It's been 2 Lun since my status check and everything is still the same as before.

After we come back from the church, while everyone else were explaining my status and plans for future training

to grandma and maid Kornelie, I was trying to learn how to use the appraisal skill.

Concentrating while invoking "status" in my mind,

a hologram-like projection appeared in front of me, just like the one in the church.

While I panicked at first, not to long after that, I discovered that nobody else other than me could see it.

This was when I decide my next goal will be to learn how to read,

because my status was still written in the common human language of this world.

So, for the past 2 Lun I have been trying to learn how to read from mother and grandma.

Common human language has 37 letters in the alphabet which made me worried that this won't be such a easy task,

but was pleasantly surprised when they teached me the "write as you speak, read as it is written" rule,

witch made it really easy to learn. However, it will still take a while before I could read without someone's help.

Other then that, in 8 sol, we are going to the Myla's birthsol party.

She is the the daughter of Calvin Fronto, and while I did play with her a little at my birthsol party,

I'm more interested in Calvin's son Bernard who is a "Eater".

As someone who's also going to become one, I'm really excited to finally find out how they look like

and why was grandpa so against it.

Not to mention, Fronto family also manages an inn with a big hot spring and if I'm not mistaken,

my grand-grandfather has given that land to Calvin's grandfather as a sign of friendship.

..........

2 sols before Myla's birthsol party, Howard visited Quinn in the library.

He wanted to speak with him about Arian and their departure that is coming near

and to see what his father's plans are.

[Good evening father, it's unusual to find you here in this time of sol...]

He already visited Quinn's office and study, but couldn't find him there.

That was when Kornelie informed him that his father was in the library, a place he rarely visits.

[Hello there, Howard. You know, even I'm surprised to be here,

but I just couldn't miss out on this thing that Abbey found just awhile ago...]

Quinn answered while still looking at the parchments in his hands.

[Heee, I never thought there was anything that could interrupt your evening tea time.]

Quinn has never skipped on his evening tea without a very good reason,

so it was unthinkable of him to skip it just because he found something interesting.

This made Howard curious.

[Look and be amazed, Abbey found them in the corner over there together with books like "World's history",

"Basic magic theory" and "Ma.beast encyclopedia"...]

Howard looked at the parchment in his hand, there was a single letter written over and over again.

Looking at another parchment, there was another letter written over and over again.

[This is...] Howard was amazed.

[Arian wrote that, Lia was wondering for awhile now where did he always run off to after the reading lessons,

looks like he's already trying to learn how to write too.]

[Haaa, why I'm not surprised anymore ? Is that kid even gonna fit in with the others his age ?]

Howard asked worryingly. His son was way too different from anyone, which made him worried.

[Well, he did play with Myla on his birthsol, and was curious as to who Bernard was.

I think he's gonna be fine, even Calvin likes him.] Quinn answered

[Oh, that's right. Did you send that letter to Calvin about Arian ?]

After remembering his original purpose coming to the library, Howard asked.

[Yes, he replied that he will inform you after he talks with his wife about it,

but if you asked me, that's already as good as done.]

[That's reassuring, if he could stay with them,

then me and Lia could go without needing to worry about him missing us.

Calvin could also teach him how to handle a sword together with Myla...]

Howard was very worried about leaving Arian alone with Quinn and Abbey

as they are very busy lately and their maid Kornelia was very distant toward him for some reason.

It was really reassuring knowing that he could leave Arian with Fronto family

and have them take care of him.

[By the way, was there any words about my brother ?] Howard asked.

[No, other than that he's alive and somewhere in Krerean Kingdom, nothing...]

Quinn shoved a grim smile. They been trying to locate Garrett for about 3 cycles,

but Garrett was very good at keeping his tracks hidden.

[I see, well at least he's alive.]

[As long as he come home safe and sound, I'll be happy.

I know that I sound like a broken recording crystal but are you really leaving in 1 Lun,

without even waiting for Garrett to return ?] Quinn asked.

[Yes, we'll will be leaving soon. We have already packed everything we need in magic bag,

the only thing that needs to be done is finding the place for Arian to stay.

If Fronto family cannot do it, I plan to ask father Killian if he could.]

Howard answered with determination.

[...And then you heading straight to the Druantia Forest ?] Quinn asked

[Yes, we're also leaving one magic bag for Arian to use when he's older.

You can store those "soul strengthening" and "complete recovery" potions in there.

It would be bad if something happens to them, when you got to all that trouble buying them,

even selling other mansions just to afford them.]

[Its okay, they safe in the treasury. And don't make that face Howard,

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

it was my decision to sell the mansions and buy the potions, even if father Killian said it was unnecessary.

After all, the frequency of those fever have decreased completely thanks to those potions.]

Howard wasn't happy about his father selling the mansions that he worked so hard to buy,

but undoubtedly the potions have helped Arian battle his frequent fevers easily,

enabling him to grow up like any other child.

[Fine, I won't mention that again....]

[Good. Anyway, wanna hit a drink, Howard ? We won't be able to spend time like this again,

might as well do it while we can.]

Quinn has taken off one of the very large book from the shelf, revealing a bottle of vine behind it.

..........2 sols later..........

[[[Happy birthsol Myla!!!]]]

Fronto family inn was a big three story tall building with 20 rooms for rent.

This was because a large amount of tourist would come for the hot spring or just to see the famous Veles village.

Because sweets were a little bit expensive, most commoners never had a cake for their birthsol,

so our family bought one for this occasion.

[Yay, cake. Thanks!!!] Myla was excited

Despite being younger, Myla was a little bit taller than me,

with shoulder length black hair and yellow eyes. Not to mention she looks and acts like a tomboy.

[Welcome, please come inside.] Bernard politely greeted and let us inside.

Bernard is in his early teens, with yellow eyes and short black hair.

He is really muscular and tall for his age, but other than his tanned skin,

there was nothing abnormal about him.

[Please sit down and have a drink. My wife will soon bring something to snack on before we start the cake.]

Calvin welcomed us and showed us where to sit.

Father Killian was already here together with two guards that Calvin usually patrol the village with.

Not too long after, Calvin's wife Miranda showed up with food in both hands and put them on the table.

After that she took the harp and started playing and singing.

Looks like she was an adventurer before getting married.

As our parents were talking and laughing, me and Myla were listening to father Killian's story about heroes,

looks like he's really passionate about them. Bernard was sitting outside, eating and drinking.

In this world, it isn't weird for teenagers to drink alcohol during home parties like this.

[Are you really a Eater ?] I asked Bernard.

I barely escaped from father Killian and his stories...

Myla is still listening to them, excitedly.

[Of course] He replied.

[You don't look any different ?] I asked again.

[Haha, of course, I still didn't transform, that's why I look normal.]

Bernard replied. Wait what? Transform? This is the first time I hear that.

[Transform?]

[If you curious, ask my father if I can show you. It's pretty cool. But for now I can do this at least.]

After he said that, Bernard stood up and taken down his shirt,

revealing the muscular body that doesn't belong to a teenager.

[Touch my skin, see how it feels.]

Bernard said to me after seeing me confused for a moment.

When I touched his skin, it was hard and cold, like I was touching a stone statue and not a human...

[Hard... and cold ?] I asked confusingly.

[That's right, I absorbed the stone golem ma.beast soul core

resulting in my body becoming hard and cold like a stone together with the ability to transform.

However, my first soul core was from horned bear, stone golem was my second.]

Bernard explained. There are still many things I don't know about Eater's,

but I'm starting to slowly understand the concept.

[I see, it really is cool] I answered with a smile

[Right ? Also, can I ask you something, it's been bugging me for a while now ?]

[Sure.] I answered confusingly.

I don't think there is much to ask a 3 cycle old child like me.

[Are you a boy ? or a girl ?]

Bernard's question was shocking.

[HAH ?!?]

..........

As the adults were drinking, joking and just talking about mundane things,

they listened to Miranda's beautiful voice as she skillfully played the harp.

[Hahaha, that's a good one Cripin...

But really, if Calvin didn't tell me beforehand that a marquess family was coming to the party,

I've would had shit ma pants when you showed up.]

One of the guards said to Howard.

[No joke. But really, marquess Deurius,

there aren't many nobles that are this comfortable with commoners like us. That's really a rarity.]

The other guard, Cripin added.

[No need for formalities Cripin, Kai, just call us by our names.

Our family has been friends with Fronto family for generations,

there is no need to raise our noses up to the sky just becouse we are nobles now.]

Quinn answered humbly.

[That's right folks, this is your only chance to make fun of our marquess without losing your head, haha.]

Calvin joked at Quinn's remark.

[By the way, do you have an answer to our request, Calvin ?] Lia asked

Hearing her, Calvin stood up from his seat, took his glass of vine and looked at his wife, Miranda.

[I talked with my beautiful wife about this matter and...

we decided to accept your request. We will raise him like he's our own together with Bernard and Myla.]

After he looked at him and Myla listening to father Killian's story

as he's trying to explain to them some action scene, he looked back at Howard and Lia and continued...

[I will personally train him in the ways of the sword and turn that scurvy girly body of his

into a mass of muscles just like Bernard!]

Calvin exclaimed proudly.

[Hahaha, please no. That would be a little too much of a transformation, and anyway...]

Abbey looked at Lia and continued.

[... are you going to finally address the dragon in the room now, Lia ?]

[A dragon... in the room ?] Lia was a little bit confused at that question.

[I'm gonna be frank with you, when you look at those two, doesn't Arian look more like a girl then Myla ?]

Kai, one of the guards asked and the Cripin added.

[I heard that elf boys tend to be more feminine before they hit puberty,

but don't you think that he's a little bit too feminine ?]

[Yes, that's true, but... Maybe I never noticed because I was always with him, but...

He really do seems a little bit too feminine then normal...]

Lia answered after she understood what the question was.

[Well, I already given up on explaining every abnormal thing with Arian,

and I suggest you all do the same... It will only make your head hurts.]

Howard added.

[Just don't be surprised if he grow a pair of horns of something one sol...] Quinn joked.

[Hahaha, no problem with that, we already have a son who can transform into a werebear, so...]

Calvin also answered with a joke.

As everyone was laughing, Miranda finished the last song and headed to the kitchen to bring the cake.

Father Killian also finished with his story and sat at the table together with Myla.

Not too long after, Arian and shirtless Bernard come inside and also sat at the table.

After Miranda brought the cake, everyone sang the traditional birthsol song for Myla before she opened her presents.

After the party was over, everyone was ready to go home, but...

[Can Bernard transform ?]

Arian asked Calvin if Bernard could transform.

[You want to see it ?] Calvin asked.

[Arian, it's already late, you can see it some other time...] Lia told Arian.

[No, no it's fine. Because Bernard started really late,

he only absorbed his second ma.beast soul core just recently. Even I haven't seen his new transformation.]

[Is it really fine ?] Howard asked

[It's fine, no problem here, right Bernard ?] Calvin asked.

[Of course]

Said Bernard as he walked to the spacious area near the inn.

As the wind started circling around him,

Bernard's muscular and already tanned body become even blacker and bigger

as his head and arms become like that of a bear with two large horns.

His skin then started to crack,

leaving behind big chasms as it shows that his body is made of stone just like a stone golem.

[WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MY NEW TRANSFORMATION, A HORNED STONE WEREBEAR ?]

Bernard asked proudly.

Everyone was impressed and given him a loud applause.

No one noticed the big devilish grin on Arians face.