"They pick their own masters. Once bonded, they can assist in combat. Some of us train them as companions."
I glanced down.
The little gremlin was grinning at me.
The female troll chuckled, arms crossed. "If you want to make it official, feed it your blood."
I froze.
"I'm sorry, what now?"
She shrugged, completely unfazed. "It seals the bond. Otherwise, he might leave if he finds someone stronger."
My gaze flicked back to the lemur.
"Oh, so you'd leave me for someone cooler, huh?"
The lemur didn't even try to deny it.
It just grinned wider, sharp little fangs peeking through.
Little traitor.
Still… having a partner didn't sound too bad.
And, if I was being honest, I didn't mind its company.
It was either tame it or eat it.
And honestly? I wasn't feeling that heartless today.
So… fine.
Rolling my eyes, I raised my hand and nicked my thumb with a claw.
A tiny bead of blood welled up.
The lemur didn't hesitate.
Its tongue flicked out, warm and quick, lapping at the crimson drop.
The moment it made contact, something yanked at my chest—like an invisible thread snapping into place.
A chill ran through my veins.
Then, a glowing message flashed across my vision.
Ding!
[You are now bonded to creature: Lemur][Lemur can now mimic a portion of your abilities and, over time, will take on traits you possess.]
My eyes widened.
"Oh… that's interesting."
Zephra chuckled. "He'll be a useful ally."
Before I could respond, another notification appeared.
[Since your Lemure is nameless, you can now give it a name.]
Name…?
I muttered the word under my breath, confused.
The lemure, now officially mine, tilted its head, its glowing eyes watching me expectantly.
Its tail flicked, tapping against my boot like it was waiting for something good.
Fine. If this little guy was sticking around, he needed a name worthy of a champion.
Something strong. Something legendary.
A name fit inspired by novel most powerful fantasy creature.
I smirked.
"Your name is Dravok."
The lemur's ears perked up.
Then, with a high-pitched but surprisingly fierce "Rrrraaah!", it threw its tiny arms in the air like it had just won a battle.
Its smug expression made it clear—it loved the name.
I shook my head, amused.
"Alright, alright, don't let it go to your head."
Zephra, who had been silently observing, crossed her arms, her golden eyes studying me.
Then she spoke.
"Most outsiders panic when thrown into unfamiliar situations. But you? You adapt."
I turned toward her, raising an eyebrow.
I smirked. "I don't have a choice."
It was adapt or die. And I wasn't planning on dying anytime soon.
She hummed, clearly considering something.
Then, with a small grin, she said, "Still, it's impressive. I like that."
Something about the way she said that made my stomach tighten.
And—maybe I was imagining things—but was she… flirting?
A troll, flirting?
Absurd.
But… not unwelcome.
I wasn't exactly an expert at picking up signals, but the way she was looking at me—steady, amused, just a little too interested—yeah.
She wanted me.
I fought the urge to grin like an idiot.
Before I could say something dumb—something that would either ruin the moment or make it a hundred times more interesting—a deep, resonating horn blasted through the village.
A signal. Loud.
"What is that?" I asked.
And Zephra's responded turning toward the sound.
"The feast is starting. You should come."
Never one to turn down food, I nodded and followed Zephra.
The feast was chaos—in the best way possible.
Massive bonfires blazed, crackling as they sent spirals of embers into the night sky.
The scent of roasted meat, thick and savory, hung heavy in the air, mixing with the earthy aroma of fresh herbs and sizzling fat.
Trolls gathered in noisy clusters, tearing into hunks of meat with sharp teeth, their guttural laughter booming over the sound of clanking mugs and the deep, rhythmic beat of war drums.
Some wrestled for sport, slamming each other into the dirt with enough force to make the ground tremble.
Others drank straight from barrels the size of tree stumps.
It was raw. Unfiltered.
And I loved it.
So, naturally, I ate.
A lot.
Maybe it was the intense hunger from the day's events.
Maybe it was the sheer quality of the food.
Juicy, well-cooked meat, charred at the edges but bursting with flavor.
Thick, hearty stews filled with roots and wild vegetables.
Even the strange, spongy fruit had a tangy sweetness that left a pleasant aftertaste.
Each bite fueled me, sending warmth through my limbs.
And I just kept eating.
Then—A notification flickered across my vision.
Ding!
[Iron Gut converting excess food to energy…]
[You have received +1 point to Strength.]
I paused mid-bite, chewing slowly as the realization set in.
No special traits from the food this time—probably because it wasn't raw—but thanks to my Iron Gut ability, my body had absorbed and converted the excess into pure strength.
I flexed my fingers, feeling the faintest rush of new energy.
Not bad.
I popped another piece of meat into my mouth.
Might as well keep going.
Zephra watched, fascinated, as I tore through the food like a starved beast.
I wasn't trying to put on a show, but apparently, I was.
The female trolls whispered among themselves, casting glances my way—some amused, some intrigued.
The males? Not so amused.
Especially one in particular.
Not Gunther surprisingly. He was nowhere to be seen.
It was a mountain of a troll, covered in jagged scars, his muscles bulging like boulders beneath gray skin. His amber eyes locked onto me with an intensity that could probably set trees on fire.
Great another anti-fan of the chosen one.
He stalked toward me, his heavy steps thudding against the packed dirt.
He growled, his voice deep and guttural.
"You eat like a glutton. Fitting, since that's all you are. A parasite."
I swallowed my bite, wiped my mouth, and leaned back lazily.
"Not parasite," I corrected. "The supposed chosen one."
His lips curled into a snarl, and he slammed his fist against his chest in a challenge.
"Outsiders have no place here," he declared. "You are unworthy."
The feast stilled.
All eyes turned toward us.
I chewed the last of my meal, then exhaled through my nose.
Yeah. This was happening.
I tilted my head, deliberately slow.
Let the tension build. Let him stew.
"Unworthy of what?" I asked, my tone casual. "Existing in the same space as your fragile ego?"
A ripple of murmurs swept through the crowd.
Some trolls chuckled, others shifted uneasily.
The warrior's snarl deepened, his nostrils flaring like a bull about to charge.
His amber eyes burned with fury, locked onto me with deadly intent.
I had his full attention now.
His claws twitched.
Then, with a step forward, he loomed over me, his shadow stretching long in the firelight.
The he growled.
"I challenge you. To a fight."
The feast fell silent.
I sighed, rolling my shoulders.
"Well… that escalated quickly."
Of course. I couldn't just eat in peace.
I cracked my knuckles, and stood up, a grin spreading across my face.
"Alright," I said, eyes gleaming.
"Let's get this over with."