Rei Valen stood at the edge of the arena platform, staring down at his tea as though it owed him an apology.
"I just wanted a peaceful life," he whispered to the cup. "Herbs. Sleep. A nap longer than four hours. Was that so much to ask?"
Behind him, cheers erupted as the tournament announcer's voice boomed:
> "AND IN THE FINAL MATCH OF THE BEGINNER'S BEAST BONDING TOURNAMENT, THE UNDEFEATED UNDERDOG—REI VALEN—FACES OFF AGAINST THE PRIDE OF HOUSE DRAVEN, THE GILDED PRODIGY… ALRIC DRAKEBLADE!"
The crowd roared.
Rei sighed. "Of course it's a noble. They always have dumb names and ancestral vendettas."
From across the stone field, Alric strutted into view in ceremonial armor that glinted like someone had dipped him in melted coins. His platinum hair waved dramatically in the wind, which Rei was certain had been magically summoned for flair.
Behind Alric stalked his bonded beast—a massive armored feline with golden horns and crackling energy around its paws.
> Beast: Thunderfang Lion. Class: A-Rank. Status: Overcompensating.
Alric raised a hand to silence the cheers. "You! Commoner. I commend your luck. But it ends here."
Rei blinked. "Do I know you?"
"You disgraced the Guild by mocking this sacred tournament with your peasant theatrics."
"Ah. So no, then."
Alric's eye twitched. "Prepare to be humbled!"
"I'm already pretty humble. I run a herb stall next to a public outhouse."
Alric grit his teeth.
---
Stands – Ellyn and Kreg
Ellyn was halfway through a spirit-skewer and already on her third cheer flag.
"Do you think he's actually going to win this time?" she asked.
Kreg shrugged. "Depends. Is Fluff asleep or bored?"
Fluff sat beside them, looking intensely focused on a butterfly flying nearby.
Which was terrifying.
Because Fluff was never focused.
---
Back on the Field
The referee stepped forward. "Combatants! You may summon your beasts!"
Alric flourished dramatically and pointed to the sky. "Roar, Zerathus!"
The Thunderfang Lion growled and released a surge of lightning that scorched a circle into the arena floor.
The audience gasped in awe.
Rei gently nudged his pouch. "Fluff. Wake up."
The bunny blinked awake, stretched, and yawned.
Nothing happened.
The audience laughed.
"Did… did his bunny just yawn?"
"Maybe it's sick?"
"I think it fell asleep again!"
Rei crouched and whispered urgently. "Fluff. This is the final. Don't kill. Don't maim. Maybe just glare a little."
Fluff scratched his ear and wandered out onto the field.
Alric snorted. "This will be over in one move."
Rei muttered, "I hope so."
---
Final Match Begins
The referee's hand dropped. "Begin!"
Zerathus charged with blinding speed, lightning trailing in its wake.
Rei flinched instinctively—then saw Fluff still waddling across the battlefield, completely unaware.
The lion leapt, claws ready to strike.
And then—
Fluff looked up.
No pressure. No aura. Just a look.
The lion's body locked mid-air.
Its pupils shrank.
Its muscles spasmed.
Then, it did something no one expected.
It turned around mid-leap... and tackled its own master.
Alric screamed as he was buried under two hundred pounds of terrified beast.
The arena went dead silent.
Rei blinked. "Well. That's new."
---
Aftermath
The referee cautiously approached the pile of noble and lion. "Um… I… I think the winner is… Rei Valen?"
Half the audience erupted in cheers.
The other half whispered feverishly about curses, forbidden magic, and the rise of a new Beast Lord.
Rei turned to leave the arena.
Someone threw a bouquet at him.
He ducked. "Rude."
---
Backstage
Ellyn burst in, waving a scroll. "You're officially invited to the Intercity Championships in Silvermist!"
Rei took the scroll, glanced at it, and set it on fire with a match.
Kreg raised an eyebrow. "Bit extreme."
"I'm done," Rei said. "One tournament was already too many."
"But you're famous now."
"I'm not! Fluff is!"
Fluff lay on a bench chewing a carrot and giving no comment.
"You beat a noble's heir in public," Ellyn said. "They're not going to let that go."
"I'll fake my death."
"You said that last time. You wrote your own obituary."
"It was a good one!"
"You left it at the stall!"
---
Later That Night – Back Room
Rei sat beside Fluff, writing a new shop sign.
> REI'S HERBS – DEFINITELY NOT THE TERROR TAMER
He stared at it for a while.
"Maybe that's too subtle."
Fluff sneezed. A mug cracked.
---
Meanwhile – Noble Estate of House Draven
Alric sat in a silk-draped bath, growling at his bruised lion.
"Explain to me again," he hissed, "why you tackled me."
The lion whimpered.
"Was it magic?"
Whimper.
"Mind control?"
Whimper.
"A soul-searing gaze of ultimate judgment?"
The lion nodded frantically.
Alric curled up and muttered, "I will ruin that herb-selling, hat-wearing, bunny-wielding peasant if it's the last thing I do…"
---
Elsewhere – Guild High Tower
The scrying mirrors had been replaying Fluff's "yawn" for hours.
"This is a calamity-class response," said one senior official. "The lion nearly had a heart attack from a glance."
"No spells. No commands. Just bunny."
Another leaned forward. "Should we recruit him?"
"Or contain him."
The Guild Master sat in silence. Then said:
"Send a diplomatic team."
"To recruit him?"
"No," the Guild Master said slowly, watching Fluff lick his paw.
"To apologize before he notices we exist."
---
Back in Orenth – The Next Morning
Rei reopened the shop as if nothing had happened. His herbs were neatly arranged, his tea pot freshly boiled.
A long line had already formed outside.
"Excuse me," a noblewoman said, fanning herself. "Is it true your bunny can kill with eye contact?"
"No. He mostly just naps."
"How much to have him sit near my ex-husband's house?"
"Fifty silver an hour."
"I'll take four."
Rei took the coin without flinching.
"Do you offer group packages?" someone else asked.
"Only if you bring snacks."