What Lies Beneath His Pelt?

CHAPTER 3: STOWED AWAY MEMORIES

November 23, XX20 || 17:30:03

Shufurbar, Shufurbs, Quaestoshi

The music was too loud and the flashing strobe lights didn’t help. The scent of alcohol, sweat, onion rings, and whatever they call this squid tempura did not alleviate nausea I was feeling as well.

Maldicidenti! I want to go home!

We’d been here for three hours already and I was losing the contents of my wallet and my temper.

“Cal, come on! Just one more shot!” Lynx mused as he handed me another glass of shot. The pink content sloshed against the rim.

He had a dopey grin on his face and I knew it was time to go.

“Lynx, come on, you have already had too much to drink. I don’t want you puking in the damn car!” I hissed as I pushed the glass away. I stood up from my place at the edge of the tiny table we were seated on. Now I remember why I hate drinking! Alcohol impairs everything!

I took out some money from my wallet before I secured my bag again.

“Car? Yes, my car is there. My brand new car!” He slurred as I helped him up.

"Yes, indeed, now come on, let's go while you're still conscious."

He nodded his head and stood up, but his hand flew to his mouth.

"Bathroom." He announced as he speed-walked towards the direction of the kitchen and I groaned.

I gathered our bags and jackets before I led him towards the tiny courtyard that was now littered with smokers crowding in an ashtray fountain.

I scrunched my nose in disgust and herded him towards the direction of the bathroom. As we passed by the smokers though, I felt angry stares and, in any other situation, I could have ignored them.

However, the mixture of alcohol, exhaustion, and annoyance had me on edge.

Whispers of, "Isn't he a priest? Why is he here?", or even, "See, I told you, Father Vallejo is not as holy as he shows," followed me around and that did it.

"The f**k are you staring at?" I bellowed. They averted their gaze, except for two men.

They were as tall as me and we had the same broad build as well. The first one had a buzz cut and the other one had his hair tied in a bun. I tried to scent them but they were scentless.

"Oh? You seem to be lost, friend. Are you certain this is where you belong?" The one with the bun asked as he walked towards me. I noticed that he wore a necklace made up of tiger teeth and even if he spoke Opeu fluently, he had an accent.

"Oh? I know for a fact that this is where I belong. You seem to be the one who is lost." I snapped and his gold eyes seemed to glow.

"Are you sure you truly belong here?" He baited. Those words triggered something in me.

One second, I stood a few meters away from him and the next, I found myself strapped down with ability suppressants. My hands felt crusty and there was the scent of copper around me.

Since the room was dim and my senses weren't working properly, I wasn't sure.

With my normal hearing, I heard footsteps stop in front of my door. When it opened, it revealed my grandfather.

He had his long, silver hair loose and slicked back and he wore a crisp suit with the Opeure seal on the left breast pocket. He stood tall and proud, his wolf ears alert but his tail just trailed behind him as he entered.

He gestured for the Maji to lock the door and I heard footsteps retreating.

"Grandfather! I'm glad you're here. Can you tell them to release my restraints? It's so uncomfortable." I greeted him as he walked towards me, the thump of his cane the only sound heard as it echoed around the room.

"Grandfather?" I asked, and his face remained stoic. A shiver ran down my spine.

"Grandfather, please. Tell them to release-" I heard how the cane cut through the air, how it hit me on my shoulder blade but it took me a few seconds to feel the pain that burst through my body.

"STUBEN! You do not deserve to call me grandfather! I gave you everything! Taught you the ropes and this is how you repay me?" He shouted. His frame shook as he did, his icy blue glare burned through my skin and all I could do was stare.

"I-I don't understand grandpa-I mean King Fino. What happened?" I asked and I got hit a second time.

"What did I tell you about your true form?" He shouted. My blood ran cold.

"T-to never reveal it to anyone..." I stuttered and that earned me another hit.

"Exactly and yet, you so casually showed it in that cursed place last night and in front of my political rivals! You are a priest, Calum! What were you doing there?"

I wanted to shout, to tell him he was wrong, but last night was a blur and I couldn't remember anything else. As I looked at my grandfather, I didn't see the man who took me under his wing. What I saw was the tyrannical ruler of Opeure. I decided to address him the way he wanted to.

"Your highness, I apologize for my carelessness last night. It was not my intention to hurt or to reveal what was meant to be hidden. Is there a way I can atone for my mistakes?" My voice was even and I kept my head down.

"You did not hurt anyone, Vallejo. You murdered half of those that were inside the courtyard. Do you think it would be that easy to compensate?"

I swore, my heart stopped when I heard his words. I slowly looked up and there was disgust and disappointment in his eyes.

"I-I didn't know."

"Exactly, you didn't know! Who knows when you'll lose control again!"

"Again?" That earned me another hit and I wasn't sure if the hits were not strong enough or if they were so strong that I became numb on the first hit.

"You awakened the cursed beast your father passed on to you and gave it its first taste of blood after a long time so of course, it would happen again! Not only did you ruin my reputation, but you also left a black mark on the Carantes’ name! We fought against Fabukage, Vallejo! The darkest and most evil of the Fabulares! How will people react if they find out that you are a Fabukage as well, huh?"

"I'm not a Fabukage...I'm not…" I mumbled and another hit came.

"Speak up, you son of a bastard scoundrel!"

"DO NOT CALL MY FATHER THAT! HE WAS MORE HUMANE THAN YOU COULD EVER BE!" The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

I waited for the last blow that would knock me unconscious but was surprised when my grandfather grinned.

“Oh, is that so? Well, starting today, you are no longer my grandson! I gave you everything under my name and now, I am taking it all back! Tomorrow morning, you will be released and you will be given two hours to pack up your belongings and leave under the watchful eyes of your former colleagues.”

The word ‘former’ set me off, but I clenched my fists and kept quiet.

“Once you leave, you are no longer allowed to step foot into this region. There will be no explanation, no chance of retribution. I don’t care what you’ll do or where you’ll go, just make sure I will never see your face again.” His tone was cold and my composure wavered, but I had to try.

I worked hard to be where I was, and even with his aid, I knew that I got here through my abilities. I couldn’t just give up so easily.

“Please-please my king, I beg for your forgiveness. There must be another way to restore my honor, please.”

The silence was excruciating and I struggled to breathe.

When he spoke, it was loud. I cowered in his presence.

“One way, Vallejo. There is one way you can restore your honor.” I looked up at him and the crazed look in his eyes was something I would never forget.

“Your true form caused this mess and I can help alleviate the curse so you can finally be rid of it. That is what you want, yes?” I nodded enthusiastically and I felt like my neck was going to break.

“Alright, we’re on the same page. In Daemomachi, they have a legend they call ‘The Hadansmuto’. To summarize, the Hadansmuto is a Fabukage that can transform from human to animal by wearing the pelt of the animal under the full moon. They can remain that way for as long as they want, not unlike you and your father who returns to humans after a few hours. They are the strongest Fabukage, stronger than you or your bastard father,” he spat out.

“The Hadansmuto is the Alpha of your kind, the one who carried the curse. I want you to find Hadansmuto and slay it while it transforms. Bring the pelt to me and when the next full moon comes, we will use it to remove the curse,” it sounded easy, but I still had questions.

“Why are you just telling me this, my king? You knew from the moment I was born that I was cursed and yet, you waited twenty-nine years to tell me,”

“That’s because only a Fabukage can find a fellow Fabukage. Your true form was dormant during those years and you just woke up yesterday. Do you understand?”

I simply nodded, but I wasn’t satisfied.

“Y-you said it was a legend, my king. How can you be sure that it exists?”

“Do you remember the Great Flood eleven years ago?” He asked as he fixed me with a gaze.

Of course, I would remember that-my father died during that disaster. I was only eighteen and was only starting my Spiritual Training.

I simply nodded as the lump in my throat prevented me from answering.

“After the water went down, a shadow wolf with red stripes tracing its outline was seen gathering the bodies that drowned and extracting their essence before the rescue team could stop them,” he grinned.

“It wasn’t released to the media but I knew of it. I even funded a department to figure out what it was but as they were about to conclude, the personnel in charge of it died violently and the facts they gathered were seized by the Daemomachi Regno and, was later destroyed.” He rested both of his hands on the top of his cane.

“A few days later, they were overthrown and as I went to pledge loyalty to the new Daemomachi Regno, they only allowed me a few minutes before escorting me out. They then closed their palace to visitors and pulled out any books containing the Legend of the Hadansmuto. Even sharing it was banned and those who attempted to talk about them were persecuted. Don’t you think it was a bit odd?”

I nodded and he continued, “So if you want your honor back, find proof of the Hadansmuto and bring back its pelt. I will remove your curse and you can be the ‘Holy Hound of Death’ once again.”

“I’ll do it. I’ll do whatever it takes to get the pelt.” I announced. His grin widened.

“Wonderful. Now, take this time to reflect on what you did and how you plan on fulfilling your mission.”

I simply nodded and he patted my head.

He then turned on his heel and made his way toward the door and knocked on the other side of it.

Hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor and I heard the swish of the door opening. Before he stepped out though, he turned to me again and said, “If you fail, I will have your hair.”

Before I could reply, the door slid close and I was once again wrapped in silence.

Afraid of my thoughts, I started singing and humming, not caring what others might say.

*****

Thank you so much for your support and patience! You can see chapter art from the story on my i********:, artbyellysse, or my Deviantart, reza-delavega. Do not forget to leave a comment if you want!