Best Course of Action
Chapter 52 Best Course of Action
Aleshia stopped herself just before calling out to Lucia, realizing that it could attract the attention of the nearby pack of wolves and set off a chain of unpredictable events. While devising a plan and considering different possibilities, she took a closer look at the situation. She noticed something peculiar: the green wolves seemed to be fighting each other, but it didn't appear to be a fight to the death, and they were leaving Lucia alone. Aleshia suspected that they might be fighting over the witch hat. Concerned about the situation, she wanted to contact Lucia using [Mind Speech], but she was too far from the witch hat to use that magic.
Aleshia decided the best course of action was to move closer and observe the green wolves as long as they didn't bear their fangs toward Lucia. She carefully made her way down the slope, mindful not to make any noise. Aleshia then hid behind some trees at a distance from the green wolves, providing her with a better view of the situation. Initially, she thought the green wolves were fighting over the magical power contained in the witch hat. However, she now suspected they were engaging in a mock battle to prove themselves worthy of serving the witch hat. It seemed like they were demonstrating their combat abilities to gain the privilege of being the witch hat's subordinates.
Just then, a stray wind blade flew from one of the battles and hit the tree Aleshia was hiding behind. The sudden impact and noise startled Aleshia, causing her to yelp in surprise. In an instant, all the green wolves in the vicinity pricked up their ears and turned their attention toward the source of the unexpected sound. A low growl rumbled through the assembled pack, a collective display of dominance and a warning to the would-be challenger. The wolves' fur bristled as they sought to intimidate their unseen adversary.
The green wolves slowly walked toward Aleshia, organizing themselves into neat groups. Aleshia discerned that the first and closest group used their fangs, claws, and jaws to kill or injure their opponents, causing them to bleed out. The second group utilized their ability to manipulate the wind, launching ranged attacks. Adding credence to that speculation, Aleshia noticed distortions in the air, indicating impending wind attacks from the sky. She guessed these wolves supported the first group by launching additional attacks, keeping their opponents on edge. Aleshia couldn't discern the role of the last group but quickly formulated a plan to defend and counteract their actions.