After a night of rest and recovery, I was back to one hundred percent.
Yesterday’s trial had been challenging and intense, but the objectives had been accomplished.
After my morning wash, I headed to the dining hall; my mother was already there, having breakfast with the elegance that always characterized her.
—Azmar, it’s good to see you up early today.
I thought you would rest a little longer after yesterday’s trial, —she said in a motherly tone.
—Mother, thank you for your concern, but my body is already in perfect condition, —I replied.
—I’m glad to hear that.
Today your aunt will take you to the Fen wolves’ den, and you must be in excellent condition if you want to earn their recognition and obtain your own wolf.
Fen’rar is the current alpha, and although he is my companion, I won’t make things easy for you, so don’t get overconfident.
—Thank you for the advice, Mother.
Don’t worry, I won’t disappoint you, —I replied.
She stood up and walked over to me.
She kissed my forehead and whispered:
—It doesn’t matter if you fail once…
as long as you get back up every time.
Then she left for her study.
I was happy.
In this life, I would protect the lives of everyone I loved.
That was my main reason for existing; that would be my destiny.
I put on my combat clothes and sharpened my spear.
Although it was made from a simple material, I always liked keeping it in optimal condition.
I walked toward the training field; that was where I would meet Val and Efi.
Apparently, they were very excited, because they were already there.
—Azmar, you’re late.
We’ve been here for ages, —said Efi in her usual cheerful and playful tone.
—Welcome, Azmar.
You don’t seem nervous.
I suppose you’re confident you’ll earn their recognition, —said Val.
—I’m not late.
You simply arrived earlier.
And you seem very excited, Efi.
As for you, Val, I’m always prepared for any challenge, —I replied calmly.
As always, Efi started asking all kinds of questions: what the trial would be like, how long it would take, and so on.
Val and I were already used to her personality, so we remained silent and waited for my aunt to arrive.
A few minutes later, my aunt arrived wearing her battle armor, accompanied by her wolf.
I was already tired of listening to Efi; at last, this torment was over.
If my ears had legs, they would have run away by now.
—I see everyone is here.
I won’t waste time.
Follow me.
We’re heading behind Clan Fen’ruus, toward the mountains; that’s where the Fen wolves’ den is located.
She turned around and began walking in that direction.
We immediately followed close behind, eager to see what awaited us.
We could already see the clan wall.
We would leave through the rear gate and head toward the mountains.
My aunt greeted a Fierce Fang woman, who then opened the gate and allowed us to pass.
The landscape was completely different from the forest: nothing but rocks and mountains.
—Follow me and keep up.
Just like the forest, this place has its own dangers.
We walked along a path used by the mining villagers.
Of course, they were always escorted by at least one team of Dark Wolf Guardians.
When we reached a crossroads, we took the path leading to the Fen wolves’ den; the other road led toward the mines.
We had already been walking for about an hour.
I suppose the place was far away.
We could have used transportation and arrived much sooner, but this was a journey every clan warrior would have to make.
In the distance, we could already make out a large entrance.
All of them watched us calmly.
They showed neither hostility nor affection.
My aunt’s wolf cleared a path for us, as if informing them of our purpose, and the wolves stepped aside as we entered the cave.
The cave contained strange crystals that glowed and illuminated everything around them.
They were diamond-shaped and came in different sizes: some blue, some black, and others silver.
—Those crystals you see there will be granted to you if you form a bond with your wolf.
With them, you will be able to forge your own spear and will be named a Great Fierce Fang.
—Another way to obtain one is when you reach fifteen years of age and are assigned to a squad.
At that point, you may enter here and search for your crystal.
Of course, if you obtain one now, it will give you a great advantage, as you’ll be able to train with your personal weapon much earlier—the same weapon you will carry for the rest of your life.
We continued walking, guided by my aunt’s wolf.
This cave was enormous.
At some point, we began hearing sounds of fighting and growling.
We reached a wide passage leading to a massive chamber; the sounds grew louder, the growls more savage, as though we had entered a coliseum where a battle was taking place.
We stepped inside and saw a pair of wolves fighting and biting each other, while all the others surrounded them, growling or snorting whenever one of them landed a blow.
I had no idea what was happening.
Val, Efi, and I were stunned; we had never expected such a welcome.
At that moment, my aunt spoke:
—The Fen wolf clan determines its position within the pack by challenging others in battle.
My wolf, Fen’la, currently holds third place, while your mother’s wolf, Fen’rar, holds first place and serves as the alpha of the pack.
At that moment, a powerful howl echoed through the cave, and I saw Fen’rar appear.
This time, his presence was worthy of a true leader.
All the other wolves stepped aside for him and lowered their heads.
The wolves that had been fighting had already stopped, but only one remained standing, claiming victory.
—Welcome, Azmar, son of Fey Fen’ruus, leader of Clan Fen’ruus.
And welcome to you as well, little ones.
I heard a deep, powerful voice coming from between Fen’rar’s fangs.
Damn it…
how is this wolf talking?
I spent years with him, and he never said a word.
I was shocked and annoyed at the same time.
So he had been intelligent all along.
He had been making fun of me.
—HAHA!
—he laughed mockingly, as if he had read my thoughts.
—Fen’rar, we’re not here for your jokes.
It is time for them to take the trial and, if they are worthy, form a bond with a wolf, —said my aunt.
—Very well.
The trial is simple, —he continued.— You must fight the father of the pup you choose.
Only if you win or earn their approval will you be worthy of becoming part of our legacy: chaos, destruction, and destiny.
We are not an ordinary race.
We are descendants of the great Fenrir.
At that moment, several wolf pups entered, guided by their parents.
Some were completely black.
Others were smaller, with different sizes and personalities.
Yet all of their parents stood tall, radiating pride and ferocity.
—Step forward, Efi.
You will be the first.
Choose your companion, —said my aunt.
Efi cautiously approached and selected a small gray female pup with black markings on her paws.
The pup’s father let out a powerful growl and prepared himself for battle.
—Enter the arena.
The battle was difficult for Efi from the start.
Compared to the prey she had hunted—a white deer—this wolf was more agile and far more experienced in combat.
He was a born hunter.
Everything was against her.
It looked as though she would lose, but she seized an opportunity created by one of her new mine droids and managed to land a powerful strike on the wolf’s back.
Even so, it was not enough.
The wolf managed to hit her with one of his claws and tore through part of her armor.
—The battle is over, —said Fen’rar.— Now you must decide whether she is worthy.
The wolf simply nodded and pushed his daughter toward Efi, showing that she was indeed worthy.
I was happy.
Although she had not won, Efi had earned his approval and, with it, her new companion.
Now it was Val’s turn.
She chose a black wolf pup with gray markings on its paws.
Its father was larger and fiercer than the wolf Efi had faced.
Val fought bravely, but in the end she was defeated.
The wolf she had challenged held a high rank within the pack: eleventh place, while Efi’s opponent ranked twenty-first.
Even so, she earned his recognition and gained a new friend.
Now it was my turn.
But I did not move.
Everyone was surprised, and even my aunt frowned.
I slowly approached Fen’rar and spoke.
—I already have my wolf…
my lifelong companion.
Everyone was shocked by my declaration.
A few days before the hunting trial, Athena had called me to the Forest of Origin.
There, I saw a small wolf pup eating the fruits of Yggdrasil and using tiny spatial rifts to make them fall from the branches.
The moment I saw him, I knew he would be my friend for life.
I named him Ragnar, a name associated with destiny and destruction.
Back in the cave, I said:
—I know you don’t believe me…
but here is the proof.
A small, completely black wolf pup appeared.
His eyes were blue like the stars.
When all the wolves saw him—even Fen’rar—they felt as though they were standing before their ancestor.
—This is Ragnar, my lifelong companion.
Fen’rar stepped down from his stone platform and, together with every wolf present, bowed before Ragnar.
—You carry the blood of the Ancestor.
You will guide us toward a better future.
Ragnar simply jumped into my arms and curled up comfortably.
At that moment, I remembered that Athena had given me five potions to improve the wolves’ bloodline.
I offered them to Val’s wolf, Efi’s wolf, Fen’rar, and Fen’la.
Fen’la drank first.
Her body began to grow larger, her eyes became a deeper blue, and her gray fur darkened.
Then it was Fen’rar’s turn.
His size increased until he resembled a massive buffalo.
—I can feel my blood becoming purer.
—I can feel the strength of my ancestors, —he said.
Then I did the same for Val’s and Efi’s pups.
Finally, I handed the last potion to my aunt.
—Use it on whoever you believe will contribute the most to the clan.
She looked at me and said:
—Today, you have changed many things, Azmar.
This new power will strengthen the foundations of Clan Fen’ruus.
But do not become complacent.
Only when you yourself become strong enough will you be able to forge your own destiny.