4 Bonding with your Dactori

"Hmmmm" Merces thought hard as he taped his chin.

"Ah, I have the perfect name for you. What about Augustus van Hohenheim?"

"Scree" screaked the Dactori in protest.

"He? You don´t like that name? What about Firecracker then?"

"SCREEE"

"Susi?"

*puh*

*dodge*

"OK ok, I will stop joking around. What about Zanek?" asked the boy as he put his hands in defeat.

The Dactori nodded and making happy noises as his tailed swayed side to side.

"Sha Sha Sha gruuuu" Zanek happiely nodded. He really liked that name. It means 'Scarlet Juggernaut' in an ancient language. Of course, Zanek didn´t know that, but was still happy getting a cool sounding name, instead of being called Augustus van Hohenheim or Firecracker.

"Good from now on you will be my first tamed beast, my companion, my friend, and a part of my family. Young red Dactori I command thy to accept thy name Zanek and join my family."

As he said that he pulled out the 'Scroll of naming', pricked his finger with a needle that he took out of his pocket. He then wrote with his blood the name 'Zanek' on it and tore it apart while facing the named side to the Dactori. Immediately after tearing the parchment a mild light envelops Zanek the red Dactori for a few seconds before revealing.

Putting his hand on the beasts head, he said "Welcome to the family Zanek. Please take care of me for many years to come Partner."

'A little bit embarrassing but whatever' thought Merces.

"Gruuu"

While they were bonding with each other uncle Elkier watched them with a smile waiting for them to finish.

"You finally finished, GAHAHAHAHA, I´m proud of you my boy. Now bring him into the stable where the other beasts are." Shouted his uncle and slapping his nephews' shoulder, while being happy about the boy's achievement.

'Gods, they really grow up fast.' Elkier reminisced about the past as he headed back home.

***

Walking back through the town while ridding Zanek, all eyes were on him. How can anyone not see a 2-meter-long red Dactori ridden by a young boy.

"Hey, is that Merces riding a Dactori?" asked a middle-aged adventurer.

"Yeah that´s him alright. Reminds me when I was still young and handsome. Rahahahaha!"" said the person next to him.

"Can´t believe he finally caught his first tamed beast, and a young Dactori none the less. He sure is lucky."

"Time surly flies. I can still remember him as a little runt running around the city and screaming 'I will be the greatest adventurer'."

"Hahaha, yeah he was really a bundle of enegr-" but before he could finish his sentance he was cut short by a loud voice.

"Hey, hey, let me trough." the two talking adventurers heard a girly voice behind them.

"Oh, little Mily, here to greet your little prince coming back?" said the adventurer with a mocking grin.

*blush*

"Of course not!" replied Mily embarrassed as she ran towards Merces who already spotted her.

"HEY MILY LOOK AT WHAT I TAMED!" yelled Merces, waiving his two hands above his head while smiling brightly.

*Stomp* Zanek complained, not liking being called 'what' and protested. "Grrr!"

"Sorry sorry, partner." said the boy with a wry smile while patting his head.

"Wow amazing. You finally did it Mercy, now we are one step closer to being adventures. Oh, by the way is the Dactori a girl or a boy, and what´s its name? How old is it? Where did you catch it? Can I pet it?" asked the girl in rapid succession with sparkly eyes, looking like a child in a candy shop.

"I named him Zanek. Hmmm, looking at his size he can´t be older than 4 years old. I caught him in the Kiefer-Woods near the town. Hey Zanek, can she pat you?" answered the young tamer while jumping down and asking his partner for permission.

"Sha⁓"

"Jup, you can pat him Mily, but be gentle."

"Kuhhh, he is so cute and soft, sometimes I wish I am a tamer."

"With your bow skills it would be a waist to not be a bowman."

"Humpf, I know, you can be happy to have such a strong companion in the future." Mily proudly said, hiting her flat chest with her right fist.

Looking at her smug he can`t help but to sigh.

*sigh*

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say my princes." waving his hand dismissively.

"Hehehe, only 2 and a half years before we can be can register as adventurers…"

***

The sun was setting when Merces finished grooming the red feathers of Zanek in a big stable, where 3 other beast resides in. The other 3 familiars are his uncles tamed beasts. A Hufret, a Umleh, and a Joltam.

Laying on the hay next to the beast, while Zanek is chewing on some crunchy Bergon Crystals.

"Hey Zanek, do you like being my tamed beast?" asked Merces almost whispering as he stared at the ceiling.

*chew* *chew*

Hearing his masters question Zanek stoped to chew his crystals and looked at Merces.

"Shaaa Gruuu"

"Hahahaha, yeah don´t worry I will give you more Bergon Crytals. Thanks for being my first tamed beast. I know you didn't have a joice but anyway, thanks partner."

"Gruuuu" grumbled Zanek and rubbed his head on Merces head and continued to eat.

*crunch* *chew*

*yawn*

Merces yawned and streched a little before laying back down on Zaneks soft feathers.

"Goodnight Zanek." Said Merces as he slowly drifted into slumber with the sound of Zanek chewing.

"Gru..."

And so, they peacefully slept in the barn under the moonlight, till the morning rays wake them up so that a new day can begin.