Jenn sprawled asymmetrically on his modest bed, ensnared in the throes of deep slumber. Snoring loudly, the tangles of his long, messy white hair concealed half of his weathered face, marked distinctly by two scars—one cutting across the right side of his forehead and another down the left cheek. Such was Jenn's rest until it was abruptly shattered by Jiyu, his S-rank familiar. A hybrid red and black wolfhound pup, adorned with intimidating red horns, piercing yellow eyes, and not one but three vigorous tails, Jiyu was a formidable sight despite his youth.
'Always oversleeping, young brat.'
Jiyu, perched confidently on Jenn's chest, sniffed at him in an attempt to rouse him.
"Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up—."
Jenn muttered in his sleep, his voice wearied and irritable, "Get away from me…you…BEAST!"
With a sudden flailing of limbs, Jenn inadvertently flung Jiyu through the window. The action was as swift as it was comical, leaving a bewildered Jenn to slump back into his pillow, blissfully unconscious. Yet, resilience was a trait Jiyu possessed in abundance. Moments later, he scampered back through the window, undeterred, and leapt onto Jenn's stomach with enough force to topple him off the bed.
"SO YOU JUST TOSS ME OUT OF THE WINDOW?! WHAT KIND OF MASTER ARE YOU?!"
Crashing to the ground, Jenn was jolted awake, his light blue eyes snapping open in alarm. Sitting up quickly and wiping his eyes, he stood rigid, almost in salute, blurting out a hasty, "Sorry! Sorry! I'm ready!"
Despite the chaotic wake-up, Jiyu wasted no time on pleasantries. "At ease, Jenn; the other familiars need tending," he said, nudging Jenn towards the day's responsibilities. "Been hearing that alottttt of nobles from other kingdoms will be arriving here in Kalhalla later, so time to get rich!"
Jenn, yawning and scratching the back of his head, just stared at Jiyu, raising one eyebrow.
Jiyu said, "Sooo…did you hear me or..?"
Jenn, looked left, then right, then looked back at Jiyu, saying, "…Do you have to repeat…the SAME thing to me every morning?"
"Yes! Gotta stay motivated! We're beast tamers! We cultivate and sell them to rich fools!"
"Ohh. They're not fools. Why are you being so mean to them?"
"Ah. I forgot. Your parents always said you were kind of a soft hearted person. The Kijan tribe was always known for their niceness. Definitely gonna puke."
'Originally, the Kijan were a tribe renowned for their intrinsic ability to tame and bond with beasts naturally using their unique mana signature. They required no artifacts, unlike others in Kanaan. Sadly, the Kijan tribe has faded into legend, leaving behind only tales and envy of their innate powers. With the Kijan gone, the remaining people of Kanaan depend on artifacts to tame beasts. These artifacts are imbued with concentrated mana and allow non-Kijan users to artificially forge bonds with familiars, though often less stable or potent than those of the natural Kijan bindings. And Jenn is the last of the tribe. I hate that I brought it up in front of him. He hates to hear it, he'll just ignore me.'
"Familiars are the epicenter of this world, and weeeeee are the bridge between people and families." Jenn started. "We're doing good stuff here!" He smiled. "Since there's no one like me out there, people need a super cool beast tamer like me."
"Ah there you go—."
"I CAN FLAUNT MYSELF IF I WANT!" Jenn exclaimed, then he grinned, "Anyway, All mythical beasts and creatures in Kanaan trace back to the Mother's Larva, a colossal source-origin egg left by the All Mother goddess. Legend says she birthed the world and its beasts from this egg, infusing them with her divine mana before mysteriously vanishing. These creatures spread across the land, each carrying a fragment of her essence, shaping the landscapes and the flow of magic in Kanaan. The social structure in Kanaan is heavily influenced by one's mana capacity and their ability to bind with familiars: Royalty and Aristocrats are born with dense mana, they have a stronger potential to bind with higher-ranked, often very rare, familiars. This enhances their stature and reinforces their rule. But like the Commoners and Peasants, they Generally possess lighter mana and form bonds with less potent familiars, reinforcing their lower standing in society. We're HELPING."
"Yeah we get it, you're a badass. Also—."
Jenn slouched over, saying with a pout, "Oh god, a lore dump…spare me.."
"I DIDN'T EVEN SAY ANYTHING YET!"
Jenn laughed, "Haha! I'm kidding! Let's talk and work! We have a big day."
Remembering his duties, Jenn bolted outside to his mythic pet store—an emporium not merely of creatures but of bonds forged under extraordinary circumstances. There, a myriad of mythical, tamed animals awaited his care.
First was Eclipse, a B-rank Lunar Fox, her fur a cascade of midnight blue with specks that mimicked the night sky. Next to her, luxuriating under a sunbeam, was Pyra, a C-rank Fire Cat, her orange and red stripes pulsating gently with heat.
"Morning, you two," Jenn greeted them, distributing their respective diets—starlit berries for Eclipse and smoldering embers for Pyra.
He then moved on to Zenith, an A-rank Sky Turtle, a turtle with a white body and dark pink shell, floating lazily above his pen. His shell bore the soft pastels of the dawn sky. "Here's your cloud doughnut," Jenn offered, tossing a fluffy, circular treat up to the contented turtle.
Jiyu was off to the side, saying, "Pfft."
Jenn heard him, replying, "Do you always have to get jealous?"
"Yep. Every single time."
It wasn't just feeding; the garden required his attention too. The magical plants within it helped amplify the familiars' inherent powers but needed regular replacing once their energies were depleted.
Jenn and Jiyu undertook the task with practiced ease. First, they uprooted the withered Moonblossoms; their silver petals had lost their luster, a clear sign their useful energy had been expended. Jenn dug into the soil, preparing it for the new batch of Sunfronds, vital for Pyra's fiery disposition.
As they worked, Jenn fetched buckets of enriched soil while Jiyu, with surprising dexterity for a pup, arranged the new plants with his mouths. The Sky Irises were next, destined for Zenith's corner of the garden. Their blooms mimicked the colors of the sky at different times of the day, essential for maintaining Zenith's buoyancy. Getting these flowers were hard in general, plants that could cultivate a familiars power depending on its nature. All over the world of Kanaan, adventurers would take on quests that involve completing these tasks alongside taking down a beast in the area, which the flowers are normally guarded by mythic beasts and animals due to the most obvious powerful nature of the flower.
But in Jenn's case, he indeed does go out to get the flowers, but he doesn't fight the beast, he tames it instead. He believes taming it is saving it from being killed. When a beast is tamed, it's obedient to Jenn, it's not necessarily a contract, it's just aligned with Jenn's peaceful mana, and therefore becomes peaceful. If Jenn could take them and have someone buy them, they're better being with them then being out in the wild ready to be taken down by adventurers.
"Good job, Jiyu! Let's refresh Eclipse's section now with some Starweeds," Jenn instructed, petting Jiyu, and they repeated the process, beautifying and empowering the garden anew.
Jiyu walked past a familiar, and snickered, "Haha! See that? He pet me. He didn't pet you yet today, did he? Awww. Don't feel too bad. Once we open up the shop, you'll be sold to people who might pet you like Jenn pets me."
He was talking to a 4 headed baby dragon that was black and white with glowing orange eyes, and it replied, "You're lucky Jenn is here. Otherwise—."
Jiyu darted over to Jenn, whining, "Jenn! One of your familiars just threatened me!"
The baby dragon answered, "WHAT?!"
Jiyu smirked at him behind Jenn's back, leaping on his shoulder.
Jenn said with a chuckle, "Jiyu. Don't antagonize the familiars. Or I might just sell you."
"Y-You're bluffing.."
"Anyway! Let's go!"
By noon, the garden was a spectrum of vibrant new flora, each section tailored to a familiar's unique needs. "Looks like we've done it again, buddy," Jenn said, wiping sweat from his brow while watching Jiyu trot around their work, inspecting each plant with a proud sniff.
Jenn paid meticulous attention to the specifics of each plant in the garden, understanding that the right flora was crucial not just to the familiars' health, but also to enhancing their magical capabilities. Jiyu trotted beside him, equally eager to absorb the dynamics of this botanical alchemy.
Moonblossoms, ethereal flowers that seemed to glow under the moonlight, these were specifically used for nocturnal or moon-related creatures like Eclipse, the Lunar Fox. The Moonblossoms enhanced her ability to blend into shadows and heightened her night vision, crucial for her predatory skills and for evading threats under the cover of darkness.
Sunfronds Tall, fiery-red leaves that thrived in direct sunlight, Sunfronds were essential for fire-oriented familiars such as Pyra, the Fire Cat. The intense heat and solar energy absorbed by these plants were transferred to Pyra, boosting her flame manipulation abilities, and at times increasing her flame temperature, which could be critical during combat or for defensive measures.
Sky Irises, These flowers blossomed at varying heights and mirrored the colors visible in the sky throughout different times of the day. Ideal for aerial or atmosphere-bound creatures like Zenith, the Sky Turtle, Sky Irises helped maintain and enhance his buoyancy and agility in the air. The plants' ability to absorb and retain airborne elements also improved Zenith's control over wind currents.
And lastly, Starweeds: Thin, creeping plants with tiny luminescent blooms, Starweeds were indispensable for cosmic or stellar-themed entities. These plants absorbed cosmic energy during the night, storing it within their glow. For Eclipse, when planted alongside Moonblossoms, they significantly amplified her stealth techniques and her capacity to harness lunar energy, making her more potent during her peak active phases.
The garden was an intricate mosaic of these specialized plants. To ensure optimal growth and potency, Jenn followed a precise cultivation process tailored to each species. This involved understanding the soil pH, moisture levels, and even the specific angle of sunlight or moonlight each plant type required.
Jenn, sweating, wiped his forehead, saying to the familiars, "Feels better, doesn't it?"
They all seemed comfortable, and Jiyu said, "Tch. Whatever. Jenn still pat me on the head."
As he worked, Jenn explained to Jiyu the importance of each plant. "Each of these plants resonates with a specific type of magic inherent to each familiar. Just like how we need the right nutrients in our diet, these plants provide the right magical 'nutrients' for our friends here. It's all about creating the right environment for them to flourish. And in return, they help us by maintaining the balance of magical energy here at the pet store."
Jiyu thought, 'Everyday, he explains this to me. I've heard it over and over, but I don't mind listening. It's satisfying to him. Never knew why, he won't ever tell me. As the last of his people, he's keeping himself tranquil and all that. Guess that's one way to cope. He's still a good kid. Even the first day he tamed me, it was around 10 years ago when he was around 8 years old. I'm 400 years old, and I didn't think a brat like him could tame an S rank wolfhound.'
By selecting and nurturing the proper plants for each familiar, Jenn not only ensured their continued health but also actively participated in the enhancement of their magical abilities, reinforcing the symbiotic relationship between the garden and the guardianship of his mythical creatures.
An hour later, Jenn was laying on the ground, saying, "Ugh. I'm tired now."
Jiyu added, "Still got a lot to do. Plus, you're always on my head about being lazy."
"Who are you again?"
"SERIOUSLY?!"
"I'm kidding. Let's go." Jenn sat up. "I can hear them."
The air in the dense forest of Elmswood was heavy with anticipation and a hint of fear as the renowned guild, the Sapphire Shields, peeped from behind the towering figure of their stoic leader, Sir Reginald the Brave. Sir Reginald, clad in shimmering azure armor that gleamed even under the canopy's dim light, was a sight of stoic bravery amongst his trembling comrades. His jet-black cloak fluttered behind him, and his hand gripped a longsword imbued with swirling blue mana. He had long dark red hair, and a bushy red beard with brown eyes. And his band of adventurers were hiding behind him.
Reginald yelled, "Why are you all hiding behind me?! Stay vigilant—!"
Before the group was an imposing and quite frankly bizarre creature—a massive, fifteen-foot mythic frog. Its seven bulging eyes darted around menacingly, and its human-like muscular arms flexed with every croaking sound it made. The beast stood on powerful wolf-like legs which added an unsettling grace to its movements. With every thunderous croak, the ground seemed to quake, shaking the very roots of the ancient trees surrounding them.
Sir Reginald, attempting to embody the epitome of courage, pointed his mana-infused sword towards the creature. "Steady, Shields," he commanded, his voice a blend of determination and underlying panic.
However, as the gargantuan frog let out another earth-shattering croak, Sir Reginald's facade of bravery shattered spectacularly. With a high-pitched squeal like a maiden, unbecoming of his large stature and legend, he spun around, hiding behind his group.
"Protect me!" He exclaimed.
The adventurers, initially startled by their leader's reaction, quickly scatter in a comical dance of fear, each trying to hide behind the other.
Reginald then hid behind them again, and then next, they hid behind him, taking turns in fear.
"By the gods, what is that thing?" yelped Elara, the guild's sharpshooter, as she clung to the back of a fellow mage. Her hair was a dark violet color and she had dark yellow eyes.,
"It's a Septoceanus Vastus, a B-rank Mythic Frog!" explained Cedric, the group's scholar, breathlessly as he consulted his magical tome. "I thought this would be an easy task from the Westhaven mission board!" He had circular classes, dark green eyes, and freckles. "But that croak..I can fight while listening to that damn horror!"
Reginald added, "Stop being a wuss! We're the Sapphire Shields! The legends! The heroes!"
"But you're hiding behind me!"
"I'm the leader! I got a pass!"
Once again positioning themselves behind the quaking Sir Reginald, the adventurers prepared for another retreat. Just as the frog prepared to launch another croak, it suddenly leaped high into the air, shadowing the group with its massive body.
In a breathtaking moment of suspense, everything seemed to move in slow motion. However, before the frog could land, the forest air was split by a sharp whistle, and in an instant, all the adventurers vanished, swept away from impending doom.
The frog landed with a colossal impact, sending a shockwave that blasted debris and foliage in all directions, a testament to its incredible strength.
Turning slowly, its bulbous eyes narrowing, the frog was met by a surprisingly calm figure—Jenn, with Jiyu at his side. Jenn addressed his canine familiar with a confident smile. "Jiyu, can you please move them to safety?"
"Got it." Nodding solemnly, Jiyu effortlessly wrapped the dazed adventurers in one of his powerful tails and darted off, leaving Jenn to confront the mythic beast.
Cedric smiled, "We've been saved!"
Reginald added, "We are the Sapphire Shields! This is unacceptable!"
Elara said, "We have to make sure NO ONE hears about this. Let Jenn deal with them."
Cedric commented, "Yeah! They call him the nature boy or something. The last member of the tribe that can tame mythic beasts with just a touch."
The frog, noticing this new opponent, launched into an aggressive barrage, leaping and slamming down into the earth with destructive force, sending mud and tree limbs flying. It shot out its long, sticky tongue in rapid attacks, each aimed with deadly precision at Jenn.
Jenn dodged each assault with breathtaking agility, rolling and sprinting with a fluid grace, his eyes alight with the thrill of the challenge. His every movement was a ballet of swift evasions, his gaze never leaving the enormous amphibian. As the frog hurled its tongue once more, Jenn saw his opportunity. With a lightning-fast movement, he caught the tongue, pulling the massive creature toward him.
Unfazed, Jenn reached up and gently placed his hand on the frog's head. A soft glow emanated from his touch, and a bright crest formed on the frog's forehead, signaling its calming and taming.
As the creature settled, Jenn embraced it, patting its head affectionately. His soft words seemed to soothe the beast even further.
Sir Reginald, peeking from behind a tree now, adjusted his armor, trying to regain some semblance of dignity after the spectacle. The Sapphire Shields were safe, the frog tamed, and once again, Jenn had proven why his reputation as a master of mythical beasts was well earned.
Reginald and his crew walked up to Jenn, and Reginald shook his hand, "Fine work, youngling."
Jenn replied, "Thanks, but it wasn't too impressive—."
"No no, I meant fine work on being in the pregame of the…" He turned to Cedric and Elara, whispering, "Get in your stances. Hurry!"
Cedric got in a stance where he touched his glasses, leaning backward, and Elara rolled her eyes, "Do we really have to do this?"
Cedric lifted his sword in the air, saying, "In the presence of the Sapphire Shields! One of the greatest adventurer guilds in all of Kanaan, If not THE best."
Jiyu, hopping on Jenn's shoulder, whispered, "These guys are kinda looney."
Jenn responded, "Yeah they are."
Reginald pulled out a bag of silver, handing it to Jenn, but Jenn didn't grab it.
Jenn asked, "What's this for?"
"For helping us. We owe ya."
Reginald thought, 'Let's see it then, Jenn. Grab the money. Nah, he wouldn't. He's too humble. I heard about how nice he was to everyone, and how he does favors for free. There's no way he would take this money—.'
YANK!
Jenn snatched the bag, and sat it down on the ground, saying, "Thanks."
He and Jiyu counted the money on the ground, and Jiyu said, "Hell yeah this is a good little payout."
Reginald was stuck, his hand shaking, and his jaw dropped, saying, "H-He actually took it?!"
Elara chuckled, pointing, "Haha! Fooled you didn't he? That's awesome."
Cedric stated, adjusting his glasses, "How long do we have to stay this stance?!
Reginald cleared his throat, "Erm. Anyway! Jenn, the beast tamer. That was a test to see how humble you were, because the Sapphire Shields accept those who are humble!"
Jiyu looked at Reginald, "Hope you're not gonna ask for it back."
Reginald laughed "No! Keep it! Anyway, do you two want to join the Sapphire Shields? With you in our squad, we'll be unstoppable."
"No thanks. I have a shop to run, and beasts to tame. Just know if you're in trouble I'll help." Jenn answered.
"But we're the best! Tch, we'll recruit you someday! We won't give up!"
"Yep, don't give up!"