Phantom Fenrir returned, carrying a delicate circlet in its large hand. It was crafted from interwoven strands of silver, shimmering with a soft light.
Phantom Fenrir held out the ciclet to Aziel.
"Here, your circlet."
Aziel took the circlet, turning it over in his hands.
"What is this?"
"You don't remember? This is your memory fragment that you asked me to keep safe."
The Mythical Beast's red eyes widened slightly.
"Oh right! You erased your memories."
Aziel carefully took the circlet, examining its gleaming surface.
He turned his head slightly and whispered to the ring on his finger.
"Blackie, what do I do with this? Am I supposed to wear it or something?"
"No, no," Blackie responded quietly. "For now, just tuck it away in your bag."
Aziel did as instructed, carefully wrapping the circlet in cloth before storing it.
Phantom Fenrir smiled.
"Excellent! Now that I've fulfilled my end of our bargain, it's time for you to honor yours."
Aziel blinked, momentarily confused.
"Bargain? What bargain?"
"Don't try to feign ignorance, Aziel. You promised that you would..."
Phantom Fenrir's expression shifting.
"Wait a minute, you really did forget, didn't you? Because your memory was wiped?"
Its fur began to bristle, shadows writhing around its form as understanding dawned in those gleaming eyes.
"Ah, so that's your game! You conveniently have me safeguard that circlet for you, and then think you can get out of your end of the deal because your memory's gone?"
The atmosphere grew darker as Phantom Fenrir's anger grew visible. The cozy feeling from moments ago vanished, replaced by a threatening aura that made the air itself feel heavy.
Aziel quickly whispered to Blackie.
"Hey Blackie! What is he talking about? What bargain?"
"Before your memory was wiped, you promised Phantom Fenrir that in exchange for safeguarding your memory fragment, you would rent its child."
"Rent... his child? What are you even saying?"
"Just go along with it for now. I'll explain the details later."
Aziel turned to Phantom Fenrir, forcing a smile.
"Haha, of course not. I still remember our agreement perfectly. The... renting of your child."
His nervous smile strained a little too much.
Phantom Fenrir stared intently at Aziel, those burning red eyes piercing through his facade.
Aziel felt a cold shiver crawl down his spine.
Suddenly, Phantom Fenrir raised his right arm. Aziel braced himself for a potential attack, ready to summon an arm at a moment's notice.
Instead, Phantom Fenrir clapped Aziel heartily on the back.
"Haha! That's the Aziel I know. I knew you were meticulous about these things, never one to forget a promise."
Aziel chuckled weakly, exhaling a sigh of relief.
He had no idea what he was getting himself into, but he was glad to have dodged another 'sparring session'.
"Okay then. Come, let me brought you to my child," Phantom Fenrir said.
Aziel nodded slowly, his unease still clinging to him, and followed Phantom Fenrir deeper into the cave.
**********
Phantom Fenrir led Aziel out of the cave through a back exit.
The air instantly cooler and carrying the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves.
Not far from the rear of Phantom Fenrir's lair, Aziel saw an enormous spiral shell. It was easily the size of a big mansion, and its surface was covered in moss and lichen. The shell had a rough, aged texture, and spiraled tightly inward.
Phantom Fenrir approached the giant shell with heavy footfalls. Reaching it, he stamped on the side of the shell.
"Hey! Wake up, you lazy whelp! All you do is sleep! Sleep all day, every day. Just like your mother!"
From a dark opening at the base of the shell, a massive wolf's head emerged. The wolf's eyes were clouded with sleep and barely open, and the head lolled slightly, as if it were struggling to stay awake.
The wolf stretched, letting out a gigantic yawn.
"Is it morning already?"
Phantom Fenrir's face turned crimson.
"Is it morning already?! Do you think I don't know you haven't woken up since last month? Get up now!"
With an annoyed groan, the wolf slowly began to pull the rest of its body from the shell's opening.
It stretched languidly, its limbs extending outwards with a series of pops and cracks, eyes still half-closed.
The creature looked utterly bizarre. Two enormous crab claws protruded from its upper body. Four thick wolf legs supported its weight, ending in sharp claws that dug into the earth. The massive spiral shell covered the back half of its body.
It looked like a mix of wolf and hermit crab, creating a strange blend of fierce predator and stationary crustacean.
Aziel stared at the Hermit Wolf, utterly bewildered.
How the hell did Phantom Fenrir's offspring end up as a mix of wolf and hermit crab? Unless…
Phantom Fenrir huffed, as if reading Aziel's thoughts.
"Before you start pestering me with the same question again, let me clarify. Yes, my child is part wolf and part hermit crab because its mother was a Mythical Beast of the hermit crab variety."
Aziel processed this information, a new question popping into his mind.
So the Phantom Fenrir was into hermit crabs? A vastly different species? Guess he has a unique taste…
Apparently, Phantom Fenrir could still read his mind.
"And before you start wondering about my personal preferences, it's my business who I choose to be with. As long as I'm not causing trouble for other beasts' marriages, it's my prerogative."
Aziel chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head.
"Haha, alright, alright. Noted."
Phantom Fenrir then turned his attention to his offspring.
"Alright, lazy bones, Aziel is here. He will be renting you again for a while, so you need to follow him wherever he goes. This is a good opportunity for you to get out and do some work. Otherwise, all you do is sleep all day."
The Hermit Wolf blinked slowly, its gaze settling on Aziel.
"Aziel, make sure you take my child with you when you leave."
Aziel blinked.
"Take him with me?"
"Yes. That was our deal, wasn't it? You rent my kid. I don't care if you want to start your merchant business or whatever. It's up to you what you do with my child."
Phantom Fenrir then turned to the Hermit Wolf.
"You! Listen to Aziel's instructions and don't cause any trouble."
The Hermit Wolf simply listened, offering no protest.
Phantom Fenrir turned back, a glint in his eye
"Oh, Aziel. I don't care what you make my child do. But if anything happens to them, you'll be the first person I come looking for."
His tone was unmistakably intimidating.
Aziel swallowed.
"Understood."
With a final, piercing stare, Phantom Fenrir nodded.
"Good. Now, I have duties to attend to. Farewell, Aziel."
Phantom Fenrir excused himself and vanished into the shadows, leaving Aziel alone with the Hermit Wolf.
Aziel turned to Blackie, his voice hushed.
"What just happened? Why do I have to take him with me?"
Blackie responded, "That is Hermit Wolf. And to answer your question...Well do you remember when I told you that after your family was killed and you lost your memory, you were raised by a beautiful and kind woman?"
"Yeah, what about her?"
"That woman, your teacher, was a traveling merchant. She traveled everywhere selling magic and mystical items. So she needed a shop that could move with her. She made a deal with Phantom Fenrir to rent some space in Hermit Wolf's shell to use as her shop.
"Its shell… as her shop?"
"Yes. If you look at the back of Hermit Wolf, at the end of its spiral shell, there is a door to enter the space."