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I am Riku... No, I don't think I even have a last name. Just Riku. Fifteen years old.
Born an orphan, passed around from one cold family to another. Mocked. Mistreated. Bullied. Tossed aside like yesterday's trash. Each household colder than the last, each goodbye less human.
Eventually, I broke. I dropped out of school. I ran away. I became nothing but a ghost drifting through the city—just another hungry, ragged face in the alleyways.
Then came that one cursed day.
A stale piece of bread in hand, I wandered the cracked sidewalks under a smoggy dusk sky. My stomach groaned. My bones ached. My soul—empty.
I turned a corner into a shadowy alley and saw a scene that halted my steps.
A girl.
One I vaguely remembered from school. Can't recall the name, but I remembered the face. Terrified. Cornered. A man stood before her with a knife, snarling threats through rotted teeth.
Something inside me snapped. I couldn't just stand there.
"HEY!"
I grabbed the heaviest trash bag near me—filthy, dripping, and god-awful—and flung it at him.
SPLAT!
The impact staggered him. I charged. My fist collided with his jaw—
CRACK!
The thug retaliated. His knife gleamed. I ducked. Slash—dodge. Slash—dodge.
I launched forward, tackling him down to the floor. We crashed to the concrete. My fists rained down like thunder.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
But… then it hit me.
The pain. The warmth. The sudden weakness.
I looked down.
A knife. Lodged in my gut.
Blood poured like wine. My breath stuttered. My vision blurred.
The girl? Gone. She ran.
I collapsed. Cold seeping into my limbs. Sirens echoed in the distance, but I knew—
Too late.
Tears welled up. My thoughts drifted.
"Why… does fate… have to be so cruel… I… just wanna be happy…"
Everything... faded...
...
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I expected darkness. Or the Sanzu River. Or nothing.
Instead, I woke in a formless white void. Serene. Quiet. Weightless.
Then—
"Riku Mamiya? Yutaro? Mizuki? Hahanobi? Tanaka? Takahashi? Or should I just call you Riku?"
A voice. Feminine. Soft. Warm.
"Riku is enough. Who… are you?"
"I am Alti. Goddess of another world."
I floated, formless and speechless.
"You are in the Plain of the Gods," she said.
"Why?"
She continued, "Because I watched your life. From your first breath to your final sacrifice. You were brave, unthanked, and undeserved of such torment. Even in death, you fought for another. I want to offer you something. A second chance."
"A… second life?"
"Yes. In the world of Antsalphia. A vast land filled with Magys—energy akin to magic and mana—and brimming with mythical beasts. There, tamers and adventurers rise and fall with legend. I want you to live a full, joyful life. To smile."
"…You really mean it?"
"I do. So—will you reincarnate, Riku?"
I thought of the alley. The cold. The knife.
"…I'll do it. I want to live."
"Then go. Be reborn… and enjoy the life you were denied."
She snapped her fingers.
The light enveloped me.
Everything turned black...
...
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And... I started opening my eyes. It was blurry at first, as if the world had forgotten how to focus. Warmth wrapped around me, and I realized... I was a baby?
Two towering figures hovered above me—man and woman—gazing down with awe in their eyes.
"Awh~ Look at him, honey," the woman whispered with a glowing smile. "He has your hair."
"And your eyes," the man added with a soft chuckle.
They said in unison, voices dripping with love, "Our little Leif."
So... this was my new name. Leif Holloway...
...
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~{Town of Vastria - Eight Years Later}~
In the town of Vastria, nestled in a verdant basin surrounded by the protective arms of the Silverroot Forest, my second life flourished. My new parents, Alex and Emina Holloway, were powerful Tamers—revered in our town not just for their skills, but for their warmth and wisdom.
My dad, Alex Holloway, was a Spirit Tamer. He had bonded with three spirits:
Alphyn — A house spirit shaped like a soft humanoid lioness with flowing green locks, who gently cleaned and maintained the household with floating tools and humming tunes.
Velphyx — A mischievous fox spirit with flaming orange fur and two tails. We played tag, and I often rode his back through the forest trails.
Ilramant — A knightly spirit with a glowing blue helm and massive greatsword. His sparring with Father lit up the backyard like a training ground of legends.
My mom, Emina Holloway, specialized in Fairy Taming. Her companions were:
Finnie — A graceful elemental fairy, with wings like ice crystals and hair crackling with soft lightning.
Yu, Mu, and Cu — A trio of soulfully-connected fae sisters, always in sync. Masters of wind and gravity, they often had me floating around the room while giggling mischievously.
I had never imagined a life so full of love, comfort, and warmth. The world of Antsalphia brimmed with Magys—magic-like energy that fueled both spells and creature abilities. It wasn't rare to see beasts, creatures, and monsters even near our town: goblins, serpents, slimes, wolves, kobolds, orcs, ogres, boars, bears, wyverns... even rare dragon sightings sparked awe.
Vastria was a town ruled not by adventurers, but by tamers. People bonded with these creatures to fight, survive, and thrive. Once someone turned 15, they undertook the Tamer Initiation Ceremony in the town's grand cathedral. There, their destined profession was revealed—what type of creature they could tame. A Wolf Tamer. A Golem Tamer. Maybe even a Dragon Tamer.
At just 8, I was already dreaming of the day I'd learn mine.
I had great friends too:
Annie — A fiery, short, tomboyish redhead. Brave, loud, and loyal.
Tofin — A wild, punk-like blond boy who usually punched first and questioned later.
Erin — With slicked-back green hair, cool-headed and probably the tactician of our group.
Felix — Shaggy gray hair, quiet and calm, but when he spoke—it mattered... I think.
Alisa — Purple-haired, glasses-wearing, and too smart for her age. She practically lived in the local Magys Archives of our town.
Each of us dreamed of becoming Tamers, fantasizing about the beasts we'd bond with.
Life was... perfect.
Until one fateful day...
...
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~{Vernihus Woods}~
The air was thick with the scent of pine and mystery. Sunlight pierced through the towering canopies of the Vernihus Woods in thin golden blades, giving everything beneath an ethereal shimmer. Leif and his five childhood friends stood at the edge of the forest—six hearts pounding with excitement and fear.
Tofin, hands raised high, smirked. "Let's play hide and seek!"
Annie immediately frowned, arms crossed. "Dad already told us not to enter this area. And you want us to play hide and seek here?"
Tofin rolled his eyes. "Stop being such a sour prune, Annie!"
"Yeah, Annie, let's have some fun!" Felix chimed in, flashing a mischievous grin.
Erin shrugged. "I'll go with whatever you guys go with."
Annie turned to Leif, her expression part-exasperated, part-worried. "Jeez! Leif, you know it's dangerous in there too, right? Your dad warned you!"
Leif stood firm, arms crossed but gaze pulled toward the treetops swaying in the wind. "Yeah, but... I am interested in what this sea of trees has in store, you know?"
Annie narrowed her eyes and mockingly replied, "You sound like an old man~!"
"Oh shut it," Leif shot back with a grin, dropping his arms to his hips. "I don't mind participating. But mostly 'cause I'm curious."
"I too, as well," Alisa added, adjusting her glasses with intrigue twinkling in her violet eyes.
"Jeez, fine! I'm in!" Annie relented, pouting as she reluctantly crossed her arms.
"Alright! Sour Prune Ann—"
"Screw you!" Annie barked.
"—is finally in!" Tofin shouted over her. "Alrighty, I'll be the first seeker!" He darted toward a tree, slapped his hand against the trunk, covered his eyes and began counting down from twenty. "TWENTY... NINETEEN..."
The group scattered.
Annie's voice echoed through the trees as she ran. "IF I GET LOST OR MAULED BY A BEAST, IT'LL BE YOUR FAULT, TOFIIIIIIIN!"
Leif darted between towering roots and mossy stones, the crunch of dirt beneath his boots. Leaves rustled above, and he couldn't help but marvel at the surroundings. A pack of silver-furred wolves padded silently nearby—too focused on their own business to notice him.
He turned his head for just a second—
"WHOA—!"
—tumbled down a steep slope hidden under a bed of loose leaves. He crashed to the forest floor in a heap.
"Owww... That hurt..."
Dazed, he pushed himself up. Before him was a glimmering, serene lake. Magys shimmered and rippled in the water like starlight woven into liquid. The trees around it curved inward, their bark etched with faint glowing runes.
Then he saw them.
Slimes. Dozens—no, hundreds—of slimes. Each a different hue. Sapphire, emerald, amethyst, citrine, rose, and obsidian. Their translucent bodies jiggled with energy, and for a moment, Leif just stared, breath stolen.
"So many different colored slimes... wow~!"
But instead of fleeing at the sight of him, the slimes bounced forward with curious cheer. A few tugged playfully at his pants. Others bounced around his legs. Then, a swirl of color surrounded him as they began dragging him toward the magys lake.
"W-Wait, hey—haha! Okay, okay!" he laughed, letting them pull him.
They played tag.
They spun around him.
One landed on his head and jiggled like a soft crown.
And after a long while, Leif flopped onto the grass, arms wide, eyes staring up at the leaves above.
"This... This is incredible... so much fun!"
SNAP!
A twig.
From the right.
Leif's heart jumped. He rolled onto his feet in an instant, eyes narrowed, body tense.
He wasn't alone with just the slimes anymore...
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From the thick tangle of bushes, a brilliant blur of azure and silver erupted—a runic wolf, its fur aglow with ancient, pulsing sigils. Its eyes burned with an unnatural fire. With one mighty leap, it landed before Leif, bipedal like a beast born of nightmares. It snarled—a guttural, echoing growl that made even the air tremble.
The forest around them reacted.
The slimes—once cheerfully hopping and clustering near Leif—screeched in chorus and scattered like frightened leaves. Other slimes were also trying to drag him away with it in a desperate bid for survival.
But Leif's eyes locked onto a single moment. A blue slime had fallen, trembling, right in the wolf's projected path.
"No!" Leif gritted his teeth and ripped himself free.
With a sprint that outpaced his own fear, he darted forward, arms outstretched, just as the runic wolf raised a claw.
SLASH!
The world blurred with stinging pain. The beast's claws raked across Leif's left arm to his chest, lifting him off his feet and sending him hurtling backward with a guttural scream. The blue slime used the opportunity to flee, hopping away with one last glance of worriness.
Leif's back slammed into a moss-covered tree trunk. Coughing and gasping, he forced himself to stand, left hand clutching his now-torn tunic where blood spilled across his chest.
Focus... stand... don't die here...
That's when he saw it.
A thick, gnarled branch—practically a makeshift club—lay near his feet. Without hesitation, Leif lunged and grabbed it, adjusting his grip and sliding into a combat stance. The stick was heavy but balanced enough for a proper swing. He narrowed his eyes.
The runic wolf charged again, claws out.
BAM!
Leif barely ducked under its swiping arm and swung upward in a diagonal arc, the stick cracking against the beast's ribs with a sharp THWACK! It staggered but didn't retreat. Instead, it lunged again, this time jaws wide to bite.
Leif weaved back, narrowly avoiding the snapping fangs, and returned with a desperate upward slash toward the wolf's jaw. It connected—just enough to jolt the beast's head sideways.
"HAAAH!!"
Rallying, Leif pushed forward with a thrusting jab to the gut. The club-sized branch sank slightly into the wolf's midsection before bouncing back with no lasting damage.
A low growl built in the runic wolf's throat. Its mouth opened wide—and then:
FWEEEEM!
A razor-thin beam of fire shot out like a whip of molten light.
"AAAGH!!"
It seared clean through Leif's left shoulder. Pain like liquid lightning flooded his senses. He fell to one knee, gritting his teeth as smoke rose from his shoulder wound.
The wolf struck again, slashing from above. Leif barely rolled aside and countered with a horizontal left-to-right swing, the stick connecting with a resounding CRACK! It sent the wolf stumbling back a few paces.
But it wasn't enough.
The beast growled, eyes flickering.
Then—it darted in.
SLASH!
Leif took the full brunt of a claw swipe to the side. Blood splattered against the ground. He crashed down on one knee, wheezing, strength rapidly fading.
The wolf raised its claws for a final strike—
SHUNK!
A gleaming golden spear struck the ground between them, liquid-like, humming with sacred energy. Both combatants froze.
Leif blinked.
The wolf growled but took a hesitant step back.
Leif was faster.
Summoning every ounce of his willpower, he hurled his branch. It spun through the air and cracked across the runic wolf's snout, stunning it.
Without wasting a second, Leif slightly dove and gripped the golden spear. The moment his fingers touched it—
WHOOM!
A radiant pulse surged through his body. A golden aura enveloped him, wounds slightly slowing his bleeding, muscles reinforcing. His eyes widened at the raw power flowing through him.
He roared.
With a firm step and a full-body thrust, he drove the golden spear straight into and through the wolf's gut.
SHUNK!
The runic wolf let out one final, shocked snarl before collapsing, light dimming from its rune-bound form.
The battle was over.
Leif stood for only a moment, as he then collapsed due to significant blood loss.
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The golden spear shimmered and shifted—transforming into a gelatinous golden slime. It extended a tendril, wrapping gently around Leif's body, and dragged him into the healing shallows of the magys flowing lake.
As the cool waters cradled his battered form, a serene voice echoed within his unconscious mind—a feminine tone, warm and ancient.
"Young child... I acknowledge you. Despite it being just a weak slime... you sacrificed yourself to save it. I respect your bravery, and your kindness to our kind... wholeheartedly."
A glowing sigil began to appear on Leif's forehead, gently etched by the slime's tendril.
"I grant you my fruitful blessing... the Blessing of the Slime God. Thank you. And... I'll see you again... soon..."
The golden symbol pulsed once before fading away. The slime bounced back from Leif, vanishing into the forest.
More slimes gathered.
They surrounded Leif quietly, humming and murmuring in their own bubbly language—one of gratitude. Then, one by one, they too bounced back into the wilds, leaving the lake calm once more for now...
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Checking back on Leif's friends...
Minutes passed.
In the distance...
"Dang... where is Leif?" Tofin groaned, hands laced behind his head.
"He must be a real good hider, huh?" Felix added, kicking a stone.
The group wandered through the woods until they stumbled into a clearing.
The same crystalline lake shimmered before them, its waters pulsing with mystical and magical light.
"Whoa... What a cool-looking lake!" Felix's eyes widened.
"Yeah... it's practically flowing with Magys energy," Alisa noted, adjusting her glasses thoughtfully.
Annie's eyes widened. "IS THAT—LEIF?!"
Tofin stepped forward, squinting. "LEIF?! WHAT'S HE DOING OVER THERE?!"
The group scrambled down the slope, sprinting toward the middle of the lake where Leif floated in the shallows.
Meanwhile, Erin, Tofin, and Felix stopped and noticed the lifeless corpse nearby.
"IS THAT A... RUNIC WOLF?!" Erin exclaimed.
Tofin bent down and picked up the battered stick Leif had used. "Did Leif seriously kill this thing with... this?!"
"No way... right?" Felix muttered, still unsure.
Meanwhile, Annie and Alisa knelt by Leif.
"He's still breathing!" Annie called out.
Alisa leaned closer, inspecting him. "Yeah... but why's he in the middle of this Magys lake...?"
Annie shrugged. "Maybe he passed out? Not sure. But we've got to get him home and tell his parents. Tofin, help us!"
The group carefully lifted Leif and carried him through the woods, the lake's gentle glow fading behind them.
This—was just the beginning.
The beginning of Riku- no, Leif Holloway's journey... to become a Tamer in this vast wondrous world filled with many beasts and creatures alike.
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