Chapter 18: The Wild King of the Hills

As the warm glow of the hall dimmed with the slow passage of the sun, Taryn's mother leaned closer and added, "And lastly… your eldest brother."

Taryn raised his eyebrows, already sensing a shift in tone.

His father chuckled. "Ah, yes. The most unpredictable of them all."

A smile bloomed on Taryn's face. "The Beast Whisperer…"

His mother laughed lightly. "More like the Spirit Beast Magnet."

Taryn leaned back, memories drifting like petals on a breeze. His eldest brother—Rovan. He was the most generous of the siblings, the most carefree. A man with laughter in his eyes, mischief in his voice, and a strange charisma that made even the wildest spirit beasts follow him around like playful pups.

He didn't bind them with contracts. He didn't control them with force. He made them his companions… through music, games, food, and laughter. It was said he once tamed a Thunderclaw Leopard by feeding it roasted honeyed meat and telling it bedtime stories for three days straight.

"Rovan once put a spirit wolf in my bed," Taryn said, smirking at the memory. "Said it would keep me warm."

"And it did," his father added with a grin. "Until it peed on the floor."

They all burst into laughter, even the maid stifling a giggle at the edge of the room.

"But make no mistake," his father continued, "when danger comes, Rovan is the first to turn serious. The playful beasts at his side turn into a fearsome force. There's a reason even the generals of the outer provinces show him respect."

Taryn nodded slowly. He remembered how his brother once carried him up a cliffside just so he could "see the clouds up close." How they rode a Skyfeather Falcon together over the family estate. He remembered laughter, warmth, the sense that nothing was impossible when Rovan was around.

"He always said," Taryn murmured, " 'Freedom is the truest cultivation.' "

His mother smiled, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "He may live wild, but his heart belongs here."

A peaceful silence fell over the hall, the kind that follows only after shared joy.

Then, with a glance at the sun outside, his father stood. "Haha… enough stories. Time flies faster than spirit hawks when you're talking of loved ones."

He placed a hand on Taryn's shoulder. "I have duties to attend to… and you, my son, should rest. You've achieved much today. Let your body and soul enjoy it."

Taryn rose with him. "Yes, father. Thank you… for everything."

His father gave him a firm nod, the pride clear in his eyes. "We'll talk more tomorrow."

His mother gave him one last gentle hug, whispering, "We're proud of you, Taryn. Don't forget that."

As they departed the hall, Taryn lingered behind for a moment, gazing at the doors through which his parents exited.

A warm breeze wafted in through the carved windows. Somewhere far in the estate, a bird called. And for the first time since he had arrived in this world, he felt like he belonged.