Loki, ever perceptive and loyal, glanced up at me as I walked away, the atmosphere thick with tension. She tilted her head, ears perked up, sensing the gravity of the situation. Without a word, she bounded forward, her paws silent against the ground as she made her way toward the village where Evelyn was returning from the café.

As she darted through the underbrush and across the cobblestone streets of Schoolville, her mind was racing with concern for her friends. She knew this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation. Evelyn had always been wary of Gavrin’s powers, and what she’d learned today had pushed that wariness into full-blown fear. But Loki loved the village, loved the people in it, and right now, they needed reassurance.

It didn’t take long for Loki to spot Evelyn. She was walking briskly, her expression a mixture of frustration and worry, shoulders tense, eyes focused straight ahead as if on a mission. The air around her practically hummed with anxiety. Loki picked up her pace and, with a graceful leap, landed directly in Evelyn’s path.

Evelyn halted, startled, staring down at the fluffy, ice-blue wolf in front of her. “Loki?” she said, her voice tinged with surprise and wariness. "What are you doing here?"

Loki sat back on her haunches, her intelligent eyes fixed on Evelyn’s face. “I came to talk,” she said, her voice surprisingly soft for the fierce wolf she appeared to be. "Gavrin doesn't want to talk right now. So I came instead."

Evelyn blinked, caught off guard. It wasn't every day that a talking wolf intercepted you on your way to confront someone. “What is there to talk about, Loki?” she replied, her voice tight. “You know what Gavrin is capable of. You know what he’s doing. We can’t just ignore it.”

Loki nodded slowly, her gaze unyielding. "Yes, I know exactly what he’s capable of. I’ve been with him for a long time. I’ve seen his power grow, and I understand your concerns. But you need to understand something, Evelyn. Gavrin isn’t using his power to control anyone. If anything, he’s used it to keep this place safe, to help it thrive."

Evelyn frowned, crossing her arms defensively. "That’s not the point, Loki. It’s the potential for control, the fact that he could see and influence everything around us. You have to see how that’s frightening."

Loki sighed, her ears drooping slightly as she looked up at Evelyn with a mix of sadness and determination. "I do understand," she admitted. "Gavrin is powerful, yes. But that power comes with a burden he never asked for. Do you think he likes knowing everything that happens around here? It’s not easy for him either."

Evelyn's face softened for a moment, then hardened again. “But he still has it. And he could do anything with it. That’s too much power for one person.”

“Maybe,” Loki replied, her voice measured and calm. “But what you don’t see is how much he’s already done with it. Who do you think built most of the new buildings? Who grows the food you eat? Who made the walls that protect us and provides the materials for almost all of the crafters here? Every piece of metal, every resource for the town’s economy comes from him. He makes things, fixes things. Without him, this place wouldn’t be what it is.”

Evelyn looked down, her expression conflicted. “I know that, Loki,” she said quietly. “But that doesn’t change the fact that he has too much power. Power that could be dangerous.”

Loki stood up, moving a step closer to Evelyn. “Do you really think Gavrin wants to be some tyrant?” she asked, her voice earnest. “He’s never ruled over you, never demanded anything in return for what he does. If anything, he’s always tried to stay out of the way. That’s why he’s not talking to you now. He doesn’t want to impose his will on anyone.”

Evelyn looked at Loki, her eyes searching the wolf’s face for answers, for a reason to believe. “But what happens if one day he changes his mind? What if he decides that he knows better than all of us?”

Loki sighed deeply, her eyes sad. "If that day ever comes, then yes, we would have a problem. But that’s the risk with anyone who has power, isn’t it? You trust people every day not to turn on you. You trust your friends, your neighbors. You’re choosing to distrust Gavrin because of what he could do, not what he’s actually done."

Evelyn was silent for a long moment, her gaze turning inward as she considered Loki’s words. "I’m afraid," she admitted finally, her voice barely a whisper. "I’m afraid of what this means for us, for the village. I don’t want to lose everything we’ve worked for."

Loki moved even closer, nuzzling Evelyn’s hand gently with her cold nose. “I know,” she said softly. “And it’s okay to be afraid. But instead of pushing him away, why not talk to him when you’re ready? Listen to what he has to say. He’s not your enemy, Evelyn. He’s been your ally all along.”

Evelyn looked down at the wolf, feeling the sincerity in Loki’s words. She sighed, letting out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Maybe you’re right,” she said quietly. “Maybe I need to listen before I judge.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Loki nodded, a small, hopeful glint in her eyes. "He’s not perfect, and neither are we. But we’re all in this together. And Gavrin, for all his power, wants what’s best for everyone. He just doesn’t always know how to show it."

Evelyn gave a reluctant smile, her shoulders relaxing. "Alright, Loki. I’ll think about it. But I need time. And when I do talk to him, I need him to be honest with me."

"He will be," Loki promised. "He always is, even when it’s not what you want to hear."

With that, Evelyn nodded and turned to head back toward the village, her mind a storm of thoughts and emotions. Loki watched her go, a flicker of hope lighting up her heart. Maybe, just maybe, this would be the first step toward understanding. She then turned back toward the shard, knowing that this was far from over but hoping they were at least moving in the right direction.

"Hey, Evelyn," Loki called out.

"What?" Evelyn asked, turning back around.

"I am a talking dog, Evelyn," Loki began. "I've known Gavrin since I was a puppy. Now, my memories from before the Lightning Fall are fuzzy and dark, and things didn’t really begin to make sense to me until then. But he is a good man. I can feel him in my mind. But he never makes me do anything. He's just there, being himself. Even now, he isn't angry, only worried about me and Thor and what will happen to the children if he isn’t here."

"Really? The children? He's already playing that card?" Evelyn asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No. I played it, Evelyn," Loki replied firmly. "I like the people here, I like playing with the children, and the world is so new and interesting for me."

Evelyn turned back, her eyes filled with both skepticism and curiosity. “What exactly are you trying to say, Loki?” she asked, crossing her arms. “That I should just trust Gavrin because he’s been good to you? That’s not how this works. People can change, and power… power changes people.”

Loki sat down on her haunches, her ice-blue eyes fixed on Evelyn. “I get that. I really do. Power can change people, and it can make them do terrible things. But Gavrin has had this power for a long time now, longer than most of us have been aware of. And if he were going to use it to control everyone, don’t you think he would have done so already?”

Evelyn opened her mouth to respond, but Loki quickly continued. “He’s not worried about his own safety, or even his own power. He's worried about us. About what happens if he steps away and leaves this village. The children, the families, all the people who’ve built their lives here.” She sighed, looking down at her paws for a moment. "He doesn’t play the ‘children card,’ Evelyn. He genuinely cares. And I care too."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes, still not entirely convinced. “You care? You’re a dog, Loki. A magical, talking dog, but a dog nonetheless. How could you understand the stakes here?”

Loki’s eyes hardened, and she stood up, moving a step closer to Evelyn. “I may be a dog, but I am not just a dog,” she said, her voice carrying an edge. “I have thoughts, feelings, and connections. I see more than you realize, Evelyn. I watch, I listen. I know the laughter of the children, the way they light up when they see me. I see the worry in their parents' eyes when they think about the future, and I see the relief when they look at the walls, the gardens, the homes Gavrin built for them.”

Evelyn’s stance softened slightly, the fierce determination in her eyes wavering for a moment. “You talk about him like he’s some sort of saint. But you know as well as I do that no one is perfect.”

“No, he’s not perfect,” Loki admitted. “He has his flaws. He can be stubborn, aloof, even infuriatingly indifferent at times. But that’s just it—if he truly wanted to rule, to dominate, don’t you think he would put more effort into it? Wouldn't he already have people lining up to swear fealty to him? Instead, he hides away in his shard, doing things for the village without ever asking for thanks.”

“Then why is he doing it?” Evelyn shot back. “Why go to all this trouble if he doesn’t care about controlling us?”

Loki sighed, her gaze turning distant for a moment. “He’s doing it because it’s easy for him, because he can help, and because he feels responsible. He doesn’t see power as something to use over others. He sees it as a tool to make things better. But when people turn around and question his intentions, it hurts him. And yes, it makes him think about leaving.”

“Leaving?” Evelyn echoed, surprise flashing across her face. “He’s really considering that?”

Loki nodded. "Yes. He doesn’t want to be somewhere he’s feared or seen as a tyrant. And you know what? If he left, things here would change drastically. The walls would still stand, but the growth would stop. The gardens would fade. The supplies he conjures, the metal for the blacksmiths, the materials for the crafters—all of it would disappear. You might survive, but this place would never be the same."

Evelyn stared at Loki, her mind racing. "So you’re saying we have to just accept his power without question? Let him do as he pleases because he's done some good things?"

“No,” Loki shook her head. "I’m saying talk to him. Not as someone fearing a tyrant, but as a person concerned for her community. Lay out your worries, let him know how you feel, and listen to what he has to say. You might be surprised by his response."

“And if I still don’t trust him?” Evelyn asked quietly.

Loki sighed. "Then that’s your choice, but at least you’ll have made an effort to understand. Look, Evelyn, I’m not saying you have to like everything about him or that you shouldn’t be cautious. I’m saying that it’s not as black and white as you think. Just give him a chance to explain himself. And understand that his power... it isn’t something he asked for. It's just a part of him, like my talking is part of me."

Evelyn took a deep breath, her gaze softening as she considered Loki’s words. “Alright,” she said finally. “I’ll talk to him. But he better have some real answers, not just more evasions.”

Loki nodded, a small glint of hope lighting up in her eyes. “He’ll be honest with you. That’s one thing I can promise.” She turned to leave but paused, looking back over her shoulder. “And Evelyn, remember... I may be a dog, but I love this place as much as you do. All I want is for us to find a way to live here, together, without fear.”

With that, Loki trotted away, leaving Evelyn standing there, a storm of thoughts swirling in her mind.