Both brothers were enveloped by the falling snow, a slight tremor shook the earth nothing else could be witnessed in that small dead point of the forest out of nowhere small points of light from the sun approached Mick as they melted into him, the shadows that fell from the trees, leaves and Mick himself rushed like rays towards Marck who was now wrapped in a dark cocoon, both brothers seemed to grow as more seconds passed, when the metamorphosis began their human parts grew acquiring the wolf form, but it was something different the shadows wrapped around Marck's limbs like a skin, on the other hand, the luminous points approached Mick's body faster as he changed, after a few minutes a small burst of shadows and points of light was made, leaving on the ground a pair of huge wolves so big that now the steel chains with the rings fit tight around their necks to such a degree that they were covered As for the hair, although they had the body of a wolf there was something weirder about them.
Marck had a white-haired sun on his forehead that clearly stood out among the hair darker than the night itself, instead Mick had a black crescent moon in his, and hair so white that it even dull the brightness of the sun itself, but what impressed most were his eyes, Marck's deep blue eyes were now darker and in them, there were small black dots, it looked like a night sky quite beautiful, and Mick's yellow eyes now looked orange, and it seemed like an incredibly intense fire was raging in them.
A few moments after that unique metamorphosis both wolves shook their heads and rubbed their snouts with their paws, blinked a few times, and stretched, it seemed that they had been asleep for a long time and that they were receiving sunlight for the first time in a long time When both wolves appeared to be fully awake and their muscles relaxed, they looked at each other and with a nod that assimilated to an affirmative gesture, they began a light trot and advanced into the depths of the forest.
In moments the trot became a race that surpassed human perception, while Mick seemed to fade into the light, and advances for miles in the blink of an eye, Marck seemed to leap into the shadows leaving behind a black stain, and then emerge shot from within another shadow quite far away as if instinctively fleeing into the light, after a couple of hours they were on the border of Spain the night was about to fall and Mick seemed to be exhausted while Marck seemed to be filling up of energy as the sun receded.
'Is the moonlight not enough tonight?' Was the voice that resounded in those mountains on the border, it was deep and imposing.
'It would be, but unfortunately, it is a winter night, the snow clouds overshadow it and the stars do not distill strongly tonight either.' answered another voice contrary, softer and that gave peace.
'I suppose you will have to ride the seal until dawn.'
The small white sun on Marck's forehead began to shine at the same time that Mick did in an instant he had disappeared, and Marck sprouted small white strands in his black fur, now not only his eyes had a night sky but also he himself was one, then as if his strength had multiplied he pounced on a road, so fast that he only left small spots before human eyes, he dodged cars with great skill and the lights that reached to touch him were lost in his black fur It is as if nothing was bright enough to pierce the blackness of his hair, every attempt ended up being devoured by him, it was like a black hole that devours everything in its path.
At approximately three in the morning, Marck arrived in the Algarve, a Portuguese area that bordered on Spain, more specifically Castro Marim, although the Algarve was an area of fame for its beaches, it had a secret beyond what humans could See, when Marck was in Portuguese territory he sped to a beach and after walking along the shore for a while he stopped in front of a rock, gave it a lick and then brought his ring just above it, at that moment A small path opened up, shining a fairly intense light, Marck sniffed a little and pricked his ears to hear better, when he convinced himself that it was safe he jumped in.
When he crossed that bright threshold the way back was closed, he did not flinch from the action of that place, but now he was no longer on that beach, before his eyes a beautiful forest full of leafy trees whose leaf color was intense orange color, like an English forest at the beginning of autumn, he advanced slowly, taking care not to make a single unnecessary movement, even though the sun that rose above the trees had arrived at dawn they were as intense as if It was noon, but as the black wolf advanced.
The sky acquired the aspect of the sky of the beach where a few moments ago he was, when he was completely submerged in the forest he sat on his hind legs and in a movement that I would interpret it as him taking a deep breath, lifting his muzzle while throwing his ears back and then jumping up a howl so intense that several of the leaves around him dissipated and many others still clinging to the fallen branches causing an orange rain around them.
A few seconds after that the black wolf was surrounded by small fairies that flew over it, they looked like little harpies, and there were also many other kinds of creatures that seemed surprised to see him there, out of nowhere something similar to a pangolin man approached him, Marck just got up on all fours and stared at him.
'What is the time wolf looking for in the new fairy kingdom?' Asked the little armored being.
'I demand to see the Zetina, current queen of the fairies.' he replied as he took a defiant posture like that of an alpha watching a human from afar, the ears were pricked, the chest was clearly exposed, the front legs were glued and firm and a look too penetrating, the muzzle was open so that his voice was heard clearly.
'By what right do you demand such a thing?'
'With the one that time itself has given me, with which the queen herself granted me, and with this one that for your safety I hope you understand.' he said as he shook his head to make the chain with the ring fall in front of the legs. of the.
The little being could only put on a face of annoyance as if he knew that he could not refuse the demands of the black wolf, but before giving a step a triumphant smile was drawn on the serious face that he possessed and he spoke.
'It is true that time gives you the right to judge the gods themselves, and that our beloved queen also gave you one but this - he said while lifting the ring with a stick' It is useless if you do not present the wolf of the dream with his.
The look of victory that was given to the pangolin-man was very obvious but Marck was not concerned or if he wanted to be challenged.
'It's fine, but it's a bit weak, but with this moon, it will recover quickly' he said as he looked up at the night sky.
Marck at that moment absorbed the shadows that were projected from everything that the moon illuminated, soon all the spots of white hair that had arisen in fur were again as black as before and the mark of the sun on his forehead lit up as he projected to a wolf with the same posture that Marck had when he demanded to see Zetina when the light disappeared, only Mick was left standing before all the magical creatures that surrounded them, at the same time he threw his ring in front of the little being.
'Any other excuse you want to make, Elías?'
'None, everlasting wolves can pass.'
They both picked up the rings and chains with their snouts and walked along a path whose edges were well defined by huge trees whose shadows were cast over the wolves.
'The fairy moon always revitalizes me faster than ours, Marck.'
'And the shadows are inevitably deeper and black, those snacks will be in trouble if they try some stupid move.'
'I doubt that Elías and the others will try to do something while we are in this form, Zetina is a great friend of ours, I don't think she will betray us.'
'Zetina could be our friend when she was just another fairy, when we made her queen she experienced power, don't forget Mick, power corrupts most of the beings in this world, Meridian is a clear example of what power excessive can cause something in the heart and soul.'
'That would make us corrupt too, we possess powers beyond what other creatures.'
'But our wolf part prevents us from being corrupted, an animal does not understand power or control, as wolves we only understand dominance and hierarchies, we fight to define who leads and who follows once that is defined, nobody questions, and everyone exercises their role as properly, but since we are not part of a herd we only live from day to day, surviving to the best of our ability.'
The silence reigned over the brothers of time, none of them dared to mutter one more word, when they reached the end of the path they found a small mackerel, they were too big as wolves to enter, so they had to return to their human form, but the eyes blazing like a fire and the starry sky with a blue background remained on their faces as did the marks of the sun and the moon, and now the rings were on their ring fingers, nothing else separated them from the queen. They crossed the threshold to meet a beautiful woman, most of her hair was black, but there were locks in shades of blue, gray, and pale pink, her complexion was white but perfectly matched her hair, she was the embodiment of beauty itself but her eyes were no longer as cheerful as the wolves remembered her.
'Is Zetina really you?' Marck said cautiously.
'The cursed wolves, what do they seek in the fairy kingdom?' She answered with a voice cruder than arctic winters.
'Since you want to avoid niceties we'll get to the point, why the hell haven't you done something about Meridian?' Marck said in a tone of disgust clearly provoked by the comment of the fairy sovereign.
'If you only come for stupid things, you can go where you came from, I don't owe any explanation to inferior beings, so long.'
'You must be kidding, aren't you, Zetina, don't forget Marck's bad temper.' Mick said trying to relax the atmosphere.
'You have no right to ask for my peace of mind when you appear in my world with that unnatural transformation, and then in my rooms with those rings that are filled with the souls of many fairies who were killed with them, I think the only ones who they behave hostile are you.'
'Let's stop being stupid, these rings indeed have a lot of innocent blood in them' Marck said as he walked the reliefs of his fangs 'But you better than anyone knows the reasons behind that if it weren't for that innocent blood, you wouldn't be on that throne.'
'Stop it! I will not allow them to speak to me that way in my own realm, Elias, come and get these couple of monsters out of here!'
Marck at that moment as if he had only taken a step, he was already standing next to her, and he whispered in her ear.
'Your servants cannot protect you from us' now Marck had the mouth of a snarling wolf 'I will devour you and absorb your essence unless you help, Mick I know it will affect you but only then will we be alone.'
Marck opened his hand completely while pointing towards the ground, from her a black cloak began to spread as they enveloped everything, in a matter of seconds the three unreal beings were in a completely black cube, the shadows that Marck had absorbed during the early morning now he locked them in that room.
The shadows were penetrating, you could not see the faces between them, the cold was also noticeable with them, there was nothing but pure sadness and hatred in that environment.
'So that's how you live inside you, black wolf, it's a pitiful existence, so lonely.' Said the queen whose voice only boomed in the gloom.
'Instead of worrying about the feelings of my magic you should be worried about being eaten, don't forget that we don't need you alive to get answers, this is a mere courtesy.' The black wolf answered furiously.
'The unnecessary rudeness in your words makes all this more difficult Marck, although I wanted to tell you everything, I find myself in a situation that is too confusing and at the same time complicated, you know that when Meridian betrayed us the blood of thousands of fantastic beings was spilled, you with those cursed rings earned the right to be judges and rulers of this world, even though you rejected it for the most part.'
The black wolf did not understand the sudden change in terms of the woman's words, he thought that perhaps it was because the loneliness of the darkness had finally reached her, to be honest, but immediately he saw a small luminous point on the back of her neck. , then he understood, she was being manipulated by someone with a magic so powerful as to even shine in nothingness itself, now he knew that if he wanted to get answers it was time to stop being rude, and he had to be democratic.
He slowly approached the queen of the fairies, in his body language there was no aggressiveness or hatred, his whole body expelled peace and tranquility as if the simple fact of his presence was capable of causing inner happiness to anyone who passed by.
On his side, he gently wrapped her in his arms and as if she were an extremely delicate baby, he made her lie down on them, his eyes, even with that sky in the background, made any attempt by that female body to free herself from his arms go as far as possible, of conscience or reason, his head lowered calmly until their breaths brushed each other and mixed as one, he directed the mauve gaze of the queen again who despite her nerves seemed to be in full security and when the black wolf was sure that there would be no recrimination for the actions he did, he merged into a passionate kiss but that did not convey any desire, only a sweetness that would have made them taste insipid the most exquisite sweets of her, the wolf parted his lips slowly, while still slowly savoring the taste of hers and then whispering.
'We swore to take care of this world and the human, even of yourself, but now you can rest calmly, that the culprit will pay.' He said as he gently placed the queen on the ground who was now resting in her dreams.
'What has this whole show been Marck?' Said the white wolf next to him
'Someone has used powerful magic to manipulate Zetina's orders, you won't tell me you didn't notice the light on the back of her neck.'
'A magic so powerful to even prevail in nothingness, I don't remember anyone with such talent and less in a world where the same magic no longer exists.'
'Well, it's not that powerful, little by little it lost its effect, that's why Zetina started babbling things, that's why I flank.'
'That makes sense, but that doesn't explain why you kissed her that way.'
'I wanted to absorb the essence of that magic, it could be useful to us at some point in the war that is to come, I could not think of another way to break the enchantment and absorb what I needed.'
'So it was just that.'
'But we still have to search among the hundreds of like-minded magicians in the world who have the power to do such magic, and if it is on the side of Meridian or is it another in front of whom we must eliminate.'
'Wizards? They are extinct Marck, don't forget the witch hunts in Europe, and even if they remained, none of them would have such a powerful affinity with the earth as to defeat your spell.'
'A simple magician of no age would have done it, however, the human who taught us magic could have done it.'
'Merlin?' The white wolf laughed desperately 'You speak of the dead of centuries, not even he was so stupid as to defy the laws of life itself.'
'I remind you that we weren't the only students of his as far as the understanding and learning of the control of magic is concerned, even one of them could be a rival for us.'
'No magician is over a hundred and twenty years old.'
'But if someone improved Merlin's knowledge of magic and they were inherited as he always wanted, one of those apprentices may have taken a wrong path, don't forget that power corrupts anyone.'
'If what you say is true, it must be someone with a really powerful affinity for light, and of those magicians, there are not many, it should be easy to locate someone with such a unique and powerful magic.'
'Why do you think I devoured the slight spell that was on Zetina?'
'I thought it was to free her and let her judgment go back to the same, but you've always been able to lie.' Mick said with a fleeting little smile on his face 'This prison of loneliness and cold is beginning to affect me more than normal.'
'As soon as she wakes up I'll get us out of here, I don't want to have to face guards for the screams she gave.'
The brothers sat on what seemed to be the ground of the place, although in that gloom everything could be a false part of reality itself, you could not even have a clear perception of time, it could have been hours since Marck had created that space or just a few minutes but that did not matter, they only wanted to be able to continue their time.
After a few moments, Zetina began to move as a sign that her slumber was about to end, in a few moments she was sitting still drowsy but more aware of her surroundings, she no matter how hard she tried to adjust her eyes it was impossible to see something in such a place, for the wolves to sharpen their hatred to hear each of her muscles contract as she moved, it was enough for them to know her position.
'Where I am?' Said she was still sleepy with a softer and sweeter voice than her at the beginning of that day
'Have you forgotten everything?' Mick said in a calm tone
'That voice? Are you Mick?' She said as she moved her arms in search of finding the young wolf's arm.
'I'm also there.' Marck spoke this time.
'When did the eternal wolves arrive?'
'Well, depending on the weather outside, it could be around an hour or maybe five.' intervened the white wolf.
'What is this place, guys?' Innocence had repopulated the queen's voice again, now before the eyes of the eternal, she was the same again.
'The black cube, a total isolation spell.' Marck answered dryly.
'I have to assume it's your doing, but why are the three of us here?'
'Long story for now we just need you to stand up and when this spell dissolves, show yourself firm and give the order "Stop".'
The queen of the fairies nodded, implying that she had understood the words of the black wolf, after they stood up, even without knowing if she had done the same Marck opened her hand again pointing down her palm, the shadows, they began to slowly back away, a minute later the gloomy boy had finished absorbing the shadows, they were standing in the same place where everything had started and Zetina was standing in front of the throne with an outstretched hand and had already muttered the word loud to the soldiers who were already about to pierce the wolves that remained immobile, none of them understood the reason for the order but even so, they were forced by loyalty to obey without whispering any protest.
'That was close.' Mick said mockingly as he jabbed one of the spears with his fingers.
The brothers advanced slowly towards the exit, none of them wanted to say anything, and as if Zetina had understood that hint she began to advance after them with the same calm, without any hurry, when they left the enclosure, the moonlight no longer decorated the rooms.
The trees on the path had disappeared and instead the light of a bright sun indicated that it would be approximately noon, each one of the spaces of that small forest crossed by a road, for the eyes of anyone it was more beautiful at night than during the day. , the three beings continued walking until they reached a small clearing where the brothers lay down on the grass slowly enjoying each of their senses.
'The explanation you wait for so long, Mick will give you, in this way the light weakens me too much Zetina.' Marck said as he leaned under the shade of an imposing tree, whose age must have been more than three hundred years.
The fairy queen just looked away at the white wolf who seemed to absorb as much light as possible, seemed intoxicated by the quality of the light, as if the one behind the veil was very simple, or pale.
'This is wonderful, I wish I never left here.' I whisper almost in a whisper.
'Don't let the transformation dominate you Mick, focus, plus Jullie would find a way to break the curse only to kill me if I return without you.'
That made the young brunette out of delirium, and he turned his head to all the assembled who had gathered little by little.
'Well I suppose it's my turn to act.' he said as she shook off her jeans and stood up, her face turned serious and she began to speak as she took height climbing a fallen log. 'Meridian has returned and is ready to exterminate the necessary humans so that she can guide the few towards a more peaceful world, although it seems something perfect for all of you, I must remind you why the veil was created, humans are violent beings who attack without mercy at what they do not understand, if Meridian begins this war against them, all balance will be lost, and consequently, no one will be safe from humans, unlike them their existence depends on the veil, if it is broken all the fantastic and mythical creatures will disappear from the earth, and worse Still, the ancient gods will also enter into battle, and will kill everyone equally, for them that their creators remember would simply threaten all their fun, so your majesty that is the reason for our Our presence here, in your land, we want to know why your kingdom, not rather you yourself, has not taken action on the matter.'
The young woman with violet eyes and a delicate silhouette simply stood, petrified before the truth of things, she never imagined that all this was happening outside that forest that she had sworn to protect, she knew well that Meridian was an exile and that ancient laws prevented her from re-entering what was once her kingdom, but that security had made her forget that her job was not only to keep the fairy forest safe, she was also responsible for the rest of the forests. of the human world where the creatures of her kind lived, she had to keep them all in order, and Meridian was not exempt from her responsibility, on the contrary, she should always be one of her priorities, as a traitor she had to be constantly watched as a preventive measure, but try as she might, she remembered the last report two winters ago after that, everything was almost blank when her thoughts were clearer and more comfortable, I speak.
'Sorry to fail you guys, sadly two winters ago I received the last report on Meridian, my mind is blank after that, I don't remember what I did throughout all those months that I was and I was not here.'
'Did a magician come in at this time to visit you, Zetina?' Marck asked still under the shade of the tree.
'Not that I remember, Marck, why?'
'From you, I devoured a small manipulation spell, so powerful as to force you to act unconsciously under the orders of a rather powerful wizard, and from what you say you have been like this for two years.'
'You, as you dare to speak to his majesty like that, the wisdom of the times doesn't do anything to you, in my eyes you're just a bloody mangy dog.' Elías answered.
Marck just ignored the comment and turned a deep gaze from him to Zetina.
'Well, did any of them do it?'
'I still don't remember a magician with such power, just a young apprentice who came looking for a Tron mushroom, for his master.'
'It was he' Marck answered with a face full of irony.
'How do you know?' asked Mick
'What master would let his apprentice take a key to the fairy kingdom to search for something as valuable as a single Tron mushroom?'
Everyone was silent, it was true even if he had been an apprentice who had gained the blind trust of his master, using the keys to the fairy kingdom was complicated and required an unparalleled mastery of magic, and charging a Tron mushroom, quite a peculiar ingredient that would risk being stolen by other magical creatures for its simple aroma, it was something that even a wizard with decent control of magic would not dare to do alone.
'He should have left a payment for the mushroom, show it, Zetina.'
She gently ran her neck as she unbuttoned a small pendant, with an emerald in which it was found around a silver frame, then she extended it to the black wolf, who ran his gaze over it, inspecting it, sniffing it carefully, and in turn also I felt it, from one moment to the next I squeezed it hard until it left the gem in pieces, and between what were now pieces of green glass there was a small metallic point, with a peculiar seal, the payment for the Tron mushroom had been the causing the queen to be bewitched.
No one could believe that that thing was really to blame for dominating the mind of the fairy queen had been something completely new and blinding in the eyes of most but it was never expected that in such a way, they would be attacked, whoever it was. was starting this war wanted to have all fronts covered.
'Mick, check the stamp. Maybe we know something about the idiot he's doing that's causing all this mess.' - He said as she extended the small engraved metallic circle to him.
'I'll do it at home, we've already spent too long here, they must have spent two weeks in the human world, and with that implies the end of the holidays we must return before classes resume Marck.'
The black wolf only let out a resigned sigh, for him it was still too tedious to attend school, but above all boring, nothing new was happening in that building or nothing that amused him enough to encourage him to go.
'It must be daylight right now, it must be 11:30 in the morning, Mick, I can't travel like this.'
'I'll transport you as you did with me, we'll get there right at night if we leave right now.'
'When did you master the Mick travel seal spell?' asked curious Marck.
'That is a secret, as well as all the ones you have under your tongue.'
'Apparently, someone has been spying more than they should, do not forget that curiosity killed the cat, white wolf.'
"And don't forget that barking dog doesn't bite black wolf."
'You just said it yourself, I'm a wolf, not a dog, so be careful one day I might get bitten by mistake.'
The tension was clear, one of the brothers was insinuating something about the other, the fairies were nervous, they moved and flew in frenzy, but the queen was the most distressed because years ago she had witnessed what a fight of those two provoked, They were beings of destruction itself and creation itself, opposites condemned to be sought through the ages, nothing was more contradictory than the existence of those two, one was the very representation of light, life, compassion, love, serenity, but with immense destructive ability, while the other was the materialization of destruction, anger, death, impatience but his ability to create and heal surpassed anyone, that was the real nature of the eternal wolves.
'Easy, you two, if you're going to fight, destroy the human world, not mine, so get out of here at once.' Zetina said firmly.
'You heard the queen, long mangy dogs.' Elías intervened.
The tension evaporated from the air as it had arisen, Marck and Mick transformed just like the night they had left town for the fairy kingdom, the small black moon that Mick had on his forehead cast strong shadows as that Marck was merging with the shadow of the white wolf.
Slowly the shadows had returned to the moon and Mick wore a body in shades of black and white, he looked like a mountain that was beginning to be covered with snow, but that aspect was too striking for What he leaned back for a few moments and little by little the black spots descended towards his legs and created huge black claws, they looked like the legs of a bear instead of a wolf, minutes later Mick looked completely the same as the beginning, the seal in him it was perfect, Marck had been sealed in its entirety.
'With his permission, we withdraw the majesty from him.' Was the voice that echoed through that clearing in the forest.
Immediately the white wolf disappeared in a flash, he was jumping and crossing that forest at a speed greater than Marck's, he could not believe that all that light would exist in his body right now, in a matter of seconds he was in front of the door that connected both worlds, in a swift movement his ring was already opening the door and in a leap it crossed the threshold, now he was on the shore of that beach, and he was traveling quickly, the morning sea breeze and the powerful rays of the sun that were cold but luminous they were something pleasant to the naked eye, but at that moment Mick increased the speed of his jumps, and for the few humans who walked or were enjoying that place it had been like a sudden gale that had hit the beach with power, instantly the huge white wolf was already traveling a highway at high speed, the few cars that traveled it could not match the race, the hours began to advance, and my as you entered the sun traveled the sky.
The white wolf accelerated more, by the time the sun had set it was in the forest on the outskirts of that town that would be the scene of one of the most impressive battles that would ever have any record.
Slowly her shadow lengthened and blue eyes flashed from her, then suddenly Marck jumped from the ground, leaping out of her, jerking a little, and then returning to the human form of him.
'You were in a hurry.' He said as he stretched a little to loosen his body.
'You know that in that way I'm weaker as soon as he starts to get less intense.'
'But not useless.' He said as if it reminded him of something. 'The moon shines brighter today than ever, let's hope it's an omen of good luck for us.' He said changing the subject completely
Mick looks up at the night sky, his brother was right, he had never seen a moon like that for many years, centuries would be correct to say, but they knew that the moon could bring bad omens or incalculable luck, everything depended on the dice that fate was constantly rolling.
'Let's hope so.' He said as she smiled and looked at the moon.
They both looked at the moon, it seemed that they were praying for a better future for them, in their first life they had played roles different from the ones they had been exercising for centuries, it did not seem bad but it was not something that gave them happiness, their role in the life of the planet and the cosmos was something that they were clear about but which they did not agree to play.
Soon a snowy callus was light and calm but the cold was calming for the humans, however, they barely noticed it, it was as if none of that was happening, in that period of the flow of time there were only them and the moon that seemed to sing to them the secrets of the gods.
Slowly they began to walk, away from the forest, in moments of nowhere they were in the living room of their apartment, in silence no one had anything to say, for them, there could only be a future, exist.