Archive of Our Own

Barok was taking his habitual stroll in the woods surrounding his home, gathering herbs and ingredients, when something strange in the air grabbed his attention. He went still, sharpening his senses. There were traces of magic in the air, as well as the scent of blood... Without wasting time, he let go of his basket, following the scent deeper into the woods: he had an idea of what had happened, and it wasn’t good.

As he got closer and closer to that area, his suspicions were confirmed. Around a summoning circle were the disfigured and burned bodies of five men wearing blood-stained dark tunics, all devoid of life. And, at the center of that gruesome scene, lay a small creature covered in white scales. A snake... No, a snake spirit. It had probably been summoned by those men, as many other spirits before it.

Barok gritted his teeth: summoning rituals weren’t uncommon, and when done right, both humans and spirits made a fair deal, and humans would offer the spirits something in exchange for their magic. But there were those, like the men around him, who used forbidden rituals like that one to forcefully summon a spirit and trap it in their circle, to then draw all of its essence at once, which often resulted in the spirit’s death.

They had bitten more than they could chew with that one, it seemed... Despite their efforts to restrain it, that snake had managed to attack its captors, violently taking them down with it before its essence was fully depleted. Barok sighed heavily, a sharp pain taking his chest. He had arrived too late… If only his senses were still as sharp as they once had been, maybe he could have found that ritual site before that tragedy took place. Not that he cared about those dark sorcerers—the worst that their kind had to offer—but it always pained him to find the remains of a spirit after a ritual like that took place.

Barok approached the snake, crouching before it. Carefully, he reached for it, taking it in his hands. His heart jumped when a faint feeling of living essence flowed from the snake’s body to his palms: it wasn’t dead yet. It wasn’t too late.

Its essence was almost completely depleted, though... If left on its own in that state, its chances of survival would be terribly low. But Barok had no intention of leaving it behind: he had once been a spirit as well, and after finding many corpses of his kind, he had to do something to help that one that still clung to its life.

He lifted the snake up, holding it close to his chest, covering it with his cloak.

“It’s alright,” he whispered. “I’ll take care of you.”

There was no response, but Barok hoped the poor creature could at least feel that it was safe now. He rushed back to his home, then, with the snake still in his hands, closed his eyes and focused on transferring some of his essence to it.

“Everything will be fine,” he said. “You can trust me.”

He spent some minutes like that, slow and carefully feeding the snake, stopping before its tiny and weakened body could reach its limit. Barok let it rest on his bed for the moment, then took one of his baskets, placing a pillow inside. He covered it with a small blanket, which served as a makeshift curtain, to keep the snake protected from the cold and light—and which made it look like a cradle. He then transferred the spirit to it, placing the cradle beside his bed.

Now, he could only wait—feed the spirit some of his essence every day and wait for its recovery.

After days of feeding the snake small portions of his essence, it finally regained enough strength to open its eyes. Noticing it, Barok moved closer to the spirit.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I am not your enemy.”

The snake didn’t respond, slowly glancing around with its red eyes, before raising them again to look at Barok.

“How are you feeling?” asked Barok.

The snake watched him for a moment longer, then said in a low, masculine voice. “You’re not a human…”

“No,” Barok agreed. “Though I might be more human than spirit nowadays.”

The snake nodded slowly. “You saved me, didn’t you?”

Barok shook his head. “You did most of the saving on your own. I simply took you home and fed you for a few days.”

“But I would have died if you hadn’t.” He stayed silent for a while, thinking. “I’m grateful to you. And I will return the favor.”

“There is no need to. I’ve helped you because I wanted to, not because I expected something in return.”

“Even so. You saved me, so I make a vow to stay by your side until I can properly repay you.”

The determination in his tired voice made it clear that there was no way to convince him otherwise. So, instead, Barok nodded in agreement.

“Fair enough,” he said. “How do you plan to repay me, then?”

“Is there anything you need?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“I see.” The snake considered it briefly. “Then, I shall keep you safe from those who might try to harm you.”

It was funny to hear such a tiny snake say something like that. Maybe Barok’s thoughts were reflected on his face, since soon the snake spoke again.

“I may not look like much now, but I’m among the strongest of my kind.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

And he truly didn’t. That creature had managed to break the bonds created by five sorcerers, and kill them while in a weakened state. He certainly wasn’t weak, despite his current form. The snake observed him briefly, then let out a small sigh.

“It might take me a while to recover,” he said. “But once I do, I’ll protect you from all harm. You have my word.”

“If this is your wish,” said Barok. “But, for now, you should rest and regain your strength.”

The snake circled around himself, getting comfortable on his cradle. Before Barok could walk away, however, he looked at him once again.

“Can you tell me your name?” he asked.

Barok was so used to the solitude that such a basic form of courtesy had slipped from his mind.

“Barok,” he said. “And yours?”

“Kazuma.” He paused briefly. “Well, Barok… I thank you for your hospitality.”

Barok dismissed those words with a brief gesture. “Just rest for now.”

Kazuma didn’t say another word, closing his eyes, soon going back to sleep.

After a week, Kazuma could finally leave his cradle without help, slowly slithering around Barok’s house, seeming curious. Barok simply allowed him to look around, writing in his journal until he felt something touch his foot. He looked down, only to see Kazuma struggling to climb his leg. Barok helped him, and Kazuma got on his lap, stretching his short body in an attempt to take a look at his desk.

“What are you writing?” he asked.

“The events of today,” said Barok.

Kazuma looked at him, seeming confused. “Nothing happened, though.”

“I must disagree,” said Barok. “You left your bed for the first time since you arrived.”

Kazuma blinked, surprised. “Are you writing about me?” He let out a small laugh. “I’m honored.”

“I’ve been taking notes on your improvement since I brought you home,” Barok explained. “To be honest, it is the most I have written in my journal in years.”

“Are your days that uneventful?”

“Yes, thankfully.”

Kazuma laughed once again, seeming amused. He curled into a ball on Barok’s lap, letting out a pleased sigh.

“In that case,” he said, “sorry for interrupting your peace.”

Barok couldn’t hold back a slight smile. He had spent decades alone, moving from place to place until he finally found his current home a few years before. During that time, his only interactions were the ones with the people in the nearest town, when Barok sold them his concoctions and remedies, and bought whatever he needed in return. He had tried to have pets before, but after the hard realization that he would always outlive them, Barok gave up on that idea: loneliness was still less painful than grief.

It had been a long while since he had someone to talk to like that… So, most of the time, he wasn’t sure of what to say. But that didn’t mean he didn’t appreciate Kazuma’s presence: having company was a pleasant thing, and Kazuma was surprisingly affectionate for a snake spirit.

But he won’t stay for long, Barok reminded himself. The thought was slightly painful, but he knew it was the truth: once Kazuma was strong enough to repay him and return to the spiritual world, he would have no reason to stay. And Barok would, once again, be the only one living in that small cabin in the woods.

He sighed, then held Kazuma in his hands, standing up. He crouched before Kazuma’s cradle, placing him inside, which made Kazuma look at him.

“Enough slithering for today,” said Barok. “You’re still recovering, so you should rest.”

Kazuma made a displeased noise. “I feel like that’s all I do nowadays…”

“Just endure it for a while longer. You’ll be free to do whatever you want once you’re stronger.”

Despite his clear discontentment, Kazuma didn’t protest. Barok closed the curtain of his cradle, then returned to his desk, holding his quill. He looked at his open journal for a moment, then wrote the words that first came to his mind.

I should appreciate his company while it lasts.

As those words escaped from his mind through the quill, they left a bittersweet trail behind. Barok stopped writing, glancing at Kazuma’s cradle. It wouldn’t last, he knew it… And he knew he shouldn’t get attached to someone who would soon leave his life.

But he couldn’t help himself. He had been so lonely for so long… Just once, he wanted to enjoy someone’s company without thinking of the inevitable goodbye.

Was he being a fool? Sure… But he could deal with the regrets later, when he was all alone once again.

Kazuma’s recovery was slow but steady. The clearest sign of it, other than his renewed energy, was the difference in his body’s size: when Barok first found him, Kazuma was barely longer than his open hand, and very thin. Now, he could almost circle Barok’s entire body twice—something he often did as a way to show his affection.

It also meant that, despite still not having fully recovered, he couldn’t stand the idea of staying put and resting. So, Barok started to take him along in his strolls. Sometimes, Kazuma would slither close to him, and others, would wrap himself over his shoulders. Regardless, he would ask Barok questions about everything that was new to him, to which Barok responded patiently.

The next morning, Barok would be going to the nearby town to sell the remedies he had recently prepared, so they returned home earlier than usual that evening.

“Can I go with you?” asked Kazuma.

“I’m afraid you shouldn’t,” said Barok. “Most humans are afraid of snakes.”

“Oh…” Kazuma lowered his head, disappointed. “I see.”

Barok offered him a slight, reassuring smile. “We can gather ingredients together the day after tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

But that question made something cross Barok’s mind. “Don’t you hate humans? After what those sorcerers did to you.”

Kazuma shook his head. “I know most humans aren’t like that. They’ve called me many times before, and have been kind to me in exchange for my power.” He paused, lowering his voice to an angry mutter. “Those ones, though… They deserved to die.”

Barok couldn’t disagree. “Humans aren’t evil by nature. But they aren’t always kind, either.”

“You had bad experiences too?”

“A few. But they are all in the past.” Barok sighed. “Anyway, it is getting late. We should go to sleep.”

“Alright.”

Barok watched as Kazuma got inside his cradle. It had been made with his tiny form in mind, so it didn’t seem as comfortable for his current body.

“This cradle has become quite small for you.”

“A little,” Kazuma admitted.

Barok thought for a moment, then tapped his mattress. “Come, you can sleep in the bed.”

Kazuma looked at him, surprised. “Really?”

“Of course.”

He seemed delighted by the idea, quickly crawling up the bed. Kazuma moved closer, lightly rubbing his head against Barok’s chest before curling into a ball next to him. Barok lightly caressed his head with his finger, then closed his eyes, soon falling asleep.

For the following days, it became habitual for Barok to wake up with Kazuma by his side. For that reason, when he woke up without that familiar presence close to his body, it startled him. He opened his eyes, jolting up, looking around the house.

“Ah, good morning!”

There was someone there… A man he had never seen before, with white hair and bright red eyes.

“Who…?”

The man furrowed his brow. “Do you really need to ask?”

The voice was familiar enough, but when Barok lowered his eyes, he could see that the lower half of that man’s body was that of a white snake.

“Kazuma?”

Kazuma smiled at him, looking down at his own body. “Looks like I can finally go back to my true form.”

Barok could do nothing but look at him. He was used to Kazuma as a cute little snake, so… He wasn’t prepared to see him looking that handsome. Noticing it, Kazuma grinned, amused.

“What?” he asked. “Am I that pretty?”

Barok chose not to voice his thoughts, shaking his head. “I was just surprised… But I’m glad you’ve regained your strength.” He paused, observing Kazuma with more attention. “Are you feeling well?”

“I feel great! And, actually… There’s something else I want to show you.”

Barok sat on the border of his bed, slightly intrigued. Kazuma closed his eyes, focusing for a second before his body changed—the pale skin gaining a more human color, white hair becoming black, and red eyes darkening until they seemed reddish-brown. But, more importantly, his snake body gave place to a pair of human legs. For a moment, Kazuma almost lost his balance, but he managed to stay up by grabbing the hand Barok offered him.

“See?” said Kazuma with an excited smile. “Just a human.”

“Impressive.”

“To be honest, I’ve been trying this for a while…” he admitted. “But this is the first time it worked this well.”

“Is it because you wanted to visit the town?”

“Well… Mostly, yes. But I was also curious, after seeing you live as a human for so long.” He looked at his lower body. “I can’t deny that legs are a little confusing, though.”

That comment made Barok smile. “You’ll get used to it.”

Kazuma thought for a moment. “Can’t you help me train? Go out for a walk, or something.”

“Once I’m done with my work, of course.”

Surprisingly, those words made Kazuma’s face brighten. “I can help you with it, now that I have my hands back.”

“If you don’t mind it.”

Truth was, Barok didn’t need help, but Kazuma seemed so excited with the idea of being useful to him that he simply couldn’t say no. So, he taught Kazuma how to prepare the simplest concoctions, keeping an eye on him while working on his own. To his surprise, he was a fast learner, and soon they were both done.

They went outside together, Kazuma in his human form, taking small, careful steps, with his arm linked to Barok’s for support.

“This is hard,” he complained.

“You’ve just started.”

He sighed, impatient. “I know…”

Barok observed him. He was wearing Barok’s clothes, which were much bigger than his ideal size, and made him look quite small. That, along with his low complaints, made for an endearing sight.

“We need to buy clothes your size,” said Barok.

“Seems like it…” Kazuma raised his arm, looking at the sleeve that covered most of his hand. He then brought it to his nose. “These ones smell like you, though.”

A warm feeling spread from Barok’s neck to the tips of his ears, but he chose to ignore it—it was dark, so it wasn’t like Kazuma could see the color of his face.

“Well, they are mine,” he said, instead.

“Were,” Kazuma corrected with a grin. “I like these ones.”

“I just told you we’ll buy clothes your size.”

“And I said I like these.”

There was no arguing with that snake… Not that it bothered Barok. They walked for a while longer, until Kazuma suddenly stopped.

“This is tiring…” he said.

“Had enough for today?”

“I think so.”

Barok nodded. “Want me to carry you back?”

Kazuma considered it for a moment. “No. There’s no one around, right?” In a moment, he changed into his true form. “It should be nice to go for a run like this.”

The idea amused Barok. “In that case…”

He focused for a second, then changed into his silver wolf form. Kazuma looked at him, seeming pleased. Then, in a silent agreement, they both ran through those woods as fast as they could.

Why didn’t he do that more often? The feeling of his paws against the ground, and of the cold air against his face and fur were amazing—energizing. They kept up like that for a few minutes, until Kazuma stopped.

“Come on…” he said, slightly out of breath. “I can’t keep up with you like this.”

Barok couldn’t hold back a small laugh. “Are you sure you don’t want me to carry you?”

“You know… I think I changed my mind.”

Kazuma changed into his snake form, climbing on Barok’s back, wrapping himself around his neck.

“Hold on tight,” said Barok.

He went back to running, and that powerful feeling grew inside him with every step. He made his way to the river, then took the long way back to his house. When he transformed back, he was sweaty and out of breath, but feeling alive in a way he hadn’t in a long time.

“This always feels great,” he said.

Kazuma giggled, amused. “Being a wolf suits you.”

“I suppose it does.”

But he spent so much time worrying about not being discovered that, sometimes, he forgot about his true nature.

They washed themselves, and Kazuma used his magic to light up the stove, which warmed up the room. The coziness and his tired body made Barok start to feel sleepy. He was almost dozing off when Kazuma’s voice grabbed his attention.

“Out of curiosity…” he said. “Why did you choose to live as a human?”

Barok smiled bitterly. “It was a foolish decision I made when I was young. I thought I could use my knowledge to help humans… Heal their ailments, and make their lives longer and less painful. I thought that, if I disguised myself, I would be able to live among them.” He made a heavy pause. “But, sooner or later, they always noticed something about me was… different.”

“Did they react badly?”

“I was called a witch more than once. Some feared me, others tried to hunt me.” He shook his head. “Regardless, I always had to leave. I moved from town to town, never staying long in a single place, and eventually… I realized it was better for me to live alone, far from others.”

Kazuma studied his expression for a moment. “And are you fine with this?”

“I wouldn’t say fine. But this is how things are.”

“Why don’t you go back to the spiritual world, then?”

“I tried to,” Barok admitted. “But I’ve been in this place for too long. Going back was… Suffocating. As if I was in the wrong place, and desperate to leave. I didn’t belong there anymore… No more than I belong here.”

Kazuma lowered his gaze, silent for a moment. “But some humans like us, right? They even summon us for help.”

“They like us as long as we are in a different world, and only respond when they call.”

“That’s… pretty sad. There must be some that are different, though.”

“Perhaps.”

As he said that, a yawn took half of that word. Kazuma smiled at him.

“Tired?” he asked.

“It has been a long while since I last ran that much.”

“We should go to bed, then. It’s getting pretty late.”

Barok agreed. He lay down on his bed, and soon Kazuma did the same, still in his human form. Barok looked at him, surprised.

“Are you…?”

“Yes?”

Judging by his expression, Kazuma didn’t see anything strange in that situation. Maybe he was the one overthinking it…

“Nothing…” he said.

But Kazuma kept looking at him for a while longer, as if trying to read his mind. “Is the bed too crowded?”

“No… It’s fine like this.”

“Alright, then.” Kazuma grinned, seeming pleased. “Good night.”

He rubbed his head against Barok’s chest, as he always did in his snake form. Barok hesitated for just a moment, then caressed his hair in response, feeling Kazuma relax close to him.

Barok could easily get used to that kind of thing.

Once Kazuma got more used to walking in his human form, Barok finally allowed him to accompany him on his trip to the nearby town.

As usual, that snake spirit was quite curious, and Barok often had to remind him not to draw much attention to them. Kazuma didn’t seem pleased, but didn’t argue either.

As they walked, Barok felt a drop fall on his face. He instinctively looked up, at the sky that was quickly becoming darker.

“It is about to rain,” he said with a tired sigh. “We should make haste.”

“Do you dislike the rain?”

“Not necessarily,” said Barok. “But I’d rather not be outside when it rains. Especially in this human form… The clothes can get quite heavy and cold.”

“Makes sense… I don’t like feeling cold, either.”

In a silent agreement, the two of them started to walk faster. Some time later, Barok was done selling the remedies and buying everything they needed until the next visit. The rain had also become stronger in that short time, to their displeasure.

“Looks like we were too slow…” said Kazuma, wrapping his cloak around his body.

“Unfortunately.” Barok glanced at the sky, then at Kazuma. “It will be an unpleasant trip back, but we can have a warm bath once we are home.”

Kazuma’s face brightened a little. “Sounds good.”

As they approached the entrance to the town, however, the sound of concerned voices soon grabbed their attention. Two people—a black-haired man and a young woman—walked toward each other with distressed expressions.

“Did you find them, Ryunosuke?” asked the young woman.

“No…” The man called Ryunosuke shook his head. “Your father and Sholmes are still looking, but they’re not in the usual place.”

“Where could they have gone to?” The young woman bit her lip, glancing toward the woods. “Do you think they were attacked by some animal? Or maybe…”

“Susato, calm down…” Ryunosuke placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll find them.”

Something was clearly amiss. Years before, Barok would have gladly offered to help, but now… It would be much easier to just keep walking and pretend he didn’t notice anything.

Before he could walk away, however, Kazuma stepped forward, approaching those two.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

The question seemed to surprise the two humans. Barok feared they would somehow see through their disguises, but instead, they spoke to Kazuma as if he was one of their own.

“Two little girls…” The young woman, Susato, explained. “They went to play in the woods but didn’t come back. We tried to search for them, but…”

“The woods?” Kazuma furrowed his brow. “Isn’t it dangerous for human kids?”

“Human…?” Ryunosuke blinked, confused. “I mean, yes… They never go too far, but today… We don’t know what happened.”

“I hope they’re not hurt…” added Susato in a low voice.

Kazuma looked at Barok, and no words were needed to make it clear what was going through his mind. Barok hesitated: he tried to keep a distance from humans, never interacting with them more than necessary, afraid of the inevitable consequences. Still… He wasn’t heartless enough to ignore two lost children in need of rescue.

“We’ll help you find them,” he said.

Kazuma smiled, and the two humans looked at him with a glint of hope in their eyes.

“Will you?” asked Susato.

“Of course,” said Barok. “Where do they usually go to play?”

“Not very far.” Ryunosuke glanced toward the woods, then back at them. “We’ll take you there.”

They left their belongings at Ryunosuke’s house, then followed those two into the woods, which looked much darker and less welcoming under the rain. Not too far from the entrance, there was a small wooden house, a swing, and a few other toys, but no sign of any children to play with them.

“They usually play here during the day,” Susato explained. “We told them to come back home if it started to rain, but…” She stopped talking for a second. “They never did this before… Where could they have gone to?”

She seemed about to start crying. Kazuma looked at her face, then, as if imitating the gesture he saw from Ryunosuke earlier, placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Keep looking,” he said. “We’ll do the same. Soon we’ll bring them back home.”

Susato and Ryunosuke agreed, then moved away, starting their search. Kazuma turned to face Barok, who had quietly started that search a minute before, after getting the scent from one of those toys.

“I can smell them…” said Barok. “They shouldn’t be too far.”

Kazuma nodded. “Alright, let’s go.”

Barok followed their scent. It was a little harder with the rain, but soon he could also hear the distant sounds of cries.

“Here…” he said. “They are close.”

Kazuma followed him. They reached a ravine, and there, covered in mud and knee-deep in rainwater, were two children not much older than six.

“They are here,” said Barok.

His voice made the girls look up at them.

“Help us…!” screamed one of them.

“We want to go home…” whimpered the other one.

“It’s alright,” Kazuma responded, “we’ll get you out of there!” He then looked at Barok. “We’ll need to…”

“I know,” said Barok. “I’ll go down there. You help us get back up.”

“Alright. Be careful.”

Barok took a deep breath, then changed into his wolf form. The ground was slippery, but his four paws and sharp claws helped make the way down a bit easier. The two girls stared at him, wide-eyed.

“Don’t be afraid…” he said. “We are here to help. Can you climb on my back?”

The girls were so terrified that they didn’t question him, doing as he said, holding as tightly as they could. Barok then started to climb up, which was more difficult under the rain. The girls screamed when his paw slipped, but Barok managed to stay firmly in place.

“We’re almost there,” he said. “Just hold on.”

The girls cried in fear, but still held tightly. With effort, he managed to climb up little by little. As he got closer to the top, Kazuma wrapped his tail around a nearby tree, then leaned down, reaching toward Barok, taking one of the girls from his back, bringing her up to safety. He did the same with the other girl, and then finally reached for Barok himself, helping him climb that slippery surface until he reached the stable ground.

“Are you alright?” asked Kazuma.

“I’m fine.” He turned his gaze to the children. “Are you two hurt?”

The girls shook their heads, staring wide-eyed at them. Only then did it cross Barok’s mind that they were still in their true forms. Quickly, he returned to his human form, and a second later Kazuma did the same. If anything, that transformation only seemed to leave the girls even more baffled.

Barok almost expected them to cry or scream in fear, but instead, they looked at the two of them with expressions close to wonder.

“Mister,” said the girl with white hair, “is it true that you’re a witch?”

The blond girl stared at her. “Maria…!”

Maria shrugged, as if unable to understand the reason for the reproach.

Barok looked away for a moment. He could try to deny it, but… Would it really make a difference after everything they had witnessed?

“In a way, I suppose,” he said in a low voice.

Maria’s eyes glowed with interest. “Really?”

“Wow…” The blond girl’s fascination was accompanied by some confusion. “But aren’t witches supposed to be bad?”

“Not all witches are bad,” said Kazuma in a reassuring tone. “My friend Barok and I only want to help humans.”

“Is that why you helped us?” asked Maria.

Kazuma grinned. “That’s right.”

The girls exchanged an excited glance before looking at them again.

“Thank you, Mr. Wolf and Mr. Snake,” said Maria with a small bow.

“Yeah,” agreed the other. “Thanks!”

Barok shook his head. “You don’t need to thank us.”

The blond girl grinned. “I always thought you were scary… But you’re cool. I’m Gina, by the way. And this here is my friend, Ria.”

“Maria,” she corrected.

“And we’re Kazuma and Barok,” said Kazuma. “But we should go back now, everyone in town was worried about you two.”

Gina seemed to shrink under those words. “Sooze will be so mad…”

“She won’t be mad…” Kazuma paused. “Maybe a little, but that’s because she was really worried about you two.”

Maria nodded, looking down. “We… wanted to go on an adventure.”

“We kept it a secret…” Gina continued. “We thought it wasn’t that dangerous, and that the adults were exaggerating.”

They sounded terribly sorry, which made it difficult to reproach them for what they did—not that it was their place to do so.

“What matters is that you are safe now,” said Barok.

“That’s right,” said Kazuma. “And now you know better. You should never do something like this again.”

“Indeed,” Barok agreed. “Always tell the adults where you are going, so they can find you if you ever get in trouble again.”

The girls muttered an “alright” in response. They stayed silent for a moment, until Gina grimaced, placing a hand on her stomach.

“I’m hungry.”

“Me too,” said Maria.

“We should return soon, then.” Barok gestured toward his back. “Come, I’ll carry one of you. Kazuma will carry the other one.”

The idea seemed to lift their moods. Gina and Maria debated for a moment who would go with Mr. Wolf and who would go with Mr. Snake. In the end, Barok carried Maria on his back, while Kazuma did the same with Gina, both girls talking and laughing the entire way back, as if the scare from minutes before had already been forgotten.

As they approached that playing area at the edge of the woods, they could see Ryunosuke and Susato coming from the opposite direction. As soon as they saw the girls, both rushed in their direction.

“Gina! Maria!”

Barok and Kazuma placed the girls down, and they ran toward the other two, allowing them to hug them both in relief.

“Thank the Gods you’re safe…” said Susato.

“Are you hurt anywhere?” asked Ryunosuke.

Gina grinned. “We’re fine!”

“The witches saved us,” added Maria.

Ryunosuke furrowed his brow. “Witches?”

Susato looked at Barok and Kazuma. “Ah, I’m sorry!” She glanced at the girls, speaking in a disapproving tone. “You two… You shouldn’t say these things.”

“But it’s true!” Gina glanced at them, as if asking for help. “Isn’t it?”

Barok froze, unsure of how to respond. Thankfully, Kazuma spoke before the silence could raise their suspicion.

“Of course,” said Kazuma in a confident, just slightly playful tone. “We’re good witches, always ready to help.”

His words brought a faint, amused smile to Susato’s lips. “I see. Thank you very much, my good witches.” She looked at the girls. “Did you two thank them?”

“Thank you!” said the kids.

“You two must be freezing…” said Ryunosuke. “We should go back now, before they catch a cold.”

“You’re right.” She looked at the girls. “Come on, I’ll prepare a hot bath for you two.”

“I’m hungry…” Gina complained.

“You can have dinner after we get rid of all that mud.”

Susato extended her hands to the girls, and each held one. Before walking away, Susato looked at Barok and Kazuma once again. “How can we ever repay you for this?”

“There is nothing to thank us for,” said Barok. “We simply helped two children in need.”

In fact, all that gratitude was making him feel a little strange. All Barok wanted was to go home, but then he remembered that they still needed to retrieve their belongings from Ryunosuke and Susato’s house. They followed the others back to the town, entering that house next to the bakery.

“Don’t you want to stay for dinner?” asked Susato.

The two little girls looked at them with expectant gazes.

“Thank you, but we must refuse,” said Barok. “We still have a long way back home, and we should go while the rain is lighter.”

Gina and Maria seemed to wilt under that response. Barok glanced at Kazuma, who seemed slightly disappointed as well.

“That’s a pity…” Susato said, then offered them a smile. “But you are welcome to join us for lunch during your next visit. Right?”

The girls quickly agreed. Not wanting to disappoint them or Kazuma, Barok nodded in response. Susato’s smile widened.

“I hope you have a safe trip back home,” she said. “Goodbye, and thank you again for your help.”

“Bye, witches!” said Gina.

Maria waved her hand. “Bye-bye.”

“I told you not to call them that…” Susato sighed. “Come, let’s give you two a good bath.”

Susato and the girls walked down the corridor, disappearing from their view. Then, in a moment, Ryunosuke was next to them, carrying a small, carefully wrapped bundle.

“Here, have this,” he said. “It isn’t much, but I hope you’ll accept it.”

Kazuma took that bundle, bringing it closer to his face. “It smells good.”

“It’s our most popular bread,” Ryunosuke explained. “Susato and her mom baked it themselves. This is the last loaf.” He paused. “I tried to cover it as well as I could, so hopefully it will survive the rain on your way back.”

Barok glanced at it: judging by the thick layers of fabric around it, that loaf of bread would be much safer from the rain than he or Kazuma.

“We’ll make sure to enjoy it.” Kazuma smiled, then looked at Barok. “Right?”

“Yes…” Barok managed a slight smile. “Thank you.”

Ryunosuke guided them to the entrance, waving goodbye as they walked away.

“They don’t seem that bad, don’t you think?” asked Kazuma.

“I suppose…” Barok sighed. “I just hope they don’t suddenly appear with torches at our home.”

Kazuma stared at him. “Did that happen before?”

“Yes.”

There were a few seconds of silence between them. Kazuma lowered his eyes, a shadow of guilt covering his face.

“I… Sorry, I…” He struggled with the words, speaking in a low voice. “I didn’t think much about this. I should have been more careful.”

Barok shook his head. “No, it’s fine. Those girls needed our help. And… It wouldn’t be the first time I have to leave my home.”

Kazuma didn’t answer. He glanced at that loaf of bread in his hands, then looked at Barok.

“If anyone tries to hurt you, I’ll keep you safe,” he said.

“I know.” Barok offered him a slight smile. “Thank you.”

Kazuma nodded. He held the bread with one hand, then wrapped the free one around Barok’s arm.

“You’re cold,” said Kazuma.

“We both need a bath.”

“I’ll make sure it’s warm.”

Despite the worries in Barok’s mind, those words made him feel a little better.

“Alright.”

Maria and Gina were playing on the street. Not far from them was Ryunosuke, who talked to the tall, blond apothecary, who often bought Barok’s medicine. As they got closer, Gina noticed their presence.

“Look!” Gina pointed at them with a wide grin. “It’s our witches!”

Maria looked at them, then waved her hand. “Hello, Mr. Wolf and Mr. Snake.”

Ryunosuke looked over his shoulder, then offered them a friendly smile. “Ah, good morning!”

Kazuma returned the smile. “Good morning!”

“Oh…” Barok lowered his eyes, unsure of how to respond. “Good morning…”

“Witches!”

Gina and Maria started to run in circles around them while chanting “witches” until Ryunosuke managed to stop them. The blond man watched them, letting out a low, amused laugh.

“It seems like you two became quite popular with our young ones,” he said.

Kazuma nodded. “They’re good kids.”

“Indeed,” said Barok.

The blond man observed them for a moment. “Just calling you ’Mr. Wolf’ and ’Mr. Snake’ doesn’t feel quite right, though… May I ask your actual names?”

“I’m Kazuma, and this is Barok.”

“And I am Sholmes.” The man smiled. “Well, Barok… We’ve known each other for quite a while, but never had the chance to have a proper conversation, have we?”

“True.”

“He’s a little shy,” said Kazuma.

“Makes sense.” Sholmes turned his gaze to Kazuma. “But I hope you know that, after helping our little ones, you are both considered friends by us all. Besides, I should let you know that the medicine you bring us has helped many in our town.”

Hearing that made Barok feel warm inside. “I’m glad to know.”

“And I am glad that we have our own witches to rely on.”

Sholmes winked at them. Then, in the next second, Gina and Maria escaped from Ryunosuke, once again getting close to Barok and Kazuma.

“Can you play with us?” asked Maria.

Gina grabbed their sleeves, pulling them. “Please, please, please?”

Once again, Barok had no idea what to say. He looked at Kazuma, who shrugged with an amused smile.

“We have some things to do now.” Barok hesitated briefly. “But…”

“When we’re done, we’ll play with you,” Kazuma added.

Their expressions brightened. The girls went back to playing together while Barok and Kazuma did what they needed to, with the promise of coming back.

Their visits to the town became much warmer since that day. Sholmes wasn’t lying when he said the two of them were their town’s friends now, and it only became clearer every time they were invited by someone to stay for lunch or supper, or just to have some tea and talk for a while.

Barok caught himself enjoying it all. The realization was accompanied by a bitterness he couldn’t ignore: he would eventually watch them all grow old, and then pass away. That was his curse as someone with a lifespan much longer than most beings in the human world—they were all meant to leave him, sooner or later.

Once those thoughts filled his mind, Barok couldn’t get rid of them, nor enjoy those moments as purely as he once did. Yes… He knew that was how it would end. Eventually, he would be all alone again, so why was he making things harder for himself? He would be fine as long as he kept his distance from others—he couldn’t miss a closeness he had never known.

That feeling only became worse when he realized the true weight of his choices: he wasn’t dooming only himself to that future full of grief and regrets, but also Kazuma, whose fate became closer and closer to his own with every day he spent in the human world. Barok had ignored it for as long as he could, but he couldn’t indulge in his selfishness for longer—if he did, someone precious to him would be cursed to live a life as lonely as his own.

But touching that subject would also mean the end of their days together. Barok didn’t want it… He knew he had to put an end to it, but the thought was enough to fill his chest with an unbearable pain.

He watched Kazuma quietly from his desk, struggling with those thoughts while his companion read on the bed. As if sensing his gaze, Kazuma looked up; their eyes met for a second, and Barok quickly turned his gaze away—as he feared, he wasn’t ready yet.

Barok kept his gaze low as he heard Kazuma approaching, until he stopped by his side. He stayed there for a moment, silent, and Barok couldn’t look at his face.

“So…” said Kazuma, finally. “When are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

“Pardon?”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice it?” With a sigh, Kazuma brought a hand to Barok’s chin, lifting it so he would look at him. “What’s wrong, Barok? Was it something I did?”

The thought that he made Kazuma worry only made his chest feel heavier. Yet, the guilt turned into bitterness as soon as he opened his mouth.

“More importantly, why are you still here?”

The question seemed to catch Kazuma off-guard. “What?”

“Whatever debt you owed me, has long been repaid,” said Barok. “There is nothing binding you to me.”

Kazuma simply observed him for a moment, confused. “Of course there is. I said I’d keep you safe, and I will.”

“Are you planning to protect me for our entire lives, then?”

“Well… yes.”

He spoke as if that was an obvious thing. Barok shook his head. “I cannot accept it. I didn’t save your life so you would live for the sake of mine.”

Kazuma’s confusion slowly gave place to caution as he asked, “What are you suggesting?”

“You are free to do what you want. To go wherever you want. You shouldn’t stay in this old cabin, with an old wolf, just because I rescued you.”

“And if I choose to stay?”

Barok didn’t want to have hope… No, worse than that, he didn’t want to trap Kazuma in that world, like himself.

“Your place isn’t here,” he explained in a calm voice. “A spirit doesn’t belong in the human world… I know this better than anyone.”

Kazuma averted his gaze, staying quiet for a few seconds before speaking in a low voice. “But what if my place is with you?”

Barok’s heart ached. “Don’t make this harder for us…” He tried so hard to sound calm. “You have your place, and I have mine. And they are not the same.”

“They could be.”

“Kazuma, please.”

Again, Kazuma went silent. He stayed like that, quietly staring at the floor for a long while. Then, to Barok’s surprise, he met his gaze again, a smile taking his lips.

“Why don’t you make me your husband, then?”

Those words were so unexpected that it took Barok a moment to understand what he had just heard. And, only then, did his heart skip a beat. “What…?”

Kazuma’s smile widened. He moved closer to Barok, then sat on his lap, wrapping his arms around his neck, looking into his eyes as he spoke in a soft voice.

“If you did, my place would always be by your side.” He moved his face closer, until their foreheads touched. “And I wouldn’t need to depend on a vow to keep you safe from harm… I would just stay here, with you. You would be mine, and I would be yours…” His face was so close Barok could feel Kazuma’s lips lightly brush against his. “And I would do anything for you…”

Barok couldn’t respond. Did Kazuma have any idea what that all meant? Or was he just repeating the things he heard and saw in the human world, believing they carried no deeper meaning?

“Stop this,” asked Barok, gently pushing him away.

Kazuma’s smile faded. “Why? Do you really not want it?”

Barok shook his head as he responded. “I told you… I don’t need you to keep me safe. I don’t want your gratitude.”

For a moment, Kazuma did nothing but stare at him. Then, he jumped off Barok’s lap, his face red—not out of joy or embarrassment, but anger.

“Is that really what you think it is?” he asked.

Barok opened his mouth, but couldn’t respond. His silence made Kazuma narrow his eyes.

“Yes, it’s true that I decided to protect you because you saved me,” Kazuma continued. “But I wouldn’t offer my heart and body to someone out of gratitude. Do you really think I would? Do you think that’s the reason why I want to stay here?”

“I just don’t want you to regret—”

“Shut up!”

His loud voice made Barok go silent. Kazuma crossed his arms and looked away from him.

“If you want to push me away,” Kazuma muttered, “then stop hiding behind these excuses and do it properly.”

That was the last thing Barok wanted to do—even if part of him knew it was the right thing. Still, when he tried to turn his feelings into words, all that left his mouth was, “This is not what I meant.”

“What did you mean, then?” Kazuma asked with a sharp voice. “You keep giving me hope, just to reject me again and again… I have no idea what you want, and I can’t… I can’t do this anymore.”

Kazuma stopped talking, taking a deep breath in an attempt to recompose himself.

“Barok,” he continued in a lower voice. “Just this once, tell me what you really want.”

I want you. I want to be with you. I want you to stay here. I want us to stay together. I want…

“I just want what’s best for you,” he said, instead.

He knew he said the wrong words as soon as he saw Kazuma’s expression. Not anger, but something between disappointment and heartbreak. He turned away from Barok, as if unable to look at his face.

“When will you stop deciding what’s best for me, and actually ask me what I want?”

“Kazuma…”

But Kazuma didn’t wait for his response, hastily crossing the cabin, opening the door and leaving it. Barok stayed in place, looking at that closed door.

It was better that way… Wasn’t it?

Barok gritted his teeth. No… How was that fine in any way? The reason why he wanted Kazuma to leave was so he would never have an expression like that on his face. And yet, he was the one who…

Those thoughts kept spiraling out of his control. Kazuma had a point: Barok had never listened to him when it came to that subject. He was afraid that Kazuma would choose to leave, but even more that he would choose to stay and regret it—to the point of hating Barok for it.

He just never told Kazuma any of that. And maybe he should… The more he thought about it, the more Kazuma’s reaction made sense to him. Instead of making that choice for him, they should actually discuss what was the best thing to do in that situation.

How ironic that, the person who taught him to open up to others was also the one he was the most terrified of being honest to. But not anymore: Barok would make sure to properly voice his worries and feelings when Kazuma came back.

He was taking a long time to come back, though… Way too long.

As time passed, a bad feeling grew inside Barok’s chest. Unable to ignore it, he left his house, looking for Kazuma in those woods. It didn’t take long for something in the air to chill his bones: magic, of the most despicable kind.

A ritual… Just like the one that almost killed Kazuma.

Without wasting another second, Barok ran deeper and deeper into those woods. The stench of that forbidden magic was enough to make him sick, but he didn’t stop running—not until he reached that ritual site.

Kazuma wasn’t there. Instead, a Satyr spirit was chained by that forbidden magic while the dark sorcerers drained him of his essence. Moved by nothing but rage and instinct, Barok changed into his wolf form, pushing, biting, and clawing his way through that group to reach the spirit. He broke that magic circle with his own paws and essence, disrupting the ritual and freeing the spirit from its bonds, allowing it to return to the spiritual world.

It all happened fast. Barok barely had the time to feel relief before those men jumped on him, keeping him in place while they rebuilt that circle, now with him in the center of it. He couldn’t move. An agonizing pain filled him whole as his essence was forcibly taken from him, but Barok couldn’t fight back.

He had been careless… And yet, he didn’t regret it—that spirit was free, and that was what mattered. No, his only regret was that last moment he had with Kazuma. He should have been honest with him… Should have told him how important the time they shared was to Barok; that, when he said he would become his husband, part of Barok felt nothing but joy at the thought.

But he hadn’t, and now his biggest fear was coming true: he was going to die alone.

Barok closed his eyes, struggling to stay conscious as all strength left his body. Suddenly, however, the pain stopped—in its place, there were sharp sounds and voices all around him. The smell of smoke filled the air. Barok tried to open his eyes, but was too weak to do so. Soon, those noises stopped, and Barok felt his body being lifted from the ground by a pair of strong arms.

“Barok!”

That voice… Barok made a new effort to open his eyes, looking at the man crouched beside him. His vision was hazy, but there was no way he wouldn’t recognize that face. Barok tried to speak, but the words were so weak they were barely audible.

“I’m sorry…”

Kazuma shook his head. “It’s alright… I’ll take you back home.”

He held Barok close to his chest as he quickly crossed those woods. Barok felt so small in his arms… Only then did it cross his mind that his physical form should be much smaller after losing so much essence. Just like Kazuma’s on the day they met.

Kazuma… He had come for him. That thought filled him with warmth, and Barok couldn’t help but close his eyes, comforted by the feeling of Kazuma so close to him.

When Barok woke up, he was lying on his bed with Kazuma by his side, hugging him close to his chest. The feeling of Kazuma’s essence flowing into his body was warm and comforting, and almost made Barok want to fall asleep once again. Instead, he raised his head to look at Kazuma.

As he thought, his body was much smaller after that incident—like a domestic dog’s, he thought with some embarrassment. Noticing his movements, Kazuma looked at him. His worried expression was taken by relief.

“You’re awake…”

His words were followed by a tight hug. Barok couldn’t stop his tail from wagging at the feeling: Kazuma was there… It wasn’t over yet.

They stayed like that, in that comforting embrace for a long while, until Kazuma finally spoke in a low, slightly trembling voice. “I’m sorry… I said I would keep you safe, and yet… When you needed me, I wasn’t there.”

His words caught Barok by surprise. “What are you saying? You saved my life.”

“But I couldn’t stop them from hurting you.”

Barok rubbed his head against Kazuma’s chin. “Back then, I couldn’t stop those sorcerers from hurting you, either. All I could do was bring you home and care for you.”

Kazuma moved slightly away, silently looking at Barok for a while, seeming deep in thought.

“We’re equals now, aren’t we?” He asked, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “No debts left to be paid.”

“I suppose so.”

“That’s good.”

The relief was clear in his voice and expression. Barok hadn’t realized the weight that vow had on Kazuma until he was finally free from it. It was good, sure… But it also terrified him to no end—he was such a hypocrite.

“What are you going to do now?” asked Barok.

“First of all—” Kazuma smiled, lightly tapping Barok’s nose with his finger. “—I’ll take care of this stubborn old wolf until he recovers.”

The affection in his voice felt sweet, but Barok couldn’t let go of that subject yet. “And then?”

Kazuma stayed silent, his face serious once again. “Do you want me to leave?”

“I never said this.”

“Do you want me to stay, then?”

Barok couldn’t answer. He wanted to—needed to—but those fears kept the words trapped in his throat.

“Barok…” Kazuma spoke in a gentle voice. “If you want me to go, just tell me clearly. If you keep telling me it’s for my own good, and finding excuses to push me away, I’ll just keep finding even more excuses to come back to you.”

Barok knew it was true—and hated how happy it made him feel.

“I know what it means to stay here with you,” Kazuma continued. “I know what I’d be leaving behind. But I’d still choose to stay, if I knew you wanted me by your side. So…” He lowered his voice. “Just this once, don’t give me any excuses. Just tell me what you want.”

“I want…”

The guilt grew inside Barok, but this time he didn’t listen to it: he almost lost his chance to say those words once, he wouldn’t risk it happening again.

“I want you to stay with me.”

Finally saying it was like getting rid of an unbearable weight. Kazuma smiled widely—maybe hearing those words had a similar effect on him.

“This is all I needed to know,” said Kazuma.

Barok nodded, hesitating before asking. “What are you planning to do, then?”

“I choose to stay,” said Kazuma. “If I didn’t, I would regret it for my entire life. This is my home… I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

“Then, stay.” Barok rested his head against Kazuma’s chest, letting out a long, relieved sigh. “Stay here with me.”

He wished he could hold Kazuma close, but his small size wouldn’t allow him to. So, instead, Kazuma was the one to hold him, so gently Barok didn’t even know how to feel—happy, worried, relieved, about to cry… All of it at the same time. And yet, none of it came close to the feeling of pure love he felt for that snake spirit.

A few weeks later, just as Barok’s body recovered to its normal wolf size, he was surprised by visitors when Kazuma returned home.

“We heard that our dear Mr. Wolf was bedridden, and decided to make a small surprise,” said Sholmes.

“Mr. Wolf!”

Gina and Maria ran to him, hugging him so tightly it was almost painful—and yet, Barok didn’t mind it. Instead, he looked at those people with confusion: Sholmes, Mikotoba, Ayame, Ryunosuke, and Susato… The closest friends he had in that town, all looking at him in his wolf form without any sign of fear.

“I don’t understand…” said Barok. “Why are you here?”

“Because we were worried about you, of course,” said Susato.

Barok turned his gaze to Kazuma, who looked away with a guilty expression. Before he could apologize, however, Barok spoke.

“Should I blame you for my interrupted rest?”

The playful question made him relax. “I thought you were bored, here on your own.”

“Not anymore, my dear,” Sholmes grinned. “We shall liven up your afternoon.”

Barok forced a resigned sigh that didn’t convince anyone—not even himself. Truth was, he was happy: after all that time, and how close they had become, part of him still believed they would turn away in fear when they saw him for what he truly was. But, just like those two little girls, they accepted him. And Barok would never be able to voice how much that meant to him—not that he would ever try to.

Instead, he enjoyed that afternoon with them by his side; and, when they left with a promise to return soon, he couldn’t help but feel just a bit sad.

“Isn’t it strange?” he asked.

Kazuma looked at him. “What is?”

“That someone who lived alone for such a long time, now can barely stand a few hours on his own.”

His words made Kazuma smile. “I’m glad you liked the visit.” He paused, averting his gaze. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure you would.”

With reason, given how strongly Barok once felt about keeping an emotional distance from humans.

“It was surprising,” he admitted. “But I needed it.”

Kazuma sat at the border of his bed, caressing Barok’s fur. “They really care about you.” He paused, giving Barok a light kiss on his head. “And so do I.”

Barok knew how much Kazuma cared for him, and yet, he would probably never have enough of hearing it from his lips.

“Would you listen to a selfish request of mine?” asked Barok.

Kazuma smiled. “Go on.”

Barok took a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts before finally speaking. “I am still terrified of the future. Of what might happen to you, and then… Of me being alone again. But I don’t want to be. I want to enjoy this…” He looked Kazuma in the eyes. “Regardless of how long it lasts, I want to enjoy this life by your side, for as long as we live.”

His words seemed to please Kazuma. “In that case, you really should make me your husband.”

“Are you sure?” Barok asked, still a bit hesitant. “There is no going back from it.”

Kazuma barely contained an amused grin as he caressed Barok’s ears. “I am sure.”

Barok sighed, relieved. He tried to push Kazuma into a hug, but all he managed to do in his still weak wolf form was touch his arm with his paw.

“I wish I had my human body,” he said.

Kazuma giggled. “Well…”

In a moment, Kazuma turned into a snake, then wrapped himself around Barok with a pleased hum. He looked at Barok’s face, then pressed their noses together in the best version of a kiss they could have in those forms—which was enough to fill Barok’s chest with warmth.

No matter the form of their bodies, the proximity was always pleasant. Still, Barok wished he would recover just a little faster, so he would be able to use that body he learned to accept and love as his own to hold the person most important to him.

Despite the simplicity of their exchanged vows, that night was the first of countless they spent as husbands. When Sholmes learned about the change in their relationship, he conspired with the others to prepare a much less modest celebration—which, Barok couldn’t deny, was a memorable event.

Little by little, what remained of the walls Barok had built between himself and those around him finally fell. And, eight years later, it was hard to believe that Barok had once regarded those kind-hearted people with so much distrust.

As he and Kazuma approached the town that afternoon, they could see a small group of people at the bakery’s entrance. Gina—who was now taller than Susato—smiled and waved when she saw them.

“Look!” she pointed at them. “It’s our witches!”

Maria followed her gesture, then showed one of her tiny smiles. “Hello, dear witches.”

“Witches!”

That last one had come from Sholmes’ four-year-old daughter, Iris—whose growth they had accompanied since her first days of life. With a pleased laugh, she rushed to them, hugging their legs, while Susato tried—in vain—to tell her to use their actual names.

“I blame you two for this…” Susato said to Gina and Maria, who clearly didn’t feel any guilt.

“It’s faster than saying their names,” said Gina.

Maria nodded. “And it has already become a habit.”

Susato seemed about to argue, but stopped herself, shaking her head. “I’m sorry… These two are impossible.”

“Don’t worry,” said Barok. “We don’t mind it.”

“And it’s a nice nickname,” Kazuma added.

Gina nodded enthusiastically, and Susato let out a small, resigned sigh.

“By the way,” said Ryunosuke, “you came at the right time. We’re pretty much finished. Want to see it?”

Kazuma’s face brightened. “Of course.”

Barok agreed. They followed Ryunosuke deeper into the town, stopping before a newly constructed wooden house among all the others. From inside it came Sholmes, cleaning his hands on his apron as Iris ran toward him, and he lifted her in his arms.

“There you are.” Sholmes smiled at them. “It still needs some work, but should be good enough for you two to move in.”

Barok and Kazuma looked at it for a while. Despite all the time they had spent planning and working on that project, the feeling of seeing that house completed was like nothing else. Barok simply looked at it for a long while, at a loss for words.

“Let us know when you’re ready to move,” said Sholmes, “and we’ll help you bring your belongings.”

“Can we look inside?” asked Kazuma, unable to hide his excitement.

Sholmes smiled, indicating the door with a movement of his head. Barok and Kazuma exchanged a glance before walking inside, checking the entire place: it was more spacious than their cabin, without losing that cozy feeling Barok had come to enjoy so much. They went from room to room, paying attention to every detail of their new place.

At first, Barok had been hesitant to leave the woods and his old home. However, part of him also longed for a change—farther from the isolation of the woods and closer to the people who cared the most about them. Besides, he was still close to his old home, and ready to defend it and his fellow spirits if the need ever arose.

“So?” said Kazuma. “What do you think?”

Barok smiled. “It feels like a home.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

Kazuma placed an arm around Barok’s waist, and Barok hugged his shoulders, letting out a pleased sigh. It felt like the final piece left—the final confirmation that that was his place now. That he belonged in that town, with those people.

“But it feels a little strange…” Barok added after a while. “To leave that cabin behind after such a long time.”

Kazuma shrugged lightly. “We could always come back to visit. You know, if we ever want to be alone…” He grinned. “Or go out for a run in the middle of the night.”

“Sounds delightful.”

Kazuma hummed in agreement, then hugged Barok’s waist. Barok kissed his head, holding him close while taking another look around that place—a clear sign of all the love and care those humans felt for them, to the point of inviting them to that place they called home.

Those thoughts, however, still carried a bittersweet aftertaste: when the time to say goodbye finally came, it would hurt. Barok would cry, and the aching gap left by them would never fully heal.

But that was also proof of how much he had loved and been loved in return—something he had given up on, afraid as he was of being left behind. He was still scared of the future, of course. But, even more than that, he was excited to live the present, in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time, if ever.

After all, he wasn’t a sad old wolf anymore. He was Kazuma’s husband, and together they were that town’s beloved witches—the ones that found a place in a world that wasn’t theirs.

And, thanks to that, he knew he wouldn’t feel lonely ever again.