Werebeasts (2)

Just as I looked at Niina with a face full of worry, I saw Mom who was sitting next to Niina, shaking her head at me.

I wasn't sure why, but the anxiety quickly fade away from my mind after seeing Mom's small gesture that I didn't even understand what.

But in the next moment, my question was answered.

Niina quickly brought Clavis to her embrace.

"Stupid son! You don't have to shoulder it all alone... What are you scared for? Are you scared we'd forsake you? There's no way we'd do that... We'll figure something out together instead... So, don't you dare shoulder it all alone, Clavis!"

Niina cried as she hugged Clavis tightly. I wasn't sure if it was due to Niina's tight hug or what, but Clavis also started crying.

"...Your mother's right. We won't abandon you, son. We'll stand together as family. What kind of parents will abandon their children if they don't turn out to be like what their parents expect?" Rudolf approached the mother and son and embraced them.

I was stunned at Rudolf's words.

[What kind of parents will abandon their children if they don't turn out to be like what their parents expect?]

For some reason, his words resonated so deeply in my mind.

Perhaps it was because I tried so hard to answer people's expectations of me—especially when I was Reinst—my family's expectations of me.

And deep down, I also feared I'd be abandoned if I turned out so different from what my parents had expected.

Also, that was why I tried to play the good child when I first was reincarnated as Lyra...

"Rudolf is right. We, parents, know that children have a will of their own. Though we are the ones who gave them life in this world, their life is theirs. That's why, I'm against deciding anything for my children—at least I need to know their opinions," Dad suddenly added.

I turned to look at him in my surprise.

Dad...

Dad noticed my gaze and smiled at me.

I smiled back at him.

"But... But, Mom, Dad... What if the others won't accept our family because I'm a... werewolf?" Clavis asked with a shaking voice.

"We will go somewhere else, then. A place that can accept werebeasts. I'm sure there is one," Rudolf reassured Clavis.

"But I..."

"Your father's right. I wouldn't want to forsake you just because of this, Clavis. Now, now, let your mother and father think of something. You just focus on resting, okay?" Niina patted Clavis' head in her embrace.

"Mom... Dad... Uwaaaa...!!" Clavis then lost it and cried.

At that time, I was relieved that the twins were already asleep. At least, when Clavis snapped out of this emotional period and when embarrassment took over himself, he would be saved from having an embarrassment that the twins saw this side of him.

Besides, the twins were too young to understand the thing about werebeasts and the stigma about them.

I'm sure Clavis wouldn't want to have the twins be afraid of him, too.

***

The missing Clavis incident was solved just like that.

That night, the small family of three left our home as the weather was already better.

The next day, we explained the matter in a very simple way to the wondering twins.

What happened to Clavis after that?

We heard that both Niina and Rudolf were diligently looking for any information about werebeasts—the real information, not just the myths or rumors.

Clavis was resting well in their house. We were told that Clavis shouldn't get too agitated or feeling any emotional outburst too strongly, as that could trigger him to transform into his werebeast form.

Obviously, he wasn't able to control it yet, and they were looking for a way so that he could at least control himself and his new power as a werebeast.

From the looks of it, Niina and Rudolf had already seen their son's transformation and werebeast form.

And finally, a good news could be heard.

Niina and Rudolf found someone who wasn't that scared or too biased against werebeasts.

When they asked that person why, that person simply explained that they had a relative who possessed a werebeast quality, and that relative underwent a training.

Apparently, there was a special village full of werebeasts and their relatives. The access to that special village was restricted for the werebeasts' safety, but that was where werebeasts gathered and trained to be able to control their werebeast power.

After Niina and Rudolf explained their condition and brought Clavis to meet the higher-ups of the village, the higher-ups agreed to grant them access to the village and to take Clavis under their wings.

The first period of training was quite harsh and took quite a time to pass, so Clavis had to take a few days off school.

It was quite a while since I hadn't seen Clavis and I was starting to get worried.

After all, the last figure of Clavis I saw was a bit worrying.

But it turned out that I actually didn't have to be worried of him.

One day, I was getting ready for school as always.

I put on my set of winter uniform.

For my winter uniform, I have an inner white shirt that will keep me warm, covered by the outer red tuxedo-like jacket with long sleeves. The golden buttons had the Harmonia Academy's insignia carved in them. The collar and the hem of the jacket's sleeves were of dark blue color. Meanwhile, the skirt was warm and was made of two layers: the inner layer was red, and the outer layer was blue. The outer layer didn't cover all of the inner layer, so it looked so stylish. Then, add a red-and-blue butterfly necktie.

As a comparison, the male counterpart of this uniform was also stylish. The inner shirt had a striped white and blue pattern. As the outer layer of the clothes, there was a red vest with a long tail. There were some golden stripes and golden buttons with Harmonia Academy's insignia carved in it. The color of the long pants was blue. They were also wearing red-and-blue necktie.

To keep my neck warm, I tied my hair in low twintail style. My hair was also getting longer, but I didn't intend to cut it at all.

When everything was ready, I walked down in order to go to school with Alt-nii and the twins.

Upon coming to the living room...

"It's been awhile, Lyra."

I halted my steps and looked at the person who just greeted me.

Silver hair, grey eyes, silver ears and tail. He was wearing the Advanced level's uniform: long black pants, monochrome inner shirt, and golden coat with black color on its sleeves, pocket, and collar. He was fixing his black necktie.

"I can control my werebeast urges better now, even though I haven't mastered all its power yet," the silver wolf beastman said with a smile on his face.

The figure of him being so scared was no more. The figure standing in front of me was a confident man who seemed to have gone through severe training while I had no idea of it all.

He didn't seem to be agonized that he received the "curse" of werebeast.

"Being with the other werebeasts and receiving Master's guidance has opened my eyes that this new power I acquired could actually become a blessing. And I've promised to use this power for the greater good—to protect those I care for," he continued to talk as he approached me.

I was still dazed at Clavis' transformation—Not his transformation as werebeast, but his inner transformation that was apparent right now.

Clavis' figure now was dazzling. I realized for the first time that I could no longer view him as someone younger than me (mentally).

Just like how Alt-nii can finally chase after me, Clavis is finally catching up, too.

Finally, Clavis stopped in front of me and gently smiled.

"You rescued me from my anguish over what I thought to be the [curse] of a [werebeast]. That's why I can stand here right now, as I am. Therefore... it's my turn to protect you next."

What is he saying? He was definitely weaker than me in terms of our combative ability...

My mind couldn't really process his words, but I smiled back at him anyway.

It's the thought that counts.

"Welcome back, Clavis!"

===========================

Behind-the-scene:

Altaire: "Clavis, remember, you've got a lot to catch up at school."

Clavis: "Urgh, must you remind me now?"

Altaire: *chuckles*

Cyan: "Is Clavis hitting on my daughter now?!"

Cassie: "No, let's just think of it as his way of saying [I owed you one, so I should repay back your kindness]...?"

Cyan: "That doesn't seem to be the case in my eyes!"

Cassie: "..."

Altaire: "Hmm? Clavis and Lyra? Oh well, I'll just see how things turn out."

Lyra: "What are you guys talking about? I didn't hear clearly."

Altaire: "Nothing!"

Freyr, who heard everything silently: "...But Clavis has never hit Lyra-neechan...?"

Lyra: "...Huh??? What were you talking about?"

Freyja: "Listen, Nee-chan, Dad was wondering if—hmmmppphf (translation: DAD!!)!"

Cyan: "It's nothing, Lyra."

Lyra: "??? Did you guys hide something from mee?"

Cassie: "Nah, it's nothing, really."

Lyra: "..." *stares at Alt-nii*

Altaire: "Nope, nothing!"

Lyra: "Fine, so that's how you want to play it!"

In a distant, a spectre of light turned into a figure of a mischievous child and laughed at the family's topic that time.

"Now now, what is really in Clavis' mind when he said all that to Lyra? Only time can tell."

What do you think?