Vieran’s breath caught as he gazed at the eagle, momentarily forgetting that it had taken his item. Non-phantom beasts were a rarity, a rare breed known as Luminous Beasts.

Vieran had encountered Luminous Beasts before, but they were either the livestock people tended to or aquatic creatures in waters touched by Luminorbs' blessings. Wild ones, though… they were nearly unheard of. This was his first time seeing one in its natural state, and the sight stirred awe within him.

Jeff cursed at the eagle, his face twisted with outrage. "How dare you steal a precious treasure and eat it! You’re going to pay for that!" he shouted, his voice filled with fury. In a flash, he snatched a nearby rock and hurled it with all his strength at the bird.

But the eagle dodged the stone effortlessly. With a sharp screech, it swooped down, closing the distance in a heartbeat. Its powerful wing struck Jeff squarely, the impact sending him hurtling backward. He crashed into a tree with a thud.

Vieran stared, astonished by the eagle’s strength. The blow it had delivered to Jeff had been controlled, a mere slap compared to what it could do if it truly wanted to harm him. For it to show such restraint was proof enough it had no desire to escalate this further.

Vieran moved to Jeff, helping him to his feet. "I lost an item in the shape of an eyeball," he said, glancing back at the eagle. "Was that the one it took?"

Jeff touched his reddened cheek, wincing. "Yeah, it ate it."

Vieran nodded thoughtfully. "I apologize for blaming you. Let’s just put this behind us."

Jeff frowned, still eyeing the eagle with resentment. "What about the bird?"

Vieran took a moment to consider. "It only took one item. I think that was the only thing it was interested in."

Jeff looked at him, bewildered. "You’re not going to take revenge? After it stole from you?"

Vieran shook his head. "There’s no need. This Luminous Beast isn’t aggressive. Besides, their lives are just as challenging as ours. We shouldn’t bother a creature that doesn’t seek conflict."

Jeff rubbed his bruised cheek. "Turns out you've got a soft spot for animals."

Vieran shot him a sharp look. "Shut up," he muttered. After a pause, he spoke again, "About your offer… I've decided to accept it. We can travel together."

Jeff nodded in gratitude. "Thanks, young man. We can figure out our plan for the next stop later. For now, why don’t we just relax and enjoy this place while we can?" He glanced around at the peaceful scene, then patted his stomach. "Speaking of which, I’m starving. How about we catch some fresh fish?"

The thought of fresh food sparked a bit of excitement in Vieran. It had been ages since he’d tasted fish that hadn’t been dried or preserved. "Do you have any fishing gear?" he asked, a hint of eagerness slipping into his voice.

Jeff gave him a confident smile. "Leave it to me."

Vieran nodded, already eyeing the nearby trees. "I’ll gather some firewood, then."

Vieran stepped into the woods, his eyes scanning the ground for fallen branches. As he bent to pick one up, he noticed a familiar gaze watching him. The eagle, perched high on a branch, tracked his every move. Vieran paused. He offered the bird a respectful nod and a slight smile before continuing with his task.

Once he had a bundle of branches in hand, Vieran made his way to the lake, where he found Jeff scattering a mysterious powder across the water’s surface. A faint ripple spread, and Jeff cast a net into the water. Moments later, he hauled it back, revealing a glinting catch of several fish wriggling in the net.

Vieran’s eyes widened in surprise. Jeff had made it look effortless. Clearly, the old man wasn’t as ordinary as he’d first thought.

Vieran approached Jeff, his curiosity piqued. "What was that sprinkle you used to attract the fish?" he asked, glancing at the powder Jeff held.

Jeff grinned. "Shrimp head powder. Fish can’t resist it."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Vieran raised an eyebrow. "Shrimp head powder? That’s a first for me, and I’ve spent years around trader communities."

Jeff chuckled. "Not just ordinary shrimps. They are a special breed of luminous beasts. Most people throw out shrimp heads and tails, thinking they’re useless. I only found out by accident—one day, tossed a shrimp head into the water, and before I knew it, the fish were swarming. I decided to dry and grind them up after that."

Vieran listened with interest, kneeling down to arrange the firewood and strike up a flame. Soon, a warm fire crackled, and they set the fish over it to roast. As the smell of sizzling fish filled the air, Jeff sprinkled a pinch of the powder over them, adding a hint of savor. "Good flavoring, too," he said with a wink.

When the fish were finally done, they each took one, the skin crisp and the aroma rich. Vieran took a bite and was instantly taken aback. The taste was incredible, tender and savory, filling him with a sense of warmth and comfort he hadn’t felt in ages. It had been far too long since he’d tasted something so good.

Vieran couldn’t resist grabbing another fish and digging in. Fortunately, there were still several more. Jeff laughed, reaching for another himself, and they continued eating in silence.

Then, with a sudden whoosh, the eagle landed nearby, folding its wings as it eyed them both. They paused. After a moment, Vieran picked up another fish and tossed it to the bird. The eagle caught it deftly and began eating, its sharp beak tearing into the tender meat.

"I’ll catch more fish later to make up for the ones I took," Vieran said, glancing at Jeff.

Jeff chuckled and shook his head. "No need. Better to eat together, anyway. You don’t owe me anything."

Vieran nodded, grateful. "Thanks."

Jeff looked at the eagle thoughtfully. "Been here nearly a month, but that’s the first time I’ve seen it around. Must be drawn to you, Vieran."

Vieran grinned. "More like it’s drawn to my missing item."

Just then, the eagle stepped closer to Vieran, tapping his leg with a swift movement. Understanding the gesture, Vieran handed over another fish, which the bird eagerly accepted.

Jeff smirked. "Seems it likes you."

After finishing their meal, they decided to rest under the shade of a nearby tree, and even the eagle settled down beside them, its presence strangely comforting. As they lay there, the cool breeze and gentle rustle of leaves lulled them into an afternoon nap.

That night, Vieran slept more peacefully than he had in a long time. The soft ground beneath him, and the feeling of having companions nearby made his sleep deeper and more satisfying than he could remember.

The next morning, a sharp, ringing caw split the dawn, echoing across the lake. The eagle crowed like a rooster, startling both Vieran and Jeff awake. They sat up, bleary-eyed, glancing at each other before breaking into quiet laughter, realizing their feathered friend had taken it upon itself to play the part of their morning alarm.

Jeff stretched and glanced at Vieran. "Hungry? Want something to eat?"

Vieran nodded, standing up. "This time, let me catch the fish."

Jeff grinned, tossing him the pouch. "Take the shrimp powder with you."

Vieran caught it with a smirk. "I’ll catch a lot of fish—especially for our little buddy here." He glanced at the eagle, giving it a nod. The eagle responded with a sharp caw before suddenly taking flight toward the lake.

As the eagle flew, it glided gracefully alongside the floating Luminorbs, their glow reflecting off its feathers. Then, without warning, it dove straight into the water. Vieran and Jeff froze, eyes wide, before rushing to the lakeside in worry. Jeff called out, urging the eagle to return, but there was no response, only the rippling water.

Vieran's brow furrowed. "I’m going in after it."

But Jeff grabbed his arm, shaking his head. "The lake’s been blessed by Luminorbs for years. Even if they’re gone now, the water’s still safe from phantom beasts. But it’s also become home to some powerful luminous beasts. Best we don’t interfere."

Vieran took a breath, reluctantly acknowledging the truth. The eagle’s sudden plunge puzzled him, but his worry soon turned to awe as the water broke, and the eagle soared skyward, gripping a massive fish as large as a grown man. It circled above them before dropping the enormous catch onto the ground, then glided over to Vieran’s shoulder, where it perched proudly.

The eagle cawed, tilting its head toward Vieran as if signaling something. Jeff chuckled, shaking his head in amazement. "Looks like it wants us to cook its prize."

Vieran smiled, nodding. "Then let’s get a fire going."

They gathered firewood, working together to build a fire before setting the massive fish to roast, its savory aroma quickly filling the air as they marveled at their new friend’s impressive catch.

Jeff savored a bite of the roasted fish, his eyes widening. "This is incredible," he said, his voice full of appreciation. "The meat of a powerful luminous beast—so tender and packed with flavor once it's cooked. Didn’t expect it to be this good."

Vieran nodded, also impressed. He chewed thoughtfully, wondering just how strong this giant fish must have been. "Do you think it’s a 1-A tier? Maybe even higher?" he mused aloud. A creature like this would take incredible strength to catch, and he realized the eagle before him must be exceptionally powerful to have survived for so long.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he looked at the eagle. "Where do you stay when the cluster keeps moving?"

The eagle cocked its head, then extended a wing, pointing directly toward the lake. Vieran's eyes widened, amazed. It truly understood him.

He couldn’t hold back a smile. "Hey, would you want to travel with us?"

To his delight, the eagle gave a slight nod. Vieran felt a spark of happiness, knowing they’d gained a remarkable companion.

Jeff grinned, giving the eagle a friendly nod. "Well then, welcome to the group! But we need a name for you." He paused, studying the eagle thoughtfully. "How about Grimclaw?"

The eagle gave a sharp nod, and Jeff laughed heartily. "It really is a smart one."