The two werewolves strode to the table and sat down without making the witch wait. They wanted to know what the woman had to tell them and she also seemed eager to talk to them. Alicia took a short breath and began without further introduction or expectation.
"This system is an interface that serves as both an encyclopedia and a helper. Its purpose is that its users, in other words, you" She paused and pointed each of her index fingers at one of the werewolves sitting across from her. "Can access to the knowledge of the first tribe and the original pack and use it to become stronger. Everything about Werewolves and Skinwalkers, whatever the information could be, is in this system.
The first thing I learned is that all Werewolves have class. Your kind is separated and ranked into five classes: Guardian, Warrior, Noble, Legendary, and Divine. Each class corresponds to a level of power within which the werewolf evolves until it reaches the limit and reveals its full potential. Guardian is the weakest class. Divine is the highest class. The class can't level up and it's determined by how powerful the benediction they received is."
Alicia turned to Glen and looked him straight in the eye.
"As you surely already know, Glen, you are a divine class werewolf. Your blessing is the most powerful the Moon Goddess can bestow on one of her children. In addition, you have already reached the limit of your level.
What I am telling you is that you are the most powerful werewolf that exists today and probably the most powerful that will ever exist. I don't need to explain to you what your name Warrior of the Moon Goddess means because I think you guessed it already.
Your goddess has granted you this blessing because you'll have to fight the greatest enemy your kind ever met. I'm glad I heard you speak earlier because I'm convinced you won't falter to use your strength to throw yourself into battle. You found a reason to use your strength. Never take your eyes of this reason."
She smiled weakly as her head turned to Eden and her expression regained its solemnity.
"Eden, you were born to reign." Omega's heart pounded in his chest upon hearing those words.
"Your abilities, the fact that you can gain strength even though you're an omega. Everything about you is proof that the Goddess trusts you. She trusts you to protect her children against Black and lead the Werewolves. She also decided to make the Warrior your fated mate. As you know, it had been ages since a werewolf had been blessed with a fated mate.
You and your mate, you complete each other Eden. The fact that you're a legendary class werewolf despite being an omega is a reminder that strength isn't just in the body. You have something great inside you."
Her face softened when she saw that the blond was affected by her words. "You will have many battles to win to be ready before the final roar. Trust yourself. And if you ever feel lost don't lose confidence, especially since you are not alone in this fight."
Again the old witch turned to Glen. An expression twisted her features for a second, but she brushed away the feeling and continued.
"Glen, the fact that your mate is an omega weaker than you is a reminder that your strength is to protect, not blindly destroy. The runes that have described your strength and your abilities in the system warn of the danger that you can pose if you misuse it.
You are a warrior placed at the disposal of a king to help him protect the Moon Goddess' Children. You should never forget that. Whatever happens."
Glen nodded then asked.
"What you're telling us, does that mean we can trust this system blindly?"
The witch crossed her hands under her chin and paused. Her gaze was lost for a moment in the void. The two werewolves understood that she was weighing her words to answer them. After what seemed like an interminable moment, Alicia resumed their conversation.
"Light was probably the one who built this system."
"What?" Eden cried out and Glen shushed him with a hand on his forearm.
"When I started the analysis of this system, the two distinct magics that I could feel left me no doubt. On one side I felt lunar magic, on the other side, I felt this strange yet similar magic. It's probably Light's magic corrupted by Black's fake blessing.
I'll talk my mind. However, first, there will be facts, then I'll give you my opinion. Weigh the facts and study them. The responsibilities on your shoulders are far too heavy to make a choice that is not measured. As for my opinion, once you hear it, throw it out the window. It's my gut and my experience that speak."
Alicia paused. She knew that even if she made it clear that it was her opinion, her words would have an impact. Negative or positive, she couldn't foresee it.
There were so many factors to consider that there was no formula to make sure the scale tilts to one side or the other.
Deep down, the Servant of Talamh was sure that the system had been given to them by the Moon Goddess. Unfortunately, this conviction couldn't be proven by her analysis.
"The oldest magic to be infused into the system is Light's magic. This means that the initial architecture is her work. This makes sense considering all of the information stored inside and related to the first tribe or the original pack.
Those data on the werewolves are probably all Light had to learn about her kind as she was supposed to become the next priestess of the Moon Goddess.
The second magic, the lunar magic was infused later. There is nothing more to say, other than that it imbues the runes that designate you as the users of the system. You and you alone.
The lunar magic is used to set several mandatory conditions, such as the fact that you need to be a pair to use this system. The system would be unusable if something happened to one of you and you ended up separated." The witch paused one more time because her last words were important.
"Still, the creator of the system can get inside this place. The system won't give anyone but you access to everything the lunar runes engraved but she can use the system as a place to reach you."
"So, they can't spy on us?"
"No. Your information, everything ruled by the lunar magic only is inaccessible to them. They can't see what you're up to but they can reach you out."
Eden and Glen already suspected what Alicia said. They just needed the witch to confirm their doubts.
After all, they had confronted Light and Black in the White Room so it was obvious that they could access it. On the other hand, learning that Light was behind the system was a shock and the two werewolves needed hindsight to decide what to do. Glen crossed his arms over his chest and asked bluntly.
"And your opinion?"
"Use the tool. Even if it is a double-edged sword, being strong, even though it means exposing yourself, is better than being weak and sheltered. Thanks to you, Eden, your mate has already leveled up to his max level. Now, it's your turn. Wolf up and put your crown on. You cannot win this battle if you don't fulfill the role your Goddess set up for you."
Alicia stared at the male omega for a long moment and neither of them said a word. Again, the witch's face twisted slightly but she quickly regained control of her emotions. The Servant of Talamh put her hands flat on the table and stood up, dragging the chair behind her.
"With this, you should take your leave. As I told you, I must warn the Sages of my clan. Black's return is something we need to prepare for and we need to warn other clans to do the same."
She crossed her arms behind her back and walked to the door without a look back. Eden and Glen looked as her back moved away and they got up from their chair.
Near the door, the two werewolves stopped to thank the witch, but she dismissed their word and rushed them outside. Alicia bid them goodbye the same way she met them. With cockiness. At least that was the front she put.
The Servant slammed the door behind them then, let go of the mask she had put on since she came back with Eden. She swallowed down the pain that run through her body despite the spell she had quietly cast to decrease her ache.
She closed her eyes for a second and forced her body up to the table where she called Caraid.
"This is your last mission, my friend. It's an honor to have been your master." A faint smile made her mouth quiver and Alicia cast the very last spell of her life.
When Gabriella returned to her grandmother's house, she paused before lowering the doorknob. She needed courage.
She entered the house and, as if it had been expecting her return, Caraid took flight. The spirit left with the message left by Alicia for the Sages.
The young Servant of Talamh swallowed the lump in her throat and walked over to the table where her grandmother sat motionlessly. She looked at the farewell message left by a spirit of fire on the table and when she read the last sentence, her hand clapped on her mouth to muffle the sound of her cry. Hundreds of will-o'-the-wisps rushed inside.
Glen and Eden's barrier had just disappeared and Alicia's spirits were now without an owner. Nevertheless, they came back to the house they were used to.
Gabriella collapsed on the floor, tears rolling on her cheeks. She cried for a long time, and when she finally calmed down she uttered the first rules of magic a sorcerer learns regardless of their clan.
"Any sorcerer who have in their possession the secrets of the magic of a clan they don't belong to will be condemned to death."
In the car, neither Eden nor Glen spoke. The omega stared at the darkness outside, deep in thought. In the rearview mirror, Glen noticed something in the distance and a few moments later, a white will-o'-the-wisp stopped its race inside the vehicle. They felt a cool wind blow and Alicia's voice rang out.
"I know you already guessed what happened. You two are pretty sharp. Don't feel guilty. It was my choice. If you feel sorry for me, when you'll beat Black's ass, don't forget to give him one on my behalf."
________
The sun was rising and the plane landed at Red Creek Airport. Glen watched and smiled at how peacefully his mate was sleeping. The dominant decided to wait until the last minute.
When the voice announced over the loudspeakers the start of the landing, he gently shook the shoulder of his omega who had fallen asleep as soon as he had settled in his place. Even though as a werewolf of a traditional pack it was his first time on a plane, Eden hadn't had the heart to marvel at anything.
Eden opened his eyes. Immediately, a whirlwind of thoughts rushed inside his head. He frowned and closed his eyes again. The next moment, a familiar scent enveloped him. The omega took a deep breath. He greedily breathed the scent that was now his favorite. The young werewolf turned his head to Glen and his heart skipped a beat as he met medium-ocean green eyes. The questions swirling around in his head disappeared.
That's right. Even though there were already too many lost to his liking, even though he knew death would lurk at every turn, he had the most important reason in the world to keep fighting.
And his next battle would be to silence those who, among the werewolves, threatened his pack.. He, the omega, the heir to Bloodhood, was finally ready to accept his fate and take the first step on his path as a king.