A Legend of Woof-Woof

This story is a werewolf romance-comedy. 3 seasons in one book. Contains mature contents of violence and sex. Discrimination, abuse, etc. that might trigger negative emotion are not tolerated but will play a part in the story. A reader's discretion is advised :)

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(HESSUEL'S point of view)

She's so beautiful... The moon.

I was helplessly staring at it while I'm lying down on the dried leaves of the burning forest. All my bruises knocked me down. 'Twas all vague in my vision. That there was a woman crying and holding me dearly. She's facing against the light of the moon, making it difficult to see her face. The last thing I knew... was her gentle kiss on my lips.

☪ ✧ ✧

That was 13 years ago.

"Your favorite veggies are on the road~! Buy it or miss it~!"

It's my daily line in selling the vegetables. This is my daily life.

My uncle entrusted me with the peddling. He did regret fostering me for the first 5 years of my presence in his garden dome, he suffers sleepless nights just to play with me. Because of that, he gave me the alias Little Devil. And I'm happy that he made my childhood as normal as it should be even for the likes of me.

And as in exchange, I am the one in charge of assisting him in the field. He's a professional when it comes to agriculture which makes his livelihood eminent throughout the countryside of Lanbarc, the Small Vil. His business prospers because of my role as the vendor of his vegetables in this village. Ever since I came here, he strictly advised me not to get close to the metropolis.

I always have Acro perching on my shoulder. She's been my horned owl pet-who only eats bread-ever since the beginning of my oblivion days.

"You're as lively as always," one of my patrons said.

Customers are coming and gathering around my cart and most of them are my patrons. I never missed a greeting to everyone who came. Some faces are new to me for they are recommending my merchandise for the first time.

A patron approaches me. He's a wise father and my friend, Curt. "Good morning, Hessuel! You're too vigorous for the mornings!" He laughs.

"You can't sell if you look pale."

"I love your endeavor, son."

I grin. "And I love your payment!"

He laughs at me again. He started picking veggies that suits his taste. His kids are playing with Acro again and I like the sight of those cheerful kids. I got excited when I received my first income-and I'll feel this way again the next time I vend. I noticed a shy lady behind my patrons and it was my first time seeing her face here.

She's wearing a leather dress, has fair skin, and brunette hair tied behind. She seems unsure how to spend her money on hand so I approach her. "Good morning! Is there anything you want to buy?"

Her shoulder twitches in surprise. "Um," she picks a single cabbage, "I'll take this. How much?" she said in a hurry and paid me five silver coins right away.

My hand is still extended, not taking the money but looking sarcastically at her instead. I said, "Four 50 bronze." She's confused and reluctant to take the excess of her payment as if she's unsure. I chuckled. "Two 50 bronze is one silver." I return the three silvers she paid for.

"Thank you!" She took it and scurried away. Later on, she stumbles because of a flower vase.

"H-Hey! Are you-"

"I'm okay!!" She stands up straight in a blink without looking back then runs toward her house, squirming.

I receive Curt's payment and say, "That woman is weird."

"Because your response is weird. You could've told her the answer plainly."

I made an embarrassed laugh. "Right! Weird questions mean weird answers! That's why I often mess up my exams."

"She's a visitor in our village."

"Oh, that's why. Maybe she's nary skilled in socializing."

I was in the middle of entertaining all my buyers when someone poured water on me that tasted like fish sauce.

"Great sell, fishy slave!"

"Rub your skin first until it gets brighter!"

The scoffers are pestering me again. They're a group of men and are known for being barbaric. I wipe my face and never talk back. I don't have to do it because my patrons do it on my behalf. "Just when will you learn to have some manners?" Curt questioned in gall.

One of the women says, "He's not a slave. He's a relative of the professional farmer. How many times do we have to say that?"

The scoffer replied, "Until your tongue got bruised." And they chortle.

"Just don't mind them, young lady. This kind of conversation will only lead to naught," I pacified.

"But are you alright?" she asked.

It's my daily life... Being treated as a slave even though I wasn't anymore. Yet they're getting on my nerves for treating unfortunates like this. It's not humanly to revile someone's fate, especially if they never wanted it.

"Hey." The weird woman is striding toward that group of men. "How did you come out here from the pig fence, huh?" She lets out a heavy slap for one of those men. My feet move to tame her dangerous bravery but I halt midway. She slaps the fist of the man upward and kneed his groin. I hold my chest in surprise!

When she shoves the poor man, another man is involved that tumbled to the ground and I covered my open mouth with my closed hand! I saw a glimpse of a spark on her hand as she picks an eggplant from my cart, then she uses it like a sword to hit the men's heads, arms, or butts. I found myself gnawing my thumbnail while watching her beat their asses.

She's amazing... But I don't want to imagine the pain if this woman did that to me!

"She's an enchantress!!" One of the scoffers yelled and their group surrendered.

She points the eggplant at them. "Don't mess with this guy," she threatens. The men huffed and left. Then she walks away as well after she drops the eggplant back in my cart. Curt whispers,

"You've got tough eggplants there."

I was chasing a look at the woman when I push the cart to approach her. "I'm sorry to interrupt. At least let me reciprocate your kindness," I insist. She looks down at the distance between us. "... I'm sorry, I smell bad. You can have free veggies for today!" But am startled the second she moves closer, pulls my drenched cloth and smells my neck!

"No, you don't smell bad. And I don't need extra veggies today." Then just like earlier, she scurries back to her inn and I'm left dumbfounded. I sniff my clothes and squirm.

That was how I first encountered the most amazing woman who changed my daily life.

I ran while pushing the unloaded cart. My other hand carries today's salary and I'm excited to present it to my uncle! I made a jubilant entrance into the garden. "Uncle Cor~! I got referrals today and an incredible increase in salary than yesterday! What would be our celebration?"

He's wearing an apron while removing the resin of the pear squash. And he looked at me, his eyes widened. "Why are you soaked!? And the smell! What happened to you!?" he screeched.

"The scoffers poured this on me. They do it often."

He strips my upper cloth and dries me with a towel. "You shouldn't be accustomed to this humiliation. At least try to defend yourself. Don't let them daunt you every day!"

I'm giggling from the way he talks. "I will next time if that will smoothen your wrinkles."

"How could you be so happy with your situation? I knew there's something wrong with the way that you were created," he murmured. He's my uncle, Cormelio.

"I'm just happy because you care."

"Hmph. Give me that." He snatched the wallet and rummaged the coins.

"It's heavier, right? They love the freshness of your veggies. My experiment sprouted the vegetables very well!"

"What experiment?"

"I sprinkled the vegetables and even the flowers with the enzyme. Plants like it better than pale water."

"And where did you learn that?"

"I read your discoveries in your journal."

"Oh." He nodded twice. Then suddenly goggled his eyes on me. "What!? You read my journal!?" He took the knife and I ran away. "You little 'evil! Who permitted you to meddle with my privacy!?"

I laughed while being chased with a knife. "We've been together for 13 years! What's wrong if I'd read about your first love?"

He screams like a girl. "Aaah! Get back here! I will make you regret this!"

☪ ✧ ✧

After the lunch was repleted with chatter, the training started beneath the shades of the trees still within our domain. It took me a full five hours to memorize the basics of training and use it against the scoffers whenever necessary. And by the end, heavy weariness ruled my body. It's tiresome. But exciting!

I lie down on the ground with my hands stretched in front of the sunset sky. Soothing my worn face. Cormelio lay beside me and teaches, "Use your diaphragm, not your lungs." He even demonstrated the proper breathing I should do. Now, we're both having the same view. Basking with the lukewarm temperature of the sky.

I ask, "I didn't know you very well. Does your undying talent have something to do with your past? Come on! Fill my curiosity!" I'm poking his cheek to coax him. He slaps my hand.

"You're such a childish adult!" He folds his arms. "Our topics have grown, unlike the bedtime stories we always talk about when you were a lad. And I guess it's time for a more mature story."

"We can still talk about the werewolf tales."

"You're a grown-ass man, so act accordingly." I chuckle when he's annoyed again. "I was a knight in the city of Plandreas from the far west. And then I decided to retire and live a life here as a gardener and farmer."

"Whoa... That's the shortest story I ever heard from you. But why did you retire?"

"I'm getting old. And I want to try other things such as these."

"In a faraway land? Did you want to try a new place, too?"

"... That place is now a werewolves regime. I never wanted to serve supernatural beings."

"Hmmm."

"Most importantly, it is for your safety. Unfortunately, the metropolis is under their governance now."

"Are they dangerous to me?"

"Naturally, they are wild shifting beasts so yes."

"Shifting...? Do their eyes reflect white?"

"No, idiot."

He's serious about his warning. So, werewolves aren't just kids' tales. In withal, it's close to my heart-maybe because I've been hearing stories about them since lad. His story doesn't have a smear of mendacity, his talent proves it. And his chosen path didn't attenuate my admiration for him! He stood up and shook off the dust of his pants. I mimicked him.

"I've never seen the metropolis before. Is it safe to live there?"

"If you bestow your loyalty to the officials." He shakes his hand in the air. "Enough with the past. Get on your feet, we're going to a shop."

I walk alongside him with gladness after knowing a piece of his life. It's pleasing indeed to have a sincere conversation with him instead of receiving admonishments. Where he purposely brought me is at the blacksmith shop.

I keep in mind and tongue the deference when we came inside. The shop isn't spacious but does satisfy the treads. Especially that there's a tiger rug. Albeit the weapons are crowded, everything is sorted according to its sect, shape, and color. Swords on the walls entertain my eyes when I land sight of it. The contrivance of the detailed design on the hilts is extraordinary.

On the counter, we saw a robust tall man. Seems like he fought a tough fight in the past.

"Cormelio! Welcome back to my shop!" he greeted. "Do you need another blade for your ax?"

And Cormelio responded to the warm welcome with doubtless grouchiness. "What do you think of me? Unable to hone my own blade and beat the stubborn soil?"

"What a geezer attitude you got there! How can I serve you?"

"Show us your merchandise daggers. I'll buy two for me and my nephew."

When I heard it, I stood beside him immediately. The blacksmith laid all the sets of daggers on the counter and I was transfixed. "Have a choice, young man!"

Cormelio murmurs, "Not the dagger but the price will stab you."

"It doesn't matter what you lose as long as you're content with what you'll gain in exchange," I said. And that made the blacksmith laugh.

"Your nephew has good precepts!"

"Not really." I'm a vendor as well. I know what will convince and console a stingy customer. I slid my fingers on the hilts of these daggers. Each has different designs such as rose, gem, hawk, and sun. But the most outstanding innovation for me is the dagger with a silver new moon on the hilt. I picked it without faltering.

"Is that your chosen one?" the blacksmith asked, always with a cheerful tone. "It has the simplest design among these. You're a simple person."

"What I'm sure is I like this one." I buoyantly presented the dagger to Cormelio only to find out that he was already staring at me. "What do you think?" After my first question pops up the next. "Also, where and when will we use these daggers? I thought your lectures were all about defense? Will you teach me offense now?" I grin like a pup but flinch right away after remembering the place! I'm losing control whenever I get excited.

He gave me the excess of my income today. "Use it to reward yourself," he said. My eyes twinkled. Nothing is more fulfilling than using my effort to reward myself! I was about to give him a hug but he obviously dodged my attempt by stepping sideward.

"I guarantee the durability of that dagger," the blacksmith whispered. Of course, that's what a vendor would say.

"Hey, what kind of substance did you use here?" Cormelio asked his friend. The blacksmith gave his attention to Cormelio this time. And while I'm taking my time alone, I stare at the new moon ornament of the dagger. Something is mesmerizing me. Something intimate. Something dear. It makes me want to see the night sky tonight. And suddenly, I remember that night when a strange woman kissed me.

My meditation was disrupted when I heard a commotion outside. It sorrows me to the soul.

There's the group of men again mocking and laughing at a slave. The victim is just a girl with shackles on her neck and wrists. She's gaunt and her plaintive face is looking down on the ground, trembling. And these obtuse guys deliberately humiliate the poor girl in front of the public. It seems like the sight of myself being humiliated by the scoffers. People with dark skin like me are either suffering from servitude or be discriminated as slaves.

I took my pace straight outside. I'm on the cusp of stepping towards them but an arm hindered my motion. It's from Cormelio. "Don't jump into the fray," he warned.

"But-! That girl... Telling me to stay still in front of that mortification disquiets me," I asserted.

"Hessuel, don't get yourself involved with this kind of friction. This often happens to slaves. And if you show an act of sympathy towards them with this kind of scenario, those guys will reciprocate."

"Look, those guys are the ones who humiliate me every morning of my selling."

"Oh. Them?" He narrows his eyes at those men, scanning their faces one by one. He was about to make furious steps towards them but I hindered my arm.

I warn, "No. Don't get yourself involved with this kind of-"

"I will teach those weaklings a memorable lesson!"

"I'm sure they'll retaliate by any means. They're not teachable."

He got out of my clenches. "Watch me," he groaned.

I wasn't able to stop him anymore as he walked like a cat straightway to those guys. My feet remain at the threshold of the blacksmith shop to do as he brags: watch him. "Excuse me," he started, "are you the owner of this slave? If not, you, therefore, have no right to do what you please against him."

One of them responded irreverently, "We're not. And hey, old man, just mind your own walk and denture instead of someone else's business."

My fists formed. I can endure their satire but not for someone I cherish. Cormelio talks back, "I will if you stick your nose out of this kid and my nephew."

"Who the hell is that?"

Another guy barks, "His slave vendor."

Their chortle disturbs anyone who passes by. In my sight, they are grown-ass coconut brains-unable to recognize whom they're talking to. "People like you are worse than slaves. What you're doing is illegal for none of you are the owner of this slave. Any kind of humiliation towards a slave is reserved to their owners. So mind your own jingles and get circumcised," said Cormelio.

To my surprise and worry, he pissed one of those guys off and gave him a fist blow but it missed. Cormelio swipes the man's arm aside and gave him a thrust on the nose through the palm. He kicked the guy's butt then he stoops down because of the pain. Another man approaches with a plank and when he was about to strike Cormelio, Cormelio parried his wrist and booted on his stomach.

He twisted the man's arm to snatch the plank and used it to slam on another man's face, it fell into shreds because of the impact, and the victim was rolled onto the ground. I am astonished as I watch Cormelio take those scoffers down one by one. And now I can't keep my eyes off his stances and motions as I picture everything in my head.

The blacksmith stood by my side and said with his arms folded, confidently, "Did your uncle tell you about how he used to be a capital's knight? He's one of the most dedicated knights in the army. His accustomed job is to capture the violators of the law and naughties on the street of the city. Having his company is one of my best memories." He pulled me through his arm on my shoulder and mumbles, "But his deepest secret... he joined the rank to surround himself with men. He's into them." And then he laughs.

I left with no other words to utter but "Oh..." I figured it out earlier than today.

"You've got a great uncle." He tapped my back. The scoffers are all beaten by an old man and they all flee eventually. And Cormelio was left unscathed. I run toward the slave who was still trembling and knelt down to match his height.

"You look ill. Is there anything we could help with?" I approached. But this girl is dumbfounded, aloof from the crowd. Cormelio hissed at me and told me to leave the kid alone, yet I couldn't after seeing her poor situation. I know how it felt. She must be traumatized. I've been longing to tolerate the woman who saved me back then.

But when the knights from the metropolis found her, she was agitated and escaped with haste. I was pushed and my butt hit the ground. The knights are chasing her like a criminal. I later hear the murmurings;

"That kid must be a runaway slave."

"She'll be dead, for sure."

I stand on my feet, eyebrows are curved. It's seldom to see slaves and knights in the metropolis around the countryside.

☪ ✧ ✧

I'm sitting on my swing bed while talking with Acro. "Did you know? Uncle Cor is so cool! He beat those scoffers' asses with his wrinkled arms and legs! Like that!" I demonstrated the beating through her wings and then swaying her in the air. "And you know what's more exciting? He's going to teach me how to do that!"

"I won't go easy on you, Little Devil," Cormelio said while sprinkling the hydrangeas.

"And that's more exciting!"

"Then get excited. You're going on an errand." I jumped from my bed and stood beside him. He gave me a sack of zinnias with a pot inside which made the weight really challenging. "It's an order from a customer. Make sure you deliver it unharmed. And it's twilight. Return home immediately." He lends me a piece of paper where the address of the customer was written.

I'm endowed with confidence when I left the house. Pulling a handcart will make my errand swift and easy. Acro perches on my shoulder to join my errand. I got lost when I set foot on the location which made it necessary for the query. The delivery was successful, I received the payment from the satisfied customer, and left.

The path is dark already on my way home. My energy decreased. When I looked up and beheld the night sky, my march paused. The moon I was aiming to gaze at before is hiding behind the clouds. I'm waiting for it to squint its light. Later on, other than the crickets in the woods, I heard steps on the dried leaves and voices.

I left the handcart to follow the sound. I'm sneaking behind the trees and from a distance. I can see the two knights from earlier carrying a sack together. And then they throw it on the ground. "Leave it to the beasts. I'm weary. We should get going," I heard the knight say. I have a hunch on that sack. I waited for the knights to flee until I found no sign of them anymore.

I walk-careful not to make an obvious sound-towards the sack. Blood is leaking through the scratch. I pulled the hem down and found the flesh of the slave earlier. She's not breathing anymore. The fresh contusion on her skin and torn clothes tells something that this isn't just murder. I sigh and whisper, "How could they do this?"

They may have different skin colors but I believe they're humans, too. Deserving to be administered by legislatures and humanity. Yet, their life is to escape from the place they were born. And the only escape is death where no unhallowed hand can touch them. But that shouldn't be the protocol.

"I think I know what I can help you." I look around for a tool to excavate. Maybe I could at least give her a decent place to lie down instead of a beast's stomach. But since it's dark, I don't find this easy, especially since I have a decree from Cormelio.

"Who's there!?" I heard a loud authoritative voice and when I looked over my shoulder, it was the knights. They came back! I wave my hands on them to greet them.

"Oh, hey!"

"You must be the owner of the handcart? It's quite impossible to leave it behind. What're you doing here?" They came closer to me with the eyes of suspicion.

"I-It's this kid. I met this kid earlier. Can I at least give her a nice place to rest?"

"It's a waste of time. Wait, are you a slave?" They held their torches closer to my face in order to see me vividly. I waggle my hands and mutter,

"No." They must've no idea in regards to who Cormelio is. "I live around this neighborhood. I have a relative here."

They looked at each other like they both had hesitation. But despite the fact that I'm dark, they told me to go home. "It's getting late. Just leave the brat alone. She murdered her own masters. That's the consequence."

My lips formed a shape but words were left untold. It's better not to insist on my intention. I looked back on the corpse of the slave. In the end, I wasn't able to help. And I missed my chance. "Alright," I said, "I apologize. Have a good evening, sirs!" I tried to pull out the friendly vibes within us and take a walk toward home.

Although sympathetic, I doubt the truthfulness of the murder case the knight said. Or I must be biased. At the present time, I wanted to figure out the occurrences of the slaves in the metropolis. I got to request Cormelio. I'm still a hundred steps away from the handcart when something hit my nape! Sudden dizziness and numbness overwhelmed my body.

I leaned my arm on a tree, slid down, and fainted. Acro flees away before everything turns dark. I lost count of the time. Gradually, I have the ability to hear mumblings. I'm feeling groggy and half-asleep when I found myself being dragged by someone. The dried leaves on the ground are being wiped with me.

"He must be a fraud slave."

"Let's shut this meddler forever."

I tried to move a finger but my body betrayed me. It feels like falling down on a cliff and plunging into a deep cold ocean. It's the actual case! I tried every frisky motion to reach the surface but when I did, a sore ache in my body drowned me! I got a taste of salty water and choked. Still, I'm trying to get away from the deep water and ended up submerged under it.

No matter how much I try to swim up, my body disobeys for languor reasons. Everything feels along the lines of floating in serene and lonesome space. The beauty of the full moon finally shows itself to me... on the bleakness of my death under the wave. I was aiming to reach it with my hand only to figure out what was going on with my body.

My nails refract the light of the moon now that it has become silver and sharp. Nothing plunged into the water but a faceless woman descended before me. All of a sudden, she grabs and pierces her teeth on my neck! I was helplessly swallowing the salty water, fighting back, and eventually, my consciousness vanished... along with the ghost.