The journey back to town was uneventful, but the weight of Alden's new companion—the Bloodfang Stalker—was heavy in his mind. Even now, as they walked through the winding forest trails, the crimson beast prowled beside him in near-perfect silence, its eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, as if it still didn't trust that it was no longer being hunted.
Shadowfang walked on Alden's other side, occasionally glancing at the new recruit with mild suspicion. Though the battle earlier had shown them both the Bloodfang's strength, trust was still something that had to be earned.
Alden understood that well.
The town came into view.
Even from a distance, he could see the warm glow of lanterns flickering in the early evening haze. The marketplace bustled with life, traders calling out their wares, and the smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the air.
Alden pulled his hood up. He didn't want attention.
Walking into town with two massive, dangerous beasts was already going to cause a stir.
And he was right.
As soon as he stepped past the gates, people froze. Conversations died mid-sentence. Merchants paused in their transactions. Everyone's eyes locked onto him.
A Bloodfang Stalker wasn't just a dangerous beast—it was a legend. There wasn't a single person in town who hadn't heard of its rampages.
Now, one was walking calmly at Alden's side.
The whispers started almost immediately.
"Is that the Bloodfang…?"
"It should've been impossible to tame that thing!"
"Who is that kid?"
Alden ignored the murmurs and kept walking toward the Tamer's Guild, but he could feel the tension in the air. The moment he stepped inside, the guild receptionist, a tired-looking woman with gray-streaked hair, nearly dropped her ink quill.
"You…" Her gaze flickered between him and the Bloodfang. "You actually completed the mission?"
Alden smirked. "Do you need proof?"
A guild official stepped forward, clearly one of the higher-ranking members. "We expected you to return with its pelt, not the entire beast still breathing." His eyes narrowed. "Explain."
Alden leaned against the counter. "I figured killing it would be a waste. So instead, I tamed it."
The official's eyes flickered with something between shock and intrigue.
Taming an A-Rank beast, let alone one as notorious as the Bloodfang, was unheard of for a novice tamer.
But before anyone could question him further, someone else entered the guild hall.
Alden felt the shift in the air immediately.
The energy in the room sharpened, as if the very atmosphere was holding its breath. The murmurs of the other guild members died instantly.
Alden turned his head—just slightly—to see the newcomer.
A girl.
But not just any girl.
She wore a high-collared, black and gold uniform, one that marked her as a member of House Solenne, one of the most powerful noble families of beast tamers in the kingdom. Her long silver hair cascaded behind her, crimson eyes gleaming like polished rubies. Her presence alone carried an aura of command, as if she was used to being in control wherever she went.
Alden already knew her name before she even spoke.
Lyra Solenne.
The Prodigy of the Solenne Bloodline.
She strode into the guild with purpose, her steps silent but carrying weight. She wasn't just here for leisure.
She was hunting someone.
And judging by the way her gaze locked onto Alden…
It was him.
Alden exhaled slowly. Of course.
He wasn't sure what part of him had caught her attention—his abyss-touched aura, the fact that he had just tamed a Bloodfang, or something else entirely.
Either way, this was trouble.
The guild official immediately straightened his posture, bowing slightly. "Lady Solenne! We weren't expecting your arrival. What brings you to our humble branch?"
Lyra didn't even glance at him.
Her gaze remained fixed on Alden.
Then, in a voice that was calm yet firm, she said,
"You. Come with me."
Alden tilted his head, feigning ignorance. "Sorry, do I know you?"
Lyra's expression didn't change. "No. But I know you."
That wasn't ominous at all.
Alden crossed his arms. "And what exactly does a noble lady want with someone like me?"
Lyra's eyes flickered toward the Bloodfang Stalker beside him. Then back to him.
"…You're interesting."
Alden raised an eyebrow. That was… not what he expected.
"I don't follow."
Lyra took a slow step forward, closing the distance. Her aura wasn't hostile, but it was definitely assertive. "There are two types of people in this world," she said. "Those who are strong because of their birthright… and those who become strong despite having nothing."
She paused, eyes searching his. "Which one are you?"
Alden chuckled. "What do you think?"
Lyra's lips curved—just slightly. "That's what I want to find out."
Alden's smirk didn't fade. She was testing him.
And while most people might have been intimidated, he found it… amusing.
After all, he wasn't someone who played by noble rules.
So he leaned in slightly, just enough to mirror her intensity.
"Well, Lady Solenne, if you want to find out more about me…" His smirk widened. "You'll have to keep up."
For the first time, Lyra actually smiled.
And just like that, the game had begun.
Meanwhile, Elsewhere…
Far from the town, deep in the shadowed corridors of a hidden fortress, a cloaked figure knelt before a massive throne.
The figure's voice was low and reverent.
"The boy… He is growing stronger."
From the shadows, a deep, rumbling laugh echoed through the chamber.
"Good."
A pair of glowing golden eyes flickered open.
"Let him grow. The deeper he steps into the abyss… the sooner he will belong to us."