Alea awoke to a chill clinging to her skin.
She surveyed her surroundings. As her eyes traced the dark corridor, there was something unusual in the air—something that tingled in the back of her throat, like a foreboding sense of danger approaching.
The corridor was damp stone. A dim torchlight flickered on the walls, casting shadows that seemed to dance as if following the rhythm of her racing heart. There was no one around.
She had no idea how she ended up here. The last thing she remembered was taking a shortcut to the underground library, followed by a sound... a rustle. A soft whisper that was almost inaudible, yet enough to awaken her deep curiosity. Black smoke curled from behind an old bookshelf, evoking an eerie sense of mystery.
And now she was alone, standing at the heart of a world that was not hers. A strange feeling enveloped her thoughts, like gunpowder igniting, waiting for the perfect moment to explode.
His steps were unsteady, and his breath quickened. Something—whatever it was—was trailing from the shadows. He could feel it. Neither sound nor smell... just instinct. Like an animal aware it was being hunted. His heart trembled like a violin string struck by a somber note.
Then, from behind the fog, glowing red eyes emerged. A drop of fear receded, tempered by a desire to understand what was truly happening.
The creature had no face. Only a thick fog shaped like a wolf's head, with a jaw full of sharp, insubstantial fangs that shouldn't exist. Its raspy breath sounded like the breath of death, as if each exhale were stealing hope from the surroundings.
Alea froze. He couldn't even scream. He felt trapped within his darkest nightmare, where he lacked the power to move.
As he moved, his actions were like the wind carrying a storm. There was an elegance and strength that vibrated within him, shrouded in an ever-present air of mystery. Within her soul, Alea felt her inner tumult stirred, as if a hero had been born to protect her—or perhaps something beyond mere protection.
The figure stood between Alea and the fog creature. A dark aura enveloped his presence, as though darkness itself were his companion. He was not only impressive in appearance; there was something fearsome in his gaze, as if he had witnessed countless horrors of the world.
Broad shoulders. Wild gray hair. Sharp twitching wolf ears. Eyes glowing yellow with rage, sparkling like dew in the morning but with a fiery intensity within. His breath was heavy, and his back slightly hunched, ready to pounce. From the depths of her heart, Alea sensed a tension and longing, a feeling even she did not fully understand. The sound of Fenris brought her back from her reverie, reminding her of the danger that lingered.
"Don't look at him," he growled, his voice hoarse yet firm, as if something within him was determined not to let Alea become ensnared by the shadows of that creature.
"Fenris..." Alea whispered, recalling the peaceful times before darkness enveloped them. In her mind, a vision of a friendlier, more sensitive Fenris struggled to surface amid the tension of the moment.
The fog creature dissipated, attempting to regain its form. But Fenris had already extended his claws. Unlike a human. Claws fully emerging from his half-transformed state. As the claws sliced through the air, a flash of dark energy accompanied them, hinting at the primordial power lying dormant within Fenris. He drove the claws into the creature's chest and tore through with a single violent motion, each action displaying a mastery and bravery that made Alea's heart race.
The smoke shrieked—literally—before dissipating like boiling water, heightening the tension in the air thick with the aroma of dread. Within that haze, Alea began to sense another presence, a spirit seemingly trapped amidst the struggle. She fought with all her might to stay focused, yet her thoughts and feelings were in turmoil, ensnared in a blend of fear and deep admiration.
Once everything settled, Fenris stood upright, his body glistening with sweat, his eyes still burning bright. There was a mysterious flash in his gaze, as if he harbored dark secrets intertwined with the shadows around him. Remembering this night, it felt as though all the energy they exerted had coalesced between them.
Alea remained silent. Yet her body trembled, her breaths coming in short gasps. She could feel the vibrations from everything around her, as if the universe itself was shaking in unison with the restless tremors of her soul. Perhaps this was what happened when two beings from different worlds converged in this moment.
Slowly, Fenris walked towards her, but not with a rough gait. He approached gently, like one would with a small creature that might flee at any moment. Each of his steps produced a soft sound, as if nature itself supported him on his journey to Alea. His spirit mingled with the darkness, yet something bound him to the powerless woman before him.
Then... he lowered his head.
And sniffed Alea's neck.
"E-eh?! Hey! What—what are you doing?!" Her voice trembled, creating an echo of doubt between them.
Alea's voice quivered, creating an echo of uncertainty in the air. Fenris growled lowly, then said,
"You smell like light."
"Excuse me?!" Alea stepped back a half-step. "Is that some kind of wolf compliment?!"
The conversation between them felt like a bridge between the worlds of night and day. Fenris averted his gaze, feeling slightly confused. "…That... is not an insult, just my unique way of expressing my surprise at your presence."
Inside, Fenris felt estranged. His habits, accustomed to darkness, clashed with the blinding light that Alea embodied. He couldn't understand why the demon within him responded with a sense of protection.
Alea covered her face with her hands, her heart racing. "Oh my God... I was saved and sniffed by a wolf... on the same day..." Her voice was filled with a mixture of fear and curiosity.
Fenris took a breath. "I've been following your trail since you left the dorm."
"You... followed me?"
He nodded. "Something felt off. I could smell... something. And it turned out I was right."
Alea was enveloped in worry, as if she were being pursued not only by the creatures of the night but also by her deepening feelings. She gazed into Fenris's eyes, trying to uncover more. For the first time, that wild gaze felt non-threatening. There was sincerity, protection... and a hint of uncertainty in how to speak to a girl.
"I didn't know you... would throw yourself into an abandoned corridor like a lost chick."
Fenris felt anxious about the choice Alea had made. In this uncertain world, every step she took felt like a dance on the edge of a cliff, raising questions about whether her bravery was true courage or foolishness that would lead her to danger. "You are very brave, or... very naive in facing this darkness?"
"…Lost chick?"
Fenris looked down again. His face seemed to want to say more, but the words eluded him. Finally, he spoke up and said,
"Next time, if you're scared... call me."
"With what? A text?" Alea asked sarcastically.
"With your voice," he replied seriously. "I can hear your breath from the second floor."
Alea almost choked. She remembered the quiet nights that typically enveloped this place, when even the sound of the wind seemed like secret whispers from another world. Fenris, with his mysterious aura, appeared to be part of the darkness that cloaked the night.
They walked together again. Fenris kept his distance, yet his eyes never strayed from Alea. With each step, there was a profound silence, as if he were holding something great and heavy within himself. He thought that perhaps Alea needed to understand that in the darkness, there was even more—beyond mere fear.
And before they reached the dormitory door, he spoke softly,
"If you die... I wouldn't know who to destroy first."
Alea turned slowly. "That... is somewhat sweet and somewhat scary."
"Yes," Fenris replied, his eyes glowing with a light that Alea couldn't decipher—was it hope or a threat?
"You know you're crazy, right?"
Fenris nodded. "Since birth."
He recalled his past, when he learned to embrace the darkness and discover his strength within it. The only thing that tied him to the world was Alea, who seemed to see deeper than anyone else, even if she didn't fully understand.
As Alea entered her room, her heart was still racing. But not out of fear.
Instead... it was due to a strange feeling he had never experienced before. A rough protection, warmth hidden behind sharp fangs. There was a magnetic pull that tied him to Fenris; even without seeing him, he could sense a strong emotional vibration from a distance.
And the smell of the night forest, for some reason... made him want to stay longer. It was as if the aroma held a promise from the supernatural world beyond his reach; as if the forest had witnessed a love darker than he could imagine and the awakening of something deep, promising challenges and wonders waiting to be revealed.