Panting, I hurry along across the stone floors of the villa. All kinds of dust here. Not because this beast taming family needs housekeeping lessons, but because the villa is old. Ancient. Cracks in the stone. That weathered look that screams historical site. An old sll. Comfortably old.
Kaline hurries on ahead of , always in motion as only a preteen girl can be. The only thing more energetic is a preteen boy.
I shouldn’t be struggling to keep up, but I’m used to walking on two feet, not four. I’m used not to have to think about walking on two feet, or where my tail is. Oh yes, I have a tail. A tail that is fun and amazing, but that I can trip over and that can get caught in doors or in just about anything else.
Maybe i shouldn’t overthink. I had to overthink in law school. It’s great for teaching logic and critical thinking, not so great for leaning into my animal instincts.
I do a stats check with the ga interface.
[Na: [Blaze]
[Class: [Novice]
[Race: [Common Tiger]
[Level: 1/10 [XP 10/100 STATUS: Full
[HP: 6/6 [MP: 0/0 [Stamina 100/100
[Strength: 2
[Defense: 4
[Magic: 2
[Resistance: 1
[Speed: 2
[Charisma: 5
[Luck: 1
[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Pounce (Attack Skill)] [Sprint (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skilll) [Telepathy(Skill Not Yet Acquired])
Interesting that when I rembered playing the ga, sohow the interface updated my skills to include one that I don’t possess yet. What would it take?
[Telepathy Unlocked at Level 3 and Above.]
Okay. Fair enough. I need to level up in order to unlock the telepathy skill, unless I get an unexpected event or cheat in the ga. I try to think about all the ga cheats. because I really want to start communicating with Kaline on a (dare I say it) human level. Well, close enough, anyway. Growls and purrs and body language and "mrrrps" aren’t doing the job.
So, how do I unlock Telepathy?
While I trot along, ruminatiing, Kaline stops to chat with one of the villa’s servants that she knows, a tall, cheerful man in his mid-twenties.
"What a magnificent beast you have," he praises, glancing at . "I’m sure you are making the House of Riddlehoeven proud."
Riddlehoeven? Now that either sounds like a dwarf or a German dish. Or a Harry Potter character. Voldemort was nad Tom Riddle originally. I glance around for any creepy dark wizards lurking in the shadows. I didn’t see any in the ga as far as I got last weekend, but they might be out there. Maybe the storyline didn’t progress far enough.
This is a story-driven RPG in many ways. It’s not a matching ga or a Hidden Objects ga or a first-person shooter or combat ga. Damon and I got as far as the arena before I needed to resu studying. If I’d had any premonition, I would have done so things differently.
1) Spent the weekend with my kid brother.
2) Either worked things out or broken things off with my fiancee.
3) Gone to see a cardiologist.
4) Told my parents I love them one last ti.
5) Figured out if I really wanted to be a lawyer or was just doing it to please my parents.
Now Kaline doesn’t seem to have any doubt about being a beast tar. And the thing is, she’s good at it, especially given her age. She has a natural talent for it. For the last two nights, she’s slept with , completely content. Fed . Cuddled . Given dicine. Sang to . Read stories from this world.
Other family mbers dropped in from ti to ti.
When Vedette visited, I feigned sleep. I’m still working out what her deal is, and i haven’t forgiven her for accidentally poisoning . She lectured Kaline in that big sister way, giving her all kinds of unsolicited advice. Although Kaline listened patiently and piped up, "I know, I know," I could tell she wanted Vedette’s support. Or maybe this is just their relationship.
The dad, whom I’ve learned is called Lamant, also visited, expressing concern. I stayed awake and alert for that one, mostly to give him the stinkeye for his A parenting. He never explained himself, although he did say, "Kaline, I think the situation with Vedette got a little out of hand."
Thanks, Captain Obvious.
Kaline didn’t say much in response as she busied herself with brushing my fur after a bath.
Although cats hate baths, I needed one. I shivered a lot more than I would have as a human. All that wet fur, you know. Kaline even had a blowdryer, a magic one. She gave a blast from it, but stopped just when I began to warm up. A "mrrrow" in a questioning tone indicated my feelings. Apologetic, she explained that she didn’t want to burn with the heat.
Naturally, I didn’t burn. I was too busy lting. How can any kid be this sweet?
That’s why I gave her father the stink-eye. In my mind, he’s responsible for getting sick. So yes, the situation got more than a little out of hand. Slow clap. What’s the answer? What is the plan here? He didn’t offer much in the way of solutions. He just told her to look after .
The servant that Kaline has stopped to talk to seems more with it, but no surprise there. Servants and staff always know what’s really going on. In the course of the conversation, I learn that his na is Tomas Willems, and he’s the underbutler.
Kaline picks up, cuddling in her arms. A That feels good.
"He’s wonderful, Tomas. He’s going to help beco a superior beast tar in no ti."
Tomas winks. "Before the big competition, eh?"
What’s this? Big competition? Like so kind of beast taming dog show?
"Yes," Kaline declares. "The Beast Taming Elimination Tournant! I have three months to train Blaze to be the best beast in all of Tanglewood!"
GULP. No pressure there!
User Comments
0 comments from readers