The tension in the clearing was palpable as the two strangers assessed Aeris and his impossible companions. The older man's eyes moved systematically from the goblin corpses to Silvermoon, then to Stormchaser, and finally to Aeris himself. His expression remained carefully neutral, but Aeris could sense the calculations happening behind those weathered features.
"Marcus Whitehall," the man introduced himself, stepping forward with the confidence of someone accustomed to command. "And this is my associate, Thomas. We're... merchants, traveling the road to Astoria."
Aeris's knowledge of Tamer Chronicles immediately flagged the lie. Real merchants wouldn't venture this deep into the Whispering Woods, especially not with the goblin activity in the area. More telling was the way Thomas kept scanning the treeline—a habit of someone expecting trouble from multiple directions.
"Aeris Draemor," he replied, matching the man's careful tone. "Just doing some hunting to earn academy fees."
"Academy fees?" Marcus raised an eyebrow. "You're planning to attend the Royal Tamer Academy? With companions like these, I'd say you're already ahead of most students."
The comment hung in the air, loaded with implications. Most people wouldn't recognize a Sky Wolf on sight, let alone understand the significance of someone bonding with one. This wasn't idle conversation—it was reconnaissance.
Through his bond with both wolves, Aeris could sense their alertness. Silvermoon was coiled like a spring, ready to defend him at a moment's notice. Stormchaser, meanwhile, was analyzing the newcomers with the same careful attention he might give to storm clouds, looking for signs of threat or opportunity.
"We were actually hoping to find someone," Thomas spoke up, his hand still resting near his sword. "There've been reports of bandit activity in this region. A merchant caravan was attacked three days ago, and one of the survivors might have fled in this direction."
Three days ago. Aeris's mind raced. That was exactly when he'd first entered the Whispering Woods. Had his presence somehow changed events that were supposed to happen in the original timeline?
"I haven't seen any bandits," Aeris said truthfully. "Just goblins and the usual forest creatures. Though..." He paused, considering his words carefully. "I did hear some commotion deeper in the woods yesterday. Shouting, maybe fighting. But I stayed clear—seemed like trouble I didn't need."
Marcus and Thomas exchanged a look that confirmed Aeris's suspicions. These weren't merchants at all.
"Could you show us where you heard this disturbance?" Marcus asked. "We'd be grateful for any assistance, and we're prepared to compensate guides handsomely."
The smart thing to do would be to decline politely and leave. Aeris had already accomplished more than he'd dared hope for—he had the Mana Crystal, two bonded monsters, and enough goblin ears to satisfy his father's skepticism. Getting involved with mysterious not-merchants was exactly the kind of complication that could derail his carefully laid plans.
But as he looked at Marcus's weathered face, Aeris found himself remembering fragments from the novel. There had been a subplot about royal agents operating in the borderlands, gathering intelligence on everything from bandit movements to unusual monster activities. If these were those agents, helping them could provide opportunities he'd never get otherwise.
More importantly, his luck stat seemed to be guiding him toward these encounters rather than away from them.
"I suppose I could show you the general area," Aeris said finally. "But I'm not looking for a fight. I've got what I came for."
"Understood completely," Marcus nodded. "We're hoping to avoid conflict ourselves. Just want to verify what happened to our... business associate."
The journey took them deeper into the woods than Aeris had ventured before. Here, the trees grew taller and closer together, creating a canopy so thick that midday felt like dusk. Strange sounds echoed from the shadows—not the familiar calls of forest creatures, but something more unsettling.
It was Stormchaser who first detected the scent of blood and smoke. Through their bond, Aeris felt the young wolf's unease, followed by images of violence and death. Whatever they were approaching, it wasn't pleasant.
They found the camp in a small valley, hidden from casual observation by a ring of ancient oaks. Or rather, they found what was left of it. Scattered belongings, overturned wagons, and dark stains on the ground told the story of a vicious attack. But it was the bodies that drew immediate attention.
"Bandits," Thomas said grimly, kneeling beside one of the corpses. "But they're all dead. Something killed them after they completed their raid."
Aeris studied the scene with growing unease. The bandit bodies showed signs of massive trauma—claws and teeth marks that suggested predator attacks. But what kind of predator would attack an entire bandit camp?
"Over here," Marcus called from the far side of the camp. "Found our missing merchant."
The man was alive but barely conscious, propped against a fallen log with crude bandages around his torso. He looked up as they approached, his eyes focusing with difficulty.
"Marcus?" he whispered. "Thank the gods. I thought... I thought I was going to die here."
"What happened, Edmund?" Marcus knelt beside the injured man, his merchant facade dropping completely. "Your message said you had critical intelligence about monster trafficking in the region."
Edmund's eyes darted toward Aeris, uncertainty flickering across his features. Marcus followed his gaze and made a quick decision.
"He's safe," Marcus said. "Young Draemor here helped us find you. Edmund, meet Aeris—apparently the only tamer in the kingdom capable of bonding with Sky Wolves."
The revelation hit Aeris like a physical blow. They knew exactly who he was and what he'd accomplished. This wasn't a chance encounter—they'd been looking for him specifically.
"The bandits," Edmund wheezed, struggling to sit up straighter. "They weren't just robbing caravans. They were capturing rare monsters, selling them to someone in the capital. I got too close to their operation, and they decided to eliminate me."
"But something eliminated them first," Thomas observed, gesturing at the carnage around them.
Edmund nodded weakly. "A pack of Dire Wolves. Massive things, led by an Alpha the size of a small horse. The bandits had caged some of their cubs, and the pack came for revenge. I hid in the supply wagon and played dead until they left."
As Edmund spoke, Aeris felt something stirring through his bond with both wolves. Not alarm, exactly, but recognition. Through Silvermoon's senses, he caught a lingering scent that made her hackles rise—the musk of much larger, more dangerous cousins.
"The Dire Wolves," Aeris said suddenly. "They're still in the area, aren't they?"
Edmund's face went pale. "How did you—?"
A howl echoed through the forest, long and mournful and far too close for comfort. It was answered by another, then another, until the entire woods seemed to ring with the sound of the pack announcing their presence.
"They're coming back," Edmund whispered. "They must have caught our scent."
Thomas drew his sword, his eyes scanning the treeline. "How many?"
"At least six, maybe eight. The Alpha and his mate, plus their grown offspring. They're not just hunting—they're establishing territory."
Marcus stood, his hand moving to his own weapon. "We need to move. Now."
But as they prepared to flee, Aeris felt something unexpected through his bonds with Silvermoon and Stormchaser. Instead of fear or aggression, he sensed... curiosity. The wolves weren't viewing the approaching Dire Wolves as enemies, but as potential family.
"Wait," Aeris said, stepping forward. "Let me try something."
"Are you insane?" Thomas hissed. "Those are Dire Wolves, not house pets!"
"Trust me," Aeris replied, though he wasn't entirely sure he trusted himself. "My companions think we might be able to negotiate."
Before anyone could stop him, Aeris walked to the edge of the clearing and activated his Monster Communication skill. The mental reach was further than he'd ever attempted, seeking the consciousness of the approaching Alpha.
What he found was ancient, powerful, and surprisingly intelligent. The Dire Wolf Alpha wasn't just a beast—it was a creature of deep wisdom and complex emotions. Through their brief connection, Aeris sensed the pack's grief over their stolen cubs, their rage at the humans who had caged them, and their confusion at finding those same humans already dead.
Peace, Aeris projected, focusing every ounce of his will on the concept. The ones who hurt your children are gone. We are not enemies.
The howling stopped. In the sudden silence, Aeris could hear his own heartbeat thundering in his ears.
Then, from the shadows between the trees, the Alpha emerged.
It was massive—easily twice the size of Silvermoon, with fur so dark it seemed to absorb light. Yellow eyes regarded Aeris with unsettling intelligence, and when it spoke through their mental link, its voice carried the weight of centuries.
You speak to us as equals, young tamer. This is... unexpected.
We seek no conflict, Aeris replied. Only safe passage for ourselves and the injured human.
The Alpha's gaze moved to Edmund, then to Marcus and Thomas. These humans hunt our kind. We smell their weapons, their intentions.
They hunt criminals, not your people. The bandits who stole your cubs—they were the true enemies.
A pause. Then: You travel with our cousins. They vouch for your words?
Through his bonds, Aeris felt both Silvermoon and Stormchaser adding their voices to his, confirming his peaceful intentions. The Alpha considered this for a long moment.
Very well. You may pass. But know this, young tamer—we will remember your pack. Should you prove false, we will find you.
The massive wolf melted back into the shadows as silently as it had appeared, followed by the rest of the pack. Within moments, the forest had returned to its normal quiet.
Marcus stared at Aeris with undisguised amazement. "In twenty years of intelligence work, I have never seen anything like that."
"Intelligence work?" Aeris raised an eyebrow.
Marcus had the grace to look slightly embarrassed. "Royal Intelligence Division. We've been tracking the monster trafficking ring for months. Edmund here is one of our best field agents."
"And you?" Aeris asked. "What's your interest in me specifically?"
"Reports have been filtering in about unusual monster activity in this region. A young tamer bonding with impossible creatures, displaying skills that shouldn't exist. The Crown has a vested interest in exceptional individuals."
Edmund struggled to his feet with Thomas's help. "There's something else you should know. Word of your... achievements... has reached the Royal Academy. Instructor Valdris wants to meet you personally."
Aeris felt his world tilt. Instructor Valdris was one of the most renowned tamers in the kingdom, a legend who had trained multiple generations of elite tamers. If he was taking notice of a nobody like Aeris...
"What exactly are you offering?" Aeris asked carefully.
Marcus smiled for the first time since they'd met. "Full scholarship to the Royal Academy, advanced placement in the elite track, and a letter of recommendation from the Crown Intelligence Division. In exchange, you occasionally assist with situations that require your particular... talents."
It was more than Aeris had ever dared hope for. But as he looked at the three men watching him expectantly, he realized that his luck had just opened a door to a much larger and more dangerous world than he'd anticipated.
"I'll need to think about it," he said finally.
"Of course," Marcus nodded. "But don't think too long. The Academy term starts in two weeks, and there are others who would very much like to meet the young man who tamed a Sky Wolf."
As they helped Edmund prepare for travel, Aeris couldn't shake the feeling that his simple plan to avoid death and attend the Academy had just become something far more complicated.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if Leon Hartwell was experiencing this same kind of attention—and whether the protagonist would view Aeris's sudden prominence as opportunity or threat.