"Cardinal law?" repeated Master Reigh with a smug countenance, his tone dripping with condescension.
Wysten narrowed his eyes at him. "Master Reigh, our lord forbids us from touching commoners," he said, weaving a slight tone of respect in his speech.
Master Reigh's conceited expression instantly dissolved, then another that portrayed his vexation appeared as a replacement. He straightened his back and threw a menacing glare in Wysten's direction.
"The audacity! You think yourself on par with a Nobeille because you serve the lord?" Master Reigh snarled, his voice cold and disdainful.
"I have no desire to spite you. Forgive me if my words came out as such, Master Reigh. I would never compare my kind to yours," Wysten apologized, his tone expressing sincerity whereas his eyes remain stern and unwavering as he rendered a bow to the lordly man.
Master Reigh scoffed; his chest puffed out like a peacock's while his eyes narrowed with disdain. Then suddenly, as if he had remembered something important that he almost forgot, he gazed back at Yuki who was still sitting on the ground. He studied her for a while then lifted his eyes to look at Wysten.
"Why are you in this place?" He questioned with his scarlet eyes intently staring at Wysten's gleaming white ones.
"What business hath a watchdog, unaccompanied by its master, stray so freely? Or perchance…" Master Reigh's eyes glinted and dropped onto Yuki once more, "…hath this commoner's presence drawn you hence?"
The dazed Yuki returned Master Reigh's gaze despite the intense malice in his eyes as he looked down at her. A chill run down her spine when her eyes fell on his bared fangs again.
Master Reigh's lips curved up, forming a smile that further highlighted his malevolent expression. He slowly lowered himself in front of Yuki, squatted before her, then with unhurried movements, he brought his slender hands onto her face. He allowed his fingers glide under Yuki's chin, then he slowly lifted her face.
"Master Reigh…" Wysten called, a hint of urgency in his voice. His brows furrowed while he clenched his jaws as he watched the man inspect the maiden's face.
Master Reigh studied his reflection in Yuki's nervous eyes. "Verily, my hearing did not play me false, when she spoke the name of the lord?" Master Reigh muttered and looked over at Wysten, his expression haughty, like a man who is the first of a group to uncover some grand secret.
"In possession of a name that hath not passed the lips of any other, I dare not assume she is the fair maiden of the venerable prediction?" Master Reigh uttered while observing the visible changes in Wysten's stern face. A broad smile formed on his lips, as though he had received the answer to his question.
"So, she is! What wonderful-
Before Master Reigh could articulate the entirety of his speech, a gigantic wolf appeared out of nowhere, grabbed him by the shoulder with its muzzle and hurled him. He somersaulted in midair, then landed on his feet with ease. He snarled at the wolf that was now standing protectively before the girl.
Having received so many surprises already, Yuki had no reaction to offer the new entity. She looked between the large wolf and the man that stood not too far from her. Her blue eyes flickered nervously. Her petite lips parted from each other as she watched the two ethereal entities that were staring at each other maliciously.
Slowly, the wolf tore its eyes away from the man and looked at Yuki. She was startled by the animal's change of attention especially since it stood so close to her. Still, she returned the animal's gaze.
And although Yuki dreaded the monstrous furry creature that towered over her, there was also a strange sense of familiarity that stirred inside her as she gazed upon the gigantic beast. Staring into its glowing grey eyes, Yuki saw more than just a reflection of herself. Maybe she was going insane already, but Yuki was sure she saw humane emotions in the eyes of the wolf. She found it ironic that between man and the beast, she felt more humanity from the animal than the person she still believed was a person.
"How dare you, a creature of such base and vile extraction, presume to sully my person with your loathsome lips!!" the man roared furiously.
The wolf gave Yuki one last glance before turning to growl fiercely at the man while maintaining its protective stance.
At the sight of how protectively the wolf stood before the girl, Master Reigh's face darkened even further. He took the wolf's stance as a provocative invitation to fight. With such an idea in mind, his lean frame tensed which made him bare his gleaming white fangs. He leaned forward, ready for an assault.
As soon as Master Reigh's intentions were perceived by the wolf, it lunged at him without hesitation. Master Reigh, with blazing eyes retaliated with a swipe of razor-sharp nails which he did not initially have. The wolf dodged with supernatural agility while its jaws snapped mere inches from Master Reigh's pale throat. When the wolf failed to bite him, it raked its claws across his chest instead, leaving bloody furrows on his pale, white chest.
Master Reigh hissed painfully and retreated, creating a little distance between himself and the wolf. The two circled each other with their eyes locked in a fierce stare and their breathing heavy and labored.
The air was heavy with scents of blood and sweat, it heavy with an unearthly tension. The ferocious growls of the wolf were met by Master Reigh's disdainful snarls.
"Can you stand?"
Yuki turned to look at Wysten who was now stood beside her. He stared down at her with unfriendly eyes which greatly contradicted the words that left his lips.
Yuki shook her head unhurriedly. "My legs are numb," she responded in a low voice before a chilling growl attracted her attention to the two fighting entities once more.
Now accustomed to the strange situation, Yuki did not have much of a reaction as she looked on to the feral scene that unfolded. Yuki watched with intent as the wolf attacked Master Reigh with widely opened jaws, however, with preposterous grace, Master Reigh sidestepped with almost invisible movements. The wolf's teeth snapped shut on empty air and in that instance, Master Reigh seized the moment and bit hard into its dark fur.
The wolf yelped in pain as the man's fangs sank deep into its shoulder. Yet, it refused to yield, its instincts were fueled by a fierce determination. With a mighty shake, the furry creature flung Master Reigh off, its fur standing on end. Its claws swiped at Master Reigh's face, but he dodged before the claws could make contact.
After witnessing the battle, Yuki was certain, without any doubt, that Master Reigh was not human. She had come to accept that the scene she bore witness to was not as simple as a wolf attacking a human.
Was this something she was supposed to see?
Gently, Wysten bent over and slid his arms beneath Yuki's limp form, making sure his hands cradled her legs and back. Then slowly, he lifted her with very little effort. Yuki's head lolled against his shoulder while her hair tangled in the folds of his overcoat.
Out of curiosity or without any good reason, Yuki lifted her face to look up at him. Their eyes met. Wysten did not hide his scorn as he looked into her face. He eyed her for a while before looking at the two entities who were still at each other's throats.
"Hold on tight," Wysten commanded frostily.
Yuki responded by circling her arms around his neck. Despite the glare she received from putting her arms on him, Yuki instinctively knew that although Wysten seemed to hate her, he was not going to harm her or in truth, he could not harm her even if he wanted to.
Wysten took a step and another. Before he would take a third step, Yuki found herself looking at her godfather's cottage! They were out of the woods and now in front of her godfather's house. She quickly looked into Wysten's face; her eyes wide with bewilderment.
"What-
"If you desire to protect them, it will be wise that you do not reveal what you witnessed to anyone. Do you understand what I am saying?" Wysten shifted his gaze from the old and young men who were rushing towards him.
Yuki looked away from him and at Jacek and her godfather who were marching to her. Even without him telling her, Yuki knew what she witnessed was not something she should share with anyone, not even Jacek. And if it was dangerous to let him know, then she definitely was not going to share her experience with him.
"I understand," Yuki responded firmly.
"May I ask you something?" she stared back at Wysten once more, her eyes brimming with questions. Although Wysten did not respond, Yuki interpreted his silence as a permission to ask her question anyway.
"Am I human?" Yuki asked with a somber countenance and tone.