Chapter 209 - Sell me the Moon Panther
Sebastian Blake:
"Kid!" I exclaimed, approaching him with urgency.
This can't be what I'm thinking.
"What is it?" he asked, visibly confused.
"This thing!" I replied, leaning down to grab the animal at his feet.
He tried to stop me, putting a hand on my arm. "Let her go!"
Ignoring him, I focused on examining the creature’s face. I needed to confirm what it was.
"A white circle on its forehead..." I murmured to myself, disbelief clear in my voice.
I released the animal, and it immediately darted back to the boy, eagerly accepting his gentle strokes along its back. The creature, somewhat aggressive, continued growling and hissing at me.
"It's okay..." the boy murmured to it soothingly.
I stared at him, completely stunned. "That's a damn Moon Panther!" I exclaimed, incredulity dripping from each word.
No way! He managed to tame a creature like that?
The Moon Panther is infamous for its untamable temperament and deadly nature. For years, countless efforts have been made to domesticate these ferocious animals, but all failed. Known for their violent tendencies, they refuse to submit to any form of control.
Over time, the Moon Panthers started to mysteriously vanish, and sightings became exceedingly rare. When they do appear, they tend to disappear just as swiftly. There's even a rumor that only one Moon Panther exists, roaming from kingdom to kingdom, always a step ahead of any who spot it.
No one would ever have suspected that all this time, one of these creatures has been here, right under our noses. Even the latest bestiaries have removed them from their records.
If it hadn’t been for the queen’s insistence that we study all the bestiaries, both current and ancient, before coming to the academy so we’d know how to assess students' animals, I’d have never suspected that this little cat is, in fact, a young Moon Panther.
Nathan Evenhart:
"Who does this scum think he is, touching me like that? I'm going to kill him!" Cylla muttered, fury evident in her voice.
"It's okay..." I said, trying to calm her down, stroking her back.
Is this guy kidding me? Who does he think he is? I’ll be the one to kill him.
I looked down at the angry little feline, knowing I couldn’t voice my thoughts aloud. It’d set a terrible example for her.
“That’s a damn Moon Panther!” Sebastian exclaimed, disbelief clear in his words.
I looked at him firmly.
"This little kitty is a girl, and I don’t want you touching her again," I replied, forcing a smile that barely concealed my anger.
"Kid!" Sebastian stepped closer, his tone dripping with authority.
"How did you manage to tame a creature like that? This is a deadly beast that doesn’t accept being controlled by anyone," he continued, clear disbelief in his tone.
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"I didn’t ‘tame’ her. She is, indeed, a killer beast, and if she decides to attack you, I won't be able to stop her. This little one is stronger than me," I replied, trying to keep my cool.
"If you’ve earned her trust, that means she’s already tamed," Sebastian observed, leaning closer to study her face. “This really is a Moon Panther cub. For years, everyone tried to domesticate one, and no one succeeded.”
“They’re intelligent beings. How would you feel if you were captured and forced to obey someone?” I shot back.
A gray cat growled.
Sebastian seemed to consider my words before continuing.
"I'm making an offer on behalf of the royal family. I’ll pay whatever price you ask. You’d have the honor of personally gifting this pet to the king’s family. If the panther has accepted domestication, she could be raised by us.”
His words were a direct insult to me and to my closest friend. I did my best to suppress the growing fury inside me.
"Tell him that if they try to tame me, I'll kill the entire royal family," a furious Cylla told me.
I looked down, trying to steady my emotions and set a good example for my dragon companion.
“She’s not for sale. She’s not a commodity to be bought or a slave to be sold. She’s a free being and someone very special to me. I've been with her since I was five, and she’s saved my life countless times. I won’t sell her,” I said firmly, turning to leave.
A hand gripped my shoulder, and Sebastian pressed on.
" Whatever you ask, they’ll pay it. You and your duchy could receive vast riches. The royal family would thank you personally, and you’d be rewarded beyond measure.”
Sebastian Blake:
He looked at my hand on his shoulder, and for a moment, his eyes held a glint of disgust, as if I wasn’t worthy of even touching him.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’m engaged to Princess Alice. That makes me part of the royal family. When I make an offer, it carries the weight of the king’s family. You should be honored to serve me and your king,” I declared, adopting a tone of superiority.
This farm boy might come from high nobility, but my status as a member of the royal family places me well above him.
I had made an offer that people across the kingdom would dream of receiving. I’ve purchased students' animals before, but this was different. If the royal family learned of a domesticated moon panther, they would stop at nothing to possess it.
A moon panther makes the royal family’s tigers look like house cats. It’s a powerful, lethal, and intelligent creature. Once fully grown, its strength surpasses any ordinary beast. There are even rumors that moon panthers possess shadow magic.
“She’s not for sale.” He removed my hand from his shoulder and turned to leave.
“You will sell her… Just think about it. It’s in the name of your king and queen. Would you really deny them if they asked?”
“Yes,” he answered coolly.
The boy turned his back, walking away alongside the panther cub.
I don’t know how he managed to tame her, but now that she’s domesticated, it’ll be easier to make her obey. Even if that means using a pain collar on the panther.
I made my way over to the soldiers reinforcing the magical barrier.
“Greg!” I called, my voice firm.
He approached quickly, his expression attentive.
“Find William and have him send a letter on my behalf to the queen and to my fiancée’s father. Inform the grand duke Ryan that I’ve found something of inestimable value.”
Greg looked at me, stunned, hesitating. “Are you sure?”
“Of course! Tell him I discovered a domesticated moon panther cub.” I watched as his face registered the shock of it.
“Are you insane? Those are killers!”
I rolled my eyes, growing impatient. “This one’s tame, you idiot. The owner’s from our kingdom, and he’s refusing to sell. Include his name in the letter: Nathan Evenhart. He’s a subject of the kingdom. We’ll have that panther, whether he agrees or not.”
The mention of the name made Greg's face go pale.
“Sir… did you say Evenhart? That’s one of the Eight Governing Families of the kingdom… I would never dare confront them. My family holds the Sacred Families in the highest regard.” His voice carried a blend of reverence and fear.
I sighed, impatient. “I’m giving you an order, and you’re considering disobeying?”
He swallowed hard, looking away. “But sir… the Evenharts are superior nobles. Compared to them, we’re almost nothing…”
I crossed my arms, my expression hardening. “Don’t include me in that. I’m now a member of the royal family. I stand above even the Eight Ducal Families. Go find William; he’s likely in one of the duel arenas.”
Greg hesitated, visibly conflicted.
I rolled my eyes again. “Forget it… I’ll handle this myself. During the next holiday period, I’ll deliver the news personally to the Grand Duke and the Queen.”
Bringing news like this to the royal family would be a testament to my value, a card up my sleeve that could cement my position. My engagement to Alice, a superior noble, wasn’t going smoothly, and the shadow of a potential breakup loomed over me. I knew that, despite my efforts, the difference in status was a constant risk; one misstep could dissolve my union with Alice. But if I continued to prove my worth, I might secure my place.
Making myself indispensable in the royal family’s eyes was my best chance of avoiding the fate I dreaded most: being cast aside as a dispensable pawn.
Nathan Evenhart will sell that animal, one way or another, when his king demands it.