Elven Village Before the Festival

Tirhala's Villa Season was approaching. Known as the Festival of the Silver Leaf, it was a magical time when the trees in the elven forest transformed, their leaves turning a shimmering silver for two months. The elves revered this period, preparing for the festival during the first month and celebrating it at the beginning of the second.

Aelorin had never seen the Elven village so alive. As he wandered through its streets for the first time, he marveled at the timeless beauty around him. The village was a mix of ancient and natural architecture, with tree houses nestled high among the branches, wooden homes, and even stone buildings resembling the Lord's grand estate. Everything seemed in harmony with nature.

The elves moved gracefully through their daily routines, dressed in finely woven garments that seemed to blend into their surroundings. The air was calm, the mood joyful. The soft chatter of villagers, the rustle of leaves, and the gentle breeze all worked together to create a peaceful atmosphere. Even the animals moved freely through the streets, unafraid and unbothered by the elves' presence.

"If this were Earth, those animals would have been slaughtered without a second thought," Aelorin mused, watching a graceful deer pass by, its large eyes meeting his for a brief second before it disappeared into the forest. He couldn't help but think about his growing *Beast Tamer* class. "At this rate, I'll level up in no time."

But for now, his focus was on Elowen and Arianna, who were leading him toward an important destination in the heart of the village. After passing through narrow streets and bridges suspended between the trees, they reached a grand stone structure. It stood out amidst the wooden homes, its presence both commanding and inviting.

"Here we are," Arianna announced with excitement.

Aelorin furrowed his brow as they entered the building. Inside, it looked like a lodge, complete with a large wooden counter and an attendant behind it, smiling warmly. He glanced around, feeling a mix of confusion and suspicion. "Is this... a hotel?"

His mind raced. *What the hell? A hotel? Is this what Elowen promised?* He tried to piece together what was happening. "Why a hotel?" His thoughts swirled with possibilities, each more outlandish than the last. *Maybe there's another reason... don't get too ahead of yourself, Aelorin.*

"You can now proceed to the hot springs," the attendant said, handing them a small wooden tag engraved with strange markings.

Arianna beamed with excitement, while Aelorin's heart sank. "Hot springs?" He felt his body tighten with anxiety. *This wasn't what I signed up for.*

Elowen and Arianna seemed completely unfazed by the idea, but Aelorin was anything but. "Come on, Aelorin!" Arianna grabbed his arm, dragging him along. "We only paid for two hours—let's make the most of it!"

"Ow! My ear's made of flesh, not wood! You're pulling too hard!" Aelorin grumbled, trying to break free from her grasp. But his protests were drowned out by the laughter of the two girls.

*No wonder Haze didn't come along.* He thought bitterly as he stumbled after them. *They're forceful when they want to be. This better not be a distraction from leveling up my job class.*

After a series of corridors and changing rooms, they finally reached the hot springs. The natural pool of steaming water was surrounded by large stones, and the scent of pine filled the air. It was serene, with only the sound of bubbling water and the occasional bird call from the forest. The perfect place for relaxation.

For Elowen and Arianna, it was heaven. They sank into the water, sighing in contentment, their backs against the rocks as they let the warmth envelop them.

Aelorin, on the other hand, was in hell. His discomfort grew as the silence stretched on. His eyes darted around, trying to look anywhere but at the two girls. His mind screamed at him to keep his gaze respectful, but his body betrayed him, and before he knew it, his eyes had locked onto Elowen.

She had changed a lot since they were children. Thirteen, but already captivating in her own right—her beauty, her radiant skin, and her alluring figure drew him in like a moth to a flame. The sight of her soft curves submerged in the water made Aelorin's little problem a *big* one.

*Damn! Elves are peak! I love this life.* His thoughts ran wild, and before he knew it, Elowen's eyes snapped open.

He froze.

Elowen's gaze was sharp, cutting through his thoughts like a blade. Her face didn't betray much, but her eyes traveled down—down to where Aelorin least wanted them to.

*Shit!* Aelorin's heart stopped as her gaze landed on his growing "issue." Her cheeks turned a shade of pink as she hesitated, her voice breaking the silence. "A-Aelorin?"

Her tone wasn't accusatory—more surprised than anything—but that was enough. Panic surged through him. *No way I'm getting scolded for this!*

Without another word, he scrambled out of the water and bolted for the exit, his face burning with embarrassment. "I-I'm going to explore a bit!" he yelled over his shoulder.

Arianna barely raised her hand in response, calling after him, "Don't take too long!"

But Aelorin didn't wait for a reply. He was gone before they could blink.

As the door closed behind him, Arianna turned to Elowen, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "What's got you so flustered, huh?" she teased, her tone dripping with mischief. "Are you jealous my breasts have grown bigger than yours?"

Elowen snapped out of her daze, glaring at her. "Dream on! Mine are bigger and more beautiful. No one's looking at you—you're practically a man!"

Arianna's mouth fell open in mock offense. "How dare you!" She sank deeper into the water, hiding her chest beneath the surface. "Why are you being so mean? Did something happen while I was relaxing?"

Meanwhile, outside, Aelorin was wandering through the village, fully clothed and on a mission. His *Beast Tamer* class was on his mind now, and nothing would distract him from leveling up.

{Beast Points: 45/50}

He had touched enough creatures to rack up a decent amount of points, but the species variety in the village wasn't enough. He needed to find more—different species that would grant him more points. He wandered a bit further, determined not to stray too far from the hot springs mansion, but far enough to find something new.

That's when he saw it.

A creature unlike anything he'd seen before—a radiant, horse-like beast with pure white fur and a shimmering rainbow-colored horn on its forehead. It looked like a creature out of a dream, walking gracefully toward him.

"Whoa… is that a reindeer?" Aelorin's eyes widened in awe. The beast moved closer, its head lowering in a show of familiarity and trust.

[Insight]

[Beast: Rainbow Unicorn]

[Nice species, gives good luck]

Aelorin stared at the creature in disbelief. A unicorn—an actual unicorn. It was majestic, its aura so peaceful that Aelorin forgot everything else for a moment. He slowly extended his hand, his fingers trembling slightly as he touched its forehead, right below the horn. The unicorn nuzzled against his palm, its warmth spreading through him like sunlight.

"You're so beautiful," Aelorin whispered, a smile spreading across his face. He ran his fingers through the unicorn's soft mane, marveling at how surreal the moment felt.

The unicorn let out a gentle whimper, its large eyes gazing into Aelorin's with something that almost resembled understanding.

{You have been acknowledged by a majestic beast}

{You have gained 7 beast points}

{You have become a level one Beast Tamer}

Aelorin's heart soared. *A majestic beast?* He grinned from ear to ear, feeling lighter than air. He had done it—he had leveled up, and the feeling was incredible.

As the unicorn began to walk away, Aelorin felt like a child for the first time in years. He waved at the creature enthusiastically, his heart swelling with happiness. "Goodbye, my friend!" he called after it.

Then something strange happened.

{You can now read a number of Beast languages}

{Translating unicorn's context}

"Huh?" Aelorin blinked in confusion as a new skill activated within him. *I can read beast languages now?*

{Translation completed}

{Thank you, Asher Vada}

Aelorin's smile faded, his eyes widening in shock. "Asher… Vada?" He turned quickly, looking for the unicorn, but it was gone. Vanished into thin air.

"What the hell?"

***Author's note***

Please support me with power stones and anything else.