Next morning, I started to make plans for what I wanted to do in this world now that I had both ti and money on my side, and soon, a small list was ford.
I nodded to myself, more out of habit than conviction, and picked up my phone. It was ti for to leave and have so fun. But for so reason, I did not feel the sa excitent I used to feel about outings anymore.
"Let's go out. No point staying cooped up all day."
I said, slipping on my shoes.
Fenrir's ears perked up imdiately. He was by my side before I could say anything, and his tail thumped against the ground in an excited manner.
"Are we going hunting?"
He asked, eyes bright.
"…No. But we are going to do sothing much more fun… I think so…"
I replied.
We started simple. A small walk around the town to keep my mind cool and not think about anything. Fenrir kept walking by my side as well.
But I had forgotten just how noisy the world was, and people started to take pictures and videos of Fenrir to post online once more.
That instantly tanked my mood, and my powers slipped out, causing people to feel uncomfortable and look away.
That had not been my intention, but I could not say that I was disappointed by what happened either. I just felt relieved to have the humans look the other way when I walked around with Fenrir.
Fenrir stopped every few steps, his nose twitching as he tried to catalog every unfamiliar scent.
"There are too many humans. I don't like their sll or their presence. It feels… artificial…"
He muttered.
I almost laughed, but the sound never ca. Modern humans were too used to putting fake scents on themselves to appeal to each other, and that must be bothering Fenrir.
I quickly explained it to him to make him a little more comfortable, but Fenrir just frowned and did not say a word.
We went to an amusent park next. I thought maybe the noise and movent would shake sothing loose in my chest. But I felt no joy as I went on so rides. My heart used to skip beats in fear, but now all I felt was calmness.
Fenrir stared up at the steel tracks with open suspicion.
"You get on those… willingly?"
"Yeah, and I enjoy it as well. Or at least, I used to."
I said before getting on another coaster. My magic allowed humans to overlook Fenrir and allow him on the roller coaster as well.
The drops still pulled my stomach upward, and the speed still made the wind tear at my face-but the excitent never arrived. It was a boring affair that did not yield any results like what I wanted.
Inside, I felt nothing.
Even standing at the top of the Ferris wheel, the city stretching endlessly beneath us, lights flickering like a field of stars, all I felt was distance.
It almost felt like I was watching soone else's mories play out through my eyes.
"This view is beautiful. There are so many lights."
Fenrir said softly.
"…It is."
I agreed.
But this softness and beauty hid a lot of dirt as well.
We left before sunset and wandered into a museum next, cool air and quiet halls a sharp contrast to the park. I wanted to see if I would feel anything from the ancient artifacts, but I did not see much here.
I had once wanted to understand the significance of this world, but now I could no longer even stand being in it.
"Shopkeeper… this world has no gods watching over it, does it? I cannot feel their presence."
Fenrir said after a while, lowering his voice as if the statues could hear him.
"…I… cannot say. The presence of faith in our world is a lot different from here."
I answered.
"Then how does it keep going?"
I didn't have an answer. Sotis, I felt like the only reason this world kept going was because a higher entity was manipulating it.
Otherwise, there was no way it could turn out alright after all the things humans had put this earth through.
We walked until night fell, the city transforming under artificial light. Street perforrs played music for loose change, couples laughed over shared als, and strangers brushed past without a second glance.
By the ti we reached a quiet park and sat on a bench beneath dim streetlights, my exhaustion felt heavier than it should have.
Fenrir sat beside , unusually still, his gaze fixed on my face rather than the world around us.
"Shopkeeper, you want to go back, right? I can tell that you are not enjoying this place."
He said suddenly.
I blinked.
"That obvious?"
"Yes. You keep looking at everything like you're already saying goodbye. Is this the place that you originally ca from?"
His ears drooped slightly.
I leaned back, wondering if I should lie to Fenrir right now.
'But what would even be the point? It would just be better to tell him the truth and put the past behind .'
"This world used to excite . I wanted money, freedom, ti. I thought if I had all that, I'd finally feel… complete."
I admitted. Fenrir waited, patient in a way only he could be.
"But now that I have it, it feels hollow. Like I'm wearing clothes that don't fit anymore."
I continued, my voice quieter.
He shifted closer, his shoulder pressing against my leg.
"Then why stay? We can go back. The shop is waiting. The place where you belong… you chose it yourself. If you don't want to stay here, you don't have to,"
Fenrir said.
He sounded so wise that I wanted nothing more than to take his hand and follow his advice.
Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do. I was stuck in this world because of my own actions.
"I can't. The gate's on cooldown. One month. Until then… we're stuck here."
I said, exhaling slowly.
Fenrir frowned, his claws scraping lightly against the pavent.
"That's… isn't there anything we can do about it?"
I snorted.
"I am afraid there is nothing. We will just have to stay here for now."
Silence settled between us-not uncomfortable, just heavy. Sowhere nearby, laughter echoed. Life went on, indifferent to my thoughts.
"I thought coming back would help settle things. Instead, it just made things clearer."
I murmured.
"And that is?"
Fenrir asked.
"That I don't belong here anymore."
My plan had been simple before-co back and choose soone else to lead the other world in my place. I wanted to do the sa thing the shopkeeper before had done.
But instead, I ended up finding a place to call my own.
Ho.
The word felt right in a way this world no longer did.
I stood up and tugged gently on the leash.
"Co on. Let's head back."
As we walked away from the park, the city lights stretching endlessly ahead of us, I realized sothing unsettling.
This world hadn't changed while I was gone.
I had.
And no matter how long I stayed, no matter how much I tried to blend in, I would always feel like a visitor passing through-waiting for the mont I could finally leave again.
The next few days passed slowly. Ti seed to crawl at a snail's pace, and I felt it affecting as well.
I closed my eyes and allowed my body to relax, but even that did not help. Going out helped, but it also served to kill what little excitent I had left for this world.
By the end of the month, I genuinely felt like I was going out of my mind, and Fenrir's company was the only thing keeping sane.
A week passed before I decided to head out again. But this ti, things were far from normal.
I had decided to take a small walk in the mall and buy everyone back ho presents. Fenrir was helping choose sothing when there was a sudden loud shot, and soone walked into the store.
"Do not move. We are here to rob the shop, and we are ard. Hey you-put all your money and valuables in the bag before I shoot you."
The man, dressed in black and wearing a black mask, pointed his gun at the cashier. She panicked before quickly beginning to fill his bag.
"Shopkeeper, should we interfere and help that lady?"
Fenrir asked as he got ready to attack.
I caught him at the last second before he could launch himself at the intruders.
"Let's… leave it be for now. There is no need for you to put yourself in danger like this. Robberies like these are common, and it won't-"
A loud gunshot rang out near . I looked up, only to see one of the robbers glaring at as he walked closer.
"Tsk. You think you're so great, you punk? Want to teach you and your mutt a lesson?"
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