I finish explaining the services I offer. It doesn’t seem like anyone here particularly want to buy any of them, with the possible exception of tutoring. That’s to be expected, though, I don’t think that many people want to literally change their body. Someone suggested sessions of flying, which is a good idea but hard to do, since everyone would have to learn to fly. That same person sounded like they might just pay me to teach them the required [Aspect Magic], and aspects, as well as how to actually fly.

Oh well. I take of the birdkin form, then I head back home to drop of the spatial bags and info tablets. As I leave I notice with satisfaction that flying seems to be something many would like to try. After making sure I have the usual gear, as well as the large non-spatial bag, I head to the eastern forest. On the way I buy some salami from a store, and then I head towards Tåke.

The wolves have set up camp in the previously bug-infested cave, and the entire area is now covered in pretty thick fog, but at least the rest of the forest is now free of magical fog, except for where groups of the wolves are hunting or whatever they do. Some ‘do’ each other; there are several mated pairs around, and indeed some that are mating. Good thing most people would be unable to come here thanks to Mist’s redirection effect.

That said, with my increased senses the smell is a bit too thick, and even when I revert to human level it still smells like bitch in heat here. Bitch as in ‘female canine’, which is the only proper use of the word. I’m not sure if the smell is just that strong, or if I have somehow permanently increased my sense of smell. I have a vague feeling that it might be an effect of my Excellent affinity with [Aspect of the Wolf] - It’s just the smell of the wolves that stand out, as opposed to the smell of everything when I increase my sense of smell.

The wolves, or perhaps someone else, have cleared out the rest of the bug remains and webs, and the wolves have started digging out new chambers and tunnels. Those with an Earth affinity are even using magic for the purpose. It also seems that a lot more of them have learned magic, too. Then again, the first pack here has merged with some others, putting it at around fifty pack members.

About half of them are here, while the other half are spread out, some making another den not too far away, some hunting, and some, well, doing things (each other). With this many wolves and more on the way- wait, don’t wolves usually keep pretty small packs? Then again, the wolves here seem a lot more intelligent than your usual pre-Upheaval animal.

Hmm, would we (humans) be able to teach them to make a society? To follow rules (probably ours), while teaching them about the world. And with magic, uplift them? Uplift as in the sci-fi concept of taking a ‘lower intelligence’ species and making it a ‘higher intelligence’. Usually to human levels, though I’ve read stories where they are intentionally left a bit stupid to make them thralls. Or maybe gradually teach them to uplift themselves? Wait, if they could also shapeshift like I can, could they gradually become beastfolk?

Okay, new major 'To Do'. In fact, let’s make that a Quest, which I will share with anyone interested. Objectives: Teach them magic and about the world, and help them make a community, no, society. The [System] will decide the rewards, I suppose.

Quest: Uplift the wolves of the eastern forest Objectives:

Teach the wolves magic

Teach the wolves about the world

Help the wolves build a society Rewards:

The wolves will form a society.

The wolves will start being Uplifted.

Membership and/or status in the society.

Affinity with [Aspect of the Wolf]

Title: [Uplifter]

Quest made: Uplift the wolves of the eastern forest

Well shit, that actually worked? It’s actually possible to uplift them? That last reward looks interesting. The first two rewards are just results, really, but I guess it’d be a reward to the wolves. The third is more or less expected, I guess. The affinity… As far as I know I have the highest possible affinity with Wolf already, though I guess even within each affinity level it’s a sliding scale.

The last reward, though… A [System] given title? Now that’s interesting. How would I go about actually doing the quest, though… Well, for one I should continue gradually teaching them new concepts and abilities. With the [Mind Bond] that should be a lot easier. For them to make a proper society, though… What’s the basis of a society…?

First off, division of labor. And specialisation of labor. Some of them should be good at for example hunting, others construction, some should know healing. Yeah, those would be the most important in the beginning. Some sort of hierarchy, or at least someone to make big decisions would be good, though I can leverage the existing hierarchy for that. And I happen to be at the top of that.

Alright, so some of the wolves should get a knowledge-based education, let’s call that group Leaders. Then there will be Hunters, Builders and Caretakers. Most of the wolves would be needed for gathering food, so Hunters would be the biggest group. Actually, if they could learn some sort of agriculture, or at least gathering edible berries and such… Wait, can wolves eat such things? Like, safely eat it, not like certain dogs that will eat anything they see.

Hmm, like most mammals they should at least be able to eat some berries and plants with no adverse effects, though they might not be able to fully digest them. I should look that up to make sure. The digging wolves function as Builders (for now), which means the focus should be on Leaders and Caretakers.

For now I guess I should start with Tåke. She’s in one of the deepest parts of the cave system, not that it’s that big. Yet, anyway. It’s hella dark, though. “Attention to me!” I yell, successfully getting the attention of nearby wolves. I connect to them, one at a time, with [Mind Magic], creating a surface level bond. I then form multiple orbs of light. ｢Create light, see better.｣

Through the bond, as well as the pack bond and growing understanding of the wolves’ communication and body expressions, I get a sense of confusion. Back to basics, then. I grab a somewhat small mana crystal from my bag, and use the magic share trick with two of the wolves. ｢Create light. See better.｣ This time, they seem to understand. ｢Teach others.｣ I say, before dispelling the mind bonds.

I leave the crystal with them, since the continuous operation of the mana absorption enchant on my balcony has netted me quite a few of these finger sized crystals, with a few larger ones. The biggest is a bit smaller than the size of my fist, a result of me being unable to switch it out when I went to denmark. I keep up my original orb of light, continuing to Tåke. Hmm, maybe I should make some small, lights fueled by ambient mana? Would be easy enough, and quite useful.

As I enter the little offshoot where Tåke is, I decide to also teach the wolves to about basic architecture and planning when I fix the lights. Before I can think of specifically how to do that, Tåke lets out an excited bark and hurries up to me, jumping at me with her front legs. “Ahaha, don’t do that!” I say, pushing her down as I move out of the entrance and take on the wolfkin form.

“C’mere!” I say as I sit, legs crossed. I enjoy her company, ignoring the now stronger pheromones and smells, for a little while, petting her and scratching her behind the ears. After a while I do what I came here for: Deepening our bond, and with the new quest, start uplifting her.

First off, let’s form a mind bond. She looks on under the orb of light as I form the spell, and accepts it unquestioningly. The connection is formed, and the already existing sense of her emotions and health, becomes much stronger and joined by her thoughts. Well, they’re not exactly thoughts the same way I think, or even Leda, but more a collection of emotions and desires. ｢Safe. {Happy}Mate here. {Tired}Resting. {Desire}Cuddling.｣

I speak, with both mind and voice. “｢{Content}Tåke. I want you to become more intelligent. Better. I have a quest. I want to share it. Uplift the pack, starting with yourself.｣”

Quest given: Uplift the pack

Quest: Uplift the pack Objectives:

Learn magic

Learn about the human world

Teach pack members magic

Teach pack member about the human world

Make a society Rewards:

Become Uplifted

The wolves will start being Uplifted.

Become leader in the society

Titles: [Uplifted], [Uplifter]

After a moment, she accepts, which I feel both through the mind bond and a [System] notification. ｢{Happy}Good! First, let us increase our bond.｣ I wait a moment for her answer, but aside from a sense of willingness, get nothing. Communicating was much easier with Leda. Oh well, if I succeed that will change. Actually, could I uplift Leda as well?

I put that off for later, I’ll head there later anyway. For now, I gradually strengthen the mind bond. I feel more and more from Tåke, from just surface emotion, to more hidden emotions, and then the hint of impulses and other… things I can only assume is unfiltered thoughts. Or, proto-thoughts, at least. To any human, this would be deeply intimate, and probably a breach of privacy (though I did ask for permission), so I dial back from what I think is the subconscious.

It’s not really fair to do this one-way, though the only reason why my thoughts isn’t transmitted is that I control them. I relax my mind, letting out a deep breath. ｢{Concerned}Are you okay? {Anticipatory}I hope this goes well. {Eager}Let’s try to teach you control first.｣

I send the knowledge of how to control my thoughts in the bond, as well as the [Mind Magic] ability itself. Through the bond, I feel her growing understanding, as well as confusion on certain points, and change what I send to her. It’s hard to keep track of the time with this amount of concentration, but eventually she reciprocates the bond and start to filter out ‘noise’ from it.

Sub-ability learned: [Mind Magic: Ability Share]

That sub-ability will come in handy: So far it seems like I can use any ability I know for [Enchanting], and with this I might be able to make items to let you learn abilities. Well, without me there to answer questions or otherwise sort the information and help the receiver to understand it, it would be less effective. I can probably teach spells that way, and if the person also experiments, which is how I’ve gained, well, almost all my abilities, such an item would be greatly helpful to them.

For now, focus on the situation at hand. Since sharing that ability was a success, let’s share [Body Enhancement] and the two healing abilities as well. I start with [Body Enhancement], but it turns out harder than I thought, translating it to something she understands. Hmm. Ahh, I can just take on the Direwolf form. I tell her so, and she gives me the space to shift.

The form of a wolf is similar enough humanoid forms that I don’t need to take off my gear, but I reposition the bag, hanging it at my back instead of butt. The kilt also doesn’t work too well with a tail, but I can fix that later. It strikes me that I might have a completely different basis on which I form magic, so I decide to start with the basics: [Mana Perception] and [Mana Manipulation].

In order to do that, I first form a mana link. Since she only seems confused when I tell her to connect to my mana, I somewhat forcefully initiate the connection. As soon as I do, I am surprised by what I sense. She does not have the same density of mana, and I probably have more, but it seems so… Pure.

In comparison ambient mana, and even my own mana, seems to have all sorts of impurities in the form of elements and aspects. Hers, on the other hand, has a strong feeling of Wolf, with Mist being notable as well. Aside from that, there’s only the impurities from our link, and even that seems to be purified as it goes through her mana core. I am almost surprised that she has one, but so far it seems like all Beasts - the online communities’ name for not-quite monsters, animals with magic- and monsters alike have had them.

｢{Curious//Inquisitive}Circulate our mana.｣ I say, starting the movement from my side. A moment later, she also start circulating. The little link we have is a bottleneck, even when I want to limit the mana exchange to only what she can purify, so I form another, and widen them. With this circuit of mana, I have to slow down the movement of mana so her core can purify it all.

But her mana… It feels so warm, as if we were hugging closely. Not so hot as to burn, though, unlike Leda’s, but that- ｢{Annoyed//Curious}Leda?｣ Tåke takes me out of my thoughts with a small growl. I respond by explaining to her about Leda, more with my memories than words. It takes only a moment, and I am struck by how low the ‘bandwidth’ of communication with words is. Especially when compared to this…

She seems content with that, but if I’m not wrong, a bit annoyed, jealous, even. Does she not like that I have another beast companion? I have considered taking them to meet each other, but if they are likely to be hostile to each other… On the other hand, it would be better to pacify them as soon as I can.

Those problems I can handle later, for now let’s go back to teaching her magic.