The world was still painted in the pre-dawn monochrome of deep blues and grays when Eis slipped from the warmth of the bed. The air held a sharp, chilling bite. Kneeling by the bed, he pressed a soft kiss to the foreheads of both his sleeping mother and sister, their faces peaceful in the dim light.
"I'll be back soon," he whispered, his breath a small cloud in the cold.
Stepping outside was like entering a different realm. The sky was a canvas of fading stars, the horizon just beginning to bleed with the faintest hint of rose and gold, a romantic palette that seemed stolen from a divine dream. Eis paid it little mind, his focus on the path to the Village Chief's compound.
The Chief's hut was the largest in the village, surrounded by a wooden palisade. The guards at the gate, bundled against the cold, straightened as he approached. The compound behind them was silent and empty.
"I wish to speak with the… Village Chief," Eis said, correcting himself mid-sentence. "I have business."
"Sorry," one guard grunted, not unkindly. "Don't remember the Chief saying he was expecting anyone this early."
Without a word, Eis reached into the seemingly empty air beside him and pulled out a massive leg of a Tier 1 beast—thick, muscular, and heavy with prime meat. He tossed it casually toward the guard. The man yelped, fumbling before catching it with a grunt, staggering under the unexpected weight.
"Is he expecting anyone now?" Eis asked, his tone flat.
The guard's eyes were wide. "L-let me make sure he's prepared for your visit!" He turned and hurried into the compound, the huge leg of meat cradled in his arms like a bizarre offering.
Inside the Chief's main hut, the guard burst in, panting. "Haa… haaa… Village C-Chief! There's a kid out there! Says he wishes to speak with you. He also brought… this." He hefted the beast leg.
From a pile of furs on a wide sleeping platform, the portly Chief lifted his head. He was atop a slender woman who looked more bored than pleased. "Send him in," the Chief grumbled, disengaging himself with a sigh.
A moment later, Eis was ushered into the smoky interior. The Village Chief, now wrapped in a robe, sat on a bench wide enough to seat three or four men. His eyes, small and shrewd, took in Eis's youthful appearance.
"Please, mister, sit! What can I offer you? Water? Some meat?"
"Just water," Eis said, taking a seat on a smaller stool opposite him.
"So," the Chief began, leaning forward, his curiosity piqued. "How comes a small kid like you has that type of meat? How old are you, and what is your Tier?"
"Well, I am 16, and I'm Tier 3," Eis said casually.
The Chief's jaw went slack. "Haaaaaa!!! How is that possible? You should have died! Or exploded! Or something!"
Eis blinked. "What? I thought it was normal."
"Normal?!" the Chief sputtered. "It is not common at all! If a human eats beast meat like that, their body would rebel! Only those with God-blessed constitutions can achieve such a thing!" He moved with surprising speed for his size, getting closer to peer at Eis as if examining a rare artifact.
Just then, a slender girl with mousy hair and a timid expression entered, carrying a tray with a clay cup of water. She placed it quietly on the low table between them.
"Meet my daughter, Lyna," the Chief said, his chest puffing out with smug pride. "Isn't she just pretty?"
Eis looked at her. Honestly, she's not my type, he thought. But some fun wouldn't hurt. Aloud, he said, "Yes, she looks great. Hey, come here, sit." He patted his thigh.
Lyna hesitated, looking to her father. The Chief just kept his foolish, encouraging smile plastered on his face. Stiffly, she walked over and sat on Eis's lap, her hands clenched on her own thighs, eyes fixed on the floor.
"Yes, the main reason I'm here," Eis continued, as if the girl were merely a piece of furniture, "is that I want to rebuild my house. My mother said I need to see you first."
"Who is your mother?"
"Lysara."
"Oooh, that one," the Chief said, recognition dawning. "I know her. You are her son? She does not deserve you as a son, really. You can take my daughter as your mate if you want." His eyes gleamed with avarice, clearly seeing a path to more of that valuable beast meat.
Eis ignored the offer for now. Instead, he waved a hand, and three whole beast carcasses materialized on the hut's packed-earth floor with soft thuds. One was missing a leg—the one given to the guard. "I will consider it. But for now, I want to talk about the house."
"What?! You got so much meat? No, you…?!" The Chief was shocked into incoherence, his plan momentarily derailed by the sheer wealth on display.
"Honestly, my son," the Chief said, switching to a paternal, conspiratorial tone. "A rebuild here will not benefit you in any real way. A talent like you should not stay in this village for long. Tier 4 is the limit here. At your age and already Tier 3… I would recommend you go to one of the stronghold cities. They can nurture a talent like yours much better."
"Cities?" Eis asked, his face a mask of genuine puzzlement. As he processed this, he shifted slightly. Huh, I feel a bit of an itch. He looked down at Lyna, whose soft, small breasts had surprisingly filled his hands as she sat. "Hey," he said to her, his voice low. "Can you scratch it for me?"
He guided her off his lap. With shy, mechanical movements, she knelt before him. At his nod, she tugged his pants down just enough. She stared for a second, overwhelmed. "H-h-how do you want me to do it?"
"Just use your mouth. No teeth, okay?"
She nodded, her face pale. The next moment, she took half of his length into her mouth, then began to bob her head with a practiced, if dispassionate, rhythm. Eis placed a casual hand on her head, his thoughts drifting. What did I expect? She's not my auntie. But I guess it's good enough.
His attention returned to the Chief. "What were you saying? Cities? How come I don't know about them?"
The Chief, utterly unfazed by the scene unfolding beside him, launched into his tale. "Well, it's not common knowledge. Only known by me in this village. About 5,000 years ago, when humanity was in true despair, we gave up on the idea of every man for himself. We united and created mighty cities that protect humans and produce true geniuses. One of these cities is not far from here. It will take five days by foot, two by demon horse if you can manage it. With this many beasts to your name, you should consider living there instead."
As the Chief finished his story, Eis reached his climax with a soft grunt, releasing his seed into the girl's mouth. She swallowed with a series of quiet gulps.
"Thank you," Eis said to her, his tone dismissive. "You can go now." He corrected his clothing as she scurried away, head bowed.
He stood, looking at the Chief. "I will actually consider this. It would be a better opportunity for me and my family. Thank you for everything. You can keep the meat."
Without another word, he turned and left the hut, the first true rays of the sun finally breaking over the horizon.
He arrived home to the smell of cooking oats and the sound of morning chores. His sister, Kaela, was by the hearth. He walked up behind her, gave her backside a familiar, playful slap, and kissed her cheek. "Morning, Kaela."
"Morning, Eis," she murmured, a faint blush on her cheeks but a small smile on her lips.
His mother turned from tidying the bed, her face lighting up. "Morning, son! Tell me, how did it go?" She walked over and hugged him, her arms looping around his neck. Eis's hands naturally came to rest on the generous, soft curves of her hips.
He smiled, a plan forming that was far grander than a simple house. "Mother… I have great news."