The bull I spotted seemed to be one of those magical creatures that had made a pact with my dad.
I also caught sight of another beast — a pitch-black, werewolf-like thing that roamed on all fours around our place.
Right now, I was heading toward the exit, hoping to catch another glimpse of that creature.
"There you are… my little runt."
My mom's voice came from behind me as I crawled toward the door. Just as I was about to make my great escape, I looked up at her in defeat.
I pointed at the door and let out a sound, "Wheeooh!"
"Again?" she sighed.
"Why are you so eager to go outside? Is it really my fault for taking you out that one time?"
She seemed to be talking to herself while glancing down at my sad face. Then, with a warm smile, she gently picked me up and carried me outside.
She set me on the little chair attached to the fence and looked at me seriously. "Listen, Jorah, you need to stay still, or you might fall from here, okay?"
Jorah Wisefield. That's me.
I nodded my head over and over, taking her words to heart.
With a doubtful squint, she asked, "You really got what I said, right?"
I nodded quickly again.
Seeing that, she smiled softly and leaned in to give me a gentle kiss on my cheek before walking off to tend to the cows.
Yeah, she went out to look after the cows — or at least, that's what they seemed like, even though each one had a bit of a magical twist to it.
They were pretty much like the contracted beasts my dad had.
Behind our house, all the trees had been totally cleared in the last six months.
They built wooden barns there to raise and take care of the cattle.
Their milk was pink — can you believe it? — and after throwing a bit of a fit, I finally got to try it.
When you boil it with some herbs, the milk becomes creamy and fragrant, tasting almost like the rose milk I adored in my past life.
It was so good.
But that's not all. Along with raising these weird, magical cows, we also grew a bunch of colorful plants in the backyard — plants that my mom said were super important for my dad's work.
I wasn't sure how useful they really were, but I was looking forward to finding out someday.
As I scanned the area, my eyes finally landed on the creature I had been hunting for — the one that had mesmerized me for days.
It was a stunning, werewolf-like wolf that moved on all fours with the elegance of a spirit.
Its fur sparkled in silvery-gray shades with subtle blue hints, shining like moonlight on calm water.
Its eyes glowed a pale, eerie blue, reflecting the full moon itself, and its fangs sparkled like freshly cut ice.
The massive wolf moved closer, its pace slow yet filled with curiosity as it neared me.
It halted within a meter and started to sniff the air around me, its icy-blue eyes locked onto mine.
I could feel its interest—no, I could sense it.
About a month ago, something unusual began happening to me.
Out of the blue, I started to vaguely pick up on the emotional states of others—be they human or animal. It felt like a hidden thread of awareness linked me to everything around me.
I could feel my mother's affection, my father's quiet determination, and even the curiosity or restlessness of the magical creatures near our home.
Now, standing in front of this magnificent wolf, I could feel it too.
Despite its impressive size and noble presence, there wasn't a hint of aggression.
Instead, what I sensed was a warm, playful curiosity—similar to a friendly dog meeting a new friend.
With that reassurance, I cautiously reached my right hand out toward the creature.
From the clear signs of its anatomy, I could tell it was male.
"Woof," he barked softly, his deep, resonant voice almost musical. His tail started to wag gently as he leaned in closer, sniffing my fingers.
"Hehe," a giggle escaped me before I could hold it back. His behavior was so unexpectedly charming that I couldn't help but laugh.
Then, the great wolf began to lick my outstretched hand, his tongue rough yet oddly warm. He moved in closer, until his huge head was nearly resting against me. His fur felt incredibly soft and comforting—warm despite the crisp chill of the forest air surrounding us.
I wasn't sure how long we stayed like that—just a boy and a magical wolf, silently understanding each other without the need for words.
Then, a familiar voice called out from behind me, cheerful and amused.
"Oh! So you're with Eiraen!?"
I turned my head. My mother was standing by the fence, her usual confident smile brightening her face.
So, Eiraen—that's his name!
I quickly committed it to memory, whispering it to myself so I wouldn't lose it.
When she spoke, Eiraen stood up straight, shot me one last glance, and then turned away.
With a smooth gait, he walked back toward the barn, where the bulls and cows were housed.
Given that the forest was teeming with dangerous predators, my dad had placed Eiraen here as a guardian to keep an eye on the livestock.
The wolf wasn't just a stunning companion—he was a fierce protector, loyal and ready to defend when necessary.
As Eiraen faded from sight, I felt a little tug of hesitation.
My lips naturally formed a pout. Trust me, that wasn't on purpose—it's just this baby body doing its own thing!
I'm not saying I blame every little action on "child instincts" or anything… okay, maybe just a tad.
My mom picked up on my expression immediately. With that ever-so-gentle smile of hers, she leaned down until our eyes locked, her dark brown hair cascading over her shoulders.
"What's this? Do you want to hang out with him more than with me?" she teased softly, her voice filled with that playful warmth that always made me feel secure.
Before I could even say anything, she reached out and gently pressed her slender, pointy finger against my cheek.
My chubby face squished under her touch, sinking into my baby fat.
"Hmph."
With a dramatic pout, I turned my head away from her, avoiding her gaze.
It just wasn't fair—honestly!
It was such a rare treat for me to be outside, and even more so to interact with these magical creatures.
But just when I was enjoying my time with Eiraen, she had to come in and spoil my moment of triumph!
So yeah, I was a bit let down. Just a bit.
My mom, though, didn't seem bothered at all.
In fact, my sulking face seemed to make her even happier.
A soft laugh slipped from her lips before she suddenly lifted me into her arms, her radiant, contagious smile lighting up her face.
"Hehe~ got you!" she playfully said, spinning me around a little before holding me snugly against her chest.
I looked up at her, a bit confused at first—but then I felt something else from her.
Behind that bright smile, there was a hint of… relief?
Like a burden had just been lifted from her heart.
"It seems you're interested in magical creatures," she said gently, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead.
"Thank goodness. We were worried you might be drawn to the Umbra-bound instead of the Sol-bound."
'Huh?' I blinked at her, completely baffled.
My little mouth hung open slightly as I tried to wrap my head around those strange terms.
Umbra-bound? Sol-bound?
I tilted my head, giving her my best "confused baby" look, which must have worked well because she laughed again.
I had no idea what she was talking about—but something in the way she said it made me feel like there was a deeper meaning behind those words.
What are those things? Is it related to magic?
Noticing my confused look, she smiled slightly and said, "You should be just like your dad, a great Beastmender, alright?"
I still looked pretty dazed.
Seeing this, my mom gave me her usual kiss on the cheek.
"Most of the time, you seem to get what I'm saying, but other times you just drift off... sigh, your dad doesn't believe me when I say you understand our words... mmm... how about this? Want me to teach you how to sense Lumis?"