"Well... That's unexpected," Pangu murmured, having noticed the creation of the bond. Suddenly, I thought about the soul bonds that I already have with Pangu and Richard, so I tried talking through the link, "Hello?"
What greeted me back was a deafening roar. I suppose the Winged Lion doesn't understand what it just did. That makes more sense. The bond creation was out of instinct. Still, it is a good thing.
"What? Who? Why? How?" a little boy's voice followed the roar. I smiled and sent down another message, "Calm down, cub."
"Who are you? What is this? Why are you in my head?" the Winged Lion tried to sound intimidating, but all it did was make me laugh when I heard it through that voice. "Don't laugh at me!"
"Sorry. Sorry." I snuck in a few grins before finally taking it seriously, "Okay, one question at a time."
"Who are you?"
"I am Orion Fistore of the Mansion of Night. Lord of Wind, Water, and Ice."
"I don't know what any of that means."
I was speechless. "Then why are you so adamant about knowing who I am?"
"I don't know! Wouldn't you have done the same?" I was about to laugh again, but stopped when I saw it pouting. I didn't want to push it too much because I had no idea if it could remove the bond.
"Got a name?" I asked it.
"Of course I do! I am... uh..."
"You don't have a name, do you?"
"No, not really."
"Then how about I call you Shi Zi?"
"Too long."
"Too long?!" I was left speechless again. This cub...
"I guess Zi alone sounds nice."
I shook my head and smiled at its childish behavior. "It is a pleasure to be bonded to you, Zi."
"Pleased to meet you, too, Orion! Can you tell me how we are doing this?"
"You have formed a bond between our two souls. My soul is linked to yours. That's why we are able to speak mentally."
"Oh... Oh! I understand now! But why can't I talk like humans? Like you?"
"First of all, I am not exactly human. As for your question, well... You are still a cub. And you are not powerful enough yet. Once you reach a certain level in strength, speech will be one of the many things that you can do."
Its eyes lit up. It thinks that it can reach that level very quickly, but I kind of crushed its hopes as I continued, "I do not know what that level is for Winged Lions." I paused a moment, "But when I can, I will research it for you."
Zi became cheerful again and said, "Can I make a request of you?"
"Go ahead." I smiled and patted its head. It purred and said through the enjoyment, "Can you bring me some food? I am a bit hungry."
I chuckled and teased, "Just a bit?"
"Yeah. Not too much. I could probably eat just two thousand rabbits for now."
I thought I misheard the number, so I wanted to make sure, "What did you just say?!"
"I said that I could eat just two thousand rabbits for now."
"Just two thousand rabbits."
"Aha." It even nodded its little head as if to confirm it even further.
I scratched my chin and tried to explain to it why this isn't ideal, "Listen, kid. This number... It's too much if I am being honest. I will try to hunt as much meat for you as I can."
It started jumping in excitement and happiness. I just shook my head in silence with a little smile. "Come, I want to introduce you to my friends," I told Zi. It started flapping its wings and flew beside me as I walked towards the camp.
Tulip was reading a book at a table. The camp we were using was a magically enhanced one, which allowed the space inside to be bigger than the outside. It was a courtesy of Chiron before I left the Mansion last time.
Once she heard us, Tulip raised her head from the book and looked in surprise at Zi flying at my side. "I take that it has been a success?" she asks.
I smiled and nodded, "Better than that. Tulip, meet Zi."
Zi settled on the ground of the tent, and Tulip knelt to caress its fur. However, she got a growl from the cub as it jumped back in apprehension. I tried to calm it down through the bond, "Easy there. She won't harm you, don't worry."
Only then did Zi allow Tulip to touch it. And judging by how much it was enjoying the care, I wouldn't have believed that it was growling a moment ago. "Her touch is so soft... Who is she to you?"
"She's my partner," I replied, a hint of pride in my tone. It was silent for a few seconds, and then asked, "What's a partner?"
I smiled wryly at the question. Of course, it doesn't understand that. From Pangu's observation, he was sure that it hadn't been a year since Zi was born. Such concepts are foreign to the Winged Lion Cub, especially since it was born in such a devoid area like Mount Evergreen. I coughed and replied, "You wouldn't understand it even if I explained it to you. Don't worry, though, you will naturally get to know this stuff as you get older."
"Ahem," Pangu let out a fake cough; I don't know if he can even cough in that form, although I don't want to know the answer to that. Right, I forgot to introduce Pangu.
"Zi, meet Pangu."
It raised its head and said, "Eh? Where is Pangu?"
"He is my sword spirit. You can't really see him."
"What is it saying about me? Does it like my looks?" Pangu asked, and I remembered that the others could not hear my conversation with the cub.
"No one can even see you, Pangu," I reminded him. "Zi was confused about where you are. I was explaining your nature." I remembered that I had to go hunting. "Pangu, let's go. Tulip, would you please take care of Zi while I hunt an abnormal amount of food for it?"
Tulip nodded, and I told Zi to behave while I headed out. I came back later with five hundred dead creatures of varying sizes and presented them to Zi.
It ate them all in a few minutes.
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Updated on 6/9/2025