Library of Kingdom Frasco.
The grand library of our humble city. Spotless due to my relentless cleaning each and every day with precious treasure troves called books littered everywhere. I find pride in the knowledge that I am the sole librarian in the entire city as I get to keep this treasure chest all to myself. Even though people tend to avoid the library, it just gives me an excuse to catch up on all the books in the library. Having worked here for two years has its perks after all.
The only other person with me these days is my friend, who is currently sleeping while curled up into a grey mass, his snout letting out tufts of air occasionally. While I look down at him and rub the back of his ear with my left hand, the mark of a grey wolf howling into the sky on her right palm suddenly starts to burn. Memories, long buried, begin to filter through my mind.
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I, Astrid Borghild, used to be part of a tribe called the Borghild tribe, a human tribe. I was next in line at the time to inherit the chief position. Fate had another idea and that came with the fact that my tribe was a combat oriented family. After being given birth and being taken care of for a few years, I realized I was different from the kids around me. I was weak, but my level of observation and learning was years above theirs. The kids noticed it and whether to protect themselves and their heritage or just because they were kids, they cruelly pushed me away.
Ostracized, and beaten down emotionally by the constant stares and glint of hatred in the older kids, I didn’t even get reprieve as my own family was ashamed of me. They didn’t believe using one’s brains was above one’s muscles as you can’t eat with your brains. I could endure it all due to my inborn persistent nature and ability to close myself away from my surroundings by hiding within my mind until it all hit a breaking point. The tribe did not want a weak chief therefore they proposed I hunt a wolf pack to the south of the tribe … alone.
I knew when my birth family agreed that I was being sent to my very death at the ripe age of ten. It requires a skilled warrior team to herd a wolf pack to their deaths and they still get injuries. They want me to accomplish it all alone and they know I cannot do it. Their politics and lust for power pushed me to the brink as I resigned myself to my fate, walking out into the cold expanse of the base of the mountain my tribe is located in.
Struggling against the elements for three days while trying to brave my way through snow and chilly winds during the day I finally collapsed as the supply of water that was handed to me was unknowingly tempered with by my own parents to sap at my strength even further. Only by sheer willpower did I manage to make it three quarters of the way to the wolf pack, refusing to resign to such a crappy fate handed down to me by a family that doesn’t see my worth. Before I finally closed my eyes due to the cold and lack of strength, I saw grey eyes looking at me from the distance with what I imaged to be bristles of fur on its body.
What surprised me when I woke up was not the fact that I was surrounded by wolves, but the fact that they were not eating me alive. That is until I saw a grey eyed man walk up to me sporting fur clothing over his body. His piercing eyes looked me up and down before taking a step toward me. I ignored the rising heartbeat in my chest as he crouches down and stares into my eyes. Scanning her up and down briefly, he grasps her right hand and flips it palm side over before clasping the hand around her palm. Oddly, warm springs forth through my entire body as my palm is clasped before a burning sensation forms on it. It feels like lava is being splashed onto it consistently as it pulses in pain enough for me to draw blood from my lips as I bite down on them.
Finally, the pain subsides only to leave a mark on my palm as he unclasps his hand. Finally, he speaks, an ancient tone to his voice.
“I am Fenrir, dear child of Gaia. You have been abandoned by your tribe and sacrificed to me. I would have simply just eaten you if not for the fact that you aren’t the usual ditzy girl they send every other year of the muscle nuts that get too rowdy in their tribe for them to quell. I have uses for a sharp mind much more than an elegant body. Will you accept this mark or will you let Gaia guidance end in your pathetic death?”
My entire soul seems to stir as his low voice pulsates through the entire valley they are situated in. The wolves all bow their heads as he speaks, recognizing his prowess. After his speech ends, she looks at the mark, before looking back up to him. A one-in-a-lifetime smile appears on her face, beaming at the so called “Fenrir”.
“I accept, humble being called Fenrir. I would rather a twisted fate following my savior than one so benevolently provided to me by the oh so great Gaia.”
Fenrir lets out a loud, ancient chuckle that shakes the tree’s and tussles the leaves violently.
“Very well, little girl. You shall lead this pack as my champion to prove your worth. Survive by using your mind, for these wolves more than make up for your lack of brawn. When I call upon you, you will be ready for my next task.”
With that stated, Fenrir suddenly turns into a giant grey wolf before her eyes. The grey fur has a tinge of silver in the morning light of the sun. Looking over the pack for a moment, he turns around and bounds away, large winds following him as he escapes into the horizon in a manner of seconds. As he is out of view, she looks around to the wolf pack left to her before her stomach grumbles.
“Sister, we shall take care of your needs before you shall lead us.”
Surprised, I spin around to look at an older looking grey wolf, his snout letting out a huff of air. His mouth didn’t even move. Confused by this turn of events, I stare him down before trying to direct my thoughts towards him.
“Uhm… hello?”
The wolf simply nods to the greeting, shocking me greatly. It seems I can communicate with these wolves with a single thought. To answer her thought, the sound of all the wolves combined thoughts echo in my mind.
“We, the pack, are one!”
“We, the pack, fight as one!”
“We, the pack, never leave the other to die!”
“For the everlasting prosperity of our pack!”
“Long live our Alpha, Sister Astrid!”
After completing the chant, all the wolves, a total of ten, bow their heads to me. Flustered by the sudden attention, I wave them away before realizing they cannot see my gesture. Thinking of the gesture in my mind, they all return to their normal position.
“Geez… we got a lot of work to do. Hey, uhh… you, Brother…?”
As I let the thought run, I stare at the original grey wolf that spoke at first. The wolf tilts its head before answering.
“You are our Alpha; you choose how we present ourselves to you. Before you think it, it does not matter to us that you are human. To be recognized by our patron god, Fenrir, is the greatest honor. Serving under the one that has his favor is an even greater honor within our wolf-kin.”
All of the “wolf-kin” nod to that statement, staring at her with the same piercing eyes as she scans over the pack. Feeling their stares all over her body, she directs her attention back to the original wolf, her smile widening as a blaze of life illuminates her eyes.
“I will call you Brother Beo. You will be my mount and my personal advisor. I do not know much about the wolf-kin’s inner workings therefore you will guide me. For now, the first step is to find the hunting grounds around here as well as a suitable territory. The humans know where we live and fighting them head on will lead to our death at this stage.”
All of the wolves nod in agreement before Beo leaps over to her. He takes a knee for her as she climbs onto him, holding onto his fur tightly. The wicked smile on her face stays glued on like cement as the glint in her eyes grows larger.
“Onwards!”
All the wolves howl in unison before setting off, while Astrid and Beo stayed in the middle of the pack.
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Astrid shook her head, shaking away the memories. Her palm pulsated but instead of the pain it began to be replaced by a glowing warmth. Her eyebrow flickered up as she stared at her palm, confused at the sudden reaction. Shaking away her doubts, she went back to reading her book. Before she even got a paragraph out of the book, the doors to her library were burst open.
Placing the book on her lap, she turned her head to face the figure entering through the broken in door. The man had pulsating golden eyes and short, white hair that looked silky to the touch. His eyes seemed to have the same piercing look as her teacher and master, Fenrir. Her thoughts were lead astray as he looked straight at her, confidently bounding over to her.
Her heart beat raced as he continued to stare right into her eyes, as if trying to ascertain her inner being; her soul. He stepped up to the countertop she was resting behind before speaking in a crystal clear tone.
“Ma’am, are you the librarian?”
My heart seemed to want to leap out through my throat as he speak, the right palm resting on my book beginning to burn once more. My eyes growing dull, my mind travelled back once more in time.
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Riding in the distance, a pack of ten are pawing through the snow as they travel at high speeds. In the middle of the pack was a girl riding on a wolf slightly larger than the rest of the wolves surrounding her. She had a lithe build with some muscle poking out of her well fit leather armor and snug fur leggings coupled with sturdy black boots. Piercing green eyes with short cut brown hair donned her fair skin. Heaving her medium sized chest, she waved her right hand around in a circle.
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The entire pack skid to a halt at the signal. Afterward, the girl jumped off of the wolf, letting out a sigh.
“Master Fenrir called me out here in the middle of the blue. I really do not want to deal with the Sisters whining about their mates running off with me.”
All the wolves except the one that the female rode let out a growl that sounds like a chuckle in the ears of the girl.
“Though we may trust you fully, Astrid, the Sisters still think you are enjoying us for ourselves despite your human appearance.”
Astrid nods at that comment, a grey wolf tail sprouting from her behind and wagging about left and right. Her ears poke out, showing grey furred ears similar to a wolf’s ears. A frown donned her face before looking around.
“I know, Beo. Fenrir’s blessing has brought me closer to the wolf-kin, but I will not bring myself to mate one of you. I am still human, you know? Besides, you are all like family to me.”
The wolves all run up to her and start to nuzzle their noses into her, tickling her body as she let out a surprised yelp before giggling like a school girl.
“Stop it guys, hehe!”
They all back off at her command, whimpering slightly.
“It is not healthy for a young wolf-kin to not find a mate, Astrid. At this rate, you might be considered undesirable.”
Beo soon regretted even opening his loud mouth as all the hairs on his body stood up. His knees felt weak as he felt an undeniable pressure hit his stomach. Turning his face to the source, the face of a demon could be seen on the face of his Sister, Astrid. His ears immediatly droop, letting out a whimper of total defeat.
“Did you just insult the purity of an Alpha, Beo? I h-o-p-e not…”
Stating it in a matter of fact voice, a smile that does not reach her eyes targets Beo dead on. Clear killing intent pulsates from her as if visible to the entire world as all the others back away, knowing not to disturb her.
The first time they saw Sister Astrid in such a state was during their third hunt together back when she was still ten years old. One of the wolves decided it was a good idea to go solo and went after a deer away from the group. He came back having been impaled by several antler points on his body with a deer in his mouth. He let out a triumphant howl before dropping the deer to the ground near the pack and sitting down, a smug look on his face.
Astrid was having the time of her life commanding the pack during the hunts and the wolves began to respect her abilities in luring prey as well as setting unique traps with the help of the wolves until that moment. The other wolves looked over to the lone wolf, seeming to be confused before they looked up to Astrid for consultation.
What they saw was the terrifying face of a demon, as if she sold herself to the devil when she looked down at the wolf bragging about his catch to the other wolves. Lost in his own world, the wolf didn’t realize what was happening until Astrid had already walked up to him and plunged her hand right into one of the biggest antler points in the wolf’s body, wiggling her hand around painfully.
The wolf yelped in pain and angirly snapped at the source of his pain until he spotted the look on his Alpha’s face, one of clear evil. Killing intent seeped out of her very pores as she slammed her hands in and out of his wounds, causing immense pain to circulate through his body. He endured, however, as the look on her face paralyzed him.
Finally, though, all the wolves could hear a sobbing noise coming from the wolf. At first, they thought he was crying until they saw some droplets of water fall near the feet of Sister Astrid. After that, Astrid hugged the large body of the braggart and ignored the blood on its body and on her face, hiccing several times as she cried on his body.
It was then that the wolves realized not to mess with her. It was not their fear of the little girl proclaimed as their Alpha, nor the tradition of following the Alpha that stopped them. Nor was it the girl’s sudden transformation that made them respect her nor the brutal treatment of their fellow wolf. It was the sincere and heartfelt crying coming from her soul itself that made them believe in her. Due to their connection, the wolves all felt her emotions and her inner feelings which made them realize the reason for her sudden transformation. The wounds on the wolf made her go mad as she thought of her injured family member and the pain she instilled was to make the wolf realize the pain she felt when she thought he might die.
With this mentality alone, and her powerful mind, she has ruled the south of the Barren Mountain Range with an iron fist to the point of cultivating a thousand strong pack in these eight years of her rule.
Snapping out of their contemplations, they saw the same, motherly look filled with love they saw those years ago appear on her face as she stepped up and hugged Beo by the scruff of his neck.
“I know that you are just concerned for me, Beo. But I have yet to find a suitable mate. Nor do I want to meet any of those barbarians to the north that abandoned me just to bare more of their filthy children that will turn as corrupt as them.”
Beo slowly nodded, accepting her reasoning before his ear pricked, turning to the west swiftly. A moment later the sound of harsh wind cutting through tree’s can be heard as the clearing they chose as a meeting place was filled by a massive, four story tall wolf. The wolf looked down at the pack before nodding, staring straight at Astrid.
“Astrid. I have called you here for the promised favor as per our agreement. You will embark on a journey to the human’s “world” and learn their ways and customs. There, you will broaden your knowledge of this world to be fit for your task.”
Astrid’s face turned into a delighted expression to that of confusion then to horror. She looked over her pack frantically, tears threatening to well up on her face.
“Do not worry. You have done more than I thought you could in these years before your coming of age. You have learned the skills to lead and survival which you have passed down to these young ones. I am most pleased with their progress, therefore I will allow you to take Beo with you on your journey.”
Growling under my breath, I stare straight into the round, grey tinted eyes of Fenrir, trying to will him out of existence with my mind alone as I cross my thoughts to him.
“Who will be the Alpha, then? None of my Brother’s, as per tradition, can carry the Alpha role. They have the knowledge, but not the correct bearing…”
Fenrir lets out a snort before nodding briskly, turning his head to where we came from before nodding to himself.
“The Alpha will be decided by your Brothers here from the pool of mates available but she will most likely only be a figurehead. Unfortunately, the smartest in both wit and survival of the pack is all the brothers here combined; the mates are much too hot blooded to carry the proud name of Alpha as you have for these past eight years.”
Nodding, Astrid smiles towards Fenrir before running over to Beo and hopping onto him, wagging her tail happily.
“I do not like leaving what I have worked to achieve, but if it is by your will, I shall obey.”
Fenrir nods, though Astrid swore she could see him smirk as he took a glance at her wagging tail before taking a knee, revealing his large back.
“The task I hand to you is to find your mate. You will know when you see him. Those who attract you and will be attracted to you are those of true worth; the divines themselves will make it so due to your blessing.”
Astrid’s cheeks flushed at the thought of finding her soul mate before straightening up as Beo flew up to Fenrir’s back at top speeds. Beo then clamped his claws on to Fenrir’s back, lightly piercing the skin as he held on for dear life.
Satisfied, Fenrir takes off at his top speed back the way he came, pulling the duo on for the ride.
When they make it to their destination, the sun is still up in the sky as they near a large castle with people hustling and bustling here and there.
“Remember, Astrid. You are an Alpha; carry yourself as one. When you meet your mate, your task is complete for you will naturally be together. You only need to put in a little of your own charm and you will capture their heart. The reason why this is so will be clear to you the moment you see them.”
After that, Fenrir let us off and dashed through the wind into the distance. Looking down at Beo, I rub the back of his ear before nodding to myself, patting him to move forward.
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My eyes re-focus from the memories storming through her mind before an ancient voice bounces through her mind, awaking her as light appears in her eyes once more.
“You have met your chosen mate, young Alpha. He or she will one day bring good or bad to these lands but one thing is for certain. He shall need your guidance just as you have guided my pups to glory. Remember your past to bring glory to the future.”
As the ancient voice gets quieter, it gets cut off at the end like a recorder. The man staring at her, however, continues to look deep into her eyes before a smirk appears on his face.
“Looks like you are awake, sleeping beauty. Thought the book in your lap sucked out your soul or something with the hollow look on your face.”
Slowly nodding, she finally gets her bearings as her cheeks flush red once more. Closing the book lightly, she scans him over once more before stopping at his eyes, speaking in a controlled manner.
“What can I help you with, Mr…?”
Smiling, he speaks in a casual yet soothing tone to her sensitive ears.
“Call me Aerus.”