Driving through the roads was Mark, Miriam, Gaige, and Arnold all while being escorted by the Oliver and a handful of Stormtroopers. Mark peeked through the tinted windows and found that the streets of Fenrir were filled with citizens going about their daily routine all the while watching at waving at the cars that were driving by.
“You guys are popular?” Mark asked Miriam as they drove by noticing the look of awe from their faces.
“Well unlike the other companies, we’re the ones out here fighting various bandit clans.” Miriam said crossing her arms proudly only to be interrupted by Oliver coughing and clearing his throat much to her chagrin.
“Oh don’t lie Captain, you know for a fact that we’re the vanguard of the Archiman Stormtroopers.” Miriam said with a smug look on her face. She wasn’t wrong, from what Mark learned in the tour at the base it appears that they were the ‘meat grinder’ of the Stormtroopers, always being sent to the front lines against the Bandit clans in the no mans land between Archiman and Svasha and often with no support or reinforcements.
Mark deduced that the politics within the other Settlement leaders were to be to blame. They could have easily sent other Companies to quell them or reinforce the 13th Company but because the Captains of the other companies were led by the heirs to various families who were very much Anti-Dirus. Whoever was the General of the Archiman Shocktroopers, likely his Uncle Owen but he wasn’t sure about that, in on a precarious situation. By forcing the other companies to support the 13th this means that he supports Dirus but not supporting them also means he’s against them.
Truly this is an interesting situation, I must know more. Mark pondered as he took a few steps and then found himself staring at the large mansion that was positioned at he center of the City while providing a nice overlook on the very City as a whole. It was as if the city was designed to be a wealthier and more developed version of the of Dahlia in the past, Mark couldn’t help but find it comical truth be told.
“Come on, Mom and Dad already know you’re home.” Miriam said with a smile as they started walking their way towards the entrance of the Mansion. Mother and father huh? Mark thought unsure how to face them as he stood by the entrance, unlike the Miriam whom he spent the last three years sending emails and calls to one another. But their parents on the other hand, were too busy with work to fully communicate with him.
Spotting Gaige and Arnold already walking past them, he took a deep breath and walked towards the gates which showed the emblem of a White Wolf. Mark always wondered why his family had a preference for Wolf themes.
"Say Miriam," Mark caught up to her as they walked through the Gardens watching as servants look at them with curiosity and awe as Mark and the others walk past them. "Ever wondered why our Family has a preference for wolves?"
"Silly brother, don't you remember?" She gave him a teasing look. "Grandpapa already told us a story about this."
Mark paused for a moment but then his eyes widened as he recalled the story but then grimaced as he thought about it.
Apparently their Ancestor Fen the Hunter was wandering through the woods, for he had heard legends of a mysterious white wolf lurking through the lands wreaking havoc and he had come to investigate.
But as he tracked down and laid down traps to hunt the wolf, he would end up being outsmarted by the wolf who had continued to remain elusive. And during his hunt he had been attacked by a bear, unprepared he was taken by surprise and was on the verge of death until he had been rescued by a woman wearing wolf's skin. The woman nursed him back to health and slowly fell in love with her. But their time was short lived as the woman in wolf's skin disappeared and simultaneously the white direfang wolf as well.
Years later Fen was hunting through the woods once more, until he encountered a young child and his mother, and upon meeting them he had come to the realization that the child is his son and the woman is the wolf he had hunted a long time ago.
And since then it is said that House Dirus descended from a white Direfang Wolf.
There are so many holes in that myth that it makes me wonder if Fen was just a fool. Mark thought to himself as they proceeded to open the doors and was greeted by a pair of party poppers going off. Mark blinked in confusion as he found his Parents, and his grandfather hosting a party with a banner that says ‘Welcome home Mark’ hanging on the main hall accompanied by the servants of the Dirus Family.
“You guys did prepare huh,” Mark said resisting the urge to smile as Miriam and Gaige took Mark by the hand, with Miriam’s hand being surprisingly warmer than usual, and moved him at the center of the hall.
“Welcome home son,” Joshua said with a wide smile as his mother ran towards him and pulled him into a hug, but then Mary backed away slightly confused but then smiled as though it was nothing.
“I’m home Father, mother, Grandfather.” Mark said turning towards them as Miriam and Gaige started helping themselves to the snacks that the servants prepared for them. Mark talked to his parents and they went back and forth with them explaining to them the things he had done in the last three years, but as they were talking Mark felt a burning hunger deep in his stomach much to his confusion.
Something feels off, Mark thought as he started eating the snacks beside him Miriam was already on her fifth sandwich much to Gaige’s amazement.
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[Rise of the Dark Hound]
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Mark found himself wandering through the fields of Loria in the middle of the night with the moon being the only thing that served as his light, all he remembers was falling asleep in his room and then waking up into this place.
“Doesn’t look like a meeting with the Hood Lady,” Mark commented in a low voice, he turned around to find Miriam with her hair down and also appeared to be confused and lost the whole time.
“You’re having the same weird dream too?” Miriam asked walking towards him with a relieved look on her face. Mark was about to speak but then they heard a howl in the distance causing the two to assume a combat stance, neither of them bought a weapon due to their current circumstances but that didn’t mean they were gonna sit down and accept their fate. A group of humans arrived and surrounded them, they appeared to be surrounded by a shroud of pure white energy giving a faint outline. But most interestingly some of them share the same features indicating that they were related.
And they appeared to have white hair, wolf ears and tail.
At the center of them was a young woman, her glowing white hair was messy and unkempt. And walked towards them with a smile on her face as she clasped the shoulders of the of them as though she was welcoming them.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Greetings my descendants,” The Young woman said gladly. “My name is Alyssa, and I am here to tell you that going forward you will inherit the abilities of our bloodline.”
“You mean we’re special? How come mother and grandfather didn’t get the same abilities?” Mark asked, he had a few questions pertaining to this so called ‘ability’ of theirs.
“They were offered years ago but they declined.” She shook her head. “For our ability can also be a curse for those who aren’t willing.”
“Huh, convenient.” Mark commented in a low voice while Miriam glanced at him.
“So what is this ability?” Miriam asked crossing her arms just as curious as Mark was to which Alyssa smiled and proceeded to explained.
This ability is known as Beast Aura, as many generations ago they have been blessed by the being known as the Great Wolf to channel the energy that flows within them and project them into a combat aura which increases their strength tenfold and heightens their senses, effectively making them powerful predators.
This caused mixed reactions within the twins, for Miriam she was concerned that would be casting aside her humanity for the sake of this power but for Mark this was perfect as the last fifteen years he felt powerless and that no matter how hard he worked hard he would eventually hit the wall.
This Ability would no doubt allow him to surpass this limit.
“So will you accept this gift or reject this curse?” She asked carefully causing Mark to raise an eyebrow at her, they view the ability as both a gift and a curse which made Mark cautious and snapping out of his pondering and look at Miriam who was even more on guard than before.
“What are the pros and cons of this ability?” Mark said hopefully by asking this would relieve some of the worries that she was holding would dissipate.
“For one you would be blessed by the powers of the Great Wolf but thread carefully when using that power as that you would end up losing your sanity and at worse your humanity, at the cost of such power.” Alyssa explained to them with a grim look on her face.
So for power we are prone to Berserk, that doesn't sound like a problem for me. Mark concluded as he had endured many things in the past, a simple genetic curse is no problem.
But the problem is Miriam. Mark continued as he turned to Miriam who had an unreadable expression on her face. If she declines now then there's a chance she'll regret it and develop resentment against me for being powerful.
"You don't have to take this burden, let big brother handle it." Mark smiled at her with a reassuring look on his face. That was a lie, he was gas lighting her into taking the burden of acquiring the Beast Aura as well. Though this is more of a gamble as he hoped that she too would end up taking it in alongside him.
Fortunately Miriam fell for that gamble as she shook her head.
“Don’t even try and act all noble about this Mark,” She said with a smirk on her face. “We’re twins, it’d be weird if only one of us gets that ability.”
“Then I won’t stop you in that case,” Mark smiled trying his best to not show that he was excited in getting the ability.
“We’ll both take the ability.” Miriam said gesturing her and Mark together, Alyssa smiled as she walked towards them and placed a hand on faces all the while the others walked towards them and clasped their shoulders as though they were transferring energy towards them. Mark felt Miriam’s hand grab his own and it was clear that she was afraid as her hand was shaking, he simply gave her a reassuring squeeze as they were enveloped in a veil of pale energy.
Mark woke up in cold sweat in his room in Fenrir. It was the dead of the night and hours have passed since he had fallen asleep he looked at his hands which were surrounded by a faint energy surge through him, he bit his lip trying his best to not grin too much as he was excited to test out his power. However the question is that how would he be able to activate the ability. He took a deep breath and took a sitting position on the floor, fixed his breathing and meditated, that was the best option he can do when trying to open or unlock it.
Concentrate, concentrate. Mark repeatedly thought to himself as he continued to fix his breathing until he a wave of energy rush over him as though a great beast had lunged towards him causing a whiplash that sent him crashing to the wall where it was followed by a similar noise from the distance. Mark groaned as he stood up and opened his eyes as he noticed that he was somewhat lighter and a faster than before, he hurried to face the mirror before him and he was amazed at what he had saw.
He was enveloped by the same aura that was his ancestors had the aura and his hair had turned white and a pair of wolf ears have manifested. Mark smiled widely, so ecstatic that end up punching the wall and causing a massive hole in the process meanwhile the next door over a crash was heard.
The door swung open to reveal Joshua with a shotgun in his hands with a worried look on his face.
"Mark I heard some noises are you alright?!" He asked but then his worry was replaced with confusion as he found Mark with the same aura in his body.
"I'm fine father but what was that noise I'm hearing?" Mark asked but then they heard a worried scream causing both of then to sprint out of the room but since Mark still had his Beast Aura active he move faster and his surprise he end up moving on all-fours as he ran through the hallways. It was the voice of their mother so he moved quite faster than before, he found his mother kneeling on the hallway with a look of despair on her face she was about to tell Mark what happened but she just whispered 'no..' in a low voice.
"Forgive me mother but the ability is far too tempting," Mark said kneeling on the ground as Joshua arrived and entered the room, Mark peeked into the room as well to find Miriam bouncing on her bed excitedly with her makinga flip every few times excitedly screaming 'I've got powers!' Like a little child.
"Mother," Mark asked his mother who looked up. "You know about this don't you...?"
"That's right," Mary said with a sniff as she stood up. "Let me explain to you, do you two know how to turn it off?"
Mark and Miriam turn to one another with a confused look, both of them have the same question. How do they turn it off?
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[Rise of the Dark Hound]
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Malachi drove through the streets of Fenrir like a man possessed, trying his best to get to his home as safely as possible. It was late in the evening and he had received a message from his daughter informing him that his two grandchildren have inherited the curse of the beast. Eventually he arrived in the grounds of the mansion and didn’t even bother to park the car he had borrowed in the Council and sprinted his way inside.
For many generations the Dirus bloodline has been cursed by the Great Wolf by offering the Beast Soul under the guise that it is a gift, But those who accept the curse are destined to lose their sanity and become mindless berserkers. He entered the main hall and found his family having tea, Mark and Miriam looked like they were hardly bothered from what they learned.
“What did she tell you?” Malachi said with a grim tone as he walked towards them and glanced at Joshua and Mary who likely had already informed the two on what the Curse is.
“Everything how the Beast soul is a curse—”
“—and that those who take it are destined to turn into mad berserkers.”
Mark and Miriam said so as they both took a sip of their tea.
“Then do you two have any idea what you two have done?” Malachi added with Joshua and Mary looking at him with worried looks.
“We know what we entered Grandpapa,” Miriam said crossing her arms with a reassuring grin on her face. Mark on the other hand was somewhat worried for Miriam, after all he can handle the curse but he wasn’t too sure whether or not she can handle the curse and so Mark was silent the whole time. Meanwhile Malachi was silent as well as though he was trying to study the two of them for any signs of uneasiness or anything this caused Malachi to let out a sigh of defeat and raised his hands in surrender
“Well I can’t stop you both as you two have already taken up the curse,” He said taking a seat on the chair. “But I can at the least train you both as to how to handle the Curse.”
“Train us?” Mark asked curious and excited at the same time wondering what other things can he do if he chose to unleash the Beast Soul into his enemies. He can already picture his enemies screaming for mercy as he crushed them using the strength of his grip.
“That’s right, the first thing tomorrow I’ll be taking a leave for my council duties and will be mentoring you both in the mountains.” Malachi crossed his arms, Mark and Miriam looked at one another with excited smiles and exchanged hi-fives.