The Somerset estate, usually renowned for its vast open spaces, was now bustling with activity as the allied forces began setting up their base. Ada, brimming with excitement at the arrival of so many new people, was zipping around on her companion, Lash, exploring every corner and mingling with the soldiers.

"Are you a mage? Can you use magic like Elsa?" she asked, pleading with the mages from the Magic Tower to show her spells.

And when she came across the stern-faced knights of the Zion Order, she was less than tactful.

"Why do you all look so grumpy?"

"It’s not grumpiness… It’s just… our natural expression."

"Heh, you look weird."

Ada’s comments, unintentionally blunt, left some of the knights a little wounded in spirit. But her curiosity didn’t end there. She soon spotted a gathering of elves, specifically the members of the Crimson Warden, who were predominantly elven, and her fascination only grew.

“Wow, Lash, look! It’s the fairy folk!”

Having already met a dwarf through Krohn, Ada’s curiosity about elves was piqued, as she’d never encountered one before. Without a second thought, she rode Lash straight to the most beautiful elf among them, which happened to be Syfris.

“Little one, is something the matter?”

Syfris, surprised to see a little girl riding a dog approach her, asked gently, as Ada’s arrival drew attention.

“I’m not ‘little one’! Call me Lady Ada!” Ada insisted with all the poise she could muster.

“My apologies, Lady Ada,” Syfris corrected herself with a smile. “What brings you over here?”

“Why are your ears pointy?” Ada asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she stared up at Syfris.

“Ah, elves naturally have pointy ears,” answered Richard, stepping in for the flustered Syfris, who wasn’t sure how to respond to such an innocent question.

Ada’s fascination with Syfris only deepened. The Somerset household knew all too well that once Ada got that look in her eye, there was no stopping her. It was clear to everyone present that the poor elf would not be able to escape Ada’s endless questions anytime soon.

While Ada was busy trailing Syfris, Rupert was occupied greeting his new guests.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Sir Somerset,” Alexander, the captain of the Zion Knights, greeted him.

“The honor is mine, Captain Alexander,” Rupert replied politely.

“There’s no need for such formality. The Saint herself has spoken highly of your character, Lord Rupert.”

Rupert felt a moment of awkwardness at this. The only thing he’d done for the Saint was provide illustrations, ones he’d rather not describe, and being called “pious” for that left him feeling slightly guilty.

“…Hello,” a soft voice greeted him suddenly.

Rupert turned and found himself face to face with a young woman with red hair. At first, she seemed vaguely familiar, and then he recalled where he’d seen her before.

“Oh! Weren’t you the young apprentice who visited with Master Eustaph?”

“Yes! I’m so happy you remember me!” she replied, her eyes lighting up.

Rupert recognized her now—she had been a shy girl hiding behind Eustaph during his last visit to the estate, and he’d even modeled a character after her for The Dog of Flanders.

But seeing her now, so grown up, he was taken aback by how much she’d changed.

“Miss Xenia, isn’t it?”

“Yes! My master assigned me to participate with the allied forces.”

“That’s impressive! For Eustaph to entrust you with such a mission speaks volumes of your talent,” Rupert said sincerely, genuinely admiring her progress.

Eustaph, known for his rigorous standards, rarely took on apprentices, and those he did were only allowed field assignments after at least a decade of strict training.

Blushing at the praise, Xenia fidgeted, clearly a bit flustered. “I just sort of ended up here…”

“Sort of,” came Alexander’s dry comment, “but among the heretics chasing false truths, you are one of the more capable ones.”

Xenia shot him a glare. “Mind your words, or shall I set you ablaze?”

To the untrained eye, this exchange looked like a fight, but in reality, it was little more than a friendly quarrel. Though Alexander had initially treated the mages and elves with hostility, he had come to respect them as comrades in arms during their battles against the dark elves.

Rupert watched their exchange with a mixture of amusement and surprise, prompting Xenia to turn back to him with a question.

“Lord Rupert, have you ever heard of a wolf with blue fur in these parts?”

“A blue-furred werewolf?” Rupert echoed.

“Yes, it might be the guardian of the Blue Flower we’re searching for. Records indicate it once lived in the southern region, though they’re too old to specify an exact location.”

Rupert thought for a moment. “I can’t say I’ve ever heard of a blue-furred wolf around here, or even any werewolves for that matter.”

“Then it’s likely not here in Somerset’s territory,” Xenia said thoughtfully.

“I can send inquiries to nearby estates,” Rupert offered.

“That would be immensely helpful,” Xenia replied, relieved.

While Rupert pondered this rare creature, Alexander suddenly directed his attention to something else.

“Lord Rupert, do you happen to know what breed that dog your young lady rides on might be?”

“Oh, you mean Lash? To be honest, we’re not entirely sure ourselves,” Rupert admitted.

“Hmm…” Alexander looked at Lash with a scrutinizing eye.

“Why do you ask?”

Alexander’s gaze remained on Lash as he explained, “Do you know the difference between a wolf and a dog?”

Rupert hesitated. “I suppose… size?”

Alexander shook his head. “Some large dogs can match the size of wolves. Usually, it’s their ears and tails. In wild animals, these features are developed for hunting.”

• "Domesticated dogs, however, tend to have more rounded ears and tails due to human breeding."

As Rupert took a closer look at Lash, who was romping around effortlessly with Ada on his back, he began to notice details that set him apart from other dogs. His ears were sharply erect, and his tail was more majestic, resembling a lion’s mane rather than the usual stubby tail seen in most dogs.

“Are you suggesting that Lash might be… a wolf?”

“I’m not certain. There are some dogs that resemble wolves, and true wolves don’t typically take to humans so easily,” Alexander replied.

The taming of a wolf, particularly a giant dire wolf, was known to be nearly impossible—attempts by a distant kingdom to use dire wolves as steeds for knights had ended in failure, as wolves defied domestication.

But then Rupert saw Ada pulling on Lash’s fur, urging him to keep moving despite his apparent exhaustion. Lash, despite panting heavily, continued at her request.

If he were truly a wolf, there’s no way he would tolerate that, Alexander thought to himself, noting with interest that Lash’s fur was beginning to change, with patches of blue peeking through.

Yet even if Lash was something extraordinary, Rupert reminded himself that their goal was a werewolf, not simply a wolf.

In a tree near the Somerset estate, one of the covert guards of Prince William observed the unfolding situation with growing concern.

Lord Rupert Somerset—gather every possible detail about him.

William’s command had led to the surveillance of the Somerset estate for weeks, though most days had been uneventful due to Rupert’s routine of shuttling between his studio and the estate.

That academy incident, though…

The only exception had been the near-disaster when the Third Prince, Edric, had almost discovered them tailing Rupert.

“I don’t know whose guard you belong to, but if you’re not of the royal family, I would have taken your heads.”

Edric’s words had served as a sharp warning, and they had since taken extreme care.

But today’s events were unlike anything they had witnessed before.

“Why is the Third Prince, along with Lord Kyle of the Northern Marquisate, and even the Second Prince of Silvania all here at the Somerset estate?”

And that wasn’t all.

The sudden arrival of what appeared to be Holy Knights of the Church, mages from the Magic Tower, and even the highly insular elves joining the Somerset estate was troubling.

“Nicola, return to the palace and inform Prince William. Request additional support.”

“Yes, sir!”

Samuel, the head of William’s covert guard, felt certain that something significant was happening. To fully understand the scope, he would need more eyes and ears on the ground.