Chapter 38: The starter

We walked into the breeders pet shop, and by this time I was feeling extremely nervous. People kept giving me these fearful or disgusted looks; If not for my prior experience it may have hurt my feelings but now it just gave me a sense of anxiety and discomfort.

We went straight over to the breeder who was currently stocking his shelves with different types of containers that held strange looking content. Don tapped him on the shoulder and the breeder jumped in surprise.

"Oh! usually I hear when people walk in. hehe welcome back; it's been a while. did the egg hatch?" he asked. I held the now napping creature up for him to see and his jaw dropped. He looked excited and conflicted all at once.

"Do you know what you have there young lass?" the breeder said; His joy seemed to win out over whatever delima that was plaguing him. I shook my head no, and he led us to a large room located further back in the store. The room was spacious and looked like it was used as both a holding and storage place; in a small corner tucked away was a small space that looked to be used as an office. He motioned for me to place the monster on an examination table and I did so.

"Speak breeder, I have my suspicions on what the thing is; but the lass here has some doubts." I looked at Don with a bit of spite. How dare he try to guide the breeder into agreeing with him. The breeder looked back nervous but seemed to give an honest assessment nonetheless.

"This has never happened on record; What you have there is a variant species of the Manticore. I've only heard theories that they could happen. to think I would be one of the first to see one with my own eyes!" he was practically glowing now. Don on the other hand brandished his sword.

"And you'll be the first to see it's demise." His words were cold and detached. Unable to just sit and watch I threw myself between Don's sword and the poor creature.

"please don't!" I said hysteria coloring my voice. I held onto the baby Manticore tight enough to wake it. It's beautiful gold eyes locked with mine again and a menacing hiss slowly built up inside its mouth. it jumped from my arms and onto my shoulders. Did it think I was in trouble?

"What a will." Said the breeder in awe. I wanted to tell him to read the mood but I was too busy taking hold of the monster once more and making a dash for the door.

"Don't make this any harder Eva!" sad Don without haste. he followed me through the room without issue; proving he could catch up to me at any time. my heart lurched at that thought. What could I possibly do to save my baby?

"It's you who is being unreasonable. it hasn't done anything wrong! it's just a child!" I didn't realize how close to home the words escaping my mouth hit until I said it; This poor child.

"I take no pleasure in killing something so defenseless! But it must be done! That thing is evil Eva! some were so powerful they could bring whole kingdoms to their knees!" I could hear his pace speed up. He didn't seem to bother with hiding his steps from me. I finally made it to the front and was tempted to escape into the streets but I knew that wouldn't work. He'd surely find me; My only choice was to negotiate something. I waited with my back facing the door leading to the back.

"Look can we just talk about all this?!" I was desperate and sweating profusely. his voice was next to my ear when he replied.

"Sure but you'll have to look at me first." Said Don causing me to jump. The baby in my hands didn't look surprised at all; instead it used one of its paw to pat my face. what a cutie. now much calmer I took 5 steps forward before turning to face Don.

"I can't agree with the killing of an innocent creature. So could you not until it has actually done something worth killing it over?" I gave a pleading look.

"How many...?" Asked Don coldly. I couldn't understand his question so I dumbly replied.

"What?" to which Don immediately followed up with.

"How many lives are you willing to sacrifice for that thing?" I didn't understand his meaning until he said 'lives'; he thought so little of this poor thing. Why was he being like this?

"You can't blame a child for the deeds of it's forefathers. You can only work to make the child better!" I was practically screaming. what nonsense was he speaking.

"I can damn well blame the child! every manticore I have ever killed was guilty of massacring whole villages; even towns were not safe. this thing is capable of powers beyond that of any mortal or immortal man if left to grow. you can't tell me otherwise; Eva there has been no record ever in history of a docile Manticore!" His voice grew louder and louder, his impatience was evident and I worked to temper myself. in the steadiest voice I could manage I replied.

"Well there was never a variant Manticore in recorded history so how do you know this one isn't different?" I choked it out through tears of frustration. and Don let out a long and annoyed sigh.

"Fine! you have a point. But the moment that thing shows it's true nature you will not stop me from executing it, agreed?" The anger in his voice was obvious and I didn't like the way he implied that this manticore was evil but I agreed anyway.

"Okay. fine but this baby is not evil! I just know it." I cradled it roughly and it wiggled in my arms. it was in that moment I realized I didn't know if it was a boy or girl.

"Is everything alright now?" I looked up to find the breeder had caught up with us and was peeking over Don's shoulder. I glanced at the seemingly frustrated Don before nodding my head.

"This is going against my king's will; please don't make me regret this decision." I felt a large weight of guilt then. I was definitely putting him a tight spot with my request; but I couldn't let this baby be killed for no reason.

"So what's it's name gonna be since well it's genderless?" asked the breeder staring at my companion with slightly creepy eyes. How did he know; he didn't even bother to check? As if seeing the unspoken question on my face the breeder replied.

"All Manticores sre genderless there has been no gendered Male or female on record; to explain their eggs are created from magical phenomena. Some scholars believe a certain amount of monster miasma and mana must be present for this to happen. no one is sure if this is true but it is agreed upon as the location manticore eggs are usually found have shown to have lots of monster miasma and mana but around the time a manticore egg is discovered there are low amounts of mana and monster miasma." He explained all this with a great amount of fondness in his voice and I found this wholesome. WHat was it about the joy of others that was so infectious?

"Is that so? Then I'll name it Rise; may it always rise like the morning sun." I smiled again looking at Rise. it's body and eyes seemed to shake for a moment as it looked at me before a low purr rumbled from it's small frame and it began to cuddle me.

"I suppose this means you like your name huh." this little creature has brought me nothing but joy since the moment it was born. It was true what they said about animal companions.; they really could feel the voids in your heart.

"Eva if you're alright I really should be going. I would ask you to see me off but.. if the guards saw that manticore... Honestly it would be best for you to leave this city. are you sure you wont stay at my place?" He was correct. The monster I had was considered a disaster level; even if I said I was a tamer they'd surely try to execute it. I needed a safe haven.

"I'll return to my village." I said the words without thinking. I really didn't wanna go back but where else could I go now? no city was safe and living in a remote village as a tamer was hard when the monster was threatening. I looked down at Rise it's adorable fluffy mane covered it's eyes as it nuzzled into my arms. well it will be threatening eventually right? also after those hunters didn't return they'd definitely leave me be. after all they couldn't even have found the bodies. an image of the forest guardian gnawing on the bones of those crazy elves invaded my mind and sent a chill up my spine. hopefully I won't run into it again.

"You're going to make trip all by yourself?" said Don struck dumb.

"Well who am I supposed to ask? every guard would try to kill Rise on sight. It will be hard enough to leave." Don nodded then said.

"Leave with me then; I'll get you out of the city and then we can part ways." Don would be taking another big risk for me; He was really a kind man at heart. I secretly vowed to repay him for his kindness to me.

"Thank you so much; you're to kind Don." HE just scoffed and said sarcastically.

"I am the Hero you know.'' It was times like these that made me wonder if he hated his trade skill.