It was still several hours before nightfall Raziel and I had basically finished breaking up camp and clearing most of the tracks we made, I want to leave as few traces of tracks behind as possible. I believe that being thorough in covering my tracks will always help me avoid problems.
Now all that's left is to clean the fire that has just been used to make lunch, Hilda and Ingredi are still focused on the puppy that is still sleeping. I wonder how long it will last even if your body is containing a large amount of the element of life still and only one puppy your body needs nourishment.
I know it's only been a few hours since I removed him from the apatite, but I still worry I don't want him to stay in like and end up dead that would be a waste and a very sad ending for anyone who has survived so many years inside the apatite, who put him there must have wished him to live a long life.
I sat waiting for the soup to be ready, if we stick to the plan this will be the last meal I can calmly eat before heading home. Leaving here we'll go as fast as possible and with fewer stops on our way back, in the end we're running out of time.
We don't know how long the bandits will manage to survive the noble families' hunting parties, but I doubt they will last much longer the only reason they lasted so long is because they are scattered across the entire southern border and our neighbors will not only impede movement of the bandits as they are watching the hunters if some of the groups have the idiotic idea of chasing the bandits in the territory of the neighboring kingdoms this will be seen as a hostile act against that kingdom.
I really don't want to see a war breaking out the nobles killing each other already and trouble enough for me, I don't want to see the whole kingdom being dragged into a war with your neighbors cause it's going to screw up my life I don't want to have to enlist to fight a war. Soldiers with a black core are the first to be sacrificed in this type of war.
But back to the present.
"So, are you done drooling over the wolf cub?"
"Idiot, if I didn't have Blue, I wouldn't let you have this cute little wolf."
"Are you glad to hear you won't fight to keep him Hilda and you Ingredi?"
"You can keep him Ulric, I believe you will be a good match as you found him, he should become your partner, but if you don't take good care of him, I'll steal him for me."
"Don't worry, I have no intention of mistreating the little one. But I have to admit I'm very curious to see what he's going to become, aside from the obvious characteristics that show he's a wolf and I have no idea what exact type of wolf he is."
"Well, the trip wasn't as profitable as we expected, but we're going to be able to earn a few hundred gold coins seeing what Ingredi and I managed to get on the way to the village. So, I believe we can say this was a profitable trip, but now we have to figure out what we're going to use as an excuse when we get back home."
"We really have to come up with an excuse to justify having our cute new friend here."
"I believe we should keep the story simple as it's easier to keep lies simple than to make up an elaborate story and if anyone is suspicious, we just say we don't want to draw attention and that's why our story is vague. Most will suspect that we were doing some mission that has to do with future conflicts."
"I think this is a very good strategy Raziel, but any apology suggestions besides, we found the cub in the forest next to his mother's corpse, we were very lucky."
"I don't even have a better idea girls?"
"No."
"I prefer to say how we found him with a few more details like me saving him from being attacked by a magical beast that killed his mother, I killed her with a single move of my spear in a heroic move and as I already have a mount I have it. I gave it to Ulric because he begged too much in a pathetic way."
"If it makes you feel happy Hilda, I don't mind leaving the heroine role to you but I would like you to cut the second part of your story I can't believe anyone will believe I begged you."
"They would believe you would beg on your knees for my Ulric."
"I disagree."
"Don't you agree with me Ingredi?"
"No."
"Traitor!"
"Hilda's delusions aside, let's focus on being vague when we talk about this trip."
After we finished lunch and cleaned the fire, we all mounted our mounts and made our way back out of camp Ingredi used her magic to erase the tracks of our mounts she will do that for the next two hours and only after that we will force the maximum speed of the mounts.
The wolf cub is with me now, even though Hilda is unhappy about not being able to travel holding him, he better stay with me if he wakes up, I must be the first person he should see and smell. This will help form a bond between us and lessen any resistance he might have when I train him.
In reality I know very little about how to train a teammate and I believe I will have to resort to outside help and I am not just talking about books but asking Hilda or Ingredi for help as both must have trained their mounts. Although Soft and Blue are slightly hostile to strangers, they behave well and are quite skillful, I just hope Hilda doesn't have a clue about demanding an inconvenient payment for her assistance.
During the trip back we were lucky not to find even a group on our way until we were very close to home during the trip my new little friend here finally woke up this happened during the next morning.
He woke up when I was eating my meat ration the little wolf woke up sprawling in my arms and after sniffing me, he attacked my ration even though he was still a cub he is not a newborn he used his teeth to tear the meat it easily didn't take him long to eat nearly my pound of meat before he fell asleep in my arms again.
He must still be recovering from his unusual hibernation, so I believe he should behave more normally until we get home and I have to think of a name for him.
Hilda could barely hold herself and jump to pick up the puppy when I was feeding her eyes were glazed over at the little one and when he went back to sleep, I moved away from her just to ease her temptation I don't want to part with my new little friend take care of him know you will me help strengthen our bond.
Before arriving in town, I was taking care of him and I paid a lot of attention to his body, his mana is getting stronger and the energy of the life element is being absorbed by his body before returning to the institute, I believe it should be completely absorbed by the puppy.
Just as I believed my little friend here has no affinity with the life element, but will be able to enjoy the life element of apatite if I'm sure it will help him recover and grow faster and healthier than would be normal, but I believe that in order to maximize his metabolism I will have to feed him a special, high-quality kibble.
I'm going to spend a lot of money on it, I'm going to have to focus my savings on it even though it slowed down my cultivation. Focusing on my new partner may not help me right now but every coin I invest in him at that opportune time will pay off a lot more in the future and if I'm lucky it won't be more than a few years to see my investment grow.
I decided my partner's name and chose a special name which is Wulfgar as he will be my mount and partner in the future. I spent my time taking care of Wulfgar and didn't even notice the time passing during the trip.
Upon arriving in the city, we passed first the Menfis family mansion and leaving the mounts Hilda tried to kidnap Wulfgar from my arms, but I managed to save her little one since if I let her hold him, she would not give him back to me and as she has to stay in her own home today and I have to go back to the institute so better avoid dramatic farewells.
I have no doubt that I will suffer for doing this tomorrow when I meet her again. The rest of my day was quiet apart from being visited by Erick and being bombarded with numerous questions about where we went, but unfortunately for him I kept my explanations simple and unfortunately, I feel like I hear a little misunderstanding.
When Erick left, he made a comment about how he was jealous of not having a girlfriend. I feel this could lead to problems in the future.