The sun's increasing rays shine down on Adriel, who despite being under the tent's cloaks, the illumination invades its interior. It's hard to stay awake and his eyes are almost closed, he hasn't slept due to Arthur's insistence on bothering him with the trivial events of the previous day throughout the soft silence of the night.

Adriel gets up and immediately starts his work before his little boy wakes up. His long black hair is still loose and messy, but he doesn't tidy it up before cooking. He holds a blade firmly in his hand and cuts the vegetable, repeats the movement, cuts the vegetable, repeats the movement, before continuing, takes a deep breath and his posture drops a little. Adriel cuts it again and stops for a moment. Thoughts enter his mind: "How long will I continue with this farce of a normal life while I yearn for my revenge?" He raises the blade and cuts the plant again, this time without much force. "Yesterday justice was served for that girl, but when will it be served for me?" he sighs, almost failing to breathe. Adriel picks up another vegetable and cuts it, then cuts it again, again. Tears start to run down his face. He stops again and takes a breath, then immediately goes back to cutting the vegetable. Trying not to think about anything, he continues cutting, again, again, again, but his feelings only intensify as if he were trapped in a closed room that is being flooded. Adriel drops the blade and rests his hands on the table, his head is down and many tears are shed, his breathing rate is accelerated and in his thoughts he shouts what he wants to say "Adonai⁴! Adonai my God, where are you?" Tears stream down his face as he silently screams in his mind, convinced he'll never receive an answer, completely ignoring the gentle breeze⁵ that sways his hair, even though it is with him all the time.

Not wishing to spend time on his emotions, delaying his work, he dries his tears and continues cooking. Diligently, he finishes. Arthur is still asleep because pestering Adriel all night is exhausting, but as he has his responsibilities, his friend approaches him to wake him up.

Subtly, he reaches down and shakes Arthur's arm. The little druid opens his gentle brown eyes and jumps up, as energised as if he had slept for more than ten hours. They share their meal and, just before Adriel leaves the tent to go to work, a wolf appears at the entrance. He comes out of the tent and meets the animal, who is standing in front of the light colours of dawn, contrasting his imposing black fur with the celestial gold and lilac that colour the art above the dwelling of humanity.

— Hi Fenrir, how are you? — strokes between the wolf's ears.

Fenrir sticks out its tongue and its white fangs, sharper than a thousand daggers, are on show, almost in a smile. The little creature's scarlet gaze is naïve and, before he does anything else, the wolf lies down on the floor with his belly up, wanting more affection, and his request is granted.

After being pampered for a moment, Fenrir gets up and writes in the absconditus language in the dirt using its paws. This wolf works for Adriel and, over the last few weeks, has been gathering information about his home.

The first piece of information brought back by the traveller from faraway lands is about the new political system. Fenrir explains all the details he knows about the structure of the monarchy and aristocracy, which now has power extremely concentrated in the king.

He reports on the position of the dukes in the order of their pronouncement. Ulloriak Nanook objected and became a "slave" of the king. Diarmuid Eyrwisdom does not confront the king, but it is possible to deduce his disagreement. Yaga Teniova is mysterious and has her usual eccentric habits; no one knows her intentions or even dares to challenge her. Elin Alver shows that she doesn't care, as long as they don't get in the way of the elves. Out of politeness, Curupira Yacy thanked them for reopening the crack in his house — it had been closed due to the duchy's hostility towards humans who deforested the Amazon territory — but he didn't show any feelings of friendship towards the new dynasty, just as he did towards the previous ones. Ifritte Djinn granted the king three wishes and fled without realising them, he is still missing. Tian Long only fulfils his duties and reveals nothing about his position. Daisuke Yokai hasn't interfered, but he has been called upon and has responded with loyalty — perhaps only apparent loyalty —. Otto Lupus hasn't returned to the absconditus realm since the last full moon and hasn't been involved in anything recently. Menece always shies away from social situations and this is no exception; in recent years, he has only appeared at the coronations of Adriel and Damon.

The information brought by Fenrir isn't over, although the events could have come to an end, but a grotesque surprise hits Adriel's already shattered feelings like a relentless arrow. He learns that his mother was a cursed human who would grant extraordinary power to the first absconditus who drank her blood after her death and Fenrir reveals that the one blessed by the Curse of the Rose is Damon Okeanós.

Adriel's gaze is submerged in the deepest hatred that heralds a storm with the loudest thunder and electrifying lightning. He clenches his fists with a force great enough to spill a crimson liquid from his hands and his posture slumps. This desecration of his mother's body is inconceivable, as if murdering her wasn't enough. Fenrir realises his concern, approaches him and licks his face.

His parents had already prepared him for this situation. They knew Azriel could fail to protect Clarence.

When Adriel is still a cute little child sitting next to a shelf in the palace library, reading, his parents approach him. Azriel walks in front, wearing black armour adorned with rubies, his scarlet cloak sliding across the palace floor. Clarence follows close behind, wearing a long marsala dress that contrasts with her sparkling emerald eyes and the wavy brown hair that falls to her waist. The little prince closes his book and smiles, looking in the couple's direction.

— Adriel — Clarence begins — we need to talk about something important — she sits down next to Adriel, accompanied by Azriel.

— Important? It wasn't me — he surprises his mother, making her laugh.

The king signals discreetly, ordering the servants to leave them alone, and Clarence starts the conversation when there's no one else but the three of them in the library.

— It's about the Curse of the Rose. You must know how to act if any absconditus appropriates it.

— Why is that? Dad always protects you

— I know, but he's not invincible.

— Is there anyone as strong as Dad?

— I hope not.

— We just wanted to be safe, we decided that a long time ago, but you were still too young to understand — says Azriel.

— I know, what should I do if an absconditus gets strong after drinking Mum's blood?

— In the human territory dominated by the duchy of Teniov, there is a country they call Russia. In it, there is an artefact capable of breaking the effect of my curse. This artefact is a ruby carved in the shape of a skull on a small, thin gold chain. It must be worn linked to the weapon that will face the absconditus who has the power of the curse.

— And where can I find the artefact?

— We still don't know anything beyond what I've told you.

Interrupting these memories, Fenrir jumps on Adriel, knocking him down. The wolf's paws dust his new dark green short-sleeved shirt. Fenrir approaches and tries to use his paw to stroke Adriel's hair, just as he always did with the wolf, but fails in his attempt to cheer up his owner.

— Is this Hati, Fenrir or Hella? — asks Arthur, who has just come out of the tent.

— Fenrir — he says, without any animation.

— What a bad mood! How can you look like that next to a cute little wolf? — he cuddles Fenrir, smiling.

— Play with him as much as you like, I'm going on a trip — he gets up and wipes the dust off his shirt and black trousers.

— Now?

— Yes — he pauses — Oh, I mustn't leave you alone, you're coming with me.

— Where to?

— Russia.

— Why?

— I need an artefact that's there.

— Artefacts are very hard to find, do you have a map?

— No, I don't.

— Do you at least know the location of the artefact?

— No.

— Then it's impossible to find it.

— I don't care about such a trivial detail. This is a very important matter.

— Why is it important?

— I've had enough of your questions, we shouldn't waste time with them — he goes into the tent.

— Then I'll ask you on the way — he stops petting Fenrir and gets up.

— OK.

— No, you must stay home with Fenrir looking after you, I'll go on my own.

— Considering recent events, I'm the one who needs to look after you.

-
Footnotes:
⁴ A hebraish way of referring to God.
⁵ Reference to 1 Kings 19:11-12.