A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

"That's… terrible," Erik muttered softly, truly feeling sorry for her. He was unable to imagine what it might be like for him if he hadn't been able to store some pictures and mementos from his old home in Frostvik before he left.

Naeku was sitting on Erik's blanket, her legs pulled up to her chest, and her arms wrapped around them, her eyes staring into the distance, as sadness flitted through her eyes. "Yeah, it is…"

Her expression immediately improved, however, as her lips curled into a genuine smile. "But… it's not all bad. This city is a marvel! If I had the chance to go back and choose between the city and a few items from my old home, I— I'm not sure what I'd choose."

She spread her arms wide, "I mean… look at this place! There's so much room, and it provides an incredible defensive position! I bet even the Humanitas Sangh would have trouble sieging this place! Without this position to fall back on, my family might never have become the rulers of the horn, and we've improved the lives of so many! Saved countless through just rule!"

Her arms fell back down, and her expression quickly followed. "Is that not… worth a few items?" she asked softly, her voice forlorn and breaking slightly.

Erik was looking at her with true awe. 'Could I think the same?' he wondered in his mind. 'Is this kind of attitude what gives her the respect of those that serve her? How much does she even need her motherly aura…?'

With a shake of his head, he discarded his thoughts. 'Whatever… I may not be able to do the same, but I can respect and support her instead.'

Without warning, he stretched out his arms, and pulled Naeku into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. "A— Ah!" Naeku yelped in surprise, instantly pulled out of her melancholic mindset.

She turned her head and narrowed her yellow, cat-like eyes at him. "W— What are you doing?!" she grumbled, a slight blush barely visible under the black fur of her panther face.

Resting his back and head against the wall, he shrugged slightly, a comforting smile on his lips. "You looked like you could use a hug… do you mind?"

Naeku opened her mouth, showing off her sharp, transformed teeth, and wanted to protest, yet… she couldn't deny it felt nice. She didn't quite understand why, but his arms around her body were driving away the grief she felt before.

So, she closed her mouth and started to pout instead. Then, she turned her head back and started to lean against his chest. "I— I guess it's fine…"

Erik smiled lightly and victoriously, "Good," and tightened his arms a little. He decided not to actually answer her earlier question if those items were worth the city, because he considered it rhetoric. No one could truly answer that question.

They stayed silent for a moment, looking out over Enkare Nkai from their vantage point, until Erik spoke up again. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

"Do you trust me?" he asked the werepanther in his arms suddenly.

Naeku raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What prompted a question like that?"

Erik shrugged, grinning slightly, "I had an idea, but I want it to be a surprise… Plus, I kind of want to see if you do trust me, not to mention you might decline if you knew."

She narrowed her eyes, without looking back at him. "Sounds dangerous…"

Erik chuckled, "Well, that's why I'm asking for your trust. But, if you prefer, I can tell you my plan instead. It just won't be a surprise then, and I'll know I still have some work to do before you trust me."

Naeku fell silent. Her mind rapidly moved through every encounter she'd ever had with him, everything she knew, everything she heard, her interactions with Runa, and what her nature affinity instincts told her.

Finally, she sighed. "Fine. I'll trust you."

A victorious grin spread across Erik's lips. "Really?"

"Just tell me what you want before I change my mind!" she growled and scoffed. "And don't make me regret this!"

Smiling, Erik lifted one of the arms he had wrapped around her waist and produced a sigil stone in its hand. "Just touch this," he said, activating the sigil within, and holding it in front of Naeku. "And don't resist," he then added.

"Suspicious…. very suspicious…" she muttered, even as she still touched the sigil. Instantly, it flashed, and Naeku felt a pulse of energy flowing through her body. She felt like she could resist, but forced herself not to, truly trying to trust Erik.

After about a second, it was already over, and the pulse had retreated. Immediately afterward, Erik made the stone disappear again.

"Thank you for trusting me," he said, a small smile on his lips.

"So, going to tell me what it did now?" the suspicious werepanther asked with just a hint of anxiety. She did trust him, and she felt nothing weird about her body, but that was still a little scary.

"Hahaha, I captured your soul," he laughed cruelly, his voice filled with malice. "Now, you've become my thrall."

"Ugh," Naeku groaned, surprisingly relaxing back into Erik's chest, rather than panicking. "I take back that thing I said about being a good liar."

Chuckling, Erik wrapped his arms around her again. "Damn, suppose I'll need to work on that then. I'm sure Elora would be disappointed. Anyway, you'll see what I did soon enough… it's still a surprise, after all."

Naeku sighed and nodded. "Fine, I suppose I'm at your mercy on this one. But, speaking of Elora, why don't you tell me about her? How did you meet? What kind of relationship do you have, truly?"

Unfortunately, Erik shook his head. "I refuse."

"Eh?!" the werepanther yelped indignantly, trying to sit up, but stopped by Erik's arms.

"Relax," he chuckled and pulled her back. "Remember how I wanted to divide the date into two parts? Well, we're still on the you part. Later, I'll tell you everything you want to know, I promise. I'll even talk about another woman if you insist, despite the huge dating no-no that would be, but right now, I want to know everything about the fascinating woman in my arms."

His explanation did cause her to relax, even as she pouted and complained. "Such a charmer…"

However, she did as he asked. For an hour, she told him everything he wanted to know. The only topic she avoided was her mother, but Erik didn't push. She talked about her youth, growing up as essentially royalty, about her time in Enkare Nkai, about how her family came to rule the horn, and what ruling was like.

Finally, she was all talked out, and Rurik could only say that his admiration for her had increased.

"Okay, are you ready for your surprise now?" he asked, playfully.

"Alright, Erik," she nodded curiously. "Show me what my trust has bought me."

Not wanting to delay, Erik snapped his fingers, and teleported them both into his dimension, right in front of the door he'd been using for all of his illusion fun.

Yet, now that the moment was here, he actually felt slightly nervous. "I do hope I haven't overstepped," he chuckled awkwardly, as his hand reached out to the handle. "But, after what you told me, there's no way I wouldn't at least try."

Before Naeku could say anything, he opened the door, and her breath hitched in her throat.