Kael felt weightless.
Floating—not in the sky, not in water. In nothing. A dark, endless space where even his thoughts seemed to echo back slower than they formed.
He blinked, but nothing changed.
Did I… die?
Panic stirred in his chest.
Again? Am I seriously getting transmigrated twice? Is that a thing now?
He laughed once, bitter and breathless. Then a memory came—clearer than the void around him.
Selene.
Haa… I guess I couldn't keep my promise after all.
But then—sound.
Soft at first. Enchanting.
A voice like music, like wind through crystal—gentle, melodic. Calling.
He turned, slowly, as though the air were syrup.
A woman sat there, or maybe floated. Draped in a flowing red dress that shimmered like velvet flame. Golden hair framed a face too perfect to feel real—like something carved from old myths.
Ethereal.
Wrong in how right she looked.
She raised a hand, smiling softly, and her lips moved.
Kael strained to hear.
"Come... come..."
His head throbbed. Sharp pain spiked through his skull.
The smile on her face never changed.
Then everything—everything—cracked.
Light split the darkness like shattering glass. His chest seized. His breath returned with a gasp.
And he woke up.
Eyes wide.
To find Selene's face just inches from his own.
Very close.
Too close.
And then, very seriously, very softly, he said:
"…Are you molesting me in my sleep?"
Her face froze.
Then went red.
A deep, flushed, furious red.
***
A Few Moments Before—
Night had descended gently, folding the forest in its quiet hush.
The snow shimmered under moonlight, silver on white, like a world made of dreams and breath.
The fire crackled low as Selene knelt beside it, carefully cooking strips of Frostmane meat over the flames. The scent of roasted wildness filled the air—sharp, slightly gamey, but warm.
She glanced over her shoulder.
Kael lay still, wrapped in a spare cloak, his chest rising and falling steadily now. He hadn't stirred since the battle. Had barely moved after collapsing.
She had carried him herself—not that she'd ever admit it out loud.
She sighed, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Mana exhaustion," she muttered. "Who told that idiot to fight all by himself?"
The fire cracked again.
She turned back toward him.
Slowly, Selene moved closer. She knelt down beside him, close enough to see the faint paleness still clinging to his cheeks, the sweat dried at his brow, the small scar just beneath his jaw she hadn't noticed before.
Her voice was soft, almost unsure.
"When you came that day," she whispered, "I thought you were just… another noble brat. Talked big. Moved like you expected the world to listen."
She smiled faintly. "But now, I think... I believe you. At least a little."
Her gaze lingered on his face.
Handsome, she admitted, even if only to herself.
A breath passed. A heartbeat. She leaned in—just slightly—drawn by something quiet and fragile in the moment.
"Not bad up close either," she murmured.
Then Kael's eyes opened.
And then, very seriously, very softly, he said:
"…Are you molesting me in my sleep?"
Her face froze. Then went red.
A deep, flushed, furious red.
Then, without warning—
Thud.
Her fist landed squarely on Kael's chest—not hard, but not gentle either.
"Ow—what the hell?" Kael coughed, wincing.
She looked away, flustered, arms crossed now in defensive irritation.
"W-What are you talking about? I was just… just mending you! Checking your vitals. You looked half-dead."
Kael groaned, slowly sitting up, hand to his ribs.
"Yeah. I understand. Standard medical punch. Very precise."
She didn't answer. Just turned quickly, her cloak fluttering slightly as she walked back to the fire.
"I'll finish the food," she mumbled, trying not to let the red in her cheeks reach her ears.
Kael leaned back against the cold rock, still sore but smiling faintly.
As the fire crackled and the smell of roasted Frostmane meat filled the air, Kael leaned back against a rock and let out a slow breath.
His muscles still ached, his side throbbed where the beast's claws had grazed him—but he was alive. Barely.
He glanced toward Selene, who was hunched over the fire, pretending very hard not to look in his direction.
'Alright,' he thought,' let's see what that damn system was so eager about.'
He focused inward, calling forth the system.
A faint shimmer appeared before his eyes—translucent, floating text in that now-familiar glowing script.
[System Notification]
[You have slain:Rank 1 Beast – Frostmane Tiger
Reward Calculated...
🎉 Reward Granted: Rank 1 Beast Taming Card]
Kael blinked.
'Beast taming?'
As if answering his confusion, glowing lines of text shimmered to life in front of him—hovering just above the card like the system had been waiting for this moment.
[Item: Rank 1 Beast Taming Card]
[— One-time use. — Allows taming of a weakened Rank 1 beast. — Target must be physically or mentally subdued. — Upon successful taming, the beast will form a soul-link and follow your commands.
Note: Loyalty level may vary based on treatment and compatibility. ]
Kael stared at the glowing taming card, utterly speechless.
After a beat, frustration bubbled up.
'Where's my OP destructive god-tier spell, huh? The one that levels mountains and makes enemies go 'Oh no!'? Fucker, give me my spell!'
He looked around expectantly—nothing. No flashing notification, no booming voice, no divine intervention.
Selene, carrying a small plate of steaming food, approached quietly.
Before she could say anything, Kael—without thinking—grabbed her in a sudden, awkward hug.
She froze. "What are you doing?!" she said, cheeks burning red.
Kael sniffled dramatically, mock crying, "This world is unfair…"
Selene was dumbfounded for a beat, then softened. "Yeah… I guess it is. But you're alive."
Kael smiled faintly, feeling strangely comforted.