After hearing what the white tiger had said, Isa felt a little embarrassed and coughed lightly. "Ahem… Sorry, I got a bit excited." She took a deep breath before continuing, "So, do you know who I am and why you came here? And what do you remember before being summoned?"
The white tiger nodded. "Yes, Master! I know who you are, and I came here to assist you on your journey. As for what I remember before being summoned… I was walking through the Spiritual Beast Realm when suddenly, I heard a powerful voice calling out to me. It asked for my loyalty, and instinctively, I accepted."
Isa's expression shifted slightly. "Wait, does that mean you were forced into this, or did you accept it willingly?" she asked, her brows furrowed.
She thought to herself, I don't want to force him into serving me. If it's forced loyalty, it will only lead to problems in the future.
Sensing her hesitation, Phiel's voice echoed in her mind.
[You don't have to worry, Host. The system will never force anyone who is summoned to be loyal or obey orders against their will. If you're unsure, you can ask him directly.]
Hearing that, Isa let out a sigh of relief. But before she could ask, the white tiger sensed her concerns and reassured her.
"It's okay, Master. While I instinctively answered the call, I never felt like I was being forced. Instead, I just knew—it was the right choice to make."
Isa's lips curled into a smile. "If that's the case, then welcome to the team!" Then, a thought crossed her mind. "By the way, do you have a name?"
The white tiger shook his head.
Isa hummed in thought. "Then, how about I give you one? Would that be okay?"
His ears perked up in excitement. "Yes, Master! It would be an honor to receive a name from you!"
Isa grinned. "Hmm… Your powers are related to storms… So how about 'Gale'? It suits you!"
As soon as he heard his new name, the white tiger—no, Gale—laughed loudly, his tail wagging frantically. "Hahaha! As expected of my master! That's the best name I've ever heard!" In his excitement, he almost knocked over some furniture.
Isa quickly intervened. "Whoa, calm down, Gale! I know you're excited, but try not to wreck the place!"
Gale immediately stopped, his ears flattening slightly. "I apologize, Master. I was just too excited to receive a name from you." His tail drooped as he looked down, looking a bit dejected.
Isa's heart softened. "No, no, it's absolutely fine! It's just that—" She paused, finally taking in his massive size. "Now that I think about it, you're way too big for the house. If my home didn't have enough space, you wouldn't have even fit inside."
(A/N: Gale is about the size of a Mini Cooper.)
Gale perked up and grinned. "You don't have to worry about that, Master! I actually have two other forms—one smaller than this and another in human form. Do you want to see?"
Before Isa could answer, Gale unleashed one of the deadliest moves in the feline arsenal—the Cute Kitten Eyes.
Isa was hit with a critical strike.
She barely managed to compose herself, suppressing the overwhelming urge to fluff him on the spot. "A-Ahem! S-Sure! Why don't you show me your smaller form first?" she said, her cheeks slightly red.
Meanwhile, inside her mind, she was squealing. Hehehe~ I bet his smaller form will be even fluffier and cuter!
Gale, on the other hand, was caught in his own thoughts. That strange feeling is back again… Where is it coming from? No, I need to focus on my task first.
Taking a deep breath, he began glowing, releasing a soft breeze around him. His large body started to shrink, his form becoming smaller and more compact. When the light faded, what remained was no longer a massive white tiger, but a tiny, fluffy ball of fur—almost the size of a kitten.
The only way to describe his new form: Fluffy. Cute. Ultimate Cuddle Material.
Gale puffed out his chest. "So, Master, what do you think of my new for—eh?"
Before he could finish his sentence, Isa had already picked him up. She stared into his eyes with a blank expression before her inner thoughts slipped out.
"Kyaaa~ So cuuute~!!"
She began rubbing his tiny paws. Then she scratched his ears. Then she buried her face into his soft fur, practically drowning in fluff.
Her fluffing spree was only interrupted by Phiel.
[Host, I apologize for the interruption, but you should stop. You're making Gale uncomfortable, and it's rude to treat him like this.]
Isa froze mid-fluff and glanced at Gale, now worried that she might have gone overboard.
But instead of looking uncomfortable, he was purring.
Like a tiny, content kitten.
Isa hesitated. "U-Uh… Sorry, Gale. I don't know what got into me—I just couldn't control myself!"
Gale chuckled. "It's okay, Master. I actually enjoyed it. You can do it as much as you want. I won't mind at all."
Isa was about to continue, but then she remembered something. "Oh, right! Your human form! Do you need clothes, or do you already have some?"
Gale shook his head. "That won't be necessary, Master."
Once again, his body began glowing, but this time, instead of shrinking, he grew taller. His form shifted, his limbs lengthening, his fur retracting into his skin. By the time the light dimmed, he had transformed into a young boy—around 15 or 16 years old.
He had a handsome but slightly feminine face, smooth white skin, and lean muscles that made him look slim at first glance. His long black hair had green tips, giving him a striking appearance.
Gale's outfit consisted of a white sleeveless shirt with subtle cloud patterns, a high black collar with golden accents, and a shoulder-length extension on the left side. He wore baggy dark purple pants tucked into matching boots, black and turquoise gloves with gold decals, and a necklace. A white mask with green detailing hung from his belt.
Once the transformation was complete, Gale glanced up—only to find Isa staring at him intently. His face turned red.
"W-What do you think, Master? Do you like my new form?" he asked nervously.
Isa smiled, letting out a soft chuckle. "Hehe~ You don't have to be embarrassed, Gale." She then glanced at the time and stretched. "It's getting late. Do you want something to eat?"
Gale shook his head. "No, I'm fine, Master."
Nodding, Isa led him to a spare room. "Alright then, this will be your room. Get some rest."
After saying goodnight, she headed back to her own room, still smiling. Today was a good day.