32

Hunter, Don't Shoot My Friend

Chapter 32: Stiles' Question

"Unlike other classes of werewolves, when a human is bitten by a lycanthrope, they begin to exhibit strange symptoms over time, affirming their lycanthropy and eventually turning into a werewolf. The transformation phase typically lasts fifteen days, but depending on the individual, it can extend up to two months."

Ethan wasn’t joking as the class progressed. Everyone was engrossed in the detailed explanation, which was delivered in a way that didn’t feel overwhelming.

"This is..." Scott felt worse as the class went on.

Everything Ethan was saying was true, reinforcing Scott’s theory that the professor had found him in the forest, holding a sword.

It wasn’t a dream; it really happened.

"When the bitten individual sleeps in the light of the full moon, they disappear at night and do things like attack livestock. When they wake up, they’re naked and have no memory of what happened or how they got to where they are, usually waking up in a different location from where they fell asleep."

Scott nodded. This was exactly what was happening to him.

"The reflexes and strength of the bitten individual spontaneously increase as the transformation phase progresses," Ethan said as he walked through the small aisles where the students sat.

Scott had experienced these improvements, which had earned him a spot on the lacrosse team's starting lineup.

"In moments of high tension or stress, the eyes of the bitten individual turn yellow-orange, and when in danger, they awaken a sort of animal instinct that warns them."

Scott had experienced this too, although he didn’t realize it at first; it became clearer as he learned more about his condition.

Ethan, nearing the end of this brief introduction, said, "During full moon nights, the bitten individual’s fangs, teeth, and nails grow, and they become very aggressive."

"What do they eat?" Stiles asked, drawing the attention of the entire class.

Stiles got nervous and mumbled, "Just out of curiosity..."

"Werewolves can eat anything a human can, but unlike humans, werewolves are primarily carnivores, while humans are omnivores. Werewolves have an unusual and almost irresistible attraction to red meat, especially human flesh, though they can eat other types of red meat as a substitute without any issue."

Ethan returned to the front of the class and said, "Believe it or not, the story within this detailed explanation of werewolves has had an influence on our society because it was once used to create fear among people."

"Then what’s the point of it now?" A young woman, visibly annoyed by what she considered a waste of time, asked the question everyone wanted an answer to.

"So that you won’t be easily deceived, so you can form your own opinions and not be sheep in a large field waiting to be eaten by werewolves." Ethan’s response was direct, aiming to highlight the importance of individual thinking as they approached adulthood.

Ethan saw the confusion on everyone’s faces and added, "In the past, fear was instilled in people through stories like these. Now, the media invents anything to overshadow the truth, and you are deceived."

The truth is that evil exists, and all of you are being deceived.

"There will come a time when the truth must be discovered by all of you. That’s the story for the future, and you will learn from it if you want to stand out." Ethan walked toward the desk and said, "Class is over; you can go grab something to eat."

Everyone stood up after a class that was far from boring, contrary to what one might expect from a history lesson. The clever way Ethan explained things was something they truly enjoyed.

As Ethan was about to leave, he was stopped by Stiles, who said, "Professor, don’t go. I want to talk to you about the project. I’d be interested in helping you with those plants."

"Just tell me you’re not planning to use them for anything special." Ethan glanced at Scott, who looked a bit scared after hearing this.

Stiles understood the hint and shook his head. "No, I really want to help with whatever I can."

"Alright, then see you this afternoon," Ethan replied without much hesitation.