IMPLEMENTING CHANGES: PART I

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Lirius was busy working in the kitchen as he prepared their meal, Athena and Serfred discussed the events last night.

"No, I didn't notice anything. By the time you were in pain, the nerd already knocked me out."

"Oh, I see…" Athena responded, pondering about the person she saw last night. 'I swear the person looked like Lirius, but…' The fact she was under a spell and in pain, it made her doubt what she was seeing and everything must have been a trick of the mind.

"My Lady, did something happen?"

"Hmm, none that I recall."

Considering that she doubted what she saw, she didn't bother mentioning it. Since, it must have been just her imagination.

"Then, let's forget what happened last night. I mean, the nerd tried to kill us both and we should be thankful that we are both still alive." Serfred spoke with such humor as he wanted to put a smile on the girl's face.

"You know, if Lirius hears what you just said, he'll..."

"I'll do what?"

Both of them were startled when they heard another person speaking apart from them. They both looked frightened at each other, as they pictured what the man looks like behind them.

"Is he angry?" Athena whispered as she prompted Serfred to check.

"I-" He took a peek and there he saw the man icy glare at him. As if he was preparing another spell to blast directly at him. "Master Lirius, my talented friend. Is the food ready?"

"Ah, Lirius, is something wrong?" Athena got up from her seat as she played along with Serfred to calm the man down.

Lirius looked at the both of them and could only sigh in disbelief. He wondered why he let these two live with him. "Foods' ready, let's go."

They hurriedly, quietly and obediently followed the man in fear of what frightening things he'll do to them. After last night's event, they now realize that the man is someone not to be trifled with.

Lirius was not that great of a cook, but they were all satisfied with their meal as if they haven't eaten for weeks. Surprisingly, Athena at more than the two grown men, as she felt her stomach was like a black hole.

Serfred volunteered to do the dishes.

Lirius went back to his study as he continued reviewing what happened last night.

Whilst Athena vanished as she felt something was oddly missing. She was already resting in her bed when she realized this strange feeling. She hurriedly got out of her bed and ran out to the garden.

She stood there eagerly searching for the missing thing. Seeing she couldn't find it at all, she yelled aloud.

"FUJI!"

Meanwhile, Lirius who was in his study heard the girl's yelled. He felt goose bumps on the back of his neck as he recalled what happened.

"Damn it, I forgot to tell her."

As he thought about whether to tell the girl or not, he felt a presence closing in the girl.

"That dang wolf." He smiled as he went back to his work.

Athena continued to yell worriedly as she had no clue of what happened to Fuji that night. Strangely, she realized when she woke up, he was not by her side.

Suddenly, the girl felt a familiar presence. It was the first time in a long time she sensed another's aura.

Appearing out of the bushes, the cute, adorable puppy has somehow grown overnight. It surprised the girl to see her so-called puppy, has turned into a full grown dog. However, not only was his size different, but also his attitude towards the girl.

"Fuji?" Athena softened her tone as she lowered herself curious as to whether the beast still acknowledged her as his master.

Fuji who was glaring and growling at the girl automatically turned back into his usual puppy like attitude. He adorably ran to the girl...

IT pleased the girl that Fuji still acknowledged her as his master. As he ran and jumped into her arms, she tightly embraced him as tears rolled down her face. "Fuji, I'm sorry. I must have worried you?"

Fuji understood what the girl was saying and pressed his head onto the girl's chest.

"I'm sorry, did Lirius hurt you?"

The fact Serfred was blasted by Lirius, she somehow guessed that he must have done the same to Fuji which caused him to run away.

But, seeing the puppy licking her face and hands, she soon forgot about the events last night. If Lirius did do something to Fuji, it was for his own good.

Her smile was as bright as the sun as she rejoiced, for the fact, Fuji still acknowledged her and that he didn't run away nor kill her.

"Fuji, let's go home." Athena carried the overgrown puppy, and was surprised that it weighed a lot as well. She gathered her strength as she carried what felt like a sack of potatoes back inside the house.

When they walked inside, Serfred was shocked to see the girl...

"What's that?"

"It's Fuji," She responded giggling seeing how shocked the man looked.

"He-he has grown, a lot." Serfred went closer to check the beast. "Isn't he much heavier since he'd grown?"

"He is, but I want to carry him. Who knows how long he'll stay like a puppy."

"My Lady, are you sure that Fuji is..."

"Don't worry, you idiot. He's a Twilight Wolf, once it acknowledges its master." Lirius came out from the corner as he sensed the girl had returned with the Twilight Wolf pup.

"Fuji, what's wrong?"

Fuji growled and furiously stared at Lirius as if he was a prey.

"Don't tell me, you also hit him?" Serfred was shocked as he pointed his finger at the pup.

"He was as annoying as you, plus, he knows why I did it..."

Fuji calmed himself when he noticed Lirius staring coldly back at him. He did not deny the fact he did try to kill the girl, when he sensed her life was slowly fading.

"Never mind what happened, I'll be resting with Fuji now."

"Go ahead." Lirius said as he observed the big change that happened between the girl and the pup. "Hmm, both of them changed."

"Ah, I have been meaning to ask, what happened to her hair?"

"I don't know, I'm still checking to see if it has something to do with the magic circle effect."

"Well, it's not bad as long it does not affect her life."

"I'm sure it won't," Lirius looked at Serfred who seems as if he has nothing to do and said, "Seeing you're so free today, why don't you go to the woods and get me this."

"Wha- wait?"

Before he could say anything, the man has already handed him the plant he needs to search and has returned back to his study.

"Darn it, I was planning to sleep as well."

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