Chapter 29 The Invasion

• Perhaps, it was because of our history of strong leaders that we were never invaded by the other packs. As our community was hidden within the wilderness and protected by the walls and traps around, packs couldn't get in easily. Only those non-wolves and less hostile races could enter while being under observation. Not to mention the other race had no benefit from alliancing the wolves as merits such as wealth were nothing to them. And the head of the Elf King at the front was Varick's strategy of preventing more alliances with the other packs again. But how did it happen now? How did they infiltrate from the higher security outside? "Lady Rosaria?" A panicking voice came from Lenalee as her fingers holding my wrist shaking like a falling leaf. I held her hand with my free one and gripped it, giving her a reassuring smile. "Everything is going to be alright, Lenalee." Yet, she shook her head. "No…no…" Fear striking on her youthful features as she shook her head. "It is okay to be afraid. But I am worried about the Skollist wolves outside." I couldn't bear more bloodshed as it is. Forgive me, Master Phineas. I couldn't stay knowing the lives of the rest of them outside were in danger. And I was also worried of the Hatiist followers from a far distance…if the rivaled pack reached there. "We have to stay here, n-no… you have to stay here at all cost!" Lenalee commanded. I stared at the young girl. It was the first time she raised her voice like that to me. When she realized it, Lenalee's eyes widened as she bit her nail. "Is s-something wrong, Lenalee?" I asked. "You are acting strange." "Lady Rosaria." Her eyes now with desperation. "Please trust me…it is for your own good." ===== (Normal POV) Varick's onyx eyes darkened in a foul mood as one of the gray wolves lying lifeless on the ground. The rain continued pouring during the battle as the water washed the stench of blood. The sounds of the rain pitter-pattering the cold pavements and muffled the screams and the growls of the wolves, as both opposing packs were fighting to their deaths. All were in their wolf forms with the exception of the Skollist Alpha Leader. In fact, as Varick scanned the once peaceful marketplace, now a bloody battlefield, there weren't exactly the packs he had seen before. Perhaps they were rogues and if he was right, he didn't expect they managed to get in with more than a thousand of them in his territory. They were clearly outnumbered. And he didn't pay attention to the casualties of his pack as he had made himself the frontier of these unwelcoming guests. Another wolf gave a surprise leap, reaching Varick's nape until he turned around and grabbed its neck before reaching its fangs on him. The wolf struggled with all of its might as it was suffocating from the lack of air. But it was only a diversion, a way to lure him to a trap. As five wolves jumped at the same time in all directions. "Pathetic," was all Varick said. He unsheathed his sword, stabbed the so-called decoy straight to its neck. Now, with its instant death, he used it as a shield, pushed its lifeless body to the red wolf on the right and pierced directly to its heart. He jumped after releasing his sword after the four remaining wolves collided. Seeing them all on the ground and stumbling on their feet, Varick morphed his hands into his wolf claws as he swiftly scratched their eyes before they could react. He landed directly on one of them, striking and pierced one of their chest with his foot. They were whimpering from the pain as they were never given the chance to gain their momentum, seeing Varick was merciless. He grabbed one of the blinded wolves on its head and threw it directly to the other two as Varick was sending them flying far away and they crashed into a building. The enemies who witnessed his prowess cowered when Varick's eyes turned to them. "H-he's too strong!" One of the rogues screamed in fright, backing away with its hinds. "He should be outnumbered b-but why?!" Unlike any wolf, he was special. Varick had the ability to morph his body parts at will. Any pack would laugh at his method of not fully transforming to his wolf form. As the armor would lessen the natural speed and agility gifted by the moon goddess. But Varick preferred to wear an armor. As a frontier of the Skollist pack, he was the shield, a defender of his army. Not to mention his brute strength could instantly kill as he could crush anything with his bare hands. This was his true strength. Varick was infamous for his strength and not once he came undefeated. Now, soiled with their blood, Varick's emotionless eyes glistened with bloodlust and the nearby rogues flinched. "W-We shouldn't falter! A-All at once!" Now more than ten or perhaps fifteen wolves circled around the Alpha leader as they slowly stepped closer to him. Despite that, it didn't faze him. He stared at his hand, dripping with his enemies' blood. Then he decided to remove the gauntlet of his other one. His lips curved into a malicious grin. "Be it a hundred or thousands of all of you, come at me!" Before the rogues jumped in unison…. …and directly to their deaths. Meanwhile, Phineas and the other mages were focusing more on casting a strong barricade outside the walls. If word comes out that they were invaded, it would give more of the nearby packs to strike now. In Phineas' mind, the best solution was to lock themselves within until the number of enemies depleted. Now, what worried him were the townsfolk who had no experience in battle as they too joined to protect the pack. He frowned, hoping that there wouldn't be a lot of casualties while they were chanting. "Master Phineas," his disciple interrupted his chant. "We can handle the rest here. Go protect the Alpha leader." Normally, he would say Varick could handle himself but he wouldn't be too sure given the prophecy declared his fated death. "All right. May the moon goddess protect all of you." After that, he disappeared and teleported to the battleground as more piles of dead bodies were placed in the once bustling marketplace. He walked at a hurried pace, avoiding being involved in other fights as his eyes scanned for Varick. "Lord Varick!" He rushed with his heavy robes to the leader standing there, unscratched yet blood all over his armor and his skin. There were a lot of corpses on the ground beside him and even his hand was holding the head of a wolf. Varick was staring at the sky as the rain poured on his face. "Lord Varick," Phineas called again and finally reached a closer distance. Varick turned to him and seeing his expression, the Alpha Leader finally composed himself from his bloodlust. "Phineas." He threw the head aside. Phineas showed a glimpse of his relief before he lowered his head with a slight bow. "We couldn't find the cause of the invasion. There is a possibility they had already been here prior to the attack," the high mage informed. "Then those humans and that fake one were the cause of this!" Varick gritted his teeth. "I doubt humans were involved as they had no sign of magic or their presence after a month." He paused for a while. "As for the bard, Kozart, he doesn't have the scent of a wolf in him. I mentioned this to you before but I had been observing the humans and none of them were suspicious." That didn't uncloud his doubts as he was fueled with anger. "What shall we do next?" Phineas asked. "We will cleanse the area of their filth and take a few of them." He sheathed his sword. "If none of them answer, we will cut their fingers until they do." "Yes, my lord." "Also, is my wife—?" "Lord Varick!" A voice interrupted them as a familiar figure Varick recognized immediately headed in their way. "Gossep." He grabbed his shoulders as he shook them out of desperation. "My daughter! Is she safe? Is she hiding right now?!" "Didn't I tell you Hatiists aren't allowed in this area anymore?" "B-but my daughter…" Looking at the Hatiist priest, he didn't look the same as he first saw him two months ago. He could see it. Beneath his robes, the priest looked thinner and there were more gray hair now. Like the Alpha leader could care as he glowered at the sight of him. "Y-Your daughter is perfectly safe in the house as she hides there as told, priest," Phineas intervened. This calmed Gossep after hearing it. "Is that true?" "Yes! Oh, you have a lovely daughter, no wonder she's a beauty, she got your looks! She has blueish hair and you…err..have blueish eyes!" Phineas laughed, nervously as he shook his hands. "T-Thank you, High mage. B-But we aren't blood related." He sighed in relief. "Then, Lord Varick, t-thank you for keeping her safe." He stretched his arm for a handshake and Varick only stared at a welcoming shake. He grunted before turning around. "If you can still fight, make yourself useful and defend this place, Gossep." Then, Varick left, heading straight to join the battle. "He has changed, that young man," Gossep said before he gave a small smile. "Perhaps, I have nothing to worry about, after all." "How so?" He turned to him. "It's just an old man's hunch." Phineas forced himself not to continue further with this topic. Now wasn't the time for idle chitchats. However, with just Gossep and Phineas alone, it would be a perfect time for him to ask him. It would be a waste if he let this opportunity slip. "By the way, Father. How long have you taught the Luna?" "For the teachings of Hati?" "No," he said, shaking his head. "They might be what you called Hatiism spells but what I meant are the spells of the Forgotten Century. She saved the Alpha leader with a powerful poison nullifier. Only Dark Elves of this generation knew how to dispel it but she did it by herself. How long had she learned that?" Noticing that he had been rambling for too long, he turned to see Father Gossep with a shocked expression. "Father?" He shook his head. "No, I d-didn't teach her any of those spells." Now, Phineas was the one who was surprised. "Excuse me?" "The spells of the Forgotten Century, none of us could do it. It was beyond our canine abilities." Phineas' eyes widened. "Then, how did she learn the Forgotten Century spell?"