After Bruce's funeral at the Santana do Livramento, the capitol land of werewolves, life had a way of moving forward without those among the living. In the morning, at the Great Gray lodge, Austin was hard at work on making potions. He was a young apprentice in the ancient art of Magic, which drew its power from the natural world.

"One mandrake petal," Austin said as he carefully plucked a petal from the rare flower and added it to his potion. A small, furry neighbor, a wispy sprite named Alana, hopped onto his hands. "Please, sound, sound through the night forest. Sing, sing, young hawthorns. Let your thorns pierce the creeping hooves," he chanted, and magical particles, known as "Essence," began to swirl into the mixture.

Austin was attempting to craft a "Somnium Ward," a potion to protect against nightmares.

Blazea approached him. "Austin, when do you think you can finish the order for the old lady at the foot of the hill?" she asked.

"I just finished mixing a pint of hops and five leaves of lavender for the insomnia pillow," Austin replied, "and this is the Somnium Ward. But I think I might have added too much Essence..."

Just then, a wooly bug took a sniff of the potion and promptly fell asleep. "Ah... You used too much magic, Austin. It's turned into a sleeping potion!" Blazea chuckled.

Austin sighed, "I know, I know. Proportions are key, but it's hard to get it just right.”

Blazea modded, "Remember, Magic relies on balance and harmony with nature. Too much Essence can disrupt that balance. Keep practicing, and you'll master it."

As Austin worked on adjusting the potion, he thought about the fundamentals of Magic. He knew that Essence was drawn from the natural world, and that different ingredients had unique properties. He had learned about the importance of proportions and the risks of overusing magic, which could lead to unintended consequences like the sleeping potion.

In the serene garden of the Great Gray lodge, Austin sat surrounded by the gentle rustle of leaves and the soft chirping of birds. Winter, Anakin and Willow, joined him in his studies. Since learning of his crucial role, Austin's friends had taken his magical education to the next level.

"Today, we'll explore the concept of 'Resonance,'" Anakin began, "the harmony between magical energies and the natural world. Understanding Resonance is crucial, as it can amplify or hinder your spells."

Austin listened intently as they delved into the intricacies of magic. He learned about the delicate balance between elements, how certain ingredients could enhance or counteract each other, and the importance of considering the lunar cycles and seasonal changes when crafting potions.

Anakin spoke of ancient traditions, long forgotten by many, but still practiced by a select few. "The art of 'Echoing' allows us to tap into the residual magic of the land, but it requires great care, as it can awaken dormant energies, both benevolent and malevolent. And then there are the 'Duality Herbs,' like the Wolf's Bane and the Moonpetal. These plants hold both medicinal and poisonous properties, making them potent tools in the right hands, but dangerous in the wrong ones."

As the lesson progressed, Austin began to grasp the complexity of Magic. He realized that every action, every ingredient, and every intention had a ripple effect, influencing the world around him. The weight of this responsibility settled upon him, and he vowed to wield his growing powers with wisdom and caution.

With each passing day, Austin's understanding of magic deepened, and his connection to the natural world grew stronger. He was determined to master the ancient arts, to protect the harmony of the world he had come to love.

“Hey, Guys, we’re going out for a while.” Greylen said.

“Okay.” Anakin said.

On a path leaving Great Gray lodge, everyone got it in the van, except Alisa.

“A black dog?” Austin asked.

“Yeah. Also known as a church grimm.

An excellent watchdog who protects the church and the graveyard. One seems to have made itself at home at a nearby church.

Our task is to see if he’s hostile or not.” Anakin said.

As they drove through the rolling hills and dense forests, the group's excitement grew. Austin, seated between Jason and Jackson.

“Right, I forgot, Austin.” Jason said as holds out a small box for Austin.

“Huh?” Austin asked.

“I’d asked Miss McCain to make this for you.” Jason said as Austin opened the box and held up a ring.

“A ring?” Austin said.

“You know why Sleigh Beggies are short-lived, don’t you?” Jason said.

*We’re frail despite our strong ability to create and soak up magic, right?” Austin said.

“Right. So what you need is a ring to slow down your production of magic. However, the ring can only do so much. Become excited, and it’ll function more actively, just as your body does. So stay as calm as you can.” Jason said.

Austin said. “Okay.”

As Jason pats Austin’s shoulder. “It’s all right.

As your buyer, I’m responsible for you. I’ll look for better solutions.”

“Thank you.” Austin said as he took out the paper from Miss McCain that came along with the ring.

Becky McCain

“The right index finger is the guiding finger.”

“P.S. You’re not ready for your left ring finger!”

Looking back, Jason hasn’t really said anything about what happened since then as Austin puts the ring on his pointer finger.

As they drove on, the scenery outside changed from dense forests to rolling hills and eventually, a picturesque village came into view. "Welcome to Raven's Peak," Jason said, "our destination for today."

Austin's eyes widened as they entered the village, taking in the charming cottages, bustling market square, and the imposing Raven's Peak Church in the distance. "What's our mission here?" he asked.

"We're here to meet with the church elder, father Thorne Blackwood," Jason replied. "He's an old friend of my father and has information about a potential threat to the region. We need to gather intel and assess the situation."

As they made their way through the village, Austin noticed strange glances from the locals. "Do they know who we are?" he asked Jason.

"Probably," Jason said with a chuckle. "We're not exactly inconspicuous, especially with Anakin in tow. But don't worry, we're here on friendly business."

Upon arriving at the Church, they were greeted by Thorne Blackwood, a wise and aged man with a long white beard. "Ah, Jason, good to see you again," he said, his eyes twinkling with warmth. "And you've brought the young Sleigh Beggie, Austin. I've heard a lot about you."

Austin felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension as Thorne led them to a grand hall, filled with maps, scrolls, and strange artifacts. "Let's get down to business," Thorne said, his expression turning serious. "There's a darkness brewing in the nearby graveyard, and I fear it may threaten our entire region..."

The group leaned in, eager to hear more about the potential danger and how they could help mitigate it. Little did they know, their journey was only just beginning, and the fate of Raven’s peak hung in the balance.

As they continue on. “I’d like to assign a familiar to you soon.” Anakin said.

“A familiar?” Austin asked.

“A creature that consumes its master’s magic and serves them. They’re useful and loyal, and would make great servants.” Anakin said.

“Like the one at Miss McCain’s place?” Austin said.

“They get to be more familiar with their masters than the masters themselves.They’d be perfect for supporting someone as quiet as you are.” Anakin said.

“S-Sorry.” Austin said.

Anakin chuckled and patted Austin's shoulder. "No need to apologize, Austin. We're just trying to help you reach your full potential. Having a familiar would be a great asset for you, especially with your unique abilities."

Austin nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness at the prospect of having a familiar.

“Here.” Thorne said as a crowd gathered in front of the building. Austin and the others approach. “As you can see something has happened. In front of the crowd, a corpse is covered by a sheet.

“This could be a bit complicated. We may need to hurry.” Anakin said. “Blazea, you will take a look around with Luna, Rider, Jason

and Shaina. Let me know if you find anything.”

Austin's eyes widened as he approached the scene, his heart racing with anticipation. The crowd parted, revealing a lifeless body shrouded in a white sheet. Thorne's grave expression and Anakin's urgent tone hinted at the severity of the situation.

As Blazea, Luna, Rider, Jason, and Shaina dispersed to investigate, Austin felt a surge of determination. He was ready to help unravel the mystery behind the corpse and potential threat to Raven's Peak.

"Anakin, what do you need me to do?" Austin asked, his eyes scanning the area for clues.

"Stay close, Austin," Anakin replied, his eyes scanning the crowd. "We don't know what we're dealing with yet. Keep your senses alert and be prepared for anything."

Austin nodded, his hand instinctively reaching for the ring on his finger, a reminder of his growing connection to the magical world.

As the group began their investigation, whispers spread through the crowd, speculating about the cause of death and potential culprits. Austin's mind raced with questions: Who was the victim? What kind of magic was involved? And what secrets lay hidden in the shadows of Raven's Peak?

“This is awful.” one of the Citizens said.

“They’re bitten and scratched all over.” A woman said.

“Were there ever any wild dogs around here?” a Man said.

“Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t look.” Austin said.

“Don't look at what.” Lumiya said.

But Austin runs from the scene and into the graveyard area. As he walks through, small dark blobs are attached to some headstones.

“There’s something bad growing here.” Austin said.

“Austin.” Lumiya said as a monster appeared behind Lumiya.

The Monster said. “Where are you from?”

Austin's eyes widened in terror as the monster emerged from the shadows, its presence seeming to fill the entire graveyard. He tried to speak, but his voice caught in his throat.

"This is one of the bad ones," Austin managed to stammer, his eyes fixed on the creature.

“Where? Where? Where?” The monster said.

Austin covers his mouth and calls out Lumiya. “Lumiya, don't answer the question.”

Lumiya's eyes narrowed as she turned around to see the monster.

“Who does the pup go to?” The monster said.

“Don't Answer even one thing, and it’ll take you and me.” Austin said as he got Lumiya away and turned to run.

Lumiya's expression turned grave, and she quickened her pace to keep up with Austin's frantic running. "What do you mean, Austin? What's going on?"

Austin glanced over his shoulder, fear etched on his face. "I don't know, but that monster... it's not normal. It's like it's trying to get information out of us. And those dark blobs on the headstones... I think they're some kind of dark magic."

"I’d let my guard down because Elias was with me these days." Austin Thought

Lumiya's eyes scanned their surroundings as the monster started running. “Where are you going? Where to? Where from? Where to? Where to? Where to? Where from? Where to? Where from?” As The monster moves to attack Austin and Lumiya.

But soon afterwards, Austin sees a man.

“Allura.” He said.

“Where to?!” The monster grabs Lumiya’s head and pulls her toward it.

But the man grabs the mask of the monster and pulls Lumiya close to him.

The man held Lumiya tightly, his eyes fixed on the monster. "You shall not harm her," he commanded, his voice firm and authoritative.

The monster let out a deafening roar, its grip on Lumiya's head loosening. The man took advantage of the momentary distraction and pulled Lumiya to safety.

Austin watched in awe as he confronted the monster, his movements swift and precise. The monster was powerful, but the man's skills were unmatched.

As the battle raged on, Austin noticed something peculiar. The dark blobs on the headstones began to glow, and the air grew thick with an eerie energy.

Suddenly, the monster let out a blood-curdling scream and dissipated into nothingness. The dark blobs vanished, and the graveyard returned to its peaceful state.

The man turned to Austin and Lumiya, his expression serious. "We must leave this place. The darkness is growing, and we cannot linger."

Without another word, the man led them away from the graveyard, into the unknown. Austin glanced back, wondering what secrets lay hidden in the shadows, and what lay ahead on their perilous journey.

“U-Uh… Thank you –” Austin said.

“Ngh…!” The man clutches his shoulder and falls forward.

“What’s wrong?!” Austin asked

But the man breathes heavily and falls forward. Austin's eyes widened in alarm as he gazed at the man's wounded arm. "No, no, it's not just that. These cuts... they're not normal. They're like... dark magic wounds. I've seen them before, in the books at the Great Gray Library.”

Lumiya's expression turned grave, and she nodded in agreement. “We need to heal those wounds.”

“But I don't know how to heal these wounds.” Austin said.

Lumiya's eyes locked onto Austin's, filled with a sense of urgency. "We need to find someone who can.”

“She reminds me of Allura.” The man said.

“What, Allura?” Austin asked as the man sat up. “Your wounds!”

Just then, Shadows emerge from his body.

“Allura… Allura…Allura…” as the man transforms into a large black dog.

“The black dog…” Austin said.

In the forest. The man has transformed into his black dog form. “Allura… Allura…Allura… Allura…” the dog steps forward, and blood flows from the sound.

“Your blood!” Austin holds onto the dog

“Wait! You’re way too hurt to move, even for a fairy!”

The dog growls at Austin and Lumiya, but they hold on tighter to him.

“No, your wounds are too great.” Lumiya said as the dog continued to growl but finally collapsed.

Austin's eyes widened as he examined the dog's wounds, his mind racing with the implications. "Bite wounds and shred marks. This wasn't done by him... someone else attacked him, just like the corpse we saw earlier."

Lumiya's expression turned grim. "We need to get him to safety, and fast. Whoever did this is still out there, and we can't let them strike again."

As they struggled to lift the dog, a faint rustling sound came from the underbrush. Out stepped Jason, his eyes scanning the scene before him.

"What's going on?" he asked, his voice firm and commanding.

Austin quickly filled him in on the situation, and Jason's expression turned grave. "We need to get him to the village healer, now. I'll help carry him."

Together, the three of them managed to lift the dog and began their urgent journey to the village. As they walked, Austin couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, and that the darkness was closing in around them.

After a few minutes of walking, they finally reached the village and rushed the dog to the healer's hut. The healer, an elderly woman with a kind face, quickly examined the dog's wounds and began treating them with a mixture of herbs and magic.

As they waited anxiously for the dog to recover, Austin couldn't help but wonder who could have done such a thing, and what their motivations were. Little did he know, the truth was far more sinister than he could have ever imagined.

In the black dog’s memory. Allura sits at a lakeshore, with him at her side.

“Asta, Asta. Come.” Allura said.

“What’s the matter, Allura? Did they make fun of you for being a redhead again?

It’s such beautiful, sunset-colored hair. I’d love you no matter what color your hair was.

Allura.” Asta said.

In the present. Asta, the black dog, now awake at the healer's hut, looked up at Austin, Jason, and Lumiya, who surrounded him with concern.

"Who attacked you?" Austin asked, his voice gentle.

Asta took a deep breath before speaking. "A vampire scientist... He's creating a chimera, a monstrous creature with powers beyond our understanding."

Lumiya's eyes narrowed. "What's his name?"

"I don't know, but he's obsessed with his creation. He's been experimenting on innocent creatures, trying to perfect his chimera." Asta said.

Jason's expression turned thoughtful. "I think we can rule out the dog as the Church Grim responsible for the attacks. He's recently become a Church Grim, and his scent is different from the one we've been tracking."

Lumiya, her attention drawn to Jason's statement, turned to him with concern etched across her face. "How are your wounds? She applied medicine to them, but..." her voice trailed off, her gaze lingering on the injuries that adorned his body.

Standing nearby, Asta observed the interaction between the two, his heart stirring with a peculiar emotion. His eyes rested on Lumiya, and a profound sense of familiarity washed over him.

"You...you resemble my younger sister," Asta said, his voice barely audible. His words hung in the air, carrying the weight of a long-lost memory.

Lumiya's eyes widened in surprise, her gaze flickering from Asta to Jason. "Your sister?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Allura," Asta replied, his voice husky with emotion. "She had hair the color of a radiant sunset, and her eyes sparkled like the first tender seedlings of spring. She was about your height, with a smile that could light up a darkened sky."

As Asta spoke, a poignant sadness crept into his voice. "If you've lost each other, it's dangerous to be here alone. I'll help you find her," he said, his resolve evident.

But Lumiya shook her head slowly, her eyes brimming with a mixture of sorrow and acceptance. "There's no need," she said quietly. "She's sleeping under the dirt." The heavy weight of her words settled upon Asta's heart, leaving him with a profound sense of loss and regret.

“I see, so she’s dead? You’re quite a strange dog.” Lumiya said.

“Dog?” Asta said as he transformed into his human form. “Isabelle and I are both human.

I’ve watched over her ever since she was little. Always. I always thought she would call me with that voice.”

“I’ve met someone like you before.” Austin said,

“Were they able to be with the one they love?” Asta said.

“You could say so, but you could say otherwise, too.” Austin said.

“Say what?” Asta said.

“Where did you get those wounds?” Austin said.

“I told you, from a chimera. Please, you have to help me stop him. He's gone too far, and his creation will bring destruction upon our world." Asta said.

The group nodded in unison, determination etched on their faces.

“So what does this “vampire scientist” look like?” Jason said.

“I don’t really know. He looks like a kid, but I see all kinds of things overlapping. He has this creepy grin.” Asta began to describe the vampire scientist.

Just then, a sudden attack struck the hut. Austin pushed Asta and Lumiya aside as a large claw stabbed through Austin’s chest, taking the hit himself. Jason catches Austin as blood seeps onto his hands The group turned to face the attacker, and their eyes widened in shock.

Before them stood a chimera, its body a twisted mix of creatures. Behind it, a young boy with piercing eyes sneered at them.

“The puppy is so poorly trained. He spilled everything.” he said.

“Ngh… You!” Asta said.

“Huh? Did I get the wrong one? Oh well, what does it matter?

That boy’s just a guinea pig, isn’t he? There’s no way you’d become attached to a human.

Right, werewolf?” he said

"James," Jason said, his voice dripping with malice.

"And my precious chimera, Anubis." James added.

Jason's eyes blazed with fury as he transformed into his wolf form, ready to defend his pack against the monstrous creature and the sinister boy who controlled it.

Nine: the Black Dog

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