-Sundown - Nefiru's POV-
The discussion continues lying down facing the green wolf to the west, the golden she-wolf close on my left, the smaller canines who can't understand behind me while the black wolves are north by the grass and south near the water. The horizontal sun rays bathe yellow the mountains on the east and reach us because of the terrain elevation that also creates a rapid current in the river near which adds background noise.
"That's interesting..." I said intrigued. "But I don't want harassment like earlier, so I'll accept the job if you all approve of this." I looked around saying.
"We oppose!" Wind 8 snapped showing his teeth. "But...we support anything that might ensure the safety of her most talented pup that even sending away from conflict wasn't enough to protect him..." He spoke with hopelessness. "We've lost many offsprings completely in vain already, so I hope this achieves something, or else..." The wind user warned menacingly.
"It's settled then. But I can't break my relationships with the humans yet, so I'll be coming and going." I declared as his snout twitched.
"Urgh... Somehow...it feels like you are taking lightly all the lives lost warding off intruders." He grumbled in accusation.
"Not my intention." I defended leaning on the golden wolf.
Woah... Not fluffy! Her fur is so thick and wiry as if made of metal, but the hairs must be reinforced inside... Just how long did she spend enhancing her coat like this? I realized feeling the grinding on my scales. Well, she is an Earth magician and looking closely...they all have metallic claws! I discovered observing the wolves while the translator appears bothered by my casual attitude.
I noticed after being with my siblings for a while that I own this body's instincts the ability to discern Beasts expressions, and I'm getting better at it, but now it's telling me to appease these stronger creatures which my pride won't allow. I affirmed deciding to comment.
"...You guys have seen much death huh?" I said looking up at the she-wolf.
She indulged my actions like observing a curious pup with a warm gaze and gave a quick lick on top of my head as if reassuring while the green wolf shows annoyance.
...I think we should stop flirting since it's making our only translator uncomfortable. I asserted covered in slobber and separated.
"Little Tenryuu is a young beast or has spent too much time with humans to be saying that..." The wind user rebuked. "Live long enough, and you will see many dear ones perish without being able to do anything about it." He lectured.
"I see..." I wondered about their loss before revealing. "But if there's any consolation, they are not completely gone, and their essence finds life again." I disclosed reincarnation which didn't cause positive reactions.
"Life after death? You aren't right in the head..." The wind user scoffed not taking me seriously.
"Hmph! Don't go calling me insane just because you are ignorant." I replied upset which made him stare for a moment while thinking.
"...It's an amusing concept, but even Divines are aware that Souls merely vanish after death." He disregarded.
"That's incomplete info." I shook my head saying. "Mortal souls detach from the world and lose most memories before finding a compatible vessel to start life anew." I corrected raising more conversations that I'm unable to follow.
"And the proof?" He inquired skeptically of the topic.
"Obviously, it's not easy. However, know that highly talented individuals had many lives, and they leave memories which didn't happen in the current life but are hard to differentiate being the same creature while false memories or dreams add to the confusion." I detailed.
In that sense, Shaila was able to identify her wolf memories easily. I affirmed the convenience.
"...What a vague argument to justify why you are not afraid to die, but we are not that naive." He remarked unbelievingly.
"Sighs... I was warned not to reveal anything, and it's frustrating being taken as a liar for something familiar to me, but you don't really need to believe me..." I shrugged.
"You seem resolute about this... Is it not a delusion?" The green wolf asks hesitantly.
"Of course not! If I needed to lie, I would use something far more credible." I blurted.
"Mhn... It's possible that humans discovered something..." The wind magician guessed. "Truth is...Destroyed Divine souls release Mana while fading away, and high rankers can emanate it before downgrading back to natural essences, but the mortal stage is more enigmatic since they just vanish without a trace." He confessed.
Wait... high ranked souls can downgrade? No, maybe this process is natural for all stages that require energy to manifest, and I imagine a Divine materialization won't easily decay, but the trained Spirit doesn't degrade... I conjectured before replying what I know.
"Mm-hmm... Divine Souls fully materialize in the world while mortals barely even manifest their presence." I elaborate.
"Mhn... Indeed, you can sense a soul in any creature, and some are stronger than others, but mortal ones are ultimately untouchable while high energy attacks can obliterate divines.... It feels undeserving that such a cruel fate befell our ancestor." He announced making all the wolves gloomy.
Hmm... It wasn't wholly believed and had the opposite intent, but they seem more open to the possibility. I asserted observing the canines with ears flopped. Dudes, it's been years to keep getting depressed about your Divine! ...They might be grieving much more as consequence of losing their support pillar, but why did it happen when divines shouldn't be entirely unreasonable? I realized the knowledge gap and decided to probe.
"The humans say your Divine intervened in mortal affairs, and the tribe situation turned bad after his death. But it's not that simple, right?" I curiously inquired.
"GWRRR!" Dark 9 furiously protested from the other side of the golden obstacle.
"I am not mocking your tribe, so there's no need to feel aggravated." I declared.
"Oh? Are you curious about our problems?" The wind user said with intentions to continue but received criticism from the other wolves. "What do we have to lose telling a little dragon?" He rebuked them.
"Yes. Remaining ignorant could bring about an unexpected death, and I prefer to see it coming..." I announced thinking of deductions about my past.
"Very well." The wind wolf consented as he laid down. "The eldest son of our Divine was silently captured in fox territory, yet unusually, there was no demand for his return, so our divine rushed to the rescue." He narrated looking at Dark 9 from the corner of his eyes. "However, it was all a ploy to get our ancestor involved since the two Divines clashed outside our borders which made us look like the aggressors when other immortal rankers probed." The green wolf recounts the events while the rest have their eyes closed as if remembering.
Yikes! It seems the fox is a troublemaker. But I didn't hear anything stereotypical about them, so there must be a reason for a plot that probably had casualties. I conjectured when an overwhelming sensation enveloped me and forced my Magic back inside.
!!...Woah!? What an intense hostility! This...killing intent is magnitudes higher than anything I've experienced from low ranks when it's making me shudder, and my hairs are standing up... I judged while struggling to hold my bearings. Damn! If Darky got serious earlier, I wouldn't be able to do shit, and this hopelessness is making my instincts scream to prostrate myself... I realized unable to ignore the inner cries of my young vessel. FUCK NO! I will reject it all!! I resolved to fight the Magic energy of four high ranking wolves bombarding the surface of my body.
"We...saw our Father destroyed in the sky...we felt it...." The giant wolf described with a shaky voice.
ARGH!! I already can't bring my magic outside or receive ambient mana, and their pressure increased!? Ugh! It's unpleasant to move or get up, and I'm trying not to leak... I affirmed enduring inner warnings and the force confining my Magic. Okay--okay... calm down... The ambient Mana was cut off, but I can still use magic inside my body, and brain boost will help analyze this artificially induced state more rationally instead of whining and begging them to stop... I judged proceeding to enhance the lightning process in my head. ...It isn't easy to inspect magic densities much higher than mine when they feel like measuring the thickness of a hair with fingers, but ranks have a numerical value which these wolves revealed. I reviewed before focusing on the intriguing phenomenon.
Meanwhile, all the high ranking wolves in view tilted their heads upwards in the traditional howling posture...
""AWOOOO!!...."" They howled continuously at the darkening sky adorned by reddish clouds.
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Ugh! Do they have to be loud too? It's uncomfortable enough to concentrate under their threatening aura and wounded body. I grumbled annoyed. ...My physiological response is the result of losing overwhelmingly in the Magic clash, so this approach isn't working well for me. I assessed the intimidating atmosphere. The Spirit clash isn't an issue, and my low density have limited contact while they are high rankers who can invade my body, but Mana reserves are getting low, yet I'm unable to recover with them blocking. I reviewed.
Hmm... My perspective from magic contact shows the Rank 9s density overlapping with the lower rank 8s, and the two equals have to share the same space, but there's no definite repulsion between them. I concluded my investigation. Is it because they are feeling the same? I wondered and decided to embrace the intimidating sensation.
WHAT!!? The emotion was transmitted to me?? I realized a desire to kill shortly after stopping my rejection. Ohh! I slightly sensed their Magic energies vibrating, but it's actually a wave broadcasting in frequencies which transmit emotions that my Magic can interpret... I discovered.
The wolves gradually calmed down and stared at me as if noticing something, then exchanged another brief conversation.
Well, the progress was satisfactory. It's not too intimidating anymore, and I was able to squeeze my magic outside, but it would be ideal to accept the foreign intentions without being influenced entirely. So, I need to stop the effect from reaching my soul and adjust to the intensity like a tug-war, but that will require practice with a strong signal like one of these angry wolves. I review the results as their mood went back to normal and the ambient Mana rushed back into my body.
Finally! Running out of mana would be painful... I rejoiced replenishing the nearly exhausted reserves. But I'll keep the mental boost activated, and spend the night here. I decided, calling to mind the dragoness that might worry.
"Little Tenryuu, you...are not a normal beast..." The green wolf asserted while staring intently.
"You have no idea." I reaffirmed rolling my eyes.
"Although those who are equal find offensive being exposed to hateful intentions without reason, most creatures instinctively reject and avoid the hostile intent of stronger beasts..." He said pointing at me, where two smaller wolves lie down shaken.
Oh, right... The signal affects anything it touches, but the intensity decreases with distance... I realize contemplating the low ranking beasts protesting.
Uh... No use complaining when they don't plan to apologize for getting carried away. These wolves need some booze to deal with their grief. I attested looking at the ignored beasts.
"Yet, you...didn't mind taking in our hatred and seem alright..." He said mildly surprised.
"Ah, it's fine. I'm the one who asked about the touchy subject. And a human assassin adviced me to experience hostility, but I neglected it since the effect is minimal at low ranks unless the target is already prone to intimidation, and Magic training was a priority. So, this is a good opportunity to steel myself and not falter in the presence of an enemy employing intimidation." I replied expressing the importance of intent transmission.
"Is that so...." The wind wolf uttered losing interest.
"That being said," I spoke turning left. "Big girl, could you keep up that hostility on me as we continue the conversation? But please don't cut off the ambient mana since my body is always using magic arts." I requested.
"Righ...lightning users do use magic often..." He muttered.
"WUROU...?" She asks something looking into my eyes.
"Earth 9 is asking for your permission to use her magic freely." Wind 8 translated.
"Sure. But why do you--" I consented before asking when a probe interrupted me.
Gnh!? I'm-I'm being violated...! I figured sensing a tingle from her magic poking everywhere inside my body.
"Sighs... Because forcing magic into the body of another can be considered what humans call 'Rape.'" The green wolf explained. "Not that this she-wolf cares much about prestige anyway..." He muttered before a dozen rocks the size of Basketballs fell on his muzzle. "Omph!" The assaulted beast endured closing his eyes.
"Ah! You cunning wolf!" I accused feeling my entire body occupied.
"WOOo!" She does a triumphant howl.
It's not the same as Shaila probing my insides... This feels weird, and unsafe like losing control or possessed... I examine deciding to be casual with her.
"Okay, I demand mana as compensation for having your way with me." I declared recalling what Shaila does, and the she-wolf complied. "Also, I'm calling you Erina after the name you already use." I declared watching her nod.
"We had names like that in the past, but lost usage...." He spoke with nostalgia.
"Alright. So, continuing the story.... It could have been worse, right? The fox divine could have used a wide attack to kill most of your tribe and say it was an accident." I commented bringing the conversation back on track.
"Unlikely. The rule of non-interference in mortal affairs was implemented to protect life at all cost since immortal rankers can cause great damage to the world, and instigators may not even receive many warnings before others come to kill them. Also, Divines allied to our ancestor deterred the firefox from taking further action, yet he still tried to coerce us then offer peace...but we are not giving up our land!" He announced with a trembling voice denoting pride and anger while hostility from Erina intensifies.
Ohh! That must be why the asshole who massacred the dragons is hiding... He must die! Ah, no good... I conjectured influenced by hatred before wondering the reason for the fox actions.
"Oh--how many of us perished in subsequent fights with his tribe..." The wind user hopelessly said looking at the ground. "Our mothers, siblings and eldest descendants are almost all gone now...we four and one Mate of Ancestor is what's left of a large family of high rankers." He informed while all the wolves lower their ears.
"Yeah, acting rashly in war will most likely benefit your enemy," I remarked receiving glares.
"...We were subjected to constant provocations which demoralized tribe, caused insubordinations, and many want to leave our land each year during mating season." He countered. "However, after getting used to our situation, we are more careful and always stay together while our tribe leader tries hard to become a Divine, though she's still missing something..." The wolf recounts.
I see... Safi wanted freedom like every other wolf seeking protection in other lands, but this tribe is somewhat isolated. I affirm the inconvenient geographical location while wondering why it's important.
"So, why do the foxes want your land? Those rodents taste good, but that shouldn't be it, right?" I question the motive behind the schemes.
"It appears that after many years, the foxes somehow found out about our Mana Vein's activity period despite centuries of precaution to conceal it and--" The wind user answers until my interruption.
"WAIT! Wait... You guys have a Mana vein!!??" I demanded confirmation.
"Don't interrupt!" He snarled showing his teeth.
"Sorry, I'm ignorant about it, but I know a vein is a big deal." I apologized while staring back waiting for an answer.
"Mhn... Many tribes hide their resources and even the foxes must have a Vein too, but it's not worth pursuing without confirming their properties. In our case, we suspected a traitor or someone who spilled information in cowardice, but confirmed nothing of the sort." The wolf explains.
"And is this one worth fighting for?" I asked with expectation.
"It is at the moment." He nodded affirming. "We possess a medium intermittent mana vein capable of producing Manastones, and its active period that occurs around every hundred years has yet to reach the peak as of right now. We concluded it's the goal of the Fox since our tribe Alpha has been sensing his probe often and infuriates her being powerless to stop it, but even sealing the tunnel entrance with heavy metal doors can't block a Divine at this point." The wind user elaborated.
A mana vein changes everything huh? Maybe the fox's mana vein is drying out, became inactive, or he desperately needs it to practice some insight. I conjecture before wondering about the concealing methods.
"I don't sense anything though. Is it hard to detect a vein?" I inquired wondering the effectiveness of Divine probes.
"Normally, yes. An immortal ranker can guard a vein intercepting probes while high rankers work together to absorb the dispersing Mana and concealing the access points. But presently, you would need to be near the source which is deep below the ocean floor to feel any different since the density and quantity emanating are still low. Furthermore, probing through incompatible elements provides vague results, so having a vast territory guarded against intruders facilitate hiding the existence of a vein." He elaborates the difficulty to discover precious resources.
Hmm... In that case, could the Divine fox have found a way to eavesdrop from hundreds of miles away? Hmm... I could try controlling a thin layer of ice and interpret sound waves from the vibrations detectable with elementals... like a microphone. Faust did warn me, so perhaps all divines eventually find their own ways to see or hear from far away. I ponder on the possible method to acquire information. Nevertheless, the firefox shouldn't need to check the Mana vein repeatedly knowing the details already, so it's another taunt, yet they don't see it... Even these old Beasts living a simple life can fall victim to plots huh? I surmised before deciding to tell the wolves.
"Hey, um... I think the firefox simply heard your conversations about the vein while avoiding detection." I informed.
"How do you mean? He's not a Wind fox, and the high ranks who are can't transmit sound over vast distances." The wind user disapproved.
"Yeh, it's considerably difficult for those who aren't Wind users, but I can probably do it with a few days of practice, albeit...only as far as my magic range allows, but a Divine can--" I announced before was cut off.
"Hmph!" Wind 8 scoffed shaking his head. "A Divine resorting to such tactics would lose reputation worse than torturing low ranks for information-- So, let's not speak of this again, even if you are right." He ridiculed before turning serious.
Gah! Defamation means death--is what his eyes are telling me. I comprehend before affirming.
"Understood. But Foxy doesn't seem to mind his methods. Humans say that anything goes in Wars and no method is unthinkable to obtain something strongly desired." I quoted with affirmation. "So, with that in mind, and knowing how he learned about the vein, there shouldn't be a need to inspect it again unless...he's tormenting your leader." I unveiled before a surge of coldness rose inside my body.
"Ah! Bad girl, tone it down a little..." I admonished Erina while shivering.
Ugh! Exposing my insides to hostility feels feverish as if my domain itself was threatened... I perceived as the golden wolf controlled herself and gave another quick lick without retracting her magic. ...She needs a muzzle. I spat washing my snout.
"...How despicable...." The wind user muttered ignoring me, then finishing in growls something the other silent wolves agreed. "Mhn... As expected of a human pet...to see it that way." The green wolf mocked.
"Hey! Don't don't take it on me! I'm not your beta..." I complained.
"No, you may be right again, and maybe that's why our tribe leader is in such a bad mood, yet doesn't want to talk about it..." He acknowledged lowering his gaze. "After all, the firefox has an altered humanoid form and high quality armors that should have been acquired from human allies. But our ancestor stayed true to his nature, remaining with his original beast body since he still had ordinary high ranking mates and was a low ranking divine...." The translator added.
"Oh, your divine was proud of his body too? Nng... I admire that." I said nodding.
"Yes, but we witnessed the disadvantages of having an unaltered body in a fight between Divines..." The wind wolf declared with a somber voice. "Having a large body means decrease maneuverability in the sky, takes exponentially more effort to build or maintain than human-sized, big armors make you clumsy, and it's a larger target for long distance-high-offensive magic abilities." He revealed downsides "Humanoid shape is convenient at that rank since passive recovery is trivial, they are much faster to alter, and human divines will see you as a potential ally which makes it easy when acquiring armors if you are not an earth magician..." The green wolf explained the upsides.
Kuugh... Is staying a large beast such a hassle? I wondered with dismay, but the wolves gazes denote hope.