door.

"Shinya? You're back? You’ve grown up in just a few days."

Shinya stood awkwardly at the door, unsure of what to say.

He didn't understand how a terminally ill human could tell that he had "grown up" in just a few days. He would need to live another 15 years to reach adulthood, so what could a few days matter?

Moreover, he couldn't bring himself to lie with kindness like Tsuruga.

Even from the doorway, he could smell the scent of death. Aoshi and Tsuruga, standing by Kalia’s side, must have sensed it too.

Kalia didn't have much time left.

Shinya stood at the door, looking at her, and finally just nodded lightly, "Yes, Aunt Kalia, I’m back."

Kalia smiled kindly, "When I get better, I'll bake you and Kyle some raspberry cookies. You both love them."

"Yes, I’m looking forward to it." Shinya forced himself to smile, but his heart ached. He knew that day would never come.

Kyle, standing aside, turned his head away, silent and uneasy.

"Kyle..." Kalia called her son's name, but another violent coughing fit cut her off, making it impossible for her to say a word.

Kyle rushed to the bedside in worry, but Tsuruga stopped him.

"Kyle, go outside." Tsuruga ordered.

Kyle looked at his father in disbelief, but finally, under Tsuruga's stern gaze, he left the room in frustration.

Shinya watched Kyle disappear down the hallway, then turned back and asked, "If there’s anything I can do to help..."

Before he could finish, Aoshi interrupted him.

"Shinya, you should go out too."

With no other option, Shinya gently closed the door behind him and left.

As the door clicked shut, Kalia's coughing continued. It sounded like the last desperate struggle of her life, a cry for help.

But no one in the room could save her. Nor could the town's apothecary.

The sound seemed to sprout countless hands, weighing down Shinya’s every step as he walked away.

He slowly passed the back door and, through the slightly ajar wooden door, saw Kyle sitting on a pile of hay.

The boy stared desolately at the bright moon in the sky, his expression empty and devoid of any emotion.

Shinya pushed the door open, walked into the backyard, climbed onto the haystack, and sat down beside Kyle.

He wasn’t sure if he should say something comforting at this moment, but Kyle spoke first.

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"I heard you went to Acorn Town again, to meet with Irene?" Kyle seemed to avoid the topic of his mother on purpose, or maybe he was deliberately poking at Shinya’s sore spot.

Unwilling to discuss this topic, Shinya only shot Kyle a sharp look.

Kyle smiled apologetically, "Don't be so fierce. In a way, I’m on your side, you know."

In the moonlight, Shinya saw Kyle’s reddened eyes and immediately lost the desire to argue with him.

"Whether you're being serious or not, thank you. But she doesn't need me anymore. She’s going to marry into Northsail."

This news surprised Kyle, "Northsail? Who is she marrying?"

"A man named Volker Edis."

"I’ve heard of him, the new head of the Black Reef Trading. If Irene marries such a wealthy man, she’ll be set for life."

Shinya didn't respond. He looked up silently at the bright moonlight. He wasn’t going to foolishly ask, "Why not me?" anymore. He’d already been given the reason by his father once, and Tsuruga had filled in the gaps.

What he didn't understand was, weren't werewolves supposed to have incredible healing abilities? So why hadn't the pain in his heart healed after all this time?

"As your life mentor, I have a piece of advice for you." Kyle affectionately patted Shinya on the shoulder, but Shinya responded with cold indifference.

"What life mentor? You’re younger than me. Just shut up."

"No, no, no, by human standards, I’m already an adult. And you, by werewolf standards, are still a kid." Kyle’s tone carried a hint of pride.

"I’m sick of hearing that." Shinya's expression darkened further.

"I’m just stating a fact, Shinya. It’s a fact you have to accept." Kyle’s tone shifted from playful to firm and unquestionable.

Shinya turned to look at him, and Kyle continued.

"Human life is too fragile, too short." Kyle met Shinya's gaze, his eyes sincere, the moisture in his reddened eyes glistening, "Just like Mom, one day she might be gone without warning. Irene could be the same."

As if realizing his own tears, Kyle looked up again, staring at the moon in the night sky, "Dad told me that soon you’ll be taken back to Togekaze. By the time you grow up there, become an adult, and turn into a man like your father, Irene might not even be in this world anymore. Your last meeting could turn out to be your final farewell."

"She doesn't need me anymore, so none of that matters."

Frustrated, Kyle retorted, "Why are you so stubborn? She says she doesn’t need you, but in all the time you’ve spent together, has she ever shown any sign that she dislikes you?"

Hearing this, Shinya suddenly looked up.

"She cares about you. She knew staying would only harm you, so she pushed you away, you idiot!" Kyle's voice grew louder, startling the horses in the stable.

"Say that again!" Shinya suddenly grabbed Kyle by the collar.

"You idiot!"

"The part before that!"

"She cares about you?"

Shinya let go, then angrily held his head, "I’m such an idiot, why didn’t I realize that sooner?"

Seeing Shinya’s sudden realization, Kyle felt a bit guilty for possibly overstating things. What if Irene really just wanted to marry a rich man? Even if that weren't the case, a human with a lifespan of only seventy or eighty years, and a werewolf who could live for over three hundred years, could never truly be together. By the time a werewolf grows up, the fragile human could have already died from various accidents, big or small.

"I take back what I said before. I don't think you two can be together. I believe Irene thinks the same, which is why she made that decision. But even if it’s just a farewell between friends, it should be treated with some seriousness. Especially given how close you were before. So you shouldn't face this parting with regret and sadness."

"You want me to go say goodbye to her? What if she refuses to see me? What if I lose control when her fiancé provokes me? I can't guarantee what I’ll do."

"Shinya, you’re not a child anymore. If you cherish Irene so much, learn to think from her perspective. Before she leaves for Northsail, go and say a proper goodbye. Tell her everything you want to say. Because after that, you may never see each other again."

***

That night, the moonlight seemed to illuminate the entire dark forest. Shinya took only two-thirds of his usual time to reach Acorn Town from Seagull Town.

He’d never felt so light on his feet.

By the time the eastern sky started to brighten, he had already reached the gates of Acorn Town.

The black panther climbed a large tree, standing on a sturdy branch, watching the town gradually wake up from its slumber.

At that moment, Shinya noticed a carriage waiting early at the south gate of the town.

A well-dressed gentleman stepped out of the carriage and stretched.

"Sir, isn’t it a bit too early?" The coachman, a small old man, glanced at his employer and pulled his shawl tighter, "It's freezing at this hour. Are you sure Miss Irene will come this early?"

"Don't worry, Philler." The gentleman removed his top hat, gazing at the town’s street, "Irene never breaks a promise."

"I don't know her. Where does she live again?" The old coachman, Philler, was puzzled, "Wouldn't it be better if we went to pick her up directly? Why wait here?"

"It’s her wish. She said she needed some time to say goodbye to her friends and family in town. I agreed. So we decided to meet here."

"I see." Philler sat down patiently, lighting his pipe, "But we didn’t have to come this early."

The young gentleman put his top hat back on and waited by the carriage.

The man was Volker.

Shinya quickly recognized him. So today was the day Volker would take Irene to Northsail.

Shinya suddenly felt a wave of tension. He initially planned to rush to Irene’s house, but after thinking for a moment, he decided to say goodbye to Irene here.

In front of Irene and her so-called fiancé, he would end this relationship properly.

Lost in thoughts of various farewell scenarios, Shinya didn’t notice the northern sky already covered in dark clouds, as if something terrible was about to arrive.