After dinner Juniper helped clean up before leaving. It wasn't long before Juniper was back in his apartment, he checked how the vegetables were growing on the balcony before taking a shower and relaxing on the bed. Juniper saw he still had some time before he planned on sleeping so he opened up his commicator and entered the starnet checking up on pheremone matching process and submitting his medical ID.
The system informed Juniper that his application was being processed and that he would receive a notification within 24 hours. Juniper also received a message from Ciro, thanking him for coming over and inviting him again if he wanted to visit.
***
Juniper woke up early the next morning and planned continue learning about this world and the language before he went to the military base at noon. He got dressed and went to prepare breakfast for himself. While making omelets Juniper looked out of the window, seeing that the rain hadn't stopped since last night he decided it may be best to call for a taxi service. He sat at his desk and started to read through more information on this world.
He remembered Gio spoke of Beast contracts and decided to look further into it, and found many clips of Contracted beasts. Some were as short as a few minutes while others lasted several hours. They ranged from large dragons which could take down buildings with their breath to smaller creatures like a small dog or even a bird. Juniper found one clip particularly interesting; it was a double battle with the contractor and their contracted beast both fighting another opponent. The contractor was an earth ability user. His contracted beast was a bull type beast which made the earth tremble beneath them as they fought the other side. The earth ability user started to grow horns and transformed into a beast which had similar characteristics to his contracted beast.
Juniper was taken aback by this. ''...they changed form?''
Juniper thought about it for a moment. There are different types of abilities, there must be something in the contract that allows some sort of transformation. Perhaps by using the same powers, but not exactly the same. Juniper frowned and decided to look up more information. There were several pages detailing transformation but one thing that stood out - males could transform into beast form.
Juniper felt his heart skip a beat, he has been here for so many days and still had no idea that males could transform into full beasts. Curious, he couldnt help but message Gio to ask what his beast form was.
Gio on the otherside looked bewildered at the sudden question and then thought if Juniper only liked a certain beast type. He pursed his lips and typed back.
Juniper stared at the message for a bit, the only beast he has seen is a bear type.
Juniper smiled at the confirmation
Gio on the otherside waited for any further response but didnt get any. He wondered if Juniper was interested in him as a man, or just as a friend.
Juniper saw the new message then replied
Juniper couldnt help but feel excited for meeting Gio tomorrow, maybe he would see contracted beasts in action.
***
It was late morning and the taxi Juniper had called for had arrived outside,
he greeted the driver and stepped inside. Juniper looked through his comms and found the address to show the driver, and soon they were driving towards the base.
The cab pulled up outside the entrance to the base, Juniper paid the driver and watched the car leave. Juniper stepped forward to the gated entrance, walking past the guards as they checked his ID, and moved forwards inside.
Juniper passed through security and walked down the corridor until he reached a reception desk. There was a female with curled sheep horns on their head behind it. They wore a uniform and their hair was tied up in a ponytail. Juniper smiled at him as he turned to look at him.
"...What? Are you here to apply for the military?" His tone scrutinizing as he looked Juniper up and down.
Juniper didnt take it to heart and shook his head.
"No. This is my first time visiting. I have an appointment with Marshal Maynard" Juniper explained..
He looked at the schedules and nodded. "Go right ahead, sign in here and go to the waiting room." He pointed to a device on the desk which would scan the communicator then at a door further ahead and didnt pay anymore attention to Juniper.
Juniper signed in and took a seat in the waiting room.