“It’s time to supply Master with your soul energy.”

Like… last time?

CLAP! FLASH!

On cue, lightning lit up the walls—an ominous sign. The thunder the day before was far away. Now, a new storm roared overhead the castle. The unexpected, earsplitting sound made Hyeon flinch. He peered through the ceiling-length high windows, seeing the looming clouds threatening to release a torrential downpour. The air was still foggy, which made it difficult to see beyond the property. It seemed there was no end in sight to the bad weather. 

“Haruma, is it always raining here?” he asked. Another series of dryer-tumbling booms reverberated above.

“Most of the time,” Haruma simply replied. 

Hyeon tried confirming again, “As in, this type of storm occurs… often? Every day?”

“It depends on the Master’s mood.”

His mood?

“And, uh, is he in a bad one this morning?”

Haruma glanced at the electric onslaught outdoors. “He seems particularly irked today…”

Perfect timing presenting myself to a wolf god.

“...Because you were late,” Haruma finished.

Perfect timing presenting myself to a rabid wolf god.

They arrived at the doors with swirling Nordic patterns. Like Sani, Haruma knocked twice. That must be the standard when requesting to enter. Last time, it took a few seconds for the beast inside to answer. They waited twenty seconds before Haruma tapped again.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

The trainer announced, “Master, we’ve arrived slightly delayed. I apologize.”

But there was still no reply. Haruma tensed with uncertainty. It was a full minute from when he knocked the first time. Because of the alarm in the fox guide’s eyes, Hyeon guessed this wasn’t normal.

“My Lord,” he spoke more loudly. His voice echoed through the hall. “Lord Fenrir!” 

Even if the wolf didn’t hear the door pounding and the previous calls, he definitely should’ve heard this one, yet, it was silent.

Immediately, Haruma commanded Hyeon, “Stay.”

Without verbal permission to come in, he went inside and vanished into the room’s darkness. No lights were emitting inside—even the wall torches were inactive. Hyeon tilted his head forward to hear if anything was happening, but it was quiet.

Like a horror movie, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm… yanking him in. A small yelp escaped from Hyeon. He saw the outline of Haruma.

“Master needs your soul energy. Now.”

Puzzled, Hyeon started to say, “How?”

The only light in the room came from the hallway, since the door remained open. It allowed Hyeon to see faintly around them. That was when he saw a startling sight—the beautiful assaulter on the floor, stomach facing up. His skin was paler than before.

Why is he like this?

Haruma urged him to stand next to the lifeless person. He nodded in urgency for Hyeon to do… something.

“I-I don’t know w-what to do,” Hyeon said, panicky.

“Touch him.”

According to Sani, mouth-to-mouth energy transfer wasn’t even necessary. So as Hyeon got on his knees, he pondered, Then will touching his arm be sufficient?

But Master Fenrir wore fitting black pants and a loose, long-sleeved Victorian-styled shirt. There weren’t too many exposed skin options.

His face or his hands? I think the choice is obvious.

He poked the god’s hand warily, anticipating a jump scare. The action caused a magnetic ZAP, similar to touching something after running over carpet floor. Hyeon could feel a lapse in his strength, becoming suddenly tired. At the twinge, the ruler of Festrheim returned from the land of the dead… widely opening his shining eyes. His black ears and tail disappeared in smoke simultaneously, and his ashen-colored skin returned to a normal hue.

Master Fenrir roughly grasped Hyeon’s arm and dived toward him. Before he could react, the wolf pounced to go for the kill.

“Oof!” Hyeon was lying on his back, this bastard holding his arms above his head. Chests touching, breaths mingling, the places that rubbed against him… Hyeon couldn’t help but gasp.

The person above him looked starved in a murderous way. If their lips were to get any closer...

“Hverr eru þú?” (“Who are you?”) “Eru þú hí til binð mik, sem vel?” (“Are you here to bind me as well?)

Haruma was still there, trying to interject. “My Lord…”

Hyeon—speechless—was lost in that bloodthirsty gaze, not knowing what he was saying.

“I-I don’t understand,” Hyeon whispered, tears about to break free.

Master Fenrir looked down at the prisoner beneath him with spite.

Does he believe I’m a threat? A secret spy? And why does he think so?

The wolf bared his large canine teeth. 

“You will,” he declared in English.