Little did he know, it would very quickly spread through the familia into a really difficult problem to solve, so… Like all insane problems, he decided it would be for the best to just ignore it for the time being, opting to instead focus his energy on what he could manage to do right away.
At the moment, that meant going to see the makeshift eye the dragon had. However, there was something else he really wanted to do first… His werewolf blood howled at him to do it. It was clear, and obvious. He went to where he saw Lyca, and brought her over to sit down with him and his many children.
"Lyca, these are my pups, Freki, Geri, Skol, Hati and…" Shurry spoke with pride, each of his currently 8 pups looked over when their names were called, their tails excitedly wagging, their ears flicking, and noses sniffing all with innocent smiles. "Kids, this is Lyca, she is my aunt. Which makes her your great aunt."
"So that's why you smelled a little like Papa!?" Freki spoke with a gleeful tone.
"Papa? Didn't…" Geri squirmed, excited, but confused.
"Oh wow! Great Aunty's beautiful too!" Skol cheered.
"Hehe, we're going to be super pretty when we grow up…" Hati giggled, a little bit on the shy side.
The other four pups were still a little too young to manage any flattery, so they simply stayed quite staring, and speaking with their body language.
Lyca, despite having been eagerly waiting for this moment was speechless, her body said far more though. She was so excited for the moment at hand, that when it came time for it she could hardly speak a word at all.
"S-s-s-s-so c-c-c-cute!!!!" Lyca finally managed to speak. "I-I-I love them!"
What followed after was a Lyca joining the werewolves in their regular show of devouring an absolutely absurd amount of food. Immediately followed by playing with the kids out in the garden… where she learned just how much the kids loved the Mruit trees which still stood to this very day.
"I remember back you yelled at Zald for breaking the first tree, and Empress went into a fit yelling at him." Lyca spoke, knowing that Shurry could hear her. "Seeing your kids love these trees as much as you did… It reminds me of the old days when you were that young and cute."
"Am I not still?" Shurry teased.
"No, you're not. You're a grown wolf, and the leader of the pack. Handsome, strong, and reliable. I only wish I could have been around to see it." … She let some tears fall despite her smile. "Fortunately I was able to peek into your life on the regular. Seeing how you grew up, stronger and stronger every day. And how I missed you."
"S-stop that, you're gonna make me cry, Aunty." Shurry said, and then smiled. "I may be older now, but you'll always be my Aunty. Nothing can take that from us, not even death, nor the gap between Gekai, and Tenkai was able to do it. I want you to have a similar bond with my own pups too. So spend this time playing with them, they'll love it."
"I will, but where will you go?"
"For now? I'm on my way to pick up Luna, and finish freeing Aria from her prison. It's been long enough, and I kinda feel bad I wasn't able to finish it before I passed out." Shurry chuckled nervously. "I feel much better now though."
"Is that from the rest, or from the wild mating you had this morning?" Lyca asked, teasing her nephew, rubbing his head like he was a good boy. "I'll take care of them, you go and do what you need to. Oh, if you're worried about how many pups you have, I have a few stories to tell you about past alphas." She added with a smirk.
"Nope, I already know. I can feel the inner conflict as it is. This side is currently winning." Shurry said with a blush, before waving and leaving.
"So then, Ardee, Neze, Rose, and… How am I not surprised, Alfia."
"You don't have to be like that, Lyca." Alfia blushed slightly.
"To think you fell for that boy." Lyca teased. "It's fine, I knew about it years ago, but to think Lady Hera actually allowed it…"
"Well, we did all marry our husband, so it's not really going against Lady Hera's ideals. She just doesn't prefer harems. Since it reminds her of her husband's… lack of ability to keep it in his pants." Ardee said.
"At least that's what she said while drunk off her ass awhile back." Neze nodded her head, along with Ardee.
"More importantly, Lady Lyca…"
Lyca raised her hand, for Rose to stop. "Rose, you're my niece in law now. And one of the four queens of our pack. You can call me by my name."
"Right, Lyca, it's an honor to meet you like this. But I'm confused, how did you come back? And you're some type of Spirit now."
"Hehe, it sure wasn't easy by any means. Had to get to this point without a falna, or a body… Not easy I tell ya, not at all!"
And so began Lyca recalling the training, here and there, while she and the four queens played with the children.
…
Elsewhere, still in Orario, Albert sat cross legged staring at the gargantuan crystal, almost as if his eyes could burn it away, freeing his wife. Beside him, to his left, was his daughter, Ais, who despite her insistence upon being awake for the moment her mother was free, had leaned against her father, and then fell asleep, eventually her head rested on his left thigh.
Shurry had arrived, noticing that Ais was completely exhausted and decided to speak in whispers. Smiling at the scene.
"You're looking conflicted there, Albert." He said with a light giggle.
"I have half of my family back with me. But my wife is still trapped." He said, half embarrassed before looking down and patted Ais on the head with a fatherly care.
"Sorry about that, I'll help Luna free her now."
"Ais wanted to be awake for it…"
"How about this, instead." Shurry then whispered an idea.
"That'll be adorable. So yes, let's go with that instead." He smiled.