Chapter 8

Kazal

The dog merchant continued to sit still as he witnessed the curious transformation in front of him. Shawn’s back slowly inflated, as if the muscle system was being rebuilt rapidly. His entire skin began to grow a coat of thick dark blue fur, and his limbs and head began to change into a significant look.

Kazal pointed his eyes towards Shawn’s head.

The wolf beastmen.

Shawn is transforming into his wolf beast form.

Shawn’s heavy, taxing groan ended with a growl. In front of him, existed a being far bigger than Shawn, which Kazal didn’t bode as surprising as this being came into his view first before Shawn did.

“Greetings.” Kazal took the liberty to greet the wolf beastmen first.

The wolf beastmen’s growl slowly faded, while he looked at Kazal’s beady yellow eyes.

“You aren’t a normal dog.” The wolf stated, of what seemed to be plain obvious, while he stabilized his standing up posture.

Kazal bobbed his head for a bit. Not a fan of greetings, understandable. “Yes, I am not someone from this world, after all.”

“I know. I also hear what Shawn hears.” The wolf replied, still standing up.

“Really now?” Kazal enquired. He unconsciously tilted his head sideways, slowly pondering about something. “Is this some form of sorcery, or are the two of you connected in some way?”

The wolf beastmen inhaled, which sounded rough in Kazal’s ears.

“We are one. I am Shawn, and Shawn is me.”

“I see.”

So, from what he gathered, this wolf and Shawn seemed to merge into one vessel, mainly with the wolf staying dormant inside Shawn’s body, and going out when he wants. That fact alone is fascinating for Kazal, who had never heard of merging of different races in his previous world.

He shook his head a bit.

“So,” Kazal returned to sit down on the alcove and crossed his paws. The wolf suddenly transformed by himself, obviously without Shawn’s consent, given his struggles to suppress him. There must be a reason for this sudden transformation.

The wolf became still.

“This child, is always thinking about suicide (TW).” He informed. Kazal raised his golden and bushy eyebrows towards the wolf beastmen’s statement.

“What constitutes you to speak of such?” He pondered.

The wolf dithered again. “I am an existence who lives far beyond a normal human age. I’ve been with many human partners, and as usual, Shawn turned out to be one of mine. That’s what a Mythic like me has always been before merging with my partners. I’ve been with him since birth, and Shawn wasn’t usually this gloomy. But the death of his family, and the ruination of our clan turned him into one.”

Kazal halted.

Ruination of clan?

“Tell me, stranger, how about we take a seat? And do give me your name.” Kazal shuffled his front paws. The news of their clan’s ruination is another secret he didn’t know of, and he felt like this is going to be a long story.

This time, the wolf stared at Kazal for a few moments, before he spoke. “My name is Azul, of the Azul clan. Pardon me, but I’m afraid that I wouldn’t be able to do so. This boy’s body couldn’t sustain my power, hence the reason my transformation was cut short. But I am here to tell you something.”

Kazal met his odd eyed gaze.

“Please help this child. The legacy of Azul clan depends heavily on him, and if he dies, then my legacy will end too.” The wolf beastmen named Azul pressed his tone into a pleading.

Kazal went still.

“What makes you think I am capable of doing so? As far as rationality goes, I am merely a dog.”

“I can smell it, even if it’s weak. You, a dog-like existence named Kazal…” The wolf glanced down at Kazal. “Is a powerful and wise being.”

Soon after that, Azul’s body began to shrink, and the majestic dark blue fur began to disperse. At the end of the transformation, Shawn stood staggering for a bit before he fell down, luckily on the futon bedding while Kazal cushioned some of the fall momentum on his back.

The dog merchant groaned a bit due to the pain of bearing someone’s weight on his animal body. He felt like his back would break. Still, it has been in his mind that he would assist Shawn in growing his muscles, but he also needed to put on some weight and body size as well.

***

Shawn’s eyes squinted a bit, followed along with him slowly opening his eyes.

“Good morning.” Kazal said to Shawn when he first opened his eyes. The dog was conquering about a margin of space beside where Shawn slept, seemingly guarding him up close.

“How is your body? Do you feel anything strange?” The dog inquired.

Shawn was silent the whole time. There was an inexplicable expression formed along his confused face. The human boy then sat up and ruffled his caramel short hair. It might be Kazal’s eyes playing tricks on him, but is Shawn’s hair seemed bushier than last night?

“I… I did it again, didn’t I?” Shawn muttered. His expression contorted into a dark look; with his gaze etched down to the floor like it was gold and gems.

Kazal heaved a short sigh.

“If I may ask, what makes you so keen on disposing your wolf. I thought that it was a man’s dream, if not their ambition, to possess such powerful and mythical being on their own. That alone gives them power beyond normal being.”

Shawn snorted. “Look, I don’t know what Azul told you, but that’s all a lie-” He suddenly stopped talking midway, while quickly changing his gloomy expression into an angry one.

“What are you talking about? I told you I don’t want to bear this burden, don’t I? You are the cause that all of this happened on the first place!” He began to holler madly.

While he did, Kazal followed his glare. He was furiously staring daggers at the entrance of his room. Was there supposed to be someone behind that door? Because there was no one, as far as Kazal’s ability tells him.

Shawn continued to scorn indignantly towards something, while Kazal studied his reaction.

“What do you mean, I’m the chosen one? Don’t you see I can’t shoulder the responsibility that you give me? There are other people who’s next in line to be the clan’s Alpha- What do you mean incompatible? Isn’t that your excuse to get away with all the mess you made? You just a fu-” Shawn winced in pain while he grabbed his head.

“I don’t… what to talk to you anymore…” His body jolted, before long, he began to relax once again.

“Are you fighting with Azul?” The dog merchant guessed.

His question received a frown from Shawn, before the young boy turned his head away in a rebellious manner. “I don’t want to talk about that bastard.”

Kazal tilted his head in response. This is pretty worrying, if Shawn as much as didn’t want to even think about Azul. He promised to see Shawn’s growth until the end. And even if Shawn tries to deny it, Kazal could feel a trace of similarity in wavelength between Shawn and his wolf.

The problem right now is to make Shawn agree to let Azul assimilate with him, by his consent. Because Azul morphing without Shawn’s consent not only put a burden on the body, but the result of the transformation would be subpar. That’s what Kazal concluded after observing this mess of a human in front of him.

The door was knocked from the outside, breaking the slightly tense atmosphere between Kazal and the pouting Shawn.

“Oh my, you’re awake, Shawn.” A middle-aged man with chest-length grey hair tied in a loose ponytail entered the room. His gentle demeanour emanates from the mild and concerned smile that he showed as he said, “How’s your body?”

Kazal unconsciously flipped his ears.

“Uncle.” Kazal saw Shawn’s expression softened when he called the middle-aged man. Kazal had seen that name on the thin slate before. So, it was this person’s name.

“You must be tired. Let’s have some breakfast downstairs, shall we?” Hans offered, quickly gaining a nod from Shawn as he stood up with him. Hans then glanced down to Kazal.

“Oh, I almost had forgotten that you’re here.” He then bloomed a gentle smile at Kazal. “You too come with us.”

Kazal followed Hans and Shawn downstairs.

Even after seeing it for the second time in his life, Kazal still couldn’t shake away the sense of astound when he saw the infrastructure of the place. Contrary to the looks of the surroundings on the first floor—which constitutes of three bedrooms, a small living room, and a bathroom connected with the toilet—the ground floor is a spacious place filled with tables and chairs, like the taverns in his original world. Though, the difference between the taverns and this place, was the feeling it gave off.

The tavern in his previous world felt more rustic and is a place people of any background to some and mingle. The walls and furniture are simple brown and sturdy wood, the air is arid with the smell of booze, and people won’t be able to tell who is who given the dim surroundings. This unknown place, instead, felt like a fusion between a five-star hotel and a tavern. It felt more like a high-end restaurant, but with an interior design of a tavern.

Kazal snapped out from his pondering, when he saw a hand reaching out to his view. A metallic sound like something was placed on the shiny wooden ground was heard, and when Kazal glanced down, he saw a metal bowl filled with assortment of mixed fried food.

“Isn’t that a bit too much to give him fried food?” Shawn’s face contorted into a conflicted look while he turned to his uncle, who was working on something behind the counter.

“Oh, let him be. He’s the one who’s been with you when I found you, you know?” Hans giggled. “Though, I still couldn’t find the person who answered your phone.”

Kazal scrunched his nuzzle. It would be fairly complicated for him to tell Hans who he is as of now. Kazal shot a knowing sign to Shawn to ask him to clam up.

“I-” Shawn stammered in response, after receiving an intense gaze from Kazal. Shawn might be gloomy, suicidal even, but he’s surprisingly gullible. He was even kind and polite, especially in the presence of his uncle.

Kazal then silently stared at both Shawn and Hans, as they went along with their conversation. He might be able to use this to his advantage.