Pinky had gone home with his mother Mrs. Williams. Of course this was only after she whispered sweet nothings, got at least a dozen promises and one [Oath] that he wouldn’t do it again, and was swatted countless times. But he had a smile on and tears in his eyes the whole time so it was probably o k.

Pepperoni had been a real nightmare to get into the [Iron Cage]. She had hissed and fought until she scratched Micky real bad. Then she calmed down real quick and liked his wound. Micky gave her a few scritchs to tell her he was ok and then put her in the cage while she was being cooperative. Then his dad rushed him to the local [Herbal Healer].

Micky’s dad was getting worried about the finances of this operation but Micky was his oldest. This could lead to a respectable [Tamer] class promotion so he had decided that it was a worthwhile investment, but that didn’t mean that the family could afford it. He had decided to take some extra shifts just in case. There were a few people that wanted to take time off so he could sign in as them and take double shifts. As long as he put in the effort it’d be alright.

Now it was time to say goodbye and for Micky to go over and see the [Ranger]. [Ranger] was a class promotion from [Archer] and had a skill called [Lifelong Bond]. So long as the two were alive they would be bonded and share weel and woe. There were also builds that were based around [Lifelong Bond] that made it a very versatile base skill. For example, most [Ranger]s with an airborne companion would spec. a skill called [Share Sense]. This allowed them to share sight and make scouting easier.

Micky didn’t know if he should look forward to the chance to learn something awesome, or if he should hate the very idea that he had to learn, so he settled for nervous.

Micky hadn’t been in this part of the [Village] before. He was now in the [Village] proper, with buffs and everything. Sure his house was inside the [Wall] but that didn’t mean it got buffs. Actually, Micky’s parents specifically choose that spot because it didn’t enter the [Buff] zone. This meant it was both cheaper and less competitive. In here was where the real movers and shakers of the village had their shops and houses. They gained [Buff]s that were voted on by the[Village Elder]s on the council and had good trade, and traffic. There were about 1000 families in the village, some large, some small, some sprawling, and some were empty nests. Micky just didn’t come near the people here, since they could chase his family out of town.

The [Ranger]s house was a two-story with a shopfront underneath. This was already one of the largest buildings in the village and did not reassure Micky. Micky walked inside and called out “[Ranger] Tom!”. “Tim actually” a steady voice called out from a dark corner. Micky jumped out of his skin. “Two feet in the air standing jump. And no bonuses from a [Mage] class at that, impressive.” Micky just clutched his chest and stared at the man ‘hiding’ in the corner.

A *Growl* came from out back as a [Silver Wolf] came out of the back door. It was majestic, sleek, and nearly made Micky pee himself. This was no monster that should be in a low ranked village. [Silver Wolf]s were a [Middle] ranked monster at least. This all depended on the pack, and if lorded over by a powerful [Alpha] and [Beta] they could be [High] ranked. Maybe even [Disaster] ranked if there was an [Omega] in the group. Basically even though it was just into the [Middle] ranks by itself it was enough to scare Micky shitless. He would run but he was petrified. Good thing because Tim wasn’t going to chase him down. Tim hadn’t even gotten out of his chair.

“Now normally I let Silver stay in the back, but that would probably be counter productive. It’s my understanding that I’m supposed to teach you how to turn [Charm] into [Lesser] [Tame].” Tim said, this earned a slow jerky nod from Micky.

“Now first things first go feed Silver.” Silver just looked at Micky with a wolfish grin. “If you can’t even do that then I’m just wasting my time, I’m a busy person. This is a favor to a friend, I owe em, they owe me, that’s how it works. We’re friends we’re not keeping score, I’m definitely not keeping score. But your parents ain’t getting their deposit back.”

Micky screwed up his courage and straightened his back. He was not going to let Pepperoni die because he was a coward. “There should be some low ranked carni. [Feed] on the counter in the back. I usually let him out into the forest at night, village folk don’t like having a [Middle] ranked monster running around, see? But I kept him inside just for you.” Micky found the [Feed] simple enough. There was a pottery bowl next to it. It didn’t take a math genius to put two fingers and two toes together.

However, after filling up the bowl the simple part ended. Silver apparently was too good for [Feed]. “He won’t eat?!” Micky yelled into the ‘busy’ shop with no customers. “Than make him eat, [Tame] is a connection. It’s nowhere near a [Bond] type spell but the connection is there.”

Micky looked back at what he had to work with. Well forcing a [Middle] ranked monster to do something was right out the window. He could use [Charm], but like forcing the monster to do something, Micky was pretty sure it had enough [WIL] to shake that right off, even if it didn’t have the will to do it which Micky doubted. Besides even if he could [Charm] it what could he do? [Charm] only made you seem less dangerous and more appealing to something. This usually led to them dopily chasing after you.

So Micky tried shoving the food toward Silver. If he did that with Pepperoni enough times he, she usually got the message. This apparently did not work with Silver. Maybe Silver didn’t realize the [Feed] was edible? It did just look like brown pellets. Silver probably liked stuff that looked like raw meat. Pepperoni liked human food, I mean it’s in her name. So Micky got down on all fours and took a bite out of it. Blee! It tasted like meat and greasy and salty and disgusting. Silver sent a plaintive look out toward Tim, who was trying to contain his laughter, not very well I might add. Eventually, Tim told Silver to just give in. The kid was tenacious enough to keep eating even though he kept making faces.

So Silver took some tentative nibbles of the stuff and returned to his regal pose. Micky wondered if that was enough, he looked out toward the storefront. Then he decided it was for Pepperoni, so he stuck his head back in. Silver looked towards Tim as well. Then gave in a sigh and got back to eating. Human and wolf eating [Feed] out of the same pottery bowl.

“Alright, alright kid that’s enough. Come back here now.” Silver and Micky seemed to simultaneously sigh in relief. They looked at each other in shared comradery over suffering. “Now don’t be like that and get back here.” Tim said.

“Now let’s start with [Charm]. What do you think about it?” asked Tim.

“It’s mind control!” Micky was assured of his answer.

“Wrong, [Charm] like most mental manipulation types is a type of hypnotism. You may know of the powerful ability known as [Suggestion] which can be the most potent of these if used properly. The thing is a [Spell] or [Ability] can’t actually change a person’s fundamentals. It’s why there are no true [Dead] curses. I know, I know, but [Depresion] doesn’t make a person kill themselves, just want to kill themselves, and that’s the difference. Nothing system generated can make something do what it doesn’t want to do, it’s a matter of will. [WIL] reduces the timer on this type of spell but will determines what a spell can really do. I’m sure you’ve seen things act differently while under [Charm] right?” Head nods.

“Well, that’s because it effects them differently. Sure they are all under the same [State] and are feeling the [Same] because it’s a system generated thing. But each one is still acting under their own will.” Said Tim.

“This leads into the different types of [Tame]. Sure they are all [Tame] but their different [Tame]. I’m sure you’ve seen this effect with [Charm] right?” More head nods. It seemed that [Ranger] Tim was also trying to exercise Micky’s neck as much as his brain.

“Well as you might expect I’m going to teach you a lesser [Tame] spell that is closer to an Improvised [Bond] spell then an Improvised [Tame] spell or an [Contract] spell. Bond is a deep mutual connection, so you’ve got to reach out and open yourself up. The [Tamer]’s [Tame] is a little more like a command and less mutualistic and well, you know not to get into the illegal business of [contract]s right?” Tim said. More head nodding, Micky’s neck was getting tired “But aren’t [Contract]s legal?” Micky said “Only if you’re under contract and administration of a [Noble] or are licensed by the [State] and even then they are trouble. When you [Tame] your pet and get you tamers [Token] that is a type of [Contract] but its a [Contrac] that isn’t really regulated. There literally isn’t enough paper to put all that information down if the state started to write up all the unregistered types of [Contract]s. Especially all of the [Merchant]s [Deal]s.” Tim grimaced just imagining it. He was going to have a nightmare of a mountain of scrolls tonight he just knew it.

“Alright, Alright I think that’s enough learning for one day. Time to pack up and go home.” Said Tim.

“Alright [Master]” said Micky

“You aren’t my [Disciple] and I’m not your [Master] you hear me? No master and instructor...” Tim grimaced and shivered from the memories. “[Instructor] has connotations I would much rather forget. If you’ve got to call me anything, call me Teacher, Teacher Tim, [Ranger] Tim, or just Tim.” Tim said smiling down at the child.

Silver walked up to Micky and gave him a lick goodbye. Micky wiped his face. “Such a dog.” Tim said. Silver wasn't near as miffed about that as he pretended to be. At least not with his tail wagging like that.

On his way home the village people got angry at Micky “Liar!” They said. One ornery old lady even threw a half eaten tomato she had been gumming at him. Micky started to run back home. He sighed internally, he knew this was going to happen. Apparently the town found out that while the [Dungeon] was named Bob’s cave on the town map, it is was named [Pep’s Place] on the [Local Maps] and was run by the [King]. Least they weren’t throwing [Rock]s, they did that when he first got [Pink Mage] and that wasn’t fun. A little rotten fruit was nothing.