Torfyn ran. He didn't know where he was going, only that he had to get away from the palace, from the feast, from the queen's confession. The cold mountain air stung his tear-filled eyes, each breath a ragged gasp of betrayal and grief. He ran until his lungs burned and his legs gave way, collapsing at the edge of a breathtaking cliff.

The vista was a paradox of serenity and his inner turmoil. The cliff was dusted with snow, yet patches of vibrant green grass and delicate, colorful flowers peeked through, creating a scene of untouched beauty. He sat, legs dangling over the edge, staring at the majestic landscape without truly seeing it. The beauty only fueled his anger. How could the world be so peaceful when his was shattered?

A soft crunch of snow behind him broke his trance. He spun around, his body tensing, a low growl rumbling in his chest. It was Dylan.

Rage, fresh and hot, surged through Torfyn. In an instant, he shifted into his half-wolf form and charged, swinging a powerful, untamed punch. "You knew! You all knew!"

Dylan didn't fight back. He simply moved, fluid and calm, dodging each enraged blow. "Torfyn, stop."

"WHY?" Torfyn roared, his attacks growing more frantic. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Instead of answering with words, Dylan did something Torfyn never expected. As Torfyn lunged again, Dylan stepped inside his guard and wrapped his arms around the young werewolf in a firm, unyielding embrace.

Torfyn struggled, his claws digging into Dylan's back, drawing blood. "Let me go!"

But Dylan only held him tighter, his voice a low, steady murmur. "I will not."

The fight drained out of Torfyn as quickly as it had come. The physical struggle turned into an emotional collapse. The anger melted, leaving only a raw, gaping wound of loss. He slumped against Dylan, his body shaking with silent sobs that soon turned into heart-wrenching cries. Dylan held him through it all, a steady anchor in the storm.

When the tears finally subsided, they sat together on the cliff's edge. Torfyn's voice was hoarse. "Why didn't you say anything before?"

"Because it was not my story to tell," Dylan said gently.

"Then why?" Torfyn's voice cracked again. "Why are you working with a monster who killed so many of our kind?"

Dylan's grip on Torfyn's shoulder tightened, and his voice held a sharp edge for the first time. "Do not call her that. You have no idea what truly happened. If she hadn't acted, even more of our kind would have been slaughtered. You know nothing."

The ferocity in Dylan's tone shocked Torfyn into silence. "Then tell me," he whispered. "What happened?"

Dylan took a deep breath, looking over Torfyn's shoulder. Amanda and Wei were standing a few feet away, having followed them. They ran forward and joined the hug, their silent presence a comfort. Dylan nodded, his expression grim.

"Alright. I will tell you the truth of what happened a thousand years ago." He began, "Her Majesty told you about the chaos after the Dark Lord's sealing, correct?"

The three teenagers nodded.

"After the conflict, the Queen suppressed the races to maintain order. The chaos ended. But for some werewolves, submission was unacceptable. They began to plan a rebellion." Dylan's eyes grew dark with the memory. "The old twelve generals were still on the Queen's side then. The rebel werewolves started attacking human cities, slaughtering innocents. They targeted vampires, too. Other races, like succubi and necromancers, joined their cause. A full-scale war broke out. It was devastating."

He looked at Amanda. "The Queen lost her own daughter, Elena, in that war."

Amanda gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. The story her mother had told her in the privacy of her room now had a horrifying, historical context.

"Even after that unspeakable loss," Dylan continued, his voice heavy, "the Queen tried to negotiate for peace. But the rebellion's intensity only grew. She had no choice but to deploy the generals to end the war." His jaw tightened. "But they did more than end the war. They went rogue. Instead of targeting only the warriors, they began exterminating entire clans, families, and anyone with werewolf blood."

"The Queen discovered this atrocity. She ordered Darwin, our First General, to investigate. He uncovered the terrible truth: the rebellion itself had been secretly orchestrated by the twelve generals. They manipulated our people, stoking the flames of war to create chaos and seize back the power they had lost after the Dark Lord's sealing."

"The Queen summoned them to court. Darwin used his blood magic to extract the truth from their own memories, laying their treachery bare for all to see. But as he spoke, a smoke bomb erupted. In the confusion, the generals teleported away... but not before striking down Darwin, ensuring his silence forever."

High in her chamber, Queen Ahalya watched the scene in her scrying mirror, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek as the full weight of the past was finally unveiled.

The three friends sat in stunned silence, the true history rewriting everything they thought they knew.

Torfyn, needing to break the heavy mood, looked at Wei. "Hey, Wei... how did you even find me out here?"

Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Why do you assume it was him?"

Torfyn managed a weak smirk. "Because everyone knows you don't have the brain to think of something like that."

Amanda's eyes flashed with playful anger. "Look who's talking! A werewolf with a donkey's brain!"

Torfyn shot back, "Says the monkey princess!"

Wei, squeezed between them, sighed. "Please, guys, stop fighting..."

"Shut up, nerd!" they both snapped in perfect unison.

Watching them, Dylan and the Queen, miles away, couldn't help but smile. The bond was already healing him.

---

That night, under a canopy of brilliant stars, the three walked along a beautifully lit veranda, lanterns casting a soft glow on the ancient stone.

"So, Princess," Torfyn began, his tone lighter now. "How does it feel, being the Queen's daughter?"

Amanda frowned, hugging herself slightly. "I don't know. It's... a lot." She then turned to Wei. "Wei, why are you so obsessed with the Queen's brother?"

Torfyn grinned. "Isn't he your uncle?"

Amanda pointedly ignored him, her eyes on Wei.

Wei gazed up at the stars. "I don't know. At first, I just wanted to know about him. But after hearing her stories... he became fascinating. His power, his sacrifice..." He then looked at his friends. "By the way, what are your goals? Torfyn? Amanda?"

Torfyn groaned. "Here goes the nerdy boy with the deep questions."

Wei pouted. "Hey, don't call me that!"

Torfyn chuckled, but then his expression turned serious. "Okay, fine. My goal is to get revenge for my clan. The real ones responsible."

Wei then looked at Amanda. She thought about her mother, about the Queen, about the two boys standing beside her. She felt a fierce, protective warmth bloom in her chest. She smiled, a genuine, determined smile. "I want to protect everyone I love." She then nudged Wei. "What about you?"

Wei's face set with a firm resolve. "My goal is to save my sister and protect this world. It's the mission my mother gave me with her last breath."

The three of them stood in a comfortable silence, their individual burdens now a shared purpose. They looked up at the vast, starry sky, a canvas of infinite possibilities.

In unison, their voices rang out with newfound determination. "We will become stronger and stop them!"

They made fists, raising them towards the heavens—a pledge sealed under the watchful stars.

---

In the dark, oppressive hideout cave, Arlong stood before the leader, his impatience barely contained.

"We have secured everything for the ritual," Arlong said. "When do we proceed to the next step?"

The leader's red eyes glinted in the dim light. "Our next step is to prepare the girl. She must be perfectly molded, body and soul, to become the key that will open the 'Darkhold' and welcome our Lord back into this world."