Time Healer Ceres

I saw them only once a long time ago. Back when I still belonged to a wolf pack, I once fled from humans carrying weapons.

“A wolf pup?”

The human who had killed the monster came over. Seeing me collapsed from the poison the monster had spewed, the human sighed.

“Why is a little wolf like you all alone?”

The human clicked their tongue, wondering where my mother was, then reached out a hand.

Just when I thought I was going to die...

Whoosh!

The pain in my back vanished in an instant.

“All better.”

...All better? I tilted my head, still unable to understand what had happened.

The human touched me again.

“A snow-white wolf.”

...Was my fur going to be a problem? Just like the others, they would probably curse me and drive me away.

“You’re beautiful.”

...What?

“A white wolf. How beautiful.”

...Beautiful? Not filthy or cursed?

“My friend has a silver wolf as their family emblem. He’d like you.”

Their unfamiliar hand gently stroked my head... then my back.

[.....]

It’s warm.

I had never felt another’s warmth before... but it’s warm...

Warm enough to make me want to cry...

I gazed at the human. When our eyes met, they gave me a faint smile. It was the first time I had ever felt such warmth or seen such gentle eyes. For some reason, I thought it would be nice if time could just stop like this.

“Grace! What are you doing over there?”

“Oh, I’m coming.”

Just then, I heard another human’s voice.

...Grace.

As I continued staring at the human called Grace, she gave my head one last gentle stroke.

“Stay healthy. Don’t get sick.”

I watched her disappear for a long time. Even after she was completely out of sight, I couldn’t bring myself to leave that place...

It was a long time before I saw Grace again. By then, I was no longer a young wolf being chased away and trembling in fear.

[Aaaargh!]

[R-run!]

I grew larger and stronger. Before long, there was nothing in the forest that could attack me or pose any threat.

-A-a monster!

It was only when I saw the other creatures crying out in fear of me that I finally understood. I wasn’t an ordinary wolf.

[Monster!]

[You can’t be one of us!]

...Everything the other wolves had said was true. I still didn’t know why a creature like me was born into a wolf pack like that in the first place...

I could no longer live in an ordinary forest. In the end, I made my way to the Ice Tree Forest, a place covered in pure white snow and known as a habitat for monsters.

[Screech!]

Thwack!

[Kree... rk...]

Even the monsters in this forest were no threat to me. The unique mana of the Ice Tree Forest made me stronger and awakened a special ability within me.

What is this?

Strange things began appearing before my eyes. It was as if scenes were quietly flowing into my mind. I could see whatever I wanted to see.

Only then did I understand what I had been missing, what I had longed to see for so long. I wanted to see the human who had first shared her warmth with me.

I could see her. She was still wonderful, cheerful... and warm. I watched her for a long time. I smiled when she smiled, and when she was hurting, I hurt with her.

And when she died...

...Is this what sadness feels like?

It was the first time I knew that someone’s death could hurt like this. But the sadness didn’t last long. I knew she wasn’t truly gone yet. A soul still glowing with light was sleeping inside her body.

She... no, her soul had only fallen asleep for a while.

Even after I learned that she was sleeping somewhere not far from the Ice Tree Forest, I watched her every day.

How much time passed like that? By the time nothing in the Ice Tree Forest dared to challenge me anymore, it happened.

Why... why?!

...She was gone. Her soul, which had been sleeping for so long, scattered and vanished as if it had never existed. Her body vanished with it.

My heart sank. Did she really disappear forever? Would I never see her again?

[Ooooooo.]

For the first time, I cried out loud. My howl echoed through the Ice Tree Forest... I could feel every creature in the forest holding its breath, but my howling continued for a long time.

Because she was gone... Because I could no longer feel that warmth.

And so, more time passed. It was a completely meaningless time. To a creature who had existed for so long, everything was dull and pointless...

Ah...!

Then one day, the one who had broken that endless monotony suddenly appeared again.

It’s her!

Her appearance had changed, but I knew it was her. The soul that had disappeared was glowing once more, now within a completely new body.

Who are those children?

She had a family now. Maybe that was why she seemed so much...

...more at ease.

She looked more relaxed, too. She was no longer the woman who worked without rest every single day as if she were being chased. It was nice to see her like this. Just watching her made me happy...

Then one day, she came to where I was. She was so close to me! How long had it been since she was this close?

[Awooo.]

I howled for the first time in a long while. Once again, it seemed like all the creatures in the forest held their breath at the sound, but who cared? If I was happy, that was all that mattered.

[Awooooo.]

I raised my voice even louder, unable to contain my joy. She seemed to hear me and looked toward the forest where I was. I howled even louder.

[Ooo... .]

“Why does that monster keep howling like that?”

“It’s scaring everyone around here. Who’s even happy to hear that thing?”

...I should stop howling.

“...S-Sis!”

Something had happened to her family. A child was taken away by some unknown force. And the place the child had been brought to was...

Here.

The Ice Tree Forest. I hurried to where the child had been dragged to by the power of darkness.

[Skreeee!]

[Screeeech!]

“Ugh... Uuugh...!”

Countless monsters gathered around the new prey that had suddenly appeared. A small child trembled among them.

Whoosh!

[Skree...!]

[Graaa...!]

As always, the monsters were no trouble.

—Grrrr.

One low warning growl from me sent every nearby monster running.

“Waaah...!”

[.....]

But the child seemed frightened by me too and burst into tears.

I suppose so.

I watched the child before quietly backing away.

Anyone would be afraid of something as huge and monstrous as me, especially with my white fur. It’d be better if I stayed out of sight. Since there didn’t seem to be any monsters nearby anymore, I could hide close by and keep watch until her sister arrived.

Rustle.

“Oh... W-Whitey! Don’t go!”

[.....?]

...Whitey? Was she calling me?

The little one came running over, grabbed the fur at the tip of my tail, and started crying again.

“Waaah! Don’t leave me alone!”

I watched the frightened child for a moment, then slowly lay down. The child sat down too and sobbed even harder.

Eventually, the child cried herself to sleep. I curled my body tighter so she could lean against me comfortably.

Not long after, I sensed a large number of people approaching. Among them was Grace.

“.......”

She looked at me calmly without fear in her eyes. They were the same eyes I remembered from long ago.

Rustle.

I stepped aside so she could take the child. After watching her check on the little one, I quietly left.

See you again.

Hoping that someday I could see her this close again...

“You’re beautiful.”

Hoping to hear that warm voice again.

.

.

.

Chapter 47: Scandal

“A divine beast?”

“Yes. A divine beast.”

At her disciple’s words, Ceres remembered the white wolf she had seen with Julia. That was a divine beast? Then why was it living among monsters?

“That’s what it looked like to me.”

Ersi set down her teacup and carefully watched Ceres’s expression. Now that she knew her younger sister was safe, the heaviness that had hung over her was gone.

Ersi sighed in relief. Once her master got angry, there was no stopping her.

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