From what was explained in the brief rush over, and from what I learned over the myriad of conversations with Devon and Alice, the strain a Grimm acquires is both within and without their control.

It was like the sorting hat of houses, it knew best but if you truly desired something you would be able to argue with the system. Or at least, that was the gist of it. In reality, the process involved far more intricacies that went beyond simply choosing.

For all the mysteries of the great magic that changed my entire existence and separated me from being a human, the soul was the crux of it all.

Elizabeth’s howl lasted long past Kierra’s entry below the water. The cyclone of motes continued to spin but they lost the chaos from before. Now they spun in order, solidified in thick bands stacked in layers above the pool. They ringed the moonlight, giving the white light a glacial edge.

The chill abated, the frost retreating to the lip of the pool in a continuous wave of crackling shards.

As the howl faded, the older Grimm lowered her head and stared into the bubbling spot where Kierra slipped under.

“She has fire in her eyes and iron in her soul. She’ll make a powerful Grimm.”

“If she survives,” Adeline snarled.

“Pup. There are no guarantees in our life, except one. And that is our death. Do not mourn a life that still lives.”

Adeline bit her lip and continued to stare unblinking at the pool. She took a step from her spot and stopped near the water’s edge. The rings threatened to cut into her clothes but she pulled back before it grazed her skin.

“She is strong. And she is alive. I want it to stay that way,” Adeline whispered. Her eyes briefly glanced toward Alice. “I fear that even our best is not enough, let alone a newborn pup.”

“You could have said no.”

“And defy the Prime? I am afraid, but l choose to live.”

A growl disturbed the motes, slowing the rings and sending them scattering before they snapped into place.

Adeline bent forward as if a great weight pushed her down.

“You made a choice. The girl requested the rite, you agreed. Do not blame others for your actions.”

Again with the authority. She wields it like Grim.

I felt it at the barest edge of my senses, that same scratching at my core that riled it up. But whatever effected Adeline, did not effect Alice. She looked onward, calm, if stone-faced at the display.

Adeline stood up and the pressure eased as she regained her footing. “Are you so callous that you can’t understand my worry?”

“I understand, it simply doesn’t matter. Step back, await her emergence,” Elizabeth ordered.

Minutes went by. At first, I thought nothing was happening, but the mana in the room continued to rise, the motes thickening as more of its number joined the rings.

Elizabeth glanced my wave and I sent mana into my eyes, briefly turning them orange and drawing her attention.

“How many of these have you done?” I asked.

She glared. “Too many.”

“You’re eyes…”

“Not the time.”

“But-”

“Not. The. Time. Cain.”

At once, the rings froze. The mana rose into the air and I stared past the ceiling where the full moon loomed above. It was closer, far closer than before, as if the eye of a giant was peering into the room.

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Cracking pulled my attention to the statue. A long split cut through the muzzle and down the neck at the tip of where Elizabeth rested her pinky.

Her stare remained unyielding even as the motes exploded outward and crashed against the walls.

Crack!

Stone chunks fell onto the ground revealing the iron wolf’s head. As more of the iron became exposed to the mana-filled air, the more it bubbled and bristled. Chunks of iron fur turned into fine bristles that shifted with the wind.

“Grrrrr…”

The metal snout bubbled and thinned, losing mass as its mouth split open to reveal glistening teeth. A stream of motes smashed against the metal and spilled down its front, the rippling fur snorting as the statue recoiled.

This part wasn’t explained about the ritual, I knew a choice had to be made, but there was nothing said about a wolf statue coming to life.

“Is this supposed to happen?” I whispered.

Alice leaned closer. “Yes. Watch the form, it shows what strain has been chosen.”

From the statue’s base, the pedestal bled into a pool of silver that bled upward into the creature’s neck. Pecs formed, as did shoulderblades and then arms that stretched beyond a human’s capacity. Metal claws sank into the stone, sending a shower of sparks as the werewolf adjusted to its added bulk.

Elizabeth stood unmoving, merely watching the statue’s futile fight against the motes assaulting its side.

As the muscles formed and its body came to completion, its chest lost its mass and its legs grew thicker. The metal werewolf closed its eyes and raised its head.

A howl drowned the world in power. It vibrated in my ears and wormed its way in. But it wasn’t my mind it reached but my core. At once, the two halves of my mana joined in unison.

They rebelled.

Lava exploded, and the shadows followed in its wake. Bones cracked, nails elongated. Fur sprouted from my arms. Alice said something, gripping my arm tight in a grip filled with winter’s edge.

But it wasn’t till Elizabeth met my eyes, the orange rings spreading like fire across her irises, did I regained my senses.

“Calm, Cain. This is not an enemy, no matter what the Bond says. Do not disrupt, this is not your rite. Let the pup have her moment.”

Her voice cut through the maelstrom and the pounding in my chest. It chilled my veins and forced my mana to heel. Authority tickled my senses, but I was strangely fine with that.

My shift reverted, and I licked my lips as my teeth lost their points.

The metal werewolf lowered its head, eyes now brimming with color. In the place of iron was the glow of amber gemstones, burning through the darkness.

Its form had stopped changing, the body it stood on permanent.

This was the choice, the strain had been chosen.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

Alice patted my arm and let go. Elizabeth continued to watch the pool.

With silent steps, the werewolf reached the pool’s edge. Its claws cut through the water, staining the blue a dull silver. As it raised its fingers, ice coated the metal up to the wrist.

It looked at the ceiling, turning its head like a curious puppy before sliding into the pool. The living statue was much taller than Kierra, but as it sank it disappeared into the water as if it had no bottom.

Slowly, the glowing blue turned grey, the streaks overtaking the color that reached the motes in the air.

I licked my lips and tasted metal. “What now?”

“You’ll see. If she rejects the change, her body will be destroyed. If she accepts, and I think she will, she’ll become a Grimm,” Adeline explained.

Crunch!

Heads snapped toward the pool where the water bubbled and rose. Silver motes dispersed and Elizabeth stepped closer.

The water lowered revealing the top of the werewolf’s head. Its ears flicked, an all too life-like response for a metal statue. The room’s light dimmed and I looked up to see the moon moving farther away.

As it reached the height it was at during the start of the ritual, it began to fade.

More of the water retreated and Adeline’s leather belt squealed under her grip. A sharp glare from Elizabeth saw her releasing, returning her hands to her side but not enough to stop her from moving closer.

When the water reached the wolf’s chest it revealed the top of Kierra’s head. As it lowered the faster it drained quickly revealing her strained face. Her head was pointed to the sky with her eyes clenched shut. Her mouth was open, but no sounds came out.

When the grey water dipped below Kierra’s breasts I sucked in air. The statue’s metal claws sank deep into her chest. Memories flashed, bringing snippets of pain before I shunted them aside and watched the werewolf retract its hand.

Kierra bled, but within seconds the wounds sealed over.

It opened its jaw, moving its head closer to her ear. Even if it whispered the noise was the deep rumble of stone and the scratching metal that was unmistakably clear.

“Ber tennur þínar, félagi.”

It supported her back, lowering into a crouch as it set her into the bottom of the pit. The movement was far gentler than I expected.

The werewolf stood and stared at the fading moon. Metal tears dripped from its eyes followed by the melting of its maw. What dripped down soon joined a floating stream to flow to where the statue’s base had been. The body became the pedestal while the head returned followed by another stream of earth that sealed it away.

Beside me, Adeline breathed for the first time in a while and hopped down. She lifted Kierra into a carry and looked to Elizabeth.

“Take her to rest. She’ll be hungry,” Elizabeth ordered.

Adeline nodded and turned toward us but I glanced at Elizabeth and shook my head. “I got some questions.”

“Alice?” Adeline asked.

Alice looked over and sighed. “Meet you in the training room when you’re done?”

I nodded and Alice joined Adeline. The door opened and closed behind them leaving me alone with the older Grimm.

She was human again, the glowing eyes and fur missing.

I crossed my arms. “I have a lot of questions.”