Wang Zen was seated on the floor in a lotus position. Across his legs was a scroll that he read by the firelight of their campfire.

“What are you reading, Zen’er?” Yun Ip Chun asked as he walked over to him. He offered Zen his drink as he sat next to him.

Zen pushed the leather sack of alcohol gently away. “It is a Wind Technique.”

“Ah, I sometimes forget that you’re a new Master Rank.” Chun said before taking a swig of his drink. “How’s it coming along?”

Zen shook his head. “Not really good. Whenever I try this technique, Air Vortex, something feels… off. There is some pain when I try to perform it.”

“You better be careful, Wang Zen.” Lao Lu said, from her place opposite the crackling fire. “Practicing some elemental techniques can be dangerous. I’m sure we’ve all heard about the fire elementalist who burned himself practicing a move.”

“Thanks for the heads up, Captain.” Zen said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Hmph, I’m surprised she cares,” Deng Dandan said.

Chun leaned closer to Zen. “There is definitely something up between those two,” he whispered to Zen.

“Its in your mind.” Zen whispered back. “There is nothing.”

Chun shrugged and leaned back. He took another sip, looking at Yi Nuo. “Heh, you keep looking over here, Yi Nou.” He winked. “You can admire me better if you come closer.”

“She’s not looking at you, you idiot.” Dandan said. “She is looking at Wang Zen’s gorilla.”

“Yes,” Zen said. “You know, Yi Nou, Shibi won’t hurt you. He is quite friendly.”

“As if I’d believe that,” she said. “Your gorilla doesn’t look normal.”

Zen and Shibi exchanged confused looks.

“Shibi looks perfectly normal.” Zen said.

“No,” Yi Nou said. “I’ve seen tamed beasts before. They have fully silver eyes. But your Scorch Ape… only part of its eyes are silver. Come to think of it, you have the same thing, part of your eyes are silver too. Why is that?”

The question hung in the air as everyone fell silent. The only thing that could be heard was the wood, crackling in the fire.

Suddenly, Chun laughed. “I must admit, this girl has some large pair of balls on her!”

She blushed. “I do not!”

“I mean, I’m sure we’ve all wondered but none of us bothered asking,” Chun said.

Zen sighed. “Oh well, I guess I should explain. So we know about binding contracts. Most of you probably know of the common types. One is between humans and beasts. These are usually master and servant contracts where the beast is subservient to the human and if not… well, the contract allows the human to coerce the beast’s obedience. You usually can tell if a beast is under this contract, as their eyes become silver. The other kind is between humans. It might not be completely like the human and beats contracts but it is pretty close with one human having some kind of control on the other.

“My friend, Jun Nee, was under a contract like that when she was young. Unlike the contract between humans and beasts, this one does not mark any of the people involved.”

“That is not exactly true, Wang Zen.” Lao said. “There are instances of humans having contracts with each other, where one of the party gets a tiny section of silver. Scholars believe that all contracts mark one or more participants eyes with silver. Just that human contracts are not as deep as human beast contracts, so the silver might be so tiny, that it is imperceivable.”

“Uh, I didn’t know that.” Zen said. “Anyways, my contract with Shibi is different. There is no dominant and subservient party. We’re both equal in the contract and either of us can break the contract at any time.”

“Why have I never heard of a contract like that?” Yi Nou said.

“Most people with enough money to make contracts usually do so to subject another to their will, especially if the other is a beast.” Zen said. “Shibi and I are different. We serve each other’s interests, so no one is greater than the other.”

“You have an interesting relationship, Zen’er.” Chun said before taking another sip of his drink.

Zen smiled at Yi Nou. “So you see, Shibi is friendly. Her would never hurt you if I would not hurt you.”

“O-Okay,” she said.

“Here, we can prove it. Come and give his head a little rub.”

“I… don’t know,” she said.

“Come on!” Zen said.

Yi Nou gulped and slowly made her way around the fire to Shibi who was lying next to Zen. With a shaky hand, she reached out for Shibi, who seemed to be mostly ignoring her. When her hand was centimeters from his head, Shibi suddenly turned to face her and bit her hand! The bite was not particularly hard and did not hurt her at all. But it still surprised her enough that she yelped, then fainted.

Shibi laughed while Lao, Dandan and Chun checked up on the unconscious girl.

“Why did you do that, you stupid ape!” Zen shouted at the giggling gorilla. “You are embarrassing me!”

“Shibi not stupid ape. Zen stupid ape. Stupid, hairless ape.” Shibi said.

“Who you calling an ape?” Zen said pouncing on Shibi. The two wrestled on the ground with SHibi having an advantage.

When the morning came, the group packed up and began making their way. Soon, in the distance, they could see a large maroon and grey castle tower.

“Seems like we’re getting closer.” Chun said, taking out his drinking sack. “Esiest S-rank mission ever.” He began to take a sip.

“Hey, the mission is not done until I deliver my package.” Yi Nou said.

Lao stopped. “Get in the Protection Formation!”

“Which one is that again?” Chun said.

They all got in position. Chun was already, roughly, standing in the correct place.

“I see something!” Dandan said.

They all glanced to her sider. They saw a large grey and black bat-like creature heading towards them. It opened its mouth and screamed. The air rippled as its ear piercing scream echoed out. Zen and the rest of Team Lao covered their ears and grimaced in pain.

Lao summoned her water sword. She pointed the sword at the creature and sent out a stream of water. The giant bat weaved, dodging the stream of water. This at least made the scream bearable. Enough that Shibi saw a man speeding over. He looked almost like a blur as he reached out for Yi Nou!