Chapter 63 Indelible Mark
The wolf leader noticed the witch hat beside it was moving strangely and was about to approach it but hesitated because it sensed something emanating from it and into the surroundings. The wolf warily watched the hat in curiosity. The hat's folds began swirling in unusual patterns as if trying to sync with the natural mana permeating the surroundings. The wolf observed with interest, letting the hat do whatever it was doing. After approximately a minute, the swirling motion ceased, and the hat started absorbing the mana from the surrounding wilderness. Shortly afterward, the flow of mana decreased. Then the witch hat spoke, startling the wolf, "Drat, this is difficult," it said in an irritated tone, seemingly unaware of what had just happened.
Lucia felt frustrated but calmed down a moment later with a heavy sigh. She noticed the wolf leader watching her and turned in its direction with a questioning gaze. The wolf saw the question in the hat's posture and answered. "Since your outward appearance started strangely swirling, I have been observing you. Also, the surroundings seem to have been affected by whatever was going on with you." Lucia wasn't sure what the wolf meant and asked. "What do you mean, did something happen to me?" She cocked her head and murmured, "I don't see anything has changed." "Look to your surroundings, not yourself," the wolf clarified.
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The wolf's words prompted Lucia to look around herself. She looked around in shock, feeling the distortions that the wolf had mentioned earlier. Lucia noted the distortions felt recent. "Were these distortions here before we came here, and when did these distortions start appearing?" Lucia asked. The wolf responded, "These distortions started appearing a few minutes ago when strange stuff started happening to you." the wolf paused, licking itself before continuing. "It seems like whatever happened with you has affected the nature in this area. Even with my power, I can not change it. It is permanent, indelible." the wolf said solemnly.
"Watch out!" shouted one of the wolves in the arena as a stray wind blade flew past the erected barrier of one of the arenas where the wolves were fighting. It struck something in the trees, and a loud cry came from the direction where the wind blade hit. The cry caught the attention of all the wolves in the area, and they prepared themselves cautiously. The wolves started making a plan and got ready for a fight, warily watching the tree from which the cry came.