The plan was simple—or at least I hoped it would be. The Shadow Sparrow wasn't going to just fall into my lap, and I knew better than to underestimate a creature as cunning as it. Over the past few weeks, I had carefully observed its habits. From the system's appraisal, I learned that the bird had a particular fondness for a herb called 'Moonblossom', a delicate flower with silvery petals that only bloomed at night. It wasn't hard to find, as it grew near my hut, and I had harvested a good amount.
But Moonblossom wasn't enough on its own. I needed something else to give me the upper hand. That's when I discovered 'Drowsing Root', a common plant that caused mild disorientation when ingested by low-ranked beasts. Combined with the Moonblossom, I could create a pellet that would entice and temporarily impair the bird. The system had confirmed the effects.
I spent the day grinding the Moonblossom into a fine powder, mixing it with crushed Drowsing Root, and shaping the concoction into small, bite-sized pellets. The trick was getting the ratios just right—enough to attract the sparrow, but not too much to raise its suspicions. After all, the Shadow Sparrow was no ordinary bird. Its instincts were sharp, and I knew it would be cautious.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the forest, I placed the pellet on the ground beneath a tree the sparrow often visited. I stepped back, hidden behind a bush, and waited. The cool evening breeze stirred the leaves, and my heart raced. Every rustle made me flinch.
---
Minutes passed. My muscles ached from staying still, but then, there it was—a flash of dark feathers, flitting between branches. The Shadow Sparrow hovered nearby, its sleek form almost invisible against the dimming sky. I held my breath as it paused on a branch above the pellet, tilting its head in curiosity.
It didn't dive in right away. As expected, the bird was cautious, its beady eyes scanning the surroundings. I could see it taking in every detail, every shadow, ensuring there were no threats nearby. For a moment, I thought it might fly away, but then it hesitated.
Slowly, cautiously, it descended from the branch, landing a few feet from the pellet. It hopped closer, stopping every few steps to look around, its body tense. My hands gripped the net I'd fashioned out of vines, my palms damp with sweat. I couldn't afford to rush this. The bird had to feel safe before making its move.
Finally, unable to resist the scent of the Moonblossom, the sparrow pecked at the pellet. A small bite at first, then another, and soon enough, it was devouring the entire thing. I watched, barely breathing. The bird finished the pellet and hopped back to its perch, its eyes still sharp and alert, though I could see its movements were starting to slow.
'It's working.'
---
I waited. And waited. The minutes stretched into what felt like hours. The sparrow had returned to the branch, preening its feathers, though its movements were less precise now, more sluggish. Its balance wavered, and at one point, it almost toppled off the branch before steadying itself.
That's when it happened.
The bird, now fully under the influence of the Drowsing Root, gave a drunken chirp before tumbling from the branch. It fluttered clumsily in the air, but its wings couldn't keep it stable, and it crashed into a patch of bushes near my hiding spot.
'Now's my chance.'
Heart pounding, I sprang from my cover, net in hand. The bird was dazed but not completely helpless. It let out a startled cry, trying to scramble to its feet, but it was too unsteady. As I crept closer, I could feel the tension rise in my chest. This was it.
But just as I was about to throw the net, the sparrow's eyes glinted. In a burst of shadowy energy, it used its skill 'Shadow Dash' disappearing from sight.
"Damn it!" I cursed under my breath, spinning around. I'd seen the skill before, but I hadn't expected the bird to still be capable of using it. My heart sank as I thought it had escaped, but then—
'Thud.'
I whipped my head toward the sound. The sparrow had reappeared—crashing headfirst into a tree trunk. It let out a pitiful squawk and fell to the ground, knocked out cold. I couldn't help but laugh, the tension in my chest releasing in a rush. The bird had done the hard work for me.
---
Without wasting any more time, I dashed to where the sparrow lay. It was breathing but clearly out cold. I quickly knelt beside it, reaching out with my spiritual energy. The system had explained the process: to form a contract, I had to imprint on the beast's soul with my own, overpowering its resistance with my energy. The process would normally require subduing the creature, but in this case, the sparrow's state made it much easier.
I concentrated, letting my spiritual energy flow through me. It reached out, like invisible tendrils, wrapping around the unconscious sparrow. I felt the resistance, faint at first, but then it gave way. The connection snapped into place, and warmth spread through my chest—a bond forming between us.
'It worked.'
The Shadow Sparrow was mine. I sat back, breathing heavily, a strange mixture of pride and exhaustion filling me.
---
The system's familiar voice rang in my mind, congratulating me.
[Congratulations on forming your first contract with a magical beast: Shadow Sparrow, Rank: Silver (Low).]
[Mission complete. Reward: 1 Gacha Draw.]
I grinned but decided not to rush into the gacha. I was too tired to even think about it, and I knew from experience that it was better to save such moments for when I could think clearly. Instead, I turned my attention to the sparrow. Its small form lay still in the grass, and I knew it needed rest.
With a thought, I accessed my 'Spiritual Space' a small, personal dimension where I could store my contracted beasts. The system had explained that this space grew larger and more powerful as my spiritual energy advanced, and that it also helped my beasts recover faster.
For now, my Spiritual Space was small, but it was enough. I gently placed the Shadow Sparrow inside, watching as its form shimmered and vanished. It would recover in there, safe from the dangers of the forest.
---
As I walked back to my hut, the moonlight filtering through the trees, I couldn't help but reflect on how far I'd come. Two years ago, I knew nothing about this world, nothing about magical beasts or taming. Now, I had my first contract. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
I pushed open the door to my hut, setting down my bag of herbs and taking a deep breath. My stomach growled—I hadn't eaten all day—but exhaustion was quickly catching up with me.
"Tomorrow," I muttered to myself, flopping down on the pile of blankets I called a bed. "I'll do the gacha tomorrow."
With the thought of what I could possibly win lingering in my mind, I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.