It wasn't Shinya's first time here. He had spent thirty years in the human world, most of it in this very town. Even so, he’d never had much interaction with the townspeople. Under the strict restrictions of his father, Aoshi, the two of them had lived an extremely low-profile life. As a result, aside from Kyle and his family, Shinya had few acquaintances in Seagull Town.
If he had to name someone else, it would be the old priest at the church.
After all, Dawn Prayers was known as a “neutral organization.” Their so-called neutrality didn’t just apply to other groups within the human world, but also extended to the various non-human factions. As a result, the priests never held any prejudice against werewolves.
Now, fifteen years had passed since Shinya last left Seagull Town. The humble church remained unchanged—it was still the same building. Only the people were no longer there.
The old priest of Seagull Town, the one who lived in Shinya’s memories, had likely passed away.
He didn’t ask Vanessa where that priest had gone. Because if he did, it would make that loss feel real.
Vanessa noticed how familiar he seemed with the place and was puzzled at first. How could a werewolf be so well-acquainted with human territory? But then she thought about it—he spoke the common human tongue so fluently, so it wasn’t that surprising he knew his way around here too.
Shinya walked ahead, carrying Nicole in his arms. Just as he was about to step through the church doors, Vanessa stopped him.
She motioned for him to lay the girl down for a moment, then instructed him to go in first.
Vanessa cast a spell over Nicole. Two small glowing blades of light crossed at her wrist in the shape of a cross. Then Vanessa quickly picked the girl up and carried her through the threshold of the church.
Shinya understood—clearly, this church was also equipped with wards that detected dark magic.
"Come with me. She needs to be purified inside the Suncrystal, or else the demon’s claws may come for her again."
Shinya immediately followed her.
They passed through the nave and finally arrived at a basement chamber.
Though he had been to this church a few times in the past, this was the first time Shinya had entered this bright underground room.
Three magical orbs, much like the priestly spell Light Hunt, floated through the space, drifting slowly as they illuminated every corner. They circled a massive device at the center of the room—the apparent source of their power.
It was a sharply angled octahedral structure. One end tilted upward while the other rested on the floor, large enough to hold two or three adults. It was made of eight triangular planes of light, with metallic edges glowing with a soft, golden warmth.
“The Suncrystal—a holy magical device from before the Cataclysm. There are probably fewer than twenty left across the entire continent of Asate,” Vanessa explained as she gently placed Nicole inside the structure.
As the priest released her hold, the girl floated within the crystal like a delicate bubble. At the same time, the two lightblades that had pierced her wrists vanished.
“How long until the mark is cleansed? How long before she wakes up?” Shinya asked.
“I don’t know. It could be a day, maybe a week. That depends on her fate.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s in this coma because the demon used that mark as a conduit to invade her dreams. When she breaks free depends entirely on her own strength.”
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“She can do it,” Shinya said firmly. “She’s a strong girl.”
He couldn’t help but reach toward her face, only to find his hand stopped by the barrier—he couldn't pass through.
Vanessa noticed the way the werewolf looked at the girl—his gaze was filled with tender affection. She didn’t know who this girl was, nor how the girl felt about the werewolf, but one thing was clear: he cherished her as if she were his beloved.
A werewolf who could live over three centuries falling in love with a human who might not even reach a hundred—it could only end in sorrow. To a werewolf, a human life span was like that of a kitten or a puppy to a human. These little creatures grow up far too quickly, only to grow old even faster.
This girl would be no different.
In the blink of an eye, he would lose her.
Vanessa couldn’t help but wonder silently: Why would anyone give everything for a love that can only end in tragedy?
But she quickly told herself to let the matter go. After all, she wasn’t the type to meddle in other people’s affairs, much less comment on someone else’s love life. Logically speaking, there was another matter that concerned her more.
“What do you plan to do once she wakes up?” Vanessa asked.
“I don’t know,” Shinya replied, lowering his head with a weary voice. Everything had happened so suddenly—he hadn’t had a moment to think about what came next.
Vanessa offered a suggestion. “The girl will need to stay here. If you’re willing, you can stay too. No matter what prejudices or hostility the townspeople may harbor, as long as you stand against the darkness, you’ll always have the protection of Dawn Prayers. The doors to every one of our churches will always remain open to you.”
“I doubt the townspeople see it that way.”
“As long as you don’t step outside the church, they won’t touch you,” Vanessa assured him. “Dawn Prayers will guarantee your safety.”
Shinya turned away and slumped down against the Suncrystal, his back leaning against its glowing frame. He sank to the floor in silence, offering no further reply.
Vanessa watched him for a moment, concern flickering in her eyes, then made a decision.
“I’ll bring you something to eat,” she said gently. “It won’t be as good as the food at the Sword Sheath Inn, but it’ll keep you going.” With that, she headed toward the stairs.
“Thank you… Priest,” Shinya murmured, his head still bowed, voice heavy with exhaustion.
“You’re welcome,” Vanessa replied softly.
- ··
Nearing midnight, just as Vanessa was preparing for bed, she heard a knock at the door.
When she opened it, she found Eddie standing there—alongside the innkeeper, Kyle Merrick.
“Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Merrick?” Vanessa asked.
“Sorry to bother you so late,” Kyle said with a sheepish rub of his head. “There’s nothing urgent—I’m just here to drag my big brother home.”
“Big brother?” Vanessa was momentarily confused.
Eddie explained, “He means the werewolf from earlier.”
Kyle nodded. “Yeah, the two of us grew up together. Technically, he’s my older brother—though, judging by his baby face, you wouldn’t guess it. He’s about sixty now. But for a werewolf, that’s barely adulthood. So, uh... where is he?”
- ··
Vanessa led Kyle down into the basement. Kyle saw Shinya fast asleep beside the Suncrystal, and saw Nicole floating gently within its glowing core.
He walked over, and when he noticed the empty water cup and clean plate beside Shinya, a softness crept into his gaze.
"Looks like he's completely worn out."
Standing behind him, Vanessa added with a sigh, “You weren’t there, so you didn’t see it—how he blocked an Elementalist’s Stellar Frostfall with his own body. It was almost unbelievable. I still don’t know whether to call it bravery or recklessness.
Kyle chuckled. "That’s Shinya for you. Pretty amazing, huh?"
Saying that, Kyle crouched down beside Shinya and gave his shoulder a shake. “Hey, hey, wake up.”
Shinya was fast asleep and didn’t respond at all to Kyle’s voice.
Annoyed, Kyle smacked him on the forehead. “Get up already! You can sleep after you’ve had a proper meal at home!”
That finally did the trick. Shinya opened his eyes—only to shoot Kyle a murderous glare.
Kyle froze. Right… he has the worst morning temper. A flicker of fear crossed his mind.
Then again—Did he just glare at me? His courage flared back up.
Kyle reached out and ruffled Shinya’s dark hair like calming down a giant dog. “Easy, easy… don’t be mad. Let’s go home and eat something nice.”
At last, Shinya’s fury seemed to subside a little. But he still refused to go with Kyle.
“No.”
With that, Shinya lay straight back down on the floor.
Kyle followed his gaze to the girl floating inside the Suncrystal and let out a sigh of annoyance.
“Seriously? There’s room in your eyes for no one but this girl, huh?”
“There isn’t.”
“At least if you won’t do it for me, do it for my old man, will you? It’s been fifteen years. Don’t you think you owe the guy a hello?”
That gave Shinya pause.
When he brought Nicole to the inn, he hadn’t seen Tsuruga or Kalia even once. Not even in the crowds of evacuees during the ghoul attack.
He hadn’t dared to ask—because if he asked, it might mean they truly were gone.
“Don’t worry,” Kyle said gently. “Vanessa’s looking after Nicole. Come home with me first, okay?”
Shinya finally sat up. “...Okay.”
Kyle grinned and ruffled his hair.
“Touch my hair again and you're dead.”
“Ooooh—so scary!”Kyle said with a grin. "I'm shaking in my boots!"