The Apocalyptic Queen's Werewolf Journey Chapter 521: Stay Here

"Sir, where did you go?!" Elmer cried pitifully. "I don't know anyone here. I'm scared. Marka is gone. Everyone is gone! You said you'd take me somewhere with no devils. I kept waiting for you."

In Elmer's eyes, tall people were adults. Long hair equalled girls. Short hair equalled boys. That was his simple way of telling people apart. So in his heart, Thora was like a big brother who made him feel safe.

She bent down and scooped him up with one arm.

The moment his feet left the ground, Elmer wrapped his arms tightly around her neck.

"There are no devils here," Thora said slowly. "The people bringing you food are good guys. You need to listen to them. Understand?"

Elmer didn't resist like before. He wiped his tears and nodded. "Okay."

Thora set him back on the chair and moved the food in front of him. Her tone was calm but firm, leaving no room to argue. "Eat now."

Elmer wiped his face dry. He glanced at Thora, then at the food.

Thora watched him quietly. "Boys wipe their own tears. And they eat on their own."

His little face was still full of grievance, but he nodded obediently. "Okay."

He picked up the spoon himself and started eating slowly.

He was young and ate at a snail's pace, chewing each bite for an unreasonably long time.

Thora wasn't in a hurry. She just sat beside him and watched in silence.

Based on the military academy's investigation into Elmer, along with what they knew about the counterfeit syndicate, Thora had a clear picture of his situation.

Elmer wasn't even six yet, but his ability had awakened unusually early.

There had to be some strange trigger. Someone discovered he could replicate objects. After that, his parents were killed by the counterfeit syndicate. He was tricked into staying, locked in a small room under heavy guard, and forced to do only one thing every day—make counterfeit money.

For an entire year, he had been overusing his ability to produce cash nonstop.

Just as Thora had guessed before, draining an ability without restraint was like killing the goose that laid the golden eggs.

Abilities were closely tied to mental energy. Once mental energy was exhausted, that was the beginning of death.

The first time she saw Elmer, he was only five or six, yet already carried the weakness of someone near death.

"Do you have any brothers or sisters? Do you know your pack?" Thora asked once he was almost done eating.

Elmer shook his head. After eating, he looked a little better.

"No brothers or sisters. No pack."

His eye sockets were hollow, his face pitiful. It hurt to look at him.

Thora wasn't surprised.

If he had pack protection, his parents wouldn't have been killed so easily, and he wouldn't have been reduced to a tool for making counterfeit money.

But if he had no family and no pack, then he was an orphan now.

He had been part of a criminal group, but only as someone exploited. He was completely innocent. Still, if they released him, another organization might target him again.

Given everything, the best place for Elmer right now was the military academy.

For the academy, raising one child wasn't difficult.

"You'll stay here from now on. Study properly until you turn 16," Thora decided for him.

At 16, most werewolves could awaken their wolf spirit. Ten years at the academy would also be enough time to build the strength to protect himself.

"Then... what about you?" Elmer looked at her.

"I'll leave in a year," Thora answered honestly.

She had always planned to graduate as fast as possible.

"Can't I go with you?" he asked, hugging his cup tightly.

Thora rubbed his head. "When you grow up and graduate from here, you can come find me."

She stood up under his confused eyes.

"Eat on time from now on," she reminded softly.

Elmer glanced at the food, then suddenly jumped down from the chair and grabbed the corner of her clothes.

"Don't go. Can't you stay and sleep with me?"

Thora frowned slightly. She glanced at the darkening sky outside, then bent down and picked him up. She carried him to the bed and tucked him in tightly.

"Sleep now."

Elmer clutched her arm tightly, resting his head on it, afraid she would leave. After finding a comfortable position, he smiled and closed his eyes, quickly drifting off.

Children fell asleep fast. Within minutes, he was breathing deeply. But exhaustion still showed on his face. His cheeks, which should have been round, were unnaturally hollow. His skin was frighteningly pale.

Thora gently pulled her arm free, tucked the blanket around him, and left the room.

As soon as she stepped outside, she called Tristan.

"Go to the first-year class and find a psychic-type ability user. Have him come check on Elmer."

"Yes, Boss." Tristan immediately understood who she meant.

During last year's freshman assessment, that student had made a major contribution. He was the one who woke up the new students who had fallen into a false-death state. Not many people knew about it, but Tristan did.