John stared down at the subdued Shadowfang Lynx, scratching his head."Now how am I supposed to drag this big guy all the way back to town?" He muttered to himself, glancing around, half-hoping for a solution to pop out from the trees.But John had no better idea so he quickly made his way back to the farmer's house, tapping on the door. The farmer answered, surprised to see John so soon."what? You done already?" the farmer asked, eyebrows shooting up in astonishment."Yep, mission complete," John replied. "But I need a way to bring it back to town. Do you have a cart or something I could borrow?"The farmer let out a low whistle, visibly impressed. "Less than an hour? That's somethin' else."He gave a nod, then shuffled off to fetch an old wooden cart. Together, they headed back toward the forest where John's Beasts waited, the farmer pulling the creaky cart behind him.When they reached the Lynx's pinned form, the farmer froze, his jaw falling as he took in the sight. The massive black dog holding down the Lynx's leg with his powerful jaws and a large rat pressing its clawed hands on the Lynx's shoulders, keeping it firmly in place."Well, I'll be... You did a fine job, young man! Strong lad, you are!"John chuckled, feeling slightly sheepish. "It's really them who did all the work. I just... uhm, supervised."The farmer shook his head firmly. "You're really like being modest. A Beast's performance is based on its tamer, so it's your strength and skill that brought them victory. You're stronger than you think you are, or you said."John gave a nod, letting the farmer's words sink in without thinking too deeply about them. Turning to Miki, he said in his mind, "Alright, Miki, think you can help load the Lynx?"The big rat let out a proud squeak and shuffled over, his clawed hands gripping the Lynx's limp body as he maneuvered it into the cart. Once it was settled, John gave Inky a quick pat on the head and gestured to the cart's front."Alright, big guy, you can drag this back to town?"Inky let out a low, steady growl of affirmation and took up position at the front. With a final nod to his team, John climbed into the cart himself, sitting back as Inky began to pull the cart along, moving through the forest with a smooth and powerful stride.As they rolled through the woods toward the village, John couldn't help but smile at his two Beasts. The thrill of victory lingered and now he know how strong his Beasts actually is.John approached the town when the rising sun already cast a warm glow over the buildings and the town that now bustling with early morning activity.He quickly noticed the curious stares from townsfolk along the main road who paused in their tasks to gape at the unusual sight: a towering black hound dragging a cart carrying a subdued and bloodied Beast, with John sitting casually beside it.John gave a sheepish grin, feeling a bit awkward under all the attention but nodding politely to a few villagers who whispered to each other with their eyes wide with admiration and awe.When he finally reached the guild, he climbed down from the cart and took a deep breath to compose himself.Inside, a tall, muscular man with gray hair stood behind the counter, his stern gaze sweeping over the morning's visitors. The woman from before must be already off home.John hesitated for a moment, realizing that the person in charge had changed since he'd first picked up the quest. The man looked up as John approached, stepping forward as John handed him the quest poster.The man looked over the poster, his brows rising slightly. "This is the Lynx capture quest that just got registered less then tow hours ago by Regina. You've... already completed it?"John nodded with a smile.The man's eyes shifted past John, landing on Inky who was now sitting calmly by the cart, his dark fur a striking contrast against the daylight.The man's eyes narrowed slightly and looking on Inky's shadowy aura."A shadow-affinity Beast," he muttered, a note of surprise creeping into his voice. The rarity of such an affinity clearly caught his attention.He glanced back at John, his expression now changed, his eyes studying John with newfound respect. "To have a wild shadow-type Beast not only tamed but sitting like this... that's no small feat. You're more than just a casual tamer, aren't you?"John simply shrugged with a polite nod, still unused to the praise. The man nodded approvingly, reaching out to clap John on the shoulder with a solid grip."Well, you've earned every bit of that reward and then some," the man said with a grin, gesturing toward the counter. "Head over to get your payment, and don't be a stranger around here."With a final nod, John turned, quietly pleased but still feeling slightly bashful from all the attention.John dismissed Inky and Miki back into their separate dimensions, watching as their forms shimmered and vanished. Then he made his way into the guild hall. Approaching the counter, he handed over the completed quest poster and after a quick scan the man counted out five gold coins, placing them in John's palm.John examined the coins thoughtfully, feeling a flicker of disappointment. Five gold was a decent sum but he knew it wasn't enough to cover the training fee for the woman he'd encountered earlier. Regina, he remembered the gray-haired man had called her.The man raised an eyebrow, noticing John's faint frown. "Not enough?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.John hesitated, then nodded. "I was hoping to train with Regina. But she's charging a bit more than I have right now."The man's expression softened with understanding, and he let out a low chuckle. "Ah, well, I'm not surprised she'd ask for a steep fee. Regina's training techniques are among the best you'll find in these parts. She's earned her reputation."John nodded, feeling a mix of respect and renewed determination.The man leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. "Name's Garret," he introduced himself. "Now, if you're looking to make a bit more coin, there's always work for the noble clients. They pay well enough for someone with your talents."John's interest piqued. "I'll think about it. Thanks for the tip, Garret.""Anytime," Garret replied, giving him a nod. "With skills like yours, you'd be able to take on some of the more challenging quests. Just keep your wits about you cause noble work's not for the faint-hearted."John left the guild with new possibilities swirling in his mind. Taking on noble requests could be risky but it might be exactly what he needed to take his abilities to the next level.--