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The Fated Five Chapter 3 (The Claws of Fenrir) Written by Trickster_D and Leo_Todrius Commissioned by Wolfboyx9

The blinds had been drawn, the door secured, and the small dorm room was filled to its limits. Song, Wade, Satoshi and now Malik were gathered around. The long night had crept to an end and rising sunlight was creeping against the barrier the blinds provided. Still Malik was talking, but at the same time it was almost as if he'd been saying nothing at all. Malik had been furious at first about Song taking things into his own hands, but in the end it wasn't his fault. He had no guidance, no instruction manual. The fact that he had heard from his grandfather? That was a miracle in and of itself. Eventually Malik stopped talking and sipped from his tea, still hot in his hand when everyone else's had cooled off. Song was sitting in his chair, his long arms wrapped around his furry legs, his tail swishing timidly behind his back. He had never looked that small.

"I... wow," he said after some seconds. "That... that's a lot of information to swallow." He moved his golden gaze to Satoshi, then to Wade, as if he was asking for their help and support. "I can't help but feeling sorry for having dragged you two into this."

"You have nothing to be sorry for on my part. This was our ultimate destiny, a fate needing to be woken." Satoshi replied, sounding every bit like a trailer to an epic movie. Wade licked his lips.

"Dude, I'd never have had this much fun without you. This is amazing... We're like spirit warriors or something!" Wade beamed.

"I wish it wasn't so... Normally you wouldn't be warriors, but combat may be required with the threat we're facing." Malik admitted.

"Well, that's what I'm unsure about..." Song scratched himself behind one large ear. "I mean, I thought being the avatar of Sun Wukong was more like... some sort of tradition, maybe? Okay, he does fight in the Journey to the West and he's so strong he's basically unbeatable, but I don't know how to fight, and to be honest none of my powers so far seem to be helpful in combat. Well, Satoshi can manipulate fire and heat, I guess, but me and Wade..." Song glanced at the satyr: in his current state, he would have probably been too horny to fight anyway. The monkey king sighed: that was a whole different problem to be taken care of.

"Ideally, Wukong has been one of the spirits involved in keeping balance. The world is meant to be kept between all light and all darkness, existing in the shade of the canopy... Light and dark dancing in a brilliant eternity." Malik said almost wistfully, "As such, it's usually carefully considered before awakening someone's spark. If Satoshi hadn't been so reasonable, you might have woken up a proverbial super villain." Malik explained.

"I... I get that now," Song replied, his eyes still lingering on Wade. "Were you awakened by my grandpa, Malik? Did he have other assistants like you?" The salamander had talked a lot about the balance of the universe and their supposed mission, but had told next to nothing about himself and his relationship with Bohei.

"Over the years, yeah, but... I think he liked to train one at a time? He always traveled light, and he wanted someone that could just get what he was thinking, whether it was a joke or a plan. Plus, if you have to climb out of the Russian Prime minister's mansion, it can help to have a small group." Malik chuckled. Song couldn't help but feeling a small pang of envy travelling through his heart like a tiny dart: it was clear that the salamander knew a side of his grandfather he had never been able to experience.

"But... you do know about the process? How awakening works? Is that something only a Wukong can do?"

"Some are better than others at doing it, but theoretically it's something we all can do if we ourselves are awakened. It's unusual for it to be... passed down, and even less common to happen on its own." Malik replied. Song nodded.

"And can the process change someone? I mean, not physically, but... on a mental level?" Song shook his head, his hair bouncing against his forehead and hair. "No, that's not what I meant. I know it can change someone like that, I've experienced it firsthand. My question is, can it be reversed?"

"You mean Wade's accessory there?" Malik asked, reaching out, his finger brushing against the living plant coiled around his arm. Wade bit his lip almost like it tickled. Song's back was traversed by an unpleasant shiver, that made the fur on his tail stand up and puff.

"Yeah..." His fingers caressed Wade's arm gently. "I changed him without even knowing what I was doing, and... I made a mess. I get it now. I don't want him to be like this."

"No, it's great Song, don't be hard on yourself!" Wade pleaded, moving over to the monkey, hugging him tight around his stomach, nuzzling against his chest. Song pursed his lips.

"See? He's barely able to function by himself, and I'm afraid it's my fault. Do you think you can help me, Malik?"

"I might be able to... To remove the undue influence over someone's spark, it can take months of meditation. It's a long process, but it's easier than the other way." Malik replied.

"What is the other way?" Satoshi questioned. Malik shrugged a bit.

"There are legends about the blessing of a true innocent, how the true of spirit were able to cleanse the spirit of others... But it isn't something I've ever seen first hand." Malik replied. Song frowned.

"The blessing of a true innocent?" He repeated. "What does that mean?" The monkey boy stared at Satoshi. "Any idea?" Satoshi shrugged but Malik chuckled.

"Have you ever known someone that was just deep down, genuinely good? Someone unmotivated by selfish interests, just wanting to help make the lives of others better? Their sparks don't usually ignite because they are so focused on others, but they are a profound influence for good in the world." Malik replied.

"I... suppose I have? Though nobody comes to mind at the moment," Song admitted. "But let's just say I find someone who is that genuinely altruistic... would that person be able to help Wade? Break the thralldom or however you want to call it?"

"It's possible... They'd genuinely care for his well being, but there aren't a lot of details about how it happens. It's something to consider though while we start the meditations. Just... be careful, you don't want to enthrall an innocent spirit either. It'd be too easy to overwhelm their personality." Malik answered back. Song nodded, rising on his feet.

"I'll go and find someone, then. Someone who can help us," he declared, petting Wade's wavy hair, scratching the base of his horns. "I owe you this, Frost."

"Just promise me you won't be away too long, love." Wade murmured, running his hand down Song's stomach before circling just above his groin. Satoshi rolled his eyes at that. Song, however, gently pushed the hand away before kneeling down and placing a gentle and completely innocent kiss on the satyr's forehead, his lips lingering there for less than a second.

"Malik will take good care of you. Promise me you'll listen to him and follow his lead." The monkey king glanced at Satoshi. "How about you?"

"I'm good on meditation. I'll come with you." Satoshi said with clear determination. Song sighed in relief: the idea of facing the task at hand with the Oni made him feel much more certain of its success. Satoshi was good at reading other people, after all.

"Is it a problem if I leave the two of you alone?" He then asked Malik. "Sorry to trouble you with such a burden. You don't have to do it if you don't want to..."

"Not at all, it's probably for the best for the first few sessions. Easier to focus." Malik said.

"Awww, I can sort out distractions..." Wade murmured. Malik smiled.

"Even if that was true, it's easier for me to focus with you at first if we're the only ones." Malik replied. Wade nodded at that before looking at Song, giving him a reassuring nod. The monkey king grinned back at him.

"I'm sure you'll do great, Wade. Trust your king." Song felt slightly bad in exploiting the bond between them, but he felt like the satyr could need the extra push. Wade seemed to take it to heart and focused back on Malik, allowing for Satoshi and Song to restore their glamor and step into the hall. It almost felt like emerging into another world. With the door shut, they stood in an ordinary dorm hallway, appearing to be rather handsome but clearly human students. For some reason Satoshi was intrigued by the deception and stole a quick kiss from Song. The monkey boy looked up at the Oni with a cheeky smile.

"Awww, feeling romantic today?" He asked, his now invisible tail caressing Satoshi's arm.

"I know it sounds pathetic, but making progress is very attractive to me." Satoshi replied.

"Well, I guess we should try and make more, then!" the monkey boy exclaimed. "Where should we start? I mean... we should find a gay guy with a spark, and it has to be someone with a selfless and gentle nature to boot. Not exactly the easiest task."

"Well, to boost our chances we should go places we can see many different people. The cafeteria maybe, the library, the gym..." Satoshi shrugged. Song's brow furrowed.

"Um... you may be right. You do like the cafe, don't you?" he asked his partner.

"Well, I try to eat there whenever I can... It's better than a dorm room, but not so crowded as the cafeteria. Much better atmosphere." Satoshi smiled softly.

"Sorry I kinda stalked you there, by the way..." Song's cheek got a little redder. "Come to think of it, I treated one of the waiters there like crap, the other day. I should probably apologize... I mean, it's true I wasn't really myself, but it still doesn't justify the fact that I basically treated him as if he wasn't a human being."

"I know who you mean." Satoshi said, grimacing a bit, "I wasn't the most civil either... Perhaps this is a chance for us to both make amends." Satoshi admitted. Song's eyes went wide.

"Really? YOU weren't civil? Is that even possible?" A small smirk appeared on his face. "What did you do to him, did you sneeze in his general direction?"

"I just didn't talk much. I think I've spoken more since I met you than in the last two years." Satoshi chuckled.

"Well, that's good, then. Your voice is pretty sexy, you know?" Song replied as the two of them walked through the campus grounds towards the cafe. Satoshi reached out and opened the door for Song, feeling a slight swell of pride that he had a chance to be chivalrous for a boyfriend. It was exhilarating. The monkey king walked inside the place, his tail swishing behind him; he looked around, a bit nervously.

"Do you see him? I hope he's working today. Come to think of it I don't even know his name..."

"You could read his nametag." Satoshi said, gesturing to the kitchen behind the counter.

"Well, thanks for making me feel even dumber and ruder..." Song replied with a wistful sigh. "I think he was like, German? Or maybe Scandinavian. He looked a bit like a Viking, right?" Satoshi kissed Song's forehead and moved over, doing something he had never done before. He leaned over the glass case, rested his elbows on it, and looked down at the variety of brownies, cookies, carrot cake, and apple crumb bowls. Surely the promise of an add on sale would lure out a dutiful worker. Song's hands went up to his forehead and his ears once again turned scarlet.

"H-hey! What was that?" he asked, walking to Satoshi and staring at him with a weird look on his face.

"Well, I'm trying to decide what's absolutely tastiest, that could act as an apology gift." Satoshi said before looking up at the kitchen. Song stuck out his tongue.

"Of course I am the tastiest..." he murmured in a voice so low only the Oni could hear him, before he too leaned over to stare at the appetizing contents of the glass case. Unfortunately, none of the brownies seemed to contain banana as their main ingredient. Satoshi glanced back up again, grimacing a bit that his bait had not worked. He stood back up a bit more.

"Excuse me, I was wondering if I could trouble you for a moment?" he called into the kitchen.

Finally, someone did emerge from behind the double door leading to the kitchen. The big blonde guy carrying a huge tray of assorted pastries was exactly the person Satoshi and Song had been looking for. A simple white apron was fastened around his prominent belly, and his blue eyes appeared slightly tired but still full of life.

"Sorry for the waiting!" he exclaimed in his nasal accent. When he noticed Song and Satoshi, however, he seemed to become a bit smaller. "Oh. Um. H-hey!"

"Those look amazing, what are they?" Satoshi asked, glancing to the tray, trying to stimulate conversation.

"Oh? T-these?" the big guy stuttered, staring at the tray he was carrying. "Just some muffins, fresh from the oven. Let's see what we have here..."

"Do some of those have bananas in it?" Song asked in a pleading tone, as his tail swished in the air behind him, hitting Satoshi on the side multiple times. His large nostrils got even wider as he sniffed, and he had to restrain himself from drooling. "Wow, they smell great!" Satoshi's face fluttered slightly as he unexpectedly found Song's tail slaps and banana obsession unexpectedly attractive. His mind raced through the possibilities of banana tempting his lover, but that would have to wait for a less urgent time.

"U-um," the big guy seemed embarrassed and pleased by Song's energetic display. "W-well, yeah! Some of them have bananas in there... Here!" A meaty finger pointed at some muffins that looked decidedly darker than the rest. "These are chocolate and bananas, and..."

"How much?" Song exclaimed, his amber eyes shining in happiness. It was so weird, he had never been a fan of bananas before becoming Sun Wukong's new avatar! "Please, they look so amazing!"

"O-oh, um... Well..." the big man looked around, but since it was still early in the morning there usual customers were probably all still in bed. A couple of tired- looking girls were sitting in a table on the farthest corner, with big cups of smoking coffee in front of them, and someone wrapped in a heavy coat and a hat covering the majority of his face was sitting in the opposite corner, munching on some carrot cake. "Take one. It's on the house," he added with an awkward but endearing smile. Song let out a delighted squeal as he grabbed a dark brown muffin and ate at least half of it in a single bite. A brief symphony of pleasured noises followed as he munched on the soft little cake.

"Oh, man, this is gold!" he said, looking at the half-eaten muffin, then at the big guy. "Seriously, who did these?"

"T-that... That would be me," the waiter said sheepishly. "I like using my hands for, you know... Stuff, and..." His pale face became bright pink all of a sudden. "O-okay, that came out really wrong."

"Nothing wrong with it." Satoshi said, managing to keep more of his cool, "You have talent, and you're kind... Something that we've both taken for granted in the past. We wanted to apologize for not reciprocating your kind outreach before. The world needs more people like you." The waiter placed the tray on the counter and stared back at the Japanese student with an odd look on his face.

"I beg your pardon?" he said in a quizzical tone. "I mean, I work here, and you are my customers. That's it. It is my duty to make sure that all my customers are happy and satisfied... Even if some of them aren't as kind to me as I am to them," he explained. Song felt like those words were directed to him specifically, and lowered his head in shame.

"Just because it's your job, doesn't make it right. We want to make it up to you, to start on a fresh page." Satoshi replied, looking into the large man's eyes. The big guy cleaned his hands in his apron and gave him a good-natured smile.

"Well... sure! I'm always up for meeting new people!" he said, offering his right hand. "I'm Sven. Sven Gustavsson, from Sweden."

"I am Satoshi Kato, and this is Wei Song." Satoshi introduced, looking at Song with a smile. Song bowed his head slightly.

"Hey, all our names start with the same letter!" he observed. "I wonder if it's some kind of sign.." the monkey boy stared at Satoshi, then at Sven.

"I... honestly don't know, sorry," Sven replied with a sheepish grin. "I've never believed in that kind of stuff, I'm afraid. Sometimes they tell me I'm even too down-to-earth!"

"Being grounded can be an asset. It can keep you from taking too many dangerous leaps. That being said, a good group of friends can draw the two extremes to one another. I think in that way, you and Song could be great friends, and I know we can be too." Satoshi smiled. Sven nodded at that.

"Well, are you busy this morning? I opened the place and I'm here until the other waiters arrive, but I have no lessons today," he said. "Maybe we can take a walk around the campus, yes? I just need another half an hour to get everything ready."

"Sure," Song replied. "But can I have three more of those muffins? I'll pay those, of course!"

Roughly thirty minutes later, after the rest of the café staff and some of the usual customers had arrived, Sven emerged from the kitchen, wearing a black skull cap over his short curly blond hair and an ample leather jacket that hugged his massive frame. After he had said hello to literally everyone, he motioned at Song and Satoshi, who were still sitting in front of the counter, waiting for him.

"I'm ready to go," he exclaimed, waving his big hand. "Bye, everyone! See you all tomorrow!" Satoshi smiled a bit at how far this man's kindness extended before he stood up and prepared to go on their walk. Satoshi wasn't sure, but this certainly felt like the lead they needed.

"So..." was the very first thing Sven said as they stepped outside the café, a big smile on his face. "I'm glad you two managed to become friends, after all! All's well what ends well, yes?"

"We're testing the waters, certainly hope it'll end well, right Song?" Satoshi grinned. Song nodded, then stared at Sven with a quizzical look.

"Wait, how did you know that?" he asked. Sven shrugged.

"It was pretty obvious by the way you were looking at him... As I said, I tend to pay attention to what my customers need."

"Yeah..." Song scratched the back of his head, awkwardly. "Speaking of that day, Sven... Seriously, I feel like crap just thinking about it. I didn't mean to treat you like that."

"Don't worry about that!" the Scandinavian guy replied in a jovial voice. "We are having a fresh start, yes?" Sven buried his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. "You know what, do you want to see my pastime? It's probably the only interesting thing about me." He punctuated that with a short, good-natured laugh.

"Sure! That's a great way to get to know someone." Satoshi agreed, feeling as though things were progressing quite nicely in terms of their plan. Song looked at the Oni with a tiny smile, his tail caressing the Japanese boy's arm.

"Great! This way, then!" Sven started guiding the duo towards one of the more unfrequented corners of the campus, towards a series of warehouses and labs that were mostly empty or unoccupied those days. "It's the main reason why I work at the café, you know?" he said after a while, digging out a huge and vaguely rusty key from his pocket. "The stuff I work with is quite expensive."

"So you have a way to get extra spending money, that makes sense." Satoshi said, though he was growing more curious by the moment.

"Pretty much," Sven nodded. "It took me a while to convince the student faculty board to let me use one of the empty labs, honestly... But I managed to convince them in the end, and that's what matters!" With that comment, Satoshi looked at Song and then back at Sven.

"Just what do you do in your past time?" he asked with intrigue. Sven cocked his head towards his shoulder, his round cheeks puffing up a bit as his face got all pensive.

"Um... I think it's probably better if I show it to you?" he said, grabbing a big and heavy-looking lock hanging from the door of the abandoned lab and sticking the rusty key in it. "Just promise me you'll be careful not to knock down anything, yes? Usually I'm here all alone... I'm not used having people around while I create. But I guess there's nothing wrong, right?" he punctuated the last sentence with a wide smile.

"Nothing wrong that I can see." Satoshi said with an encouraging smile, though the back of his mind was swimming with questions of this mysterious lair they were about to enter.

"It's a bit dark in there, I have to warn you... usually very hot, too. Well, not right now," Sven added while fumbling with the lock. Finally he managed to unlock it, and pushed the door of the lab, which opened with a deep creaking sound.

The interior of the small warehouse was cramped with an assortment of different stuff: in the farthest corner, for example, there was a sizeable furnace, with big lumps of coal resting inside of it like black turtles. Next to it there was a heavy-looking anvil that looked like it had just came out of a Wile E. Coyote cartoon, and a series of different pliers, pincers and hammers of different sizes were hanging from the wall behind it in pristine order.

The most impressive part of the room, however, were the two huge wooden racks right on the two sides of the entrance. They were filled with weapons, their blades polished with care; mostly swords, even though there were also a couple of daggers, a long katana and some blades that looked like they belonged to a videogame.

"Of course they are all blunt," Sven explained, motioning for the other two to come inside. "Can't really make actual weapons... the campus wouldn't allow that, yes? But they are decent enough, I think... some of the guys from the theatre club asked me to use some of them as props for their next show, even." Satoshi wandered in slowly and with great appreciation, looking around with ever widening eyes. The array of equipment, of the styles and the manufacturing - it was out of this world. Satoshi reached out to touch one of the blades and inhaled slightly as a spark left his finger and danced along the metal. It was the same sort of feeling he had with Song. Satoshi pivoted on his heel to face the others.

"I can really feel your soul in these. You have a real... spark." Satoshi said with awe before looking at Song knowingly. Sven grinned: it was clear that he was pleased by the compliment, but he almost seemed quite embarrassed, as if he wasn't used to that.

"Nah... I just try my best. Always wanted to do this, since I was a small kid. Basically taught myself everything." The big guy grabbed the katana from the rack and handed it to Satoshi. "Here, want to give it a look?" His pale eyes went down to the long, thin blade, and the skin of his cheeks became bright pink. "Oh, um, sorry, didn't want to be racist..." he muttered. Satoshi chuckled softly, accepting the blade.

"It is part of my culture. Even if I didn't know how to use it, I should still know enough to respect it." Satoshi said, taking a look at his surroundings to make sure he had enough clear space before he started demonstrating different moves with the blade, really showing off how well it worked. The balance was superb, but so too was Satoshi's form.

"Wow! That's very cool!" Sven exclaimed, clapping his hands. "I hope the guys of the theatre club will be as talented. Right?" he asked Song.

"Y-yeah..." the monkey king replied, his amber eyes fixed on his boyfriend, a smile creeping on his lips. "Yeah, that's cool indeed."

"What do you feel when you're forging these blades? What's going through your heart?" Satoshi asked, still showing off with spins and flourishes, though as the light caught the edge Satoshi became aware of something concerning; the blade was no longer blunt. Song's tail, in the meantime, brushed against Sven's ample side, gracefully enough for the Scandinavian youth not to notice anything. And indeed, there was a blazing spark hidden in his heart, clear and blazing white, but also strangely warm and gentle.

"Um... I don't know. Nobody asked me something like that before," he admitted. "It's like... Like I'm drawn to it. Like it is relieving me of something inside of me. Something that needs to come out in some way. Does that make sense?" He seemed to be quite unsure of his answer, so Song placed his hand on the big boy's arm and nodded.

"Yes, it does. This is just your talent. It would be a shame if someone as talented as you couldn't create such beauty," he said, looking straight into Sven's eyes. The gentle giant looked back, even though his stare was a bit sheepish and hesitant... maybe it was just Song's urgency to find someone to help them cure Wade of his unhealthy dependency, but he felt as if Sven was somehow attracted to him and Satoshi. He was a kind and selfless person, he had an intense spark and he was probably gay to boot... Maybe they had been lucky, after all. The monkey king nodded towards the Oni, and Satoshi took a deep breath.

"Sven, we may know what that something is... But it would require us to reveal something about ourselves as well, something that might be a bigger surprise than you're expecting." Satoshi said. Sven's brow furrowed.

"Um? What do you mean?" he asked. Song once again looked up at him, then at Satoshi again.

"I guess we should show him, right? 'Cause I can feel the Wukong thrashing about inside me, but... It's probably better to give him a choice."

"What if there was another layer to this world? One built on the mysticism, the mythology of every civilization? What if it was a thread woven into everyday life?" Satoshi asked Sven as he started to let go of his veil, allowing his inner Oni to slowly appear. The horns, the starkly contrasted skin tone, it was a lot to take in.

"Maybe what you feel inside is more real and tangible than you can actually imagine," Song said as his fur and tail became visible bit by bit, revealing him as the young monkey god he had recently become. "Like a reflection of your true self... and I can help you let that part of you come out, if you want to."

Sven looked at the Oni, then at the monkey king, then at the Oni again. His eyes kept travelling from one creature to the other for one full minute, in perfect silence, as his brain tried to process what he was seeing and failing miserably.

"Jävla skit!" he finally blurted out in his native tongue. "W-what are you? W-who... are you?"

"I am a descendant of a Japanese demon, an Oni. I had no idea until Song woke me up to my heritage. There are members of this world, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren of very special beings. Their powers, abilities and destinies lay dormant until they are fated to awaken." Satoshi explained.

"I received my powers after my grandfather passed away," Song explained. "It's like a family heirloom, in a way. And I can also trigger the same transformation in other people... we call that 'the spark', usually. Yours seems pretty big," he added with a small smile. "But, well... truth be told, we are trying to help a friend of us, right now. He's in a very bad situation, and it's all my fault... but I think you might be able to help him." Sven's expression became noticeably more serious. What was happening around him, what those two were saying was completely absurd and defied all logic... but helping someone? That was something he was very good at. Something he could totally understand and related to.

"What can I do?" he asked with only the faintest shadow of hesitation.

"Well... the question is, how do we wake up your spark without unduly influencing you?" Satoshi mused. Song cleared his throat and stared at the Oni.

"Um... I think I've gotten the hang of it by now. Wade ended up the way he is now because I basically forced the change on him; when I tried to do the same to you it didn't work because you have a stronger will, but the results were pretty catastrophic at first," the monkey boy explained. "So... I think the change must happen voluntarily, basically. If you accept me and, well, let me in, Sven, there should be no problem."

"I'm... not really sure what are you talking about, but sure!" Sven seemed to have taken the whole slew of otherworldly revelations surprisingly well, all things considered; maybe it was because he was so eager to help. "What should we do?" Song took a half step towards him.

"Well... I think we should establish a connection first. A bond, if you want."

"A bond? How?"

"Um... like this." Song suddenly raised on the tip of his dexterous feet, and placed a soft kiss on the big guy's lips. His tongue pushed his way inside Sven's mouth, savoring his thick saliva, enjoying the moistness and warmth. Sven let out a small noise of surprise, but then closed his eyes and relaxed, pulling the monkey king closer and reciprocating the kiss. Song let the energy inside him expand, but not in a messy and frantic way: with his mind, he managed to forge a monkey tail made of pure power, and motioned it towards the spark nestled inside Sven's ample chest. As the Scandinavian guy moaned in pleasure and joy during the kiss, Song took a deep breath and let the magical construct touch the bright white spark, which exploded in gentle but nevertheless blinding light.

Sven's eyes snapped open. As Song and Satoshi gazed upon them, they could see the irises shifting from a pale light blue to a blazing, intense shade of turquoise. Sven panted, the tips of his upper canines now slightly visible below his lip.

"Wow," he growled in satisfaction. "I kissed some boys before, but this is the first time I feel like this..." Satoshi blushed a bit, a tent forming in his pants. Seeing Song kiss attractive boys was exciting enough, but there was something about the tips of those fangs...

"I think that might just be what we needed." the Oni murmured pleasantly. Sven's eyes shifted towards his as he licked his lips. Suddenly he looked decidedly more feral than some seconds before... almost predatory.

"I think I know what I need, too," he said, before pulling Satoshi closer and planting a big, wet kiss on the Oni's lips. Song looked at Sven Frenching his boyfriend in slight disbelief: even though the transformation had been willing this time, maybe there was still some unforeseen side-effect?

Satoshi, however, had been giving in to the experience, trying to help it along. His clawed hands slipped up into Sven's shirt, feeling the mass and heft of his stomach, finding it a rather appealing difference to what he was used to. He bit Sven's lower lip and tugged it a bit, pressing against him tightly. He let his fiery energy slip across the larger man, heating him up. Sven, on the other hand, was clearly metal and iron: strong and sturdy, but also pliable and malleable; a growl of pleasure escaped his lips as he felt the Oni's energy travelling through his body, fueling the ongoing change even more. His pants and shirt started ripping at the seam: whatever exactly was happening to his body, it was definitely growing.

The Oni side of Satoshi was feeling a strange hunger. His hands slipped around, gripping and palming Sven's ass, feeling the cheeks tighten and swell with muscle. Satoshi kept going, massaging the flesh, feeling the muscles and ligaments shifting as they pulled apart, letting a growing nub of bone and flesh wriggle and stretch, trying to break free.

Song, in the meantime, was staring at the scene with a lusty glint in his amber eyes and an obvious boner straining his pants. With an impatient gesture, the clothes he was wearing crumbled on his feet in a pile of red and yellow leaves, revealing his hard, juicy monkey dick. Seeing Satoshi tongue-wrestling with the transforming Scandinavian man was too hot for words, so he simply stepped forward, eager to join the fun: he pressed against Sven's big body, licking his neck playfully. For a moment he sucked on the guy's ear, and looked in wonder as the tip developed into a point, looking decidedly elfin.

Satoshi was moaning and murmuring in the kiss, his tongue finding the territory it was invading was becoming more dangerous by the second. Teeth were sharpening, Sven's tongue was strengthening, the saliva was thickening. There were strange pops inside Sven's skull as his sinus cavity started to change, and the flesh on the tip of his nose darkened, starting to generate its own faint moisture.

Sven grumbled under his breath, his tantalizing new eyes now closed, his face stretched and slightly deformed. He wasn't sure about what was happening to him, or what were the two creatures who were giving him that new and unexpected form of pleasure... but everything felt good, and he wanted to embrace the whole thing. One of his hands caressed the side of Song's face, still busy licking and kissing his skin, and Sven immediately noticed something different in his sense of touch: it was almost as if the calluses he had developed after years of blacksmithing had evolved in something rougher but magnitudes more sensitive. He opened one eye, and indeed, the palm of his hand was now sporting hard, leathery pads; as he watched, he saw his short nails darkening and developing, his fingers now tipped with short but deadly claws. It felt so good, he thought as he once again focused on kissing Satoshi.

"Can you feel it?" Satoshi murmured, growling, running his hands through the thickening hair... or rather fur covering Sven's chest. Satoshi hissed in bliss, playing with his large nipples, one hand moving back to stroke and pet the stretching tail forcing out from above his ass. There was something oddly amazing about how much mass was shifting and growing from his body.

"It's amazing..." Sven replied. Song, right next to him, snapped his fingers, and the clothes of the big man dissolved into leaves as well, cascading down onto his feet, revealing his naked body in all his massive glory: his firm man boobs tipped with fat nippled, his rotund belly, his rock-hard dick, already as thick as a soda can. A slight murmur - like the howl of a wolf puppy - escaped from Sven's lips as he realized he was now naked... until he went back Frenching the Oni.

Song, the smile of a true trickster on his lips, positioned himself behind his new companion and groped his big, juicy ass covered in blond fur. The monkey king bent over, burying his face between the two cheeks, as his tongue teased the pink pucker nestled right in the middle, bathing it in saliva, making it quiver and tremble. Satoshi broke his kiss as well, though he had a bit of hesitance about it, before he dropped down to his knees and leaned into Sven's big furry gut, his tongue disappearing into that navel for a few explorative licks before he dropped lower. Clawed demon hands pet the fur in all different ways as a searing hot tongue found Sven's manly meat and began to lick it, coating it with sizzling hot saliva that seemed to coax more blood and energy to his member.

Sven looked down at Satoshi, a grin filled with fangs appearing on his now black lips. He had had some experiences fooling around with other guys, but he had always been the bottom, mostly because of his love for pleasing other people... so having someone sucking his dick felt new and amazing. "Keep on working on it," he joked, looking down at the Oni. "That sword won't polish itself, yes?" He then moaned in confused pleasure as his face started to extend into a proto-muzzle, his ears migrating inch by inch towards the top of his head. His clawed hands got a hold of his nipples, squeezing and teasing them as more guttural manly growls escaped from his mouth.

Behind him, Song kept lathering and bathing his ass, getting it ready. After a couple minutes, he finally slid a finger inside, and was welcomed with a warm, moist, eager cavern of flesh, ready to be conquered. Satoshi growled, the vibrations traveling up Sven's cock. Soon the Oni was bucking his head forward and back, the tips of his horns grazing the scandinavian wolf's stomach. Satoshi had never been in such a submissive position, even with Song before. It was new territory, but something was fueling this passion inside him. As if he wanted to make his dominance over the Oni even more blatant, Sven grabbed the pair of horns with his now hand-paws and kept him in place, effectively face fucking him; the instinct of raising his head in the air and letting out a howl was becoming more and more difficult to suppress, so Sven focused on the itching of his skin as copious amounts of fur began to conquer his man boobs and his belly. It felt incredible, like a wild carpet of virility all over his body.

Song grinned as he pressed his monkey cock against Sven's back door, the copious precum mixing with saliva, making the penetration even easier. He didn't even have to push for the tip of his dick to slide inside, sending a long shiver down Sven's spine.

"Oh, yes... take me, my king..." the wolfman moaned as the psychic link between he and Sun Wukong became stronger and permanent. His half-formed tail wagged in bliss as Song buried another couple of inches inside of him. Satoshi went deep as well, taking Sven to the hilt... but that was easier said than done, as the wolf's own sword seemed to be reforging itself in his mouth and throat. Sven's cock throbbed and pulsed, stretching and thickening even more. The blunt rounded head of Sven's manhood brushed the back of Satoshi's throat before it honed and sharpened, squishing and stretching into a prodigious point.

"With pleasure," Song said, impaling Sven on his dick until his balls rested against the wolf's pucker. Sven murred as the monkey king sent a small wave of magical energy through his cock, wrapping against his prostate and making it grow, engorge, become more and more sensitive. Just the lightest touch was now enough for jolt after jolt of pleasure to be shot directly into Sven's brain.

The two went at it in a furious lusty attack, pistoning in and out, back and forth, sending wave after wave of bliss into Sven's changing brain. His skull popped and groaned as the muzzle finished forming. His skin rippled with the last waves of fur over his arms and legs. His feet contorted and grew, spreading out into massive paws.

While Sven was taking on the form of a large, well endowed wolf, not all of his human features had been subsumed in the downy coating of fur... No, while some of his fur took on greyer tinges, the hair that had already been lining his face started to blanch out even blonder. The curls grew outward, stretching quickly. They had a different texture than his fur, and as his beard puffed out, it became a far more defining characteristic. The hair extruded outward, feeling oddly stimulating all in itself as it dropped down into a fine point a few inches below his canine muzzle.

Sven could feel his balls churning, his orgasm fast approaching and got ready to spray some of his man juice down Satoshi's throat... until something akin to an invisible hand seemed to wrap around his ball sack. "Oh, no, not yet," Song murmured behind him, while pounding his ass excruciatingly slowly. "I made it so that you won't cum until me and Satoshi do, big pup. Enjoy the ride." Sven moaned in impotent bliss as Song kept fucking and Satoshi kept sucking. He was trapped in an apparently never-ending web of absolute pleasure. The same sensation travelled through the Oni's dark, heavy balls, tying their three climaxes together.

Satoshi had never considered himself to be this open of a person. Life with Song had changed everything, but it seemed this was the next step. He was hard, he was horny, and nothing was going to hold him back. Satoshi groaned and moaned, ramming his head tight around Sven's cock as his demonic member began to gush forth with steaming hot semen. The wave of pleasure radiated through their connection, striking Song's monkey brain, pushing past any boundaries of restraint he had.

With a small, satisfied roar, Song erupted inside Sven's ass, pumping warm semen inside of him as in his mind his own orgasm merged with Satoshi's, creating something much more powerful than he had ever experienced... something Sven was now going to experience threefold.

Finally, it was impossible for the newborn Fenrir to fight the instinct of the beast he had become: he raised his powerful muzzle to the ceiling, letting out a long howl that bounced against Song and Satoshi's eardrums and made all the weapons in the room vibrate. Unbeknownst to him, all the blades Sven had forged became as sharp and deadly as his own claws as a mystical silvery light shimmered from inside them, turning them into real swords. For the last time, Sven grabbed Satoshi's horns and pulled his head closer, spraying his throat with yellowish, dense, stringy wolf cum.

A sedate, satisfied expression crossed the Oni's face as he gulped down the thick sperm, filling his belly with the hot seed. It seemed their group had grown yet again, reaching new heights.

---

There was a tang of ozone and rain in the air, the cool breeze ruffling the leaves of the dormant plants in the rose garden before passing over the fine sand colored fur covering Sven's arms. Each strand sent tiny tingles of sensation into his brain. His pointed, raised ears picked up a myriad of distinct sounds from the cars passing along the road at the edge of the campus, and the hues of light breaking through the upper windows of the english building had never seemed so distinct. Everything was more vivid, more distinct. There was even something more, beyond mere sight or sound or touch. It was as if he could feel Song and Satoshi's presence in another way at the edge of his awareness, their spirits radiating with a fiery energy that almost seemed out of place in the sedate rose garden in the remote corner of the school grounds.

"This is..." Sven looked at his hands, closing and opening the fingers rhythmically. He could see his new paw pads and claws clearly, and at the same time he could also see perfectly regular human hands. The two images were perfectly juxtaposed, and at the same time distinguishable. "I can't believe it..." The big man took a deep breath, and all the smells of winter invaded his brain, leaving him intoxicated for some moments. "What... who am I now? Am I still me?" he asked in a low voice, as if he was afraid of the answer. Song nodded sagely.

"Yes and no. But mostly yes," he replied with a vague smile. "It is indeed a pretty major change, but you are still you, inside... Unless you let the power go to your head, like I did in the beginning." The monkey king lowered his head for a couple of seconds. "That's why we needed the help of someone like you, actually. You seem like the kind of person who will be able to stay true to himself no matter what."

"In many ways this is the real you, like a second puberty awakening everything hidden in your genes. But whether you remain you... is up to you." Satoshi said, not trying to sound cryptic but a little annoyed at himself for being so cyclical in his speech. The truth of the matter was that they had accomplished their mission, but now what Sven had to do seemed even more daunting to Satoshi. Would it work, or had they clung on to the first tangible plan and ran with it?

The huge anthropomorphic wolf took another deep breath, his nostrils dilated, his turquoise eyes closed. "So... nobody can see this, yes? Except you two," he asked. "Everyone else sees me... like, the other me. Um, this is very confusing."

"Yeah, the glamour protect us from the rest of the world, but it takes a bit to stabilize... so you should stick with us for the time being," Song explained briefly.

"I think he's taking to it pretty fast... " Satoshi smiled, "But is there anything we can do to help? Any questions you want answered?" Satoshi asked gently, looking into Sven's eyes. The Scandinavian boy frowned.

"Well... this is me? From now on?" he asked, pointing at himself. Song had recreated Sven's leather jacket from the leaves, but apart from that, the wolfman was naked, his big body, bushy tail and plump sheath and ball sack for the other two to admire. "What am I, exactly? What are we? What is this... power I feel inside? I mean, I was pretty strong before, but now I feel like I could bend steel with my bare hands." Sven shook his head, his pointed ears bouncing. "No, no questions for now. If I start, I'll never be able to stop. You said you had a friend who needed help, yes? What can I do for him?"

"We are hoping it will be intuitive, a part of your nature, but your genuine interest in helping others? We're hoping it will help to cleanse the spirit of a friend of ours, to help him rebalance as the person he should be." Satoshi explained. Song looked at the Oni and nodded.

"Come with us. We'll show you the way," he said, before his nimble fingers wrapped around Sven's left hand and he pressed his body gently against his furry side. It felt very good to brush his face against the soft pelt. "But first let me enjoy you for a moment..." he added with a huge, playful grin. Satoshi rolled his eyes at that and hugged himself around the other two in a group hug of fuzz.

"Y-yeah..." Sven wrapped his big arms around the two as he rested his head between Satoshi's horns. "It feels great, indeed..." The wolf gulped down. "Seriously, we should go or I'll stay here the whole day..."

"Alright, it isn't far from here." Satoshi said, deciding to lead the way.

---

"You are descending down a long flight of stone steps... One at a time, each step taking you lower, and lower. The sounds of the city life are falling away, and you hear nothing but your new surroundings. With each step you feel the stress of life leaving your body... It moves up from your feet to your ankles, through your knees, up past your waist. Feel it building in your lungs, and with the next step exhale. Let it pass, slipping out of you with your breath." Malik said in slow melodic tones. Wade did as he was instructed, sitting cross legged on the floor. His clothes had been cast aside, leaving him in his naked satyr glory. His wooly legs seemed quite comfortable, and his long gatee was resting between his pert nipples.

Across from him sat Malik, his Salamander form unsullied by worldly tethers. His tail was wrapped around him as well, only emphasizing the meditation pose. He breathed in and out, the air rippling slightly from the heat of his breath. In fact, the room was a fair bit warmer just from his presence there. Behind the blinds, the windows had fogged up, though that was nothing out of the ordinary after Wade had moved into the room.

"As you continue to descend, you smell amazing fresh air... You are descending into a jungle filled with ancient trees." Malik instructed.

"I can see it, it's beautiful... The leaves are so green." Wade said.

"Remember, Wade, it's important to stay focused... Stay in the moment." Malik replied. It seemed getting the skater to shut up was likely to be the hardest part in their endeavors. Malik took another breath, "As you move lower and lower, you feel yourself starting to have an easier time thinking. Your mind isn't weighed down with distractions or duties or responsibilities. You are free in the moment, and you are alone. No one is with you and you have found a peace in the solemnity of-" Malik was interrupted.

'I'm caught on something..." Wade said.

"You're caught on something?" Malik repeated back.

"I'm tangled in a vine." Wade replied. Malik opened his eyes, realizing that sure enough, the parasitic vine wrapped around his arm had grown more lush. The leaves were thicker, the vine thicker. It squeezed his arm, emphasizing his muscles but also the subconscious hold that Song had exerted over him.

"See if you can try to free yourself from the vine... Use your hands, slow and steady, try to get it loose." Malik instructed. Wade focused on the meditation, his eyes squeezed shut and his brow furrowed in concentration. Wade grimaced more.

"It's so tough, so tight." Wade muttered.

"Just keep trying, just a little more and you'll feel it start to work. Even an inch is alright." Malik said. Wade winced more and more before his eyes snapped open. He gaped for breath and looked down at his fingers. Malik followed his gaze before freezing in shock. The tips of Wade's fingers were stained crimson with blood. Wade looked up sheepishly.

"I couldn't get it to loosen, it was just too tight... but when I let go, it felt alright again. Maybe it isn't a bad thing." Wade said. Malik was speechless for the moment. He wasn't sure how to help Wade if Song's plan didn't turn out. Luckily, only a couple minutes later, the door of the bedroom opened and Song slipped inside, his amber eyes immediately going to the satyr.

"How are things going?" he asked to Malik in a somewhat tense voice.

"Uh, some complications..." Malik replied, "But stable for the most part. How was your outing?" he asked. Wade, meanwhile, stood up and moved over, pressing his groin to Song's, leaning in to lick his monkey king's chin and look up at him with doting eyes. Song gently, but firmly, pressed him away, before looking once again at the salamander.

"Maybe I found someone... could be a shot in the dark, but he seems pretty powerful. Most of all, his heart is in the right place." The monkey turned his head towards the door. "Satoshi, can you bring Sven in, please?" Once more the door eased open, allowing the Oni to enter, bringing behind him a massive, fuzzy wolf. Wade's eyes widened in wonder, though he had to hop up onto one of the beds to make room. The dorm was about at capacity.

"Wade, Malik..." Song said. "This is Sven. Gustavsson, right?" Sven nodded at that. "He... well, I guess he's our newest recruit. He's here to help you with your problem, Wade."

"Well... I don't know if I'd call it a problem exactly, but I'd do anything for my master." Wade said happily. Satoshi looked at Sven with concern, hoping that he might get a sense for what was going on just by being close. The wolf looked at the satyr quizzically, but he nonetheless took a step forward, forcing both Song and Malik to press their bodies against the wall; Sven took another deep breath and pointed his steely turquoise eyes into the dark irises of Wade.

"You... feel unbalanced," he said, in a surprised tone. "I don't know how I know that, but... I can feel it. If you were a weapon, nobody would be able to wield you without hurting themselves. I... I'm sorry."

"Is there a way to reforge him? Like you did with your blades?" Satoshi asked carefully. Malik's eyebrow raised at that in surprise. Sven glanced at the Oni.

"He's not a weapon, Satoshi. I can't force any change upon him. That wouldn't be right," he said in a simple tone. Song felt an unpleasant shiver travelling down his spine, up until the very tip of his long tail. "It's up to him. If he wants my help... I can try, yes."

"I do! I don't... I don't want everyone to keep treating me like I'm broken." Wade murmured, looking into the wolf's eyes. Sven nodded as he raised a paw and caressed the side of the satyr's face in an incredibly tender way.

"I'm going to try and do something for him," the wolf explained to the other three creatures in the room. "I have no actual idea what I am doing, and I'm really scared. But part of me knows, so I'll simply trust that part and hope for the best." The massive beast sat on the bed next to Wade, making the mattress squeak in protest. "I want you to relax, okay?" he said to the satyr.

"You are like a big fluffy stuffed animal..." Wade said, poking and then petting Sven's rotund fuzzy belly, grinning at the feel. Satoshi nodded.

"That's about as relaxed as he gets." Satoshi smirked.

"I noticed." Malik nodded in agreement. Sven's muzzle turned warm and red under his fur.

"Hehe, yeah... indeed I am." He pulled the satyr even closer, hugging him, encasing him into a fluffy embrace. "Now focus on me, okay? Just on me..." Sven's muzzle got closer to Wade's face, until their lips touched. It was a kiss with just a hint of passion; most of all, it was a honest, gentle and straightforward kiss, just like Sven was. As the kiss deepened, Sven's fingers travelled over the skin of Wade's arm, stopping mere inches from the plant growing from him, hesitating for a moment.

Wade was breathing gently, completely relaxed, kissing Sven with a more reserved gentleness than he had shown to any of his college boyfriends. His hands continued to kneed the wolf's stomach, enjoying the sensation immensely.

Sven, with slow and extremely careful movements, raised two fingers and grabbed one of the small, tender leaves between his claws. He didn't seem to pull or do anything else; if anything, he was unexpectedly delicate for someone his size. Song, however, could feel a spark of silvery magical energy travelling from Sven's fingers through the plant, like a tiny white fire. Wade murmured, feeling the sensation travel through the vine, up his arm and across his shoulder before ending in his heart. He began to kiss Sven harder, pressing into him, feeling a strange and tangible connection intensify.

Sven's right eye snapped open, and he stared at Song and Satoshi without breaking the kiss or the energy flow between him and Wade. His turquoise iris moved from the two to Wade and vice versa for a couple of times.

"Oh!" Song exclaimed, grabbing Satoshi's arm and pulling him closer to Sven. The monkey placed his hand over the wolfman's furry shoulder and let some of his energy flow through his body, his golden magic wrapping around the silvery thread and strengthening it.

Malik slowly eased onto the counter running in front of the window, watching everything going on. He had heard the legends of an innocent spirit correcting the course of an awakened one, but he had never seen it in person. His salamander eyes glimmered as he surveyed the flow of energy pooling from one to the next and the next, but he wondered just what the wolf would do with that empowered thread.

Sven's breathing started becoming a bit faster; even though it wasn't frantic, it was clear he was trying to focus on something very difficult. The thread of magical energy began to wrap around the vine growing from Wade's body, inch after inch. He had to be incredibly careful, since the plant had sunk his roots into the boy's heart; it wasn't going to be easy, that was for sure.

As Satoshi rested another hand on Sven's shoulder, he suddenly felt a wave of clarity and focus enter his mind. He had access to a tactical thinking, an efficiency of though. The Oni's mental faculties were at his disposal, ready to help with his targeting. Once again, the thread of magical energy was strengthened thanks to the fiery red of the Oni's power. Sven kept kissing Wade, and had to fight the instinct to pant with all his might. The thread was wrapping around the trunk of the vine, getting closer and closer to the roots... until the magical tendril slithered inside Wade's heart, gentle and cautious in order not to damage anything. Sven's eyes were focused, his forehead scrunched as the roots too got wrapped by the silvery thread.

Malik held his breath, able to see it unfolding. With his specialized eyes, Wade's aura was rippling, reacting to the fiery energies pooling together in the other three, united in common purpose.

Almost there... almost there... The silvery thread started pulling the roots from Wade's heart, very gently but very firmly. It was a delicate and precise work, and one wrong move would compromise the whole process... but Sven was tempered and honed after years of forging weapons. Inch after inch, root after root, he forced the mystical plant to detach from the satyr's heart, wrapping it more and more in the glowing net.

Wade didn't seem to be upset by the process. His eyes were closed, he felt safe and connected with everyone touching him. He could feel the movement in his heart, but it was still intangible, surreal. It didn't feel quite like reality. What it did feel like, though, was love. With each strand that was plied out of his soul, the obsessive and mindless love was starting to shift into a richer, more rounded love. He started to see Song and Satoshi for who they were, not just as the one he clung to but as for those that had taken him in.

A small growl escaped from Sven's mouth; he didn't break the kiss, but he could feel cold sweat trickling down his spine. He could feel Song and Satoshi's power merging with his own, but he was starting to become aware of a fourth presence; it took him some seconds, however, to understand it was Wade himself, helping them and supporting them. With one last pull, finally, the plant was ripped from the heart, and the silvery thread completely engulfed it, turning it into a small shower of glimmering dust.

The visible vine on his arm was gone, and the tiny pinprick hole where it had emerged from the flesh let out one tiny drop of blood before it healed up entirely, leaving no mark. Wade fell against the men supporting him, looking calm and happy, even if a bit tired. Malik took a breath of relief and delight that it had all gone to form.

Sven caressed Wade's hair, his blue eyes tired but filled with relief. "You okay, little man?" he asked.

"I'm a lot better now. I think there's a little blood finally making its way to my brain instead of other regions." Wade smirked, "I've seen you around campus, right? But not as a floofy fluffy wolf." Wade grinned.

"Yeah, you've probably seen me at the cafeteria," Sven replied. He then turned around to face Song and Satoshi. "Well... I guess I did it, yes? It was... well, I'm not really sure what I did, exactly. It was like forging a weapon, except I had to do it with my mind instead of my body."

"We all have different abilities based on our natural predilections. I think you did it perfectly. Thank you so much." Satoshi murmured, hugging Sven close. Song nodded, his arms crossed against his chest; he had a proud stare in his eyes as he turned towards Malik.

"Well, I'd say my allies are shaping up to be pretty powerful, don't you think?" he said in a somewhat smug tone, before the features of his face softened. "Do you think... my granpda would be proud?"

"I know he would be... Especially now." Malik said from where he was sitting, smiling gently. It was an amazing sight to see a Wukong in the infancy of his powers, but Malik knew that Song would be growing very quickly.

---

The university had many buildings the students were encouraged to visit, from the library to the gym, even the university center with the bookstore and various offices. The University president's office, however, was territory seldom visited. The elevator doors eased open, coming on into the most pristine white painted walls on campus. The sunlight coming through the windows almost seemed harsh at the steep angle, and the gold frames on the pictures and the ceremonial plates almost seemed ostentatious. The carpeting seemed brand new despite being almost ten years old, a pale sky blue. It was sterile, untouched and unsullied, remote and potentially disconnected. Even the campus mail couriers tended to avoid the place whenever possible. That was what made today so different. The president's secretary stood up and moved over toward their new guest, coming to get a good look at him. The young man was in his late twenties, but his silver white hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail. His suit was gray, bordering on the edge of silver. Even his eyes seemed muted, hints of lilac but otherwise gray.

"Mister Solaris, the president wasn't expecting you until three o'clock." The secretary said in surprise. The man bowed his head.

"I am most sorry for the intrusion. I always just seem to try and seize the day, rising with the sun." he replied in turn.

"Is there anything I can get you while you wait?" She asked congenially.

"A cup of tea would be lovely... and if you don't think it too odd a request, do you have a listing of any of the extracurricular activities going on here on campus? It's always good to know what today's youth are invested in." The man asked. The secretary almost fluttered at the idea of such a specialized task.

"Oh, of course, I'll get that tea and information for you right away." She said before darting away into her side alcove. Solaris sat himself down in one of the guest chairs letting the sun hit him square in the face. He closed his eyes to soak it in, his pale skin practically glowing under its own luminescence.

---

The light of that late Winter morning was grey and pale, but nonetheless exceptionally warm against Song's skin. The monkey king closed his eyes and let the sunshine cover his face as a small smile appeared on his lips. He had excused himself for a moment, as Sven, Wade and Satoshi started bonding, and slipped outside of the room; the very moment he had mentioned Bohei to Malik, he had felt the lingering presence of his grandfather in his head, and realized that he needed a moment by himself.

"At least everything is going okay, right, grandpa?" Song asked to the campus. He was relieved by the fact that Wade was now free from his involuntary thrall and that the group had found a new member, and a very gentle and interesting one to boot. He couldn't wait to know Sven more...

"Well, I'm not sure. Something weird is definitely going on, if you ask me," an unfamiliar voice replied from behind Song. The monkey king turned around with a surprised yelp, spotting a person standing some feet behind him. The figure was wrapped up in a heavy navy coat, a blue scarf and a hat hiding their face from view. They were clearly trying to mask their identity, but nonetheless Song recognized them.

"You... You were at the hockey match! And at the cafeteria, this very morning!" he exclaimed. The hooded figure nodded slowly, still not betraying his identity for the moment.

"Indeed, monkey boy," he replied with a cool and collected smugness. Song's eyes went wide as he inspected himself frantically: no, the glamour was on, showing a normal human being to the rest of the world.

"Yeah, I can see you alright. And your friends too... The satyr and that scary-looking demon," the mysterious figure explained, "Man, the first time I saw you I thought I was going crazy... but no, you are real. And you know what?" The figure raised his hands and pulled the scarf down while taking the hat away. "I want to be part of it."