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After carefully studying the crimson words before his eyes several times, Robb did not rush to sign the contract.
He crouched down and placed Bloodwind on the floor. The crimson words vanished at once.
Then he tried picking up another direwolf pup, but no words appeared.
Finally, when Robb picked Bloodwind up again, just as he had expected, the words reappeared before his eyes.
"Robb, let me help! That bastard Jon found another odd-colored pup."
Theon walked over and scooped up the remaining three pups while speaking.
"Fate may be set… but it can still change. Let's go home."
After confirming that only Bloodwind could activate his golden finger, Robb held the pup even more carefully as he spoke a line that left Theon completely baffled.
'What's gotten into him today?'
Looking at this foster brother he had lived beside for nearly ten years, Theon suddenly felt that Robb seemed a little strange.
When the group finally returned safely to Winterfell, his mother, Catelyn Stark, was already waiting at the entrance of the main keep with Sansa, Arya, Rickon, Maester Luwin, Hodor, and several servants.
After exchanging greetings according to noble custom, Robb's three younger siblings eagerly divided the three pups in Theon's arms among themselves.
Catelyn had originally wanted to pull Robb aside for a proper conversation after hearing that he had suddenly fainted.
But Robb, who now carried his own little secret, was far too eager.
After excusing himself to his parents, he hurried back to the keep with Bloodwind in his arms.
As for dinner, the servants would naturally come and inform him when it was ready.
Robb's chamber was located on the far left side of the second floor of the keep.
It was a bright, spacious, and practical room, though simply decorated.
In truth, there were no lavish chambers anywhere in Winterfell.
Four large candelabras stood in the corners of the room. At night, once lit, they illuminated the entire chamber.
Above the wall where the door stood was a row of small wooden vents, each about the size of a fist.
Winterfell had been built over hot springs, and the steam from those springs was carried through these channels inside the castle walls, warming the rooms.
This made Winterfell far more comfortable during the harsh winters of the North.
In a way, it functioned like a massive natural central heating system.
At the center of the room stood a large wooden bed layered with thick furs.
On the other side stood a wooden desk.
To the left of the desk was a wardrobe, and to the right was a washstand.
That was all the furniture in the room.
Closing the door behind him, Robb walked over to the bed and carefully placed Bloodwind on the furs.
"Uu… hmm!"
Maybe he was hungry. Maybe it was something else.
Bloodwind opened his eyes and sniffed the air around him, letting out the tiny sounds of a young pup.
Form blood pact.
Now that he was back in his own room, Robb finally decided to activate his golden finger.
Beginning blood pact formation.
The moment the words in front of his eyes changed, Bloodwind's yellow eyes instantly turned red.
The pup bit down at the base of Robb's right thumb.
Even though he was only a pup, the sharp teeth of a direwolf — a born predator — easily pierced Robb's skin.
Blood immediately began to flow.
However, none of it dripped onto the bed.
Every drop was absorbed by Bloodwind.
Gradually, a soft crimson glow began to emanate from both Robb and Bloodwind, bathing the room in a crimson glow, like a scarlet sunset.
Blood pact completed.
After about a minute, the crimson light slowly faded back into their bodies.
The red in Bloodwind's eyes also disappeared.
Once his yellow eyes returned to normal and he saw the blood still flowing from Robb's hand, the little wolf began licking the wound with his warm, damp tongue.
Once the pact was complete, Robb felt a faint mental connection with Bloodwind.
He could sense simple emotions coming from the pup.
Guilt.
Hunger.
Thirst.
When Robb focused his gaze on Bloodwind, the crimson words appeared once more.
Name: Bloodwind
Contractor: Robb Stark
Constitution: 1
Speed: 2
Strength: 1
Species: Spiritual Direwolf (6)
Blood Pact Points: 0
For Robb, who had spent years shaped by gaming back on Earth, the information was easy to grasp.
The first line needed no explanation.
The second showed Bloodwind's basic attributes.
For a newborn pup, those numbers were perfectly normal.
Robb was very curious to see how Bloodwind would grow in the future.
The third line clearly referred to the six pups found by House Stark.
What he had not expected, however, was for them to carry the prefix "spiritual."
But that made sense too.
In the original story, Bran had naturally formed a mental connection with his direwolf even without training.
And when Arya later reunited with Nymeria, the massive pack of wolves following her clearly carried traces of direwolf blood.
Robb came to the conclusion that if Bloodwind had been only an ordinary direwolf, the blood pact might never have formed.
Blood Pact Points.
That was likely the resource needed to accelerate Bloodwind's growth.
And this fourth entry was clearly the most important part of his golden finger.
But how was he supposed to obtain them?
Robb stared at the crimson words as he considered possible ways to gain those points.
While he remained motionless in thought, Bloodwind began shifting restlessly on the bed, letting out a low growl.
Hunger…
Thirst…
Hunger…
After those feelings kept being sent to him over and over for a while, Robb finally snapped back to reality.
Leaving the little glutton alone on the bed, he opened the door and stepped out.
About half an hour later, Robb returned to the room carrying a small wooden basin.
The moment he entered, he tried sending a mental message to Bloodwind.
"Bloodwind, your nutritious dinner is here."
But the pup remained lying on the bed without moving.
He was probably too weak from hunger to even move.
Watching him, Robb tilted his head and thought for a moment.
Then he placed the basin on the desk and began searching through the wardrobe.
Inside the basin was dog's milk.
On the way back, Ser Rodrik had mentioned that a red bitch from his household had recently given birth, but most of the pups had died.
That meant she could provide enough milk to feed the direwolves.
Clothing in the North was usually made of thick wool.
After searching for a while, Robb found a strip of linen from the lining of a garment and cut off a small piece with his sword.
He dipped one end of the cloth into the milk.
The fabric soaked it up immediately.
Holding the basin in his right hand, Robb brought the cloth to Bloodwind's mouth.
The pup caught the scent of the milk.
At first, he licked the cloth a few times.
Then he bit down on it and began sucking eagerly.
After feeding Bloodwind the entire basin this way, Robb realized his back was aching from remaining bent over for so long.
Even so, when he saw Bloodwind lying on the bed, satisfied and asleep, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment.
Almost like a first-time father.
By the time Robb finished feeding Bloodwind, the sky outside had already begun to grow dark.
At that moment, a servant knocked at the door to inform him that dinner was ready and lit the candelabras in the room.
Robb nodded and left after straightening his clothes.
After walking for about ten minutes through candlelit corridors, he finally arrived at the great hall of Winterfell.
The Stark ancestors had clearly been very hospitable people.
The feast hall was enormous.
Its outer walls were made of gray stone and decorated with the direwolf banners of House Stark.
When Robb pushed open the great oak doors reinforced with steel, he saw eight long tables arranged inside the hall.
Four on each side of a central aisle.
If every seat were filled, hundreds of people could dine there.
Of course, those tables were meant for ordinary guests.
Members of House Stark and noble visitors dined at the raised table at the far end of the hall.
At that moment, the entire Stark family was already seated.
Jon and Theon were there as well.
When there were no important guests present, Catelyn tolerated the presence of the "bastard" out of respect for Eddard.
During dinner, Eddard and Catelyn spoke quietly to each other while tearing apart pieces of rye bread.
Most of the chatter at the table came from Theon.
He animatedly told Robb's younger siblings about how he had found the stag and the direwolf.
Robb only gave a brief answer when Catelyn asked about his health at the beginning of the meal.
After that, he continued eating in silence.
He had far too many things he needed to sort out in his mind.
While eating absentmindedly and already more than halfway through his plate, a line of crimson text suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Blood Pact Points +1
What?!
Eating gave Blood Pact Points?
That realization left Robb utterly stunned.
"Robb, why are you so happy?"
Arya, seated at his right, had noticed the expression on his face and asked curiously.
"Arya, I just discovered something."
"Eating helps you grow."
Robb replied with a smile.
Then he turned to the maid standing nearby.
"Please bring me another portion of the same size."
"Hmph! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Arya, who had always struggled to grow no matter how much she ate, was instantly irritated.
"Eating that much… you really are a complete glutton!"
She turned her face away and ignored Robb completely.
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