I didn't know how much time had passed. When I finally opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Soren's broad chest rising and falling with each slow, even breath.
My small body was cradled firmly in his arms, and one of my paws was trapped in his hand, held gently. My brows furrowed as I squirmed, trying to understand why he was still holding me so close.
'Why does this man like my paw so much?' I wondered, blinking slowly. 'Is he… jealous of it?' I tilted my head, nodding slightly to myself. That seemed to explain his fixation.
But it didn't explain why he was hugging me so tightly. Was the room cold? Did he think I might freeze if he didn't hold me? I tried to wiggle free, inching away slowly, only for him to grab my tail with the same gentle firmness.
I let out a soft grunt, frustrated. 'This man is clingy,' I thought.
I glanced up at him, eyes narrowed, and finally tapped him lightly with my paw, trying to wake him. His eyelids fluttered open, and he blinked blearily before finally focusing on me. His expression softened as he reached out to rub the top of my head.
"Since when were you awake?" he asked calmly.
I grunted in response, still annoyed. I wouldn't have woken you if you just let me go, I thought, letting out a soft, frustrated "Nyaang."
Soren's grip loosened slightly, and he finally released me. He sat up fully, brushing imaginary lint off his coat, and then, to my shock, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head. My fur bristled. "Wait here," he said before slipping on his coat and leaving the room.
I froze, my ears twitching in confusion. 'What the…? Did he just… kiss me on the head?' My parents and grandfather were the only ones who ever showed me that kind of affection.
I stared at the spot where Soren had just been sitting, my tail swaying stiffly behind me. My brain felt like it had short-circuited. Just a simple, gentle kiss on the top of my head, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
That was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
I shook my head violently, fluffing up my fur. 'Get a grip. You're overthinking it. It's normal to do that when you have pets.'
Still, my chest felt strangely warm.
I hopped off the bed and stretched lazily, my claws extending with a soft shhk.
After a moment, Soren appeared again and sat down on the bed with a tray in his hands. The faint aroma of food drifted through the room. He patted the quilt beside him lightly. "Eat something first. We've already arrived. You'll have a checkup later."
I perked up at first, hopping back onto the bed—but the instant my nose caught the familiar scent of a nutrient pack, my mood plummeted. My ears flattened and I hissed reflexively before diving under the covers, wrapping myself tightly like a burrito of pure resistance.
Soren laughed, a low sound that vibrated slightly through the mattress. He lifted the covers with ease, exposing my disgruntled face. "You need to eat something," he said calmly, "or the doctor won't be able to examine you properly."
I glared bitterly at the plate. It was still a nutrient pack—my sworn enemy—but this time, there was a fried egg placed neatly on top. Golden edges, slightly crisp, the yolk still glossy.
I hopped off the bed, deliberately avoiding the plate, then turned back and patted the floor in front of me with my paw.
Soren raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. He quietly placed the plate on the floor where I indicated, his movements unhurried, as if indulging a particularly stubborn child.
I immediately ignored the nutrient pack and went straight for the egg, tearing into it with enthusiasm. I finished the egg quickly and licked my lips, satisfied, then turned away as if the rest of the plate didn't exist.
Soren reached out and gently tapped my nose. "You haven't finished the rest."
I shook my head vigorously, ears drooping as I tried my best to look pitiful and wronged, staring up at him with wide, watery eyes. Surely he could let it go this once.
He remained unmoved. "Do you want to look like this forever," he said evenly, "or do you want to shift back into your human form?"
My ears twitched sharply.
I swallowed.
Slowly, reluctantly, I leaned back toward the plate and took a cautious bite of the nutrient pack—then froze.
I stared at it.
…This wasn't the bland, chalky horror I remembered.
It tasted like fried eggs.
My eyes widened. I took another bite. And another.
It really did taste like eggs, with none of that artificial aftertaste. My tail swished unconsciously as I began eating in earnest, devouring the rest without complaint.
"The chef can adjust the taste to your liking," Soren said casually. "In the future, you can tell me what you like."
I didn't answer.
'I don't even know if I'll have the chance to talk normally again,' I thought quietly, my chewing slowing for just a moment before I finished the last bite.
Once I was done, Soren cleaned up and lifted me with ease. Soon after, we left the room and headed for the hospital.
It wasn't large or ostentatious, but the moment we entered, I could tell it was different. The air was clean and faintly scented with disinfectant and herbs. The corridors were quiet, the equipment sleek and advanced. Despite its modest size, this hospital carried a reputation that rivaled—if not surpassed—the imperial hospital itself.
In the Beastmen Empire, there was hardly anyone who didn't know this place.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Wildlands Care Center
This hospital had originally been nothing more than a small medical station in Phantom Atoll AG-67, established to care for wounded frontline soldiers.
Back then, the facilities were outdated, the wards cramped, and the equipment so limited that even stabilizing critical injuries was difficult. Supplies were often stretched thin, and doctors could only do their best within harsh constraints. Many soldiers survived—but with permanent disabilities they carried for the rest of their lives.
Everything changed a few years ago.
At that time, the hospital admitted a mysterious patient. His injuries were severe, the kind that normally required immediate transfer to the imperial hospital. Yet for some reason, he stayed. He recovered quietly, never revealing his identity, and then disappeared without ceremony.
A few days later, the shock came.
An enormous investment poured into the hospital overnight. Entire wings were demolished and rebuilt. The most advanced medical equipment available in the empire was shipped in without regard for cost. Even several renowned doctors—people who had previously refused all invitations outside the imperial capital—were personally recruited to this remote atoll.
No one knew exactly why.
After several years of operation, Wildlands Care Center's reputation rose rapidly, eventually surpassing even the imperial hospital. However, it maintained a strict principle: soldiers came first. Especially frontline fighters. They enjoyed the highest priority, the best doctors, and the most complete treatment plans.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Soren held the little leopard securely in his arms as he walked down the wide, spotless corridor alongside the doctor. The lights overhead were soft and non-glaring, and the walls were lined with transparent panels displaying real-time medical data and emergency alerts.
The doctor glanced around, his gaze sweeping over the spacious wards and advanced instruments, and let out a quiet sigh. "Sir… I was just complaining back then," he said with a wry smile. "I never thought you would actually do it."
Back then, he had only been venting his frustration to a wounded soldier on the brink of permanent disability—lamenting how inadequate equipment and limited resources had cost too many young lives their futures.
He never imagined that the man listening silently was Black Dragon Soren Markelov, commander of the empire.
Nor did he expect that a single wave of that man's hand would transform the hospital into what it was today.
Soren didn't respond. His expression remained calm and indifferent, as if this outcome were only natural.
They soon arrived at the doctor's exclusive examination area. Once inside, Soren carefully handed the little leopard over. "I'll leave her to you," he said.
The doctor nodded seriously.
What followed was a long and meticulous examination.
The little leopard was turned gently from side to side, placed under scanners, and examined with various instruments. Her bones, muscles, internal organs, neural responses, and even subtle energy fluctuations were all thoroughly checked. Every detail was recorded and analyzed.
Throughout the entire process, the little leopard remained remarkably well-behaved. She didn't struggle or resist, only occasionally flicking her ears or tail in response to unfamiliar sensations.
The doctor couldn't help but feel impressed.
After everything was finished, he compiled the results and walked over to Soren, handing him the data tablet.
Soren absorbed the information silently.
Then he looked down and extended a hand. "Come here."
The little leopard immediately turned toward him—but before doing so, she stopped. She carefully bowed toward the doctor, lowering her head in a very formal manner.
Only after that did she trot over to Soren's side.
The doctor froze.
"…Did she just thank me?" he asked slowly, disbelief clear in his voice.
Soren continued to ignore the doctor's complicated expression. He bent slightly, lifted the little leopard with one arm, and calmly read through the examination results projected on the micro-display in front of him. The data scrolled past his eyes line by line—bone density, muscle fibers, organ resilience, neural feedback, energy circulation—every index far exceeding that of an ordinary beastman.