Emery prepared himself and went to the Zodiac City, where the Bloodline Institute was located.
Right as he entered the city, as per the invitation he received, he went into a small, unassuming stone building decorated with a sigil in the shape of a howling white wolf.
Emery swallowed his doubts and walked inside.
There were only around two dozen acolytes there, but each seemed to be busy talking and laughing amongst themselves. Emery looked around and finally saw Brutus.
"Welcome to the Wolf Division of Bloodline Institute." The hairy-looking Brutus smiled. "It wasn't much but at least it's our own base!"
"Emery, you're late! You know, I really hate waiting." Tatjana pouted.
"Come on, let's go, let's go now!" Andrei said with an excited smile.
Thanks to the kidnapping incident some time ago, Emery ended up being acquaintances with the three wolf acolytes.
Brutus pulled Emery's hand and took him to talk with the other acolytes gathered there. Thanks to Brutus, now Emery knew the six of them were third-year acolytes, while the rest were second-year acolytes just like him. Though all of them possessed wolf bloodlines of various kinds and powers, none of them managed to become a part of the elite or the privileged classes.
Emery thought to talk some more with them, until Brutus suddenly pulled his arm and said. "Okay, now that the introductions are done, let's go! The chief is already waiting for us!"
"Let's go! Party! Party!" Andrei added.
The three of them took Emery to a portal swirling in the corner of the room and they arrived on a different planet. The sun had already set and the darkened skies above the lush forest were dotted with a river of twinkling stars.
There was nothing to see around them, but Emery could hear loud instrumental music being played and motes of light with various colors dancing around some distance away from them, right behind the clustered trees. The ground vibrated from the beating of drums.
"Ah, dang, so they already started…" Brutus muttered.
They walked together towards the source of the music. While walking, Emery saw another group of people passing through the portal. None of those people were wearing acolyte uniforms, but Emery could sense their strong power from behind their friendly demeanor.
They walked for a few minutes, until they arrived in a clearing. A few hundred people had already gathered there, each of their faces bathed in an orange glow thanks to the torches tied to the trees and a huge bonfire blazing right in the middle.
Some were dancing with their chosen partners, while some were busy playing musical instruments or even hitting sticks they found onto drums made of leather. Some talked with their friends and laughed together, while the rest were busy eating the food provided on the stone tables. Emery could see drinks on almost everyone's hands.
It was a late-night party in the forest.
From their clothes, it was clear none of the few hundred people there were acolytes, but something inside him told Emery they were all blessed with the power of a wolf bloodline. Right as the three arrived, a middle-aged man raised his hand and everything stopped.
The music, the dancing, the laughter, all disappeared into the wind, even those who were busy eating looked at the middle-aged man with a serious gaze.
The man looked around, made sure everyone paid attention, then lowered his hand and said.
"Everyone, meet the academy pups!" The man announced.
There was a second of pause, before everyone started to approach the three of them. The other two dozen acolytes Emery saw before had arrived as well and just like the three of them, they received a warm welcome.
While Emery was busy talking with some of the guests, he suddenly heard rowdy shouts from the middle of the crowd.
"So, which one of them is the Savage Acolyte?"
"It's the one called Emery! Where's Emery?"
"Emery? He would be... That one!" Emery looked at the source of the voice and saw a red-haired woman pointing at him. Their eyes met and the woman smiled in response.
The woman jumped through the crowds and landed near Emery, before she leaned close to his face and sniffed him.
"Hmm, you are more handsome in person than on the screen." The woman said.
"My name is Anna, White fang pack leader, nice to finally meet you…"
Emery only stared at her in confusion, but all of a sudden, an irritated shout could be heard from behind Emery.
"Anna, you bitch! I saw him first. Are you trying to claim him? Are you that shameless?"
Yet again, Emery looked at the source of the voice and saw a beautiful woman with short black hair that reached the back of her neck. The woman ran towards him, gave Anna an enraged glance and grabbed Emery's arm.
"Such a smooth skin…" The woman trailed her fingers up and down Emery's forearm. "I really like you… My name is Beatrice and I am your future pack leader."
"Get the hell away from him, Beatrice. He's mine!" The red-haired woman shouted.
"He won't even touch you, you bitch!" The black-haired woman retorted.
Emery still did not understand what was happening. All he knew was two gorgeous women are both trying to pull him into their own pack.
"Ahem."
Emery and the two women looked at the source of the voice and saw a middle-aged man with messy long white hair walking towards them. The man seemed to be strong, but he had a huge claw mark on his left face right where his eye should have been.
"Beatrice, Anna, stop it for now. Let's not scare our young one." The man said.
The two women released Emery's arm, nodded with a solemn expression and answered. "Yes, Chief."
From his demeanor, coupled with the sudden behavior change, Emery instantly knew the seemingly thin, one-eyed middle aged man was the chief Brutus was talking about. Though he seems to be rather weak, the aura he radiated was at least as powerful as Lord Izta's.
However, the man's gestures and how the others looked at him made the man feel like a father figure to many.
"Brutus, I'll take your junior from here. As for you all, enjoy yourselves." The middle-aged man smiled.
"Yes, chief." The three of them answered at the same time.
They turned away and joined the crowd dancing to the music. With the chief's permission, the festivities continued on. The beating of the drums resumed, along with the laughter, the clinking of glass and lively conversations. There were even fights going on, wrestling matches among themself followed by laughs.
Meanwhile, Emery was taken away from the hubbub to be introduced to the other pack leaders.
"Welcome to White Fang clan, young one. Has our Chief, Beowlf, set you up with one of the packs yet? If not, you are very much welcome to join mine."
"You must wait in line brother, everyone wish to scoop in on this talented young pup."
As a wolf bloodline acolytes who managed to get into the famous Magus Academy and win the Magus Games, Emery was really famous among the clans and many wanted him to join them.
The chief explained all the wolf bloodlines would always thrive in a pack and all with the wolf bloodline, who managed to get into the Magus Academy would be assigned under the care of his clan. After finishing their studies, most of the acolytes would return to their own pack back home, but some talented ones would be offered the chance to join one of the greatest wolf clans: the White Fang.
While they were talking, a long howl could be heard in the distance. The howling was joined with multiple howls from other wolves.
"The patriarch has come!" A voice from the crowd announced.