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A little boy sat on the back of a big white wolf with grey eyeballs, larger than any wolf or werewolf and towering almost to the sky. The wolf moved carefully through the lush green hills teeming with life. As the griffin approached, the kid eagerly raised his hand to feel the breeze as its huge feathers fluttered.
"Mani, do we really have to go? I don't want to go to that scary old boundary grandpa" He said as he lowered his head towards the wolf, his long shiny black hair fluttered in the wind.
"It is necessary that you go, Dale. Much more awaits-
"-One day, in the realm of mortals, you will have to shoulder the balance of the entire universe. I know! You've been saying it my entire life." Dale muttered this while rolling his eyes up and putting his chin on his hand, which was laying on the wolf.
"Why do you keep asking if you know so much?" With a voice as thick as thunder, the wolf spoke forth.
"I mean, aren't you going to miss me? All you have to do is sleep inside the vast cave. You literally cannot do anything without my assistance" Dale, the little boy, exclaimed.
"Of course, little Dale, I'll miss you, but the world's equilibrium is more vital than my sentiments." As it continued to walk, the wolf murmured in a rumbling voice.
"Aww... you're going to make me hate the world," Dale murmured, his face smudged.
"You shouldn't; you'll love it there."
"Do they have talking trees like Grumpy Green?
"No," replied the wolf.
"Do they have flowers in rainbow colours?"
"Unlikely,"
"They don't even have the least interesting things in Acardia, so how am I supposed to like it there?" Dale softly slapped his palm on his face.
"They have a lot of human stuff you'll like, you can make mates like your sort," the wolf's voice and strolling pace were in unison.
"I don't want to do that." "I like it in Acardia, and I want to stay with you," he grumbled.
The space in front of the wolf tore as the enormous wolf slowly approached and entered it, not responding to Dale's grumps.
As they reached the torn space, the environment and atmosphere transformed from green hills to a barren plain with no sunlight and only the wind of dust. In the plains, a little cabin built of bamboo, straw, and hay sat. As the wolf came to a halt, someone crept out sluggishly. The man straightened his bowed back. His hair had become grey and he was nearly bald. Most of his front hair had died, and he was dressed in rags in contrast to Dale, who was wrapped in a furry robe. The man raised his arms above his brows and gazed up at the wolf.
"Damn, you're so damn tall, I can't get used to it," he grumbled to himself as the wolf sat on the ground and Dale jumped off.
"I can tell with just a glimpse, that he is exceptional," the man's eyes widened as they fell on Dale. "He will be greater than the primordial werewolves ever were," he continued, his expression filled with amazement.
"Inarguably, he may be able to right Lyceon's wrongs," the wolf remarked.
"All those sufferings, to think a bright child like this has to bear it alone... it's a good thing she'll be with him," the man remarked, "but I am one who has never believed in the entanglement of fate."
Dale stared at them both, unsure what they were talking about.
"No surprise you decided to open the gate of Acardia and save him that day, although you had never heeded anyone's plea."
"I didn't," said the wolf. The elderly man chuckled before belatedly noticing the wolf's solemn expression.
"Are you serious?"
"He did it."
"Oh my goodness..." Awestruck, the man's jaw dropped.
"Will you tell him? With a serious and alert expression on his face, the elderly man replied to the wolf.
"You certainly will. However, stick to the foundations "The wolf spoke and stood up.
"Are you going already?" Dale's expression changed when he noticed Mani standing.
"I'll pay you a visit and make sure you learn well from this elderly grandpa," Mani said.
"What am I supposed to learn from him anyway? He'll simply use me to do the chores he's too lazy to do himself."
"Ehh?! I can teach you everything there is to know about the universe, from writing to reading, cooking to driving, martial arts, swordsman, guns, and even how to impress a girl. Leave it to me. "I'll make you the most perfect man in the entire universe," he continued, his eyes twinkling with delight.
Mani turned back with a warm smile after nodding to Dale. Dale's eyes welled up with tears as he watched Mani's back move away from him. As he brushed away his tears, the old man patted his shoulders.
....[12 YEARS LATER, ACARDIA/BOUNDARY TIMELINE]
Dale emerged from the house, holding a black leather satchel.
"Hmm... that bag should suffice; it's a limited edition world's best designer bag, but I'm giving it to you, so you should return it." The old bloke stated.
"Yeah sure," Dale's strong, vibrating voice slipped into the wind's tune, a manly yet pleasant tone to it. His blue eyes glittered like jewellery, and his eyes were bright and full of vitality, with a sturdy neck and broad shoulders that demonstrated his years of training. His chest was dispersed across the worn green round-necked shirt he was wearing, virtually tearing the right and left sides of the shirt apart. Dale bowed to Silif, his teacher while holding the bag to his shoulder with one hand.
"Remember what we talked about. Don't run around wreaking havoc, and keep away from vampires, werewolves, and any other supernatural creatures. You have a keen sense and are not like the rest of them. "Do you understand?"
"I get it, teacher..." He replied while looking around.
Silif took a look at him and sighed, "Spare the old man some slack." He already has a lot on his plate. He probably didn't come because he knows how difficult it will be to let you go."
Dale closed his eyes for a brief moment before reopening them. "Send my regards to him for me when you meet," he said to Silif, who walked forward, scratching his buttocks and picking his nose.
"Uh, teacher?" What are you doing? "
"What do you mean, what? I scratch my butt four times and pick my nose for seventeen seconds to call the gateway to the mortal realm."
-GRRRIISHHH-
As he finished, a red-framed doorway with space within it rose from the ground, causing the entire plain to tumble.
Dale's eyes expanded, and he exclaimed, "Wow..."
"Now get your musclebrain out of my boundary," he added, trying to mask his feelings as he looked at Dale. Dale hugged him and smiled.
"I'm going to miss you, teacher."
"-sniff- -sniff- I assume I did a good job teaching you. You've evolved from that brat with a big mouth to a loving man, "He tried hard not to cry, he remarked.
Dale let go of him and walked towards the gateway. Silif waved at him as he entered the gate, and he returned the smile.
"I wish you could avoid all of them and just lead a normal life, I wish... but no matter how many times I tell you to stay away, with the power that you have... I wonder if it is possible," the old man remarked as he returned to his cabin.