Present Day

From Aiden's perspective:

Months had passed since the war, and after much effort due to Victoria threatening us, we had finally found Milan. According to Victoria, he was frozen and embedded in ice; Victor's wife had to escape with their daughter and hide her from him. Victor hadn't been this unhinged before and had loved his daughter very much, but after learning about and discovering the Heiliants, he began to care more about us than his own daughter. After conducting experiments on three orphans and seeing what he had turned us into, his wife naturally hid their daughter from him and disappeared. Victoria had recently investigated and found out that she was dead. So, Milan's only relative was his aunt, Victoria. Fortunately, when Victoria reunited with her niece, she sent us away and explained everything that had happened in its entirety.

Meanwhile, what were we doing? We had gone to search for Hector with Veronica and Magnus, but we couldn't find what we were looking for. He had already left the village and vanished. According to the villagers, he had said there was a way out for all of them and that he was going to find it. When we heard this, the sound of an impending war echoed in our ears.

We built our place, which we called a house in the far north but was actually an upper-level space, and we began to live there. The first few months were beautiful; three siblings, three orphans, holding onto each other, remembering our losses, and trying to be happy with our freedom. After a while, our resources began to dwindle, and our powers started to affect us. The vile Victor must have noticed the anomaly that arose while he was tampering with our genes, which is why he was in such a hurry; the bombs around our necks were not meant to kill us but to slow down the anomaly. He would keep us until he finished his work and then leave us to die, clearly. Victoria didn't realize this, but after we left her, Veronica started coughing up blood, Magnus's bones began to dissolve, and yellow spots multiplied on my body. Veronica suggested an idea, proposing that we should go to a wise person.

So, we gathered ourselves and left, embarking on a journey. There was someone who had constantly visited us at the orphanage and cared for us; her name was Mariam. She had said she lived deep in the forest with her dogs. We went to the orphanage and got her address from the visitor's book. Indeed, she lived in a strange house within the forest. It didn't take long for us to realize that she was also a Heiliant; she was the oldest and wisest member of a wolf tribe. She was very surprised and frightened when she first saw us.

Mariam: What happened to you, my little angels?

Aiden: You should see the other side.

Magnus: The other side was actually quite nice; the one with glasses was pretty attractive.

Mariam: You mischievous children, you seem like you never grew up.

Veronica: Actually, we are just as you always knew us, but we need your help.

Aiden: Yes, Mariam, we really have no one else but you, so it would be great if you had a remedy for these wounds.

Mariam: Oh, my poor children, which creature brought you to this state?

Magnus: Actually, the purpose of that psychopath who adopted us wasn't to adopt us.

Veronica: The crazy guy first turned us into test subjects in a hospital full of strange children, then another maniac came and sold us to him; he and his cursed sister sent us to find a stupid orb.

Aiden: But that orb sent Victor to where he deserved—hell, so I hope he’s there.

Mariam: Rein Orka, *surprised and scared* no, it can't be that, right?

Magnus: Yes, that's exactly that cursed orb.

Mariam: Tell me everything from the beginning, sit down and settle in; it's going to be a long day.

8 Hours Later:

Mariam: I can't understand how Alpha got involved in this; how is this even possible? I can't wrap my head around it.

Veronica: Did you know him?

Mariam: He was one of the best pack leaders of this tribe, and years ago I was called to testify at Harley's trial. Look at what my decision led to; poor Alpha loved his brother very much.

Aiden: He didn't seem to love him at all; after seeing what he did, it seemed like he had accepted it.

Mariam: He tried so hard to get training from Merlin, but it clearly didn't work; I told you that cave was not a solution.

Magnus: Wait, you knew he had been held there all this time?

Mariam: Of course I knew; they are the children of my tribe. It's a sad ending, but they are good kids. I wish you could meet them.

Veronica: Thanks, but I don't want to; we've been through enough.

Mariam: But you have to; it's impossible to heal these wounds without original Heiliant blood, unless you know a dragon, of course.

Magnus: Looks like I need to get to work with the one with glasses right away. Where do we start? *laughs*

Veronica: Hahaha, brother, was that a confession?

Aiden: You can love whoever you want, just don't experiment on us, my friend.

Mariam: So young Magnus has opened the doors to love, huh?

Veronica: Not just him. *holds Aiden's hand*

Mariam: My beautiful children, seeing you grow up like this and being happy makes me very happy. I hope to spend my last days seeing this picture.

Veronica: Hey, old wolf, don't talk like that; as long as we live, we will always be by your side, right, kids?

Aiden & Magnus: Absolutely.

Mariam: Your first task is to find the originals, then.

Aiden: I think I have a stupid idea. *winks*

Magnus: Don't worry, brother; I have the same stupid idea. *grimaces*

Veronica: I think I have an even dumber idea than the stupid idea you both have. *laughs*

Mariam: You don't need to dramatize it so much; the way is at the back, but who wants orange pancakes first?

A&V&M: Of course, me!

Aiden: No, I’m calling you a germ.

Magnus: Think fast, blockhead *throws a pillow*.

Veronica: You both can lick your palms, losers *ties their shoelaces together and makes them fall*.

Aiden: Haha, Roni, that was a really good trap.

Magnus: Sometimes I forget there are three of us.

Aiden: Me too, me too *laughs*.

After eating the pancakes and making up for the time that had passed, we set off. Our current route was to find Merlin and ask for his help. We didn’t know how much he would believe us or how much he would care, but it was worth a try. If Mariam trusted them, then we had no problem trusting them too. At least, I hoped there wouldn’t be a problem because if this didn’t work either, we had no idea what we would do. On one hand, our minds were on Hector; no one had any idea where he was or what he was planning. By the way, I wonder if Violet had contacted him after all this? You never know; we didn’t even know what hell Victoria’s nephew Milan had gotten lost in. They were a mystery within this chaos.

Aiden: Hey Magnus, do you think that girl with glasses likes you?

Magnus: My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest while I was standing there looking at her.

Veronica: After all this, do you think you can still look at her with the same interest?

Magnus: I never thought about that. The only thing I thought about was our moment of meeting; I didn’t hope we would be together again, and I still don’t, but I’m sure one day.

Aiden: My little brother is growing up.

Magnus: Cut it out, you fool.

Veronica: Our little Magnus found his first love; that’s so sweet.

Magnus: Good thing we let you talk.

Aiden: That’s the trick of being little, my friend; if we don’t mess with you, who will we mess with?

Veronica: I love you guys, no matter what.

Magnus: Aww, Roni, that was so sweet; I’ve found you a code name.

Veronica: What is it?

Aiden: Agent Roni? Captain Roni? Major Roni?

Magnus: You were very close, Aiden, but no, she is now General Pancake.

Aiden: Oh damn! Of course, General Pancake.

Veronica: I loved it, Magnus; you should be Agent Chop.

Aiden: Oh, everyone has a nickname, but I don’t; you’re so ruthless *pouts*.

V&M: *Look at each other, wink, and approach Aiden from behind, hugging him* Captain Cucumber!

Aiden: Why Cucumber, kids? *in a teary voice*.

Veronica: Because you’re such a dork.

Magnus: Oh, incredible claims from General Pancake.

Aiden: I’m going to lock you both up.

V&M: Hahahaha.