Steel checked, but a quest notification had not popped up even after everyone had left. "Really, not even a prompt to search out my framer?" He shook his head in disappointment, than glanced down at Loba and Akami. "Either of you think you can track that guys down by scent?"

The two baby animals looked up at him with innocent looks. Steel shrugged; he hadn't really been expecting a response.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to keep an eye out. Maybe I'll find a related quest while helping out other NPC's." Shrugging to himself, Steel left the area and began walking down the streets of the mage quarter. When he had explored the city for the beginner quest, he had not originally explored every road and shop along the way. He gone down the quickest paths to the major locations and avoided any distractions, besides Roxanne's shop.

Now, he carefully watched the stall merchants as they hawked their wares and examined the players as they eagerly rushed into stores to buy new things. His eye came across a store that looked empty.

"Falcon's Wonder Emporium" was drawn out across the opening of the building, but few players payed it any attention. The few who went in, Steel saw, quickly left in disappointment. His curiosity perked, Steel opened the door and walked inside.

The inside of the store was filled with cages of all manner of sizes, and many were filled with creatures and monsters that began to make a racket as Steel walked in. The shop owner was currently sitting on a chair with his feet on the counter as he flipped through a book in his hand.

"All beginner level monsters have already been sold; the cheapest pet is 1 gold." He drawled out without looking up from his book.

"This is a pet shop then?" Steel asked, unperturbed by the man's bored tone.

The man sighed and put the book down. He got up and walked around the counter to look at Steel directly. He was a tall man with a pointed nose and a head full of messy brown hair. His eyes were also brown, and they stared down into Steel with an annoyed light.

"This is no mere 'pet shop'," He emphasized, "This is a business that specializes in the acquisition and distribution of magical and non-magical creatures of domestic and feral origin. We deal with everything from guards and mounts war beasts and companions. A mere pet store; perish the thought." He waved his head sadly, "You travelers all seem to think that you're entitled to a beast. To be honest, the church did pay me to set aside some beginner beasts for those seeking a tamer or beast-master profession, but they disappeared the first day and now everyone who comes in get's angry and blames me or some strange foreign god. I'm quite sick of it actually."

Apparently, so many travelers had come in and bothered the man his intimacy with all travelers had hit an all time low.

"I'm sorry to bother you sir, but I already have two companions. I was wondering if you could tell me how much they are worth." Steel informed him.

The man raised an eyebrow, "That will be 1 silver, non-negotiable."

Steel handed over the silver coin without complaint. The man bit it and nodded his approval, "Nice to have some business these days. Go ahead and bring them out and I'll look at them."

Steel turned and called out, "Stop hiding you two and come out." When he had entered the store, Loba and Akami had both ducked behind cages so as to hide from the man behind the counter. By the way they walked hesitantly, it was clear they had no desire to be near the store clerk.

The man's eyes widened and his head sharply turned to regard Steel, "Oh ho young man, you've quite surprised me. Tell me, did you want to get them fully appraised?"

Steel cocked his head in a questioning manner. "Is not telling me their worth a full appraisal?"

The man shook his head, "No sir. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Falcon, master tamer and beast-master. For those seeking the path of companionship, I offer my assistance as a mentor. My complaining from earlier was merely to ward off those whose only desire is a pawn. Tell me, do you wish to sell your beasts? Is that the reason for the price check?"

Steel scratched his chin as he looked down at his two pets. Loba and Akami gave him the cutest eyes as they whimpered up at him. Steel sighed and shook his head, "My original intention was to sell them because I'm a solo kind of person. However, they have been extremely useful and well-behaved, so I am reluctant now to part from them."

Falcon nodded, "I understand completely; not all humans enjoy the awkwardness and grandstanding of being with other people. Beasts, on the other hand, are the perfect companions to have since they won't betray you."

Steel instantly became more alert, "Excuse me, can you elaborate more on this."

Falcon smiled wolfishly, "Yes, you are not the only one who has experienced that kind of pain before. Roxanne is a dear friend of mine, though I didn't recognize you until your little beasts came out. That curse is really off-putting isn't it?"

Important Information AcquiredFalcon the Tamer has revealed himself to be of the same cult as Roxanne and offered his services to you

Intimacy has risen to Trusted

Falcon continued talking through the notification, "Now, not all of her friends are one of use, so be careful to reveal nothing incriminating. Those of us who know will let you know, not the other way around. To answer your earlier question," He walked behind his counter and took out a contract, "When a beast and master make a contract, they tie themselves to each other until death, financial interaction, or unbearable circumstances. The magic involved is an old magic from a far time in the past, so it is fully binding."

"Right now, you have a mere 'pet' contract with your beasts. They can leave you whenever they feel like it, but they won't hurt you while under it. An appraisal will allow you to see their hidden strengths and weaknesses, and you can choose to make a permanent contract with them afterwards. Since you have paid, I shall deliver." Falcon muttered a spell and two notifications popped up in front of Steel when Falcon finished chanting.

Name:LobaSpecies:Demon Wolf (Infant)Level:N/AConstitution:DecentDexterity:ExcellentIntelligence:GoodWisdom:PoorStrength:DecentEndurance:PoorSkills:Foraging

Tracking

Bite

Charm (Infant Only)

Name:AkamiSpecies:Devil Rabbit (Infant)Level:N/AConstitution:PoorDexterity:ExcellentIntelligence:GoodWisdom:GoodStrength:DecentEndurance:PoorSkills:Foraging

Tracking

Bite

Charm (Infant Only)

"So this is what you meant by full appraisal." Steel muttered as he scanned the two new character sheets. A small note indicated that he could now access either sheet from his own character menu, "What do the words mean?"

Falcon nodded, "They refer to the quality of growth each creature will experience as they grow stronger. It is similar to how items of value are measure in quality; poor, decent, good, excellent, and outstanding. It is not often I get to see two animals with an excellent attribute, but even rarer to see both having a 'good'' intelligence. While these two will never be able to tank, they will be able to assist their master greatly in battle. I'll pay you 50 gold right now for the both of them."

Steel raised an annoyed eyebrow, "I thought you were going to advise me to keep them to supplement my growth?"

Falcon shrugged, "Business before pleasure I'm afraid; we are not that close."

"I think I'll keep them. Can you think of anything else I might need to take care of them?" Steel was barely able to keep his heart icy as the two animals cried in apparent victory and rubbed themselves against his leg. Then again, his eyes tightened in anger, maybe it was better to be alone.

As if reading the sudden change in Steel's eyes, the merchant grabbed the contract and placed it on the floor. "You two, paw print here please." The two pets pawed the paper and Falcon handed it to Steel. "Okay, now you sign it in blood?"

"They get a paw-print and I have to cut myself?"

"The're children you big baby; here all done." Steel blinked at the wound that had appeared out of nowhere on his index finger. A quick glance confirmed the shopkeeper was only level 12, but Steel privately figure it was actually higher. Reluctantly, Steel signed his name in blood and the paper morphed into a light that enveloped the three.

"Good, you are now bound until permanent death, the selling of the contract, or if the animals hate you so much they force the contract to break." Falcon announced, "Now, I have a few things here that would help you if you are willing to buy them."

Steel caught the merchant's arm before he turned away, "I was having a change of heart, but you pushed it onto me anyway in spite of saying earlier business before pleasure." Steel gave him a glare of suspicion, "What is you game?"

The merchant smiled secretly at Steel, not taking offense to the grab, "As a beast-tamer, I could tell you those two little ones would do anything for you, so it would be wrong to take them. As a merchant, I could say having unwilling merchandise is bad business. As one who has lost many friends to treachery and disaster, I can tell you it is worth having someone beside you when traveling down dark roads. In any case," he jerked his arm out of Steel's grasp, "We are not good enough friends to discuss this further. Now, you must be able to provide your two charges with food whenever they are hungry, which should align to when you eat. Beyond that, there is little else for you to do. If your charges cause trouble, you will be held responsible. Likewise, if they are injured you are well inclined to take payment as recompense. Since they have high intelligence values, you'll find they can learn skills like you do; through experience or a skill book. Naturally, they can't read and thus cannot learn spells through skill books, but as they grow and evolve they might learn their own magic."

"Oh right," Falcon nodded, "I should explain the process of monster evolution. Through your travels, you charges will grow stronger alongside you. Eventually, they will have satisfied certain internal conditions and will evolve into a stronger monster. These conditions can vary from level to eating a particular monster or item to being in a certain place at a certain time. This is a monster book you may take with you that outlines the most common monsters and beasts you may encounter." Falcon handed over a book to Steel, who stored it in his inventory.

"Finally, I can change your class to tamer or beast-master if you like."

Steel dismissed the two prompts as they appeared in front of him, "I have no desire to take more charges, those classes would be worthless to me."

Falcon nodded, "Okay then, but out intimacy compels me to tell you your current class will conflict with your curse. I advise you to change classes soon so as to avoid future trouble."

"Thank-you for your help." Steel said as he turned to leave, "Come on you two." As the two infant monsters scrambled to join him, Falcon called out, "Two more things; those two are complete opposites, so beware internal conflict as they grow up. Also, Mrs. Frederick down the street has a mice problem. Why don't you use your two new friends to help her?"

"They aren't my friends." Steel muttered as he shut the door behind him, "They're just tools to be used."