This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Kain's consciousness snapped back to his body, his mind still reeling from the huge change in what he suspected was the little guy he'd once carefully nurtured.

Its progress left him with a strange mix of pride and awe.

But there was no time to dwell on that now. Darius was sitting upright in the chair, his chest heaving as the glowing array on his skin began to fade. His eyes were wide, his expression a mixture of shock, disbelief, and overwhelming emotion.

"Darius," Kain said, his voice calm but firm. "How do you feel?"

Darius didn't respond immediately. His hands trembled as he stared down at his right upper arm, where the array had been etched. His breathing was ragged, and his face was pale, but there was a glimmer of something in his eyes—something fierce and unyielding. He had endured the pain of the array, and now he was reaping the rewards.

"I… I can feel it," Darius finally managed to say, his voice hoarse and trembling. "So this is what having a contract feels like…."

Darius's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white. His breathing began to steady, but the intensity in his eyes only grew. "I need to see it," he said, his voice low but filled with determination. "I need to see my contract."

Kain hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Although the creature he'd contracted had been quite powerful and massive on Pangea, Kain assumed that it would once again be in a sealed state and not take up too much room.

Darius didn't respond. He simply closed his eyes, focusing on the bond that now connected him to his contract. Kain could feel the spiritual energy in the room shift as Darius reached out through the bond, calling forth his new companion.

Like Kain expected, it was a miniature version of the spiritual creature he had seen next to the Kraken in the depths of Pangea, but its size was drastically reduced, and its aura was far weaker. The creature's body was covered in a shimmering, iridescent shell, and its tentacles were thin and delicate, glowing faintly with a soft, blue light as it hovered a few feet off the ground. Though it was currently on land, it floated through the air as though it were still swimming in water.

Darius stared at the creature, his breath catching in his throat. For a moment, he was completely still, his eyes locked on the small, glowing being in front of him. Then, without warning, he dropped to his knees, his hands reaching out toward the creature. His expression was a mix of awe, reverence, and overwhelming emotion.

"It's… beautiful," Darius whispered, his voice trembling.

Kain had to admit that it did have a unique beauty due to its multi-coloured glow, but would hardly call its appearance worthy of invoking such strong emotions. Kain couldn't help giving Darius an odd look, wondering if his aesthetics were a little off or if he had any odd inclinations towards tentacles…

The creature floated closer to Darius, its tentacles gently brushing against his outstretched hands while emitting a resonant hum.

Kain watched silently, giving Darius the space he needed to process what was happening.

But he also knew that Darius needed to regain his composure quickly. The bond was just the beginning—there was still much work to be done.
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After a few minutes, Darius finally began to calm down. His breathing steadied, and the intensity in his eyes softened. He looked up at Kain, his expression a mix of gratitude and determination.

"Thank you," Darius said, his voice steady now. "I… I will repay you for this."

Kain nodded his head. "The repayment can come later. Although you have a contract now, you are still extremely weak, you need to get familiar with your contract and wait for it to grow up. Until then, you are of no use to me, nor are you at all ready to avenge your family."

Darius' contract was originally a powerful creature and still has high-potential, but in its current state, it's sealed to match Darius' level and was only a weak red-grade spiritual creature right now. It'll grow far faster than most spiritual creatures but it would still take some time before he'd be strong enough to be of use to Kain.

Darius nodded, his expression serious. "I understand. What should I do first?"

Kain gestured toward the door. "In the basement of this building, I've set up advanced and durable training facilities. They're designed to withstand the power of spiritual creatures, even at higher levels. I recommend you start there. Spend time with your contract, get used to its abilities, and learn how to work together as a team."

Darius stood up, his movements steady now. He looked down at the small, glowing creature floating beside him with anticipation. Kain's proposal suited him. He was also eager to see the abilities of his very own spiritual creature—something he thought he'd never have.

Kain then added, "Also, I've converted the third floor of this building into several bedroom and living quarters. You're welcome to stay here as you grow accustomed to your new strength. It'll be easier for you to focus on your training without having to worry about other distractions."

Darius looked at Kain, his expression filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Kain. For everything."

Kain gave him a small smile. "You're welcome. Now go. Your journey is just beginning."

As Darius left the room, his new contract floating beside him, Kain couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, especially after seeing the strong potential of Darius and his contract.

Kain had no doubt that he would achieve great things and may even be an important pillar for Kain's future plans.

But as Kain happily watched Darius disappear down the hallway, and get absorbed into the new world of beast-taming, a group of individuals were waiting anxiously outside of the building for any news, but had been completely thrown to the back of Darius' mind.