More Than One Heart

by AzureDragonZX

Makoto Yuki, the Blue Saviour from a world long forgotten. Spyro the Dragon, the Purple Legend destined to save the Realms. Two souls lost in the sea of the unconscious. No matter how dire the situation, they can be certain of one thing... they aren't alone anymore. [Persona 3 sequel/The Legend of Spyro remake.]

9. CH9 - Deep Mentality

Chapter uploaded: September 5th, 2024
Last edited: September 5th, 2024

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A/N

Hello, AzureDragonZX here once again.

Only one response to my poll so far… But I guess this technically means Spyro is your guys' favourite character! I'll keep that in mind going forward. We're already going to be seeing a lot more of Purple Boy in the next few chapters, but now he'll be getting extra special attention!

Remember, if you want me to give a specific character more "screen time", the poll is what I'll go off of when planning future scenes and arcs.

This chapter is another large one, at 18k words long. I'll have to find a way to get these out quicker… I am still going to aim for 10k-15k word installments with the occasional longer chapter. Hopefully, I can get to the point when all the main characters are together soon. Those segments are by far my favourite things to write in my spare time. (I still haven't even introduced all the key players yet!)

We're getting closer to the good stuff. I'll say that much.

With all that said though, enjoy.

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More Than One Heart

Chapter 9 - Deep Mentality

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"Are you sure you want this?" Sirius asked, voicing his concerns as the two walked through the temple halls together. "It's still only your first day here. You can take more time to rest before anything else."

Makoto looked up at the wolf and answered plainly.

"I am. It's becoming harder to ignore; I'm having trouble walking as it is… So, yes. I've made up my mind."

Not long after their private meeting, Sirius offered Makoto space to train privately, including potentially assigning a teacher to him. Their current agreement was that Makoto would assist Sapphire when it came time for Spyro to return to Lycanus, but in the meantime, he was free to study under them as a student along with the younger wolves.

To the alpha's surprise, however, Makoto requested to start immediately, stating that he needed the exercise now more than ever. Sirius reacted to the request with trepidation, as if he was unsure if it was a good idea for Makoto to push himself after last night's battle.

At least, that's what Makoto assumed at first.

When he looked the alpha in the eyes and heard his hesitant, almost scared voice, he saw that the problem ran far deeper. To think this was the same wolf he had likened to a deadly assassin was unbelievable…

Currently, Sirius was trying his best to talk him out of the idea and to spend the remainder of the day at home. He slowly moved in front of the young man, blocking his path.

"Is this another one of those 'changes' you've mentioned?" Sirius asked him directly. He had already learnt of Makoto's rebirth and subsequent mutation, and how his body was unlike a regular human's. While intrigued, he avoided pressing for more information out of respect for Makoto's privacy.

The young man nodded silently, confirming the alpha's suspicions.

Sirius appeared concerned and frowned. His hand slowly crept over to Makoto to show support, but he was mere centimetres away when he suddenly pulled back and growled to himself.

'He's a human… He's a human!" he mouthed while shaking his head.

Since this morning, Makoto had noticed a change in Sirius, in how he was suddenly treating him very delicately. The wolf the size of a large bodybuilder was too scared to touch him now, as if his body was made of porcelain.

This likely had something to do with those legends surrounding the Ancestors. Makoto apparently had a spiritual connection to them, but furthermore, he also had the distinction of being the last living human—the only one the Realms had seen in billions of years. That made him even more exceptional, apparently.

Or more vulnerable…

'I understand him wanting to look out for me, he is the city's leader, but he should know by now that I can take care of myself.'

Sighing, Sirius turned back around and beckoned Makoto to follow him.

"Come. We'll speak with my sister about this."

The two walked down another level and turned down a new hallway. When they reached the room he was looking for, Sirius waved the door open and gestured for Makoto to peek through while not stepping into the light. They remained hidden in the shadows so as not to disturb the room's occupants.

Makoto recognized Sapphire immediately, even with her back turned. In front of her were several younger wolves of varying ages practicing different combat stances while she observed and corrected their form. With every choreographed punch and kick from the students, a powerful burst of air shot out, creating a sonic boom. Makoto could feel the resulting wind in his mane, impressing him with the force they could exert.

"Amazing…" he whispered.

The adult at his side agreed with him and crossed his arms.

Sirius hadn't told him to step forward yet, so it was clear they were to watch until the time was right. Makoto took this opportunity to observe the students and gauge where they all stood physically. They weren't amateurs, as far as he could tell. Their heights were already a good indication of their general ages, but in addition, their movements right now were a beautiful dance that implied many years of dedication. They must have all been training under Sapphire for a long time.

At times, he noticed one of the students wobble in place, but this wasn't from a loss of balance. Something had distracted them briefly.

A firm paw landed on Makoto's shoulder, breaking him from his trance.

"They know you're here," Sirius explained. "They can sense that someone is watching them. Someone they haven't met before."

He had forgotten about that… Even at a young age, wolves were unusually perceptive.

"Should I leave and come back later?" Makoto asked in a low voice. He didn't want to intrude on this important lesson.

"No, this is an instinct they need to temper and overcome. And beyond that, this session is almost over."

Almost as if they reacted to the alpha's initial comment, the students slowly regained their fluid grace. After a while, their movements became hypnotic, with Makoto getting lost in the display. His receptive mind, however, wouldn't stop developing questions, sometimes even ones unrelated to the training.

"The students…" he spoke up. "They aren't wearing masks like you. Why is that?"

Sirius paused as if it were an odd question that should be obvious to anyone in the city, but he answered all the same.

"Because they're still young and haven't earned it."

Young…? In what regard? From Makoto's point of view, they all appeared comparable to humans in their mid to late teens. Did he mean they weren't full-grown adults yet? Were the masks something only given to them once they fully matured, as a right of passage?

Makoto wanted to inquire more, but the wolf gave a small bark to silence him.

He would have to uncover the full explanation another time.

The two continued to watch from the shadows in silence. After testing their abilities some more, Sapphire had her students wind down with some stretches before letting them break off on their own. The pups were visibly tired at this point, with most of them either panting or taking this opportunity to rehydrate.

Sensing an opening, Sirius raised a paw and released a tiny wisp of his aura. His sister's ears twitched as she recognized his tell, and she turned to where the two were standing. After quickly letting the class know they were done for the day and that they could leave on their own time, she hurried off to speak with the alpha.

"I trust everything went well?" she asked Makoto once she stood beside the two, noting how at ease he appeared. His spirits had improved significantly from when they first entered the temple.

Sirius stepped forward and proudly answered for him.

"Indeed. Makoto has agreed to stay with us in Lycanus. Like with Spyro, he is our special guest from this day forward."

Sapphire and Makoto turned to him with skepticism. Sirius spoke boldly as if it was the human who needed convincing, and that it was a great accomplishment that he was swayed to their side in the end. After their initial introduction, Makoto had begun to accept the possibility that Sirius would force him to leave Lycanus for the pack's safety.

The wolf was so angry in that moment… Makoto was certain he was no longer welcome.

That logic held no merit anymore, as the alpha was now strangely opposed to the thought of Makoto stepping outside the forest. He had panicked when Makoto was about to hint at this before and needed to be calmed down. As it was, Makoto couldn't leave Lycanus even if he wanted to.

"I see…" Sapphire looked down at the younger male. Their concerns from before were unwarranted, but the positive outcome was all that mattered in the end. "That's excellent news, Makoto. I'm glad to hear it."

He smiled back at her. Out of everyone in Lycanus, Sapphire was probably the one he was most comfortable around. She respected his boundaries while being easy to talk to, and her maturity was something he appreciated, especially with how she treated him as a regular person before anything else.

"He's also agreed to help us with our other matter," Sirius added as a supplement to his previous announcement.

Sapphire knew what he meant right away and had to double-take. It had only been a day—one conversation—and the two had made so much progress already.

"What have you two been discussing!?"

The alpha repeated his findings and explained how they got to where they were now. Even hearing it a second time, Makoto had difficulty processing that he was the "son" of an all-powerful dragon deity. While not the most religious person, he had seen undeniable proof of God's existence. He had even called upon the Lord's power in his time of need.

Nothing could break his faith anymore.

It was possible that this "Zenith" and the biblical God he knew were one and the same. If this were true, Sirius' claims would begin to make sense, but this was only a theory. One he devised in a desperate attempt to maintain sanity.

Sapphire hummed in contemplation as her brother talked.

"So this is why you were so resolute earlier…" she thought out loud. She glanced down at Makoto's arm, at the mark of Zenith. "Now I see. Brothers…"

Makoto stared up at the two wolves as their facial expressions changed. It was the same as last night when they "talked" to each other without speaking. It was more than a simple sibling connection. Wolves were experts at reading body language and could rely on tiny details that were invisible to him. The two weren't trying to exclude him from the conversation, but their thoughts were moving too fast to relay verbally.

He watched as Sirius stepped closer and held him tightly. The wolf's eyes grew watery, and his face softened. Whatever he was trying to convey, it was important but it also made him show weakness.

"It's as you said, Sister. They chose us."

Sapphire understood the implications and nodded solemnly.

"You… are correct. We must act diligently from here on."

After that moment of intense consideration, Sirius calmed down. They were on the same page again. Makoto didn't ask them to explain, but only because he wasn't given the chance.

"There's something else you should know," the alpha continued, moving to the next matter without pause. "The actual reason why we're meeting now."

He suddenly nudged Makoto forward, like a parent forcing their shy kid to introduce themselves at a large social gathering.

"As of today, you have a new student."

Sapphire looked over at her brother, appalled. Instantly, she was in his face and barking loudly while baring her teeth. She was angry that Sirius would so much as consider having Makoto push himself so soon after everything he had endured physically and emotionally. It didn't matter if he had a Persona and had agreed to help them awaken Spyro's. The alpha was moving far too fast!

Taking a step back, however, Sirius calmly shook his head and silently explained that it was neither his decision nor his idea. The wolfess backed off at the implication.

"Makoto? You want this…!?"

The young man nodded.

"I need to know what I'm capable of. And… I don't feel in control of my own body right now."

He briefly illustrated his "mutation", sharing how his current body wasn't identical to the one he grew up with. It was also at this point where he had to tell her the truth, in that he had died long ago. In some ways, he was only born yesterday, but he still had the mind and memories of an adult.

"That's the whiskers and tail of it all," Sirius affirmed once the story ended. "Now that you understand his desires, is this acceptable to you, Sister? Can you manage another student?"

Sapphire appeared conflicted. Her tail had gone stiff, and her ears stood up. Makoto could see that she didn't have a valid reason to decline the request, but she was still against it for reasons similar to before.

"Would you be content with this arrangement, Makoto?" she asked warningly. "Know this: Your potential peers are already taking very advanced lessons. While I would accommodate you initially, you'd soon be expected to carry your weight. I won't sacrifice my students' progress for a sole late addition."

It was a reasonable demand. One Makoto had no problem with. Having to catch up on missed studies or similar activities was nothing new for him, after all.

"Understood," he answered with a straightened posture. His confidence was reassuring to her. With everyone in agreement, it was decided then that Makoto would train under Sapphire for the foreseeable future and later assist Spyro with his latent Persona powers.

The young man was able to share one last brief moment with the alpha before he was fully surrendered into Sapphire's care for the remainder of the day.

"Don't worry, I won't forget you," Sirius promised tearfully before he left. "But there are other people who rely on me, and I have to go see them now."

Sirius bid them both farewell and retreated down the hallway. Makoto shook his head at how overly possessive Sirius was becoming toward him. From how he talked, he could almost swear the wolf was reluctant to leave and that he wanted to abandon his responsibilities to stay with him for the day. But ultimately, his duties were far too important to simply ignore.

"Come," Sapphire beckoned him as her brother left. "I'll introduce you to the rest of them now."

Stepping into the room, Makoto was surprised to see that not all of Sapphire's students had left the temple. A majority of them had disregarded her dismissal and stayed behind. Altogether, there were a little over a dozen or so young wolves killing time, waiting for her.

"Master Sapphire!" a juvenile voice suddenly called out.

"Is that HIM…!?" another asked, leaning in close.

Now that their master was finally done conversing with the alpha, the stragglers came over to get a long-awaited glimpse at the city's new resident.

Makoto quickly backpedalled to gain more space, sensing their enthusiasm, but he immediately collided with another wolf from behind. The group's younger, more curious members surrounded Makoto with wide eyes, and he flinched under their excited gazes.

He was unprepared for this much energy. While he was bigger than most of the class, with the odd exception, they were all reasonably tall in their own rights. But that height was deceptive. Not all of them were teenagers, as he initially thought. These wolves had the zeal of little kids, and their voices were high-pitched, almost squeaky.

He was effectively standing in the middle of a bunch of 10-year-olds!

'No wonder everyone in the city thought I was a kid…!' he thought in amazement.

Makoto tried to squirm out of the tight circle, but with the pups all wanting to get closer, he was left with no option but to let them have their fill and take in his human self. It took another minute, but Makoto soon found an opening and leaped forward. Using this chance, he introduced himself to them in a shaky voice.

"H-Hello, everyone… My name is Makoto. It's… nice to meet all of you."

He felt so awkward. They were mentally all so much younger than him, but to any observer, he probably blended in with the group seamlessly.

His introduction, fortunately, seemed to please Sapphire, who smiled.

"Starting tomorrow, Makoto here will be joining you all," she announced to everyone. "I hope you all get along."

There was a wide variety of reactions to this news. Most were overjoyed, while others were confused. Amongst the group, however, a few appeared disappointed. Sapphire picked up on this and tried to inquire why.

"Do any of you have a problem with this arrangement?" she asked, focusing on the tallest wolf in the back. The kid played with his fingers and looked away, too embarrassed to admit his feelings.

"N-No, ma'am!" he stammered. "It's just… When Dad told me about the human this morning, I-I wanted… was hoping that they'd train us instead."

His friends all snickered at his honesty, barking loudly in unison. Sapphire herself also chuckled at the comment.

Between their grossly inaccurate understanding of humanity and his earlier exploits, the young wolves collectively envisioned the city's mysterious guest as an invincible warrior, and they must have been admiring him from a distance. The chance to learn from a great legend might have made some of them hopeful, and seeing the real deal had not deterred them.

'Well, I wouldn't mind helping them,' Makoto thought. 'But they're all already so skilled. What more could I do for them?'

"I'm sure he's flattered by the attention," Sapphire said, interrupting his thoughts, "but Makoto still has much to learn himself. He'll also accompany me in the future once Spyro returns, so I need to ensure Makoto is prepared."

Having the dragon mentioned only got the junior wolves more excited. From what Makoto could tell, Spyro was Sapphire's best student by a wide margin. Hearing that the human was supposedly on the same level as Spyro and that they would be seeing and training alongside him daily from now on… The pups probably couldn't ask for anything better.

A chorus of poorly restrained yips came from the group, and Makoto soon found himself back inside the tight circle as the young wolves celebrated the inclusion of a new friend.

"Personal space, guys…"

As he was quickly learning, wolves loved physical contact. Currently, he had one with an arm leaning against his shoulder and laughing cheerfully, another at this side giving him an encouraging pound with his fist, and more than a few chose to outright glomp him, creating a standing dogpile.

To an extent, he could excuse their enthusiasm as typical canine behaviour. It was because of this that Makoto wasn't forcing anyone away. He never objected to Koromaru doing anything like this in the past, for example, so it wouldn't feel right to enforce the same boundaries on these pups as he would other humans.

Suddenly being the centre of attention like this reminded him a lot of his childhood. Ever since the accident that took his parents' lives, he was constantly shuffled between relatives who enrolled him at a new school with the hopes of him moving on from the tragedy. But every time, the shell-shocked boy proved impossible to reach out to, and the process repeated after a few months or years.

But for once, he welcomed the attention. It felt good to be introduced to a new group of people that had no reservations around him. Surrendering himself to the friend huddle, Makoto smiled and gently laughed alongside the young wolves.

While he was content to stay in this position, his sharp senses alerted him of something in the distance. Makoto slowly blinked as he tried to make sense of the strange feeling. It wasn't a danger, but something was nearby and getting closer.

Sapphire saw his change in expression and followed his gaze to the walls. After scanning the temple's perimeter with her kind's unique ability, she recognized the problem and waved at him to stay put. She would take care of it.

"Take this time to get to know them better," she told him. "We'll be starting tomorrow properly and won't have time for this then."

Makoto tried to respond. He wanted to follow her but couldn't. His voice was drowned out by everyone else, and he could barely move a muscle. The pups had effectively trapped him in place, and he could only watch as Sapphire disappeared from sight.

'She did that intentionally…'

Until Sapphire returned for him, he had no choice but to stay put.

Making the most of the situation, Makoto gradually asked around for their names and let them introduce themselves. They all had similar backgrounds, obviously, due to them all having lived in Lycanus for their entire lives. Because of this, they were eager to learn about the outside world and bombarded him with questions about his old life. Makoto did his best to answer but inevitably had to exclude a lot. They would be there all day if he had to explain human concepts such as modern technology.

When he finally managed to steer the conversation away from himself, Makoto tried asking them about their training and, more importantly, his supposed brother.

"Spyro… What's he like?"

A girl in the group answered with a loud voice.

"Well, he's big…!" She held her arms out to demonstrate. "And he's PURPLE!"

A purple dragon… That was important, apparently. It was already an uncommon colour in nature, and Sirius had described Spyro as a rare breed. But what significance did Spyro's colour really have?

And how did he fall into this…?

More voices spoke up as the other young pups butted in from where their friend left off.

"But don't call him a 'dragon'! He hates it when you do that."

"My mom says we have to call him a 'gnorc' instead."

"A gnorc?" Makoto asked. He had never heard of that animal before… Did they mean to say an orc? The fantasy species that was nothing but thick green skin and muscle that lived in the swamplands?

Those didn't exist in real life. They were made up!

'But then again… so are dragons.'

"I suggest you stop that," a more mature voice scolded him blithely.

The eldest of the group, a wolf named Vahn, moved closer. He was taller, with well-groomed fur and a slightly dishevelled blue mane. His snout was raised in a proud demeanour, and his eyes looked down at Makoto sharply.

He gently poked the human's temple.

"You're overworking your head. We can see it plainly on your face. That's not good for the mind or body. You'll need both in perfect form if you wish to succeed while you're here."

The wolf's voice was as direct and proper as a butler's, someone who held every assignment to a standard of perfection. Wanting to show that he understood the intent, Makoto got up, forcing everyone to give the two space. He straightened himself out, projecting a level-headedness he was known to use when the situation demanded it.

"I understand what you're saying, Vahn. I am still getting used to the world and have questions, but I won't rush it. Acting hastily won't get me anywhere."

The wolf responded with a firm smile.

"Well said, Son of Zenith."

Vahn was content knowing that the newest member understood the importance of pacing themself, and he stepped back to the side with the other older wolves.

"Wouldn't that be hard for him?" someone in the back tried to ask as Vahn walked past. "Humans are supposed to be smart, so why tell him to not think?"

Vahn chuckled and shook his head.

"Because overthinking breaks focus and leaves you exposed." Crossing his arms, he moved to where the shorter wolf stood.

It happened in less than a second. Vahn swept his leg out, knocking the boy off-balance. He followed this up with a small flurry of jumping kicks as he spun through the air. His opponent fell on his back without a moment to defend as Vahn landed over him, bringing his foot down by his head in a loud clap.

"See what I mean?" the older male admonished with his arms behind his back. The wolf at his feet squeaked in response.

"Yep! Yep! I get it now…!"

The group all laughed together as Vahn pulled him back to his feet.

Makoto spent as much time interacting with his new friend group as he could, even going out of his way to talk to the tall wolf who wanted to see him earlier. Despite his height, the kid was unnaturally timid, but after some effort, Makoto was able to get through to him.

"I can't promise anything, but I'll try to help in any way I can. We're in this together now."

The boy's face grew hopeful. His tail began wagging uncontrollably while his arms and legs went stiff, almost like a robot.

"T-thank you, sir!" he blurted out. "No, wait– Thank you, Son of Zenith."

Makoto rolled his eyes at hearing the exact phrasing that Vahn used. He already knew this kid would be addressing him formally from now on, which Makoto didn't have any issue with. He had been doing the same thing throughout the day, after all. But the kid didn't have to go that far with it…

"Just 'Makoto', please."

More snickering was heard behind him as someone climbed over his shoulder and started teasing.

"HA! He's just like Master Sapphire." They said and poked him in the cheek. "She hates it when we're formal with her too!"

…Sapphire?

He hadn't noticed it yet, but the wolfess still hadn't returned.

'What happened…?'

Was there a complication? The problem hadn't been resolved as far as he could tell, so now would probably be a good time for him to investigate.

Shrugging the kid from his back, Makoto bowed to the group and told them of his intentions. When they heard him say he was leaving to find their Master, most of them begged Makoto to let them accompany the two of them, thinking he would begin his private training with Sapphire immediately after. While he didn't take issue with them staying back to watch, that wasn't the reason he was heading out, and the pups all had places they needed to be right now. They had been dismissed a long time ago, after all. Fortunately, they all conceded when he reminded them of this.

After giving them a parting wave, Makoto hurried downstairs to find Sapphire.

His search led him to the temple entrance, where a small crowd had gathered outside. Something told him, however, that they weren't the parents of his new friends. Nobody had come downstairs with him, after all.

'These people… they're here for me, aren't they?' he speculated.

The pups might not have been the only ones eager to see him train at the temple. Only a small group got to see him fight the apes, after all, and that was from back when he was exhausted from over a day's worth of fighting without food or rest. In theory, he would be more combat-ready now and more impressive to see in action. There was also the matter of them potentially knowing about his Persona…

As he got close, one wolf arguing enthusiastically with Sapphire saw him step forward, and perked up.

"How about that? There's the little man right now!"

Multiple wolf ninjas were waiting for him. Makoto recognized many faces but still had not met all of them. Each wolf acknowledged his presence with a warm yet predatory smile. He paid no mind to this and remained headstrong, which received positive reactions. They liked his steadfast confidence.

Sapphire, conversely, was partially irritated to see him appear by her side.

"Makoto. I should have known you would make it here soon enough…" she scowled. He looked up at her and answered in his usual calm voice.

"I suspected this would involve me. You can handle this without my help, I know, but I still wanted to be here."

That same expression he had seen on Sirius appeared on the wolfess' face. He noticed that whenever he showed any sort of defiance or expressed his personal thoughts, Makoto would catch Sirius and Sapphire raising an eyebrow, and part of their upper lips would twitch. Whatever that reaction was, he needed to figure out what it meant. Something about his actions was taking them by surprise, and it caused them to second-guess themselves without fail.

Like her brother, Sapphire mumbled something under her breath about his species before relenting and turning back to the crowd. He was permitted to stay, but she warned him not to intervene unless permitted.

She returned to talking to the head of the crowd, Zion, one of the two guards he had seen not long after leaving the house. Only now, he was alone; his companion, Riley, was nowhere to be seen. The male wolf passionately argued his case with Sapphire with a bright smile.

"It's his first day here! How could we just ignore him and let him fend for himself when he doesn't know anything about the city and its culture? Imagine that! Leaving the little human alone with nobody to help…?"

"So, this is you going out of your way to ensure he's comfortable?" Sapphire asked, not entirely convinced by the excuse.

"YES! If he's going to train at the temple, that's all the more reason we're there for him!"

Zion began rocking back and forth between feet with both arms behind his back, getting ready to ask something that he'd been waiting a long time for.

"Aaaannnnd… if it's all right with the pup," he pulled his arms out with a finely crafted longbow in hand. "I was going to offer him some lessons."

Zion went over to Makoto and dropped to his knees, smiling warmly.

"I know you're good with a sword, little guy, but how about it? You want to learn to fight from a distance?"

Makoto looked around and saw the other ninjas either holding equally impressive weapons or looking ready to spar. Apparently, they all had the same motive for being there. They each wanted to train him in their area of expertise and were prepared to make the offer.

"I already know how to use a bow and arrow." Makoto countered dryly. While not directly opposed to receiving an expert's guidance, they needed to know that he wasn't the amateur they thought he was.

This response took many aback. They must have assumed Makoto dedicated his time only to mastering swordplay without considering other weapons. Zion, however, wasn't offended by the bluntness and held onto his playful demeanour.

"Heehhhh? At your age? That's impressive…! You humans are such skilled fighters!"

They weren't…

Most humans, especially those from his own time, didn't know how to use a weapon, let alone how to fight. Individuals like him, who excelled at combat, were a rare exception. He wanted to explain this to Zion, but part of him knew it would be impossible to get through to the wolf guard, no matter how hard he tried. Their perception of humanity was built upon billions of years worth of legends and tales. It would take a lot of time and effort before the stereotypes disappeared.

"Well, the offer still stands," Zion said while getting back up. "If the ~little~ human ever wants to hone his skills further, I'll be waiting."

Just like before, he gave Makoto a pat on the back, much to the latter's annoyance. Sapphire quickly interjected again once Zion was on his feet.

"Why is there a sudden fixation on seeing Makoto fight?" she asked.

Someone Makoto didn't recognize laughed.

"Can you blame any of us? The pup took out Terrak last night, one of the Dark Army's strongest commanders, and he's only a little tyke!"

Additional voices chimed in.

"The pup is a natural warrior, Sapphire! You can see it in his soul."

"You can't keep a human from the battlefield. Let him fight, fangs ready!"

Their efforts did nothing to change Sapphire's mind, and she shook her head.

"Unfortunately, Makoto hasn't fully recovered yet. I only intend to cover some preliminary exercises today and then have a mild spar. Beyond that, much like Spyro, he can't summon his Senary on his own. I wouldn't waste your valuable time waiting for him to reveal his power to you."

'Waste time…?' Makoto gawked at them as he processed that fact.

"You all abandoned your other duties to see me…!?" he exclaimed.

Everyone immediately refuted his question and quickly explained that they would never act so selfishly, and that they either weren't preoccupied at the time or had gotten someone to cover them. Not even this was enough for them to break established rules and slack off.

Sapphire continued with her clarification.

"It's far too early to expect so much from Makoto, regardless of how talented he may have been in his old life."

Her words finally seemed to reach the others, who realized how overeager they may have been, and calmed down. Sapphire then turned to pull Makoto away from the throng and guide him back into the temple.

"Now, if you'll all please excuse us, there is a lot we need to review before the day ends."

"And why is it that you get to train the pup, Sapphire?" a feminine voice in the distance suddenly called out. "You've already got Spyro, and I have a claim on this one!"

Everyone turned to face the new arrival approaching the temple with a firm yet overly relaxed gait.

Unlike most adults Makoto had seen who dressed very lightly, the female wolf wore bulkier gear that weighed her down and had several large weapons on hand. In his eyes, she looked less like a ninja and more like a wilderness expert—someone with every tool needed to survive and who accounted for everything. There were so many foreign items strapped to her armoured clothes that he couldn't begin to identify them all.

"Raya. You've returned from your hunt, I see?" Sapphire spoke as the older wolfess approached. Her voice had become bitter, as if she was mentally preparing for an argument. Fortunately, the other wolf hadn't noticed yet.

"We were able to follow up on a strong lead from yesterday. With our coordination, the hunt barely lasted a few hours."

Raya explained everything with a dismissive wave. Despite her heavy gear, she had the same poise as a jaded individual walking through a house in pyjamas. The added weight didn't affect her at all.

The crowd parted as she got close, and everyone gave her ample room. When she finally stopped, she stared down at Makoto and gave him a toothy grin.

"Besides, I had a feeling the pup would be awake later!"

It was a brief encounter, but Makoto remembered who she was. She was there, helping to defend the city from the apes. Raya stood out to him more than the others due to her fiery personality, and as he could see now, she was physically stronger than most of her packmates, including the males.

"You're the one from before…" he whispered out loud.

Raya's face lit up all at once. She winked at Makoto and gave him a firm nudge that almost knocked him over.

"You remember me? I'm touched, little guy!"

How could he forget? There were some things in life he did not want to experience, and he desperately hoped Raya wouldn't get physically affectionate with him again. That ogle of hers was already looking dangerous…!

A growl rang out as Sapphire spoke up, preventing anything from happening.

"You wish to train Makoto as well, Raya?" she challenged. "You haven't taken on a student in many years, not since you joined the hunting parties. Why the sudden change?"

Raya frowned at her but quickly dismissed the hostility. Her eagerness distracted her from the alpha's sister.

"A prodigy like him is rare! And a pup his age, no matter how talented, hasn't decided on their life's ultimate direction. Last night, I could see his potential and was already set on nurturing that keen fighting instinct of his."

She began to remove the heavier pieces of her gear as she talked, either placing them aside or handing them to someone close by. The wolfess' impressive body was inundated with scars, something which wasn't lost on Makoto. He could see how strong she was compared to the rest of the pack, including Sirius. And she clearly had no reservations in showcasing this fact to the world…

He averted his gaze to be safe. The fur didn't cover enough, in his opinion.

Raya's eyes grew hungry as she continued with a feverish passion.

"But now that we know he's a human, I've decided! If there were ever someone who could keep up with me, it would be him. His kind doesn't have the same limits we all do. Humans thrive in combat and never back down from anything! If given the right push, this pup will grow into the mightiest warrior the Realms have ever seen. All the more reason that he learns from the very best, and now, while he's still young!"

Her speech reinvigorated everyone present, who approved of the idea of transforming Makoto into an unstoppable force—a fighter with a human's natural strength and cunning, and a wolf's sharp discipline. It made complete sense to them. If what the alpha said was true, and Makoto had been blessed by the Ancestors, why should he settle for anything less? This was practically his birthright!

Very quickly, Makoto was pressured on all sides to accept the gracious offer. Multiple voices collided in his head, creating a frustrating mess that made him groan. He tried to make his opinions heard, but when that didn't work, he finally snapped.

"No."

In that moment of turbidity, he had forgotten to speak in English and used his native tongue instead. The wolves backed off as he raised his voice. While they didn't know what the word meant, they instinctively knew it had a negative connotation and that he was denouncing the idea.

Not everyone heard him, however. The two adults who started the debate were still arguing with each other. Sapphire tried hard to defend the alpha's decision, while Raya attempted to disparage her.

"As I've said, Sirius has made his decision. This conversation should be over."

"Is that so? Hiding behind your brother's influence again?"

Raya marched over and locked eyes with Sapphire. This time, the accusation made her falter.

"We can see this for the nepotism it is. Sirius had you train Spyro because 'he trusts' you, but where has that gotten us? Purple Boy has made no progress with his Senary, and now you want to try again with the human pup?"

"I don't… That's, that's not…" Sapphire stumbled. But Raya did not let up and pressed further in a frosty voice.

"Maybe it's time you gave up on this obsession. It's not worth it anymore."

Everyone stayed silent after this, not wanting to add to the conflict.

Makoto saw the hurt in Sapphire's features after Raya finished. He couldn't read the wolves' body language perfectly, he still had issues simply speaking with them, but the way her ears and tail fell was enough for him to sense her pain. At that moment, he wanted to reach out to his friend and let her know he didn't feel that she was using him.

He slowly walked over to the two wolfesses, whose ears twitched as his human feet slapped against the wooden floor. Raya, whose back had been facing him, turned around and smiled eagerly. The huntress' expression always grew playful and compassionate when she looked in his direction, unlike how she was with Sapphire…

She then approached him and went down to his level, not dissimilar to how Zion had done previously, only more forceful.

"What do you think, little guy?" she asked him. "You want to sharpen your fangs with me instead, right? I know I don't compare to all the human Masters you've trained under, and honestly, who out of any of us ever could? But have faith in me. I'll see to it that you live up to your species' proud status and then some by the time you're of age!"

She raised her forearm, inviting him to bump it with his own to seal the deal.

Makoto had to step back and think about everything that had happened over the past few hours. The kids, Zion, and now Raya… Each time his proficiency in combat was acknowledged or he so much as showed an interest in physically improving himself, it got out of hand. The slightest mention fed into their belief that he was just as baronial as the savages they called "humans"—someone motivated only by combat and the glory it brought.

But he wasn't ambitious like they believed. While he always had an active lifestyle, Makoto's motivation when growing up was to stay healthy or to distract himself from his family's tragedy. The prospect of fighting only became relevant for him recently when he and his friends had no choice but to take up their powers and protect the world from certain doom.

He didn't tell this to Raya. There was a chance she had already read his mind, or whatever it was they did, and resonated with his feelings, but she didn't appear to let up. The bystanders' continued comments flew past him. Their presence had long since left his mind, and he no longer cared what they thought one way or another.

Sapphire said nothing in her defence. She couldn't look Makoto in the eye anymore as she started to believe the truth in her rival's words. Her paws were clenched, and he could hear her throat rumbling dourly. It was possible that she would concede and let Raya mentor him instead… This was the first time he had seen the wolfess in such a vulnerable state.

It humanized her in a way.

He could see that evolution had, and still was, pulling them along a similar path to his own kind, something he was grateful for. The longer he spent with the wolves, the less alien his surroundings became.

"I…"

He exhaled loudly, and his voice became clearer.

"I want to train under Sapphire."

Both wolfesses and the remaining spectators looked at him in shock. He expected Raya to get annoyed by the rejection, but her surprise morphed into curiosity, and she let him continue.

"This isn't about Sirius, Spyro, or anything like that. This is what I feel is best for me. I trust her better than anyone in Lycanus. She should be my teacher."

He quickly added to this before he was interrupted by anyone.

"But… I admit there is a lot I can learn from you, Raya. From all of you. If you can accept that, I'd be willing to train under you once the time is right and I get permission."

Without thinking, he had casually agreed to Raya's invitation…

It started as a way to appease everyone, but he meant every word. Part of him knew this would only feed into the stereotype more, something he had just tried to avoid. But when he considered his surroundings—that he was living in a fantasy land where monsters roamed the outside world, and the locals needed the strength to fight back—Makoto realized that he needed to adapt. His old city life in Japan was over, and his new life in Lycanus would be demanding.

Accepting this offer was potentially an over-commitment. He was unaccustomed to their ways and just agreed to a substantially heavier workload than before—on his first day, no less.

'Will this work…? Is this okay?' Makoto wondered.

A rough paw suddenly caressed his cheek, startling him as he didn't think Raya was the kind to act in such a tender manner.

"If that's how you feel, I can't argue against that."

She got up and stretched before cracking her knuckles and turning to face Sapphire once again.

"It seems the pup is smitten by you, Sapphire. You're fortunate… I wouldn't turn this opportunity down. Take it before the hungry carnivores snatch him up," she warned. She then waved with the backside of her paw and was about to head further into the temple to exercise.

The other wolf, now regaining her composure, crossed her arms and nodded firmly.

"Just so we're clear," Sapphire started, "Makoto is not a 'pup'. Based on what he's told me, we can infer that he's only slightly younger than you and I. You shouldn't be imagining who he'll become when he's lived through a good amount already."

Raya stopped in place when she heard this and quickly looked down at Makoto with wide eyes. It wasn't long, however, before the dangerous glint in her eyes returned. But now, he could have sworn there were more emotions lying beneath that smile. This new information had pleased her somehow.

A finger was placed under Makoto's chin, and his head was tilted upward, forcing him to look directly at the huntress. Free from distractions, he stiffened under her powerful gaze as a confused breath escaped his mouth. He was stuck in this position until she had gotten the reaction she wanted from him.

Against his better judgment, he slowly took in every detail of Raya. It may have been easy to label her as masculine due to her impressive physique, but as he saw now, she also had plenty of feminine traits and was far from lacking in either. Quite the opposite… It should have meant nothing to him, but as Makoto was forced to admire the wolfess, his face began to heat up.

'Why…?' he asked himself. 'I'm not that kind of person, and we're two completely different species.'

Was she doing something to him that made his body react without his consent?

Raya smirked, showing some fangs, and ran a paw through his blue mane. Despite his attempts to conceal any strong emotions, she likely already felt his body growing warmer since she began toying with him.

"So… The adorable little puppy was a handsome young man all along?" she cooed. "You're so cute and innocent, I find it impossible to believe. But no matter. I can… adjust my expectations."

She eventually let go and walked past him. As she rounded his side, he felt her tail swipe against his body. Makoto immediately knew this was deliberate as it seemingly wrapped around his leg like a snake. Raya gave him an amorous wink and slowly unravelled the tail, letting it drag across his skin. He was about to ask what she was doing when the thick plume of fur struck him in the face, and a potent scent entered his nose. It was such a shock to his system that Makoto froze on the spot.

"We'll be seeing each other a lot more once I talk to the alpha, little man," he heard her call out from the doorway moments later. "I hope you can wait for me until then…!"

He stared at the doorway in stunned silence, only taking a moment to wipe his face. Strangely, the scent lingered long after she removed her tail…

Nobody could say anything following the display they had just seen. But eventually, Zion broke the silence and said what was on most of their minds. They had all agreed that, after that muddling encounter, Sapphire deserved this time to herself.

"We'll continue this another time, pup." Zion almost bit his tongue, remembering at the last second that Makoto was much older than he previously assumed. He reached out nervously to pat the young man like he had been doing until now, but stopped to ask for permission with his eyes. Makoto sighed and gave in, letting the wolf guard run a paw through his hair. Now that the false pretence was gone, he had to admit the gesture felt good, especially when it was done to show respect and encouragement instead of playful derision.

Once the crowd had left, Makoto asked Sapphire if she wanted to continue. She didn't answer him verbally, only moving further into the temple to gather the equipment they needed. She didn't let the night's events deter her. Rather, it motivated her to push ahead.

"…Why didn't you turn her down?" he heard her ask while pulling out some heavy-looking gear.

Makoto didn't understand what she meant. To him, he had politely declined Raya's invitation, only promising to revisit the offer when the time was right, and Sirius granted permission.

"You forget that we can read your emotions, Makoto. You had no reason to act sympathetic to Raya when she approached you. If you had refused plainly, you would have ended the conversation. Yet, you went out of your way to appease us both. Why is that?"

"I don't want to hurt either of you…" he revealed calmly, only for the wolfess to stop what she was doing and almost yell back at him.

"You wouldn't have…!" She stopped herself. Once again, Makoto saw that expression on her face before she backed off with a frustrated growl. Just as he was learning to adapt to their culture, she struggled to process how his human mind worked. She was more accustomed to using facts and logic, something instilled in her from many years of strict discipline. His slower, more emotionally driven decision-making was foreign to her, but she now saw that it had merit.

"Sapphire?"

"Thank you," she forced herself to say. "For… what you did."

The tension that followed whenever one of them stopped talking was sharp. He felt obligated to continue, if only to spare them from the unpleasant melancholy.

"Has she always treated you this way?"

The question was admittedly very personal, but with her past being forcibly brought forward, it was unavoidable. Sapphire knew that part of their agreement, as teacher and student, would include them being open with each other. They could continue this conversation as mature adults.

"I have had encounters like this more often as I grew older," she elaborated. "As a pup, I never had the same heavy expectations of my siblings. I was always free to choose my own path, and opportunities were simply given to me without consequence. When compared to them, it does make me appear privileged. I have always had a difficult time escaping their shadows…"

"…You're not spoilt, Sapphire." Makoto's quiet voice echoed loudly in the empty hall, making it impossible for her to stubbornly ignore his caring words. "You've worked your way up to becoming a strong teacher, and your students respect you a lot. That's not something Sirius can give you. You earned it yourself."

Sapphire's arms fell, and she stayed still, too agitated to face him fully. However, he saw her soften when this happened. Despite how difficult it was for her to be honest with herself, she was genuinely grateful to him…

"You should still reconsider with Raya…" she said from her prone position. "It is your decision, and you won't start with her until Sirius permits it, but I have concerns. In the past, Raya has driven many aspiring students away with her overbearing tendencies. In her eyes, you being human enables her to act uninhibited. You might not survive."

The warning was appreciated, but it did nothing to phase him.

"You'd be surprised at how much I can multitask," Makoto shrugged.

Thinking about it deeply, now that he didn't have school to worry about anymore, he had more free time than he knew what to do with. He didn't have to think about working with Spyro for another month at least, and his lessons with Sapphire likely wouldn't take up the full day.

Makoto wondered if he could find a job or occupation in Lycanus. Sirius had said that he would be living there as a guest and that he would be looked after, but he didn't want to rely on everyone's hospitality. With this in mind, learning from an experienced monster hunter like Raya was beginning to sound appealing.

"Do not let that ambition go unchecked!" Sapphire laughed, her mood having improved slightly.

The wolfess eventually returned with the equipment she needed. She let it all fall from her arms and land on the floor with a loud *THUD*. She then handed Makoto a bundle of what he recognized as athletic tape but made from a looser material, likely intended for beings with fur on their arms and legs.

"I recommend putting this on before we start." She pointed to the hallway with a few spare rooms he could use to get situated. There were also some spare sets of clothes in the back that she permitted him to use. "I'll prepare the rest of the equipment while you do that."

He nodded and took the bundle in his hands before heading for one of the changing rooms.

Stepping inside and closing the door behind him, Makoto slipped out of his black shorts and hung them on one of the many hooks on the wall. The navy blue pants he found in the room were all oversized, as was the case with all lupine clothing. They never wore anything form-fitting in order to accommodate their thick fur. He eventually settled on a pair that aligned with his height and tied the golden cloth belt around his waist very tightly.

He was wrapping the athletic tape over his hands and feet when he caught a glimpse of his right arm.

Zenith's emblem stared back at him. It made him think back to the red armband he used to wear into battle operations. He always felt like a new person whenever he donned his combat gear. He could isolate his social life at school with his late-night activities. Minor details like this kept his team sane throughout the gruelling battles.

This time, however, it could be argued that he was a different person…

Without pausing to consider what he was doing, Makoto whispered a quick prayer, asking God for clarity and strength. His mind was unsure of what to visualize as he thought of the Holy Father. Before, he envisioned a blinding figure in white armour. But now, he almost wondered if it was appropriate to see a purple reptile instead.

Until he knew the truth, Makoto decided not to mention the name "Zenith" in his prayers.

His spirits were restored by the time he was finished. Getting up and taking a deep breath, Makoto opened the small door and made his way back to the training floor where Sapphire was waiting for him. He locked eyes with the wolfess as he approached, who nodded back at him.

"This will be a challenge. Not just for you, but me as well."

Sapphire had been obsessing over humanity for a long time, wanting to learn their secrets, but Makoto was the first one she had ever met. She didn't know what to expect or what to compare him to. She needed to establish a baseline before they attempted anything demanding.

"We'll start with some simple exercises. This will help me compare your form to ours, and we can adjust from there."

She gently placed a paw over his chest and one on his lower back.

"Lean forward for me," she instructed. "Try not to move your legs or bend your knees. Stay as steady as possible."

He did as he was told and tilted his upper body. As the angle increased, he began to falter. Without trying, Makoto found himself involuntarily opening his legs and standing on the balls of his feet. He expected his new teacher to order him to try again when he failed, but instead, Sapphire hummed to herself as she processed the information. Her closed eyes glowed blue as she did. Her aura abilities allowed for a more precise analysis.

She quickly had him move over to another stretching exercise, where the process repeated. Some tests he could clear, such as when he had to demonstrate his arms' impressive reach, while others ended similarly to the first. Sapphire kept her thoughts to herself until he completed them all.

"I can see that you are very flexible, but your sense of balance is lacking. Many times, you would have fallen over if not for me holding you back, and your body has this stubborn tendency to adopt a wider stance."

He nodded. It was the same problem he had been experiencing since yesterday.

"It's odd. Your weight distribution… This habitual instinct… It makes me think of Spyro; you're an almost perfect parallel to your brother," Sapphire revealed. "But this also poses a unique problem. With Spyro, he has his wings and large tail to counteract this weight imbalance. But since you don't have either, you're left lumbering around in an uncoordinated mess."

"Does it have to do with… you know?" He rubbed his arm nervously, knowing she picked up on his theory.

"While it's safe to imagine Zenith's blessing has had a hidden effect, you are not a dragon. There must be another explanation."

"Another explanation…?" he echoed. There was something else they hadn't uncovered?

"Let us continue," Sapphire said, not hesitating for a moment.

Next, she had Makoto test his strength using the equipment she had set up. This, too, yielded interesting results. When it came to lifting strength, for example, it started with Makoto raising the weights without effort. There was no resistance against his arms and shoulders. He may as well have been lifting feathers.

Repeatedly, Sapphire would have him try with a heavier load until he showed signs of actual exertion. This created a humorous image where the amount he was lifting grew to an impossibly high numerical value. Makoto dismissed this oddity, chalking it up to the wolves using a different measurement system, one with smaller increments, than what he used in the past. After all, nobody could lift that many kilograms or pounds…

Regardless, Sapphire commended his efforts by the time he was finished.

"Well?" he said as he slid out of the safety apparatus and waited patiently for her assessment. As the day progressed, Sapphire looked increasingly more disturbed by his performance.

"I see now why he didn't back down from the apes…" she muttered.

He tried to ask what the problem was, only for Sapphire to look back at him with uncertainty. She bent down and picked up the dumbbell he had last used in both hands. The individual plates it housed were thick and plenty, but it still looked to be a reasonable size.

She held it out at arm's length.

And then, she let go…

The weight snapped down in the blink of an eye, practically teleporting to the floor. A pale green energy materialized over the wooden surface as it collided, preventing any damage to the temple. It only took a little knowledge of gravity and observing how little time it took for the dumbbell to land to understand how heavy it must have been.

Makoto stumbled back when he saw this proof of his strength. Now it made sense why they had set up additional equipment before starting. It was all for his own safety. His bones would have been crushed if those weights had fallen on him!

"This is what you were lifting, Makoto," Sapphire explained intently. "There are few people I know who can use this weight, and of those, they would only consider it if plenty of safety measures were prepared in advance. Yet with you, you lifted one without a second thought."

His eyes widened in disbelief. The adults in the city were all so much bigger than him. They looked as if they had dedicated decades of their lives to growing stronger, not to mention having countless millennia worth of evolution working in their favour. But he was above all of that!?

"This has to be a mistake, ma'am…!" he stammered.

"Is it?" she challenged. "I underestimated your abilities due to your size, but at the end of the day, you are a human. Third era or otherwise, your strength would naturally surpass ours. I foolishly forgot this before we began, and I apologize."

He vehemently denied everything she said. He tried to tell her that humans were nothing like the ones in those books. That they weren't gigantic brutes with the strength of an army. Humans were WEAK! If it weren't for his Persona passively increasing his strength since the day he first awoke to it, he would have failed these tests minutes in.

She heard what he said, but it didn't change the fact that she now held him to a higher standard. Even if humanity wasn't particularly powerful, HE was.

"Perhaps it's time we move on to something more practical," Sapphire suggested while flexing her wrists. "I'd say it's time we saw you in motion."

She wanted to fight against him now? Makoto grew uncertain at the suggestion. He didn't think himself ready for a proper fight, and this was coming off of learning that he was physically more powerful than most of Lycanus… One of them could get seriously injured from this!

It took some reassurance from the wolfess that everything would be all right and that it was just a simple spar, but he eventually conceded.

The two stepped back into the arena. Makoto could have sworn the room was expanding around them… He didn't know if he should feel confident or worried about the imminent fight. He apparently had an advantage in strength, but Sapphire was no pushover, and she had several more years of training than him.

"Before we start, are there any martial arts you've been taught? Anything we can use as a reference?"

Makoto folded his arms and thought back to his past.

"I've spent some time learning kendo, and one of my upperclassmen taught me some boxing," he revealed. "But formally? No. I'm mostly self-taught."

He was asked to elaborate further on the specifics of both fighting styles, his level of skill, and anything else he had learnt on his own. Sapphire was impressed with what she heard but was equally surprised at his overall aptitude. As she described it, Makoto did not give off the air of someone with a depth of knowledge regarding combat.

Once she had properly assessed her student, Sapphire raised her fists and signalled him to do the same.

"I'll strike first. Allow your body to decide how to respond. Let your instincts guide you."

At her words, Makoto lowered his stance. His sparring sessions with Akihiko-senpai had shown him how best to approach close-quarter encounters. Makoto's biggest strength had always been his nimbleness. Dodging was his forte; being constantly in motion removed a lot of uncertainty and gave him control of the fight. Sometimes, his adversary was faster and would catch him off-guard, but he quickly learnt how to adapt to these encounters.

Once he understood Sapphire's movements and patterns, he would enter that state of mind again, for sure.

"…Ready!" she exclaimed.

.

.

.

He didn't even make out her fist when it hit him—No, he did see it somehow… It was an invisible blur that moved at speeds that defied all comprehension, and his brain was completely unprepared for it.

The pain was unlike anything he had ever felt in his life. The sheer power packed inside that punch felt like it could topple an entire mountain. Even now, he could see ripples from a monstrous sonic boom encompassing him, creating a tunnel vision between him and the wolf.

His bones were disintegrating, and blood was pouring out. His body was exploding from the unrelenting force of that punch.

That was it… One strike, and he was crawling over to death's door.

He couldn't come up with any suitable final thoughts. His mind had already faded away.

There was nothing left he could do…

.

.

.

But, he didn't fall…?

Makoto opened his eyes and looked around.

He was alive.

He was standing on two legs.

He was… uninjured!?

Looking down, Sapphire's closed paw was planted firmly on his chest, but it didn't look like he sustained any damage. His white skin remained intact despite taking the attack directly from the front.

It didn't make sense… No living being in Earth's entire history could survive a blow that unfathomably powerful. That strike would have knocked out a large dinosaur. Yet he didn't so much as take a bruise from it. What was happening here…!?

'It's as if the entire world has grown exponentially stronger in the time I've been asleep. What's the upper limit for what these people are capable of? How far does it go?'

"Are you finished recollecting yourself?" Sapphire appeared unamused by his 'overdramatic' display.

"Y-Yeah. I… underestimated you." He returned to his neutral stance, smiling awkwardly. "Let me try again."

She didn't give him a warning this time; the second punch came out just as fast as the one before.

Knowing what to expect, Makoto tried to pivot away from the attack. He felt himself leaning in one direction when instincts suddenly overtook him. He brought his arms out and caught the wolf instead.

"Ugh…!" he panicked as they collided.

It was a dangerous option. Makoto felt his feet slide back against the floor as he held onto Sapphire's charging figure. His current form reminded him of a sumo wrestler in how he stood and applied his weight. The tactic worked, and Sapphire came to a slow stop. He had absorbed all the force from the charge, halting her.

"Impressive," she said once he let go. "It may only be muscle memory, but I could sense a strong discipline in that maneuver. You have the instincts of a true warrior."

Her praise fell on deaf ears as Makoto stared down at his hands. That technique wasn't something he had used before, yet it was distinctly familiar, as if it was a pivotal component of a fighting style he had mastered.

He closed his eyes and let the lingering feeling consume him. Repeating the motions with intent, he felt his weight realign and become more sturdy. This form was meant for defence… It used his strong foundation to steal his opponent's power and leave them vulnerable.

Sapphire continued sparring with him. In addition to this "sumo" style, he found himself switching to additional forms, all of which felt inexplicably familiar. There was one that had him striking with an open hand as if he was slashing with sharp claws, another that was exclusively intended for disarming his opponent and breaking through their guard, and then one where he instinctively tried to rise up and strike down at his adversary… That one was impossible, given the current height difference.

He had been taught these fighting styles at one point… Hadn't he? They all learnt them in school, after all… His class was full of people striving to become stronger, and they needed to build up their bodies for the long journeys ahead. He trained together with them for a long time… He was always the head of the class. People were challenging him daily, but he always won. He needed to prove his convictions to the world, after all.

A strange memory passed through his head. One of his classmates, an arrogant punk with red… clothes, tried to pick a fight with him, claiming he had the biological advantage and that the school's golden boy needed to be brought down a level.

Makoto didn't know what he was referring to. He was never popular in that way, and since when did people boast about genetics before a fight? Regardless, he remembered how he accepted the challenge that day and emerged victorious, as usual. He was used to this troublemaker. It wasn't an issue…

"…koto!"

He heard Sapphire's concerned cries a second before he felt his body lurch back and forth. The wolfess was shaking him violently to get him to wake up.

"Your body!" she yelled. "There's a blue energy pouring out of it!"

Makoto blinked in surprise. Blue energy? That reaction… What she described was exactly what happened whenever someone was communing with their inner self. In other words, he was on the verge of summoning his Persona! And he did it without the use of any special tools!

He tried to tap into the feeling. He had experienced it thousands of times in the past with the aid of his Evoker, but this was through his own strength! He may have finally overcome the mental barrier of drawing out his inner strength.

His attempt got cut short when two paws gently slapped him in the face.

"Uhhnn…!?" he stuttered drowsily as the light died down.

"That was very close," Sapphire sighed in relief. "Your aura was running out of control, and your thoughts felt so distant, I feared you might collapse."

She didn't know… This was a normal occurrence, and the feeling should be explored further.

"That will be all for today. You appear to have regained a lot of balance and physical stability. Furthermore, I have determined that you will have no difficulties following my lessons from this point onward. What we should focus on now is controlling your strength and learning how best to apply it."

But Makoto wasn't ready to finish. If what he suspected was true, he needed to act on the feeling while it was still fresh.

"No. I have to continue."

A low growl was heard from the adult wolf.

"I would suggest listening to me when I say it's time to stop. Overworking yourself will only lead to ruin."

"I'm almost there, Sapphire…" he exclaimed with quivering lips. "I think I can summon my Persona again."

The wolfess took a step back, shocked at what she was hearing.

"You've already discovered the secret!?"

"Yes. That's why we can't stop here. It has to be now."

Sapphire heard the desperation in his voice and stopped to consider their situation. There was no rush for Makoto to learn how to control his powers. But in the end, he knew this power better than anyone. If what Makoto was saying was true, they wouldn't get an opportunity this favourable again and needed to capitalize on his rediscovered instincts.

"…What would it require from me?" she asked as both fighters returned to the centre of the floor, ready to resume.

"Strike with killing intent," Makoto ordered. When he saw the horrified expression on his teacher, however, he quickly clarified. "I, well… Don't actually try to kill me, but treat this like an actual fight. Don't hold back like you've been doing until now."

Sapphire nodded despite the lingering uncertainty of this test. She trusted Makoto, and if everything went according to plan, they might be able to use what they learned here with Spyro at a later time.

Makoto saw the wolfess across from him raise both hands and close her eyes. From that distance, there was no possible way for Sapphire to punch him, but that wasn't her intent. Slowly, she began revolving her hands in a circle. Her aura grew stronger as her body was enveloped in a beautiful blue glow.

The feeling in the air was suddenly sharp. Makoto could see shockwaves emanating from her feet, and the ends of her black mask fluttered behind her head. To him, her using this slower and blatantly telegraphed attack communicated that she could have ended everything instantly if she truly wanted to. He was a cornered mouse against her now with no place to hide. Despite this, he was feeling confident. He had sparred with Sapphire a good amount already and only needed to endure her strength one more time for this to work…

All at once, the buildup of power came to an end. Sapphire opened her eyes, now glaring at him with determination. While nowhere near as fierce as her brother, Makoto recognized the seasoned fighter's drive. Sensing that the attack was coming, he returned the gaze with his own decisive expression.

'The Evoker worked by forcing my mind into a state of self-preservation. If I can tap into that feeling again when I'm in a fight, that should be enough…!'

"You blinked," he heard her say…

A large sphere of aura with all the destructive force of a bullet struck him in the chest, expelling all oxygen from his lungs and crippling his body.

Makoto gritted his teeth and stretched his legs out to hold himself up. It hurt, but he was still alive, he told himself.

He was alive…

He. Was. Still. STANDING…!

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It was his first day at his new high school. He had just gotten off the monorail, and his new roommate was showing him the rest of the way. The salty taste of the ocean breeze hit him as he approached the gates to where he'd be spending the next two years. The white building appeared to be more of a mansion than a school…

There was a lot he had to do on his first day, as a transfer student. His friend had been helpful thus far, but it was up to him to find his way around now. Firstly, he had to check the class assignments and then report to the Faculty Office. He and the girl in pink said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

This was it. A new chapter in his life was beginning…

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He was soaring through the skies. A majestic city could be seen below, with impressive buildings that broke through the clouds. He didn't know the cause, but a strange pulling sensation on his back seemed to be carrying him forward, toward the large structure in the distance. The temple was the pride of the city, with only those with powerful influence and great potential earning the right to walk its hallways. It was a very late start for him due to certain complications, but it was finally time for him to take his place among the city's most promising talents.

He had to… He was going to make a positive difference in the world.

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The end was coming.

Despite their best efforts, they weren't able to prevent the prophesied collapse. But that didn't mean he would let them die.

Now, as he stood in the other dimension, he felt the unholy being attempt to snuff out his soul. A small drop of energy with the raw devastation of a nuclear explosion… He was forced to endure death itself and was launched onto his back from the blast. It would have been so easy to give up. He was fighting a force of nature that could not be defeated. Yet he heard them… His friends, still back in the real world, were calling out to him.

Their voices reached him from across different planes of reality, giving him strength. The fact that they were alive at all was all the motivation he needed.

He would protect them… Everyone on that planet…

Slowly, he raised his hand, pointing up at the vile beast and released his newfound power, ending the battle once and for all.

They were safe now.

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That devil would not die…!

Those shadowy figures had destroyed everything so easily. At least one of the city's protectors was unconscious, and countless others were dead. He was all that was left. It fell on him now to protect the realms.

He dragged the masked devil into the air before releasing them. He was unarmed, unable to strike back with anything but his elemental powers. This was preferable… They were immune to his weapons anyway.

It carried a risk, but he had an idea. He hadn't perfected the technique yet, but it should be enough to kill his target!

Drawing his strength, he summoned an ice storm that covered the realm. In a split second, multiple large ice pillars had materialized and trapped the devil. By the time the frigid onslaught ended, a large, mountain-sized glacier covered the forest. Using the other element he knew, he plunged into the frozen prison with his arm out.

Unfortunately, the monster had survived the first half of the technique and was ready for this final strike.

Closing his eyes, he bid his loved ones a final farewell.

His journey was over.

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The visions ended as Makoto opened his eyes to see a familiar blue dragon dressed in regal clothing standing opposite him in a white void. Slowly, they also broke out of their stasis and acknowledged the young man.

They were alone. All senses felt cut off as the two gazed at each other. But with this came a new understanding.

"Go on," Seiryuu whispered encouragingly and offered his hand. The human nodded in response, reached out, and grabbed ahold of him.

When the two hands connected, they felt their shared bond grow deeper. A small surge of power rose from their bodies as their hearts linked. They couldn't see it, but a section on both their right arms also began to glow, cracking with energy as a certain shape emerged.

And then, all at once, it was complete.

Their sights were blinded as they left the temporary mindscape, falling back to reality.

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"RraAARRGGHH!"

With a cathartic yell and an uncharacteristically psychotic smile, Makoto dug deep into his soul and pulled from a seemingly infinite pool of energy he wasn't aware of until that moment. It was more than sufficient to reignite the blue light as his signature power came forth. In addition, the mark on his arm began to glow a bright purple.

A ghost-like outline pulled out of his body, shrouded in that same energy. It gradually grew bigger and adopted a form unique to Makoto's own. As it finished materializing, the Persona let out an empowering roar.

"…Orpheus?" the young man muttered with a deep voice. The recoil from the summon was greater than he anticipated.

His Persona had evolved since the last time. In place of a thin robotic body was an impressive suit of light-grey armour with a fine, golden trim. A helmet now rested on its head, the visor shielding its human face from the world, and the red scarf that previously covered its neck had been replaced with a majestic cape.

Makoto knew that it was the same supernatural construct as before. The lyre it always used was still hovering behind its back, ready to be used as a means to cast magic or as a blunt weapon. But Orpheus looked much more powerful than before. Its taller form hovered over the training floor, not with grace but with vigour. The young man couldn't help but feel in awe of the phantom and stared at it with his mouth agape.

He wasn't the only one impressed by what he saw, as Sapphire slowly stepped forward, completely mystified. She had studied this power for a long time, and seeing it in person was incredible.

"So this is a Persona…"

The wolfess tried to get closer and inspect Orpheus directly. The Persona didn't turn to face her. He was an extension of Makoto's will and couldn't act without the latter's commands.

"Don't touch it!" Makoto suddenly yelled. "I don't think it's safe to get close."

His louder voice stopped her in her tracks. Heeding his warning, Sapphire quickly pulled back. She apologized but admitted to being taken by the Persona's captivating presence.

"Look closer." She pointed to the thick armour Orpheus was donning. Something about the detailing had caught her attention, and she wanted to show it to him. "It might be a coincidence, but it matches the designs used in the city of Warfang."

As she revealed, the gold bands running down the sides of the steel were, in fact, composed of tiny, microscopic runes and were not solid lines. From her description, this was supposedly close to the metalwork of the expert artisans who hailed from a foreign land. Moreover, the layering in the steel plates created armour that mirrored what their knights had used in the past.

"You say Lycanus is the first place in the world you've visited, but according to my research, a Senary– a Persona–is an inward reflection of its master. Could it be possible your ancestry has a connection to Warfang?"

"I don't know… I don't know anything about the place. This is the first I've heard of it."

This was technically true in the sense that he had never been outside Lycanus and the forest that surrounded it. But before Sapphire had said the city's name, Makoto already had the word "Warfang" in his head.

"Can you tell me more about this city?" he inquired. "Anything that could help me make a connection."

Sapphire crossed her arms and thought about it further. During this time, Makoto also recalled Orpheus into his subconscious. As he did, the mark of Zenith stopped glowing, as if it were a flame being put out.

"I have never been there myself; I only know as much as I do because I have a close relative living there. But I can tell you this. Warfang is a beautiful city full of wealth and prosperity. It's one of the oldest living civilizations of the current age and among the most influential and powerful."

Sapphire spoke many words of praise for Warfang and its people. Her words painted an image in Makoto's head of a city free of strife and poverty, where everyone prospered and lived in harmony. A city for the elite that was admired the world over…

"Is Warfang a dragon city?" he asked. Sapphire stopped everything to look at him in stunned silence.

Somehow, he just knew.

…Again.

The prophecies that he was a part of now… The blue dragon named Seiryuu … His Persona's new form.

All this new knowledge that he picked up instantly… It gave him a headache.

Makoto found himself short of breath, and he wobbled in place with a hand on his forehead. Noticing this, Sapphire ran over and caught the young man before he fell over.

"Hey. Stay with me, Makoto," she exclaimed. "Are you all right?"

He hummed back at her faintly.

"This… is normal. It always takes a lot out of you the first time."

He stayed in her hold for a while, breathing slowly and letting the oxygen flow up to his head. The heat from her body was so warm that he could fall asleep at any moment.

'Or is that my body…?'

When his nerves finally stabilized, Sapphire held him up and spoke to him with an authoritative tone.

"Listen, you've accomplished a lot today, Makoto—Genuinely, you've done great. But no more; you can experiment with your Persona another day. Right now, I want you to go home and get some rest."

"Okay…" he agreed.

He was then released and sent off to get changed. His tired body moved without him thinking. While he hadn't been knocked unconscious this time, summoning Orpheus had zapped almost all of his stamina again.

Minutes later, when he reemerged wearing his usual attire, Makoto tried to offer to stay behind and help Sapphire put everything away. There was a lot of heavy equipment still set up, after all. However, she insisted that he leave the rest to her. His well-being was the more pressing concern.

Finally listening, he turned away and left the temple.

By the time he stepped outside, it was already evening. The sky was a light orange, and the sun was beginning to set. A cool breeze swept by him, but it didn't affect him at all. His marble-like skin didn't react with any goosebumps. While he didn't have a set curfew, his surroundings told him that it was probably a good time to call it a night.

"I've 'done great', huh…?"

He didn't know if he agreed. The more he accomplished—the more he uncovered—the more variables were added to the mix. He had rediscovered how to use his power, during the normal hours of the day, no less, but more facts about who he was were emerging, leaving him disoriented.

Leaning against one of the many stone statues at the top of the stairs, Makoto looked around the temple building, paying particular attention to the hidden side areas. Ultimately, he found nothing. He had hoped that there would be a magical blue door somewhere in the area that could take him to the Velvet Room. But now was still not the time, apparently, and he had to wait longer to get answers to his questions.

'Probably because I haven't started my 'journey' yet. Is that it…?'

No response.

Not even the chirping of the bugs. The only change was another gentle breeze blowing against his face, pushing his hair to the side and revealing his right eye, which was usually covered.

"All right… I get the picture."

It was as Vahn said. He needed to pace himself.

Throwing his hands in his pockets, Makoto pushed himself up and began walking down the stone steps, jumping over the last few onto the main pathway. From what he saw, the city was still active. Many people were outside at this hour, unlike in his old life where it was usually quiet. While there was much he could do at night if he wanted to explore, he was tired and felt it best to turn in soon. It was probably also time to eat, but given that he had his lunch late in the afternoon, he could wait until tomorrow for his next meal.

For now, he had to get back to the house.

The route to remember was fairly simple. During his time with Leah, she revealed how Spyro's house was built so that he'd have quick and easy access to any necessary accommodations. He could go to the market to pick up additional food if needed, for example, and the bathhouse was not too far away either.

Leah had explained to him how the wolves all went to an outdoor bath with a hot spring to bathe. It was a two-step process in which they groomed themselves using special soaps and balms while shedding any loose fur before taking a nice long soak in the hot water.

Makoto vividly recalled how awkward he felt when he admitted to his new friend that he had previously used a sink to clean off. Apparently, they could all smell the hand soap he had used that morning, and some got concerned that humans like him didn't know how to stay clean! Knowing what to do now would hopefully save him from any future embarrassment…

He passed several people as he walked. Many of those who stopped to converse with him expressed concern that he was alone, and some even offered him a place to stay for the night. He politely turned them all down, stating he was simply enjoying some fresh air before heading home.

It amazed him how nobody was treating him like a stranger. The entire day, nobody shied away from him and addressed him distantly. Was this how it had always been for wolves? Not just these evolved bipeds, but the canines from the past…?

Makoto was over halfway back to the house when he stopped at the riverbank. To his immediate left, there was a grass slope that led down to an open field. Two young wolves were playing with an inflated ball down below, taking turns kicking it high into the air and passing it to each other. If he were to compare the activity to a sport he knew, he'd imagine it as a mix of soccer and volleyball.

Mildly intrigued, Makoto sat down on the grass overlooking the field and watched the two play. It appeared that the kids had to keep the ball off the ground using only their legs. Every few seconds, they would leap up with a spin and kick the ball away, and the other would sprint after it in response. The ball had about as much weight as a balloon, causing it to travel far when kicked and drift slowly enough that they were both able to reach it in time.

'They're very fast…' Makoto mused with an arm resting on his knees as he watched the blue blurs zip about. He was so distracted for a while that he almost missed another person coming up beside him.

He first became aware when he heard the sound of boots trudging along the path, something he knew few wolves wore. If given the choice, they all preferred to leave their hind paws bare or wear sandals. The only exception to this would be if the individual's occupation required them to have more substantial foot protection.

When the sound stopped, Makoto looked behind and saw a large pair of brown boots with raised heels encircling him. It was someone he knew, apparently, given their unannounced appearance and current proximity…

Makoto slowly tilted his head up and saw an older wolf with greying fur wearing a dirt-covered waist apron and brown gloves, as well as the usual ninja fixings. They looked down at him with a wide, toothy smirk.

"Yo!" The adult's voice was deep and fervent. "Here by yourself?"

As he deduced, it was someone he had met earlier in the day from when he was with Leah. The person was a carpenter by trade, and their name… Well, despite how simple the name sounded, the wolf was adamant that Makoto mispronounced it at the time. He heard the name "Ren", but the correct pronunciation supposedly used a different R sound, and there was a muted D at the end. So the name was actually closer to the word "Trend".

It was another sign that he had to improve his Universal diction.

"Rend…?" Makoto spoke up, trying to get it right this time.

The wolf above his head chuckled.

"Oh? You said it properly this time," Rend chuckled and sat down in the grass, close enough that the fur on his arm brushed against the young man.

Like many, Rend had initially assumed Makoto was a child and teased him. Makoto must have pouted or shown discomfort at his comment because he was immediately pulled into a headlock as the older wolf doted on him playfully. Rend didn't care that he wasn't actually young; he was like this with everyone. Unless you were older or taller than him, which was unlikely, he'd treat you like you were his child and mess with you.

Makoto was reminded of this as a large, gloved hand fell on his head and massaged his scalp.

"I don't know if anyone's said it yet, pup, but I like your new voice. Much more meat to it!"

…His voice had changed? At what point?

"Don't act like you haven't noticed! Before, you were all meek and cautious, but now you sound bold and commanding! Your accent is also almost gone."

The wolf smiled.

"I like the change! This suits you a lot better."

"I've been changing a lot these past few hours, sir…" Makoto immediately deflected, already suspecting when the shift in his vocals occurred.

Rend noticed the distant look in his eyes and stopped teasing, sensing something was on his mind.

"Still getting used to everything, are you?" he asked.

"This all feels like a dream at times." Makoto sighed. "I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing…"

He was still coming to terms with the fact that he had come back from the dead. If it were anyone else, it would already be an extraordinary feat. But Makoto wasn't just anyone. His actions in the past left a significant impact on the world, including his death. If the Ancestors thought it best to bring him back, there must be something he was expected to do in the future…

Feeling distressed, Makoto clutched his arms and curled up.

Suddenly, however, he felt two hands wrap around his waist. Rend lifted him into the air and promptly plopped him down into his lap without loosening his hold. The wolf's fur smelt of sawdust. And from this negligible distance, Makoto could hear every sound coming from his body, like that deep rumble in his throat. This was likely meant to assuage him in some way.

He felt almost like a teddy bear…

"It must be a lot to take in at once," Rend comforted. "Hell, I know I'd be overwhelmed if I woke up in your time suddenly with no clue what was going on! But don't feel like it's up to you to make sense of it all."

He gestured out at the horizon. The warm sunlight was slowly being replaced with a blue glow as nighttime approached. From where they sat, Makoto was able to see how grand the city truly was. More importantly, it was safe. War and turmoil still existed in this world, but he wasn't the only one with the strength to protect; it wasn't his responsibility to keep Lycanus safe.

"Some things you only discover by walking down the path that's right in front of you. If you do have some great destiny attached to your future, you'll learn what that is when you, yourself, are ready."

Makoto's lips curved upward as he leaned back and nodded.

"Thank you, sir…" he whispered faintly.

The wolf snorted at his politeness and gave him a nudge.

"Pup, I understand you're trying to be respectful, but you can drop the whole 'sir' thing you've been doing all day. You're one of us now. No need to be so formal."

"Actually, Sirius told me I'm a guest," Makoto said, pushing the large hand away. "I haven't joined your pack or anything."

"That's just the new alpha embedding his pawprints in the dirt like he always does," Rend grumbled loudly. He shook his head and said something under his breath. "And I thought the purple one was uptight…!"

"What do you mean…?" Makoto asked.

"I know you've heard of him by now. Spyro, your roommate? It's been almost half a year since he first came to Lycanus, and he still insists on avoiding us whenever he can. The kid just stays inside all day!"

Makoto listened intently, wanting to learn as much about his "brother" as possible. Sirius mentioned they were similar in many ways, which was hard to believe at first. The dragon was much louder than him, for one. However, they both shared a lot of hobbies and interests and had a tendency to keep to themselves. But this apparently ran much deeper for the dragon.

Hearing Spyro described as reclusive reminded Makoto of how he was last year. Drifting through life doing the minimum of what was expected of him. No goals in sight; he just existed. He hoped this wasn't also currently the case for his brother.

'Can I help change that in him…? Like how they all helped me back then?'

In the time he spent reflecting on Spyro, the sun had set almost completely. It wasn't dark yet, but he was very aware of how much time he had spent with Rend. Looking out, he could see the two kids were still playing as they had been for the past half hour. They had as much energy as a human their size, if not more.

He watched as the light blue ball was kicked higher in the air, simultaneously motivating the two to put more effort into their passes. Rend saw him staring and shook him out of his grasp.

"Why don't you go down there and play with them for a bit?" he suggested. "They'd probably like it!"

"I don't know how to play," Makoto admitted. He would just embarrass himself if he tried to join in.

"Pup… It's nothing complicated. Just go down there and have fun!"

Have "fun"… He made it sound so simple.

Makoto looked back at the field and contemplated what to do.

He could think of it as a soccer ball… Just make a few passes midair, and the rest will come naturally.

He dug his feet into the dirt, waiting for the next pass that he could intercept.

Eventually, the little girl fumbled and tripped over her legs, causing the ball to soar much higher than intended.

This was his chance…!

The next thing he knew, the world had flipped upside down. He was staring down at the grassy field with his legs in the air. The blue ball was just within reach as he drifted closer. It practically touched his foot when he spun around and kicked it back to the ground, where it knocked up a thick cloud of dust and debris.

He landed shortly after, shocked by his own physical ability. The adult on the ridge above slowly clapped his hands, similarly impressed.

"That… actually felt good."

The cloud of dirt gradually faded, revealing the twin wolf pups who were coughing into their arms. The boy was the first to spot him, and his face quickly went from confused to awestruck when he realized who it was.

"AaaaahhHH…!" he exclaimed, his finger pointed shakily at Makoto. His friend stared at him strangely, as if he had lost his mind, before she, too, caught a glimpse of the young man and made an identical sound.

"T-t-t-the human!"

Makoto looked away and scratched the side of his face. Maybe they weren't ready to see him just yet…

He waited for the two to collect themselves. They eventually got the courage to step closer, having completely forgotten about their game now. He tried to break the ice by giving a simple greeting, but they were too busy looking over him to pay attention.

"He doesn't have any fur! How does he stay warm?"

"Wait–No. Look! He has some on his back… Ah! It's even softer than Mama's!"

Makoto did his best not to shove the pups away as they climbed around him, as uncomfortable as it made him feel.

'It's not a problem…!' he told himself, 'Just let them have their moment, and they'll lose interest.'

"Woah… He doesn't have a tail either!" the boy chirped in amazement.

…Wait, where was he about to touch!?

Acting fast, Makoto spun around, snatched the pup in his hands before they could finish their perusal, and held them in the air. Not understanding the situation, the kid stared back at him before deciding he liked being held up high and started wagging his tail and panting happily.

'It's like I'm holding a four-year-old kid and a malamute puppy all in one…' Makoto groaned. 'And isn't this the same pair I saw when I woke up today…?'

He could see the resemblance now… It was much easier to recognize a younger wolf in the city than it was for the adults. In addition to not having a black mask covering their faces, he noticed how they had whites in their eyes just like him, instead of the black colour he saw everywhere else. You could see so much more of their personality.

The pup in his arms suddenly started squirming, trying to get his attention.

"Hey, mister, my Daddy says you're very strong," the kid beamed. "Are humans stronger than wolves? Are they stronger than dragons?"

Makoto lowered the wolf and stared him in the eyes before replying with his usual bluntness.

"No, and no. I'm not like other humans."

His answer did nothing to curb the kids' curiosity as the female at his feet tugged at his shorts and joined the conversation, matching her friend's enthusiasm.

"But you beat that big ape from before! You can't be much younger than Miss Leah or Miss Sapphire. I bet your daddy would probably smush an ape to dust!"

His dad…? Fighting an ape?

That would be ridiculous.

Makoto couldn't remember his father closely, but he at least knew he wasn't a fighter! At best, his dad might have managed to flip a table or defend himself from an unarmed street punk, but someone like Terrak? There was no way.

He chuckled at the thought.

"Yeah… Those apes would have been frozen on sight if they tried to fight my father! They wouldn't stand a chance."

In the back of his mind, he tried to envision how that scene would play out. His father facing off against Terrak and his men in the dark forest, just as he had done himself. The ape made the same cocky remarks as before and pulled out his dagger. However, for some reason, Makoto found that his father was standing tall and proud, glaring at the apes frostily as if they were the scum of the Earth. And instead of charging forward with his fists, he brought a hand out and cupped an invisible force as if he intended to blow them away with a simple flick of his wrist…

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Makoto blinked rapidly as he stopped daydreaming, wondering why his fantasy went so far off-course.

'It's been so long, so I guess it makes sense that I would forget some things about him. But… that wasn't my dad. I know it wasn't. Yet why am I feeling so nostalgic all of a sudden…?'

The puppy he was still holding noticed his stunned expression and was about to ask what was wrong when they all heard Rend coming up next to them.

"You all seem to be getting along!" he laughed with his usual cheerful demeanour.

"…Daddy!" Both pups exclaimed when they saw him coming and quickly ran into his arms.

'So they were all related the whole time,' Makoto contemplated. 'It makes sense now why he was okay with me playing with them.'

"Daddy, we finally got to meet the human! He's as cool as you said!"

"He's staying with us, right? He's not going home tomorrow? I want him to stay!"

The kids pawed at their father's face as they pestered him with questions, to which he responded by tickling behind their ears, earning loud giggles from them both.

"That's right, kiddos! Makoto here is part of the pack now. Play nicely with him, you hear?"

Part of the pack…!? Where was this coming from? Rend knew this wasn't the case and was outright lying to his kids.

"Sir! I already told you–"

Makoto tried to interject but was cut off by the disappointed whimpers of two kids who saw him glare at their father. Rend sighed and stepped forward.

"Pup, I heard you the first time, but trust me when I say no one cares if Sirius announced it publicly or not! Don't obsess over everything the alpha says. He's fresh and still testing his claws with his responsibilities. By now, I'd say you're an honorary packmate with all the privileges he's granted you."

"But I'm…"

A human, he wanted to say. But he wasn't so sure anymore…

"Your species doesn't matter to us, Makoto," the wolf reaffirmed. He then walked over and handed one of his pups back to the human, the girl this time, showing how much he was trusted. "You're part of the family now."

Makoto gasped at what he said. They really saw him that way, after such a short time?

The pup in Makoto's arms suddenly crawled up, seeing that he still hadn't said anything, and nuzzled his face out of concern.

"What's wrong? You feel… sad now."

He adjusted his grip on the pup. It was then that he noticed how much more comfortable he was with these physical interactions. He couldn't dismiss it as him playing with the excited canines anymore. He was truly happy to have found a place in this new world where he was loved and accepted, something he didn't know he needed to this extent.

"No… Nothing's wrong. I'm all right now," Makoto said before embracing her. The little girl trilled in response and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"About time we saw you smile," he heard Rend say before they were brought into a larger group hug.

There was no telling where he would have emerged when he woke up, but right now, he was glad it had been Lycanus…

"All right, you three…" Rend started and picked up the ball the kids had dropped, which miraculously hadn't popped from Makoto's mighty kick. "It's almost time for dinner. Your mother should have everything set up by now, so we should head back."

Makoto let out a questioning hum. They wanted him to join them for dinner? He really shouldn't… He was about to go to bed soon, after all.

"Don't even THINK I'm going to let you turn in for the night with an empty stomach, pup!" Rend turned around and challenged. "You're following us. End of discussion!"

The girl Makoto was holding shifted around so that she was sitting on his head and coaxed him forward like he was a horse.

"Come on! Let's go! Those two will eat everything if we take too long!"

Makoto rolled his eyes and laughed.

"All right, all right! I'm going."

With that, he turned around and followed the small family back into the city. The opposite direction of where he was initially going.

'Family…' Makoto thought to himself as he looked up at the night sky. 'I'll be meeting him again sometime, too…'

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"Spyro."

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A/N

So… I don't want to admit how many rewrites this chapter took. If I had kept the original vision intact, I would have ended at roughly 23k words, with no easy way to break the chapter in half. In the end, two large scenes had to be cut. It hurts, since I was passionate about them both, but the end product is so much better this way.

This chapter was meant to be a final introductory segment for Makoto. To show that he's finally settled in. There are a lot of events with him in Lycanus still left to cover, but it's time we moved on.

As promised, the next chapter will be from Spyro's perspective. I know it's felt like he's been in the background for most of this, but he is still just as much a protagonist as Makoto. In some ways, maybe even more so.

Until next time, farewell.

~AzureDragonZX