Chapter 8
Silence fell.
Slow.
Heavy.
Every pair of eyes snapped toward the direction he indicated.
Standing calmly beneath the moonlight was a creature of radiant white, its golden mane shimmering softly, horn gleaming with an almost holy luster.
A unicorn.
"Chief, that's the Bicorn." Yara added
The very same beast they had sworn vengeance upon.
The forest itself seemed to hold its breath.
“…That’s—”
“…The bicorn…?”
“…No, look at its horn…”
Murmurs rippled through the wolf beastkin ranks. Confusion quickly replaced hostility as the creature before them bore none of the blood-maddened aura they had sensed earlier.
Aiza’s hand slowly rose, signaling restraint.
The unicorn took a single step forward.
Then another.
Its movements were calm. Grounded. Not an ounce of aggression.
Still..
Several bows were half-drawn. Muscles tensed. Instinct screamed danger.
“I would advise against that,” Soobin said gently.
His voice carried no command, yet everyone froze.
“This one is no longer your enemy.”
Aiza narrowed her eyes. “Explain.”
Soobin exhaled softly. “What you encountered before was not a bicorn. But a creature driven mad by the Bloodmoon’s influence. I merely… returned it to what it was meant to be.”
As if understanding, the unicorn lowered its head slightly.
A gesture of acknowledgement.
“…Purified,” Yara whispered.
“So the rumors were true,” someone muttered. “A Fairy King who purifies corrupted beings…”
Soobin winced internally.
Please stop adding titles…
Aiza studied the unicorn closely, then shifted her gaze back to him.
“If that is true,” she said carefully, “then our grievance has already been settled.”
She stepped forward and placed a hand over her chest.
“On behalf of my people, I withdraw our claim of vengeance.”
A collective breath was released.
Duran slumped slightly. “So… we’re not fighting a holy horse today?”
Puka elbowed him. “Speak properly! That’s a divine—”
The unicorn snorted.
Puka froze.
“…It snorted at me.”
Soobin coughed lightly, trying and failing to hide his smile.
“It dislikes excessive flattery.”
It's trying to act like me now huh? How adorable.
That earned him a few startled looks.
“You… understand it?” Aiza asked.
“Well,” he said modestly, “we talk.”
The reaction was immediate.
“…Talk?”
“…As in, conversation?”
“…With a unicorn??”
The wisps hovered excitedly, circling Soobin as if proudly showing him off.
Aiza stared.
Then unexpectedly, she laughed.
A low, genuine sound.
“I see,” she said. “So this forest truly has chosen its guardian.”
Guardian.
Another title.
Soobin sighed internally… but outwardly smiled.
“If you insist on calling it that.”
She straightened, posture firm but respectful. “Then allow me to speak plainly.”
He nodded.
“My people seek a safe refuge. The Bloodmoon grows more frequent. Corrupted beasts roam farther each season.” She glanced briefly at the unicorn, then back to him. “If this land is under your protection… we would not oppose it.”
Soobin blinked.
“…You wouldn’t?”
“We are wolves,” Aiza said simply. “We respect strength and intent.”
She paused, then added, “And you do not smell like someone who seeks domination.”
That… caught him off guard.
“I seek coexistence,” he replied after a moment. “Nothing more.”
The unicorn stepped closer to him, standing proudly at his side.
The wisps chirped in agreement.
Yara exhaled slowly. “Chief… I think we found something far greater than a trail.”
Aiza nodded.
Then, to everyone’s surprise.
She dropped to one knee.
The sound echoed sharply.
“Then allow us to acknowledge you,” she said, head bowed. “A Gaurdian, the one who calmed the forest.”
The rest followed suit.
One knee.
Heads lowered.
Even Duran, after a moment of hesitation. awkwardly complied.
Soobin panicked internally.
“Wait—no, no, please don’t—!”
He stepped forward hurriedly. “You don’t need to kneel! Really!”
Too late.
The damage was done.
He rubbed his temples.
This is getting out of hand…
But as he looked around, at the calm unicorn, the glowing wisps, and the proud wolf beastkin who no longer radiated hostility
He realized something.
This wasn’t fear.
It was trust.
“…Alright,” he said quietly. “Then let’s do this properly.”
They looked up.
“If you wish to stay within this forest,” he continued, “then do so as guests. Not subjects.”
Aiza’s eyes widened slightly.
“…You would allow that?”
“Yes,” he smiled. “On one condition.”
She waited.
“So long as you help keep this place peaceful.”
Aiza placed her fist to her chest again.
“You have our word.”
The forest seemed to breathe again.
Somewhere above, the moon shone softly.
And unknowingly
The first thread of a much larger fate had just been woven.
—
Morning came quietly.
Soft light filtered through the forest canopy, dew clinging to leaves like scattered stars that hadn’t yet realized night was over.
The wolf beastkin pack stirred one by one.
Some stretched.
Some yawned.
One male rolled over and immediately bumped into a tree root.
“…Ow.”
The unicorn stood nearby, already awake. majestic, proud.
…until a wisp landed on its horn and started spinning around it.
The unicorn froze.
Its eyes crossed slightly as it tried to look up.
Snff.
The wisps giggled, tiny chiming sounds like bells in the wind.
“Don’t encourage them,” I said mildly, sipping from a cup of warm water.
The unicorn snorted in agreement.
It then very gently shook its head.
The wisp went flying.
It immediately returned.
“…Traitors,” the unicorn seemed to mutter.
The wolf beastkin watched the scene with mixed expressions.
“They’re really… friendly,” Puka said quietly.
“Spirits usually avoid us,” Duran added. “Or glare.”
As if offended by that statement, one of the wisps puffed up and hovered closer to Duran’s face.
He froze.
“…I apologize.”
The wisp nodded proudly and floated away.
Laughter rippled through the pack. Soft, cautious at first, then genuine.
Aiza watched it all silently.
Her shoulders, usually stiff with responsibility, seemed lighter this morning.
“I’ll take this as a good sign,” she said, stepping beside me.
“They’ve accepted you faster than expected,” I replied.
She smiled faintly.
“Or perhaps… they trust you.”
We stood there for a moment, listening to the forest wake.
Birds chirped. Leaves rustled. Somewhere, something splashed in water.
“It’s time,” Aiza said finally. “I should return and inform the village.”
I nodded. “And I have preparations to make as well.”
She turned to face me fully and bowed. This time shallow, respectful, not reverent.
“We will move our people once arrangements are made,” she said firmly. “Until then… we’ll endure.”
“You won’t have to for long,” I replied.
Her ears flicked slightly.
“…We’ll meet again soon, won’t we?”
I smiled.
“Yes. Very soon.”
Behind us, the unicorn lowered its head toward Aiza.
She hesitated, then reached out and placed a hand on its muzzle.
“It’s… warm,” she murmured.
The unicorn puffed its chest proudly.
The wisps gathered, circling the wolf beastkin, tugging gently at fur, hopping between shoulders, fearless.
One even perched atop Yara’s head.
She froze.
“…Do I move?” she whispered.
“No,” Puka said solemnly. “You’ve been chosen.”
The wisp sparkled.
Aiza laughed softly.
She turned back to me, eyes steady.
“Thank you,” she said. Not as a chief, but as someone relieved.
Then she signaled her pack.
With one last glance, they departed. Moving silently into the forest, spirits trailing them like little stars.
I watched until they vanished from sight.
The unicorn stepped beside me and exhaled.
Snff.
“Yes,” I said quietly. “We’re growing.”
The wisps hovered close, glowing brighter.
Somewhere unseen
[System notification pending.]
…I’ll check that later.
For now, morning was enough.
