《Legend of Erina: Celestial Tamer》


 Chapter 0: Prologue

    Hi my name is Erina and right now I am running for my life. Yes, you read it correctly I am now running through a vast and dark jungle, my leather armor completely in tatters and my wooden wand broken in half. Why am I running through the jungle, you ask? Well if you were being chased by a pack of Spine Wolves would you not run?! And no, a pack does not mean 6-10 of those prickly monstrosities. I am talking a group of 20-30 hence the reason the poor me is running like a madman.


    Yep, somehow this simple quest for me to find a suitable first Battle Partner or BP in short tern in this clusterfuck of misfortune. Okay just to address a question you people might ask me, some people call them familiar, some call them pets but I rather call them Battle Partner or BP in short cause that is exactly what Tamers and Summoners use this bests for.


    Honestly, I think somewhere out there a great spirit was seriously pissed with me and sent me a curse. You see this was not the first time this happened to me. This current journey to the Great East Forest was my third time this year that i failed to contract my first BP. Why do I insist on going again and again inside the forest, you ask? Well because for all of 17 years of life I wanted to be a Tamer, okaaay, I admit i wanted to be someone more epic. I wanted to be a Celestial Tamer. A rank that only one person in my world achieved. And let us clear the elephant in the room, yes there are currently 25 known realms or worlds connected to my own home world. Each known to specialize on different things. Some inhabited by other races and some are filled with monsters, spirits and wild beasts.


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    But before we go to that in great length and for me to really tell you in detail how I got myself in this predicament let me start my story back at the very beginning.

 Chapter 1 - Reminisce

    Chapter 1 - Reminisce


    One of my first memories was the back of my mother. At least I think she was my mother. We were running real fast away from someone. I can''t seem to remember quite clearly but I can hear panic and fear in her voice as she urges me to run a bit faster and a bit more farther, something that a four year old girl like me was having a problem doing. It has been a while since we entered the forest beside our burning village. I can still remember the screams of the people in the village as we flee from there just an hour ago. It was utter chaos, mothers dragging their crying children by the hand away from the village, fathers trying to defend our village from those who attacked us with the desire for our women and children and few belongings our farming village have.


    You see we were being attacked by bandits. Thieves and scoundrels who made it their lives mission to make the lives of simple people like us hell. It took all the effort of our village men to give us enough time to flee our burning village. We were being pillaged and not only that they were here to captures us and sell us as slaves to anyone who would buy us. Our mothers would face a more horrible future as they would be sold to the brothels and become prostitutes. From early on we knew that being stuck so far away from the capital or even a major city made this kinds of situations more likely to happen but our ancestors wanted to remain communed with nature and so we remained in a clearing at the west side of Flowergate Forest and on our west side is the border to the great Empire of Archidias which still allows slavery to remain legal. That is where all these bandits came from and where they will sell us if we were captured.


    I can see the tears clouding my mother''s eyes as she continued to drag me inside the Flowergate Forest. I can see the pain of losing her husband and yet I can also see the determination bordering desperation to flee the village and find safety somewhere. Flowergate Forest might seem nice to the ears but it was anything but nice. Entering the forest is actually the easiest way to reach the nearest city in our vicinity, the Merchant city of Brahil. But travelers tend to take the long way around the forest to reach our village instead. It is because Flowergate Forest is known for its nature/poison type beasts. They are ferocious and does not take kindly to intruders.


    While running for about another hour our luck finally ran out. When we thought we lost the bandits who were chasing us we were met with something much more sinister. Stopping for a quick breath I heard a hissing sound nearing us. My mother turned instantly pale. I can see in her emerald eyes that the fear has now increased. I was starting to also panic, she was the only reason why I can still remain somewhat calm and not crying my eyes out but now I can see tears running down her eyes as she stares at something behind the giant tree in our left. When I turned my eyes to see what was there, I saw death. It was a Petal Snake. Again with the nice name. And I tell you it was anything but nice. It was horrifying. A snake as long as 4 adult male combine and as wide as two of them side by side. Its pinkish scales that when you look closely somehow looks more like petals instead of scales. But what makes it much more deadly is that this petal like scales when applied vibration on releases paralyzing spores in the air disabling its prey in the process. It is then that this huge snake will slowly gobble up its prey while it is still alive. It does not release poison in its fang but a strong acid that it injects to its victim to help digest it that much quicker. And it looks at us like we were its next meal and well we were.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    I saw my mom look at me. With tears in her eyes I can see that she decided to protect me until the end. My mom puts me behind her to make sure that she was between me and the Petal Snake.


    Erina''s Mom: "Honey do not look at the pretty snake. Look at me okay?!"


    I nodded my head as a confirmation and listened to her continue talking.


    Erina''s Mom: "Honey, listen to me very carefully. Mommy cannot go with you to the city, okay dear?!"


    Kid Erina: "But why mom?"


    Erina''s Mom: "Just please be a good girl and listen to mommy, okay?! You have to slowly back away and run as fast as you can. Do you hear me baby?"


    Kid Erina: "But mom I am tired."


    Erina''s Mom: "I know sweety, but you need to get to the city okay?! Promise mommy that in the count of three you will back away and then run really really fast. And just like a while ago you cannot look back. Do you understand baby?"


    Kid Erina: "Mommy I''m scared."


    Erina''s Mom: "I know baby but you are a brave girl. You can do it. I know you can. Remember that mommy and daddy loves you so very much."


    Kid Erina: "I love you too mom."


    Erina''s Mom: "Okay now let me count to three. One...two...three! Run baby!"


    As my mom counted I slowly backed away from her and when I heard her tell me to run I ran as fast as my little feet can run. If only I looked back I may have seen how my mom in her last moments tried desperately to protect me from the Petal Snake by sacrificing her own life.


    It took no time at all for the petal snake to swallow my mother. She was after all a normal human farmer''s wife. But with her sacrifice the Petal Snake was satisfied and slithered back to where it came from giving me all the time to run as far away from there as possible and into the waiting arms of the the people we were running from to begin with.

 Chapter 2: From the Frying Pan into the Fire

    Chapter 3 is up in my Wordpress Account. Maybe I will do this normally. I will first upload the chapter in Wordpress and then the last chapter will be posted here. So the wordpress will always be one chapter or two chapters ahead than of RoyalRoadl. :)


    AN: I am severely lacking in my vocabulary and i tend to drag on and on even in my writing so forgive me. I am trying to be as concise as possible. :) As always any constructive criticism and corrections are highly appreciated.


    Chapter 2: From the Frying Pan into the Fire


    Running as fast as I can without really knowing where to go is terrifying but it is a hundred folds more terrifying for a little girl of four years to be doing just that. I ran with all my might, tears streaming down my eyes, even in my small mind I somehow knew that I won''t be seeing my Dad and my Mom anymore, that they have died and left me alone. I stopped running at that thought. I was alone in a forest without anyone to help me and protect me. I was scared as anyone would be. I cannot help but cry, try as I might to be strong I can''t seem to stop crying. I was confused, scared and lost in the middle of nowhere.


    Suddenly I hear a sound of something coming near me. It seems like the sound of footsteps. I immediately stopped crying and made a mad dash behind a tree to my right. I sat and hugged my knees and tried to remain as quiet as possible. I can hear it coming closer and finally arriving in the place where I was just a while ago. I can hear them talking it seems like they have no need for stealth.


    Bandit A: "Hey stupid! Are you sure you heard someone here?!"


    Bandit B: "Don''t call me stupid! Yes, I heard someone sobbing in here from just a while ago!"


    Bandit A: "Well that person seems to be gone now. Let us go back."


    Bandit B: "I could swear that I heard something but I might be wrong. Yeah, let us go back."


    I let the breath I didn''t know I held as I felt relieved that those bad people did not find me. Not to know that from the very start they already knew where I was hiding and was just toying with me. After talking they took the path they came from only to stop after a bit and then come around from both sides so that they can surprise me from both my left and right.


    Hearing that they were gone, I stood up and peeked at the clearing that was near the tree I was hiding from. Confirming that they left I made the mistake of putting my guard down as when I was unguarded that was when they suddenly rushed out of the shrubbery at both my sides. Seeing them coming near me I panicked and ran from where I was hiding. I can hear them laughing at me while giving me a head start. After a while they gave chase to me as I can hear them laughing and trying to scare me by saying scary words.


    Bandit B: "This is going to be fun brother! You are so smart! He he he."


    Bandit A: "Let us play a bit before bringing her to the base camp. He he he. She looks quite delicious, I don''t mind having a bit of fun with her before giving her to the Captain to sell. He he he."


    AN: Wow that turned dark. Sorry for people that is squeamish to these kinds of plot.


    Bandit B: "He he he, you sure are such a sick bastard brother. If you take her for yourself the Captain might found out, he will not be happy if the product loses its value."


    Bandit A: "I''m sure the captain will allow us at least this kid. After all our harvest this time was higher than what we expected. And he can''t do anything if we already did something to the kid. He he he."


    Bandit B: "Your''e right. Let''s enjoy this brother! Hey kid run faster! We love a good chase. A good exercise before eating is the best you know! Ha ha ha!"


    Hearing them taunt me and getting nearer I tried to run a bit more. After a few minutes of hearing them taunt me I can feel my feet giving up on me, they feel like it was lead. I am growing more tired as minutes past by until something so cliche happened to me. I tripped and somehow I tripped in another clearing at the center of the forest instead of where trees where growing.


    I tried getting up but now my feet felt like it turned to jello. I have no more strength and I can see the two bandits exiting the see of trees in a slow pace. They were now just a few feet from me. I can see the excitement in their eyes. Looks like the game of tag is over and i would fall and become their prey. Of course this thoughts are something I wasn''t able to think as a small child. At that time my mind was blank because of panic and extreme fatigue. I cannot move anymore. I just stared at them and felt my eyes blur because somehow tears started to flow. I was terrified and that excited the evil bastards more.


    Bandit A: "Looks like we finally caught you little lady. He he he."


    Bandit B: "That was trilling as usual brother. But now I''m excited for the next game we are about to play. He he he."


    They were now almost at me. I can see such deep evil in their eyes. I braced myself for the end.


    Bandit B: "Let us play another game little girl. Why don''t we play peek a boo this time. We will take a cloth off each alternately until one of us has none and the person with more cloths still remaining wins. Isn''t that fun! He he he."


    Bandit A: "That is a nice game little bro. Well why don''t we start now. Since we are such gentlemen why don''t we let the little girl go first."


    With smiles born from the netherworld they stand besides me and blocked any chance of me getting away.


    Bandit A: "It looks like you don''t have enough strength to move. Since we are kind enough why don''t we help you out. Aren''t we nice lil bro?!"


    Bandit B: "Yes we are Brother. Yes we are. He he he"


    I was struck with great fear, at that time I did not know what would happen but I can feel that something bad will be happening to me. Again tears came down my face, I begged them to not do anything to me but seeing my tears made them more excited.


    They both crouched down to my level and while Bandit B grabbed both my arms so that I can''t move I can see Bandit A''s hands nearing my dress. He was gonna rip my dress off. Completely horrified and without any strength left to fight I closed my eyes and waited for my end.


    But after a couple of seconds I found nothing was happening. The place grew quiet and the excited breathing of Bandit A and B was missing. The hands that were restraining me were nowhere to be found. I slowly opened my eyes to see the site that until now was burned to my memories.


    Completely opening my eyes I found Bandit A looking at a figure of a Man wearing a leather armor set. His head was a mess of silver long hair and his plain face shows signs of aging yet he still looks quite dignified. He is still fit even though he looks someone of an advanced age, his exposed arms look strong and firm filled with scratches and marks showing experience in battle. His stance although relaxed shows no opening and eyes calm yet alert and assessing.


    Seeing the man interrupting their fun the two idio...i mean the two Bandits tried to intimidate him into leaving.


    Bandit A: "Hey old man. You should leave already if you know what''s good for you!"


    AN: Really that is the best that you can say to intimidate an old man. Bandit A seem like all bark and no bite.


    Bandit B: "Yeah old man, leave while we are still being a bit gracious."


    An old man venturing this deep into the Flowergate Forest means that he is nowhere near normal to begin with but this two does not have the brain cells to think that deeply. So they continued intimidating the old man in leaving while I was now trying my best to slowly back away from where I was being held at a while ago. I was young but my fight or flight instinct already kicked in. I somehow knew that things were about to get messy and it seems like the old man was giving me the time to put some distance between me, the bandits and him.


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.After a few more seconds and putting some distance between me and the bandits the old man finally spoke up.


    Old Man: "You two seem to be quite confident in your strength. Why don''t you just try and force this old man to leave this place huh?!"


    Well it seems taunting those two worked. I can see them getting agitated even more.


    Bandit A: "You''ll regret messing with my fun time old man! Lil bro lets show this old timer why we are feared as the Shadow Claw Bandits of the Archidia Empire!"


    Bandit B: "Ha ha ha let''s go Brother!"


    With that the two of them unsheathe their swords and readied themselves to fight the Old Man. The first to attack was Bandit A, he rushed to the Old Man and tried to do a overhead slash which was easily evaded by the old man by stepping back, next Bandit A upon regaining momentum tried to slash the Old Man vertically which was again completely evaded by the Old Man. This continued for quite a bit with Bandit A just hacking away while the Old Man just evaded, after a while I can see Bandit A getting completely tired.


    Old Man: "What''s the matter? Is THAT all you can do?"


    This made Bandit A go at it with the Old Man with renewed gusto but without any result to show with when Bandit B saw that his brother was being toyed at he immediately ran to the side of the Old Man to make some kind of an ambush which completely missed by the way. Now it is clear that the Old Man was toying with the both of them and no matter what the two of them can do they cannot even land a hit to the old man.


    Getting really frustrated Bandit A glanced at me for a bit and then glanced at Bandit B. It seems like they are planning to do something else, they were planning to make me as a hostage. Bandit B tried to attack the Old Man and while his attention was at Bandit B, Bandit A sprinted to where I was. I panicked and stood there frozen in fear. I looked at the Old Man pleading for help just to see his calm eyes looking back at me, somehow his eyes assured me that everything will turn out well. All this while he was still evading Bandit B''s attacks.


    Seeing Bandit A rushing at me I braced for the moment he snatches me but then some huge shadow appeared between us. Stopping himself before colliding at the shadow we were met with a being out of nightmare. A Cat type beast as black as night standing at 2 meters tall with muscles rolling around its body, long legs equipped with razor like claws and teeth as sharp as any knife. But the most noticeable feature of this great beast is the Metal Gray colored eyes and Silver Horns protruding from its head. It feels like its stare can pierce anything it sets its eyes on. This great beast is what I would later learn is a Level 95 Rare Ranked Beast aptly called Night Silver Lynx. A monstrous being able to tear apart a man with just one simple swipe of its paws.


    Upon seeing the Night Silver Lynx Bandit A could only cower in fear. You see he might not know about Beast Rankings but he knows about the Tamer Class. People who set out to this world not to gain riches or find fame but to set out to dangerous places in order to find dangerous creatures to tame and make as Battle Partners or Familiars. Looking at the Beast in front of him Bandit A was filled with fear and helplessness. He knows that once targeted by a Beast like Night Silver Lynx he does not have any chance of survival. And true to what he thought with a swipe of its left paw Bandit A was shredded into ribbons. What an abrupt and pitiful death.


    Seeing that the death his Brother, Bandit B tried to escape and abandoned his Brother choosing to save himself. But who is the Old Man? He was the person able to tame and train a Rare Beast like Night Silver Lynx. With arrogance only befitting those with power I heard the Old Man say.


    Old Man: "You won''t get away that easy. Oh hear me great spirits of the Wind, come to me and hear my plea. Become a blade that will shred my enemy. Wind Cutter!"


    Seeing magic for the first time was another thing that I will never forget. Winds started accumulating near his outstretched arm and then rotated fiercely while forming a figure of a blade. After just a few seconds it flew out of his arms and into the fleeing Bandit''s back killing him instantly.


    Seeing such a gruesome thing made me fall to my knees. I do not want to see the gruesome sight but I cannot seem to take my eyes off. I heard the Old Man come closer and I then looked up. I found him looking at me, I looked at him and then to the beast which stood beside him. I know I should be wary and afraid of the Beast but what I feel right now is awe at its strength and majesty. I was more enamored by how it looks rather than the display of magic the Old Man did. As I was contemplating all of this I missed something the Old Man was saying.


    Old Man: ".....name?"


    I looked at him and I saw him look at me with expectantly. I pondered a bit on what he was saying and decided to say my name.


    Erina: "My name is Erina. What is your name Mister?"


    Old Man: "Hello young Erina. I am Agorus Michelle but my friends call me Agor. You can call me Agor if you want."


    He ended it with a smile. That made me calm down a bit more.


    Erina: "Hello Mister Agor. Thank you for saving me from those bad people."


    Agor: "Think nothing of it young Erina. Say, why are you alone here in the forest?"


    Erina: "I was running away from bad people with my Mom but she said I have to run away by myself when we saw this Huge and Pretty Snake. My mom said that I am a good kid so I followed what Mom said and ran as fast as I can. I know I won''t be able to see Dad and Mom anymore but I am still a good kid, right?!"


    While I was talking I can feel my eyes burning, tears were again flowing down my cheeks. A combination of loneliness, fear, confusion and relief assaulted my four years old heart.


    Seeing my pitiful appearance and knowing that my mother possibly became a meal for the Petal Snake, Agor made the decision that ultimately change my life.


    Agor: "Say, do you want to come with me young Erina?"


    I looked at him again but this time with excitement and relief. I was still crying mind you but I can feel a tiny bit of hope entering my heart. I nodded fiercely, somehow or another i felt like Mr. Agor would keep me safe.


    Agor: "Ha ha ha that is good. Since you do not have a Daddy and a Mommy now, how about you call me Uncle Agor. So you will not be alone anymore. okay?!"


    Erina: "Yes Uncle Agor!."


    I smiled from ear to ear, the earlier tears dried up. I was not alone anymore. I have another family member.


    Agor: "Ha ha ha. That''s good. And while we are at it. You should meet my Partner, you can call this Night Silver Lynx, Leon. He has been my partner the longest so treat him nicely okay?!"


    Erina: "Hi Leon. Thank you for saving me."


    I bowed to the beast beside Uncle Agor and it seems like Leon understood me as he came closer to me lowered his head and rubbed it affectionately against mine. It purred really loudly as well showing that he likes me. His fur feels nice to the touch, i thought it would feel prickly but it was so soft. Then it gently nudged me by using its head. Which Uncle Agor translated as Leon wanting me to ride him. I looked at Uncle Agor and he nodded his head. I smiled and then i was lifted by Uncle Agor and was placed at the back of Leon. He said that I need to hold on to Leon''s horn real tight so that I don''t fall off when Leon starts to run as he can run real fast.


    Seeing that I am now settled Uncle Agor said that we must leave the forest because it is dangerous and that there might be people searching for us. With a nod he started running at an incredible pace, seeing his master running ahead Leon did not allow himself to be beaten and started running after his master soon catching up to his master''s fast pace.


    This was the start of my adventure.

 Chapter 3 - Starting Anew

    AN: This week will be super busy for me. I will try and write a chapter a day but towards the end of this week I may not be able to do so as I will be in a place without internet for the whole weekend. I really hope I can write a few more chapters this week. Here''s hoping!


    P.S. I decided to just use Agor when doing dialogues instead of Uncle Agor since it is a bit longer and I am too lazy to add the word Uncle every time.


    Chapter 3 - Starting Anew


    On our way out of the forest we were met with quite a few monsters and beasts which were quickly disposed by Uncle Agor or Leon. At first the speed made me nervous but I eventually got used to it. It was actually quite nice riding Leon, its fur was soft and even running so fast I did not feel the motion as much also feeling the wind against my skin was quite fun. Clearly a sign of how great a hunter Leon is.


    We stopped midday and Uncle Agor gave Leon the command to hunt for us something to eat. While Leon was gone Uncle Agor and I made a small clearing and he took some stones and made a pit so we can cook something for lunch. I wanted to be of help, if I just sat around I am afraid that Uncle Agor will think that I was useless and leave me here alone. So without him telling me, I looked around our location for some dry branches and twigs to use for a fire. Uncle Agor just looked at me at first, then he surveyed our surrounding one more time and after that even closed his eyes like he was concentrating on hearing something, opening his eyes one more time he again looked at me and smiled a little and went back to fixing the pit. Seeing that he smiled I somehow knew that he approved me being proactive with helping him. I put it into my heart not to be a burden to Uncle Agor from now on. He saved me and I will prove to him that he was not wrong in saving me.


    Returning to the pit after a couple of minutes I dumped the branches and twigs my four years old hands can carry. I was proud to see that i was able to be of help to him. Seeing all the wood I was able to carry he came near me and then patted my head as a reward. It made me happy. He took them and placed them inside the pit. I then went near the pit and sat beside him.


    Erina: "Uncle Agor, eating things from this forest is bad isn''t it?"


    Looking at me he once again smiled and pondered a bit how to answer me.


    Agor: "Young Erina, normally it is bad to eat animals from this forest as they are most likely poisonous. But it is a normal thing for an Adventurer and more specially a Tamer like me to know how to deal with them as a potential threat to me and also as potential source of food. Do you understand? I hope it was not hard for you to understand."


    I shook my head to say that I did understand what he said. But there are three things I was curious about and I decided to ask it to Uncle Agor while we were waiting for Leon to come back.


    Erina: "Uncle Agor can I ask a question?"


    Agor: "Of course you can ask anything as long as I know the answer."


    He smiled once more and then patted my head again.


    Erina: "What is an Adventurer uncle?"


    Agor: "An adventurer is a person that goes to unknown places and faces unknown dangers in order to complete quests, find undiscovered wealth, new species of living things and so much more. It is a dangerous occupation filled with times where a person balances between life and death."


    Erina: "That sounds scary uncle. Why would anyone want to be an adventurer?"


    Agor: "Well there are a myriad of reasons why a person would choose to be an Adventurer, it can be both a noble and dirty occupation. The adventurer guild does not have a lot of criteria in accepting members. The only criteria is for the person to be strong enough to survive the entrance test. Backgrounds are never investigated, the guild only needs result."


    I tried to ponder about what uncle Agor said, I tried to understand it completely but I can''t comprehend it all. So i decided to just remember hsi words and just continue asking.


    Erina: "So what is a Tamer Uncle Agor?"


    Agor: "Oh. A Tamer is another occupation a person can get. They are actually called as a class instead of an occupation so that it cannot be confused with real occupations like Adventurer or Explorer and etc. A Tamer is someone who goes to the different places in search of beasts and monsters to tame and to make us their allies. I myself is a Tamer and Leon is one of my allies, we call them Battle Partners or BP for short."


    Erina: "Wow so a tamer can befriend a beast as awesome as Leon and then travel with them?"


    Agor: "Ha ha ha, pretty much. Although it can also be a very dangerous class. It is not easy to tame a wild beast or monster. You cannot just go and force one to be your partner. It can cause you your life if you try and tame a beast which is far stronger than yourself."


    Erina: "How can you have Battle Partners then?"


    Agor: "Well, there are three ways actually. The first one is when you find them as a baby or an egg. As long as they are still young they can get used to you and sometimes confuse you to be their parents. Of course, you need to take extra care of them and make sure they are healthy. They will imprint you and that becomes the Natural way of Taming. As the beast or monster continue to grow, a mental link between the two will naturally occur. Next is what we call entering into a Contract, there are two kinds of contract, the first is the Contract of Equality and the second one is the Contract of Servitude."


    Erina: "What are those uncle?"


    Agor: "Well the first one is when a Tamer meets a beast with high enough intelligence that the both can communicate somehow. If both the Tamer and the grown beast is of equal strength and they both want to be allies they will enter a Contract of Equality which connects them just like the Natural way will do. But there is no master and servant relationship. They are of equal standing in the relationship. This makes their bond stronger and makes it easier to gain its loyalty The Contract of Servitude is when the Tamer totally outstrips the Beast with regards to strength, the Tamer can forcefully apply a Contract of Servitude to the weaker beast or monster and there is nothing it can do. It will have to follow whatever the Tamer commands it to do."


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Erina: "Is it bad to have a Contract of Servitude?"


    Agor: "It is not necessarily bad, but it is looked down upon if a Tamer continuously use it just so the Master and Servant relationship is activated. A successful Tamer is not measured by how many beasts he has captured but how he Tamed his beasts. A loyal BP is better than a rebellious one."


    Erina: "How do you apply a Contract uncle?"


    Agor: "It is a spell that you will learn once you enter the Tamer Academy. It is not something that anyone can just learn. After all this contract is not made to just people but to the spirits of the world."


    Erina: "Wow so it is magic?!"


    Agor: "Ha ha ha yes it is. A good Tamer is versatile, good at both close combat and magic."


    Erina: "So what is the last method uncle?"


    I looked at him expectantly, I was getting excited in learning all of these things. I wanted to have a friend like Leon and wanted to hear all about being a Tamer from uncle.


    Agor: "The last one is the rarest way of obtaining a BP. Authority Transfer, it is when an existing Tamer gives his authority of a certain beast to another Tamer. Although this way is riddled with restrictions. First The Original Tamer and the New Tamer must be of almost equal strength. The second is that the Beast must accept the Transfer of Authority. Meaning, the beast has the right to refuse the Transfer of Authority if he deems the new Tamer undeserving. This will also possibly decrease the loyalty of the beast to his Original Tamer. Of course if all the previous criteria were passed and The Authority of a Tamer was transferred to another a severe penalty still applies. Twenty percent of the total level of the Beast will be deducted to it making it weaker. This more severe at the higher levels since it takes quite a lot before a Beast even levels up."


    I continued listening in earnest. All of this fascinated my tiny mind. This is a totally different world from my Farming Village. Suddenly we heard a disturbance and when we took a look behind us we saw Leon emerging from the see of trees carrying a bloody Illusion Rabbit between its razor like teeth. Seeing the Beats coming back, Uncle Agor motioned it to come nearer,


    When it neared us it dropped the Illusion Rabbit and Uncle Agor praised Leon by rubbing its head a bit. It made Leon purr like a common house cat which made me giggle a little bit. Hearing me giggle Leon turned its attention to me and walked to where I was and then abruptly licked me. It surprised me but I was able to regain my calm quickly, I laughed because its tongue is both rough and ticklish. After a while it stopped, laid beside me and we both watch Uncle Agor as he prepares the Illusion Rabbit to be eaten as our lunch,


    Normally an Illusion Rabbit is filled with a certain kind of substance in its blood that causes hallucinations to anyone who eats it. This gave it the name Illusion Rabbit, but watching Uncle Agor clean the Rabbit he assured me that with his process of draining the Blood and cleaning its inside by using water magic it took out the chemical causing the hallucinations and it is safe for us to eat it.  Oh I forgot to say that the Illusion Rabbit can become our lunch since it is even bigger than the four year old me.


    We continued watching him, we talked a bit more while waiting for the rabbit to roast. And while eating I continued asking him some more questions, he answered most of them simply so I can understand it and he even told me stories of his time as an Adventuring Tamer.


    While cleaning up the place we used to rest in Uncle Agor suddenly asked me a question.


    Agor: "So, how do you think I am connected with Leon?"


    Erina: "Hmmm. You are nice to Leon and he is nice to you as well. I think you have the Contract of Equ...equa..Equalitiness Uncle Leon."


    I was really proud of my answer. I was sure that they have that kind of link but his answer surprised me a bit.


    Agor: "Ha ha ha it''s Contract of Equality, Erina not Equalitiness. And you are wrong. What we have is a Contract of Servitude. I tamed Leon while venturing in another Forest but somewhere far away from here."


    Erina: "Wow but Leon looks so powerful, does that mean your powerful as well Uncle Agor!?"


    I was amazed by the thought of how powerful Uncle Agor must be.


    Agor: "Well i suppose I am. Well enough about all this question, we need to continue with our journey if we ever want to get out of this damned forest by the end of this day."


    We rushed getting ourselves ready and when we finally set off we did so with the same fast pace we had that morning.


    And true to what Uncle Agor have said we finally made it out of the Flowergate Forest when the sun was finally setting in the horizon. I asked Uncle Agor where we were going next and he gave me this answer.


    Uncle Agor: "Were going home young Erina, we are going home."

 Chapter 4: Merchant City of Brahil

    Chapter 4: Merchant City of Brahil


    Getting out of the forest we traveled a few more days to arrive to the Merchant City of Brahil but this time since we took the path most used by people and travelers we did not encounter any more danger, there were no monster attacks as well because the roads were guarded by roving soldiers hired by the Merchant Council which leads Brahil.


    Seeing me riding a majestic beast like Leon garnered some surprised looks from the people we met on the road but they calmed down quickly when they saw that I was accompanied by uncle Agor. Some would even greet us as we pass each other. It seems like most of them know who Uncle Agor was.


    After arriving at Brahil we had to pass through a security check before entering the city proper. We arrived in front of a massive gate. The city was enclosed in towering walls, it protects the city from attacks of beasts and monsters and possible attack from the Empire of Archidias since the City of Brahil is the nearest city to the border of the two nations. I remember once that Mommy taught me that the place we were living in is called the Free Nation of Valeria. A former part of the Empire of Archidias, the cities that consists of the Free Nation of Valeria revolted against the empire when heavy taxes were placed on them that made it hard for people to live a simple life. Death tolls were high, dying of starvation were common place and there was a high rate of crime ranging from petty theft to murder.


    It also did not help that the nobles appointed by the Royal Family of Archidias were greedy and corrupt. Nobles who did not care about helping people and instead lined their pockets with ill-gotten wealth and played with people¡¯s lives. Being so far away from the Imperial Capital, this throwaway nobles lived like kings and queens. Peoples heart were sparked when a young mage of no known origin went to the different cities of the east and rallied the people to fight the tyranny of the nobles.


    A war that will soon be called, The War of Great Divide happened. This was also written in the Annals of History of the Great Empire of Archidias. After three years of war, the united cities emerged victorious and were able to push the borders of the Empire beyond the river neighboring my village and the Flowergate Forest. After that a Council was made from the representatives of each city. They were the authority that handles the major affairs of the newborn nation. Still, the cities were given complete control on their territories.


    After two hundred years it grew to be just slightly weaker to the Empire of Archidias and was known to be the Free Nation of Valeria.


    Arriving at the guards in front of the gate we were stopped to be inspected.


    Guard A: ¡°Halt. Everyone needs to be inspected before entering the city.¡±


    Guard B: ¡°Please dismount from your mount and we will conduct a simple search.¡±


    Even though we looked like simple people the guards were still very accommodating. This just goes to show how disciplined they were. Each guard were equipped with a small sword and a spear as well. They were in full metal armor with an emblem of the Merchant City of Brahil in their breast plate.


    Hearing their request I tried dismounting from Leon but before I could even move uncle Agor flashed a pitch black badge to the two guards and when they saw it, awe and fear can be seen in their faces. Smiling at them, uncle Agor even patted the shoulder of one of them like they knew each other.


    Agor: ¡°Good work maintaining the peace here gentlemen. I see you must be new the guards. Keep up the good work.¡±


    Snapping out of their shock the two stood up in attention and even saluted uncle Agor.


    Guard A: ¡°Sir! We are indeed new guards sir!¡±


    Guard B: ¡°We are sorry to have interrupted you sir!¡±


    Seeing how the two responded the people still waiting to be inspected can¡¯t help but be curious with their treatment.


    Agor: ¡°Ha ha ha. Not at all gentlemen. It is good that you are taking your job quite seriously. But we are in a bit of a rush and it will be great if you allow us entry to the city quickly.¡±


    Hearing him praise them made the two stood up even straighter if that is even possible anymore. With stiff movements they ushered us to the gate and asked the guards at the other side of the gate to let us pass.


    When the gates were opened Uncle Agor was the first to enter followed by me still riding Leon. I was awed by what I saw, the roads were paved, there were a lot of people quickly walking to their destinations, and while we were following uncle Agor I can hear merchants shouting to promote their wares and inviting people to see what they were selling. There were stalls filled with crops. There were small stands selling cooked food, which smelled appetizing by the way. Bards played their instruments attracting people to listen to their tales and stories. It is a different world then when I was still in my village.


    The thought of my village and my parents brought my spirits down a bit but I shook my head and tried to get rid of the thoughts.


    Erina: ¡°You must be strong Erina. You need to be happy. You are not alone. Even if Daddy and Mommy are gone at least there is Uncle Agor and Leon.¡±


    Looking up ahead I can see that we moved away from the busy main streets and now we took a right to another street, this time there are far less people walking around but there were a lot more people with armors and weapons and people in robe and staffs. If we got attention from people when we were in the main street, here people just gave as a glance and they went on their own way. Patiently riding on Leon I finally see us reaching a huge wooden building. I saw an emblem hanging at the front of the door and there were symbols written below it. I was not able to read yet, well to be honest most people in our village were not able to read or write, only the chieftain can read or write simple sentences, after all we were a farming village so I did not know what the place was supposed to be.


    Agor stopped when we were in front of the building and he turned to me.


    Agor: ¡°Young Erina, we have to enter this building okay? There are certain things I need to do here first.¡±


    I nodded as a sign of approval. Uncle Agor asked me to dismount and when I did, I saw another awesome thing that made me want to be just like Uncle Agor.


    Agor: ¡°You have done a great job Leon buddy. I know you want to stay with young Erina longer but we have to do a few more things here in the City so you will have to go back to our home first, k¡¯ buddy?¡±


    At first Leon expressed its dissatisfaction by playfully swiping its paw at Uncle Agor (of course with its claws retracted) but after getting convinced by Uncle Agor in the end Leon came to me and rubbed at me like an overgrown house cat and went to the front of Uncle Agor.


    Pointing his palm to in front of Leon, Uncle Agor bid his partner goodbye.


    Agor: ¡°See you at home buddy. Return from where you came from, Call of Home.¡±


    AN: If anyone has a better idea on what to call the recall spell to send a beast back to their base please do comment it below.


    I was surprised with the sudden disappearance of Leon which I immediately asked Uncle Agor the reason for.


    Agor: ¡°Don¡¯t be alarmed Young Erina, I just used a magic to instantly send Leon back home. Do not worry it is not hurt in any way.¡±


    He just smiled at me while trying to explain to me what it was that just happened.


    After calming down, Uncle Agor took my hands and gently ushered me inside the building. What greeted us was a wide room, there was a reception area in front of, there was a few tables and chairs at the right side of the room and there were a huge board filled with paper notices on our left. There were people who were sitting at the tables talking about various things, while there are others who were standing while surrounding a table filled with maps and were in deep conversation.


    Seeing so many strangers around I got really nervous and it seemed like Unle Agor noticed because my hand that was holding his tightened. He looked at me and smiled at me, seeing him try and assure me I smiled back at him and nodded my head.


    I followed him and we went to the receptionist at our front. He greeted by bowing a bit then smiling at us.


    Receptionist: ¡°Good day. How can the Adventurer Guild be of assistance to you today?¡±


    Agor then laughed for a bit and replied to the receptionist.


    Agor: ¡°Cut the crap Felix. Hearing you be polite gives me the creep. Ha ha ha.¡±


    Smiling back at Uncle Agor the guy turned to look at me.


    Felix: ¡°Well I was trying to make a good impression to the little princess you are with, ya know.¡±


    Seeing smile directly at me made me embarrassed so I went and hid myself behind Uncle Agor.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Agor: ¡°Hey now. Don¡¯t go scaring little Erina okay?! Ha ha ha.¡±


    Felix: ¡°Aww. Shucks what a cute little lady. So I never knew you had a little kid Agor?¡±


    He turned to look at Uncle Agor once more this time with a curious look in his face. Hearing that, Uncle Agor¡¯s face turned grim. His hand tightened around mine a bit and he answered with a serious tone.


    Uncle Agor: ¡°Yeah. That is the reason we are here today. Can we talk to the Branch Guild Master right now?¡±


    Hearing the serious tone Uncle Agor used Felix¡¯s whole demeanor changed. The smile was gone and he was all business like.


    Felix: ¡°Certainly. Wait in here for a while and I will let the Guild Master know that you wish to talk to him.¡±


    Agor: ¡°Thank you Felix and sorry for the trouble.¡±


    Felix: ¡°Not at all Agor.¡±


    Felix then headed to the door that was behind him and disappeared inside it. Not understanding anything happening I asked Uncle Agor the reason we were in the Adventurer Guild.


    Erina: ¡°Uncle Agor, why are we here?¡±


    Agor: ¡°Well the reason we are here is related to you young Erina.¡±


    Erina: ¡°Related to me?! How?¡±


    Agor: ¡°Well, I know that talking about what happened to you and to your village is not something you want to do but we need to report it to the Guild Master. Is it fine with you?¡±


    Thinking about it for a bit I then shook my head to show that I do not mind. Somehow I knew that me sharing what happened to us is important to Uncle Agor so I resolved myself. After all i promised that I will be useful to Uncle Agor.


    Erina: ¡°It¡¯s okay Uncle Agor.¡±


    Agor: ¡°Thanks Erina. Your a good kid.¡±


    He smiled at me and then patted my head.


    We then saw Felix coming back and he guided us to the Guild Master¡¯s Room. He went to the Guild Master¡¯s Room and knocked at the door, when Felix heard the voice of the guild master letting us in, he opened the door and ushered us in. Felix did not come with us, after we went it he closed the door and we can hear his footsteps as he left to go back to the reception desk.


    Facing the room we can see a simple and minimally decorated room. There were two couches facing each other and a wooden coffee table in between them. Behind them you can see an office table stacked to the top with papers to the point that when a person sits at the chair behind the table you won¡¯t be able to see him because of all the papers. that is where we heard a voice of a person. We then heard someone pushing the chair back and approach us around the pile of paper.


    What I saw was a beautiful lady with long flowing dark green hair, brown eyes, a cute nose, kissable red lips and the shocker was pointed ears. The guild master was a beautiful young elf. I was shocked to see an elf in real life, you see they are not so common at this part of the world. But looking at Uncle Agor he seemed nonplus, maybe seeing an elf is quite common for an Adventurer like Uncle Agor after all they live to go to different places. But I am pleasantly surprised, after all elves were a race that was quite elusive and was mostly heard only through stories.


    Seeing Uncle Agor the elf greeted him by running at him full speed and giving Uncle Agor a big hug.


    Elf: ¡°Ha?! Am I seeing an illusion?! Is this real?! The juvenile kid Agor proactively reaching out to me?! Is the nether realm freezing over or something?!¡±


    Agor: ¡°Ha ha ha you were always so funny old hag. Quit hugging me already! I¡¯m an old man now, ya know!¡±


    Uncle Agor with all his strength tried to pry away the Elf who was hugging him so tightly but to no avail. Giving up already he let the Elf hug him some more and when the elf was satisfied she detached herself to the exasperated Uncle Agor. She turned her attention to me as if Uncle Agor did not even exist and barraged me with so many questions. She scared me to be honest.


    Elf: ¡°Wow. What a cute child you! What¡¯s your name?! Where did you come from?! How old are you?! Do you like flowers?! I like flowers. Do you like sweet treats. I love them! Do you want to go and get some with me? Do you like cute things?! I love cute things specially little teddy bears. blah blah blah blah¡±


    I just looked at her, I did not know what to say. Seeing my reaction Uncle Agor gave the Elf a solid chop to the head. That stopped her from talking.


    Agor: ¡°Your¡¯e scaring her Old Hag Matilda! Stop with the useless questioning!¡±


    Matilda: ¡°Ouch! How rude! Hitting someone older than you like that!? Honestly, kids have no respect to their elders. Tsk.¡±


    I continued to watch them shout at each other and after a while they stopped and looked at me just watching them. Seeing me might have embarrassed them so they stopped their ¡°conversation¡± and got to the point.


    Matilda: ¡°So what do i owe the pleasure of your visit Agor?¡±


    Agor: ¡°Young Erina is the reason.¡±


    Hearing the graveness in Uncle Agor¡¯s voice Matilda¡¯s face made a total change. The playfulness disappeared and just like Felix she gave a somehow cold and collected feeling to her. We got right down to business. Uncle Agor asked me to tell my story to Matilda. It took quite a while we were even brought tea by Felix in the middle of me sharing my experiences.


    After I told her what happened Matilda was silent for a bit and then directed a question to Uncle Agor.


    Matilda: ¡°And how were you involved in all of this?¡±


    Agor: ¡°It is by complete chance. I came to the Flowergate Forest hoping to find a Poison Beast of rare Classification to tame when I saw smoke rising from far away. I rushed to the location but I was too late. The village was already burnt to the ground. Some people were beyond help already, so I decided to go back and rush here to ask for aid or to notify the guild and the council. But on my way home I found young Erina being chased by Bandits so I dealt with them and the rest was just like what Erina told you.¡±


    Matilda: ¡°This is indeed worrying. I don¡¯t think this is as simple as a Bandit attack. There must be more to this than meets the eye. I will have to bring this to the council at our next meeting. An investigation needs to be done. Good job Agor. You being a Class A Adventurer isn¡¯t just for show indeed.¡±


    Agor: ¡°Stop it, a compliment coming from a monstrous person like you is not something I want.¡±


    All this time I was just listening to them. Then I saw Matilda look at me and then back at Uncle Agor.


    Matilda: ¡°I do not want to be insensitive but what are your plans for Erina now?¡±


    Agor was silent for a bit, thinking real deeply about something I think. He then looked at me and then to Matilda.


    Agor: ¡°I would not be taking any requests for a while Matilda. I think i need the long rest anyway. And since I have lots of time now I am thinking of adopting Erina as my own child.¡±


    Matilda looked at Uncle Agor¡¯s eyes and when i stared at her I can see her eyes glowing a bit. I would later learn that she was using a spell that only elves can use. A spell that detects lies and deceits. Aptly named Eye of Truth. After a few seconds she sighed loudly and then shook her head.


    Matilda: ¡°It seems like I will be losing a great adventurer today. But I understand where you are coming from. Do not worry, I will handle the necessary procedure so that you can adopt our little princess here as your own child. But she has to agree to it.¡±


    She then looked at me as if her eyes were asking if I agree to being adopted by Uncle Agor. I quickly agreed. Sure I do not know that much about Uncle Agor but I knew that if he did not come when he did I would have lost my life or worse.


    Seeing my agreement both of them relaxed a little bit.


    Matilda: ¡°I will be sending you the papers for adoption soon. Don¡¯t worry about it, I will make a request to expedite it.¡±


    Agor: ¡°Thank you Matilda. I know I¡¯m adding to your burden now. I owe you.¡±


    Matilda: ¡°Think nothing of it. After all I am also part of the council of the Merchant City of Brahil, this is in the scope of my responsibilities.¡±


    We talked some more and after an hour or so we decided to leave the Adventurer Guild Building. Seeing that it was already afternoon. Uncle Agor decided to show me the city and stay at the City for the night before setting out again tomorrow to where his small home is located.


    ______________________________


    AN: Wow 3k words. I always set my goal to at least have 1,500 to 2,000 but I passed it today and I am dizzy af. Ha ha ha. Hope you like it. As normal comments, constructive criticism and corrections are high appreciated. By the way this counts as my Chapter for today. Hope you enjoy! :D As per usual, Chapter 5 is up already in my wordpress account: legend143.wordpress.com