A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

Chapter 489 - Runa's awakening [1/2]

Not long after Naeku fled, Alice woke up. After quickly dressing themselves, Erik and his family started fussing over, but they were a little dismayed when it became apparent that, while Alice didn't blame anyone for what happened, her drive to grow stronger had grown ever more fanatical.

Erik counted them lucky that Runebound weren't susceptible to corruption, or Alice would be a prime candidate.

Regardless, he did manage to convince her that sticking to the training schedule he'd created remained in her best interest… for now.

After that, not much interesting happened. The next four days went by slowly, as Erik made massive strides in his recovery. He was truly showing the power of not only his Runebound rank and Emma's healing, but especially the numerous bloodlines flowing through his veins.

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Erik spent most of that time sleeping, and his wives usually stuck around in the same room. Yet, while they denied Erik any chance at using this downtime to train, thus forcing him to focus on his recovery, they did not partake in this restraint themselves. They spent most of this time simply cultivating, as they watched over their husband.

Finally, when those four days were over, a long-awaited moment arrived.

Currently, Erik was standing in front of a mirror, and tracing the scar on his chest with his fingers—a sombre expression on his face. He was now wearing a pair of harem pants, while his chest remained uncovered.

His regeneration rate had ensured the scar wasn't overly pronounced, but there was still an obvious mass of white scar tissue located just a few inches from his heart. It still hurt to move, but only a little bit. He still wasn't ready to fight anyone, but he could stand and walk just fine.

"I don't think I've ever come so close to dying before… Except for when I met you, Elora," he mumbled thoughtfully to himself, a frown on his face.

"Oh, I don't know," Elora sighed wryly. "We had some close shaves back on Söl…"

"True, but at least we didn't get into those because of my emotions," Erik grumbled, seemingly in a dour mood.

Yet, Elora made a doubtful noise, "Eeeeeh, I mean, there was that time whe—"

"Alright, alright!" Erik rolled his eyes, before looking at her sombrely. "You know what I mean!"

Suddenly, Astrid walked up next to him and shrugged, "You're being too hard on yourself, Erik. Yes, technically you always have a choice, but practically, there was only one way this whole thing was going to go: with you and Edda facing off… I just wish I could have been there," she finished with an angry glare into the horizon, likely imaging the things she wanted to do to her former friend.

"I know you have plenty of reason to hate her too, Astrid, but having anyone else in that room would have only made things worse," Elora sighed, before using her small hand to pat the shoulder she was sitting on. "Let's just be glad we made it out, and make absolutely sure we're ready to face her next time."

Erik's expression didn't change much. He still felt he could have done better, or at least made a better attempt at getting his wives to stay behind. Did he really not put up much of a fight because he refused to make these kinds of decisions for them, or was it overconfidence once again?

Or did he simply realize he was going to need them…

While he was lost in thought, Emma snuck up behind him, and wrapped her arms around his waist in silent support. Instantly, Erik couldn't help but smile a little.

Regardless, before he could say or think any more on this, Nora stormed into the room. "Master! Your mother is waking up!" she cried out excitedly, while waving them over to her.

* * *

Naturally, Erik didn't waste any time. His heart started beating nervously, and he quickly followed Nora out. Astrid and Emma followed after, with Elora continuing to sit on his shoulder. Unsurprisingly, they weren't any less nervous about this.

Only Astrid remained relatively calm. She already knew Runa, after all, and according to Viljar, Erik's mother approved of a relationship between her and Erik.

But Erik couldn't help wonder what she'd think of the new him. He'd changed significantly, after all. Plus he had a harem now! More than anything, however, he was afraid what she'd think of herself, after the grievous wound she dealt him back in Djibouti…

She was certainly under someone else's control at the time, but would that matter to a mother who'd nearly killed her own son?

At the same time, Elora and Emma were worried what she'd think about them. Runa was their mother-in-law, and an immensely important person in Erik's life… what if she didn't approve? Of either them, or the fact he had a harem, or both?

Even the ever-confident Elora wasn't immune to this, because she knew how important family was. To her, the familial bond was sacred, and Runa wasn't just a part of that, she was an important part.

Yet, none of that stopped them from rushing over, nervously beating hearts and all.

In the hallway, they found Seraphina and Anne, who were guarding Runa's room. After arriving and treating Runa, Elora had decreed that Runa was to be left alone, thus she'd posted guards outside her room, so that even Ankhur couldn't visit.

Fortunately, he didn't make a fuss about that as soon as Elora quoted her recovery as the reason.

Seraphina remained calm, but Anne was hopping from one foot to another. In the end, this moment was quite significant for her and Nora as well. After all, Runa was the honoured teacher who'd helped them survive and thrive after the awakening.

"M— Master! Quick, come!" Anne cried out and waved her arm, before rushing back into the room.

Yet, Erik frowned, and halted a moment outside, before turning to Seraphina.

"Seraphina, go alert Naeku's father about this, but tell him to wait with visiting until he get's the okay, alright?" he ordered her gently, and the vampire nodded sternly, before rushing off to do as he asked.

Then, Erik finally stepped inside, where he found Emily at the foot-end of his mother's bed, fiddling with some sigils. Over the last few days, either Emily or Elora had kept watch here, maintaining the sigils keeping track of Runa's well-being.

It was she who determined Runa was about to wake up, and her heart was beating no less nervously than the others, perhaps even more so. Her relationship with Erik hadn't started off easily, after all…

At the same time, Alice also made her appearance, as Erik had pulled her out of the dimension, after asking if she wanted to be here as well.

Whatever the case, soon Erik, Elora, Emily, Astrid, Emma, Anne, Nora, and Alice were gathered around Runa's bed, with anxious eyes pointed at the source of their complicated feelings.

Finally, the moment arrived, and Runa's eyes fluttered open.