Jessica woke up a bit out of sorts. It was one thing to wake up in the wild, another thing entirely to wake up in someone else’s house.

This was even considering that while inside, Isabel's house was considered a safe zone. As a political guest, Cassie's safety inside the Blue Wolf Tribe became a bigger issue for them than her.

That wasn't to say that Saleh or her failed to do their job. Cassie would always be accompanied no matter where she went. Either both or one of them would take this role.

For the very first day, Jessica was given the day off. Saleh had volunteered, besides the fact it, made more sense for him to play the role of the tour guide.

Neither of the two had it easier. Their journey here was uneventful. Therefore, their taut nerves were never allowed to loosen.

It was brief. Once they encountered a beast attack, they didn't lower their guard. This still allowed them to take a breath. Even without the ability to let loose, being able to exercise their bodies allowed them to relieve a bit of that built-up stress.

Jessica was both comfortable and uncomfortable. Seeing Saleh with Isabel reminded her of the old man. They were more reserved.

The blue wolf family was more affectionate than she would have expected. Nobody was so tactless to ask about how it came to be.

Since Jessica knew, there were no delusions. Cassie was also in the know. Regardless of the origin, even when adopted, it could be clearly seen that the two cared deeply for each other.

Possibly, as Saleh was undergoing his transformation to truly become a blue wolf in body. Then again, she might not show it, and neither did the old man. Jessica believed her love for the old man and he for her. Wouldn't lose out to the bond she saw between these two.

Simply because of the similarities, it was hard not to compare the two.

Isabel was not on the first floor. Moving outside, Jessica caught sight of a familiar figure. Not being barred, Cassie's snow wolf stayed outside.

Possibly because of the way it was raised or something else. The snow wolf seemed to refuse to enter the tent.

Looking at each other, the snow wolf quietly lay back down. Showing their trip was not as last minute as they might have portrayed it to be.

Where the snow wolf lay was cold. A small section of the plains outside had been transformed. Clouds blocked the sun from shining on it.

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There wasn't snow. However, Jessica saw frost underneath and in the immediate surroundings. As if a small square inside the plains had been cut out and replaced with a piece of ice under the soil, causing the ground above to frost over.

Maybe it was influence from the snow wolf. With other thoughts, Jessica found a spot and sat down before closing her eyes to meditate. The only noise to disturb this scene was a few miscellaneous things.

The wind blew gently, causing the grass to rustle softly. The snow wolf breathing could be heard, only as if sensing Jessica, its breath became even softer, almost in consideration.

Feeling mana flow slowly and softly into her body. Not enough to describe something one had to experience to understand. A never ending process that failed to be put into words.

It was something done more through experience than through learning. Thinking back, she could only agree with this more. She was talked through the process, with vague descriptions that were more about trying than helping through explaining.

Time passed at a snails pace. Finding it difficult to keep going, after an unknown amount of time passed. Jessica moved from a cross-legged position to laying flat on the grass.

Holding it in her fingers, she couldn't tell if it was real or not. Closing her eyes, even knowing it was not a smart decision, she almost fell asleep.

"How are you enjoying your stay?" A soft voice crept into her ears. Any sense of fear or being startled was washed away by the gentleness in the voice.

Having been taught to treat such people with caution, Jessica found it incredibly difficult to do so. Not knowing if it was an illusion or an act, she could feel a fondness of unknown origin inside the eyes of the woman opposite of her.

“If I am being honest, it is like being somewhere I am both familiar and unfamiliar with. Somehow easy to find comfort, and even easier to forget that it is not a place I belong.”

“Haha, there is no need to feel that way. You are always welcomed here.” Isabel talked as if it was natural.

This made Jessica even more on guard. Maybe, seeing this, Isabel couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle, “You don’t need to misunderstand, I will make it clear, so there is no misunderstanding. I am guessing much of your feelings have to do with Saleh and me. In a sense, it is hard not to feel some familiarity of our relationship. We share what you also have with your father.”

Possibly being rude, Jessica couldn’t help but ask it as she couldn’t get the question out of her head, “Who exactly are you?” Knowing this wasn’t a question to ask, she changed the subject, “You know my father?”

A soft smile rose on her lips, “It would be stranger if I said I didn’t. I have very small relation with him, having just met a few times. In these parts, your father is rather famous. I wasn’t around back then, but your father was involved in a very big war. He was not a little soldier back than, he was a general.”

It was impossible to tell if she was speaking from a good place or a bad one, “Back then, the Blue Wolf Tribe didn’t dare settle close to the Elven Forest. So while we weren’t directly involved in the war, some of the other animal tribes were…”

As if lost in memories, she paused before continuing, “Let us just say that after your father left the Elven Forest, the elves have experienced a period of decline. Even losing parts of the western Elven Forest. If it was back then, we wouldn’t dare settle so close, even this far away from the Elven Forest. That was how fearsome and extraordinary your father is.”

All of a sudden, a smile that radiated the utmost beauty of a painting appeared on her face, “The last time I saw your father, he was holding a little girl in his arms. Telling me to never have children, they’re so much work… And yet the look in his eyes, the attention he gave the child, it was the very reason when I found Saleh, I decided to adopt him.”