The Archipelago
Two Years Prior…
The clang of metal sparked loudly, and the smell of sweat, dirt, and steel filled the air. Atlas glared at Hati before darting to slash at him. Hati blocked it again easily, hearing the metal scream in protest as they scraped together. The gravel crunched under his shoes. Gods, how Hati loved leikar with sword skill.
“That’s enough sparring for today, students.” High Spirit Eunha said from where he floated above the covered porch he rested at, his face as expressionless and blasé as it always was. “Put aside your swords and come inside to join me for supper during your lesson today.”
The two bowed in courtesy to their teacher, and split off to the armory. Hati sat down calmly to wipe down and clean the blade of his sword before he put it away. It was a habit born from how his pack taught him, making sure that the tools they used lasted as long as they could.
Atlas, however, just wiped down his blade once before setting it on the table and turning to look at Hati, a pout on his face. “I don’t get it, Hati.” Atlas complained. “How come you win every time we spar?”
“Your sword skill spends too much time on flashy movements.” Hati supplied. “And you run too much.”
“Or maybe it’s because werewolves are more agile creatures than even demons.” Atlas teased.
Hati merely beamed innocently. “If that’s your mindset; that’s why you lose so much.”
Atlas glared but it was clearly in good fun. “Why you…” He fumed teasingly.
“For creatures who have been under me for more than three months,” The High Spirit announced, causing Atlas to tense and Hati to jump about a foot in the air. “You still do not meet my expectations.”
“I’m coming, High Spirit!” Hati said, quickly grabbing his scabbard and standing up to go toward the rack he normally put everything away on. “I was just cleaning, sorry it took longer than normal.”
Atlas snorted. “Such an obedient student, especially for someone only here for bonding purposes.” He said with a teasing grin.
Hati laughed at that. “Oh, laesr! He’s scarier than Fenrir when he’s teaching glíma and pack traditions!”
“Hati, child.” the High spirit called from just outside. “It does not take so long to wipe a dull blade.”
“I’m coming!” Hati yelped as jolted again, racing to set his stuff down and go outside.
The High Spirit, as expressionless as he was, still seemed pleased. “Very good, youngling.” he hummed, patting Hati’s head before he looked into the armory again. “And do not think that I have forgotten about you, Atlas. You have no excuse for failing to meet my clear expectations.”
Atlas and tensed again and hurried to put everything away before catching up.
…
“Today we’ll be talking about when a young werewolf goes feral.” The High Spirit pinned his apprentice with a look. “Do you know what that means, Atlas?”
Atlas stopped chewing his food for a second, pausing for a long moment. “...Is it a sex thing?”
Hati’s eyes popped wide at that. “Oh my gods, Atlas no!” He blurted out in a bewildered tone. “Are you serious?! That’s not at all what-”
“Hati.” The High Spirit said firmly, making the young werewolf stop in his tracks. “Quiet now. That’s enough.”
“...Right; Sorry, high spirit.” Hati murmured, quietly going back to his piled-high plate.
“Alright, I confess.” Atlas fussed. “I didn’t study. What does going feral or whatever mean?”
“Going feral for werewolves is like reaching a second maturity. It happens a little while into a werewolf's adulthood. Generally it means it's time for the werewolf to bond with another, either as a mate or as a platonic relationship. This bond is very important in a werewolf's life. If such a socially bonded creature were to be deprived of this relationship, even for a little bit, it would be devastating for the werewolf's health. Fortunately, this bond does not have to be with a fellow werewolf, meaning that the other communities on the island can help with this situation. This is where we, as demons, come in, young Atlas.”
Atlas raised a brow curiously at the High Spirit. “So, what, is this like an arranged marriage thing or...?”
The High Spirit chuckled. “No, child. It is not. Rather, in the event of an emergency, you will have learned the tools to aid your friend. Until Hati finds his permanent bond, he has offered the position to you, and you have agreed. That's why you're learning together under me.”
…
“So..” Atlas piped up as they trudged through the woods on a path he and Hati were currently making. Hati glanced at him curiously as he stepped onto and over a rather large fallen tree branch, coated in moss and mushrooms as it decayed on the forest floor. “I never asked before, but… Why did you ask me to do this again?” he asked. “I’ll admit it was convenient, but technically anyone could have studied under the High Spirit for this.”
Hati just gave him another curious look. “You’re my best friend.”
“What about Tiff?” Atlas questioned, surprised.
Hati looked away from him, focusing on weaving through the brush in a way that both could tell was purely to avoid eye contact. “We’re close friends, but… you’re my best friend.” He admitted softly. “I knew you’d take this seriously and do your best to understand it, even if it was hard for you.”
Atlas stared blankly at Hati for a moment before he fully processed the words and spoke up, tearing up a little at the sentiment. “…Thanks, Hati.”
“Of course!” Hati said cheerfully. “I only said what was true.”
“Alright,” Atlas changed the subject as he raised his hands, the sigil he needed glowing to life like spider-web-esque threads of green light that shimmered in the air. “Should we get this started?”
…
“I said I was sorry.”
“Oh, trust me Sirena.” Milo responded, watching her pitch a tantrum with a dark and dissatisfied expression. “I heard you. I just don’t care.”
“Why not?!” Sirena demanded loudly. She’d since gotten quickly dressed and chased after Milo as he went to his room, chattering at him to listen and not be so childish the whole time she did. “You’re my boyfriend, the prince! You have to care!”
“Says who?” Milo questioned bitterly. “You?”
Sirena looked almost taken aback at that comment.
“You cheated on me; with my best friend!” Milo snapped. Honestly, it wasn’t the sex that irritated him. Sure, he didn’t want to see it, but he knew that Sirena was straight and he wasn’t, and they’d agreed on an asexual relationship at the beginning of the relationship. What made him upset was that she hadn’t talked to him about it; if she’d just communicated with him beforehand they could have fixed the issue before Milo had to have the image burned into his retinas—they could have opened the relationship, talked it out, or figured out a different solution together. However, as frustrated as Milo was, he was a little thankful for the situation though. Milo hoped just a little that this meant he’d be able to manage breaking up with her successfully, unlike all the other times he’d tried. “Why do I have to care about whether you’re sorry or not?”
Sirena gave a scoff with a disgusted expression. “It’s not like you’ve been acting like much of a friend to him anyway. You barely hang out with him!” She argued, seeming to remember something before she tacked on, “And you didn’t even want to date me in the first place anyway!”
“But I still conceded and agreed.” Milo reminded her coolly. “Which means we entered an agreement that neither of us would have sex with other people without consent from all parties in the relationship.” He narrowed his eyes pointedly. “An agreement you broke.”
“You didn't want to have sex with me anyway, so why do you care? I just wanted to feel desired. Why does that make me the evil one?!” Sirena told him angrily, pouting like an entitled child.
Milo interlaced his fingers as he shifted in his seat. “So does that mean you’re going to stop sleeping with Jake?” He asked in a professional tone.
“Does that mean you’re going to finally sleep with me?” She shot back.
“No.” Milo told her calmly. “As I’ve always told you before and in our relationship: I do not feel attracted to women. I like men. Just because you don’t like that doesn’t mean it isn’t fact.”
“Then of course not!” Sirena yelled, still hoping to get a reaction. “I have needs, you know!”
“Why didn't you just break up with me then?” Milo asked. “ What's the point in dating someone you extorted into dating and then cheating on them when they don't meet your unspoken expectations?”
“Because you’re-” Sirena stopped herself and shut her mouth, glaring at Milo’s coffee table.
Milo raised a brow and waited for her to finish, but she never did. “I’m what?” he prompted.
“You wouldn’t get it, Milo.” Sirena dismissed with venom in her tone.
“I wouldn’t?”
“No, you wouldn’t!” She snapped. “No, you wouldn't! So just ignore Jake and I; it's not like it should matter to you anyway!”
Milo allowed her a moment to calm herself from shouting, then spoke up. “Let me see if I’m getting this correct,” he said. “You want to continue this relationship, but also continue sleeping with Jake at the same time?”
“Of course.” Sirena responded.
“So, does that mean that applies to me too? That I can sleep with other people as well?” Milo asked as a hypothetical.
“No, you adulterous bastard!” Sirena yelled angrily at him.
Milo just raised a brow at her. “I haven't even cheated on you; I was asking a hypothetical. I told you outright that I wouldn't be having sex with you multiple times and you still wanted to be in an exclusive relationship.” He said calmly. “You see that you aren't being the least bit fair, right?”
“How am I not being fair?!” Sirena roared, clearly unhappy at how calm Milo still was.
“You’re insisting on a relationship that’s only open on your side.” Milo supplied.
“Of course I am! What would the rumors say about an adulterous dick as a prince of the royal family? Can you imagine what would happen to my reputation?!”
Milo froze. What the hell did she just say? Milo’s face shifted to an angered glare, finally irked by the situation. “Your reputation?” He asked in a low, stern voice. “Seriously? That's what this is about?” He let out a breathy, wry chuckle. “ My god, sirena, it feels like every time you open your mouth, I lose more and more of my respect for you. You won't let me sleep with others for your reputation, but you get to sleep with whoever you want because that won't affect your so well-crafted reputation. Was the only reason you wanted to date me because it would bolster your reputation as a noble?”
Sirena just stared at him, wide-eyed. He’d gotten it right.
Milo scoffed. “I can't believe this.” Milo stood up, tucking his hands behind his back out of habit. “We're done. I'm breaking up with you, Sirena. This relationship is over.”
“What?!” Sirena cried out, but Milo was already walking to the door. . “Milo, you can’t!”
Milo turned a little to look at her with a glare. “watch me, Sirena.” He answered. “Goodbye.”
A . N. - continued in 9.1
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