My sickness has gotten worse to a point that the Chieftain Monarch was about to send an urgent message to the pack but I told him not to.
I don't want to burden everyone as the war is becoming serious to the point that the Chieftain Monarch is considering to send some of his best elite warriors.
I reassured the Chieftain Monarch that I will be fine after a few days of rest.
Which is a lie as I definitely do not feel fine at all.
I missed them.
Especially Lion.
After a few days, the Chieftain Monarch told me that he received a scroll from the pack, asking about my current condition. He apologized to me, telling me that he had sent the pack a message, telling the truth of my condition, which is why the scroll they sent now is filled with all sorts of writings from each of them, saying that they will return as soon as they can, with Lion saying that he does not want to keep me waiting for too long and threatened the Chieftain Monarch in keeping me in good condition or else....
I can see the amusement in the Chieftain Monarch's face while he continued reading the scroll, telling me that the rest of the message is filled with all sorts of expletives towards him, much to my horror.
After that day, I started to recover slowly, much to the Chieftain Monarch's relief.
While I was still recovering, the Chieftain Monarch asked me why I kept calling him by his title, not his real name.
Much to my embarrassment, I admitted to him that I'm awful when it comes to remembering and pronouncing long names as back in my previous world, we give nicknames to those close to us to make it easier or just call them in formal titles.
The Chieftain Monarch looked interested with what I told him that he asked me if I can give him a nickname.
I don't want to!
Especially as Aagon told me that giving another name to male creature signifies that you claim them as your own.
No way.
Since the Chieftain Monarch seems to be waiting for my answer, I tried to think of a way that he won't get offended.
I acted like I'm thinking really hard, telling the Chieftain Monarch that finding a good nickname for him seems quite difficult in which he lit up and told me that he thought of a nickname which isn't too difficult for me to say.
And this is how I called the Chieftain Monarch with the nickname Leon, instead of his title.
Also, the name itself is similar to the nickname I gave to Lion.
Leon's nickname doesn't really go well with his appearance yet he looks quite happy that I don't have the heart to tell him the truth.
Leon admitted that he asked Lion a long time ago on why I kept calling him in a different name in which Lion just grinned at him.
Same with Ghost and especially Alpha, which made Leon confused as the names I've given them is quite different from their real names.
Still, the three of them looked quite proud of it, much to Sly and Orm's envy.
Leon told me that he knows the purpose of giving a male another name.
So he knows! Then why is he asking me of giving him another name?
His reason?
Because he finds it quite funny that I kept calling him by his title when we already know each other for a long time already.
It's because his real name is too long for me to pronounce!
Fine.
Leon it is.
....
Finally, I've recovered in which I spent most of my time idling inside Leon's office.
Unlike Lion, he's not that busy. Seeing that I'm bored, he suggested that I should learn a musical instrument and that he's going to teach me.
Of course he knows that I have a good singing voice and no it's not Lion who told him that.
Then who?
It turns out that it's Orm.
Orm showed everyone including Leon, the musical box I gave him without knowing that it is Leon who helped me.
Leon thought that I was just recording something else. He didn't expect that I would be singing.
With a grin, he told me that a musical instrument accompanying me while singing would be a good surprise to the pack, telling me that he is preparing them a grand banquet as the tide of war seems to be turning in our favor.
It won't be long that the pack and the surviving warriors will return in the territory.
He has a point.
I should give them a nice surprise.
All sorts of instruments floated in front of me in which Leon asked me which one I would like to learn. A small, flute instrument looks familiar to me in which I was about to take it when Leon hurriedly removed it, telling me that it's a magical instrument that if you play it, it will break a powerful enchantment or illusion spell.
Then why is it there?
Leon seems to read my thoughts in which he told me that he will teach me how to play it someday but right now, I need to find an instrument that I can play while singing.
Good point as I can't sing while playing the flute at the same time.
But that flute instrument looks familiar thought I don't know why.
Wait.
I remembered Alpha playing it when we were exploring the territory while I was in my werewolf form.
That instrument removes enchantment and illusion spells?
But I didn't turned back into human that time! It was Lion who turned me into a huma...
What the....
Was I under a spell during the time between Subus changing me into a werewolf and exploring the territory with Alpha?!
I think I should ask Alpha as soon as he gets back from the war.
....
I finally decided to choose the harp.
Good choice for me as I easily learned it but Leon himself is a good teacher.
In fact, he's a good teacher in music that my singing voice improved a lot more that if I were on earth, I would be addicted in joining all sorts of singing contests.
Besides helping me improve my ability in singing and playing the harp, Leon also removed the brand from my back.
Much to my joy and thankfulness that I cooked a lot of his favorite dishes and all sorts of desserts. After eating everything, he told me that I should be the one to cook for the banquet and that he will pay me generously...
No.
End of discussion.
....
Leon noticed me one day that I kept tying my hair into a knot, asking me why I didn't take good care of my hair. I admitted that I was used to not having elaborate and fancy hairstyles.
It was the pack who loved seeing me with all sorts of hairstyles, braiding it patiently as it was getting too long for me.
I was about to cut it short when the pack protested, telling me that they loved taking care of my hair and braiding or styling it gives them happiness.
I was too spoiled by them.
A sudden thought came into me that I excitedly asked Leon if he can change my hair color permanently as I admitted to him that I'm a bit bored with my hair color despite Lion loving it.
Leon looked surprised in which I explained to him that back in my previous world, we have places where we have our hair cut or have it styled and colored anytime.
He looked interested so I had to tell him everything about hair salons and barber shops.
Our conversation took quite a long time but it was worth it as Leon told me that he will try to change my hair color.
He asked me what hair color should he give me which made me speechless.
I have no idea.
Leon chuckled and told me that he will give me a color that is one of a kind in this world.
Please no! I don't want to stand out!
Too late as my hair began to change color.
....
Wow.
He is amazing!
I didn't expect to love my new hair color!
Leon managed to use his magic to give me a multi hair color that seems to be like the night sky.
My hair looks gorgeous.
As I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my hair definitely looks like the night sky.
How did he do it?
He really is powerful.
I wished that Alpha won't go through with his revenge as I already have an idea of the outcome.
....
I showed Leon my Buddhist staff in which it took him quite a while in examining it.
He admitted that he doesn't understand why it gave damage to several of his warriors and magic users.
If he only knew.
I should find a way to warn him.
Finally done with examining the Buddhist staff, he told me that he's going to enhance its power though he has no idea what kind of power it is.
After a few moments, he admitted that he doesn't know what it does to give damage to some warriors but after enhancing it, it should provide much more damage than before.
When I held the Buddhist staff, I began to feel faint traces of demonic aura from outside the door of his office.
Now is not a good time to cause chaos in the palace.
When Leon held it, he said that he doesn't feel anything from it but he's confident that I don't need to whack the enemy several times to cause them damage.
Much to my dismay, he called one of his guards that is guarding the entrance to his office.
I gave the guard an apologetic look in which he gave me a smug smile.
I wiped the smile from his face after giving him a huge whack from my Buddhist staff.
After the second whack, he got knocked out.
Very helpful.
....
A messenger arrived at the palace, informing everyone that the war is over and that we are victorious.
Everyone gave a triumphant yell, making me and Leon chuckle.
Soon, everyone became busy as they prepared to give a grand welcome and celebration to the warriors.
Much to Leon's insistence, the attendants persuaded me to wear the attire they prepared that made me looked like a goddess, especially after putting on make up and the fancy hairstyle that they gave me.
I'm not complaining since I want to look my very best in welcoming them as before they left for war, I looked like I'm ready to be placed inside a coffin.
With my new hair color, I'm getting a lot of desiring stares from both males and females, especially from those who are hostile to me much to their reluctance.
I have to admit it looks even better on me than the bubble gum hair color though it also looks good to me as well.
....
Leon and I stood in front of the palace, making me feel a bit weird as it really does looked like that I'm his consort.
It doesn't help that I have the title of being his elite companion.
But the important thing is that I'm safe with him while the pack is away.
He isn't so bad after all which made me confused about his attitude towards me and the pack a long time ago. Not to mention his personality and temper.
Something shimmered from the sky as we heard all sorts of triumphant cheers from the citizens at the warriors that are flying towards the palace.
I felt a strong breeze around us in which Leon blew towards them as numerous colorful petals appeared that surrounded the warriors as one by one they landed in front of us.
I glanced around and saw the elites on their fancy vehicles and ords watching them, especially the females who kept on screaming with delight.
Soon, the entire front courtyard up to the main gates was filled with warriors and magic users, a lot of them are unfamiliar to me.
Leon noticed the confused look on my face and explained to me that some of the warriors and magic users are from an allied territory.
I see.
So that's why they looked different from the usual creatures that I always see in the territory.
Soon, the cheers from both the crowd and the elites began to get deafening in which I saw Lion and Sly in his dragon form with Orm, Alpha and Ghost on his back flying towards us.
I don't know what to say.
So I stood there like a dummy while watching them land in front of me.
After a few moments, the pack stood in front of me. Then to everyone's surprise but not to Leon who just grinned in amusement, the pack suddenly kneeled in front of me while Lion took my hand and kissed it.
Oh, that Lion!
I was trying to prevent myself from crying when he told me in a tender voice that he's back and that he's ashamed for taking too long to...
He didn't finish his sentence as I immediately pulled him towards me and kissed him passionately.
Despite his reluctance, I pulled back as I welcomed the rest of the pack with a happy smile while tears kept falling down on my face that they immediately crowded around me, giving me all sorts of nuzzles and little kisses.
Welcome back, everyone.