A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

After finishing, Erik stared at the letter in his hand for a moment longer before he lowered his hand.

He looked up at the ceiling helplessly and sighed. "So now I'm supposed to be some kind of savior? Who would ever want a thankless job like that?"

Despite his words, he couldn't help but become a little uncomfortable at the realization Earth's two supernatural races needed a savior in the first place. Particularly, at the idea of something happening to shapeshifters as a species. He may not care that much about the relatively small amount of shapeshifters here in Finnmark, but he still didn't want his entire race to die out.

Or disappear, or whatever they needed saving from exactly.

Besides, there were his loved ones, and even among the vampires were at least two people he wanted to keep alive: Astrid and her mother.

Suddenly, he felt Elora disappear from his shoulder, and merge with his body instead. At the same time, she responded to his technically rhetorical question with a giggle, "Only an idiot, of course."

She knew what was in the letter, as she had simply read along with Erik from her previous perch on his shoulder.

But Elora's tone quickly became far more solemn. "Still, it might be an endeavor worth our effort. Depending on what is required of you exactly… And either way, we need to learn more. After all, you, too, are a shapeshifter. If I have to become a goody goody to keep you alive, then by the spirits I'll do it."

Erik wasn't sure why Elora decided to merge with his body and speak through their bond, but responded in kind by chuckling softly through their link. "My, such a heavy sacrifice you're making, Elora. Are you sure you wouldn't burst into flames the moment you perform a selfless act for a stranger?"

"I just might," she chuckled back. "But it wouldn't be selfless if it saves you too, so I think I'd be safe."

Before their conversation could continue, a second, slightly indignant, voice entered Erik's head. "Hey, hey! Don't keep me out of your conversation! What did the letter say?"

Immediately, Erik looked to his side at a slightly pouting Emma who looked at him accusingly. He smiled apologetically at her. "Sorry, Emma. Force of habit."

While Erik could combine the links he had with Elora and Emma to have a three-way conversation, he just didn't remember to do so. He was still getting getting used to having a second bond. Even if she wasn't included, however, Emma could sense the conversation that was going on.

"I forgive you!" she smiled brightly at him, while still answering him through their bond, which Erik had now linked together into a three-way conversation with Elora. "But ehm," she continued, a little unsure. "Why are we talking telepathically?"

"Because there is someone else listening," Elora answered with a hint of caution. "Erik's mother talked about a spirit of some kind. It could be a sigil construct, much like what you might call an 'artificial intelligence,' and I'd just rather it didn't relay every single word we said to whoever set this all up."

Hearing her answer, Erik now also understood why she started talking to him through their link. He hadn't even thought of the spirit yet.

"Wait, so… something is watching us right now?" Emma mumbled curiously as she looked around a little. She didn't seem overly concerned. "What did the letter say exactly?"

Erik responded out loud, "Here, you should read it too," and handed her the letter.

This way, the others would also get a chance to read the letter, and he could act as if their mental conversation had never happened. After all, their conversation so far had happened at the speed of thought, so very little time had passed.

When Erik spoke, all the others in the room, who had so far simply been watching Erik's various changing expressions as he read the letter, now quickly swarmed around Emma to read along with her. Their curiosity was palpable, causing Erik to chuckle.

When they were done, Astrid scratched her head as her mind went to all the vampires she knew and perhaps even considered herself on friendly terms with. Especially, of course, her mother. "Well, that sounds ominous…" she mumbled softly.

The others, too, mostly focused on the part where Erik was apparently supposed to be the savior of two races. Emma and Emily may be humans, but they were understandably worried about Erik.

Erik felt his heart warm at the worried faces around him and smiled at them. "Don't look so dour, girls. We just need more information for now."

Only Alice didn't exactly look worried, her expression was more complicated. 'Exactly what kind of person did my father make a deal with?' she wondered inwardly.

"Well, no matter what else is going on," Emma's bright voice suddenly sounded in his head. "It sounds like your mother really loves you."

"Hehe, yeah," Erik smiled warmly, as his desire to reunite with his mother had skyrocketed after reading that letter.

Yet, his ruminations were interrupted by the others.

"So, where do we get more information?" Astrid's voice suddenly echoed in the hall with an eagerness born from concern.

"Well…" Erik shrugged and started to look at his surroundings before speaking loudly. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to tell us?"

His companions looked between each other wondering who he was talking to, but it remained silent, and with every second that passed, Erik felt a little more awkward. "Well, that didn't work…" he mumbled.

Emily looked at him as he if he'd lost a few marbles somewhere. "You alright there, boss? Who are you talking to?"

"You read that letter," Erik shrugged, despite continuing to look around cautiously. "My mother seemed to think there was some kind of spirit in this place."

Suddenly, everyone else also caught on, as they had all been overly focused on the savior part.

Still, they were skeptical, as they didn't know about sigil constructs, yet they didn't want to insinuate anything since it involved Erik's mother.

"You know," Elora's voice sounded in his head. "There's another indent on this platform…"

"Right…" Erik mumbled. "Perhaps this construct needs to be awoken?"

As he said so, he pressed the medallion in this indent without hesitation. He needed answers.

This time, there was no rumbling or moving. Instead, the opposite stone wall, which hosted the ascending, dead-end stairs, lit up like a Christmas tree.

Brightly shining sigils appeared all over it's surface, and everyone looked at them with wonder, expecting something to happen, but instead, they disappeared as quickly as came.

Yet, before anyone could wonder what just happened, a long yawn echoed through the hallway.

"Yaaawn, did you already return, Runa?"