"John, you should go home now," Dr. Emily said softly, breaking the calm silence that had settled over the recovery ward.
Her voice pulled John from his thoughts. He glanced at her, then at the resting animals—so many of them already dozing peacefully, thanks to her expert care and the quiet reassurance of his presence.
"I'm just giving them some more medicines and then heading home myself," she added, giving him a small smile.
John nodded. "Alright."
He stepped out into the night. The cool air wrapped around him, and the city lights shimmered through the veil of darkness, casting long shadows on the quiet streets. His footsteps echoed in the empty corridors of the city, but his mind was elsewhere—still lingering with the creatures he'd left behind, with the realization of the bond he now shared with them.
By the time he reached the apartment, it was nearly 11:00 PM. The hallway light flickered faintly as he opened the door and stepped inside.
To his surprise, Luna was still awake.
"John, you're back!" she exclaimed, jumping up from the sofa, her face lighting up like a lamp in the dark.
John blinked. "You waited for me?"
"Of course! Come on, let's eat dinner together," she said, already making her way to the kitchen.
He hesitated. There was a strange mix of emotions brewing within him—fatigue, gratitude, but also something more complex. He rubbed the back of his neck and spoke gently. "Luna... look, I've just started living with you, so maybe you don't know my routine yet. If I come home late, don't wait for me, okay? Just eat."
Luna turned to him, undeterred. Her eyes held warmth, and her voice was soft but firm. "But it's our first day together. Let's eat at the same table, just this once. What's the problem?" She smiled. "And a little bit of waiting is okay. I can tell my stomach, 'Hey, today I'm eating with my brother.'"
John opened his mouth, then closed it. He couldn't argue with that—not when she was looking at him like that, not when her voice carried so much quiet hope.
He sat down.
They ate together, side by side, with no rush. The meal was simple—steamed rice, lentils, a few vegetables—but it tasted better than anything John had eaten in a long time. Maybe it was the company. Maybe it was the silence that wasn't lonely anymore.
As he chewed slowly, memories rose unbidden. Cold nights on empty benches. Long shifts at dirty jobs just to afford scraps. Landlords tossing him out without notice. The sting of rejection when he'd begged just to be let back in for a night's shelter. Those days had carved grooves in his soul—wounds that never quite healed.
But those days were over.
Across the table sat Luna—Dr. Luna—a successful woman who had no shortage of money, no shortage of kindness either. And he? He was no longer the powerless wanderer he used to be. Something had changed.
He had generated a Neuro Core.
The thought sent a current of electricity through his veins. This wasn't just about physical strength. It was a transformation, a key that unlocked a world beyond human boundaries. A Neuro Core didn't merely enhance the body; it elevated the soul into a new realm—where power could be harvested, refined, and evolved.
For a Beast Tamer, it was the ultimate gift.
It allowed one not only to bond with powerful creatures, but to enhance—to absorb the essence of the beasts and grow stronger.
He had stepped beyond human limits.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips—not one of arrogance, but of quiet determination. His journey was just beginning. The battles ahead would test him, reshape him, even threaten to break him. But he had something now that he never had before.
Family.
Power.
And a destiny worth chasing.