Over the week, I worked on becoming the next Dr. Frankenstein. Turning these ordinary wild animals into works of art, works of beauty. Putting their hostile nature to good use.

I rubbed my eyes as I watched them tear through a small pack of elite Elven warriors. They weren’t on a hunt to kill, but an exercise to allow me to know the differences in my creation versus traditional training.

And while the side effects of my magic is beyond what I had hoped. It wasn’t exactly a bad problem. For example, they would shift into this half beast half elf form that increases their physique all around.

This wasn’t my intended idea but it was an okay trade off.

Another example would be how the wolves formed a pecking order via strength. Even though I could shapeshift into similar form, it was a slight struggle to beat the alpha. Which led me to realize that they may overcome me if I didn’t maintain the top position. Which had me training myself during my sleep time.

What a discomfort.

The fight was entirely one sided in the woods, in urban landscape, on the plains. They were trained according to special ops standards. Well if I truly understood how specials op were trained then we could say that in full confidence. However, I felt like if there were special ops here, they would be it.

Luther approached me after they patched up the minor wounds they received from blunt weapons.

“What do you think, Alpha?” He asked.

I gave him an expressionless face.

“Good. Return to the logging.” I faded away and reappeared in my lab.

A yawn escaped me as I looked over the wild animals baring their fangs at me. I might not be a great enchanter, but I wonder if I could train them to be by watching other crafters?

First, let’s begin shifting them into the correct state.

**

“When we get out of here, we should head over to my sister’s and spend some time with my nephews and nieces. I really feel like I failed to live up to the image of an elder sister.” Chloe said, while pulling on her pants.

I merely nodded while yawning, packing up the rest of her things. We were getting ready to leave the hospital after a week of treatment. Just one of the many.

“Family overrated.” I muttered.

Chlloe smacked me with the soft ass pillow.

“Just because you don’t want to reconcile with your brother doesn’t mean I want to be castrated from my family. Anyway, when we have kids, how will they feel when they find out they have uncles and aunts you don’t even talk to?” She began her old lecture.

I rolled my eyes but that didn’t stop a smile from spreading across my face.

“I’ll just teach them that people only believe in self-interest. It’s best to cut ties with such selfish people beforehand. Anyway, who is to say they will even be alive by the time our kids turn fifteen?” I jest.

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She scoffed and refuted. We laughed and sat down on the bed, facing each other while caressing each other’s hands.

The Doctor took so long to return, but to us it just felt like he was gone for piss break and came right back with the paperwork.

After doing all the useless reminders, I finally got her out of the hospital and into the warm summer air.

I cleared my throat upon sweating before I even reached the car.

“Maybe, we should go back in. I think I’m sick. Cough cough.” I chuckled as she punched me.

“I can make you sick if you don’t get into the car now.” She fanned herself as she glanced around with a smile blooming.

I could picture what she was seeing, the life in people's eyes as they brought their loved ones in and out of the hospital. The worry, the concern, the laughter in some of their eyes as they focused entirely on their handhelds. The beautiful smell of the toxic city air, the humid conditions that already made my shirt collar darkening.

Haha, I would have plenty of time to help her remember what it was like before she was sick. I could even start those cringy ass dates we went on as a kid.

Ha!

She slammed the car door as I cranked the engine and put the a/c on full blast.

**

The light pounded my eyelids. Somehow it managed to weave past my curtains, to punish me. I pushed the leg off my body and climbed out of bed. Creeping to the window and tossing the curtains open, ignoring a blast of window that made me want to turn to the side.

I stare out over the vast sea of green and at the great white wall. I had things I wanted done but first off. I need to ask for forgiveness for what I am about to do.

I spun around and ignored the look of the concubine that sat up with the silk sheets around her bosom. With a wave of my hands I was dressed and headed out the tower. Transforming into a dragon and soaring through the morning breeze.

The summer heat felt comforting and reminded me of my dream. I sneezed out smoke tendrils that thread behind me like ribbons on a pole. I dropped down before a mountain of white stone and cut out a large ten-foot rectangle piece, lifting it with my claws but careful not to indent it.

I flew back to my tower, landing before the cliff edge. Shifting back, I began strengthening the cliff face before I got to grizzly work of carving the into the massive stone block.

I felt my eyes blur as I finished the rough contour and rushed into the details.

I didn’t need eyes to remember how she looked though. I could feel her soft skin under the pads of my fingertips, the rough texture of the scar on her left shoulder from when she protected a child from a fallen pane of glass. Or the scars on her calf from fallen down hilly terrain when we went hiking.

**

I hadn’t realized how slow I went or the fact that I ignored night and day when picking out the posture and expressions. When I had fixed on the minute details that I had so often ignored during our time together.

I shook my head through useless thoughts.

She wasn’t here in person but I felt like she is here in my heart and spirit. That’s all that mattered right?

I brushed away the film that existed over my eyes and took a look at the work of art that I created. However, it wasn’t yet done. There’s a reason I wanted enchanters and other crafters. I am going to immortalize her within my heart and in the minds of everybody who came up and witnessed her glory.

I spun around and flew back to the Capitol. Searching out the best and the worst crafters as I studied their technique beside them. Listening clearly to their instructions, feeling their passions for their crafts.

This took me months but it was fine. The war could start and end but it wouldn’t necessarily stop me from doing what I wanted at this moment.

I returned back to the tower and began brainwashing these former animals. Though I was previously jesting about making a bunch of cat girls and fox girls in the image of my wife. I did play with the idea for a bit before casting it aside.

They wouldn’t have the spirit of my wife even if I did imprint the projection of her onto them. My mental view of her is flawed and I did not want an imperfect projection of her, I wanted the perfect imperfect her. The woman who joked and chastised me, the woman that never allowed me to think less of myself. With her, I became a man who saved lives.

Without her, I became a thug who stole lives.

What will I become the longer she is not by my side?