Chapter 4: The Shepherd's First Lesson
The next morning, Elric sat cross-legged in the backyard, a piece of smoked jerky dangling from his lips.
Across from him, Fangshade crouched low to the ground, his glowing purple eyes locked onto the strip of meat like a predator waiting to pounce.
"No jumping this time," Elric said, holding the jerky just a little higher. "We're going to learn some patience."
Fangshade twitched his ears in annoyance.
Elric pointed two fingers toward his eyes, then toward the cub. "Look. We're gonna make this work, okay? You're a beast of shadows and mystery. I'm a reincarnated genius with a system and a silver tongue. Together, we can become legendary."
Fangshade yawned.
"Hey. Don't sass me."
> System Tip: First Companion Training – Step 1: Establish Base Commands
Use food-based motivation, body language, and tone.
Successful early training increases Loyalty and Growth Potential.
Elric cleared his throat. "Alright. Step one: Sit."
Fangshade stared blankly.
Elric stood up and demonstrated, dramatically plopping onto the grass. "Like this. Sit. Easy. See? Your turn."
Fangshade blinked.
"I swear if you're mocking me—"
The cub finally sat. Not gracefully. More like an annoyed loaf of shadows.
> Command Recognized: Sit (Success)
Fangshade Loyalty: +3
Beast Bond (Lv. 1) Progress: 9%
Elric grinned. "Oh-ho-ho, you can be taught."
He tossed the jerky to Fangshade, who caught it mid-air with a snap.
Inside the house, someone slammed a door open.
"Elric!" Lila's voice rang out, followed by the rapid patter of small feet. "There's a monkey in the kitchen!"
"A what?!"
"A big one! With red butt cheeks and everything!"
Fangshade bolted inside before Elric could even get to his feet.
---
Chaos.
Spoons clattered. The monkey shrieked, flinging fruit everywhere. Lila was standing on a chair. Miri had a saucepan on her head like a helmet.
And in the middle of it all, Fangshade skidded across the floor and leapt.
The monkey shrieked again and bolted out the window, chased by a blur of fur and shadow.
Elric ran in after them, panting. "I leave for ten minutes and the jungle invades us?"
Mael leaned around the corner with a mug in hand. "That's why I drink in the morning."
---
Later, Elric sat on the fencepost while Fangshade returned from the tree line, a tuft of monkey fur stuck in his teeth.
"You didn't eat it, did you?" Elric asked.
Fangshade dropped a stolen apple and looked smug.
> Beast Trait Gained: Guardian Instinct (Passive)
Triggers automatic protection behavior for bonded family.
> Fangshade Loyalty: +5
Beast Bond: Level 1 (22%)
Elric leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
"That's right, my fuzzy little murderball. We're on our way."
---
That night, as the stars came out, Elric sat beside Mael outside.
"You ever had a bond like this?" he asked.
Mael didn't answer right away. He just took a slow sip of his tea.
"I had a bird once," he finally said. "A hawk. Mean thing. Wouldn't stop pooping on my boots. But it loved me."
"Did you train it?"
"Nah," Mael chuckled. "It trained me."
Elric laughed quietly.
"But you?" Mael looked over. "You've got something different. Something old. Ancient, maybe. That cub didn't just pick you out of hunger. It chose you because of what's sleeping inside you."
Elric looked down at Fangshade, curled peacefully in his lap.
"I don't know what that is yet."
Mael smiled faintly. "You will. Just take it slow. A real Shepherd doesn't rush. He walks."