The halls of the Chained Castle were empty, bathing in the afternoon sun. Hauru wandered the halls as she often did when she wanted to be alone. The castle was deceptively roomy inside, and even in the year she'd been there, she had yet to see everything. She knew how to find her own quarters, where the dining hall was, where the infirmary was, and how to find the throne room. Something had been bothering her for a while. An unfamiliar scent that she couldn't place. There was someone in the castle, someone new. Hauru followed the scent, her keyblade gripped tightly in her hand. She was never one to trust any stranger that wandered in. She followed it to the library, door open just a crack. Hauru raised Starlight and crept in, remaining as silent as she could. The young lycan moved deeper into the library, head on a swivel and eyes darting around. Hauru turned her gaze to the source of the unfamiliar scent. She saw a man with brown hair so light it was almost blond and a bit of red in his well-groomed beard. He wore the robes of a scholar, cream colored with gold trim and well-placed buckles and straps.
"Ah, miss. You seem rather hostile," the man said. Hauru dismissed her keyblade and her stance became far more relaxed.
"Sorry," Hauru said. "I always get nervous when there's a new scent in the castle I don't…" Hauru cut herself off and raised a hand to her mouth, hoping her statement had gone unnoticed. The stranger raised his arm and smelled his armpit.
"Seems I need to wash my robes".
"I mean… I'm usually on guard when there's visitors. This land is neutral ground between the light and dark and you never know who might abuse that". The stranger eyed Hauru for a bit before his expression softened.
"I understand. My name is Alexandrus Aeon. But most just call me Aeon. I am with the Order of Gnosis. We kind of… split off from the Dandelions thirty or so years ago". Hauru gave the man a quizzical look and Aeon smiled. "It's a semi-monastic order of keyblade wielders who consider the acquisition of knowledge to be a virtue".
"I'm Hauru. Hauru Corvinus". Aeon arched an eyebrow.
"Corvinus, you say?" Aeon asked. Hauru nodded as Aeon stroked his beard for a moment before speaking again. "Corvinus is a very old name. A very… historically significant name. I can't possibly imagine marrying into that family. No offense".
"My mom actually brought my dad into it. He adopted her surname since he didn't have one," Hauru explained. "Do you know Master Eraqus?" Aeon nodded.
"We go back some years. He was a part of our order once. When he attained the Mark of Mastery, he left to form this very academy".
"I was wondering. Do you know anything about… lycans?"
"There are numerous texts here that detail such creatures".
"I have this friend," Hauru lied. She didn't want to risk being found out, even if this Aeon was just a visitor. "She's a lycan, but she's living somewhere that makes her condition difficult to hide. So, I was hoping that there was a way to… to stop the change".
"Folklore seems to suggest that Monkshood be used. But it's incredibly toxic. Tingling, numbness… On some worlds, it's still used as a method of execution," Aeon explained.
"She… actually uses a special potion made with monkshood. But it's diluted to the point that it doesn't stop the physical changes. All it does is stop her mind from changing. That way this… darkness in her blood doesn't corrupt her heart. It's stopped her from hurting anyone so far but I… she's on her last vial. And the full moon is tonight". Hauru's voice was tinged with worry. The sort of worry that had Aeon thinking the issue Hauru described was far more personal.
"What'd you do, kiss her boyfriend? Dear, You're a lycan, but a very bad liar". Aeon's response left Hauru dumbstruck. He knew. Somehow, he knew. And if Aeon could figure it out…
"H…How'd you… do any of the others know? Does Eraqus…"
"Not so far as I can tell," said Aeon, trying to be reassuring. Hauru's expression was still shocked. "Relax, dear. You just gave yourself away with the old 'my friend' trick. I understand the caution... I shan't tell a soul. But I want to urge you to be extremely cautious".
"But… I heard you and Eraqus once fought werewolves, so I wanted to be sure. Since some people can't tell the difference between lycans and werewolves…"
"The werewolves we fought in Evervale have much more in common with William and his ilk. But they are of a… radically different breed than yourself," Aeon said with a sullen expression. "As for you, have you considered simply… not treating it?"
"Are you insane? The moon sends my rage into overdrive. Without that potion… I'm just a mindless animal. Like William. I've used it every month since my first change".
"Suffice it to say, you never attempted to learn how to control it".
"There is no controlling it," Hauru snapped. Aeon was visibly taken aback.
"Easy, lass. You're young. Learning to control it would likely be quite an ordeal".
"How long does it take for lycans to get the sort of control I need?"
"Oh, around three to four… hundred years? I have some theories on how that timetable can be moved up considerably," Aeon explained. Haurus jaw nearly hit the floor. Her mother had told her, long ago, that lycans were immortal.
"Mom bequeathed me her keyblade," Hauru said, hang her head low, "But it still had to choose me. But it made a mistake… I'm not even human…"
"You wouldn't be the first non-human to be given such an honor. You'd be surprised. Lycans have wielded it before you. And even a being known as the Azure Mage," Aeon explained. "It's something of a misnomer, though. J'ana's magic is actually a product of advanced technology". Aeon paused for breath. "Perhaps, Hauru, you need to go back to your roots. Or those of your species. The Country of Immortals. It's one of the outer worlds, so reaching it is likely not possible with a keyblade glider. A gummi-ship though…"
"There's something else that's been bothering me. A… a dream? A vision? I'm not sure what it is… I'm looking through a man's eyes. A woman burning at the stake, but not from fire. From sunlight. She wore this". Hauru held up her necklace for Aeon to see. "Does the name Sonja mean anything to you?"
"Of course. It came up a lot in the Histories written by Andreas Tanis. She was… an interesting figure. A vampire born of Viktor, the reigning elder, and a mother who died giving birth to her. She was always the rebellious sort. She fell in love with a lycan named Lucian".
"The crownless king," Hauru whispered to herself. "The first domino that set off the chain reaction that lead to revolt".
"You read the histories as well?" Hauru shook her head.
"Mom did. To me. As a child, before I went to bed. But I keep seeing the same vision. Sonja's death…"
"Lycans have been known to pass traumatic memories on to those they turn. If you were born a lycan, as I suspect, then for you to have that memory…" Aeon paused, stroking his beard. "Never mind. It's probably nothing significant".
"Right," Hauru said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Thanks for the information, but I need to get going".
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Hauru Corvinus". Hauru turned and made her way out of the library, her last vial of the monkshood potion in her hand. She wasn't looking where she was going, and was torn from her thoughts by literally bumping into Aqua. She dropped her potion, and the vial shattered. Aqua didn't seem to notice or care.
"Sorry," Hauru said, stumbling back and rubbing the back of her head. "I just got out of an interesting conversation with Eraqus's old friend".
"It's okay. I met him earlier," said Aqua. "Aeon's a good man. Terra, Ven, and I are gonna do some stargazing tonight. Maybe we'll see that wolf". Hauru's expression turned to one of shock.
"But... it only shows up once a month," Hauru said. Aqua nodded.
"I hear it every full moon. Its howls are so beautiful. It makes me wonder what it's trying to say. Maybe it's looking for a friend. Or mourning. Those howls are lovely, but they almost sound kind of sad".
"Maybe it wants to be left alone," Hauru said.
"Want to come with us?"
"I can't," Hauru said quickly. "I've got... studying to do. I'm looking into... um... Oh. I'm looking into the history of the Unions of Old..." Hauru hated having to lie to her friends. And friends they were. Over the past year, they had trained together, lived together, and played together. But she could never go with them when the moon was full and had to keep making excuses. She told herself it was for their own safety. That it was to protect them from her, and her from them. But it pained her regardless.
"You and your books," Aqua said, playfully teasing Hauru and shaking her head. "I guess us girls learn more from books than the boys learn by doing".
"I strive for some kind of balance, but... I should go".
"Okay. See you later, Hauru". When Hauru had walked far enough. Aqua knelt down to look at the vial that Hauru had dropped. The strange purple liquid looked somewhat familiar. But the blue-haired girl paid it no mind. As the night fell over the Land of Departure, Hauru grew increasingly restless. She paced about, unable to sit still for more than a minute. She had shed her jacket, belt, and corset as she began to feel almost feverish. She could feel her grip on her rage slipping. Aqua... This was her fault. If the mage girl had watched where she was going... Hauru tore her mind from such thoughts. She could not stay inside, not tonight. She had to be out there. To run, to hunt, to... No. She was not an animal. She was a lycan, a chosen of the keyblade. And she was not about to give in to her baser instincts. But she felt so... cooped up in her room. She stormed out, headed for the castle gates. She sped past. Hauru's eyes had become dominated again by the icy blue they always did when she changed.
"No," Hauru whispered to herself. "Not yet". Hauru ran past the others, a hand clutching at her forehead. Aqua tried to stand to approach her but Hauru left in silence before the others noticed just how much pain she was in. Ven, though, was the curious sort and stood up as Hauru reached the mountain path.
"Something's up with Hauru," said Ven. "I'm going to see if she needs help". Hauru was doing worse. Her ears had begun to shift and reposition. She had discarded her boots in anticipation of the change to her legs. She cried out as her teeth became those of a vicious predator and her nails became terrifying claws. Hauru caught a familiar scent on the air. It was Ven. Hauru doubled over as her face pushed out into a proper lycan muzzle and her fur began to grow in as her skin turned rough and black. "Hauru!" Ven shouted, getting closer. "what's..." Before he could finish speaking, Hauru turned to face him, her face no longer recognizable as having ever been human. She rose on her changing legs, accompanied by pained growls and sickening crunches as bones broke, healed, and broke again as her legs finished reshaping. Ven was stunned as Hauru let out a terrifying howl that shook him in his very bones.
Hauru narrowed her gaze on Ven has he began to back away... He felt the creature's eyes on him, as if she was waiting for Ven to run so she could chase him. Ventus did just that, turning around and breaking into a run. He tried to call for help. "Terra!" he shouted. "Help! Hauru..." Before he could finish that sentence, Hauru closed the distance between them, delivering a powerful strike to his back with her claws. Ven stumbled forwards, but quickly rolled onto his back, summoning Wayward Wind just in time to block the Haurus next strike. But Ventus could only hold on for so long. He rose to his feet once again, but Hauru swatted him aside. Ven impacted the nearby rock face with enough force to knock him unconscious. Before Hauru could devour the boy, she was struck in the flank by a massive keyblade. Earthshaker. Terra delivered another blow to the lycan, causing something to break with an audible crunch, and even draw blood. Hauru clutched her wound and stared at Terra, growling menacingly with teeth bared before running off, not wanting a fight with the stronger boy. Terra dismissed Earthshaker and knelt down to pick up Ven and bring him back to the infirmary.
The next morning, Hauru waited, dressed in all her usual gear, at the training circle. The autumn breeze swept over everything, seeming to calm her down. She had heard that Ven was attacked by some animal, that he had suffered a blow to the head and a claw strike to his back. His injuries were severe, but not life threatening. Hauru could not stand to go in. She did not want to see him. Did not want to face what she had done. No, not her. Her wolf-side. Hauru was taken back to the present when he heard Terra and Aqua walking towards her. She turned to see their expressions sullen, yet hopeful. "How's Ventus?" Hauru asked. "Is he going to be okay?"
"He's awake," said Terra. Hauru breathed a sigh of relief. "It'll take some time, but he'll be fine".
"They didn't find any… bite wounds, did they?" asked Hauru. Aqua shook her head. Hauru felt as though a mountain had been lifted from her shoulders. She had known, from the stories her mother had told her, that anyone bitten by a lycan was just as likely to die as they were to be turned. But she didn't know which was worse.
"He told us what attacked him," said Aqua. Hauru's eyes went wide, her expression dominated by shear dread. "He said, 'It was Hauru… but, it wasn't'. It's probably head trauma talking. Maybe when he's recovered some more…"
"No," said Hauru. "It was… it was me. Aqua? You remember when you bumped into me yesterday and I dropped that vial?" Aqua nodded. "That would have… that potion would have stopped it from happening. It was under a full moon. Ven… saw me change. I don't remember last night, but from what I heard this morning from Eraqus…"
"Hauru," Terra said, placing a hand on her shoulder and staring her down, "what are you saying?" Hauru moved Terra's arm aside
"That wolf you kept hearing under the full moon since I got here? That was… it was me. I'm a lycan".
"Hauru. You should have told us. We could have found some way to help you. We could have…" Aqua paused. She wasn't sure what to say. Hauru had wounded one of her best friends, but Aqua knew enough about lycans to know that Hauru wasn't in control of her actions. "So that potion…"
"Monkshood," Hauru answered. "Diluted to the point that it wouldn't kill me. It only stops my mind from being consumed, and keeps the darkness in my blood out of my heart". Hauru hung her head low. She had hoped the others would never find out, or that she would tell them when the time was right. But here she was, exposed as the monster she knew herself to be. "I can't stay here".
"You can," said Aqua. "We can sequester ourselves. Stay inside the castle while you… do whatever it is lycans do under the full moon".
"I can't ask you to do that for me," Hauru said.
"We can chain you up so you don't get loose," Terra suggested. Hauru turned to face Terra with a harsh stare.
"You did not just suggest that!" She shouted. "We were in chains once. We were slaves to the vampires in what became the Country of Immortals. I won't wear shackles of any sort".
"Oh…" was all Terra could say. He had meant well, but Hauru was in no mood to explain the depths of Terra's insensitivity.
"Go see Ven. He needs you now more than ever. Both of you. I'm going to gather my things and leave. It's for your own good. I'm too dangerous to be around". Terra nodded and headed into the Castle. Aqua laid a hand on Hauru's shoulder.
"Hauru…"
"Just… go see Ven. Trust me when I say you're better off without me here". Hauru moved Aquas hand aside and headed into the castle to gather what little she owned that wasn't already on her person. Hauru never owned more than she could carry. It stopped her from getting too attached to a place. She made her way to the castle gate, preparing to activate her keyblade armor. She hesitated, tears streaming down her face. What she did to Ven… Would they ever forgive her? Could she forgive herself? Hauru began sniffling and noticed another familiar Scent. Master Eraqus was leaning against one of the arches in front of the castle gates.
"Going somewhere?" He asked. Hauru nodded. "And where is that?"
"Anywhere that's not here," Hauru answered, still crying. "I… I can't stay here".
"And why is that?"
"I just can't. After what happened to Ven…" Hauru paused. She had to think of something. Some way to not implicate herself. But, Eraqus was no fool. And she knew that he would find out anyway not long after she left.
"Because you're a lycan?" Eraqus asked. Hauru gasped. Shocked beyond measure that he had known. And there was no way Terra or Aqua had told him in so little time. He had to know sooner.
"How long have you known?" She asked, finally turning to face him.
"Since a month after you arrived. There was that despondent howling coming from outside, and when I checked your room, you were gone".
"But… I locked my door. I…" Eraqus cut Hauru off by summoning his keyblade, Master's Defender. Hauru shot him a look of disapproval.
"I know. But I was concerned. Do you really have to go?" the Master asked. Hauru nodded, activating her keyblade armor. Eraqus approached Hauru, handing her something. She examined it closely. It was a chain for a keyblade. She saw it in a book once. It had belonged to William Corvinus. He held the chain, but never was able to wield the keyblade. It was thought lost after the Keyblade war. "I found this on a trip to the Keyblade graveyard. It's not quite unique. Fenrir was an uncommon pattern, but multiple wielders used it. But Something tells me you are uniquely advantaged to wield it".
Hauru held it tight, summoned her keyblade, and swapped its chain out for Fenrirs. Her keyblade changed. The handguard became heftier, and the blade a bandaged steel that resembled the keys used in pin and tumbler locks rather than the normal skeleton key design favored by many keyblades. She raised Fenrir high, creating a portal to the Lanes Between and hurled Fenrir skyward. Her new glider came to her and she got on it without hesitation. "Remember this before you go," Eraqus said. "You will always be welcome here". Hauru waved goodbye to her master and flew her glider through the portal to the Lanes Between. She cried, knowing her last night at the Land of Departure was such a tragic one.