Chapter 13 - 13

Marta's grave has just been completed. Erland walked over and sprinkled roses for his mother and sister whom he had never met in this world. The father and son stood staring at the two gravestones in front of them. Silence without saying anything. Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, the black smoke began to shrink. Endra has burned the belongings of Marta and their baby. For Endra he doesn't need his wife's things as a memory. But enough with all the memories that had happened during Marta's life. For Endra that was enough. Because Marta still has a place in her heart and memory. The sun began to show its rays. The smell of sadness still lingers in the wooden house. Some parts look hollow which Endra will not fix on purpose.

"Come on, let's go home," said Endra and took Erland. The boy took his father's hand, following in the footsteps of Endra who was ready with a large bag containing both of their clothes.

They put some objects to be carried into a wooden carriage that was ready to be pulled by their pet horse.

"May I come here, Father?"

"What for?"

"I must miss you and my brother."

"Of course, you can. You can come here whenever you want. Because we're not moving anywhere else."

"Okay. Erland likes it here. And because Mom and brother are here too. We'll be here forever, right?"

"Well, of course."

Endra smiled, still holding Erland. He then lifted the little boy's body into the wooden carriage they used to travel deep into the city. In this day and age, transportation is not as sophisticated as it will be in the future. There are only a few people who have horses in their homes. Horses are one of the luxury items in this era.

Meanwhile, Erland, who was sitting nicely inside, pulled the curtain that covered the horse carriage from the sun, rain, and heat. Erland waved to the graves of his mother and sister.

"Goodbye, Mother. Erland will come to visit often." The horse took them both towards the village. The sun slowly began to emerge from the contest. Residents' activities have begun to appear, from the busy fields near the forest. Endra waved to the residents who were working in the fields. They also welcomed Endra with joy.

"Where have you been, Endra?" asked one of the middle-aged men working his field.

"I just came back from my hometown. How was your harvest yesterday? Looks like a lot."

"Well, you know. If I harvested a lot yesterday. Oh yeah, you came home alone? Ah, there's Erland too. Then... Where's Marta?" asked Thomas who was looking for the woman's whereabouts.

"Marta ... Marta died. She failed in giving birth to our second son."

"Oh my! Really? I'm so sorry, Endra. I'll stop by your house later."

"Okay. I'll wait at home. Then, I'll go home first. Poor Erland is too tired."

"Yes, be careful, my friend!" Thomas looked at Endra and Erland who were starting to leave him. His gaze implied a doubt that was still bugging his heart.

"Why do I feel weird when I see them. Ah, maybe because I just heard the news of Marta's death. It's a pity, Erland, his mother had to leave him at a very young age." Thomas returned to hoeing his land. He forgot what happened last night. So did the other villagers. They had no recollection of last night's events. Their memory only reached yesterday, before nightfall. Of course, it was all because of Endra. Endra also has supernatural abilities. The werewolf race doesn't just have the strength of a werewolf in general.

Which can only change shape, tear apart, run fast, or even have great strength. But they have other unique abilities that differ between werewolves from one another. Abror, Endra's best friend while in the eclipse pack, can stop time. Meanwhile, Endra has a unique ability, which is to erase someone's memory. Endra's ability is what will allow him to survive living in the village for a very long time. Not only decades but also hundreds of years, even thousands of years later. Werewolves can be categorized as immortal beings. They don't die easily because they can heal themselves. They would only die when stabbed or shot with a bullet or silver knife.

During his stay in the village, Endra never showed his true form. Even though the full moon came, he tried to resist the desire to change. Even though he wanted to turn into a wolf, he decided to go first to the forest. And that forest is also where they hunt. They have started to mingle and adjust like humans in general. Especially in terms of food. They are used to eating human food. Even if at any time they want to eat human hearts, Endra and Erland then go to the forest to hunt deer or other wild animals.

Their house, which is in the middle of the forest, has been repaired and used as an animal farm. Endra certainly will not let these animals become extinct because he consumes his heart. So Endra started raising animals. Such as cows, deer, and goats. And what makes Endra safe until now, is that he often shares venison with the villagers. Endra is known to be generous and wise. Even until Erland grew up, Endra's habits never changed. Endra continues to live his life with Erland, protecting the villagers from attacks by other beasts, such as werewolves, vampires, or even scarecrows. There is indeed a story behind the deaths of several people in the village. One of them is the death of Abirama. No matter how hard Endra and Erland protect the villagers, they still can't be fully responsible for the deaths of some of these people. Not all citizens they can save from danger. Even Endra almost lost his life at that time, if only Erland didn't come.

Once every fifty years, Endra would reset the memories of all the villagers, and make the father and son newcomers. Because werewolves are not only difficult to die, facial changes will also stop at a certain age. In a sense, Erland who is currently 25 years old will no longer age even if he has lived for more than 1000 years. While Endra stopped aging when he was 40 years old. No one can explain why they stop aging at a certain age. Everything has become the lifeline of the werewolves all this time.

Endra and Erland continue to live normal lives like normal humans. It's just that they deliberately make people stay away from the forest with a legend about a werewolf who often visits the surrounding forest. The story is not just a legend. Because the werewolves that the residents saw were indeed real werewolves. It's just that they don't know that he is Erland who deliberately appears at a certain time. Meanwhile, Endra's job is to influence residents to stay away from the forest. The forest for both of them was a second home, and they were much more comfortable and free when they were in the forest.