Chapter 96 Separation

• Oto gazes at the High Archon, then approaches him transformed into his human form, Aren, and gives him a tight hug. As they part, he says, "I'm sorry, High Archon. I want to live my life. I can accept that you may occasionally enter me, but it's not fair for us to depend on your will. I hope you understand. You'll always be my Archon, but let me live my life with the she-wolf, Gil, and you with the Archon. That way, we won't have to vie for her love."
• Oto's words hit the High Archon like a physical blow. His wolf, his companion, his other half, was asking for space, seeking his own identity. The High Archon feels a knot in his stomach, a mix of surprise, sadness, and paradoxically, a touch of pride.
• The surprise comes from the unexpectedness of the request. Though he knew this day might come, he wasn't prepared to face it. The sadness arises from the prospect of losing the intimacy they shared, that deep and constant connection that had bound them for so long.