Chapter 48

"So…how do you evaluate me?" he asked, "Is there some sort of test? Want me to pull a rabbit out of my hat? Thought I'd have to do that in the sorting but as it turned out, that didn't happen. And I don't have a hat. I do have a jacket though. I could pull something out of that, maybe."

Harry was starting to ramble, hoping to Gods above that the Forest wouldn't kill him with its extremely powerful magic. But the eyes of the wolves looked mildly amused before the largest one shut him up with a bark.

A smaller wolf emerged from the middle of the pack, heading towards Harry slowly, who froze his limbs to prevent himself from lashing out. Unpleasant memories of another wolf were being stirred in him. The wolf sniffed at Harry's hand for a second, before turning back to his pack mates and letting out a shrill yip.

One by one, each of the wolves came up to him and sniffed him until only the largest one remained. After a moment of tense staring, Harry decided to make the move. He maintained eye contact and, very slowly and carefully, bowed. Much to his relief, the wolf lowered his own an unmistakable bow back, before letting out a howl that rippled through the forest.

The crushing mana that Harry was feeling immediately lightened and started flowing around him again. The forest, or whatever entity was testing him, was done. The message was clear.

You are worthy.

The howl, though, apparently, was not for his judgment, but a call, because a moment later, over a dozen smaller female wolves burst into the clearing in a trot with some unbelievably adorable cubs that looked barely a month old. Harry stared flabbergasted as one of the tinier ones ran over to him and started using its paws to claw Harry's pant legs.

The entire pack had into the clearing, some licking their coat, some playing, clearly knowing that Harry was no threat to their young.

Ping!

Quest Completed!

Explore the Forest

Reward,

2000 Exp

Harry took all that in with a small smile. Bending down, he noticed that the box above the little cub's head read 'Billy'. Momentarily wondering if Dumbledore had given him that name, he reached out to pet its head, at which point little Billy decided to remind him that he was a wolf.

CHOMP!

"AARRGHH! SCREW YOU BILLY!"

Harry had spent a few more minutes with the wolf pack nursing his poor abused hand that had been through so much that evening, before he waved them goodbye and set out jumping through the trees again, this time feeling a lot freer without some ancient sentient being attempting to cave in his skull with the pressure of its magic.

Much to his happiness, his original objective had been achieved and his Dex had gone up by quite a bit.

DEX-12(+3) = 15

With that done, Harry started heading back towards Hogwarts to get some shuteye, but fate had decreed it not to happen, as Harry stumbled onto a talk between two half-men-half-horses. Making sure that he was well hidden, he kept an ear on the conversation.

"You have been coming here every night for days now Firenze, the elders are concerned."

"They have nothing to worry about Ronan, The stars are clearer here," Firenze replied in a dreamy tone.

"The stars are clearer back home as well Firenze." Ronan's voice held a small bit of steel.

"Do not worry brother. I have no wish to run off or abandon our herd. That is the concern of our elders is it not?"

"The elders worry that you have strayed too deep into the Divine arts," Ronan said passionately, "They are worried that we may lose you."

"They have nothing to worry about."

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