Chapter 11: Festival Fumbles
> System Log – Host: Elric Greymourne
Age: 4 Years
Class: Legendary Shepherd (Sealed)
Strength: Low
Pack Size: 4
Twig – Mossy Horned Deerling – Loyalty: 89
Fangshade – Shadow Wolf Pup – Loyalty: 52
Boneclaw – Wild Hound – Loyalty: 27
Mossback Sprite – Plant-Type Familiar – Loyalty: 66
Known Skills:
– [Beast Sense I]
– [Bond Link I]
– [Summon: Nature Spirit – Basic]
New Skill Progress (Locked):
– [Summon: Stone Golem – 2%]
The Verdantreach Festival had begun.
Elric stood in the village square wearing a carrot costume.
"I regret everything," he muttered.
"You lost the bet," Kale smirked from the pie booth.
"I didn't know Grandma could throw that hard…"
Everyone was laughing, dancing, and eating. Lanterns swung from trees. Smells of roasted fruit and sweet bread filled the air.
Twig wore flowers. The sprite bounced around with kids. Even Fangshade let Lela paint one of his ears pink.
> Emotional Stability: Strong
Pack Mood: Happy
But then came the contest.
"Next up!" the village chief bellowed. "Little Elric! Show us your best 'beast command'!"
The crowd cheered.
Elric walked to the stage, adjusted his carrot hat, and whispered, "Okay guys… don't embarrass me."
Twig trotted forward and bowed.
Fangshade sat like a noble statue.
The sprite flipped in the air.
Then Boneclaw… tripped.
And sneezed.
Straight into the mayor's stew.
The crowd burst out laughing.
Elric turned red. "Boneclaw!!"
The wild hound rolled over, tail wagging like it had just saved the world.
> Public Reputation: +5 (for comedy)
Beast Bonding: +2
System Note: Progress is slow… but steady
Later that night, Grandpa Riven handed Elric a small stone with strange carvings.
"When the time's right," he said, "you'll know what to do."
> System Notification:
Skill Unlock Path Activated – [Summon: Stone Golem]
Progress: 2% → 6%
Elric smiled as he fell asleep under the stars, surrounded by his pack.
He wasn't strong yet.
But he was growing.
And one day, the world would notice.