Industrial Mage: Modernizing a Magical World

06 - The [Quest] Arrives, Making Soap, Pet(?) Acquired

There were fifteen wolves in total, their white fur stained with dried blood as well as ash from the forest itself as their maws opened to reveal sharp teeth. There were several gashes on their bodies and one of them seemed to be in a really bad state.

Roland had a tight grip on his sword. Roland spotted Ethan's head poking out. "Lord Theodore, please hide inside!" Roland yelled. Ethan didn't respond, however. Is it dumb that I want to fight?

The guards were surrounding the beasts and held their swords ready. However, the wolves weren't attacking. Instead, they snarled and bared their fangs, but didn't lunge.

They weren't attacking. They were protecting. And that changed Ethan's thoughts almost instantaneously. At the center, a female wolf, bigger than the rest, growled in pain. Blood trailed down her fur and a gash ran across her body. It was a wound that seemed to be bleeding a lot, but she kept it covered with her paw, snarling whenever anyone got near. Ethan stared from his carriage. The situation seemed to have taken a turn, but not a bad one, at least, not yet. The guards were ready to attack, but the wolves didn't. And Ethan was certain that the guards would kill the creatures unless he ordered otherwise.

Ethan stepped outside. Roland and the rest of the guards were alert as they glanced at him.

"Wait," Ethan said, his voice calm. "Don't attack."

The wolves immediately relaxed, albeit only slightly. Interesting. They understand me?

He stepped forward and walked to them. "Can you understand me?" He said.

"Lord Theodore!" Roland yelled, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him back. "Please step back."

"Wait," Ethan replied, holding up a hand, his eyes focused on the wolves. The guards didn't move. The wolves snarled at him and bared their fangs, but didn't make a move. "I'm not going to harm you." Ethan raised his hand. "Calm down. You're hurt, right? I can help you."

The wolf's snarl faltered. She looked at Ethan with a confused gaze, then growled again. Ethan, too, was confused now. Could she really understand him?

"You can understand me, right?" He said. "I need to know."

"Lord Theodore, what is happening?" Roland asked.

"Shh. Be quiet, Roland. I'm trying to communicate," Ethan replied, raising a finger, and silencing Roland.

The female wolf snarled, looking at the guards and baring her teeth. Then, her gaze landed on Ethan, and her snarl was gone.

"She can understand me. I think."

"How?" Roland asked.

"That's not important," Ethan replied. [Myriad Tongue]... I didn't know it stretched to animals—no, beasts as well...

Ethan stepped forward; his hand extended towards the beast. "I won't hurt you."

The wolves growled and bared their fangs at him. The female growled, then they stopped. Ethan neared, then knelt a couple feet from the biggest wolf. The gash on her chest stained her white fur, the blood flowing and dropping to the ground. The creature was panting.

"What happened?" Ethan asked.

The beast looked at him. Her eyes held strange intelligence. It's a magic beast, obviously she's intelligent.

"Can I look at your wound?"

She growled and bared her fangs, causing Roland to slash his sword at the ground in a line. The intention was clear, neither side could pass, or a confrontation was inevitable.