Raine awoke the next morning to a soft glow illuminating his room. The Lumineth Wisp, perched on a small stand near his desk, was radiating a faint light that filled the room with warmth. Its presence was a reminder of his recent success—both in taming the creature and utilizing the Eye of Insight for the first time.
As he dressed and prepared for the day, the system chimed.
System notification: New feature unlocked—Skill Leveling.
Raine opened the interface, intrigued by the notification. A new tab had appeared under his skills menu, showing the progression of his Eye of Insight:
Basic Eye of Insight (Level 1)
Experience: 50/100
Next Level: Intermediate Eye of Insight
Description: Grants the ability to view basic information about creatures and humans. Displays species, elemental affinity, temperament, and rank (if applicable). Upgrades provide enhanced detail and new functionalities. Leveling requires experience points and coins.
Another sub-notification flashed:
Leveling Requirements: 50 experience points and 10 coins to reach Level 2.
Raine weighed his options. The cost wasn't too steep, but he decided to hold off for now. He wanted to gain more experience with the skill in its current form before upgrading.
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Exploring the Manor Grounds
With his new skill in mind, Raine decided to test its boundaries further. He ventured into the manor's expansive gardens, where various low-level creatures roamed freely. The Flame Sprout trailed behind him, occasionally stopping to sniff at patches of scorched earth.
The first creature Raine encountered was a Mossback Turtle, a slow-moving herbivore often used as a test subject for novice tamers. Activating the Eye of Insight, he focused on the creature:
Species: Mossback Turtle
Element: Earth
Temperament: Docile, cautious, stubborn.
Rank: 1-Star
"Cautious and stubborn?" Raine muttered. "No wonder taming these takes forever."
He moved on, scanning a group of Amber Sparrows perched on a nearby tree. Each scan added to his understanding of the creatures—their habits, weaknesses, elemental compatibilities, and star rankings. It also granted small increments of experience points toward leveling the Eye of Insight.
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The System's Challenge
Halfway through the garden, the system issued a new task:
Quest: Tame a creature with dual elemental affinities.
Reward: 300 points, 100 experience points, and 15 coins.
Raine frowned. Creatures with dual affinities were rare and notoriously difficult to tame. Still, the rewards were tempting, and the experience points alone would push the Eye of Insight to its next level.
---
A Hidden Gem
Raine's search led him to an overgrown section of the estate's grounds that he rarely visited. The area was dense with vegetation and seemed almost untouched by human hands. As he pushed through the underbrush, the Flame Sprout and Soul Weaver grew more alert, their postures tense.
A faint rustling caught his attention. Raine activated the Eye of Insight and scanned the area, his vision sharpening as the skill kicked in. A creature emerged from the shadows—a sleek, fox-like being with fur that shimmered between hues of blue and gold.
Species: Azure Solfox
Elements: Water, Light
Temperament: Intelligent, wary, prideful.
Rank: 3-Star
Raine's pulse quickened. The Azure Solfox was not only a dual-affinity creature but also a rare and highly coveted one. Taming it would be a significant accomplishment.
---
Building Trust
The Solfox regarded Raine with cautious eyes, its body poised to flee at the first sign of danger. Raine knew that any sudden movements would ruin his chances. He knelt slowly, keeping his hands visible.
"Easy there," he murmured. "I'm not here to harm you."
The Eye of Insight provided real-time updates:
Temperament shift detected: Wary → Neutral curiosity.
Raine reached into his satchel and retrieved a small vial of water infused with light magic. It was a rare item he had acquired during his last trip to the capital, and he hoped it would appeal to the Solfox's dual affinities.
The creature's nose twitched as it caught the scent of the vial. Slowly, it approached, its movements graceful and deliberate. When it was close enough, Raine placed the vial on the ground and stepped back, giving the Solfox space to investigate.
After a few tense moments, the Solfox lapped at the water, its shimmering fur glowing faintly as it absorbed the magic. The Eye of Insight updated again:
Temperament shift detected: Neutral curiosity → Guarded trust.
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Sealing the Pact
Raine extended his hand, palm open. The Solfox hesitated, then cautiously placed its paw in his. A faint glow surrounded them as the taming bond took hold. The system chimed:
Quest Complete: Tame a creature with dual elemental affinities.
Reward: 300 points, 100 experience points, and 15 coins.
The Solfox's name appeared in his interface, alongside the Flame Sprout and Soul Weaver. Raine couldn't help but smile. His team was growing stronger, and the potential of Beast Taming magic was becoming clearer with each success.
---
Reflection and Growth
Back at the manor, Raine reviewed his progress. The system interface displayed his current status:
[Status]
Name: Raine Evernight Valthorn
Level: 2
Skills: Basic Eye of Insight (Level 1), Beast Taming (Basic)
Coins: 40
Experience Points: 150/100
[Tamed Beasts]
1. Flame Sprout – Element: Fire – Temperament: Curious, loyal, mischievous. Rank: 1-Star
2. Soul Weaver – Element: Shadow – Temperament: Observant, protective, enigmatic. Rank: 2-Star
3. Azure Solfox – Elements: Water, Light – Temperament: Intelligent, wary, prideful. Rank: 3-Star
The Eye of Insight was ready for an upgrade, but Raine decided to wait until he had more coins and experience. For now, he was content with his progress. Each step brought him closer to reviving the lost glory of Beast Taming magic—and perhaps even surpassing it.
As he prepared for the next day, Raine felt a renewed sense of purpose. The path was long and fraught with challenges, but with his growing knowledge, skills, and team, he was ready to face whatever lay ahead.