Choosing a Partner

People fear loneliness, especially when they're in unfamiliar environments.

Having someone—or something—by their side is far better than facing solitude alone.

After playing around with the Larvavine for a while longer, Ash finally redirected her attention back to the papers that was spread out on her desk.

It was already November 13th.

With only a little over a month left until her 18th birthday on December 30th, Ash knew she needed to finalize her choice of an initial Spirit Beast and start planning its training regimen.

The Spirit Beasts at the Spirit Beast Reserve wouldn't wait around forever.

Ash couldn't guarantee that her preferred options wouldn't be adopted by someone else while she remained indecisive.

She needed to act fast.

"I guess I'll have to see them in person to decide…" Ash muttered, staring at the few papers she had specifically set aside.

Despite hours of deliberation, she was still unable to make up her mind.

But she had made one decision: she would visit the Spirit Beast Reserve and leave the choice to fate.

Ash wasn't one of those overpowered heroes who could tame anything they came across.

She believed deeply in the importance of a connection.

If a Spirit Beast didn't want to leave with her, she would respect its wishes and wouldn't force it into a contract.

After all, from the moment the contract was formed, a Beast Master's fate would be irrevocably bound to their Spirit Beast.

If they weren't willing from the start, how could they hope to become each other's closest partners, supporting one another through countless seasons to come?

"Alright, let's settle it like this…" Ash stood up, grabbed her backpack from the back of the chair, and carefully packed the selected Spirit Beast's information inside before heading for the door.

Just as she was about to leave, Larvanine, which had been rolling around playfully on the floor moments earlier, suddenly crawled over and latched onto the hem of Ash's pants with its tiny legs.

It seemed intent on going with her.

"Huh? You want to come with me to the Spirit Beast Reserve?" Ash looked down and saw Larvanine staring up at her with its shiny, pleading black eyes.

Ash initially intended to refuse, but seeing Larvanine's eager and expectant eyes, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

In Montis, there are strict regulations regarding the keeping of Spirit Beasts.

Generally, wild Spirit Beasts cannot be kept as pets unless they've been officially registered for adoption.

This was why Ash had rushed to send Larvanine home before visiting the old man to report her safety.

At her age, Ash wasn't yet qualified to adopt a Spirit Beast.

The only reason she'd been able to let Larvanine stay at her house for so long was due to the secluded location of her home.

Most of her neighbors were migrant workers who rarely returned, and the tenants who didn't know her assumed the Larvavine was her registered Spirit Beast.

This fortunate misunderstanding had spared her from being summoned for a reprimand by the police or local wardens.