Story Time

Welpen: “Aghhh, it’s hot out here. Anybody need water? Ryoko? Saikou?”

Ryoko: “No thanks, Welpen.”

Saikou shook his head no as well.

Welpen questioned him because he hadn’t eaten since he met him.

Welpen: “Are you some kind of God? I swear you can’t be normal. Clara says all people are equal and that we should respect everyone, but you aren’t like most people, are you? Well, who cares cause I respect you! You’re amazing! Wait, I packed enough food for three people. I forgot that you didn’t eat Saikou, so we will have enough to get there. That stupid lady didn’t know what she was talking about. If she would’ve been nice, then I would’ve been nice, but she was rude, wasn’t she?”

Ryoko: “Yeah, yeah. Very rude.”

Welpen: “I didn’t realize it was going to be this hot though. We don’t have any cover for shade.”

The shard on Welpen’s sword lit up and created a large covering of gold mana above them. “Woah! What is that?! I didn’t do anything, I swear!”

The shard also ran mana down Welpen’s legs, giving him gold mana lines on his shoes along with the other boys. They immediately began to go really fast without even trying. It was almost too fast, and the shard realized this somehow and slowed it down for them. It was an unbelievable feature that increased their speeds tenfold.

Welpen: “Forget the food! We will be there in less than 2 days. This is insane!”

Ezra: “Why this is certainly an interesting feature. This is very fast, isn’t it?”

Welpen: “Ezra! I haven’t talked to you in days! It’s good that you’re back now. What are the odds that you can track where we are going? I have no idea where we are headed. Wait, can you track Isara? No, that wouldn’t make sense. Stupid me.”

Ezra: “I can’t track anything really. If I could, then I would’ve found my body by now. I just know where some people are based on past appearances and you of course because of my orbs here.”

Welpen: “Oh, I forgot about that. I’m sorry. I’m being selfish. When we get back, we will go look for it.”

Ezra: “No, do not worry about it Welpen. I do not mean to be like this, but you all are not strong enough to get my body back. Shin took it a long time ago and I will confront him myself. I still have a lot of time, so please do what you need to do. I am here for all of you. To answer your question though, I do know that you are heading just to the left of The Association. I wonder who runs it now? I have seen many different leaders and befriended them, but not having my body, I did not want to intrude with my appearance. It would not look good if the leader of a realm cannot even keep her own body.”

Welpen: “That’s not true. You’re really strong, Ezra. You’re forced to fight though. That isn’t fair.”

Ezra: “Although that is true, I do not wish to explain that to everyone throughout the next 300 years and more. It becomes tedious, does it not? Anyways, I haven’t been to this area in a while, but I believe the Moonshadow Village is where you all are headed. They are next to The Association for a reason. That is, not to be attacked. I wonder if it has changed over the years.”

Welpen: “Wait a second…How were you able to know where I was when we were in that really sandy place with all those bones lying around?”

Ezra: “Ah yes, I suppose that doesn’t seem right, does it? You are a very smart Welpen. Allow me to explain. When someone dies and comes to my realm, I can temporarily see where they died and came from. That is why I have not seen The Association or the Moonshadow Village or a lot of other places in a long time. Lucky for me and you and your friends, someone had just died in Deceased Paradise when you all came back there. Although it was unfortunate, I owe that man more than I can give him. Shin did kill him, but it gave me the ability to see what was going on at that moment. I cannot believe the odds myself that this happened at this exact moment, but it did, which allowed me to save you all.”

Welpen: “Wow, I-I’m sorry. Tell that man I will repay him one day. I will get so strong that I will be able to defend anything. I never really had a goal before meeting Isara. I kind of just lived, but along the way, I realized that I am weak in a lot of people’s eyes. People think I can’t protect them or myself, but I want to prove them wrong.”

Ezra: “You are not weak, Welpen. True strength does not come from that sword, but from your heart. Making the right decisions is something that not everyone can do, and you are able to stick up for your beliefs whenever it is challenged.”

Welpen: “I-I don’t feel like that though. There are times when I feel completely useless.”

Ezra: “You are not a monster, Welpen. Only a monster can be perfect because their minds are closed off by their own beliefs. You are a human. Do not act any different than yourself.”

Welpen: “D-Did you accept?”

Ezra: “Accept…?

Welpen: “Did you accept the man into the Spirit Realm?”

Ezra: “Oh, of course. His name is Jinro Mikakabe. I told him about the situation and he was grateful that he was able to help. Do not worry, Welpen. He is fine where he is and looks over his wife and kids everyday. He was forced by bandits to enter the land or they would’ve killed them. He knows he made the right decision and puts a smile on his face when he sees them. I cannot see them myself, and usually people tell me what their families look like, but he chose not to tell me. He said that his wife is too precious to explain in words. Oh how my heart melted when he told me this. I truly wish I could see her and his young one.”

Welpen shed a couple tears that ran down his cheek. This only motivated him to become stronger. Chills ran down his spine as he thought about the important people in his life.

Something had clicked in his mindset from this conversation with Ezra. He spoke out loud to everyone while they were still being whisked away by this gold mana.

Welpen: “Everyone…We are no longer going after Isara. When we arrive at this Moonshadow Village, we are immediately going to a place that Clara had told me about. Sakura Academy. It’s a school for enhancing abilities. I’ve made my choice. I won’t show my face until I’ve gotten stronger. I don’t care how long it takes. I’ll trust in my friends that they are strong enough to protect themselves. If I continue down this path, then I won’t be able to protect anyone ever. For now, they are going to have to do their own thing. If you don’t accept that, then I hope that we can still be friends. You may go your own routes, but please do not hate me.”

Ryoko: “W-Welpen, we are with you all the way!”

Saikou shook his head while gliding next to him. Welpen began to cry more than before.

Welpen: “E-Everyone! Thank you! I promise that we will all get stronger. Let’s do it!”