The Last Lycan

Set in an old, enchanted world, a young mage stumbles upon a reclusive Lycan, who has lost her powers of transformation. The Lycan distrusts humans because of its past and thus, the mage finds herself thrown into the topmost tower as a prisoner for trespassing.

Chapter 14

Italics – Thoughts

Shizuru exhales deeply, attempting to clear her mind in order to execute the spell properly.

Yes, she had knowledge on healing spells and she did memorize the book on the Dark Arts that her father had lent to her previously. But what she was trying to do now was a combination of both – to harness her newfound, albeit, dark power and infuse it with the strongest healing spell known.

She didn't know if she could pull it off, but she'd rather die that not even try to save Natsuki's life.

Leaning Natsuki's head down gently back down on the ground, she stands up straight. The strewn corpses and blood-soaked ground had given her an idea. A morbid idea, but to ensure that the chances of success were greater, she decided to go ahead with it anyway.

She licked her lips in trepidation; something she had rarely done throughout her entire life; and raises her hands slowly. Her gaze flickers to the massive serpent that was before her and she meets its bright, golden eyes. Kiyohime understands that her master needed her utmost power now and she croons gently, before allowing Shizuru to absorb its energy back into herself. Shizuru's crimson orbs glaze over with the hydra's vermillion eyes for a split second, before returning to their original color – a mesmerizing wine. It felt as though gears were clicking in place as Kiyohime's energy fitted into hers flawlessly and her nimble hands burned with amplified power. Feeling her magical energy at its crest, Shizuru whispered the spell as the others watched on silently, knowing full well to leave Natsuki in Shizuru's adept hand.

To say that the effects were amazing was an understatement.

It was the fusion of the strongest White magic, powered by the deepest Dark energy. Even as Shizuru glowed in a faint aura of white as the incantation flowed out of her lips, she could feel the scathing tremble coming from herself. It took all her willpower and concentration to keep it in check against her sanity and divert its strength into the spell instead. With a light wave of her right hand, she allowed a mist of black to intertwine within the flowing silvery wisps.

Balling her left hand into a fist, she draws it closer to herself and after a few seconds, she sees her handiwork. Thin streams of maroon rose from the ground, defying all forms of gravity as she willed the sanguine fluid to her whim. With a final thrust of her hand, she fuses it effortlessly into the spinning black and white swirl in front of her.

The elements were ready – Dark power, White Magic and Blood Sacrifice – it was the epitome of combined spells. It has to work; Shizuru prays as she gazes longingly at Natsuki. She exhales sharply as she unleashed the massive orb before her. It engulfs Natsuki's entire prone form, encasing the dark furred lycanthrope within its shimmering sphere, before bursting in various directions throughout the entire compound and leaving luminous trails in its wake.

The magnitude of the spell sends Shizuru careening backwards and Aldred swiftly catches his daughter just in time, narrowly cushioning her head and saving her from a nasty concussion. Shizuru exhales lightly as she feels her father's arms wrapped safely around her. "Daddy.." she breathes gingerly with a faint smile before her eyes slid shut.

Elvira was already beside her husband and daughter by then, gently brushing the matted hair out of Shizuru's face. She thumbs Shizuru's cheek lovingly with a hand and checks her wrist with the other. She sees the strain that the spell has put on her daughter – her skin had gone pale; the veins in her wrists were popping and her usually unwavering magical energy was barely detectable. As much as it pained her to see Shizuru this way, Elvira knew that there was nothing that could have stopped Shizuru from doing this. She had recognized the love between her daughter and Natsuki the first time. She also knew of her daughter's staunch character – Shizuru would do anything to protect the ones she loved. Elvira's thoughts are interrupted when her fingertips feel out a weak throb on Shizuru's veins and her gaze lifts to meet Aldred. She gives him a nod and his brows immediately unfurrow as relief floods him.

Shizuru was alive but both of her parents were fully aware of the diminishing magical energy of their daughter. And they knew nothing of how to stop it.

A short distance away

Violet eyes regard the touching scene between parent and child sadly. Unable to watch the heartbreaking scene happening right in front of her, she turns her head and meets the gaze of Amber and Julia. Julia tugs her hand gently and pulls her into a fierce embrace. Mai was unable to hold her tears back any longer as she tightens the grip on her mother's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Mother.." Nao's broken voice cuts in, "Shizuru.. Is she going to be alright..?"

"I.. She will be alright, Nao. She's the strongest woman I've ever known," Amber replies.

Nao shakes her head, "B-but I can't feel her energy anymore."

"Shizuru used a very powerful spell to save Natsuki's life. But.. I fear it may have taken a toll of her. S-she might lose all her magical powers because the spell was just too strong." Amber lowers her head in regret. Why wasn't she powerful enough to save both Shizuru and Natsuki from this awful pain they had to go through? It was the same thing that happened with Saeko and Rolf.

Nao's face contorts into one of shock and horror and she snaps her head to look at Shizuru and her parents. S-sh-izuru did that for Natsuki? I..I.. She's.. ! The redhead had read about mages losing their magical powers before. It was a painful and torturous process. The sudden departure of that much energy within them left them frail and susceptible to diseases. The body was usually unable to adapt to the change and fester from within, often leading to a slow and prolonged death.

"But.. But we can try and save her, right? Right, mother? I mean, we could all combine our powers and do something! Shizuru's such a strong mage, she'll get through it!" Nao's voice cracks and she turns fully to face her mother.

Amber shakes her head, replying softly, "I'm sorry Nao. But such a colossal spell requires an immense power.. Or a lost artifact from ancient times. Even a hundred of us wouldn't be able to restore her powers. It's not that easy."

"But we should at least try!" Nao was obviously distressed as she starts pacing around.

"Nao," Julia tries to get her daughter's attention as Mai pulls away from the embrace. To no avail, she tries once more, slightly louder, "Nao!" However, the feisty redhead was far too involved with her thoughts on how to try and save Shizuru; pacing up and down at a rapid speed. Her daze was only broken when she picks up a familiar groan.

"Natsuki!" she races over beside the fallen form at once. Aldred and Elvira also looked up from their positions, eyes widened in complete surprise. There amidst the ruined land and charred ground, the prone figure stirred, grunting slightly as she lifted herself off the ground. No longer was it the dark furred wolf everyone had come to know. In the beast's hulking stead, stood a young human that was barely half of the lycanthrope's height, donning the very same white cotton shirt and brown pants (albeit grossly oversized). Her viridian eyes gleamed in the moonlight and her skin was aglow with the remnants of Shizuru's spell that made her look almost ethereal.

"Nao?" she tilts her head at the redhead who was gaping at her with her mouth wide open. That action causes her long midnight mane to obscure her face and she unconsciously uses a hand to sweep the disobedient locks out of her vision. "What the..?" she mutters under her breath as realization hit her. Her hands outstretched, she gapes at it. They were no longer furred and pawed, with long, vicious talons at the ends of her fingertips. Instead, her arms were smooth and pale; not a single strand of fur in sight. She looks down at herself in the oversized clothes and her head shoots back up in shock, regarding everyone else who was staring at her.

It was then when her gaze locks onto the brunette who was lying on the ground, her head propped up on her father's lap and her mother's arms wrapped around her. She didn't need to think as her body moved instinctively, shifting back into her wolf form to close the distance between her and the trio of mages. Shizuru's parents gently relinquish their grasp of their daughter to Natsuki, heads bowed in sorrow.

The healing spell Shizuru had cast was so powerful that it had saved Natsuki and had also reversed all effects of spell that was cast so long ago. But the drain on her powers was just too much for one young magus to endure.

"Shizuru.." Natsuki breathes, easily shifting back into human form and cupping Shizuru's soft cheek, before pressing her forehead against Shizuru's. Why? Why was it that Shizuru was lying here instead of her? Why was it the people she loved were always taken away from her? She bit her lower lip as she tried to stifle the onslaught of regret, sadness and pain. It however, fought its way through and a tear slid down her cheek.

"N..s-suki?" Shizuru's broken voice, nary a whisper sent Natsuki's head jerking upward.

Natsuki's eyes meet with half-lidded wines and she lets out a soft exhale, "Shizuru?"

Shizuru stays silent, but her eyes slowly roam at Natsuki's new form, finally settling on those familiar orbs of green. She lets out a soft, cracked chuckle, "Ara. My Natsuki's here.. A-and safe. I-I always knew.. She would be this beautiful.."

Natsuki clumsily wipes her tear away, clutching Shizuru's limp hand and pressing it to her face, "Shizuru. I'm here. I'm here for you. Please try and stay awake for me? Please?"

"Ara," Shizuru takes a deep breath, causing her entire body to shake involuntarily. The weariness was starting to catch up to her and she could feel her eyes threatening to close any second. She could feel the void that was left behind once the spell was cast. It was taxing on her energy and whatever that remained was trickling away bit by bit. "I apolo..gize, Natsuki. I fear I cannot.." She struggled to say what she wanted to, for she never knew when she could do it again. It felt like this slumber was going to be a very long one. "I love y-you, my suki.."

"Shizuru!" Natsuki yells as Shizuru smiled before her eyes sank shut. "No! Shizuru!" She pulled the prone girl up, embracing her tightly. "I love you too, Shizuru. Please don't.." She pushed Shizuru back slightly and the girl's head lolled backwards.

A hand rests on Natsuki's shoulder and she turns her head to find Elvira. "Shizuru's just very drained, Natsuki. She'd have to rest.. for a long time before she can start to recover."

"But, but.. why? I don't need this," she glares at her now human hands. "I could have healed myself over time… I.."

"It was not a risk she was willing to take, Natsuki," Elvira wraps her arm around Natsuki's frame, hugging the distraught girl. "She's a strong woman and we'll all be here for her as she recuperates and get used to loss of her powers."

Wordlessly, Natsuki buries her head in Shizuru's hair as she clutches to her lithe frame. Aldred and Elvira exchange sad glances as they both got up and stepped back, giving the pair some privacy. It would be a drawn out process for Shizuru to fully recover and hopefully survive this test. Aldred looks over and the grieving Natsuki and her family – a small ray of hope still shone through the darkness. He was sure that everyone would try their very best to help Shizuru. She had found another fantastic family.

"Natsuki?" a soft voice breaks the stifling silence.

The dark-haired girl straightens her back at the voice. Not releasing her hold of Shizuru, she turns. There, past her family of mages, stood her mother.

XXX

A/N: Hi readers! I know many of you are extremely interested in their pups/children. I'll address that shortly! I'm posting this chapter because I foresee I'll be pretty busy the next month, but I will work on the next chapter. Sorry! The direction is more or less set and I should be wrapping up the story shortly (within one or two chapters, I think?).

Thanks so much for the reviews, they're always so encouraging! :)