One, two, three, four...

Staying calm was getting harder for me each time; I was constantly overthinking things while also struggling to live here. And that fateful day had come. It was time for training, and I wanted to finish it as quickly as possible to return to my normal life. It was noon when my brother Alpha had gone hunting in the forest with Alvin, and he had motivated me to go for training. I changed my clothes and set off towards the Lobo statue; running so freely and feeling the wind in my fur left a very soft feeling in me. When I arrived at the statue, Merlin was waiting for me. Was this kid getting more attractive every time, or was it just me? Anyway...

Harley: Hi

Merlin: It's almost evening, Harley. From now on, we won't leave it until noon, and we start training in the morning, understood? *energetic*

Harley: Why are you so serious? *devilish funny tone*

Merlin: Extend your hand; let's see who is serious, Harley. *implying*

I extended my hand, and he placed a strawberry in my palm.

Harley: What is this?

Merlin: Let me introduce you: Strawberry, this is Harley; Harley, this is Strawberry. *grinning*

Harley: Hahaha, very funny, wizard.

Merlin: Welcome to your first lesson; it's time to show me which elements you can control, rookie.

Rookie? I was fired up...

Harley: How exactly am I supposed to do this with a strawberry?

Merlin: You're the one boasting so much; I think you can find a solution for this too.

Just as he turned around to walk away, he looked back at me over his shoulder.

Merlin: Oh, and you have exactly half an hour; good luck! *laughs*

Harley: Are you making fun of me!?

Merlin: Tick-tock, Harley, one, two, three, four.

Harley: Okay, okay, I'm starting; leave me alone! *rolls eyes*

What did he expect me to do with these strawberries to surprise him? I felt a strange attraction to this child, and at that moment, it didn't occur to me to read his mind. I arranged the strawberries in front of me and thought for a while about what I could do. I was lifting one into the air when a very fantastic idea came to my mind. I was going to create something that resembled a water fountain. I lifted them all into the air; the ones at the bottom formed a circle, which was a manipulation of the air element, and on top of that, strawberries were stuck to burning pieces of wood, forming a ring of fire, which was a manipulation of fire. Water was coming from the ground in the center, passing over the top strawberry without touching anything, and returning to the ground, which was a manipulation of water.

With plenty of time left, another idea came to me that could impress him. After about twenty minutes, I saw his magnificent hair peeking out from behind the trees, and I hid behind the bushes, blending in with the greenery. Before he could come out, I created a hologram and started walking it towards him.

Merlin: Tick-tock, little devil, your time is up.

Harley: I know, know-it-all, let’s finish this.

Merlin: Show me your skills.

Just like I was working, I stepped forward and started drawing runes. Just then, suddenly,

Merlin: Wait, wait, wait, you can draw runes too?

Harley: Yes, you’re not the only clever fox around here, wizard.

Merlin: Miss Ego, yes, I’m not the only one, but I am different.

Harley: Oh really? I haven’t seen any sign that makes you different from me.

Merlin: Show me this, and let’s finish today.

Harley: Of course, wizard.

Merlin: I want to see—

Harley: Shhh, I’m showing my skills here, be quiet and admire.

He got tense with all the things I was doing and started to look carefully. He was examining, looking underneath, looking on top, trying to make sense of it all. Then he turned and said,

Merlin: Is that all?

Harley: What? What do you mean by that? Wasn’t that enough? What exactly are you expecting from me? *gets angry*

Merlin: I want to see what you can do, Harley. If I wanted to see a simple waterfall, I would have gone to Mount Tiara.

Harley: Why don't you do better, wizard? What happened, did you freeze? *He must have transformed*

Merlin: This is what I wanted to see, you were able to transform your hologram.

I stopped and was taken aback. I got up from where I was and went to him, feeling angry.

Harley: But how?! Ugh, you're annoying me!

Merlin: This is what I wanted to see too. *He moves closer*

Harley: Okay, you saw it, is that enough?

Merlin: Mm, no.

Harley: What do you mean no? What more do you want? I'm bored, I want to go home, I'm going to call my brother.

As I turned my back and took out my phone, he grabbed my arm and turned me towards him.

Merlin: I didn't say the training was over yet, little lady.

Harley: No one said I would ask for your permission, wizard.

Merlin: Wow, you're really angry, what a little devil. Please forgive me, Harley. *He laughs and approaches*

Harley: Own up to your thoughts, wizard. What you want will only happen in your dreams. *Her eyes sparkle*

Merlin: Hahaha, so you're saying you'll enter my dreams?

Harley: Why, would that be bad? It could be the best place to practice, I think.

Merlin: I doubt it; I wouldn't want a devil in my mind.

Harley: But you're interested in that devil, how ironic.

Merlin: Hahaha, who? Me? You've misunderstood, little one. I'm just guiding you.

Harley: Hmm, interesting theory, but your mind says otherwise.

Merlin: You're seeing what I wanted you to see. *He grins*

Harley: Then why do you want me to see this? That's the real question.

Merlin: I'm testing how long I can confuse your mind.

Harley: Sure, yes, that must be it.

Merlin: You, little devil, are very annoying.

Harley: Oh really? Thank you for that compliment, you Casanova.

Merlin: Who, Casanova? Me?

Harley: Aren't you?

Merlin: If I were hanging out with someone every night, I would have left by now. Actually, I should go.

Harley: No way, and now you're saying you're not a player.

Merlin: Well, what can you do? Wizards don't reveal their secrets. *He slowly moves away*

Harley: Haha, cocky. Tomorrow night at two.

Merlin: No, at eight in the morning.

Harley: I highly doubt it, Casanova.

I turned around and, turning, made my way through the bushes to the den. What had I just experienced? What kind of thing had I passed through? It seemed that arguing with him only drew me closer to him; strangely, I had started to like this contradiction. When I arrived at the den, it looked like my dear brother Diego was getting a lesson, as Alvin had brought him out and was holding onto his collar, with Ryan standing beside him.

Alpha: You filthy bastard, you will apologize until all your bones are broken.

Diego: It's all your brother's fault, but I'm the one paying the price. You're this vile, Alpha. *laughs*

My brother tensed up and landed a solid punch, taking him down. He kept throwing punches, and the others started laughing. No one intervened; they just watched, and I was watching from a distance, ready to intervene if anyone tried to step in. Because Diego had long since deserved this, and I wanted to watch the blood spurt from his face. With each punch my brother threw, he hit harder, showing no mercy as if he were breaking bones. I watched for a bit, then Alvin tried to pull him off, but when he failed, I went over, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him back, calming him down with my mind.

Harley: Okay, bro, that's enough. Come on now.

Alpha: You bastard! You will never harass or pervert any female wolf in my pack or my brother again, do you understand me?

Diego: Uh-huh. *in pain*

Alvin: Alright, tough guy, let Ryan and the pack handle this. Let's get out of here.

Together with Alvin, I linked arms with him and led him away from there back home. Alvin was bandaging my brother's hand while they chatted and laughed.

Harley: You were just in a fight, and now you're laughing.

Alpha: That was just a show, my dear. A special show for you. Didn’t you like it?

Alvin: A box office comedy, what more could you want?

Harley: So, just like we agreed.

Alpha: Yes, my dear, he won't be able to approach you again.

Harley: One of your brothers. *hugs and kisses him*

Alvin: Yes, big guy, is this hand ready to go hunting?

Alpha: What kind of question is that? Of course, we are going.

Harley: Where to? I’m really hungry; I thought we could eat.

Alpha: We will eat, but first, Alvin and I have some business to take care of, so we’ll hunt late. You eat, lock the door, and I’ll be back at night.

Harley: You and your sneaky plans—this isn’t going to turn into some kind of intrigue with the Confusus, is it? *grins*

Alvin: That thing, I mean... *laughs*

Alpha: You wouldn’t let me forget, would you, Harley? *rolls eyes and glares at Alvin*

Alvin: I didn’t say anything. *tries to hold back laughter*

Harley: Alright, alright, go on, I’ll have a girls' night.

Alvin: Ooh, girls' night, huh? We can handle that later too.

Alpha: Of course, Alvincim, do you want me to let Luna know as well?

Alvin: You really don’t understand jokes, old wolf.

Harley: Enough already, go! *ushers them out*

After I got my brothers out of the house, I called Lenora and Hilary and asked them to bring some snacks and come over.

Half an hour later

Hilary: You should have seen Frank, milkshake was even dripping from his nose.

Lenora: Oh my love, how much he must have been in pain.

Harley: Hahaha I can't believe I missed that.

Lenora: So how was the training?

Hilary: Wrong question, Li. How was the hot trainer? *laughs*

Harley: He’s actually a very attractive guy, but it feels like we don’t get along.

Lenora: Either you get along or you don’t, but you should be able to impress him, it shouldn’t be that hard.

Hilary: Yeah girl, the guys who approach you are not just any guys, you’re like a magnet for attractive men.

Harley: I really don’t think so this time; it’s so hard that even in my sweetest form, he called me "little one."

Lenora: What, "little one"? You should have said, "I’m not as small as you."

Hilary: Ooooo Lenora, what are you saying? *grins*

Harley: Ahahaha that was good, I’ll try that next time.

Lenora: When is the next training?

Harley: Tomorrow night at two.

Hilary: At night? Have you lost your mind?

Lenora: Night training is very hot. *laughs*

Harley: Actually, I suggested night training thinking maybe I could charm him, and he seems to have bought it for now.

Hilary: You little devil, what else are you planning? *laughs*

Harley: Let’s just say a few plans.

Lenora: Tell us a bit about it.

Two hours later

My brother and Alvin rushed into the house, laughing. Just then, the girls were leaving, and we were all frozen in surprise.

Harley: Guys, can you calm down? I’m sorry, girls.

Hilary: No problem at all, we were just leaving too.

Lenora: Yes, yes, good night, darling. *hugs Harley*

I closed the door and we went inside.

Alvin: It was an incredible hunt, what do you think? *laughs*

Alpha: You’ve lost your mind, my friend; we barely escaped. *laughs*

Harley: Could you enlighten me a bit?

Alvin: Your brother led a herd of Karsaray behind him. *laughs loudly*

Alpha: Wrong information, Alvin; the herd followed me, and that filthy guy ran away. *laughs*

Harley: Another interesting adventure, yes. *grins*

Alpha: I couldn’t ask, how was training today?

Alvin: It can’t have been bad, my friend; Merlin is the best around here.

Harley: I mean, he really annoys me, but I can say he has some surprising tactics to measure my potential. Tomorrow night we’re going to the Moon's Meadow (a field where foxes hunt at night), let’s see what happens.

Alpha: Focus on learning, Harley; the faster you learn, the better. Anyway, I’m going to take a shower; I’m tired.

Alvin: The old wolf gave up early and didn't call me, damn it *laughs*

Alpha: You fell short, come on now *laughs*

Alvin: Good night, may Karsaray chase you

Harley: Aahhahahah

Alpha: Alviiiinnn!!!! *shouts*

After sending Alvin off, I retreated to my room. I was eagerly looking forward to training night. I was curious about how Merlin managed to capture my interest. I was getting frustrated after a lot of arguments, but I was starting to enjoy it a little. The mixed feelings of excitement and tension inside me had given way to my fatigue.