"Well," Michael murmured, glancing back at Arianne. "That was easy."
Arianne smothered a laugh behind her fingers. "Seems like it’s already claid you."
Michael shook his head faintly, lips twitching.
However, Michael was at least glad that everything was going smoothly so far.
Now, the only real issue was whether he could successfully ta the beast through the master-subordinate magic ritual contract.
Arianne’s eyes lingered on the owl for a few monts longer, a flicker of anticipation in her gaze.
"Let’s head back to the garden," she said suddenly, turning to Michael with a bright smile. "You should try taming it imdiately."
Her voice carried a spark of excitent that was almost infectious—more excited than even Michael, at least on the surface. But deep inside, Michael felt anticipation beneath his calm expression.
"Why wait?" she added.
Michael gave a small nod. "No reason at all."
Without further delay, they thanked the old man Elric and turned to leave the enclosure. Guards fell into step behind them as they retraced their path through the estate. The afternoon sun slanted through the gardens, casting golden light across trimd hedges and warded stone paths.
Soon, they approached the clearing where the fla lion still rested.
Michael looked down at the owl still perched calmly on his forearm. Its feathers shimred faintly in the light, and its silver eyes scanned the space ahead with lazy interest.
"I hope all goes well," Michael murmured under his breath.
Arianne clapped her hands lightly once they arrived at the garden. "Bring back the table from earlier," she called to the handlers.
The n moved without delay, swiftly retrieving the tools and setting the table exactly where it had been before.
Without waiting, Arianne imdiately began recreating the taming solution.
Her fingers moved deftly.
Michael stood off to the side, watching with quiet interest.
The owl on his arm blinked slowly, head swiveling as it watched her too.
Only when the solution reached the final stage did Arianne gesture to Michael.
Michael stepped forward without hesitation.
Arianne handed him a thin blade. "Just a little."
Michael took the blade and, with a clean motion, made a shallow cut across the side of his palm. Blood welled up imdiately, dark red and warm. He let it drip into the center of the basin, where it hissed and rged into the ritual fluid.
Without flinching, he accepted the small glass vial Arianne held out next.
Though he did not need it, Michael still dabbed a bit of the potion onto his palm. The skin cooled and sealed rapidly.
Michael glanced at the bowl as the blood settled in.
Then he asked, "Shouldn’t I be the one preparing the ritual?"
Arianne gave a soft chuckle. "Not necessarily. The only crucial part where the beast tar is needed is during two monts—the blood sacrifice, which you just did, and the spirit-binding stage that cos next."
Michael looked thoughtful.
"Alright," he said at last, voice calm. "Let’s continue."
Michael watched as Arianne soon went in to draw the magic ritual circles.
When it was completed, the entire formation lit up with a soft glow.
Arianne stood and brushed her hands clean, the faint light of the ritual circle humming beneath her feet.
"Place it in the center," she said, gesturing to the owl.
Michael stepped forward. The mutated owl, still calmly perched on his arm, offered no resistance.
—"Shiny circle."
Michael lowered his arm, letting the owl hop down gently onto the center of the formation. The mont it settled, the light around the circle brightened—just slightly—as if recognizing the presence of the bond target.
"Now," Arianne said, stepping back, "leave the circle and place your hand in the ink."
Michael did as instructed, walking out of the circle’s periter before dipping his uninjured hand into the basin. The dark liquid clung to his palm, cold and tingling.
"Infuse your mana," Arianne said softly. "Channel your spirit into the ink."
The mont Michael did so, he felt it—an invisible thread tightening between him and the owl. It was subtle at first, like the distant pull of a string tied to his soul.
Arianne’s voice broke the silence. "How does it feel?"
Michael closed his eyes briefly, focusing.
"Connected," he murmured.
Arianne nodded. "That’s good. Your spirit force is reaching it. That’s what this ritual does—it helps channel your will in a way that affects the soul of the creature."
Michael opened his eyes, gaze locked on the owl.
"So all I have to do is..."
"Lower its resistance," Arianne finished for him. "You can do that in two ways. Dominate its spirit with your own... or convince it through connection."
Michael raised an eyebrow. "So either brute force it—or talk it into joining ?"
"Essentially, yes," Arianne said, her tone light.
Michael returned his gaze to the owl, whose silver eyes glead at him.
Michael took a slow breath and looked down at the owl, still calmly sitting at the center of the ritual.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Do you want shiny food?" he asked through the link, his voice playful.
The owl tilted its head again, curious.
—"Shiny food?" it echoed. "Mmm... yes. I want."
Michael smirked. "Then stay still. Be good. And the shiny food is yours."
He wasn’t above bribing a creature with child-level intelligence.
The owl shifted slightly, claws flexing, but it didn’t leave the circle.
—"This circle... makes feel itchy," the voice complained, softer now. "Like buzzing in my feathers."
"Uncomfortable?" Michael asked.
—"Yes! But... still okay. If you promise shiny food."
Michael pressed gently, "I promise. More than one. Very shiny. Very juicy."
Till now he had no idea what the shiny food was. However, that would be left for later. This was just an experint after all so he wasn’t above lying.
He just wanted to confirm so things.
The ntal voice chirped again, thoughts bubbling like a stream of water.
—"You understand ... you really do. You’re the first."
Michael felt the thread between them pull tighter. The bond was forming.
He pushed again, this ti not with words, but intent—a quiet feeling of companionship, of wanting to protect and grow together. It wasn’t an overwhelming surge of dominance... just sincerity.
Well, he believed it was sincerity.
—"Okay," the voice whispered, softer now. "Okay, I’ll be yours."
The magic circle pulsed.
Michael watched as the runes lit up fully.
The ritual reached its peak.
The bond was complete.
However, just as Michael was about to relax, a panel appeared in front of him.
[You have learned the skill {Taming}]
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