First Beast Tamer

Aelorin crouched behind a dense bush, his eyes barely visible through the green underbrush as he surveyed the garden. The pond lay still, a mirror of silence under the morning light. Around it, animals moved sluggishly, their movements so subtle they seemed half-asleep. He let out a sigh of relief, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.

*'Good. No one's noticed me yet.'*

It had been days of failed attempts, each one more frustrating than the last. Whenever he tried to catch a beast, it either slipped from his grasp with impossible speed or mocked him with its grace, reminding him of his limitations. *'I'm only a kid, no magic to speak of, no strength to rely on...'* His hands clenched into fists.

He glanced up at the beasts grazing in the distance, their fox-like bodies cloaked in fur that resembled leaves, blending perfectly with the foliage. Long, rabbit-like ears twitched at the faintest sound, and their tails flicked back and forth, lazily. They were called Darnis—a species he had studied endlessly, hoping for an advantage. But no matter how much he observed, no obvious weakness had surfaced.

*'I need to catch one of them,'* he thought, biting his lip, *'but how?'*

He shifted slightly in his hiding spot, careful not to rustle the leaves too loudly. His body was tense, coiled with frustration. He had no magic to cast, no spells to help him. Everything would have to be done manually. *'Damn it... Maybe magic *is* the only way,'* he cursed under his breath, the realization bitter in his throat. But how could he unlock magic without even understanding the basics of it?

Magic was a mystery to him. His older siblings wielded it with ease, conjuring elements or bending reality at their whims. They had their cores—reserves of mana that powered their spells—while he had nothing. Not even the faintest flicker of mana in his veins. It felt hopeless.

Suddenly, a quiet chime echoed in his mind, breaking through his desolation.

**{First lesson of Beast Taming}**

**{Know the beast you are dealing with}**

**{Reward: A skill upgrade}**

Aelorin blinked, startled by the notification. *'A skill upgrade... just for naming the beast?'* His lips curled into a smirk. This, at least, was something he could manage. He had spent days studying the creatures in the garden, memorizing their quirks and behaviors.

"The name of the beast is... Darni," he muttered confidently.

Instantly, a flurry of notifications appeared before his eyes.

**{You have successfully identified the beast}**

**{Your skill, Insight, has leveled up}**

**{Insight Level 2 will allow you to see information concerning beasts and a variety of items}**

Aelorin's heart skipped a beat. *'It actually worked.'* He focused on the group of Darnis in front of him, and as soon as he did, a new notification popped up.

**{Beast: Darni}**

**Level: None**

**Warning: Can cause scratches and bites. Are aggressive and will defend themselves by attacking your genitals.**

**Strengths: Speed, sharp lunges, claws.**

**Weakness: Weak defense, run out of energy quickly.**

He groaned aloud, his shoulders sagging. *'Great... attack my genitals? That's just perfect.'* This wasn't going to be as simple as he'd hoped. Even if he got close enough to catch one, the Darnis would retaliate viciously. He was fast, but they were faster, and without magic or any real strength, there was no way he could overpower them.

His mind raced, desperately trying to come up with a solution. But after a few moments of deliberation, Aelorin sighed and began to back away. *'It's no use... I'll just have to wait until I'm stronger,'* he conceded. Disappointment weighed heavily on his chest. *'I'll come back when I can at least keep up with them.'*

His retreat was slow, methodical, as he retraced his steps toward the mansion. *'Breakfast is probably ready by now,'* he mused, the thought of his family waiting for him tugging at his conscience. He had snuck out early, long before the maids would start searching for him. If they found out he'd been sneaking around again, he'd never hear the end of it.

He was lost in his thoughts, frustration still simmering under his skin when he kicked a small stone absentmindedly. The rock bounced and skittered along the path, rolling to a stop a few feet ahead. Aelorin stared at it for a moment, something stirring in the back of his mind. Then, it hit him.

His eyes widened. *'Wait... The air, the garden, the beasts... It's all connected.*'

Suddenly, everything made sense. A realization flooded through him—one that had been there all along but hidden beneath layers of frustration. Magic wasn't just about mana or spellbooks. It was about connection, about feeling the energy that flowed through every living thing. The energy was already around him, in the air, in the earth... even in the creatures he sought to tame.

Closing his eyes, Aelorin stretched out his arms, his fingers brushing the air as though he could physically touch the magic he knew was there. He took a deep breath, his heart steadying as he focused on the sensations around him—the rustling leaves, the faint hum of life in the garden.

*'Mana is life,'* he thought, *'it's the energy in everything, in every breath, every heartbeat... I just have to reach for it.'*

He felt it then, deep in his chest—a pulse of something ancient and powerful, like a current running through his veins. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was there, waiting to be drawn out. With a newfound sense of authority, Aelorin opened his eyes, expecting to see the same quiet garden before him.

But what he saw instead left him breathless.

The garden's inhabitants—the Darnis, birds, rabbits, and even insects—had gathered around him. They stood still, watching him with unblinking eyes, as though he had become the very center of their world. A legion of creatures, bowing to his presence.

Aelorin couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. *'Is this... Beast Magic?'* he thought in awe. He looked down at the notifications that had appeared once more.

**{Your understanding of Beast Taming has increased}**

**{You have awakened your talent for Beast Taming. You will appear appealing to all beasts and organisms that live.}**

**{Beast Taming points 5/50}**

**{Touch each beast to gain one extra Beast Point and level up your Beast Tamer class}**

Hesitation gripped him for only a moment. His eyes settled on a small bird perched nearby, its beady eyes locked on him. Slowly, Aelorin reached out, his fingers trembling slightly as they neared the bird's soft feathers. For a split second, he worried it would lash out, but the bird didn't flinch. Instead, it leaned into his touch, nuzzling against his hand.

**{One Beast Point has been gained}**

**{Beast Points: 6/50}**

Aelorin let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. His heart raced with excitement. *'If I can level this up like Insight... I'll be unstoppable!'* he thought, the possibilities racing through his mind.

Meanwhile, hidden among the trees, two figures watched in stunned silence. Elowen's hands clutched the fabric of her dress tightly, her wide eyes glued to her brother.

"Are you seeing this?" she whispered to her sister.

Arianna didn't answer right away. A slow, knowing smile spread across her lips as she watched Aelorin, standing at the center of the garden, the creatures around him submitting to his will. *'I knew he was hiding something... He always acted older than he was. If Mother hadn't sent us to find him, we never would've seen this.'*

"He created Beast Magic," Arianna said softly, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Our little brother is truly special, isn't he?"