Renrou let out a small sigh, looking down at the dirt beneath his boots. "I thought you were mad at me, or that you didn't want to be around me because of… because of the transformation." His voice wavered slightly, but he held himself steady, avoiding eye contact.
"No, no, it wasn't that at all," Nicolas replied quickly, his brow furrowing. "I didn't even realize how much time had passed. I've been trying to figure something out… something important. I should have explained it sooner."
Renrou finally looked up, his expression softening as he searched Nicolas's face. "What do you mean?"
Nicolas hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "These past two months, I've been… I've been trying to absorb mana," he admitted, scratching the back of his head. "I discovered it not long after the blood moon. I've been meditating and training, trying to tap into its power so I can use magic."
"Magic?" Renrou's eyes lit up with curiosity. "You mean the energy we've always heard about in the old stories? You've been absorbing it?"
Nicolas nodded. "At first, it was slow, but over time, it became easier. I didn't realize how much time had passed because I was so focused on it. I thought… maybe if I could master it, I could help us, help the village."
Renrou was quiet for a moment, processing Nicolas's words. "That explains a lot. I thought you were just shutting us out, but you were really working on something big." He let out a breath and smiled slightly. "I guess I should have known better."
Nicolas chuckled softly, relieved that his brother seemed to understand. "I'm sorry again for worrying you. But that's not the only thing we need to talk about." His expression grew serious as he continued. "Your transformation… I've been thinking about it. It wasn't random, Renrou."
Renrou's eyes darkened at the mention of his transformation. He crossed his arms, the memory of that night still fresh in his mind. "What do you mean? I thought it was just because of the blood moon, like the stories say."
"I thought that at first too," Nicolas said slowly, "but then I remembered something… before the blood moon, we went hunting, right?"
Renrou furrowed his brow, trying to recall. "Yeah, we hunted that wolf. The one with the horns on its head."
"Exactly," Nicolas said, his voice gaining momentum. "That wolf wasn't normal. It looked different—stronger, more dangerous. And when it attacked, you were injured, didn't it?"
Renrou's hand instinctively went to his arm, where a faint scar remained. "Yeah… I remember. It got me pretty bad before we killed it."
Nicolas nodded. "I've been thinking… what if that wolf had something to do with your transformation? Maybe its blood got into your wound when it died . That could explain why you changed."
Renrou's eyes widened as the pieces started to fall into place. "You think… the wolf's blood could have triggered it? Like some kind of… curse or something?"
"I don't know for sure," Nicolas admitted, "but it's possible. We've always known Wesen bloodlines are tied to beasts. That wolf… it wasn't like anything we've seen before. Maybe it had some kind of connection to your transformation."
Renrou was silent, his mind racing as he thought back to that hunt. The memory of the wolf was still vivid in his mind—a hulking, midnight-black creature with sharp, glowing eyes and thick horns that curled menacingly from its head. They had stalked it for hours, following its massive paw prints through the snow-covered forest. When they finally found it, the beast had attacked with terrifying speed and strength, its jaws snapping inches from their faces.
"We barely made it out of that hunt alive," Renrou murmured, his voice quiet. "That thing… it was like nothing I've ever seen before."
"Exactly," Nicolas said, nodding. "That's why I think it could have had something to do with your transformation. Maybe its blood carried something… some kind of magic or power that changed you."
Renrou looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if testing his strength. "I've felt different ever since… stronger, faster. But I didn't think it was connected to the wolf. I thought it was just the blood moon."
"Well, maybe it's a bit of both," Nicolas suggested. "The blood moon might have triggered the transformation, but the wolf's blood could have been the cause. We don't know for sure, but it's something to think about."
Renrou nodded slowly, his mind still reeling from the revelation. "I never thought about it like that… but it makes sense. That wolf wasn't normal, and neither is what's happening to me."
They spent the rest of the day talking, reminiscing about their childhood and everything they had been through together. Nicolas remembered the times they had spent playing in the forest as children, chasing each other through the trees, pretending to be hunters tracking down beasts. They had always been close, bound by their shared experiences and their struggles.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky turned a deep shade of violet, Renrou and Nicolas sat outside their home, the cool evening air washing over them.
"I missed this," Renrou said, his voice soft. "Just talking like this."
Nicolas smiled, feeling a sense of peace settle over him. "Me too. We've been through a lot, but no matter what, we'll get through it together."
Renrou nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, together."
As they headed inside for dinner, Nicolas felt a renewed sense of purpose. He had spent so much time focused on his training, but now he realized that his connection with his brother was just as important. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he knew they would face them side by side.