The wind sighed through the trees, their branches swaying in a silent farewell. It was as if the forest itself was whispering a prayer for their journey, urging them to be careful as they departed.
Rian moved with a steady pace, his boots finding purchase on moss-slick roots that coiled across the ground like the very veins of the earth. With a calm, measured swing of his sword, he cleaved a path through the tangled undergrowth, moving forward without rush. Catty followed close behind, her steps light and vigilant.
"So, where are we going, Master?" Catty asked, her voice breaking the quiet rhythm of their trek.
"We're heading to the city of Kuningan, in the heart of the Fulakmi Kingdom," Rian replied, his eyes scanning the path ahead. "There's a main branch of the Adventurer's Guild there. I'm going to register so I can become a true hero, one who can freely protect the people I care about, and others."
"But… can't you protect the ones you love without being an adventurer?" Catty asked, genuinely curious about the desires Rian held before she had met him.
"It's not just about that, Catty," Rian explained patiently. "To live in this world, we need shelter, food, clothes. Gramps told me that adventurers can take on quests from the Guild and receive rewards. With those rewards, we can rent a place to live, buy better weapons, or get new clothes."
"I understand, Master." Catty nodded, accepting the simple logic of survival.
They continued their journey, stepping over root after root, clearing away bush after bush. The sun began to dip low, its golden rays piercing through the canopy and painting long shadows on the forest floor. As dusk began to settle, Rian spotted an open area near a river, a perfect place to make a temporary camp.
"Let's make camp over there. It's getting dark," he said, pointing toward the clearing.
Once they arrived, Rian opened his Storage. A jet-black circle materialized in the air before him. From its depths, he pulled out three straight branches, each as thick as his wrist and three meters long, along with a bundle of strong, woven cord that Bebegig had made.
Catty stared in astonishment. "How can you carry so many things, Master? I didn't see you carrying them," she asked, her eyes wide as she watched the long branches emerge from the void. "And… what is that circle?"
It dawned on Rian that in the midst of all the chaos, he'd never actually explained his unique ability. All Catty knew was his blue-flame sword and his healing magic.
"Oh, that's right. I never told you about my unique skill, did I?" Rian said with a small smile.
"Our first meeting was very brief, Master," Catty said, her head and ears drooping as the painful memory returned.
"This is Storage, my unique skill," Rian explained. "While it's not useful for combat, it's incredibly valuable for survival. I can put anything in here as long as it fits through the opening. I could probably even fit that entire river in here, but the mana cost would drain me completely."
"And if you don't have enough mana, what's the risk?"
"Back when I fought the first troll, my mana capacity was tiny. I forced a healing spell and passed out. For a normal spell, it just stops. But with Storage, the process keeps draining mana until the task is complete. If I force it, it can drain my very life force until I die."
He remembered how storing a large amount of food had made him feel exhausted, the mana drain relentless until the requirement was met. The risk was real.
"The risk is great, then," Catty whispered, finally understanding. "So, what are you going to do with those three branches?"
"I learned this back in school, during a camping trip," Rian muttered to himself.
With practiced movements, he crossed two of the light, sturdy branches into an open 'X', then laid the third across the middle. He bound the tops together with the cord, his fingers weaving strong, neat knots. Once secure, he spread the legs of the wooden frame, forming a stable tripod, and pressed the ends firmly into the damp earth.
"There. A frame for our temporary tent," Rian announced, beginning to drape a thick, waterproof cloth over it—another item he had recovered from the treehouse. "It might still leak a little if it rains, but it's enough to protect us from the wind."
"You're amazing, Master! You can build a house in an instant," Catty praised, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
Night fell, and with it came a chilling wind. Rian had finished their preparations. A warm campfire now crackled, its light pushing back the encroaching darkness. He roasted fresh meat he'd pulled from his Storage, the scent sizzling in the cool air.
Catty watched him, her gaze unwavering, a look of pure fascination on her face as he worked. Rian looked up from the fire and saw her sitting inside the tent he'd built, staring at him.
"Catty, come here. Keep me company while I cook this?" he called out.
"Yes, Master." She padded over and sat beside him on a large log he had prepared as a bench.
The comfortable silence was broken only by the crackle and hiss of the roasting meat.
"Catty," Rian began, his voice soft. "I hope you'll stop calling me 'Master'."
She turned to him, looking puzzled. "Why, Master?"
"It feels too formal," he said gently, his eyes still on the meat he was turning over the flames. "I want you to truly see me as a friend. An equal. I want there to be no barriers between us. You're not a pet or just a summon. I want you to be a person who is my equal, without the stiff formalities we've had until now."
Catty's expression turned sad, her face clouded with fear. "If I'm not like this… if I become my real self, I'm afraid you'll leave me. I'm afraid you'll hate who I am. Back when I was with my parents and my old group, they hated my true personality. That's why I keep it hidden. I'm afraid of losing you."
"It doesn't matter," Rian said firmly, finally turning to look her straight in the eyes. "I don't care what your true personality is like. My vow remains the same. I will not leave you, and I will continue to protect your entire race."
"Then… what should I call you? And… you really won't leave me, even if I act like my true self and treat you as an equal?" she asked, her gaze drifting to the meat Rian was turning.
"I promise," Rian said, his gaze sincere in the firelight. "I will not leave you, and I will always see you as my equal. Just call me Rian. My full name is Rian Kaelon." As he watched her, he noticed for the first time how beautiful she was, her features soft and her fluffy ears twitching in the warm glow.
Catty paused for a moment, considering it. "Okay… Rian. I'll show you my real self. So please don't hate me, okay?"
"Of course. I will always accept you for who you are."
"By the way," Catty said, a new, playful glint in her eye. "How long are you going to keep turning that meat?"
Rian looked down. The piece of meat he had been rotating was now a blackened, glowing cinder, nearly bursting into flames.
"DAMN IT!" Rian yelled in shock, snatching the burnt offering from the fire.
A bright, unrestrained laugh escaped Catty's lips. "Looks like your clumsiness hasn't changed, Rian! When I was revived, you looked so dignified and strong… but it seems some things are still the same."
Rian could only smile sheepishly. He remembered what Bebegig had taught him about the summoning contract. It wasn't a chain that enslaved the summoned; it was a bond that only punished betrayal. A summoned creature who turned against their master would have their soul destroyed, but otherwise, they were free to be themselves.
That night, Rian ate his burnt meat while Catty perfectly roasted a fresh piece for herself. And as they sat together under a sky full of stars, Catty began, for the first time, to show Rian who she really was.