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.]

7. CH7 - Way of Life (Part 1)

Chapter uploaded: February 18th, 2024
Last edited: June 14th, 2024

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A/N

Hello, AzureDragonZX here once again.

So as a bit of a catchup for those who didn't know, I started this story last year. I uploaded the first two chapters here as a Persona 3/The Legend of Spyro crossover, but a friend recommended that I move it to the Spyro archive to help it gain traffic, which I did starting from CH3. However, I have since changed my mind on that stance. This IS a crossover at the end of the day, with the occasional spoiler. So from now on, More Than One Heart will be uploaded here like how it was before.

Moving on, now that Reload is out… I'm being made more and more aware that certain ideas/headcanons of mine conflict with that game. For now, I'll say that this story will be using a combination of all three story interpretations (FES, Movies, and Reload). Stuff like Shuffle Time giving Makoto a katana in CH3 will stay as is, despite that not being how that mechanic works anymore, and I plan to introduce things like Theurgies into the world at some point.

However, the movies are still the main source material I'll be using, and I'll divert to them whenever there's an overlap in the canon. The main reason I'm doing this… "Movie Makoto" is an actual character and not just a blank avatar. He had a complete arc and that's important to my current vision for him. (He's also a lot more consistent…)

I'll go into the specifics next time. I've only made it to August in-game right now, so haven't seen every change Reload makes and what all I need to address.

With all that said, enjoy.

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More Than One Heart

Chapter 7 - Way of Life [Part 1]

---

A gentle piano resonated throughout the room. A soothing voice accompanied it soon after. Makoto didn't know where the music was coming from, but he did recognize the song itself and what it signified.

He was in the Velvet Room, a safe haven between the dimensions. He was one of the select few with direct access to the place, but there were times like now when he would find himself called into the blue room by its master.

This was likely one of those times. Igor, the old man in the chair, was likely already aware of Makoto's reincarnation and wanted to speak with the boy while he was asleep in the real world.

Makoto's footsteps echoed along the wooden floor beneath him. When he arrived in this supernatural space, he found that he was wearing his old school uniform again, a black and white suit with a loose necktie, and his body had reverted to that of his old 18-year-old self.

'It's strange,' he thought as he looked around. 'This place was an elevator last time.'

The appearance of the Velvet Room, to his knowledge, varied depending on the guest it was currently servicing. In his case, it took the form of a large elevator shaft that kept rising indefinitely. But instead of that, he was currently wandering through what appeared to be a massive library. And neither Igor nor his attendant were in sight.

Makoto ran his eyes across the room. He had already passed by many bookshelves, each containing thousands of thick books. Many of the shelves in this particular area contained books that appeared incomplete, with plenty of pages empty or still being filled.

In the centre of the room, was a tall hourglass containing a strange, blue fluid that flowed freely in both directions and illuminated the room.

"What is this place?"

As he approached the hourglass, he finally was pulled out of the darkness. His shoes splashed up with the same blue liquid pooling at the structure's base. He tapped the hourglass with the back of a knuckle, letting a muted sound reverberate throughout the hall. Placing his hand on the surface, he also noticed how the glass seemed to lack any texture or even a temperature as if it were an anomaly to the senses.

The liquid bounced around, blurring what he saw reflected in the glass. When it settled, instead of simply seeing his own face, it directed him to a small podium off to the side where a single book was resting. The book in question had a rich blue cover accented with black and silver, and held more pages than any encyclopedia he had read or seen. For some reason, Makoto felt obligated to investigate the book and walked over to it.

Upon checking the front cover, he deduced that it wasn't a Persona compendium and was instead a chronicle of some kind. The title read The Azure Saviour. Vol II, written in the same English-like language as before. 'Universal', from what he recalled. He also saw a name written a few lines down, likely the author.

Seiryuu

Strangely, no family name was given.

Makoto lifted the front cover to inspect the first few pages. To his surprise, there was no writing on them at all. Flipping over to the next page, and the same result.

'There's nothing?' Who would make such a huge book without writing anything in it?'

As if to answer him, something began forming on the paper in front of him. But instead of text, a drawing was coming into view.

The image depicted a large cluster of eggs resting in a nursery of some kind, but it focused in on a single dark blue egg resting in its own separate bed, wrapped in expensive-looking blankets.

As Makoto turned through the pages, he saw more of the story unfold. One day, as the sun was setting, a group of adult dragons entered the chamber. They all wore lavish clothes and armour, akin to royalty… or even something more powerful.

The group stood in front of the large blue egg, anticipating a reaction from it. Makoto wasn't an expert, but it was safe to assume the egg was about to hatch, and judging from how close two specific dragons were standing, he knew exactly who the parents were.

Eventually, the egg began to shake, and small cracks appeared on its surface. The shell was slowly chipped away, revealing a small dark blue, almost black, dragon. The moment it broke free, it fell forward and collapsed headfirst onto the luxurious pillows that adorned its bed.

Seeing that its offspring had finally been born, the tall pale-blue dragon, whom Makoto assumed to be the father, reached down to pick up the sleeping child while being gentle to not wake them from their slumber and smiling brightly as any proud parent would.

The baby dragon let out a loud yawn, annoyed that it had been taken from its bed. Something must have been caught in its nose, as before its mouth could close, the yawn developed into a big sneeze, startling the adult.

On the next page, an amusing sight was depicted as the male dragon was now trapped in a large glacier of white ice, while the baby in his hands innocently tilted its head to the side. The other dragons in the room all took a step back in shock, not expecting a newborn to be capable of such powerful magic. The baby's mother, a beautiful black dragoness, chuckled at the sight of her mate's predicament and gently took the child from his arms, caressing them back to sleep.

Makoto smiled. It was a cute scene, he had to admit.

'But what is a magical storybook about dragons doing in the Velvet Room?'

He was starting to wonder if this even was the same place as before. So far, the only evidence he had, was the soothing piano melody he knew by heart resonating throughout the hall. However, neither the room's master or his attendant were anywhere to be seen.

'Is Igor not here anymore?'

Makoto knew he wouldn't be called into the Velvet Room without a reason, but as of now, he had been left alone without any guidance to speak of. Admittedly, there had been a few instances in the past where the old man was absent, but those were few and far between, and Elizabeth was always there to assist him in his stead.

There were a lot of questions that he needed answered, but he didn't know how long he had until he woke up from this vision. If either Igor or Elizabeth were in this hall somewhere, he had to find them before it was too late. He promptly closed the magical book and stepped down from its stand. He already knew that the path he had just walked through was relatively empty, so his best option now would be to try the row of bookshelves on the other side, opposite the hourglass.

He was about to head off when he saw something standing in his path. A large creature over twice his height he hadn't noticed before was here in the room with him, holding a blue book in their hand not unlike the one he was just reading.

This person was wearing a dark blue shirt underneath a sleeveless blue tunic that ran down past his knees, held in place with a black belt. A flowing mane of silver fur ran down its neckline between two horns, disappearing underneath a pale blue scarf. On its back were two impossibly large wings, followed by a tail further down, altogether revealing what creature this was.

A dragon. Just like in that storybook.

Something about them was familiar. More specifically, those impressive wings of his…

Makoto held his breath when he made the connection. It was the same dragon he had fought in the Collective Unconcious!

The intruder, who had been aware of Makoto's presence for a long time, stopped reading his book and looked in his direction. Bold red eyes intersected against bluish-grey as they finally acknowledged each other.

"Makoto Yuki, I presume?" the dragon spoke first. His voice was young and mature, not unlike Makoto's own. Though the drake was clearly much older.

"You know my name…" Makoto answered. "Who are you?"

The dragon shrugged his shoulders passively in a surprisingly human-like gesture.

"You should know who I am by now. We have both been reading from each other's Books of Life, after all."

The dragon pointed past Makoto back at the podium where the magic book rested. He also turned the book in his hands around to reveal its cover. A familiar title was printed on the front.

The Azure Saviour. Vol I

Below the title… a familiar name.

Makoto Yuki

That was his book? His "Book of Life"?

And the dragon, Seiryuu. He just read the story of his birth.

In other words, the books in this hall documented the lives of various living beings…

The mysteries of the worlds that lie beyond never failed to impress!

"It exists beyond dream and reality, mind and matter…" he mumbled under his breath. While his voice may have been imperceivable for any human, the dragon heard him clearly.

"Yes… That would be an accurate way to describe the Chronicler's domain," Seiryuu agreed. "But I'm surprised a human such as yourself is knowledgeable on that front. From what I've read, your life was very mundane."

Makoto brought a hand to his head.

"Hardly…!" he groaned. His life was anything but basic!

The dragon's words stayed with him for a few moments longer. Something about them was contradictory.

"You mentioned something about the 'Chronicler'. What do you mean by that?"

The dragon looked surprised. He pushed the book in his hands back onto the nearby shelf and tried to explain.

"Did I give you too much credit, perhaps? We're standing in the Great Hall now! That means the two of us have been chosen for something important! We should wait for the Keeper of Time to return. He will reveal what it is we've been called here to do."

Makoto shook his head, not believing the elucidation given to him.

"I've been in this place before, and this isn't the home of this 'Chronicler'. This is the Velvet Room, and its master is a man named Igor."

Both parties found themselves at an impasse. Their knowledge and experiences painted a different picture. But they also couldn't deny that the other's views had some merit, given how insistent and passionate they both were.

"And who is this 'Igor', then? You say you've been in this hall, yet your eyes were completely awestruck only just recently. You're like a hatchling!"

"Igor… He's–" Makoto paused. Who… What was Igor!? The old man had a mostly human guise, but at the same time, he wasn't normal. Long, lanky limbs… A permanently hunched-over stance…

…That NOSE!

"I can't explain everything," Makoto admitted. He turned away with a sad look in his eyes. "You are right though. I practically am a newborn… I shouldn't be alive now in the first place."

Seiryuu sighed in solemn agitation and placed a hand over his chest. He could still remember a certain cursed blade piercing his body… He shouldn't be alive either, and he knew it.

"We've both endured a great deal recently, haven't we?"

Makoto hummed in agreement as a teary-eyed smile crept up his face. He couldn't explain it, but he felt a certain connection with the dragon. He could empathize with him on a level few beings would understand. The shared feeling of stillness and acceptance, while the memories of the past weighed on their conscience.

Seiryuu felt much the same way, feeling a bond with the human as if they shared the same soul, and gently smiled back.

The moment between them didn't last longer than a few seconds. In the distance, a sudden loud sound came into existence, catching their attention. It echoed throughout the hall and repeated in small, timed intervals, growing slightly louder each time.

Acting fast, Seiryuu quickly moved in front of Makoto and raised an arm and a wing in front of him in a protective stance.

"Something is here," he growled. "I can't identify that sound, but I don't like it!"

The sound kept getting closer… While the dragon didn't know what he was hearing, Makoto recognized the sound of high heels clicking across the floor right away.

"It's her…!" His voice was hopeful. He'd see at least one familiar face today.

Seiryuu looked back at him, shocked. The once seemingly ordinary human apparently knew a lot. Possibly more than even he did!

A figure began to emerge from the blue void. A woman with a thick, navy blue book by her side. But to Makoto's shock, it wasn't who he was expecting. He could tell from her hair alone… Elizabeth always had short-cut, white hair. This person had wavy locks of the same colour. Her clothes were different as well.

"My… I would have never imagined that the Blue-Haired Boy himself would ever set foot in this room again."

That voice… He had heard it somewhere before. Straightforward and professional with some underlying playfulness…

"What is happening?" Seiryuu spoke before Makoto could attempt to talk to the mysterious person. "What trickery is this?"

Makoto wanted to step out from behind the dragon, but his feet stopped moving. It felt as if he was lying down on a flat surface when he could see that he was clearly standing up. Looking over, he saw that Seiryuu was in a similar state of paralysis. Awake, but languid and slow.

Gradually, both of their sights grew faint.

"Makoto!" Seiryuu panicked. "You… We–!?"

The majestic hall was bathed in a heavy white light.

Neither could resist the pull as it carried them away…

---

A comforting warmth from all sides slowly roused him from slumber. As his eyelids fluttered open, Makoto found himself lying face down in a valley of soft animal furs.

The young man rolled over onto his back as a tired groan escaped his lips. Scanning around, he could now see that he had been fast asleep in that same massive bed from last night. Even now, his body was half-submerged underneath the furs. The feeling was better than any heated blanket.

His thoughts wandered back to Velvet Room. For some reason, both he and the dragon, Seiryuu, had been summoned there. While he knew there wasn't a rule that two guests couldn't have access to the room at a given point, it was very rare. There was also the fact that the two of them apparently shared a history of sorts. The books containing their life journeys were part of the same "series", as if they were continuations of each other.

What did it mean? What relation did he supposedly have with that dragon?

'No… Not just yet.'

Makoto knew, that when the time was right, he would be called to the Velvet Room again, and all would be revealed then. That's how it always worked. He was just another card in the deck of fate… It was pointless to look into this as he was now.

Unexpected visions aside, Makoto had slept well and was very refreshed. It felt as if he had caught up on several decades worth of overdue rest all at once. He would have been content to stay in bed all day if the world would let him, but he knew it wouldn't last forever.

It was currently midday, and the sun's natural glow filled the room instead of candlelight. Judging from the intensity of said light, it was safe to assume it was at least past noon.

'I should get up now…'

Makoto pushed up so that he was sitting upright. It took effort, but he was able to turn himself around and slide over to the side of the bed, dropping his legs over the edge.

As he lowered himself to the floor, his right foot came in contact with something soft. Blinking in a half-awake haze, he looked down and saw a pair of pants beneath him, the same "denim" pants he had put on earlier. Apparently, they had gotten loose as he slept and got knocked over the side of the bed, leaving him completely bare.

Makoto sighed, having forgotten that that was all he was wearing before he fell asleep last night.

Without thinking, his hands reached down to pick the pants up and pull them back over his legs, but he stopped partway. These pants didn't fit him at all; their actual owner was physically a lot bigger than he was. And he didn't have a belt his size on hand, so he'd get nowhere if he tried to wear them again.

He promptly folded the pants up and placed them aside.

Now fully out of bed, Makoto was ready to begin preparing for the day.

.

.

.

What was his routine after waking up…? Where should he start?

The individual steps were easy enough to remember, but he never had to think it through like he was right now. This was something he and every other person just did automatically every day. But now, his body was standing around idle, waiting for him to act while his mind drew a blank. The fact that this was also a stranger's house wasn't helping, as there was no sense of familiarity for him to fall back on.

Makoto raised a hand to his head, feeling a headache starting. When he did, however, he was able to take in the skin that covered his arm.

Smooth and pure, with a rich, white hue.

He remembered… It wasn't the same as before. He had changed.

Makoto reached behind his head to feel the other significant difference with his body. Even if he was a heavy sleeper and didn't toss in his sleep, his new mane was now an unkempt mess. And due to how long the individual hair strands were, a few knots had formed. He tried gently tugging at them to straighten the fur out, but his efforts only got so far.

The vexation he felt from everything all at once was enough for Makoto to decide what he wanted to get done first.

He began tiptoeing along the outer wall from the bed, moving around the clutter by his feet with the intent to go to the washroom to clean up. For some reason, Makoto found himself falling forward as soon as he started to move, prompting him to reach out with his hand to keep his balance. Something about this new body didn't like him making sudden movements and he sometimes struggled to keep himself stable. Presumably, a result of his longer feet and heavier upper body.

Eventually, he made it to the door. Makoto fumbled with the handle for a bit before pulling it open and stepping out into a long hallway. Despite how many rooms there were to choose from, it, fortunately, didn't take long for him to find his destination. To the left of the bedroom, one door had been left slightly ajar, and the clean interior and fresh scents guided him to the washroom.

He may not have expected to find any human fixtures inside, but to his relief, it appeared as though the wolves did have something similar installed. Inside the washroom was a large toilet and sink, with a rack full of towels and other essentials. Makoto would have liked for there to also have been a shower or bathtub, but it was a start.

Strangely, there was no visible plumbing attached to any of the utilities. The sink, for example, was effectively just an open bowl. There were no pipes, no handle or tap, not even a drain.

Confused by this, Makoto placed a hand on the empty reservoir, inspecting it from all sides for any controls he may have missed.

'Am I supposed to manually add the water myself and empty it when I'm done…?'

Suddenly, he felt his hand collide with something.

Looking down, he saw that he had reached the area where the faucet would normally be located, but it felt as if something was repelling his hand away, like an opposing magnet. Moving his hand around to grasp this strange, invisible object, he traced a small sphere just about the sink.

Tiny droplets suddenly appeared above the bowl as he fiddled with the device, amassing together until a small puddle was formed.

He had figured out how to turn the water flow on.

'Is that some sort of magic?' he said, completely perplexed. It didn't look as if there was anything supernatural involved, but from what he could tell, he had just witnessed what appeared to be some kind of matter creation!

Makoto stared at the water in wonder, not noticing that was still being produced and quickly filling the reservoir. He only became aware when it was already too late, and the water began overflowing and spilling onto the floor.

"Ah!"

Desperate to stop the spillage, Makoto frantically waved both hands over the sphere again, hoping to get the sink to stop. Eventually, he found that if he pressed inward from the underside, the water would stop materializing and repeating the action would cause it to "drain". Disappearing as if nothing was there to begin with.

Breathing a sign of relief, Makoto wiped his forehead with a wet hand. That little experience had gotten him soaked. Even if he was planning to wash his body, this wasn't how he had intended to go about that.

However, on reflection, since there wasn't a bathtub or equivalent, was this his only option?

"This can't be how they bathe…" he bemoaned while picking up a jar of liquid soap. He tried scooping some of the creamy mixture into his fingers and rubbed it between his palms. Soon enough, suds began to form.

He disliked the idea, but his desire to stay clean was even stronger.

For the next few minutes, Makoto got into a cycle of spreading the soap across his body and through his fur and then rinsing it off with water. His mane proved difficult to wash, as his fur kept absorbing the water, becoming very heavy in the process, and in turn harder to scrub. Water pooled by his feet as he worked, which he solved by standing on a spare towel.

Once he was adequately clean, Makoto put everything away and soon emerged from the washroom with another towel over his face and returned to the bedroom. The back-and-forth motion he used when drying his mane had caused it to spike up in some places which would likely require liberal combing to tame. His fur behaved a lot like regular hair, much to his relief. It was just a matter of maintaining a more thorough care over a larger surface area.

The cold water from his improvised bath had given him more alertness, and he was no longer stumbling his way through the house. His senses felt completely revitalized and reawakened.

Once back inside the room, Makoto's eyes landed on the nightstand where he saw that something had been left there for him while he was asleep that he missed when he woke up. A familiar pair of black shorts and a dark blue cloak, both neatly folded in a small pile. Apparently, Sapphire kept her word when she said his clothes would be ready for him by morning.

Looking at the bundle, he saw that he had also been given a few sets of clean underwear. Though instead of plain cotton briefs, the wolves had provided him with some old-fashioned white fundoshi, something he had never worn before.

Makoto recalled the attire of the wolves from last night, noting how their normal clothes were very revealing by his standards. No human would ever be caught in public wearing something like that.

…But it did make sense for them, he reasoned.

He hadn't given it any thought at the time, but humans had survived over the years relying on wearing thick layers to keep warm. That was the reason why they lost most of their body hair by his time. However, these wolves were a different case. They understood the importance and usefulness of clothing, apparently, but they valued their natural fur coats even more. For them, clothes offered utility rather than it being a biological necessity.

Beyond this, he couldn't immediately assume their societal norms mirrored his own. The canines, and anyone else in this world, would have their own history and culture. It was possible that they never had a historical moment akin to Man eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, and they evolved without such concepts.

"But I'm not a wolf…" Makoto frowned while holding the small white garment in his hands. "And I'm still going without a shirt it seems…"

Despite his objections, once he was dressed in his shorts with the fundoshi underneath, Makoto found it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as expected. It surprised him greatly. After only a day, he was already more at ease with himself and his surroundings…

After making sure the shorts were snug and tight around his waist, Makoto looked up and saw the messy state of the bedroom for the first time in proper daylight. The floor was barely visible under all the clutter and it was a miracle he hadn't knocked anything else over. It was suddenly very tempting to sort everything out, even if he didn't know how it all was meant to be organized. However, this was effectively his room for now, so it wouldn't hurt to make sure he had space to at least stand up. And it wasn't like he had anything better to do…

Knowing he had the time to spare, Makoto got to work reorganizing the room until he felt comfortable, using it as a distraction to keep himself busy until someone came for him. He stacked the heavy exercise equipment in the corner and stored the other, miscellaneous items away. He made an effort to not move anything too far from its initial place, as even if everything was lying on the floor seemingly at random, they were all grouped in a way that felt intentional. This way, everything could be easily found and picked up without having to tear it all down again.

At times, Makoto stopped to pick up and examine the gadgets by his feet, curious how they compared to similar devices from his own time. One item in particular that really caught his eye was a set of over-the-ear headphones. They were large with plenty of padding, obviously not shaped with the human skull in mind. They lacked any sort of company branding with the only stylistic design on them being the cartoonish skulls on the outside ear covers.

The headphones were connected to a small rectangular box that he presumed was a music player. Flipping it around in his hand, he was reminded of an old-school Walkman, but without any compartment to insert a tape, and it looked to be all digital.

Feeling a little nostalgic, Makoto pulled the headphones over his ears and fiddled with the box, trying to learn how exactly the technology worked. Nothing happened at first; the lack of any tactile buttons and dials threw him off. Similar to the sink, it appeared as if this device was controlled with motion-based hand gestures with the occasional pressure-sensitive switch.

Finally, he got something to play.

A surge of electric guitar and drums erupted from the headphones, forcing him to throw them off.

"Argh," he groaned and rubbed his ears in an attempt to stop them from throbbing. "Is this person deaf…!?"

After making sure his ears still functioned, Makoto lowered the volume and put the headphones back on, this time listening to the music properly.

As an avid music enjoyer, he couldn't help but critique the piece. The melody was there, but it was clear the song was unfinished. The composer probably wanted to add vocals in the future, but only the sound of drums and guitars could be heard during those segments. As it was, this early instrumental felt lacking.

'It's not bad for what it is… I'd like to hear the finished version someday,' Makoto thought to himself as he lowered the headphones to his neck and clipped the music box to his shorts.

Old habits.

He was in the middle of sorting out the rest of the strange electronics when he stopped. Closing his eyes, Makoto listened closely to the sounds coming from within the house. While it was eerily quiet before, he could hear some sort of movement now. It was barely audible, but his strange "sixth sense" confirmed that someone else was in the house.

His gaze panned to the hallway.

"Are they back…?" he thought out loud. Neither Sirius nor Sapphire had given a timeframe for when they'd return, but it was unlikely that they'd let a full day go by without checking on him. This could very well have been one of them now.

He stopped what he was doing and left for the foyer.

The decor of the hallways and rooms he passed all reminded Makoto of something he would see in a fantasy video game. Wooden floors and walls, with expensive tapestry and carpets, and plenty of fancy furniture. He was especially surprised at how much gold he was seeing. It did compliment the aesthetic, but considering this was real life, wouldn't gold still be considered an expensive commodity? Also, this was only a temporary residence for someone, not their main living space.

Was it possible that such luxuries were just commonplace now, regardless of one's social standing?

'What kind of world have I woken up in?'

Makoto's stroll eventually took him to the living room, exactly where Sapphire first brought him when they entered the house. Despite how proper it all looked, he felt dismayed seeing the place so empty and quiet. Looking around, he could almost envision his friends all there, going about their businesses having just gotten out of class. And as he walked in, someone would immediately notice him and ask how he was doing…

Instead, the large sofa and many accompanying chairs were all empty.

"No…" he whispered solemnly. "They're gone now. It's just me."

He knew he shouldn't feel this way. An untold amount of time had passed since that battle, and his friends would have all passed away by now. Makoto himself was only standing there because of some divine intervention. It was unrealistic to assume any of them would be there waiting for him.

But at the same time, there was a certain joy that was missing from his life now. That dormitory was his home for a year, and it meant a lot to him.

Without thinking, Makoto reached out and placed a hand on the edge of the elegant sofa. He tried to compare it with the one he used to sit on, but he couldn't remember what it looked like. His mind couldn't even focus on the colour… His old life felt so distant and almost foreign. Even if he was technically dead all this time and he hadn't been filling his headspace with any new life experiences, so much time had passed that a lot of his nearest memories had begun to fade.

What's more, ever since this morning, his mind has been in a state of constant awareness, absorbing so much new information about the world and his surroundings that he couldn't deny the possibility that he could lose more memories than he already had, and that his old life might fall into obscurity.

The thought was worrying. As if he could forget who he was if he wasn't careful…!

"Um…" A voice suddenly called out from behind, interrupting him from his personal dread. "Are you… the human?"

Makoto was so distracted that he forgot what he had come down for.

Across from him on the other end of the room was a young wolf wearing a red apron and scarf. At some point, they had noticed his presence and tried to get his attention. This wolf wasn't Sirius or Sapphire. In fact, Makoto didn't recognize them at all; they weren't involved in the battle from yesterday.

From a distance, Makoto tried to gather as much information on the stranger as he could before either of them spoke up.

This wolf was younger than the siblings, judging from their height. Though they were still almost a head taller than he was. (Makoto was beginning to think that all wolves dwarfed the average human…) Unlike everyone he had seen so far, this person's body language was less firm and rigid, making him believe they weren't a fighter. But that didn't stop them from having a plethora of bladed weapons strapped to their body or tucked into their clothes, just like the others.

Apparently, even the least deadly of wolves could still put up an impressive fight.

Makoto also saw that in addition to having a comparatively soft appearance, the wolf's figure had very prominent curves, particularly in the hips and chest.

"Definitely female."

.

.

.

Makoto gently bit his tongue. He hadn't meant to say that out loud…!

Fortunately, the wolfess merely tilted her head at his voice.

"Hm? Did… you say something?" she asked. Her voice was very gentle but she also sounded slightly nervous.

'Is it because I'm human? Or because I look a lot like them?' Makoto thought to himself, referring to how much he resembled the wolves.

Sirius had mentioned that they would introduce him to the pack later on, but they might have also had a meeting earlier this morning to discuss the pertinent information in the wake of the apes' attack. He probably revealed Makoto's identity then as well.

"No, it's nothing," he finally answered while shaking his head. "Just talking to myself."

Slowly, Makoto walked up to the wolf, trying his best not to appear threatening. (Ironic, considering how defenceless he was compared to her.) He could tell she was nervous; it was like she was trying to avoid looking at the sun. Once he was standing in front of her, he lowered his head in a slight bow as he introduced himself in English, hoping to put her at ease.

"Makoto Yuki. It's nice to meet you. And you are…?"

She stopped her intense staring and sheepishly responded.

"L-Leah. My name is Leah."

Makoto nodded. She wasn't scared of him, but she had come to the house not knowing what to expect. It was possible Sirius only revealed his species to her, which wasn't enough to derive his personality and tendencies. And it wasn't as if they were experts on humans… Far from it, actually.

'It makes sense. They wouldn't know anything specific about me yet.'

Makoto gestured over to the couch for them to sit down before they continued talking. Something about this felt familiar to him. He had tried the same tactic before when consoling one of his more introverted friends in the past, so he was hopeful this could help him break the ice with the wolfess.

Leah sat down opposite him, slowly getting the courage to scoot closer. She stared at Makoto the entire time, taking in the human for who he was. Eventually, they sat side by side, almost touching each other. Leah's paw hovered over his hand, threatening to fully bridge the distance. He saw this and opened his hand for her to hold.

"It's all right…" he whispered. "Go ahead."

She looked over at him, her eyes flashing blue for a second as she read him again. But her fingers slowly did find their way onto his.

Leah visibly calmed down after this. Her tail swayed behind her in contentment and a smooth whine rang out from her throat. Makoto smiled, chuckling slightly at the distinctly canine behaviour. He let her hold onto his hand for as long as she wanted, waiting until she had her fill before asking his biggest question.

"Did Sapphire send you to check up on me?"

She hummed in confirmation. Like all the wolves from before, her voice reminded him of an actual dog. The way she enunciated certain sounds, the slight gruffness… It was very different from a human's smooth and clear tone.

"That is one reason why I came." Her tail twitched back and forth. "I regularly come in to take care of the house when Spyro is at home with his parents. I was planning on coming here again today when the alpha told me he wanted to make sure the… human was okay."

Spyro… Was that the name of the person who lived here normally? And he was staying at his parents' house for the time being?

He had seen the evidence before, between the Terrak's accusations in the woods and the irregular clothes he found in the house. But between his dream last night and meeting Seiryuu, and now Leah's claims that Spyro came from someplace else, Makoto was now able to put the pieces together, and he knew the truth…

Spyro, his mysterious roommate, was a dragon.

Makoto thought back to the loud stranger he had bumped into last night, knowing it was them. Spyro, from what he witnessed, was nothing like the dark blue dragon in his dreams. In fact, he clashed against everything he had seen in this world. He had seen a pack of ninja wolves, a shrewdness of ape savages, and then there was Spyro… A teenage dragon who talked and dressed like a modern-day biker punk.

It was almost as if another human had been brought to this time with him.

It also struck him as odd that would Leah reveal this information to him so casually. Before, Sapphire had been very vague to him when referring to anything about Spyro, beyond the fact that they were keeping him hidden from the outside world, so was that a slip-up on Leah's part?

Makoto chose not to press the topic, just in case.

"…Are you hungry?" Leah suddenly asked, changing the subject. "You probably haven't eaten in a few days and I hear you've recently been through a lot. I can prepare something for you."

The mere mention of food got Makoto's stomach growling, much to his embarrassment. He had yet to eat anything at all in this new life, and it was a miracle he endured it for as long as he had.

"That's fine… " he politely declined. "I know how to cook."

Leah stood up and tried pressing again. She had expected him to act defiant from the few brief stories she heard, but she hoped she would be able to convince him.

"Are you sure? Do you know how any of the equipment in the kitchen works? What any of the ingredients are?"

Makoto paused… She had a point. He didn't know where to start. And after what happened with the sink, it was safe to assume everything would be another learning process. Only here, there was a strong chance that he could cut, burn, or even poison himself if something went wrong.

Makoto scratched the side of his head awkwardly.

"No… I don't," he admitted.

Leah giggled at his honesty. Any nervousness she may have had before was completely gone. Part of her also found his bashful smile to be cute. He was like a little pup trying to act grown-up.

"How about this… I can help you get started," she offered, taking one of his hands and pulling him to his feet. "We'll both pitch in. Even if it's not what you're used to, I spend a lot of time around food, so you don't have to worry."

Taken aback by the sudden enthusiasm, Makoto found himself following Leah into the kitchen. Before he knew it, he was wearing a matching red apron to hers, and looking over all of the available food items, both what was already in storage and what the wolfess had brought with her, planning possible meal ideas.

Makoto was far from a novice in the kitchen. Growing up, he had a habit of simply grabbing something quick and easy to eat, but that changed after the accident. Constantly bouncing between relatives, there were plenty of times when his current guardians weren't around to feed him, so he was forced to fend for himself. His self-made meals weren't remarkable, but he could at least keep himself sustained.

Starting in high school, he and his close friends took up cooking as a hobby by making use of the dorm's communal kitchen, and learning a wide variety of tastes and practical skills. Makoto might not have ever reached Shinjiro-senpai's level by the end of his time there (that was an impossible goal for anyone), but being perhaps the second most talented chef of them all was something he was proud of.

As he was now, he had to rely on Leah's knowledge to get started. While he distracted himself with the prep work, while also slowly regaining confidence with his knifework, she handled the actual cooking, following whatever directions he gave and making suggestions based on what they had to work with.

Plenty of times, he had to ask her what the specific ingredient in front of him was. But every time he did, he specifically phrased his question by instead asking about the kind of dishes it was used in. From her answers, he judged whether it fit into his current recipe and prepared it accordingly.

"Ah! Careful with that knife," Leah squeaked when she saw how he was chopping the vegetables. "You'll cut your fingers off like that!"

He chuckled at her reaction. Once he had gotten comfortable, Makoto switched to a technique that was very quick and precise, and he was so confident in his ability that he wasn't looking down at his hands anymore.

"I'm fine," he said calmly. He raised his left hand and flexed the joints to show how he was holding the vegetables. "My knuckles act like a guard when I position my hand like this. I can't cut myself, even if I'm not looking."

Leah watched in awe as he demonstrated for her. Not once did he accidentally slip up and slice himself, even with his speed. She turned to inspect her front paw, wondering if she could do the same. If it was possible, however, that would be something to practice later. She didn't feel confident enough for it just yet.

"That should do it," he announced when they had finally finished. Between the two of them, they had prepared multiple dishes and sides, all of them based on recipes Makoto had been taught by his closest friends, only with an improvised execution.

"Did we need to make this much though?" Leah asked, referring to how much was on the table. "They say you shouldn't cook or buy food while hungry, and I think I see why now…"

Makoto, unfazed, turned to look at her.

"Would you like to join me?" he offered while taking off his apron. "We made a lot, but this should be enough for two."

Leah paused. All this time, she had been wondering why Makoto was using so much food for one meal. At first, she dismissed it as him wanting to make up for any meals he had unintentionally skipped, which was understandable. But instead, he had been portioning everything with her in mind as well?

"If you're busy, I understand. But…" He smiled warmly. "I would like the company."

"N-no… I don't mind."

She took a seat next to him, her face flushing slightly from seeing his smile. Fortunately, most of it was hidden underneath her fur.

The two said their prayers in silence. Once finished, Makoto filled a large bowl for himself, taking a little bit of everything. Holding onto it with one hand, he started eating with a pair of chopsticks. He was happy with how the food turned out. The thinly sliced meat coated in a sweet and spicy sauce paired nicely with the rice, and everything had a pleasant organic taste that couldn't be achieved using store-bought ingredients.

'I can't translate the recipes directly. There's too much different from what I had back home… I'll keep it in mind for later.'

Beside him, Leah was staring at the meat dangling from her chopsticks with uncertainty. The smell was highly appetizing, but knowing what flavours and ingredients actually went into the sauce was concerning.

"I'm about to eat human cooking…" she muttered.

She slowly placed the meat into her mouth. The food sat on her tongue, dissolving slowly as saliva washed over it. Her jaws moved up and down in slow intervals, almost like a machine.

"Is it all right…?" Makoto asked when he saw how slowly she was eating. "What is it you don't like? I can change it for you if–"

"It's good…" she whispered.

"Hm?"

Leah stared at her food in disbelief.

"It's unlike anything I've tasted… But it's delicious, Makoto. You're a very talented chef."

She picked up her bowl and began eating at a faster pace, soon catching up to him. Makoto breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'd still be lost without your help. It's thanks to you that I got this far."

The two enjoyed the rest of their brunch together, engaging in small talk between bites. Leah was very curious about him now and asked him many things about his life and the time period he was from. Makoto, always the quiet listener, answered whatever she asked and listened to the stories of her own life, becoming interested in lupine culture just as much.

He could tell they were becoming friends, and he felt a bond forming with the shy wolfess.

Before long, the pair had finished all the food on the table.

"You can head out once you're finished," he offered while gathering the empty bowls to take them back to the kitchen. "I can take care of the rest–"

Something warm collided with him from the front.

Leah was hugging him.

She didn't ease into it either. Rather, she pounced on him, catching Makoto by surprise.

Instinctively, Makoto wanted to pull out of the embrace. He had always had an aversion to any form of unannounced physical contact. Right now, Leah was holding him very close, leaving no separation between their bodies. By human standards, this was far more intimate than a simple hug between friends…

'Why is she doing this…? We practically just met, and she was nervous around me earlier. How is she suddenly comfortable enough to hug me?'

His hands crept up with the intent of loosening her hold, but for reasons he didn't understand, they kept moving past her shoulders, and Makoto accidentally found himself returning the hug.

Feeling the gentle warmth from his aura, Leah purred and nuzzled the side of his face in delight. A small gasp escaped Makoto's lips at the sensation.

'This feeling… I don't hate it.'

He closed his eyes and let himself get lost in the moment.

Leah was the one to let go of the embrace as much as she didn't want to. With her task fulfilled, she likely had to return home now. If it were up to her, she would have continued spending time with Makoto, learning more about the human her pack had welcomed into their home…

An idea suddenly came to her. One that ensured that the two could remain together for the rest of the day.

"Makoto, do you want to come with me?"

The young man was shocked by the offer and took a step back.

"I'm… I'm allowed in the city?" he questioned. "I thought Sirius would want me hidden and out of sight."

Leah tilted her head to the side.

"Out of sight? Why would you say that?"

"I…"

Memories of last night flashed through his head, back to when he revealed his species to the alpha. Sirius sounded cross with him, and actually tackled him to the bed. Even when he confirmed that Makoto was telling the truth, he still stormed out of the room in a fit of anger.

Makoto sighed.

"You're sure I'm allowed to leave the house?"

"Of course!" Leah insisted. "Spyro has always been free to venture into the city. It shouldn't be any different for you."

Makoto didn't know how Spyro's situation differed from his own. Was being a dragon even more cause for concern than a human? Regardless, the wolf seemed certain it was safe. While he would have preferred to hear it from the alpha himself, if the person they assigned to him was this adamant, there realistically shouldn't be anything to worry about.

"All right," Makoto relented. "Give me a minute."

He quietly walked back to the bedroom and picked up one more item. When he returned, he had his dark blue cloak in his hands. He then pulled it over his head and let it fall down to his knees.

"I'm ready."

For some reason, as soon as he pulled the hood over his face, he saw the wolf's ears fall as if she was sad.

"Do you have to wear that cloak?" she asked.

Makoto shrugged with indifference.

"This is what I'm used to," he explained. "Is there something wrong with it?"

"It feels like you're hiding from us," While he was wearing his cloak, most of Makoto's body was covered up, leaving only his arms, legs, and a small part of his face visible. It was as if he was shielding himself in a thick shadow.

Leah reached out to hold his hands again and tried gently coaxing him.

"I'd want you to feel comfortable during your stay here."

Makoto frowned, not understanding why something this minor would make such a difference to her. Humouring the request, he briefly pulled the cloak over his head to see her reaction. The instant he did, however, Leah quickly snatched the garment from his hands, preventing him from putting it back on.

"See? Isn't that better?" she beamed. "You look so much more confident and handsome without this cloak hiding your face."

Makoto blinked at her words.

'Did she just say that…?'

It didn't sound like she was flirting, but that wasn't a compliment was used to receiving so casually. And to have it come from a wolf ninja was something he never would have expected.

"Now that that's settled," she turned to the entrance. "Let's get going!"

"…Fine." Makoto crossed his arms and smirked, letting her have her way. "But I'm not leaping through the trees if that's what you had in mind."

He followed behind her through the front door.

Stepping outside, he shielded his eyes from the sunlight as a cool breeze washed over him. Given the state he was in at the time, Makoto didn't get to fully appreciate the beauty of this part of the forest. Now that he had rested and eaten, his senses seemed to have reactivated, and he could take in the warm, golden glow of the sun peaking through the trees; the long, soft grass by his feet that was devoid of any weeds; or the crispness of the air that was free of pollution.

'I can see why Sirius and them want to keep this place protected…'

His slow steps came to a halt. Something in the back of his head alerted him to another presence nearby… Two of them.

He was being watched.

Without looking in their general direction, Makoto could sense two more wolves hiding in the trees behind him. He didn't detect any hostility, they were simply perched atop some branches, looking down on him as he stepped into view from behind the house.

'I guess there's more ninja-like to these guys than just their clothes…' he mussed.

"Is something wrong?" Leah asked in the distance once she saw that he wasn't beside her anymore.

"I think we have company…"

Makoto snapped his head around to face the onlookers, which turned out to be a pair of young wolf pups. Instantly, the two both recoiled from his gaze, shocked that he was able to sense them despite how quiet they had been up until now. The smaller of the two actually slipped off the branch and fell to the ground. Their friend tried to catch them but missed, and in the process, also ended up losing their balance and fell moments later.

Seeing this, Makoto immediately tried to sprint over and catch the two kids before they got hurt. Before he took a step, however, the young wolves had already landed safely on their feet, completely unharmed. No sooner than they did, they both took off, running past him and Leah.

"I thought you said he wasn't a wolf!" one of them shrieked, the voice belonging to a girl.

"He's NOOOOT!" her male companion hollered after her.

Leah shook her head.

"Those two…" She turned to Makoto and apologized. "I'm sorry. They must have been curious about you. We all are."

"Mhmm… I'm already famous, aren't I?" Makoto put his hands back in his pockets as he met back up with her and they walked towards the city together.

"Well, news does travel fast within the pack. And many of us want to meet the human that saved our alpha last night."

…Excited?

Makoto wasn't an expert on wildlife, but growing up, he did briefly learn something about lupine behaviour and how their communities had a strict hierarchy. Did his saving Sirius from the apes affect anything in a bad way? Should he expect some hostility?

"Is not what you think," she interjected, already having an idea of what he was thinking. "We're all grateful for what you did. There shouldn't be any conflict."

"If you say so…" he said and closed his eyes.

Makoto still had his doubts. He was used to not always having all the information needed, and could adapt. But in the past, there was always something there to keep him grounded, such as an ally or his own experiences. He could only take people's word for so long when he had nothing to fall back on.

"Hey," he started. "Did Sirius mention what he expects of me?"

Leah took her time answering.

"It's hard to say… Maybe he'll tell you himself? This morning, he did mention that he wants to see you again when you're healthy. He wants you both to have time to recuperate."

"I see." He ended the conversation there.

His silent moment didn't last long as Leah suddenly reached out and grabbed his hand. Without giving him a moment to adjust, she began pulling him along at her own fast pace. Makoto, who stumbled over his feet once again, tried calling out to her to slow down, but the excited wolf couldn't hear him anymore.

.

.

.

If Makoto was asked last night what he thought the wolven city would be like, he would have imagined a small enclosure in the forest with a few dozen wooden houses, possibly suspended in the trees. The apes had a difficult time finding this place after all, so it couldn't have been easily traceable from the skies. But what he was currently seeing was a massive community that more than earned its designation of "city".

Lycanus was massive in scale. And the idea that everything would be primitive and made of wood was shattered for good. Despite being isolated in the middle of nowhere, without access to the same resources, the wolves had built a civilization that rivalled something from his own time.

As he stepped onto the stone pathway, Makoto turned his head around to take it all in. All around him were canines with white and blue fur, black masks tied around their eyes and face, and multiple weapons by their sides. And it was just them. His first taste of life in the new world and there wasn't a human in sight. This was all accomplished without their involvement.

'It really is an entire city of wolves…' His mind wandered for a bit, wondering how people would react to this if he were to tell them. 'I wish Koromaru were here to see this.'

The Shiba Inu he and his friends adopted always had a fascination with wolf packs. Back home, Makoto would frequently turn on the TV to let him watch documentaries. Living amongst a large community full of sentient wolves would be heaven for his little canine companion. He could almost imagine the little white dog bouncing in circles around each of them full of unbridled joy.

'That's right,' Makoto suddenly thought solemnly. 'He wanted to come with me once the battles were over. I even held onto his collar as a promise…'

He brought a hand to his head.

"I'm sorry, Koro. It wasn't meant to be in the end…"

Deep down, he knew his little friend would still be taken care of, even if not by him. The important thing to remember was that Koromaru got to live. However, Makoto felt conflicted, reflecting on his trusted companion now that he was alive again. Technically, he had broken his promise, and that fact was nagging at him in the back of his head. And that wasn't the only big promise he made during his final months…

As the two new friends walked through the city, they passed by many other wolves. Each time they did, they made a brief stop to talk and introduced Makoto. Or rather, the person would be quick to notice them and stopped whatever it was they were doing to come over. Leah wasn't exaggerating about the pack wanting to see him all day.

"Good afternoon, Leah," someone greeted. Makoto recognized both him and his companion from before when Sirius was giving orders following the apes' attack. "The little one by your side… Are you showing him around for the day?"

Makoto said nothing and turned his head away, annoyed.

'Since when is two metres tall considered 'little'?' he thought to himself. In the past, if someone labelled him as small, he would have ignored it. But here, until he or Leah corrected them, everyone in the pack would instinctively think that he was in his early to mid-teens. Some even thought he was younger than that!

He was suddenly grateful his new form was taller. They would probably treat him even more delicately if he had kept his previous height after being reincarnated.

A strong paw clapped him on the back.

"Ha ha! I guess the human doesn't like being called short!" the wolf exclaimed. "Don't worry, pup. I'm sure when you're all grown up, you'll be the one looking down on us!"

His older companion made an unamused sound.

"I doubt that," he said. "If the pup is a human, which I still don't believe, he would be from the third era. This is as tall as he'll ever be."

Wanting to hold his ground, Makoto crossed his arms and looked up at the wolf guard.

"I know what I am," he said firmly. Even if he knew he looked a lot like a wolf now and especially didn't resemble the 'Predecessors' from those ridiculous books, that didn't change what he was at the end of the day.

Intrigued by his resilience, the taller wolf leaned in closer. He lifted Makoto's head to the side and inspected him from different angles, making quick passes across his jaw and through his mane.

"So it would appear." He could accept that Makoto was being honest, but the logic behind the claim was still nonsense to him.

The first wolf stepped in again.

"An actual human…!" He placed his paws on Makoto's shoulders and gave them a friendly rub from behind. "You know, I'd actually place coin on him being from the second era. He knows his way with a sword, after all. He might have some room to grow yet!"

The "three eras"… That phasing had been used a lot.

Makoto remembered reading something along those lines last night. According to this world's history, there were three distinct timeframes that humans lived throughout, with their appearance evolving greatly between them. Makoto wanted to dismiss it all as false. He had learnt about human evolution in school, and none of those drawings looked realistic to him. However, those books had correctly identified what a Persona was… So, could some of their information be accurate?

The conversation with the two patrol wolves, whom Makoto learnt were named Zion and Riley respectively, didn't last long, as they had other important matters to attend to, and they soon left the pair to continue their duties after politely wishing them a good day. They were quickly replaced by others, as Leah continued showing him around. One by one, he was introduced to the pack. Despite the confusion about his species and age, they were all friendly and approachable. Wanting to know more about who he was while welcoming him to Lycanus.

It felt strange having so many people be so accepting, almost unconditionally. But not as weird as how they always seemed to read his thoughts or emotions and react before he said anything.

Leah made it a point to show him as many places as they could, each place made his eyes widen further in wonder. It felt like he was living in a storybook, but he had to remind himself that this was all real. They were real.

Hours passed by with plenty still left to see. As they went further into the city, Leah chose to make a very specific detour to a large tavern in the middle of the city, as she wanted to show Makoto where she and her family worked. They both walked through a back entrance to avoid the guests and staff, knowing that his presence there would attract a lot of attention and disrupt business. Once inside, they quickly found Leah's mother working up front.

Makoto had very few interactions with other people's parents, but he did his best effort to act respectfully around Leah's family. Her mother, a soft-spoken wolf named River, took an immediate liking to him. She commented that she didn't know what to make of a human pup living in the city, but she was glad to see he was very mature and well-mannered for his age.

"It's good that you've settled in," she tried to encourage him. "No child should ever be left fighting to survive all alone. Especially one so young."

At some point in the conversation, he revealed that he didn't have a family somewhere in the world waiting for him to return, and the mother wolf couldn't help but feel sympathetic to him. Her care was comforting, if a little foreign to someone like him.

"No, ma'am," he tried to correct her. "I'm not a chi–"

"He's HERE!?" a loud voice coming from the back suddenly exclaimed. "Why didn't you all tell me sooner!?"

The group turned to the kitchen doors as a larger wolf with an apron around his waist burst through without warning.

Leah's father, a stocky wolf named Alan who didn't care for formalities, was upon Makoto in a second, who fell to the floor from shock. Alan loomed over the poor human, bending his body at an impressive angle so that he was looking directly into his eyes. Makoto couldn't tell if he was angry or simply curious.

Unbeknownst to him, the entire building was now looking in their direction, surprised by the sudden intrusion, and whispered amongst themselves what the problem could be.

"What is he doing?" Leah asked her mother. "Is he upset?"

"Not at all. You know how he is when he's excited, and he's been acting this way ever since Sirius chose you to go see Makoto."

The young man, not liking the situation he was in, slowly pulled himself up from the counter, noting how the large wolf traced his every move. Makoto straightened himself out and met Alan's gaze directly. He wasn't scared of him, but he wasn't going to let himself appear weak in front of a new friend, even if it was her father.

The staredown lasted a full minute before a wide grin appeared on Alan's muzzle and his throat rumbled loudly.

"I approve."

Makoto's jaw dropped open.

"Sir…?"

"The stories are true… I can tell you're a good pup, Makoto." His smile grew even wider and he pulled the young man in. "You're more than free to spend time with my daughter during your stay."

Everyone listening didn't expect such a blunt comment and was taken aback, the implications of what he meant were obvious.

"D-dad!" Leah shrieked. "I just met him today, and– W-Where is this coming from!? This isn't like you!"

Alan adjusted his fatherly grip on Makoto and turned to address her.

"I always had a glimmering of his character, and I was proven right just now. He's strong-willed, mature, and sensible. And I can tell he cares for you too! He was thinking about you just now and wanted to make a good impression."

Leah looked over at Makoto, who was still partially buried in her father's thick chest fur. He was thinking of her during that exchange…? Her tail fluttered behind her at the thought, and she blushed.

Alan continued talking, now teasing his daughter directly.

"You feel the same, don't you? I still remember this morning how scared you were to go to the house, even asking me to try and get Sirius to send someone else. But look at you now! The two of you already have such a close bond. You clearly see something in him, and there's nothing wrong with letting you two be happy."

Leah's face flushed a brighter red at her father's words. In a panic, she quickly ran forward and grabbed Makoto by the arm before dragging him away, hoping to spare them both from any further embarrassment. She carried him straight out of the building, ignoring her father's loud laughter and her mother's scolding him as they ran out the door.

"I'm sorry, Makoto," she said after they finally slowed down. She nervously played with her paws and looked away in discomfort. Makoto coughed a few times to regain composure, being similarly overwhelmed.

"Parents…?" He threw the word out as a question, not knowing if this was common for people their age. He never experienced that sort of life before.

"Yes–NO! Dad… He's usually very protective of me. He has been ever since–" She paused and shook her head. "N-No. Never mind."

She started walking again, intending to distract herself by continuing the tour of the city. But when she didn't hear his footsteps following behind her, she turned and saw Makoto staring at the tavern while rubbing his head in agony. His aura also showed plenty of signs of discomfort, and it felt like his mind had gone blank and he was fighting to regain clarity.

Concerned, Leah gently took his hand in her own, instantly breaking him out of his trance.

He gasped quietly and darted his gaze to her.

"Thank you…" he breathed heavily.

Leah suddenly felt bad. Something had bothered him just now, and she contemplated stopping the tour and letting him rest.

"It's not your fault," Makoto spoke up. "I'm still getting used to everything."

His stoic demeanour returned, but she knew right away that it was genuine. He wasn't forcing a face. Without waiting for her, he strode further into the city as if he already had a destination in mind.

"Makoto…?" Leah whispered before hurrying after him.

.

.

.

The young man was mostly quiet for the rest of the day. He made an effort to hold conversation whenever necessary, but he was more interested in exploring for now.

"Hm…?"

From the corner of his eye, the flash of something blue caught his attention and he broke off of the main path to investigate.

Makoto found himself in front of an outdoor blacksmith shop. Judging from the intense heat and hammering from inside, they were hard at work on something. Near the entrance, there was a large collection of broken weapons all neatly folded into smaller piles with various names listed beside them.

Hiding within the display, he saw what he was looking for—a familiar, pale-blue katana.

Much like how its owner stood out in the city, the sword was tiny and unimpressive compared to everything else in the shop. A toothpick compared to a tree.

"I heard that that's your sword, Makoto," Leah said from behind him. "Do you like weapons?"

Makoto nodded.

"I have… a lot of experience."

While most of his past team's gear was supplied to them by a research team full of experts, Makoto took it upon himself to manage all of the group's equipment. He soon found that he also had a natural talent for more than just swordplay. Over time, he mastered every weapon type available to them. One-handed swords were still his preference, but he also knew how to use bows, axes, hammers, and lances, among other tools.

Leah called one of the blacksmiths over to ask why the katana was being inspected, to which they responded that they were trying to learn what material it was made from.

"You wouldn't expect it based on size, but this little thing was more effective on those apes last night than everything we had on hand!"

Makoto smirked coyly at that detail. That Imitation Katana was by far the weakest tool he'd ever used, and yet here, it was being treated with such reverence… He could only imagine what would happen if they saw something like his Lucifer's Blade.

"Will I eventually get my sword back, sir?" he asked.

The blacksmith crossed his arms and hummed.

"Hard to say, pup. Sirius was very insistent that we find out what's so special about this sword. I actually intend to take it apart and study it with alchemy later today."

…ALCHEMY!? As in… The process of transmuting one material to another on an atomic level? Something like that was possible!?

"If we can replicate the unique properties in the metal, we should be able to fortify our existing weapons. We'll be prepared for anything in case the Dark Army shows their hides in Lycanus again!" The wolf grinned. "But don't worry, pup. As thanks, I might be able to forge something better for you in return."

Makoto took a step back. The throbbing pain in his head returned as his mind tried to make sense of everything.

"Oh dear," the blacksmith laughed. "I guess I broke our little weapons enthusiast with the promise of a new sword!"

Leah, meanwhile, had a different reaction, knowing this wasn't the first time today that this had happened. She quickly thanked the older wolf for his time and led her friend away to find a place away from prying eyes.

She eventually found a secluded spot behind some buildings masked by shadows and let go of his hand. Makoto was breathing heavily again and was holding onto her for support.

"What's happening, Makoto? You've worrying me…"

"It's too much…" There were simply too many anomalies he'd been exposed to in a day, and he was being forced to accept it all as his new 'normal'. Combined with the many unanswered questions he still had, it was overwhelming even for someone as adaptable as him.

"I need to sit down," he breathed.

Leah's ears drooped as she felt his pain directly.

"Do you want to go back to the house?" she asked. "Would that be better?"

Makoto shook his head.

"I just need someplace quiet." He then remembered a tall building they had seen earlier in the day. "That library… Can we go there?"

She nodded and took his hand again.

"Okay. If that's what you want."

.

.

.

To their relief, nobody picked up on Makoto's distress on their way back. Furthermore, the reading hall was mostly empty, granting them a moment to decompress.

"Are you sure you'll be fine by yourself, Makoto? I can stay with you for a little while longer."

The young man silenced her by wrapping his arms around her, letting the wolf know he would be all right.

"I appreciate what you're trying to do," he whispered in her ear. "But… I need to do this at my own pace for now."

Leah returned the embrace. She could still sense the welter of his mind, but there was a confidence in his voice now.

"All right," she murmured. "You know where I'll be, right?"

"Yes," he smiled. "I'll see you again soon."

The two friends shared one last poignant look before she left.

Now by himself, Makoto turned to the columns of books in front of him.

"I have a lot of homework to catch up on…" he said with a deep breath.

Pulling up a table for himself, and after asking around for some beginner-level recommendations as well as writing supplies, Makoto began reading in hopes of better learning about this world. He wasn't overly concerned with uncovering every bit of history from the saurians, the "Primordials", all the way to the wolves right away. Instead, his first immediate priority was to gain an understanding of the Universal language, and apply it properly.

As he had already learnt, Universal was nearly identical to English, but at the same time, it wasn't the language he had learnt in school. The individual glyphs were written with more curves as opposed to straight lines, giving it a very formal appearance, and there were more than the traditional 26 characters from the classic Latin alphabet.

Opening a notebook, Makoto began practicing the new typography. It was easy to follow, but there were still occasions when his mind defaulted back to traditional English by mistake. Learning a new language was never easy, but he knew that he could master it in time if he was diligent.

Writing down what he saw, he determined that every vowel from the old English had been separated into at least three unique letters, accounting for their wide range of phonetic uses. Similarly, other additional characters were created to better align with the vocal cords of modern-day beings. He noticed this especially with how there were at least four that all sounded like the letter R. He had heard each of them used in verbal speech throughout the day, but it would take time before he was fluent himself.

Time flew by as Makoto immersed himself in the books, only stopping on occasion to ask around for more reading suggestions. He received a few odd looks based on the pile he had accumulated, but the people in the hall were all happy to help.

Among those in the crowd was someone he recognized.

"Is he the one from before…?"

It was the same wolf that had been standing near Sirius last night… Rufus, was his name?

The wolf didn't bother him. He didn't even stop to say anything, but he was aware of Makoto's presence. Only something was on his mind that kept him from speaking.

"Not my problem," Makoto concluded.

Feeling like challenging his knowledge, Makoto opened a new book, this one older than everything he had touched that day. A cloud of dust blew in his face as he opened the cover, prompting a sneeze.

The book had minimal text. More specifically, it was made up of only short statements strung together without direction. Makoto's own notes make more cohesive sense than this history log. After making little to no progress, he began skimming through the pages until he found a picture, hoping that would help guide him. A dozen pages in, and he finally found something useful.

The wolf in the picture was more feral compared to the ones in the city. It may have stood on two legs, but that was where the similarities finished. His fur was wild and ragged and he was only wearing a simple loincloth. Beyond that, the canine looked comparatively weak. It didn't look like he could take out a larger animal like one of those apes, even with a full pack supporting him.

One thing that caught Makoto's attention, was the scarred flesh around his eyes, likely battle scars from an unfortunate encounter. The wound was deep and the lids were both closed, a sign that he might be blind. Makoto began reading through the surrounding text to hopefully learn more about this person. His name was Aaron, and he was from a time denoted by "A.E", but he couldn't find many other details beyond that.

Before he could look into this any further, a large shadow was suddenly cast over the book's pages. Turning his gaze upwards, he was instantly met with two ruby-red eyes peering down at him.

Someone had entered the room while he was distracted. An adult male wolf… The same one he passed by earlier was standing above him, looking down with an inquisitive expression.

"So… you're a human?" His voice wasn't as deep as Sirius', but it had a similarly bold weight.

"Yes…?" Makoto replied bluntly. This habit of theirs to suddenly be right up in his face was getting very annoying.

The wolf leaned in closer and began circling Makoto while taking several deep whiffs, taking in every detail he could.

"But you're so small…" he whined in disappointment.

What did that mean? This wolf had seen him yesterday, so he should already know this. It was as if he had heard the word "human", envisioned one of those massive barbarians, and quickly ran off to find Makoto, hoping that it wasn't the same person and that the actual human was elsewhere in the city.

The wolf's curiosity was on full display as he scrutinized Makoto. Without warning, he started poking him in the arms and face.

"You do have some muscle at least…"

Makoto jerked away at this, falling out of the chair.

"Personal space!" he snapped.

The wolf didn't react to his outburst. Instead, acting like nothing was wrong, he shifted his attention to the pile of books that was littering the table. His ears fell in discomfort at the sheer volume of them.

"Are you… earnestly trying to read this much history all at once?" he whimpered.

Regaining his composure, Makoto sat back in the chair before calmly responding.

"In a way, I suppose… I have to start somewhere." He was about to continue reading before the book was swiped out of his hand. "H-Hey!"

The wolf looked at the title on the front cover, quickly flipped through some pages, and then brought the book to his nose, picking up the strong scent of aged paper and dust.

"This… This is just a reference guide," the wolf grumbled incredulously. He pointed at a small blurb of text tucked away in a corner. "The information in here is so ancient that there aren't any detailed records for it anymore! Do you really need to go that far back!?"

The human nodded, "I do. This whole world is foreign to me. Anything I read will be helpful."

The wolf put his arms down in shock.

"Anything? …You're that blinded by night's shadow?"

Another nod. Makoto reached out his hand, asking for the book again.

The wolf's face scrunched up in annoyance. Realistically, Makoto would have to read every book and scroll in the hall to be properly educated… But nobody should have to suffer through all of that!

Making up his mind, the wolf flicked the reading guide back onto the table… before swatting the majority of the other texts onto the floor.

"Hey!" Makoto stood up and raised his voice. "I still have to–"

A loud bark cut him short.

"This is what you're going to do. You're going to block all those books from your mind, and together, we'll cover the basics of what you should know. Cramming all that into your poor little head at once… I don't approve!"

Makoto blinked in surprise. He was prepared to argue that he could finish all the books by himself even if it took him more than a day, but the wolf kept talking, having pulled up another chair and seating himself next to him.

"I'm no scholar, but if you're that lost, even I should be able to help, right?"

This conversation was moving far too fast for Makoto. It hadn't even been five minutes, and the wolf was already fully committed to helping him.

"Why? Why do you believe everything I'm saying? You don't know anything about me. For all you know, I might not be a human… but you seem so convinced, just like that."

"Hm? Your aura is honest and true. I don't have any reason not to believe you!"

That same phrasing again… And just as instantaneously as before. How and why are they able to make comments on the purity of his 'soul' or his 'aura'? Were these wolves psychic…?

The wolf interrupted his thoughts once again.

"Oh! Before I forget, my name is Lucas. I'm happy to finally meet you, human!" he said with a bright smile.

As confusing as it all was, he was not going to turn down the offered help, or the chance to gain another friend. Forming a bond with Lucas was a very good idea. And besides… that silly grin was admittedly beginning to be contagious.

"Likewise…" he replied, "Makoto Yuki. But just 'Makoto' is fine."

With Lucas' help, Makoto was able to work his way through the book, exploring how the world became what it was as told by lupine historians.

The scarred wolf from the book, Aaron, was an important figure for them, as the wolves that populated both this city and the outside world were all distant descendants of him and his followers. When Aaron was alive, the world was very dangerous and unstable compared to now. The air became rich with mana, and with it, many powerful species were coming into existence. Across the planet, the animals who were already alive were either dying out as their bodies failed to adapt, or the earth's mana triggered an evolution in them. This period of metamorphosis lasted for several millennia.

Wolves were one of the lucky few to continue living in the new world. However, while their bodies were strong enough to survive and they now possessed an enhanced cognition, the early wolves were comparatively frail. Physically weak and magically inept, they could not compare to the likes of the "gnorcs" and "rhynocs". It was because of this that Aaron and his followers went into isolation, colonizing a corner of the world to themselves, never venturing out beyond their territory.

Throughout all of this, one thing never changed for the wolves. Despite their frailness, they never lost their pride. If anything, this isolation only served to drive them to improve themselves and bring out their potential. This was why, to this day, physical training was so important to them, it became a core of their identity. Their descendants, as Makoto could clearly see, were no longer the feeble dogs from all those years ago, but a proud and mighty race respected across the realms.

"So what started here…" Makoto pointed at the image of Aaron again. "Led to all of you?"

Lucas huffed in confirmation. He then stood up straight, puffed his chest out, and gave a confident pose as if to use his physique as a positive representation of his species. Like all wolves, he was very physically imposing, with a tall and muscular build that few humans could match. Were it not for that goofy smile, Makoto might have been impressed.

"And Lycanus… Is that the city that Aaron and his followers created?"

Another huff.

"Every wolf in the world, even if they've never been here before in their whole lives, knows about and respects Lycanus. I know there's the stereotype that we only care about its safety and nowhere else in the world, but this city is very important to us! More than people could ever understand."

This entire city was the cornerstone of their entire species. It was the most sacred place in the world for them.

'In a way, I guess these guys are considered royalty…'

"Thank you for your help today, Lucas." Makoto acknowledged. "I've learnt a lot."

The wolf grew excited again and leaned down next to him.

"You mean it? I was helpful!?" he beamed.

"Um… Yes?" Makoto found the question odd, but answered honestly.

Lucas suddenly let out a loud howl, forgetting where he was and attracting a few annoyed looks.

"Oh, thank you, Makoto! I'm so happy."

"Yeah, I can tell…"

Lucas laughed at his bluntness.

"Things will definitely be a lot more interesting with you around!"

He then brought his forearm forward with a clenched fist. The same gesture he'd seen the others do when interacting with fellow pack members.

…Was he waiting for him to reciprocate the action?

Makoto hesitantly brought his own forearm up in return, and bumped Lucas'. The wolf laughed at his awkward attempt.

"Hey, you can do better than that! Put your spirit into it."

'Heh… 'Spirit'. They even take their handshakes seriously…'

Trying again, Makoto put more force into the action with a firm expression on his face, meeting the wolf's arm partway. This time, Lucas grinned in approval, with his tail wagging behind him.

"Welcome to Lycanus, friend! May our future together be strong!"

His enthusiasm was infectious, and Makoto soon found himself smiling with a quiet laugh.

But it didn't last. The word "future" struck him hard. Did he even have a future in this city?

Lucas saw his friend's expression and bent down, placing his paws over Makoto's shoulders in concern.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Sirius…" Makoto whispered. "When do I go see him? Is he still mad at me?"

"Huh? Why would he be mad?"

The young man sighed and quickly explained his situation.

"Last night… He had already offered protection to me, but when I told him that I was a human… Something changed. I think he's looking for an excuse to get rid of me now."

Lucas let out a loud yelp and quickly darted his gaze around the room to be certain nobody was listening in.

"Don't say that!" he whispered harshly. "Look, I don't know if anyone told you yet, but Sirius doesn't want you to leave! He was just… overwhelmed. He probably thought you were lying or something last night. After all, you don't exactly…"

Lucas struggled to finish the sentence, even if it was obvious what he would have said. But Makoto's pointed look told him that he was tired of the comparisons.

"…The point is! He wants you to stay with us for now. You did nothing wrong!"

"Why would he want me to stay? I'm just an outsider who fell in unexpectedly."

Lucas appeared surprised by this question, more than anything in their conversation so far.

"Wait… What do you mean by that?" He pointed at Makoto's right shoulder. At his unusual birthmark. "You've been chosen by Zenith the Almighty. You aren't just some random pup, right?"

Chosen? Zenith?

"What do you–"

"Lucas! Why are you still here?"

Another wolf entered the hall, and both of them recognized who the voice belonged to.

Looking past Lucas, Makoto saw Sapphire walking up to them, clearly frustrated about something. The male wolf at his side, meanwhile, fell back in surprise.

"S-Sapphire! Uh– Aren't you supposed to be in the temple training your next class?"

"Brother was getting impatient, so he sent me," she explained, briefly acknowledging the young man at the table. "If you were able to find him, why didn't you lead Makoto to him like you were told?"

Lucas shrunk down and began sputtering incomprehensible noises, knowing he had made a mistake.

"You forgot, didn't you?" Sapphire growled in his face.

"I'm sorry…" he bowed his head in shame with his tail flat on the floor.

"Um… Sapphire?" Makoto spoke up. "Just now, you said Sirius wanted to see me?"

The wolfess nodded, briefly turning her attention away from Lucas.

"He does. He believes the time is right and the two of you should have a talk. He's actually been waiting for you for the past two hours at least, so we shouldn't keep him waiting any longer."

She was about to pull him in close by the shoulders and gently guide him out of the hall when she saw the sad look in his eyes. Next to him, Lucas was shifting around nervously.

"Did something happen just now?"

"Nothing ma'am." Makoto stood up on his own and began walking out of the hall. "Let's go. We shouldn't keep the alpha waiting any longer than he already has…"

Behind him, the two wolves talked amongst themselves, though he heard every word.

"What is he so distraught about?"

"I… It's complicATED!"

Lucas' voice grew louder at the end, as he had gotten up and ran over to him mid-speech.

"Makoto!" he called out. Once he caught up, he grabbed the young man and turned him around to face him. The wolf's eyes grew teary as he spoke. "Makoto, don't worry! I promise. You'll be fine. Sirius just needs to talk to you!"

Sapphire came up and gently pried the two apart.

"Lucas… stop. You'll only scare Makoto more by acting loud and forceful."

"But I–"

"It's okay, Sapphire." Makoto interrupted. He looked at both of them directly, taking in their concern for his well-being.

"You promise, Lucas?" he asked, lingering his gaze on the male wolf. Lucas immediately nodded his head up and down vigorously.

"Absolutely. I'll say it as many times as you want!"

"Okay… I trust you."

He turned to Sapphire again and gestured for them to leave. While still uncertain, he was ready now.

The wolfess gently led him out of the room and out of the library, while Lucas reluctantly stayed behind to clean up the large pile of books on the floor.

The sunlight that greeted him as they stepped outside felt oppressive, nothing like before when he left the house. His feet kept moving by themselves as he tried to keep up with Sapphire's longer strides as they walked ahead to a pre-determined location, where someone important was waiting for him.

"Everything will be all right…" he told himself.

"Everything."

---

A/N

Oh, Makoto. Already creating Social Links like the JRPG protagonist he is…

So, this chapter ended up getting cut in half, just like what happened with CH4 and 5… I really don't pace myself properly and end up writing too much! Anyway, this is the first upload of the year, in a rebranding of sorts. It feels good to have this story back to where it belongs. I can't say when I'll finish CH8, as I'm still in the middle of playing Reload (Play it if you haven't! It's great!). I plan to dedicate more of my free time to writing without distractions to get more of these chapters out. (It hurts seeing that this is as far as I've gotten when I have SO MUCH planned. I could keep this story going for a LONG time…!)

See you all next chapter, where we'll find out what Sirius wants, and what exactly Makoto's (and Spyro's) unique mark is about.

Until next time, farewell.

~AzureDragonZX