Taming Luna-1

"Do you want to tame Luna?" Lira said with a smile, her hands clasped behind her back.

What?—Huh! Really!" Kai's eyes lit up with joy.

It had always been his dream to become a beast tamer and tame a beast of his own one day. Since Zer was just his friend, not his beast, he was thrilled and curious about Lira's proposal to tame Luna.

In response, Lira nodded, showing that she truly meant it and wasn't joking.

"Yes! I want to!" he blurted out, jumping in place with excitement.

"Luna, can you contract with Papa?" Lira asked, closing her eyes and smiling at Luna.

"Kwaa?" Luna tilted her head, clearly not understanding a single word she was saying.

"Alright, Luna, let's get contracted already." Kai hurriedly snatched Luna and pulled her close, his eyes sparkling like invisible stars.

Gr—

Luna was about to growl at Kai, but sensing Lira's displeased gaze, she stopped.

"Hmm..." Kai held Luna closer to his face and looked at her with a serious expression. A moment passed, then another, and then another...

Finally, he tilted his head, gazed at Zer, and asked, "How can I tame her?"

Lira didn't say a word and kept looking at him, smiling, while a sly smirk tugged at her lips.

{If you didn't know, then why did you eagerly accept and stare at her like a fool?} Zer said, his voice dripping with annoyance.

Kai pouted, lowering Luna to his chest height, and replied, "Hey, c'mon. I live in the slums. No one ever told me about this. How should I know?"

Zer let out a deep sigh and fixed his gaze on Kai.

{Forming a contract is extremely simple, boy,} Zer opened his maw, his tone suddenly serious.

Kai leaned forward eagerly, his eyes sparkling with interest.

{First, you must kneel before the beast, hands raised above your head like an offering. Then, sing a heartfelt ballad about how wonderful the beast is. Extra points if you cry—it shows sincerity.}

Kai blinked as confusion washing over his face. "Sing? Cry? Are you serious?" he asked, already regretting this line of questioning.

{Absolutely. But that's just the warm-up,} Zer continued as a mischievous grin spread across his face.

{Next, you must prepare a feast. Roast chicken, freshly baked bread, maybe a fine wine. Oh, and don't forget to present a bouquet of flowers—beasts love flowers.}

Lira stared at Zer, biting her lip to stifle her laughter. "Flowers?" she repeated, her voice barely audible.

Zer rolled his eyes. {But the most important step, boy—you listening?—is this: you must proclaim your undying love for the beast while performing the legendary Tamer's Twirl. Only then will the beast consider thinking about your proposal. Well, don't worry...} Zer paused dramatically.

{The worst she can say is 'No.'}

Kai's jaw dropped. "The what? What even is the Tamer's Twirl?"

{Oh, it's simple. Spin around five times on one foot, pat your head, and rub your belly simultaneously. Ideally, you'll be wearing... maybe a tutu?}

Lira couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as tears welled up in her eyes. Even Luna let out a cheerful "Kwaa!" at the absurdity.

Kai groaned, rubbing his face. "Zer, this has to be a joke..."

{A joke? No, Kai, this is ancient knowledge! I can't believe your tiny brain can't handle it.} Zer smirked.

{Honestly, with how clueless you are, I'm surprised you even managed to breathe this morning.}

Kai pointed an accusing finger at Zer, his cheeks bright red. "You're the absolute worst!"

{Oh, I've been called worse. Now, should I explain the 'real' process, or do you want to find that tutu first?} Zer said, clearly enjoying himself.

Lira was practically on the ground laughing, and even Kai couldn't help but crack a smile despite his embarrassment.

{Ahem! Alright, listen to me closely now,} Zer said with a cough, his tone shifting to something seriously serious.

{Before you learn how to form a contract, you need to understand what exactly a contract is.}

He paused, his gaze sweeping over both Kai and Lira, who were listening intently—well, at least Lira was.

{A beast contract is a sacred bond between a tamer and a magical beast. It's not merely a deal or a command. It's a connection—a union of souls. When a contract is formed, both the tamer and the beast share their energy. It's a mutual agreement that requires trust and understanding.}

Zer's voice carried weight, and while Lira absorbed every word, Kai's blank expression betrayed him. Zer shook his head with a sigh.

{There are many types of beast contracts, but we'll save that lesson for another day. For now, you need to know how to form a basic contract.}

{To form a contract, you must first connect your essence—your soul energy—to the beast's. It's like creating a bridge. This requires two things: trust and willingness from both sides.}

Zer glanced at Luna, who was nestled comfortably in Lira's arms.

{The beast must accept you, and you must have a clear purpose for forming the bond.}

Kai scratched his head. "So... how do I connect my 'essence' to hers? Do I just... think about it really hard?"

{Hah, no. It's more than just thinking. Close your eyes and focus on your energy. Picture it as a stream flowing from your heart. Reach out to Luna with it—gently. If she accepts, her energy will meet yours halfway, forming the contract.}

Lira's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "But what happens after the contract is formed?"

{Once the contract is established, you'll share a connection. You'll feel her emotions and thoughts faintly. Over time, as the bond strengthens, you might even communicate directly. But be warned: this bond is not one-sided. Her well-being affects you, and vice versa.}

Kai blinked, his expression turning nervous. "Wait, so if she gets hurt, I feel it too?"

{Not exactly,} Zer clarified. {But it does weaken your energy. If you neglect her or mistreat her, the bond can break—and trust me, beasts don't take kindly to that.}

His tone darkened for a moment before he quickly resumed his usual calm demeanor.

Kai gulped hard. "Got it. Treat Luna like a queen. Anything else I should know?"

Zer shook his head and laid his head down on his paws, signaling that the lecture was over.

Kai sat cross-legged, his face scrunched in deep concentration as he tried to visualize his "soul energy." He clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and furrowed his brows so hard it looked like he was trying to hatch an egg himself.

"Okay, Zer," Kai said confidently, opening his eyes. "I think I'm ready. Let's do this contract thing!"

Zer let out a long, slow sigh, his glowing eyes narrowing.

{Just... stop.} His tail flicked lazily. {I didn't say you could do it.}

Kai froze mid-breath, his mouth agape. "Wait, what?"

{You can't form a beast contract yet,} Zer said, the corners of his mouth twitching into a grin.

{You haven't awakened your soul energy. Without it, trying to form a contract would be like...} He paused dramatically. {Trying to write a book without ink. Or trying to cook a meal with no fire.}

Lira blinked in confusion. "Then why did you explain all of that to him?"

{Oh, I just thought it would be funny to watch him struggle,} Zer said with a shrug.

Kai's jaw dropped. "You're kidding me. I've been sitting here for, what, hours, trying to connect my 'soul stream' or whatever—just so you can laugh at me?!"

{It was more like ten minutes,} Zer replied smoothly. {But yes, it was delightful. Your face when you thought you were doing something... priceless.}

Lira stifled a giggle behind her hand. "Mr. Zer, that's so mean!"

{Mean? No, no,} Zer said, his tone dripping with mock seriousness.

{I'm teaching him. Humility, patience, and a healthy sense of his own incompetence.} He glanced at Kai, who looked like he was about to explode.

Kai pointed an accusing finger at him. "You could have just told me I wasn't ready!"

{Oh, but where's the fun in that? Besides,} Zer added, his smirk widening, {It's not like you're missing out on much. You can barely manage yourself, let alone a beast.}

Kai threw his hands up in frustration. "Why do I even listen to you?!"

Lira burst into laughter, holding her sides as Luna joined in with cheerful "Kwaa!" noises.

Zer rested his head on his paws, looking thoroughly amused.

{Don't worry, boy. One day, when you finally awaken, I'll explain it all again.} He paused for a second, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

{Or maybe I'll just make you figure it out on your own.}

Kai groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I hate you, Zer."

{Haha! The feeling's mutual,} Zer said with a chuckle.

Before Kai could explode from humiliation, Zer lifted his head, his tone turning unexpectedly thoughtful.

{Well, you can contract with her before awakening too.}