I signed the contract and it felt astough something tried to rip out my ribcage, no, something in my ribcage tried to break free.

"Fascinating, truly fascinating. Don't you think so?"

She asked the warden who is probably only here to open and close the double door. He opened his mouth but then decided to not say anything.

"Well then I'll explain it. You see my houndisch friend that contract doesn't work on sentient beings, it's used by tamers and summers to bind monsters to themselves."

I froze in place, chunks of flesh falling out of my mouth. But that would mean-

"-you're a human shaped monster."

Just now I realised the weight of the situation, why would anyone want monsters? For monster cores that's why. And what's a monster core? A replacement for the heart, my heart.

"Now there are a few things to probe but either way you have to be in peak physical condition, I'll personally make sure of that."

Personally? What's that supposed to mean? A director doesn't personally do something. I don't like where this is going, but I have already signed the contract.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you. Your core is far to meager to be of any value."

I'm not sure if I should be annoyed or relieved at that comment.

"Eat up, I still have to think a name for you."

Even though my insides twisted at the idea of being butchered for my core I didn't lose my appetite, not sure if that's normal or not.

I wonder what my name will be.

***

I chewed on a bone, chewing is something that I quite enjoy.

"How about Trouvier?"

"No no, to short. Strength lies in long names."

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Where did you even learn that from? You have no connection to the surface."

"My mother told me."

I watched as the warden and director argued about what my name should be whilst chewing my bone.

And then I got thinking. Badger, hound, badger, hound, hound, I'm bound by the contract. And then I remembered a tale told from a whitefurred wolf kin whit ice blue eyes. The tale of the snow Queen, I discern the mornings from back when he woke up the whole site singing the song of the snow Queen. He stayed strong until the very end, and even now I know the song of the snow Queen. Perhaps Orm would be a good fit, no?

"From now on your name is Touik."

Haa? How did they even come up with that name? Well she never said that I could choose a name after all. But still, Touik? Where did they get that from.

"Short names stand for bravery."

"And where do you have that from?"

"Unlike you I actually saw the surface world."

I picked up a new bone to chew on, I enjoy chewing stuff.

"Well follow me, I will lead you to where you will stay. Warden, how old is Touik?"

"He should be 19."

"Perfect, he should be ready to mate. You think we'll find a suitable female?"

We walked out of the arena and left the warden behind as he closed the doors that really are just reinforced stone slabs.

I thought the warden talked alot, but he's basically mute compared to the director. She never stops talking, not when wardens of the different sectors grunted their greetings, not when reaserchers joined our walk and suggested ideas for improvements.

However even if she seems to just be spitting nonsense I kept on listening and even made comments here and there to let her know that I listen. She's enjoying having someone who actually listens, I can smell it.

After a walk I forgot however long we arrived at a wooden door on the third floor, quite close to the surface. She told me that on long nights when she doesn't have anything to do, she would dress up as a nun and go to the surface. Of course she can't always convince the gate guardian but if she does, I hope she brings me something. Even leafs would be a great gift, I'm not picky.

The room itself was quite simple, bed, wardrobe, table and chair. Though he was surprised at the amount of papers stacked on the table but once he smelled the inside he knew what was going on.

"We are quite short on space right now so as my familia I will share my room with you."

The shortage of space is probably also why they started using such meat grinder methods. Back when I was younger I can remember being treated for a sprained ankle but a year ago my broken arm was only bandaged. That was probably luxury, since they want to keep me alive for my core. Life sure is favoring me.

"So what now?"

"Right now I have work to do since your a succes do some physical exercises."

"I don't know any."

"Ah, well, watch so you first lay on the ground...

***

I'm drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, I repeated the exercises she showed me until I was completely exhausted. She commented about how one with my physike should have done worse but after all I didn't have a heart pumping blood but a core pumping monstrous energy.

"Touik, get ready for bed."

Yes, rest would be good. I'm already on the ground, might aswell doze off.

"Get up, I promised you a bed didn't I?"

"But then where will you-"

"We're sharing the bed."