Michael turned just as a pack of giant wolves arrived in the aftermath of Umisu’s chaos.
A brown wolf, bigger, stronger than the rest, walked forward. Its stride sent tremors on the ground, before its body started to convulse and shrink, transforming back into a human.
It was Chief Lupan, with a face that could only be described as a mixture of shock, confusion, and even fear. It was the same face he made when he learned the truth about the Rebornians’ secret awakening power.
"What... what happened here?"
Michael raised his hand. "Sorry. We were just practicing Umisu’s Aubilities."
Chief Lupan looked at Michael with doubt in his eyes. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Michael, but when they felt that catastrophic power coming from the forest, they thought that the Moon itself sent down a meteor to strike down its foes. That power didn’t belong to any human, or any demi-human for that matter.
"...okay...," he muttered, still in disbelief.
"Oh, it’s great that you’re here. I was just about to ask you something," Michael said, changing the subject. "You said earlier that you celebrate a festival whenever someone grows their first fur. Does that relate to your transformation?"
The Werewolf Chief nodded, still a little bit preoccupied with that catastrophe. "Yes, growing a fur precedes a Werewolf’s first transformation," he explained.
"We celebrate a festival, not just to honor and welcome a new warrior in our midst, but to also show them our support. After all, the moon’s power is far too potent for young minds to control—especially those who tap into its power for the first time.
They will find themselves trapped within their own psyche, unable to interact with the world as their inner wolves enact destruction upon the world.
That is why we hold a festival. We ensure safe passage through this arduous ordeal because no amount of moonstone will allow them to regain their sanity. Once they conquer it, they can ensure a healthy bond between them and their wolves in their lifetime.
It is a rite of passage that all of us had to go through."
Michael glanced at Umisu, her eyes glistening with hope.
"They... they also feel that way?" she asked.
The Werewolves that she had been so awkward with, were now the closest thing she had aside from family.
The Dragonborns were her own blood, but they didn’t understand her troubles. They didn’t understand why she had to stick to a lonely corner whenever she was at a party, or stutter when talking to someone new. They never knew why she withdrew herself from the world.
But it seemed that she wasn’t alone. Werewolves were also plagued with this uncontrollable chaos brewing in their chests. But they were able to conquer theirs. They even have their own culture in dealing with this urge.
"What do you think, Umisu?"
Michael’s question spurred something within the green-scaled Dragonborn. Even before he asked the question, the thought had already formed in her head.
"Yes!"
...
...
...
With little to no persuasion from the Brownblood Chiefs, Umisu was allowed to stay in their tribe for the time being. Having another Dragonborn in their midst was equivalent to another prideful tattoo in his body.
She’d be learning the ways of how the Werewolves suppressed the inner wolf inside them.
And coincidentally, the one Chief Lupan chose to become Umisu’s mentor was none other than the female Werewolf who arbitrated Jaku’s tournament.
"May the moon be with you! My name is Selune," said the female Werewolf.
"H—hi...HYIEK!," Umisu jumped away as Selune attempted to come close to her with her nose.
Selune immediately apologized. "I’m sorry. It is customary for Werewolves to sniff each other during an introduction."
"It’s... okay... I hope I don’t smell bad in your nose..."
"You weren’t. It was quite pleasant since you smell just like him—I mean, you smell just like pine."
Selune’s cheeks were flushed red, furtively glancing over to a certain dark blue-scaled Dragonborn laying on a tree a few meters away from them. She breathed a sigh of relief once she realized she hadn’t been noticed.
Umisu blinked.
Unfortunately for the poor love stricken Werewolf, what Umisu didn’t get in social skills, doubled in her perceptiveness. In an instant, she realized the budding love story between her mentor and her brother.
"I won’t tell," she whispered.
Selune buried her head in her hands. "Urghh.. Stupid stupid stupid!"
Umisu couldn’t help but chuckle at Selune’s embarrassment, which the Werewolf reciprocated with a laugh of her own.
Immediately, the awkwardness between the two vanished.
The green-scaled Dragonborn gestured for Selune to come closer. "If you help me conquer my powers... I’ll tell you my brother’s weakness," she whispered.
Immediately, Selune’s eyes widened, before giving a resolute nod.
"Tell me more..."
"You see, my brother is a little bit of a..."
The two then scurried off into the distance, giggling and whispering to each other.
...
...
...
After helping Umisu with her awakening, Michael decided to head off into the Mermen lake.
"Ah, I would have liked to talk with you about the Lunar Celebrations, but if you have more important matters to take care of, then so be it. I can wait," Chief Lupan said, pretending to wipe a tear from his face.
As much as Michael wanted to watch the Brownbloods get insanely good at baseball in a matter of a few days (sarcasm), he simply couldn’t delay this matter any longer. He needed to spend money!
His Drone was due for a much needed upgrade.
"It’s just going to be a brief visit to the Mermens," Michael assured him.
So, leaving Umisu to train with Selune, and Jaku to be bothered by the Brownbloods, he set off to the Mermen lake.
...
...
...
Michael arrived at the wooden floating dock on the New Sparta lake. He waited for a few minutes, before a beautiful red haired mermaid emerged from the darkness of the water’s depths.
Serena surfaced from the water with her hair completely dry, its curls bouncing from her shoulders. It’s as if she hadn’t just submerged her whole body in water a few seconds before.
She only came up with half of her body still in the water, but Michael could see the glimmer of a shiny emerald green tail oscillating back and forth to keep her floating.
"Michael, sorry for replying so late."
He’d been trying to contact her through his clones, but she always seemed to be busy. It was only now that she replied to his messages and arranged a meeting here.
"It’s fine. I’m guessing you’re busy dealing with your siblings."
"Oh my pearl, you have no idea," she muttered, shaking her head. "But I don’t want to think about that now. What did you need? Are you planning on buying some Soo drops?"
Michael nodded, excitement in his tippy taps.
"Yes."
Serena nodded and swirled her hand in the water, her gentle movements magically creating a vortex that led to somewhere even deeper than this lake.
"How many are you planning on buying today? Now, I gotta tell you I’ve had some reallybig transactions a few days ago. I hope Reborn isn’t lagging behind too much because a lot of things are happening in New Sparta."