218. Hoffmann's Crest

Canis Wolfgang was a tall, slender Animori, almost indistinguishable from a human in his current form. He had been savouring his time at the local salon for over thirty minutes now. The visit felt like returning to a childhood home; he couldn't remember the last time he'd frequented such a fine establishment.

Rows of empty silver and aluminium chairs stood in perfect formation. On the wall, a tall mirror waited to reflect the master craft in progress.

Today was special. Not this exact date, but the one a few days from now would be the coronation of Astral Empress Aurora Vere Borealis. It marked the beginning of a grand festival, a celebration of Osten's golden age.

And Canis knew it was best to cut his hair days prior, just in case the hairdresser messed up the length.

He was a calculated man, indeed.

The Wildren hairdresser, her name tag reading 'Jane', finished her trim before giving his hair a blast of hot-and-cold air to rid it of any remaining clippings. The breeze felt pleasant against his cheeks, and his head felt a whole lot lighter.

"How does it look, Sir Canis?" Jane asked, her eyes closing in a happy smile.

Canis opened his pale blue eyes to a new reflection. Staring back was a man in his mid-thirties with sharp features, charmingly sunken cheeks, and dark blue hair now styled in a short, double-layered cut.

A white robe hung loosely from his shoulders, revealing a sliver of his chest. He noticed Jane's eyes lingering on his toned muscles, but he couldn't blame her. Silver wristlets and leather high sandals completed his sophisticated appearance.

As expected, the parted fringe he had specified sat a good centimetre shorter than his brows. Despite this, Canis gave her a big, satisfactory smile. "It's perfect, my dear."

Overjoyed, she clasped her hands over her chest. "I'm glad!"

He could see the relief wash over her. She was just doing her job to the best of her ability, after all, and it would be cruel of him to measure her against his own stringent standards.

"Please accept my gratitude," Canis said, extending his ring over the receiver. Credits exchanged for such fine service.

"Please visit us again!" Jane bowed at the waist as Canis strode out of the shop.

His mission for the day was still incomplete. His next stop was the Hoffmann mansion.

Pristine white residential resorts and two-storey shops lined and overlapped on the side of the cliffs. To the other side, the afternoon light illuminated the beautiful Grand Riverfall. The fresh, moist air filled his lungs. It was a scenic view he could never get bored of — a gift from Mother Gaia, untouched by any arcanist.

As Canis walked across the long bridge, a few townspeople greeted him with a tip of their hats. "Sir Canis!"

"Happy weekend!" he nodded back with a mirroring sentiment, using his long hammer as a walking stick.

The shadow of a colossal object fell over his face. He glanced up to find an ornate marble statue, tens of metres tall, depicting the river god Achelous and his raging bull.

"If I remember correctly, the hopping rabbit on the grand gate is the Hoffmann's crest." He smiled wryly. There was only one way to find out.

As Canis drew closer, he heard the faint noise of heavy machinery from within. He puckered his lips in surprise.

Finding the gate already ajar, he poked his head through the small gap. A tall, bunny Wildren in a jumpsuit stood with his back turned. The ponytail and cap indicated that this was none other than Hein, the workshop owner.

Canis snuck up behind him before whispering, "Good afternoon, Hein."

"Huh!? Oh! Sir Canis! Don't startle me like that…" Hein flinched, his datapad almost slipping from his hands.

Canis's smile widened. "What's going on here?"

"Wait a minute, something is off about you, sir. Nice, clean cut! What's the occasion?" Hein speculated, narrowing his eyes.

"Well—"

"Hey, Canis!" Steve's voice rang out from one of two P.N.I. bots that were hoisting an Armatus mobile suit. "Nice haircut!"

Before Canis could return the greeting, Hein blurted, "Eyes on the task, Steve! I don't want to get Lupus angry for scratching the new paint!"

"Okie! I'll be very careful!" Steve replied through a speaker.

Hein turned to Canis. "The lad's hand is real steady, but I'd rather not take any risks. Lad's a Copper Knight, they said."

"Former," Canis corrected.

Hein nodded, his long ear twitching.

"So… what's the Armatus for?" Canis narrowed his eyes at the silver-armoured titan as it was being transported to a new building on the left.

"It's a gift… sort of. A remembrance of her late husband," Hein explained calmly, sniffing. "Well, it took us months to rebuild it. Spare parts don't just deliver themselves to our workshop, eh?"

"Hmm?" Canis blinked, confused. But her late husband isn't dead-dead, he thought. Perhaps Hein doesn't know about the rebirth… but what about Lupus?

"Don't tell me you forgot my brother, Jack Squire. He died," Hein continued, pressing his hands together in a prayer.

Canis fought the urge to say, Actually… but decided against running his mouth for now. The concept of rebirth would blow Hein's mind, and he wasn't here to have that conversation. Not yet.

"If you're doing the delivery, you must know where the recipient is?"

"Aye, Lupus is inside that new warehouse there. The little lioness is back too, I see," Hein muttered, his attention returning to the streaming lines of text on his datapad.

"Then I must excuse myself. I have business to discuss with her." Canis tipped an invisible hat theatrically before departing.

***

A few moments earlier, inside the warehouse.

A thunderclap boomed throughout the high-ceilinged chamber, a cavern carved from a section of sturdy white rock. The five-metre columns that supported the structure shook from the shock, causing dust to sprinkle down onto the broad, red-dirt training ground at the centre.

Frain shifted into a hazy figure, her single-bevelled axe, Hemileos, glowing with energy as she threw it at Lupus.

With just a short sidestep, Lupus dodged. "Too slow!" she bellowed. "Don't think. Act!"

Grunting, Frain recalled her weapon. The Hemileos vibrated violently before dislodging from the dirt and arching back towards her.

"Fool!" Lupus spun mid-air, her fingers wrapping around the handle of the Hemileos. She hurled the sharp edge right back toward Frain's face.

Life flashed before her eyes. Frozen, her fight-or-flight response had utterly failed her.

Frain squeezed her eyes shut.

The axe stopped, its edge a mere hair's breadth from her forehead. "You're dead. Again!" Lupus shouted, her golden eyes sharp and terrifying.

"I~I…" Frain stammered. Her arms and legs had gone limp a while ago, yet she had tried to continue the session as Lupus demanded. Her entire body was tattered, her armour cracked, and blood seeped out to soak her clothes.

In contrast, Lupus wore only a sports bra and shorts. Not a single blow landed.

"I told you to dismiss and resummon it instead," Lupus scolded, her voice detached.

"I can't… The mana exhaustion…" Frain groaned, a tear welling at the corner of her eye.

This regime was too much for her. Lupus was too strong, too unyielding. Even without her arc boots, her raw strength was unparalleled.

This path had a price. Lupus wasn't the kind, big sister Frain once knew.

Despite that, not a single day had passed that she regretted choosing it.

"Get up. Stop squealing." Lupus towered over her, her shadow blocking out the spotlight. "Will your foe let you live if you beg? Will they let you go if you tell them you've run out of mana!?"

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"N~no…" Frain replied. She wouldn't give up. Simply because she believed that Zetius would not give up.

With a new resolution, Frain stood up wobbly, lifting her guard.

"Good!" Lupus bolted forward on her bare feet.

The shockwave rang out.

Frain couldn't even register the blow. Her body was thrown tens of metres, tumbling hard into the dirt. The red earth cushioned her fall, but only just.

"WEAK!" Lupus's shout sent a chill down her spine.

On pure instinct, Frain's purple eyes fluttered open, a dead call answered.

"Get up!"

Lupus's heavy footsteps drew closer.

Her world spun, her vision blurred.

Before she knew it, Lupus was yanking her into the air. "I told you to stand!"

"L~Lupus… please…" Frain begged.

The plea made Lupus's ear twitch, her teeth baring in contempt. The pure anger in her eyes had not dimmed, not even after the death of her mortal enemy, Rhok Wagner.

Lupus pulled her fist back for a strike. "Dodge this—"

"ENOUGH!" Another voice boomed as a staff cut between the two combatants.

A deep-seated fire burned in Lupus's glare. "Lunice…" she grimaced.

"This is no longer training, Lupus." Lunice, the eldest sister, stood her ground, a frozen mist enveloping her. Her eyes softened at the sight of Frain's injuries. "The poor girl can barely move a finger, let alone fight. Open your bloody eyes, Lupy."

"The people I love the most died because of our weakness!" Lupus roared. "We were slaughtered by the Celestius, and it will happen again!"

"So this is your brilliant solution? Training without helms? Beating a little girl half to death?" Lunice argued, her voice firm. "Let her go."

"I'm~I'm teaching her—" Lupus paused, her gaze falling on Frain.

"S~sorry…" Frain whispered, her voice weak. Her half-closed eyes drifted in and out of focus, but her ears picked up every single word.

Instead, Lupus locked eyes with Lunice. "Don't tell me what to do," she growled, jaw tightening.

Lunice only looked back, unfazed.

Realising her mistake, Lupus pulled her fist back, letting it drop to her side. It remained clenched, shaking violently.

"I won't tell you how to live your life, Lupy. But I won't let your vengeance consume her too." Lunice gently wiped the damp blonde hair from Frain's face.

"Tsk…" Lupus clicked her tongue, exasperated. She released her grip, and Frain's limp form fell into Lunice's soft embrace.

"Oh… baby… Shush now," Lunice whispered softly, laying Frain across her lap before casting a healing spell.

It wouldn't mend all the wounds, but it would lessen the pain.

"I only wanted her to survive…" Lupus's voice faltered as she stepped away, cupping her mouth. Am I a monster? The thought plagued her as she looked at her red knuckles. She realised they weren't in the rejuvenation chamber; here, all wounds and damage sustained were very real.

"Also, Sir Canis is asking for you," Lunice shouted, glaring coldly before turning to cradle the injured girl.

With some wet clothes, Lupus rubbed her hands, wiping the blood and sweat before covering her body with a dark cloak.

At the front of the training ground, the Armatus, a replica of the one Jack piloted on his last mission, knelt in one arm, attended by Steve and Lunarius Canis Wolfgang.

"Sir Canis, Steve," Lupus greeted, dipping her head in reverence.

"Good evening, Lupus," Canis waved with his hammer.

"A moment," she told them.

Lupus quickly climbed up to its shoulder section, where the Hoffmann crest was engraved into the steel. She bit her lip as she ran her fingers over the shiny silver metal.

Gently, she pressed her head on the cold steel, relishing the good old memory.

The Jack she had known was a carefully constructed personality, a piece moved in a high-stakes game of chess. At least, her feelings for him had been true, and she hoped it was the same for him too.

That was enough for her to keep pressing on.

And she would seek justice against those responsible.

Ignius Lux Draconus… you are next, she vowed.

Once she was back on the ground, she found Canis scratching his head, a profoundly confused look on his face. "Um, ah, I…" Words failed him as Lupus arched her brows.

"Sir Lunarius, Lunice said you asked for me," Lupus interjected, crossing her arms.

"Ah, yes! Business before a private matter," Canis wobbled his head, his hand rummaging through his pocket belt. "One little moment."

She felt a glare from Steve. "Um… Ah…" The man was just as inarticulate as his companion.

"What?" Lupus furrowed her brows.

Steve reluctantly handed her a datapad. "P~please sign here if you are satisfied with our, um, delivery."

"Why didn't you just say so? Jeez…" She snatched the pad, scribbled her initials, and returned it. The man nodded before scurrying off at a moderate speed to join Hein near the puny bots.

Lupus sighed. "What's wrong with people these days…" she wondered aloud.

"Aha! Here!" Canis opened his palm, revealing a golden ring — one specifically crafted for a Lunarius. "The gift from the Empress. As the Umbral Executioner."

Lupus stared for a moment before picking up the ring to inspect it. "So… does that mean?"

"Precisely. You are now designated the Lunarius of the Leo Division." Canis raised his arms to the side, expecting an ecstatic cheer.

But none came. Worse, she didn't look particularly interested as she simply swapped it with her Stellius ring. Another ring adorned her ring finger, Canis noticed.

"So what's the deal?" Lupus asked.

"Well… all new Lunarius will be presented at the Empress's coronation, by the Empress herself. This will be held at Borealis Castle in a few days."

"I have important things to do," Lupus grumbled, already half-turning away.

"No, you do not. Your attendance is mandatory," Canis said firmly, shooting her a toothy smile.

"Good grief…" Lupus groaned but eventually complied.

Behind her, Frain limped out, supported by Lunice's wing.

"So… that was your… training partner?" Canis gasped, his eyes bulging at Frain, appearing worse for wear.

"Unfortunately, the difference in our raw power is a vast chasm," Lupus admitted, her gaze falling to the ground, and she drowned in guilt.

"If you plan to have a powerful sparring partner… may I offer one of my grand ideas?" Canis proposed with a bow.

"Will you fight me, Lunarius?" Lupus smirked.

He flinched and blurted, "No, no… of course not…" Then he pointed the pommel of his hammer at the towering Armatus. "I think I might be able to create a construct, a golem perhaps, with enough power to rival you in a short period of time."

"Hmm… But you weren't training under Celestius Virtius, right? So, construct isn't your alley."

Cupping his heart in mock pain, Canis replied, "Must you be so blunt? Still, we are both Renaissance mages. I believe, with enough research, I'd be able to create one as well."

"Then please, support me in my training. I'd like Frain to be able to train with it as well… I just…" She trailed off, looking around the courtyard. Frain and Lunice had already disappeared into the main mansion.

"I just don't think I'm a good teacher for her…" Lupus admitted, holding back fluttering hearts and dripping tears.

"Well, I'm sure we've reached a solution. Life hasn't been kind to you, it seems." Canis nodded, grasping the gravity of the situation. She was rejecting the image of Zetius; he was sure of it, which was the prime reason they hadn't reached any reconciliation.

A troubled heart was, at times, more complex than any arcane conjuration.

Lupus dipped her head with grace and gratitude. "Thank you, Lunarius. I'll be at the coronation."

***

Later that night, Frain lay on her belly on the queen-size bed. This one felt empty and cold, unlike the one she had shared with Zetius and Cubie.

A HUD screen beamed up from her ring, an incoming transmission from her other family. The image depicted Zetius in casual clothes, propping his cheek on his fist, his elbow resting on a desk. Cubie levitated to his right, waving in glee.

"I'm glad you are okay, Frain," Zetius's husky voice echoed. His eyes drifted from the screen. "I apologise for not calling sooner."

Frain shook her head. "It's fine… I'm glad you called."

"Sis Frain, we've missed you so much!" Cubie chirped. "It's only been a couple of weeks."

"We'll visit you as soon as possible, Frain," Zetius smiled dryly. He wasn't blind or dumb. The bandage on her head was a dead giveaway. She must have sustained the injury in a fight or a training session, perhaps.

"No, you don't have to. I'm sure everyone is busy right now," Frain rejected, her voice fading to a whisper as her body trembled.

"And Lupus… is she doing well?" Zetius probed, scratching his nose to dispel the awkwardness.

"She's fine… She's… She's very strong…" Frain said sheepishly, her eyes failing to meet his gaze.

Zetius exhaled. He already knew what was going on behind closed doors, despite Frain's best attempt to hide it. No one had ever taught her how to lie; she was terrible at it.

"Well, if you need anything…" Zetius stated, his voice firm, "Give me a call. I will be there."

"Mm!" Frain nodded and sealed it with a forced smile.

Footsteps stopped at her door, followed by a soft knock.

"Gotta go now!" Frain quickly dismissed the transmission before Zetius could respond. The doorknob twisted, and Lupus stepped through.

"There you are," Lupus said, her voice soft, her face etched with worry.

"L~Lupy… do you need anything?" Frain bit her lip, scrambling to the edge of the bed. Nervously, she fidgeted with her fingers as Lupus approached.

She flinched as Lupus sat beside her. "Are you okay?"

"N~no, I mean, yes, I'm… good," she stuttered, her face visibly pale, sweat forming on the back of her neck.

Her gaze fixed on her toes, Lupus confessed, "Frain… I'm sorry. I'm a terrible, terrible teacher. I hurt you, thinking it would make you stronger. Session after session further proved me wrong."

Frain's lips parted in surprise. She hadn't expected that at all. Her purple eyes studied Lupus's expression and soon found genuine regret.

Lupus's ears flopped flat against her head. "When I was at Poranthis, we had this magical device, a rejuvenation chamber. Such a powerful artefact, it exuded a constant healing effect on anyone inside... That's why Celestius Jovian and I were able to participate in near-mortal combat with no risk."

"Mm…" Frain hummed.

"I shouldn't have applied such a regime to you, Frain. I'm so, so sorry." Lupus extended a hand and gently placed it on Frain's head. A warm stream of tears dripped down her own cheeks, her body quivered, and her breath shook.

"It's okay. I'll be stronger…" Frain locked her eyes with Lupus's. "For you."

Lupus sniffed. "Oh, baby… can you forgive me?"

Without a word, Frain nodded sharply.

A gentle smile adorned Lupus's lips, one Frain hadn't seen for a very long time.

What had been done couldn't be reversed, but the pain could heal. Lupus just hadn't been lucky enough to have someone offer her that comfort.

Lupus's wails grew louder as the dam of her emotions finally broke.

"I'm here, Lupus," Frain whispered, her hands gently touching Lupus's arms.

Frain knew staying by her side was the right choice. Even in his darkest moment, Zetius made the right decision all along.

Thank goodness I believe him…

In each other's arms, they found a sanctuary, sharing an overdue warmth that began to mend what had been broken.

Lupus had walked through hell, her heart calloused and guarded, but against Frain's steady presence, the hardened walls of her pain began to crumble.

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