The growth stages of the fae can't really be categorized. Every single one, aside from special cases, is unique as if they're their own species, but they have a few things in common.

  The fae, as beings born in a realm that is basically half a dreamscape, have total conscious control of their body. They are born with a basic degree of knowledge and intelligence but their physiology and psychology, as beings of another realm with different rules who are born and live and experience life differently, are so entirely other and alien that they can only be referred to as... things. It's, of course, different for special cases such as genius loci, who are a standard species born on the border between Fairy and the real world.

  Sometimes during a fae's growth, it might show interest in the material world, at which point it will try to understand and shape itself compatible to it in an effort to be able to manifest in the real world. Our world's rejection of the true nature of the fae is perhaps the only thing that protects us from the truly old ones deep inside Fairy.

  Those fae will try to don themselves in materiality, imitate humanity, and feign mortality.

  Any fae that comes to our world, whether by a gate, a hidden passage, summoning, or a genius loci, will inevitably involve itself with humans, mundane or wizards, and almost always result in disaster.

  According to Morgana's research and her observation of actual fae in their process of understanding humans, as words and the spoken language had such big effects on them and their nature, they have a particularly hard time adjusting to, and understanding body language, facial expressions especially.

  This information won't really help gauge the real age, and therefore the strength, of a fae, but it gives a minimum estimate.

  Knowing all that, seeing him standing there, smiling'Shit. I can tell it's a he. This keeps getting worse and worse.' I thought while averting my eyes away from his form.

  Of the five werewolves, the three older ones knelt on one knee, bringing down their heads. "Our ancestor, we have summoned you today..." Just as the two younger werewolves, the younger man and woman, came out of their stupor and were about to kneel, I jumped out, pulling the two of them back before they did something even more stupid. There's no way I'm fighting a fae and five werewolves; three is more than enough.

  "Oh, the daughter of forest's shadow, you've finally decided to show yourself." The fae said as all the werewolves turned to look at me, first with alarm and then bewilderment. "You're younger than I remember... Ah, could you be a new child of his? Then I must ask for your name; it is improper, after all. My own name cannot be understood by mortal minds, but you could call me Moon's shadow."

  I didn't answer any of his questions. I just took the two younger werewolves who hadn't knelt and retreated. The other three are done. Even though the fae have a generally hard time understanding body language and their magic doesn't really work with it, exaggerated movements like kneeling are an exception, so those three basically announced themselves as his property.

  I asked the two still stunned werewolves with a telepathy charm.

  "What?" The woman said, looking at me, then the still-smiling fae, and then the three adults who started running our way.

  Both of them answered. Good. Now their names are mine, so they can't do anything stupid like giving it to that fae.

  Telling your name to a fae, unlike popular belief, isn't dangerous on its own, but if the fae uses a phrase that can be interpreted as acquiring or taking or buying the name in any way, then it becomes dangerous, like how he phrased his question when saying,

  The reason the fae like to steal names so much isn't for pranking or other similar purposes. You don't forget your name if you give it to a fae either. The reason is that the fae can then use the name to make any kind of magically binding contract on your behalf.

  I extended my hand while keeping an eye on the three older-looking werewolves that were coming my way. They didn't look like they were in a hurry, which was good. Let them underestimate me.

  Particles of snow lifted from the ground behind me, assembling themselves into a ball in my extended hand that itself turned into a black Knight's helmet with dark blue highlights. I put the helmet on, preparing myself for the confrontation.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  "Hey, what are you doing?" The boy seemed to have finally come out of his stupor.

  "Sleep." I told both of them, causing them to faint and go deep into the snow that they had previously been walking on.

  Having their names doesn't automatically give me the right to order them, but it's not too far off. I personally find it distasteful, but a contract to fall asleep the next time I tell them to will hardly hurt anyone.

  Looking back at the werewolves still coming my way, now with a weary expression, I took out a fake wand from inside my jacket, by the sight of which the three started running my way.

  As they got closer, the two guys suddenly started to change, their limbs and skull elongating and black fur growing on their bodies. Both fell to walking on all fours but were essentially as tall as they were before.

  The woman stayed back, bringing out her wand, ready to support them if need be. Honestly, isn't this a bit too much for facing a seven-year-old?

  "Do take care not to hurt the two young wolves, as they were part of the ritual. They are needed to break me out. Kill the girl, though." The fae instructed the three, who started attacking immediately after he was done.

  I raised my fake wand to the wolf on the right as I ran into the surrounding trees, seeing no need to protect the younger werewolves, and cast a transfiguration on the left one, trying to turn his brain into glass. Which didn't work, just costing mana uselessly.

  As I was running, I lifted into the air, dodging a pounce. I still can't fly using telekinesis, and honestly, a flying charm wasn't high on my to-do list these past three years, which I've now realized was a mistake. Regardless, even if I can't fly with telekinesis, I can still use it to push off the ground and pull on the surrounding trees, so in the end I had the better mobility.

  As I was taking some more distance, I tilted my head to the side, letting a red charm light pass near my helmet and hit a tree further ahead, causing it to explode.

  I lifted my "wand" at the woman but had to dodge another swipe from the second wolf.

  I decided to just get rid of the ranged attacks first anyway, so I didn't mind them and turned back to the woman.

  "Diffindo

  The woman cast a Portego'Shit, that should have cut her directly in two, did she defend somehow?'

  One of the werewolves roared loudly in anger, before both of them jumped at the trees, using them to reach me in the air.

  I dodged the first one, but the second one got me, its claws swiping at my chest near my throat.

  Thankfully, my clothes were still the same layered Celestium and graphene sheets, as I really haven't had much time to invest in learning defensive enchantments. And the easy ones weren't as tough as something transfigured into Celestium.

  Even though the swipe didn't rip out my throat like it should have, the force of it launched me back into a tree, after which I fell into the snow at its base.

  "Ow..." If not for the adrenaline, I would be on the ground unable to move. '

  I tried to ApparateApparate

  When another of them jumped at me the moment I was off the snow, I instinctively Apparated'Ok, so short distance is ok.'

  I Apparated

  It hasn't even been a minute since the fight started, but I'm already reaching my limit. I guess Apparating

  As I was falling down back into the forest, I saw the two werewolves running my way, almost reaching right under me.

  They were still too far away for Diffindo

  I used telekinesis to spin the beads in place, took aim for the two wolves that were now directly under me as I fell, and then used a specialized version of telekinesis to launch the beads at them at twice the speed of sound.

  A huge boom echoed in the forest and pushed me away from where I was supposed to land. I didn't see the beads land, but after slowing my fall near the top of the trees, I saw them.

  Two black-furred human-wolf bodies, one of which was missing a head and the other was missing half its chest and an arm.

  "Ugh.." I stopped myself from throwing up while I cast a numbing charm before the adrenaline ran out.

  Even though it's not my first time killing, the other time wasn't nearly as brutal, and it's not like I do it every day or every once in a while, so I'm still not entirely comfortable. Not that I'd ever want to be comfortable with killing, but throwing up is a bit too much.

  As I was recalling my memories of the past, I suddenly heard the sound of slow clapping, like you'd hear from the main villain after the hero killed their entire army, acting as if the whole thing was part of their plan in the first place.

  I turned around, and behind me, within a couple of steps, were the two younger werewolves I had put to sleep, beyond whom was the fae, clapping his hands as if he'd enjoyed a good show. I put my hands up to my chest, feeling for my dream catcher necklace, a necklace that wasn't there.