Lotus followed them to the entrance as the alpha continued, "What we you do now that one of their men has been captured?"
She knew what he was talking about and shook her head, "I will naturally go and hunt them down as well."
"You're not waiting anymore?" The elder looked to her in confusion.
Lotus shook her head, "Time is of the essence. I must hurry if I want to return to our world. Naturally, I can not leave without knowing that this place is free of intruders and potential doorways."
"You're leaving?" The alpha looked to her curiously.
Lotus nodded, "I've finally came across a long-lost sibling today. Things are also not looking too good on the other side. Therefore, I must hurry-"
She was interrupted when the wolf raised a paw to stop her from continuing.
"You are panicking…" He responded firmly, "Although it is good to take out trash, you must also not lower your guard. Keep attentive over your surroundings and yourself. Launching an ambush without a plan will only cause more casualty to others and yourself. If you are to carry out your goal, you must do so with a plan and not forget your own words. Now that you have become a student, you must attend school here for three consecutive years and gain experience in the society for one year. Then, get your degree before you leave."
"The leader is right." The elder nodded in agreement, "It is good to rush when needed, but, if you are not careful, you will come across a dead end and will need to take a few steps back. Instead, take your time and learn from this world's knowledge. Then, bring it back to our world. When you do, you will become much stronger than them."
"Although we are only guardian, we have lived long enough to know what changes knowledge can bring to the world." The alpha added, "A century ago when this dorm was first built, the students lived on the cave walls and bones supported the stair ways. For nights, we had to stay vigilant in fear that a foolish child falls from the stairs as they tread up. Nobody could imagine that one day, they would build their dorm upside down and create complex trinkets to allow one to dwell in their quarters upside down."
"Yes…" The eldest elder sighed, "I was not around for that long, but I do remember those construction days. The one who designed that dorm with a young student of the dorm and the one who led the project was a magician born with the innate talent of the beast master. The two were close companions throughout those days."
"The beast master were more in numbers during those years." Lotus hummed in deep thoughts, "But, what would happen to have led them all to suddenly vanish? If it was a century ago, surely, they should still be around…"
The alpha shook his head, "The only one who knows the answers to this was my father, the old alpha. During those years, he was the first to notice the decline of the beast masters and sought out ways to leave the dorm to investigate the matter. However, he came into contact with a human on the year we planned for departure, and you know the ending."
Lotus sighed sadly, "The old patriarch is a very caring being that he would even go as far as to help students from another dorm."
The eldest elder nodded, "He was a wise and diligent leader. Even when something happened to outsiders, he would not stop thinking about it, especially when it came to children."
The alpha nodded, "My father was very fond of caring for the pups since his first litter. He loved my mother very much as well and always made certain that the young were fed first after she passed away. Even after moving here, it was the same. He could not stop worrying over the children of the other races and had us keep watch diligently to keep the children safe."
"He was very upset with the way the dorm was designed after the first two students had a fall and was ready to lunge at the staffs just so they could hear his complaints." The eldest elder sighed, "Even in his old age, his attention was always on the young ones. I remember during those years, we would joke and say that, when the time came and he was reborn as a human, he should just pursue this type of profession as a teacher instead. Even a headmaster would be a right choice."
"My father watched from afar as the dorm was being rebuilt. He would even go as far as pretending to be a small and old familiar to watch from the side. During those days, the first headmaster was still present and had grown old. The two would chat by the entrance for hours at night after the workers left." The alpha continued, "When the dorm was finished, the two just sat there for hours brimming with pride. It was believed that the headmaster was the one who had heard my father's cries of anger and complaint in those early days and lent a helping hand. My father did not stop pursuing the matter and patiently watched as his students designed their new dorm under the leadership of the beast masters and Ignihyde's former dorm leader. How could he not have been proud of them?"
"With patience and observation, he knew that his students had the knowledge and skills to accomplish this task." The elder explained, "He always said to my eldest half-brother and my puppy self that with a little patience and perseverance, anything could be accomplished, but, with patience and diligence, you can make anyone a talent to be looked up to and achieve the wildest dreams. If you want to return to our old world and help your family, stay in this school and this world for a little while longer. Gather the knowledge of this world and bring it back with you. Then, this world's knowledge will become a part of your strength. Otherwise, no matter how hasty you are, you will only take just as long to achieve your goals and make her wait longer."
Hearing this, Lotus hesitated for a while in silence. What he said was not wrong. She had seen it happen before, but she just wasn't certain why this would happen. Now that she had the time to think it through with a calm mind, she realized that she was probably in too much of a hurry. Step by step, she came to this point. If she runs now, she may not be able to gather so much knowledge and ideas… Also, what would she do if Yuu and Grim comes across trouble?
Yuu aren't immortal beings like her and Grim. So, she needs to consider their well-being as well. She thought for a while. With a heavy heart, she nodded with a sigh, "Then, I'll stay and continue to learn then…"
The alpha nodded, "Good. Now, for the other matter. That assassin."
"Ah, you and your pack want to 'take care' of him?" Lotus presumed seeing the angry expression over the alpha's face.
The elder nodded with a chuckle, "We've yet to teach him a lesson harming us and attempting to harm the students! If he's getting away that easily then our pack would just become a joke in the eyes of the other guardians! Did he really think our leader is that easy to push around?"
"First elder." The alpha growled before he sighed, "He's not wrong, though. To take that foolish one back and let the children play with him. Let him make the children rest easy after that fright."
Lotus nodded and took the iguana back out for the elder wolf to take with him, "I've already removed the poison element, but that doesn't mean you can still let him run around recklessly. He still has the mind of a human, after all. Best that you let the pups play with him under supervision. This guy was skilled in the art of poison, after all."
The first elder nodded, "You have our gratitude."
Lotus nodded, "Then, I'll take my leave. You should also start heading back."
"We will." The alpha responded as they watched her leave.
Lotus then made her way back out the door. Once she was out of sight, the elder spoke up cautiously, "Leader, that scent on her is similar as the youngest. Could it be…"
The alpha was left in deep contemplation before he turned around and huffed, "Tonight, you will continue to watch over the pack…"
"I understand. Please be sure not to get caught by the current headmaster." The smaller wolf responded before following the alpha back. He sighed inwardly as he wondered what made his leader to suddenly think of the past. The old patriarch alpha was something that the leader no longer talked about anymore. However, every night, he would stand vigilant by the entrance where his father once sat watching the students enter and leave the dorm. Never once had he ever talked about the past or of the old wolf again. Yet, now he suddenly remembered him. Perhaps, her sense of nostalgia reminded him of his memory with the old alpha wolf. That student was truly a wonder…