The stone-paved streets of Astra Ward glowed softly in the evening light, lantern-beasts flickering on as the twin moons began to rise. Riku walked calmly through the familiar alleys, his uniform jacket slung over one shoulder, Tamer Watch quietly syncing data from the academy.
He liked this part of the day — quiet, grounded, real.
A wind beast zipped past his shoulder, chirping in greeting before diving into a tree hollow. Neighborhood bonded beasts were a normal part of life here.
His house stood on a small hill overlooking the ward. Not a mansion, but it had two floors, a healthy yard, and the faint scent of roasted herbs wafting from the windows.
He pushed open the gate, kicked off his shoes, and stepped inside.
"Brother!"
A blur in pink dress collided with him. Ten-year-old Maney — messy ponytail, oversized shirt, and a pencil behind her ear — latched onto his waist.
"You're late!" she pouted. "Mama said you were getting your Talent today. Spill it! What is it? Is it Cool?!"
Riku gently patted her head. "After dinner, I'll show you"
"Promise?"
"Promise."
In the kitchen, his mother was draining a pot of soup, sleeves rolled up, a green glowing bracelet dim around her wrist — her health-type beast's link.
"Welcome back, Riku," she said. "You didn't cause a scene, did you?"
"Not unless awakening a questionable talent counts."
She raised an eyebrow. "Questionable?"
Before he could explain, his father walked in from the study — broad-shouldered, uniform jacket half-on, the silver insignia of a mid-stage Silver-rank tamer gleaming faintly on his chest. A faint pressure followed him, restrained but ever-present.
"Let's see it."
Riku passed over the academy-issued scroll.
Talent: Ancestral Blessing
Classification: Common Support (Unranked – Confirmed)
His mother read it twice. "Blessing… not Control, not Amplifier. Support-type?"
Riku nodded. "Publicly, it increases Tier evolution success by twenty-five percent. Quiet type. Doesn't affect others."
His father took a slow sip from the tea pot. "But that's just what they recorded."
"There was more," Riku admitted. "My Tamer Watch showed a hidden message. Something about ancestral bloodlines awakening during breakthroughs."
Now even his mother paused mid-stir. Her beast bracelet flickered once.
His father leaned forward, voice calm but serious. "That's not something to ignore. There are records — old ones — of talents like this being mistaken for Common because their effects didn't appear until later tiers."
Riku nodded again. "I figured. Didn't feel normal."
Dinner went on as usual after that. His mother nagged him to eat more greens. Maney showed him a comic she'd drawn about a dragon who hated spicy food. His father stayed quiet, thoughtful, occasionally watching Riku as if he is affected by his awakening.
And Riku?
He was just playing with his beloved sister.
That night, lying in his room with the curtains drawn, the Tamer Watch pulsed softly again.
[Talent Tree: Unlocked (1%)
Passive Trait: Ancestor's Favor
Effect: Bonded beast gains chance of unique mutation during next Tier evolution.]
He stared at it.
Then looked up at the wooden ceiling, where a moth-beast buzzed gently near the lantern.
"They won't notice me now."
"But one day, they'll remember the name tied to this talent."
He wasn't arrogant about it.
Just ready.
[End of Chapter 2]