The afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the enclosure as we made our way toward Marshmallow’s pen. Monkey chatter echoed through the trees, distant and unimportant.

Beside me, Chia bounced on her heels, barely containing herself. "I bet he looks even better today! Maybe fluffier! Maybe even bigger!"

"Chia, he’s a boar, not a pillow."

She huffed. "I know that! But he is my Marshmallow, and Marshmallows are soft and fluffy!"

Bobo snorted from my shoulder, shaking his head.

I glanced at him. "Something to say?"

Bobo puffed up his chest, adjusted his fur, held his tiny palm behind his back like he was someone important.

Chia clapped. “Wooooow, Bobo! You look so cool!”

Bobo grinned, with a single step he flipped in the air, and landed back on my shoulder, looking very pleased with himself.

I groaned. "Now you're feeding his ego."

Chia giggled. "Oh, come on! Let him have his moment!"

I rolled my eyes, but the smile was already there.

Despite everything—despite how much had changed in the past few weeks—some things never did.

As we reached the reinforced pen, Jaro was already there, leaning against the railing, arms crossed. His sharp gaze flicked toward us. "Figured you’d show up soon."

I nodded. "How’s he doing?"

Jaro exhaled through his nose. "Better. Eats well. Stays alert. But he’s still wary. Won’t take food from anyone’s hand. Doesn’t let anyone get too close."

Chia frowned. "Awww, but he looked so calm yesterday!"

Jaro raised an eyebrow. "That was because he was on the brink of death, little Chia."

She winced.

I sighed. "So, since he woke up, he's been on edge."

Jaro nodded. "Can’t blame him. Woke up in a new place, surrounded by strangers. And from the place I heard he came from… If it were me, I wouldn’t trust anyone either."

He wasn’t wrong.

I looked past him, toward the pen. "Can I go in?"

Jaro studied me for a long moment. "You sure?"

I met his gaze. "Yeah."

He grunted. "Alright. Move slow. If he gets agitated, I step in."

Chia tugged my sleeve. "Be nice, okay?"

I shot her a dry look. "Yeah, because I was totally planning on scaring him."

She stuck her tongue out.

Bobo patted my head like he was the one reminding me to behave.

I sighed and stepped through the gate.

Inside the pen, the air was still. Straw covered the ground, a shaded area sat in the corner, and a water trough rested near the back wall.

And at the center—

Marshmallow.

Not the same broken creature we’d found. His frame had filled out, his hide thick with reinforced muscle. His tusks curved in sharp, clean arcs—controlled, powerful.

But his eyes…

His eyes still carried that deep, guarded caution.

I took a slow step forward.

His ears flicked. His body tensed.

I didn’t reach for him. Didn’t speak. Just let him see me.

His nostrils flared.

Another step.

His hooves shifted. A sharp exhale through his nose.

Bobo, still perched on my shoulder, let out a small chitter. Not a threat. Not a challenge.

Just like a... hello there.

Marshmallow’s gaze flicked toward him.

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Bobo tilted his head. Then, ever so slowly, he lifted his tiny hands holding a tiny piece of dry fruit, and mimicked the way I usually held food out to him.

Like he was offering the fruit to Marshmallow.

Marshmallow didn’t react. Didn’t move.

But he was watching.

Carefully.

I took another step.

My hand hovered near his side—slow, deliberate.

Marshmallow’s breathing hitched.

For a second, I thought he might bolt—

Then, my fingertips brushed against his hide.

A pulse of warmth surged from my palm, flowing into him.

And—

His entire frame relaxed.

Like something in him recognized the energy. Like something deep within him remembered.

His breathing steadied.

His muscles unwound.

A quiet huff escaped him.

What that was, I didn’t know.

Something like… understanding.

Maybe I was imagining it.

I swallowed and pressed my hand flat against his side.

“…You know, don’t you?” I murmured.

A softer huff.

Behind me, Chia sucked in a breath. "Akul…"

I turned slightly, catching her wide, glistening eyes.

"He knows," she whispered, something between awe and relief in her voice.

Bobo let out a small, pleased grunt.

Jaro, watching from the gate, crossed his arms. "Huh."

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

He shrugged. "I've been trying to get near him all morning, but he never let me."

I turned back to Marshmallow.

His eyes met mine.

No fear.

No hesitation.

Just quiet, steady understanding.

This wasn’t a bond yet.

But in this moment?

That didn’t matter.

Marshmallow knew.

And no matter how long it took—

I’d make sure he never had to feel alone again.

I knew exactly who could help.

Chia hesitated at the gate, fingers curling around the wooden railing. Her eyes flicked between me, Marshmallow, and Jaro, her usual energy dimmed—something careful in its place.

"Can I…?" she asked, voice softer than usual.

I nodded. “Yeah. Just go slow.”

Marshmallow shifted as she stepped inside. His ears flicked toward her, muscles tightening—not aggressive, not afraid, just… wary.

She crouched low, mirroring my earlier approach. "Hey, big guy," she murmured, voice warm, steady. “You’re looking so much better today.”

He didn’t move.

Chia took another step. Her hand hovered inches from his thick hide.

His body tensed. A ripple of unease.

I placed my palm against his shoulder, sending a steady pulse of energy through him. "Easy," I murmured. "It’s just Chia."

Marshmallow exhaled sharply.

Then—

He stilled.

Chia’s lips parted slightly as she brushed her fingers against his side—slow, deliberate. Her touch traced a path across his coarse fur, something soft in her eyes.

Something that made my chest feel strangely tight.

"You remember me, don’t you?" she whispered. "I knew you would."

No doubt in her voice. Just quiet certainty.

Bobo let out a small approving huff from my shoulder.

Jaro, watching from the gate, arched an eyebrow. “Huh. That’s rare.”

I glanced at him. "What is?"

He nodded toward Chia. “You’re lucky; at the rate I was progressing this morning, I never expected to see this day.”

Chia grinned, her fingers curling slightly against Marshmallow’s fur. "We’re going to take good care of you, okay? You’re safe now."

Marshmallow rumbled low in his chest.

Was that a positive answer?

Well, it definitely wasn't a rejection.

Maybe something in between.

Chia’s gaze flicked toward me. “But… there’s still no fire.”

She was right.

Despite everything—the recovery, the healing, the growth—Marshmallow’s body was still missing the most defining trait of his kind.

A fireboar should have had a burning ridge of flames running from head to tail.

Even if he wasn’t fully restored, there should’ve been something. A spark. A flicker.

But there was nothing.

Chia sighed, rubbing her arms. "If only my energy wasn’t magma-infused, but just pure fire… I could have helped him."

I turned toward her. "What do you mean?"

She hesitated. "My trait, don't you remember? It lets me infuse objects or living things with explosive energy. But… it’s really, really difficult to cultivate."

I frowned. "Difficult how?"

She pursed her lips. "Normal mana doesn’t easily convert into my type of energy. If I had fire-based resources, I could generate more. But right now?" She lifted her hand, a faint wisp of reddish energy flickering across her fingers before sputtering out. "I don’t have much to spare."

A thought clicked.

"What if we use what you have?" I asked.

She blinked. "Huh?"

"You infuse him with your energy. I’ll use my ability to help him absorb and process it. Even if it’s not a lot, maybe it’s enough to trigger something."

Her eyes widened. "But my energy is unstable. What if—"

"I’ve got it under control," I said. "Don’t you trust me?"

Her cheeks flushed.

I smirked.

She huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine! But if something explodes, it’s your fault."

I stepped closer to Marshmallow.

He was watching now. He could feel something was coming.

I placed my palm against his hide. "Let’s do this."

Chia exhaled sharply. Then, she pressed her hand against his side, directly across from mine.

For a moment—nothing.

Then—

Still nothing.

I frowned. "Chia?"

She didn’t look up. Her brows furrowed, her palm pressing more firmly against Marshmallow’s side.

I waited.

And waited.

And…

Nothing.

"Uh… did you start yet?" I asked.

"I'm trying," she muttered, frustration creeping into her voice.

I glanced at her hand. No glow, no surge of energy, no response from Marshmallow.

Absolutely nothing.

I raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're—"

"YES, AKUL. I’M SURE."

I flinched at the sharpness in her voice.

She exhaled heavily, pulling back and shaking out her hands. "Hold on. Let me focus."

With a small motion, she summoned her artifact.

The floating box of sweets appeared before her, softly pulsing with her mana.

Chia closed her eyes, concentrating.

A long pause.

Then—her eyes snapped open.

Her face fell.

"Oh."

I frowned. "Oh, what?"

"Oh, silly me," she said, rubbing her forehead. "I totally forgot—my ability only works on things connected to my artifact."

I blinked. "Meaning?"

She sighed dramatically. "Meaning I can't infuse him with my energy."

My stomach sank. "Wait—why not?"

She gave me an exasperated look. "Because I don’t have a contract with him! My trait only lets me enhance things bound to me. He’s not my summon."

I stared at her.

She stared back.

I deadpanned. "So you need to make a contract with him."

She nodded. "Yeah. Otherwise, no dice."

"Then let’s do that."

"What, now?" she gaped.

"Yeah. Right now."

Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

"...But—I mean—I haven’t even—"

I raised an eyebrow.

She groaned, slapping her hands over her face. "Ugh. You’re impossible."

I grinned. "And?"

She peeked through her fingers, pouting. "...And I guess I should have seen this coming."

Bobo chittered excitedly from my shoulder.

Marshmallow blinked slowly, as if somehow knowing what was about to happen.

I stepped back, folding my arms. "So? What are we waiting for?"

Chia dropped her hands, exhaling sharply.

Then—

She straightened her shoulders.

And her fingers curled into fists.

"Alright," she muttered. "Let’s do this."