The moment I stepped inside, I knew.

Father’s eyes met mine—calm, steady, unreadable. But behind them, there was something else.

You know why this is happening, right?

I swallowed.

I did.

I hadn’t thought about it in the pavilion, too caught up in the moment, too eager to test my abilities. But now? Now it was clear.

I had been reckless.

And this—Rohen showing up at our home, his unwanted interest in Bobo—was the consequence.

Guilt stirred in my chest.

Mother must have told him everything.

Lina, of course, had no such awareness. She stomped past me, grumbling under her breath. “Stupid Betty-faced thief… don’t let me see you again or Lina will give you another ...hiyaa!”

As she spoke, she threw a dramatically powerful kick in the air as she stomped out of the room.

Father exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly before turning back to me. “Come.”

I followed him into the study.

The door closed behind us, sealing us in.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then—

“Explain.”

I hesitated.

But I owed him this much.

I told him everything.

Not just about Bobo’s transformation. Not just about the researcher’s reaction.

I told him about my power.

About the Eyes of Origin.

About how, the moment Bobo touched me, I could see everything—his structure, his weaknesses, his potential.

I told him how I could alter those things.

How I could stimulate growth, refine genetics, accelerate transformation—

How I could see into the very essence of beasts.

Father listened carefully, not interrupting once.

When I finally finished, he exhaled slowly, rubbing his chin. “...So, it’s true.”

I blinked. “What is?”

He met my gaze. “The Eyes of Origin have returned.”

Something in his tone made my breath catch.

“You know about them?”

A small, wry smile. “Not firsthand. But I know about the one who had them before.”

I swallowed. “The Founding Father.”

Father nodded.

“Your ability,” he said, “is recorded in our family’s history. It belonged to the very man who built our bloodline—the one whose legacy we are still tied to, even now.”

I straightened, listening intently.

“What could he do?”

Father’s expression turned thoughtful. “The records say his eyes saw beyond the present—beyond what was, into what could be. He was not just a summoner; he was a creator. He didn’t just bond with beasts. He shaped them.”

I tensed.

That sounded… exactly like what I had done.

“But,” Father continued, “it is also written that his ability changed as he grew. It wasn’t limited to what he could see at birth.”

I inhaled sharply. “You mean—”

“Your Eyes of Origin will evolve,” he confirmed. “As your artifact ranks up, as your own power grows, so too will your eyes.”

I clenched my fists.

This was just the beginning.

“What else did he do?” I pressed. “How strong did he become?”

Father exhaled. “He was a legend. His beasts were unlike any seen before. He didn’t just raise creatures—he perfected them. Pushed them beyond their limits. Broke barriers others thought were unbreakable.”

A spark ignited in my chest.

That—that was what I wanted.

To create something unmatched.

To shape a beast that defied all expectations.

But then—

“How did he die?” I asked.

Father’s gaze darkened slightly.

“No one knows,” he admitted. “The records say he vanished. Some say he was betrayed. Others say he ascended beyond this world entirely.”

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

I swallowed.

Vanished.

Ascended.

No clear ending.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

But before I could dwell on it—

“There’s something else you need to understand,” Father said.

I focused.

“You’ve already seen it for yourself,” he continued. “Your power is linked to your artifact.”

I blinked. “What?”

Father folded his arms. “Your abilities, your innate skill, your beast’s growth—all of it is bound to the rank of your artifact.”

The realization settled over me.

My Eyes of Origin. My skills. Even Bobo’s evolution.

It all tied back to my grimoire.

Father nodded, seeing the understanding on my face.

“Your grimoire is currently at Common Rank. That means you are still at the starting point. If you want to grow stronger, if you want to unlock more of your abilities—you must raise its rank.”

I swallowed. “How?”

Father raised a finger.

“There are three conditions.”

I leaned in.

“One,” he said. “You must complete your Beast Space.”

I nodded slowly. “That’s the space inside my soul where my contracted beasts reside, right?”

“Correct,” he said. “The quality of that space determines how strong your summons will be.”

I took a deep breath.

I had started forming my Beast Space, but it wasn’t complete yet.

Father held up a second finger.

“Two,” he said. “You must raise your beast to the pinnacle of the Common rank.”

I glanced at Bobo.

He was perched on my shoulder, nibbling on a piece of dried fruit, his golden fur gleaming under the lamplight.

“The pinnacle?” I frowned. “But… he’s still a baby.”

Father nodded. “Exactly. He has a long way to go.”

I exhaled. That made more sense. Even though Bobo had refined to an extraordinary level, he hadn’t matured. He was still an infant—his body had the potential, but he had yet to grow into it.

“It’s not just about physical refinement,” Father continued. “A beast must develop—gain experience, strength, and instinct. Only when it is truly ready to evolve will it reach its peak.”

I nodded slowly.

So even if Bobo was already at an elite level for his age, he wasn’t actually at his true peak.

That meant I still had work to do.

Father met my gaze. “Raising him properly will take time. Don’t rush it.”

I inhaled, steadying myself.

I understood.

A third finger.

“Three,” he finished. “You must saturate your artifact with mana.”

I frowned. “What does that mean?”

“You need to cultivate,” he explained. “Gather mana, refine it, strengthen your artifact. Once your grimoire is saturated with enough energy, and you’ve met the other two conditions—it will evolve naturally.”

I exhaled.

So that was how it worked.

It wasn’t about just getting stronger.

It was a process.

“Bronze Rank,” Father continued, “is the first step. It is the easiest to reach, but it determines everything going forward.”

I tensed.

“Why?”

“Because,” he said simply, “it is the foundation upon which all your future power will stand. If you rush it, if you build it carelessly—you will regret it later.”

A slow chill crept down my spine.

I understood now.

If I didn’t build my Beast Space properly… if I didn’t cultivate correctly…

It would weaken me forever.

I clenched my fists.

“Alright,” I said. “Then I’ll do it properly.”

Father smiled. “Good.”

I met his gaze, determination settling in.

This was my path.

This was my foundation.

And I would build it right.

I was done being reckless.

Done underestimating what my powers meant.

I would cultivate.

I would train.

I would grow.

And when the time came?

I would step into Bronze Rank on my own terms.

I lifted my gaze.

"Alright," I said, determination settling in my chest.

"I’m ready."

The night was still.

A faint breeze drifted through the open window, rustling the curtains, but inside my room, there was only silence.

I sat cross-legged on my bed, the grimoire hovering in front of me, pages glowing faintly.

Bobo curled up beside me, small but warm, his golden fur rising and falling with each soft breath.

Tonight would be different.

I inhaled slowly, letting my mind sink into cultivation. The moment I connected, the grimoire responded, flickering with light as it began drawing in mana from the surroundings.

Just like before, it felt effortless—like an engine set into motion, running on its own.

But tonight, I wouldn’t just cultivate.

Tonight, I would create.

I closed my eyes, focusing inward.

The Beast Space.

A summoner’s first true domain, built entirely from their will. A world where their contracted beasts could rest, train, and grow.

Without a fully-formed Beast Space, my grimoire would never advance. My bond with Bobo would remain incomplete.

I had to make it real.

I exhaled, letting my mind expand, reaching toward the empty void within my artifact.

Darkness.

Endless, formless space. A blank canvas waiting to be shaped.

I pictured the world Bobo needed.

Not just a jungle—his jungle.

Towering trees, ancient and massive, their trunks thick with golden moss. Sunlight filtering through a dense canopy, dappling the forest floor in shifting patterns. Vines twisting like bridges between branches, perfect for climbing.

A rushing river, crisp and clear, cutting through the land—because monkeys needed water, and Bobo deserved the best.

Fruits of every kind, hanging low, abundant.

Everything Bobo could ever need.

The moment I visualized it, the space responded.

Faint lights flickered in the darkness, the first threads of creation weaving into place.

I could feel it forming, piece by piece.

But it wasn’t just about seeing it.

I had to believe in it.

I had to internalize it—make it part of me, part of my artifact, part of Bobo.

This world had to be real.

I pushed harder, pouring my will into every detail.

The trees solidified. The river began to flow. The wind whispered through the leaves.

And then—

A presence.

Not mine.

Bobo stirred beside me, his little body suddenly tensed.

I opened my eyes, looking down—his deep golden gaze met mine.

He wasn’t just watching.

He was feeling it.

Experiencing the world I was creating.

A surge of warmth bloomed in my chest.

Our bond was deepening.

But it wasn’t enough.

I wanted more.

I reached for the grimoire, flipping to the page where my skills were recorded.

Harmonic Link.

The Bonding & Emotional Control Branch.

A skill that allowed me to strengthen my connection with Bobo—not just as a summoner, but as something deeper.

I activated it.

A soft pulse of golden light spread from my grimoire, washing over both of us.

And suddenly—

I felt everything.

Bobo’s curiosity. His instinctive joy at the world I was building. His contentment beside me.

And something else.

A trust so absolute, so unwavering, that it stole my breath.

A strange pull.

That was the first thing I felt.

The moment Harmonic Link activated, it was like something inside me stretched—like I had taken a step forward without moving at all.

But it wasn’t me moving.

It was us.

Bobo’s thoughts brushed against mine, not in words, but in impressions. Images. Feelings. Instincts.

And suddenly—

The Beast Space I had been creating wavered.

Like a reflection on water, ripples spread across it. The trees, the river, the fruits I had imagined—they remained, but something was changing.

Something was guiding me.

Bobo’s desires bled into the world like ink in water.

The river grew wider, faster—not calm and steady, but rushing, full of movement, the way he wanted it. A place to leap, to splash, to test his strength.

The trees—no, not just trees—they became something greater. More layered, more connected, roots twisting together into spiraling platforms, natural bridges crisscrossing like an endless maze in the canopy.

A network. A kingdom.

A place not just to live, but to conquer.

And the fruits—

Not scattered. Strategic. Hidden. Some high, some low, forcing him to hunt for them, to earn them. A place that rewarded curiosity, agility, challenge.

Because Bobo didn’t just want to exist in his world.

He wanted to thrive.

I barely had time to process it before my own will responded instinctively—accepting, reinforcing, solidifying the changes.

This wasn’t just my creation anymore.

This was ours.

Bobo’s small paws gripped my wrist, a spark of excitement running through him. His world, his instincts, his desires—they had become real.

And in that moment, I understood.

Harmonic Link wasn’t just about making us closer.

It was about understanding.

I had given him a home.

But he had made it perfect.

The Beast Space continued to form, steady and sure. It would take time, but tonight, I had made my first steps.

And as I lay back on my bed, Bobo nestled against me, I knew—

Tonight, we weren’t just summoner and beast.

We were partners.

And that?

That was worth more than anything.