The contract had been made. A bond not of servitude, but of understanding—a mutual agreement sealed beneath the blue sky and carried on the whisper of wind.
Rei walked with Tenko perched gracefully upon his shoulder, the small fox's white fur dancing in the breeze. The red markings that framed his intelligent golden eyes shimmered faintly under the light of the rising sun. They moved quietly through the alleyways of the town, avoiding the main roads where curious eyes might linger too long.
As they passed through a narrow lane between two worn-down buildings, a rustle from the corner caught Rei's attention. Beneath a heavy, patched blanket, a child peeked out—eyes wide at the sight of the Navarion. The boy didn't speak. He simply turned, clutching the blanket tighter, and disappeared into a neighboring alley. Rei said nothing, but his gaze lingered for a moment before he turned away.
Soon they reached the outskirts, where stone gave way to grass and wind hummed freely across the open plains. Here, away from prying eyes and bustling streets, Rei could begin Tenko's training.
He stepped forward, raising a hand to the sky. Air gathered around his fingers, spiraling until a miniature tornado formed—spinning just above his palm. It shimmered softly, the motion fluid and controlled.
"Okay," Rei said, lowering his hand so Tenko could see more clearly. "Let's start with the basics. Control of wind spells. Try to create a wind tornado like this."
Tenko hopped down from Rei's shoulder, ears twitching with excitement. The small fox narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath. Around his paws, the air began to stir. A loose spiral of wind formed, wobbling slightly as it spun with uneven speed.
Rei watched patiently. "Don't force it," he said. "Don't try to grab too much at once. Start small—just a sliver of wind. Trap it at the center, then spin it as quickly as you can. Like this."
He raised his hand again. This time, the wind spiral shrank down until it was needle-thin, rotating so fast it hummed audibly. It looked deceptively delicate—but Rei knew the damage it could do.
Tenko watched, his golden eyes fixed on the motion. Then he tried again.
The spiral formed slowly, a little more stable this time. Still rough around the edges, still lacking precision—but it was progress. Tenko let out a quiet growl of frustration, his tails twitching.
"It's okay," Rei said with a small smile. "That was better. You're getting there. You just need time and focus. Keep practicing, alright? I need to head into town for a bit. I'll be back soon."
Tenko gave a curt nod, returning to his task with fierce determination.
The Hunter's Tower in this town was bigger than the one Rei had visited before— five floors compared to four— it stood proud and functional, with reinforced stone walls and steel-framed windows. It overlooked the town square like a silent sentinel.
Rei stepped inside. The air was cool and smelled faintly of parchment and old metal. He made his way to the front desk where a tall woman stood—sharp-eyed and stone-faced, her black hair tied in a strict bun.
She didn't bother to smile. "Yes? What do you want?"
"I'd like to register," Rei said.
"That'll be one bronze coin."
He reached into his pouch and slid a coin across the counter. She took it and handed him a slate with a stylus. "Fill this out. Full name, magical abilities if any, sword techniques. Title's optional."
Rei sat at a nearby table and began writing. Unlike Hanna who took the last name of her mother Rei had taken the last name of Father
Name: Rei Alenshade
Magical Attribute: None
Sword Techniques: Two Verses of Central Sword Style — Sword Meets Sword, Sword Parries Sword
Title: [Left Blank]
He stared at the last section for a long moment. Miracle Child. That was what they used to call him. But a name like that would only attract the wrong kind of attention. He left it empty and returned the slate.
The receptionist scanned it. Her expression didn't change, but Rei caught the faintest twitch of her brow when she saw his lack of magical ability.
"I recommend you take part in our training program," she said. "It'll help you prepare before heading into the wilderness."
"Thanks," Rei replied, "but I don't need it."
Nearby, a group of young hunters burst into hushed laughter.
"Look at him. Cocky little runt."
"Thinks he's special or something."
"He'll come crawling back tomorrow, half-dead and missing his coin pouch."
Rei didn't respond. He kept his eyes forward, calm and unshaken.
One man, older than the others, leaned against a wall nearby. His cloak was dark, and a short sword hung at his waist. He said nothing until the others began their next round of jeers.
"I don't think so," the man said quietly. "He's stronger than you think."
The laughter died down.
"Oh please," one scoffed. "You think he's the next chosen one or something?"
The man didn't answer. He simply watched Rei with a knowing look—like someone who had once seen a storm take form long before the first cloud appeared.
The sun was beginning to dip when Rei returned to the field.
Tenko was still at it, his white fur slightly dusty, his ears flicking with each turn of the breeze. His tiny wind tornadoes spun around his paws—still rough, still unstable, but far more controlled than before. Rei stood at the edge of the field and watched in silence for a while, pride blooming in his chest.
"You've improved," he said.
Tenko looked up, panting lightly, and let out a pleased bark.
Rei walked over and knelt beside him. The grass was warm beneath his knees, the sky overhead streaked with amber and rose.
"The sun's setting," Rei said softly. "That's enough for today. You should rest. Let your Qi recover."
Tenko gave a soft grunt of agreement and leapt onto Rei's shoulder with a practiced motion.
They turned toward Midgard, the cart waiting for them at the edge of the field like a faithful steed. As they walked together beneath the shifting colors of dusk, the wind followed quietly behind them—carrying the promise of power, and the whisper of a future shaped by their bond.
And in the heart of the plains, where the sun dipped low and shadows stretched long, a boy and a fox began the journey that would one day shake the very foundation of the world.