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Aresia didn’t answer immediately.
The forged magical notebook was thick enough, she even considered adding a few more things to it that’s why she left a blank page – which was actually hidden by magic – just in case she needed to add something later. The content in the notebook was very complex and difficult to understand, so it wasn’t suitable to share with others. Aresia didn’t reveal the actual content and decided to leave it at that.
As a precaution Aresia wrote how to make and perform the Beast companion contract. If someone actually managed to see the content in the magical notebook, they would indeed find research about the Beast companion contract.
Duke Rogest had already glanced through the notebook, and combined with the magical effect Aresia had cast before, he immediately connected the topic of the Beast companion contract to the notebook. When Aresia nodded in confirmation, he decided not to delve further into the origins of the contract.
The manager had the magic of a soul, so when Aresia was purchasing spider eggs and preparing to hatch and raise them, the manager had expressed his concern and immediately informed Duke Rogest. It was not easy to gain his trust.
Realizing this, Aresia explained in detail the advantages of the Beast companion contract.
Not only did the contract allow the magical creature to completely obey the commands of the contract holder, but it also enabled ordinary individuals to learn this magic. Aresia mentioned that there was one point that might be more important to professional contract holders – the contract could enhance the strength of both parties.
There were a few magical creatures whose level breakthroughs were not limited to one level. Although it was rare, it proved that there were exceptions among contract holders.
Regarding the intelligence of the magical creature, if the contract holder reached a level similar to the contract creature’s level, the contract would have a half-power boost. Although this effect was reduced, it still provided help. Aresia mentioned that she had once heard of a mage who was skilled in nurturing magical creatures, and they had managed to raise a level 5 creature to level 8. Although it was an extremely rare case, it proved that there were possibilities.
Aresia emphasized that if either party in the contract suffered severe injuries or died, it would affect the other party. Additionally, the number of magical creatures that could be contracted was limited. Furthermore, the level difference between the contract holder and the magical creature could affect the effectiveness of the contract. Aresia recommended that it was best to choose a newly hatched creature as the ideal option for a contract.
After listening to Aresia’s explanation, Duke Rogest began to doubt the power of this beast companion contract magic. But when it came to Aresia herself, the Duke’s judgment was still intact.
“Aresia, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but this beast companion contract sounds incredibly unbelievable. Can we really trust the contents of this magic notebook? Maybe it’s just the owner’s speculation? After all, has anyone actually tried it?”
What deepened his doubt was the fact that even ordinary people could use spells in conjunction with magic crystals to form contracts with magical creatures. Until now, people believed that magic was only accessible to those with magical abilities, so the idea of an ordinary person using magic was quite strange.
The Duke found it unreliable, very unreliable indeed.
Aresia understood the Duke’s doubt, as anyone from the previous generation would find it hard to believe in such high-level magic as the beast companion contract without witnessing its effects firsthand.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but how about we find someone to experiment with it?”
The Duke pondered for a moment. “That could indeed be a way to prove it. We should find a beast merchant who sells soon-to-hatch beast eggs.”
Aresia replied, “Obtaining a recently hatched beast is for a long-term bond. For short-term efficacy, it’s better to have a grown beast. If it’s a grown beast and the contract holder can defeat it, then the beast will willingly submit, ensuring the success of the contract.”
If we consider potential, it’s more valuable to nurture a younger beast with higher potential. Once a beast has grown, their training potential decreases, and if the contract holder is skilled enough to nurture a beast to its full potential, it would be more suitable to directly choose a grown beast. This is an exceptional circumstance, of course.
Upon hearing this, Duke Rogest made a decision: “Let’s ask the beast merchant to provide a suitable beast for the contract. As for the person, one of my trusted guards will try it out. They are trustworthy.”
Originally, he had planned to have the beast merchant bring a batch of beast cubs for them to choose from. But now that they were considering the beast companion contract, if the contract was indeed successful, it would be better for the guard to choose by the shop to select a suitable one.
Aresia, eager to know, asked the Duke, “When should we do this? I have a two-week vacation.”
Duke Rogest was decisive. “Let’s do it today, right after noon. Swift and decisive.”
Aresia herself agreed to the Duke’s decision.
After a brief discussion, Aresia and the Duke parted ways to their respective rooms to change clothes and prepare for departure.
When Aresia returned in her new outfit, the Duke had already tidied up and was sitting in the carriage waiting.
The guards, dressed in armor, stood by the carriage, waiting for Aresia to get in before following suit.
There were several well-known beast merchants in the city of Holy Lotean, and their shops were mostly located near the Adventurer’s Guild, which was the direction the Duke’s carriage was heading.
The journey was long, and riding in the carriage became a bit boring. They finished discussing the contents of their contract and Aresia continued the conversation with the steward about the magic loom/weaver.
After listening for a while, the Duke understood what they were discussing and decided to join in. He provided some helpful suggestions regarding Aresia’s decision to sell the magical loom designs in a specific manner.
When the carriage stopped, the guards reminded them that they had arrived at their destination, and the contract had already been modified.
The guards collected the revised contract and prepared to make a copy before arranging a meeting with the person in charge of the Adventurer’s Guild to discuss the details of the mission.
While the guards were busy, the Duke got off the carriage first and reached out to help Aresia down.
After Aresia stood up, she looked up and noticed the shops around them.
The shops were brightly lit, resembling a pet store more than a beast merchant shop.
The shop was not very big, but it was filled with cages of various sizes. Inside the cages were adorable beast cubs, each groomed and clean, instantly bringing joy to anyone who laid eyes on them.
Nobles have always had a penchant for raising beast pets. However, they knew that wild beasts were difficult to tame, and they could easily harm their owners. Therefore, many nobles chose to buy beast cubs, raise them for a while until they grew aggressive, and then either send them away or entrust them to servants for care, replacing them with new cubs as pets.
Aresia knew that the beasts that were sent away were usually sent to arenas for battles, and some rare specimens would return to the beast merchants for breeding until they were no longer useful before being disposed of.
“Sir, the wild beast cubs you’re interested in are these few here. They were brought back from the wilderness by adventurers. The youngest is about a month old, while the oldest is no more than three months.”
High-level beast cubs were highly sought after. The price of an unhatched beast egg, which would be hatched into a beast cub, was significantly higher. This was due to the fact that they had been in contact with humans during incubation, and humans tended to have a more gentle approach. However, capturing these cubs in the wild was not a pleasant process, as the humans who captured them were often seen as enemies.
The staff member provided information about each beast cub. The Duke was particularly interested in the ones captured by adventurers.
There were three suitable high-level beast cubs available: a Thunder Wing Eagle, a Venomtail Cat, and a White-Maned Gryphon.
The Duke’s attention was immediately drawn to the White-Maned Gryphon.
The staff member explained that the gryphon was approaching three years old.
The young stage of a beast’s life was short. Typically, a gryphon would reach adulthood at around five years old. At three years old, the gryphon would already be in its sub-adult stage, and although there may be some difference in strength compared to an adult, their size would be relatively similar.
If the gryphon stood on its hind legs, disregarding the length of its tail, it would be over three meters long and weigh half a ton. What allowed them to support their heavy bodies in flight were their wings, which had a wingspan of up to eight meters.
The gryphon locked in the cage seemed to be in poor condition. It had several scabbed wounds, feathers and fur shedding, and its wings were drooping and spread out in the cage. Its emaciated body showed clearly visible bones. The gryphon lay motionless in the cage, appearing famished.
This sight of a dying creature troubled the Duke, considering that the gryphon was the emblem of their family and he commanded the Gryphon Legion.
Noticing the Duke’s gaze, the staff member quickly explained, “This White-Maned Gryphon was captured while attacking adventurers’ horses. It has been refusing to eat or drink since being captured. We tried everything, even using magic medicine to sustain its life.”
Gryphons were very selective in their diet, often attacking adventurers’ horses as their preferred prey. Their temperament was quite fierce, and they were a proud species. When captured, they would often choose to starve themselves, making it difficult for humans to feed them. However, after winning a battle, they would resume eating, consuming the defeated creature to replenish their energy and ensure their survival.
The current condition of the White-Maned Gryphon in the cage was quite awkward. It had several injuries, and it had been refusing treatment. The staff had managed to keep it alive with great difficulty, but it was still not eating. The Gryphon Arena was not interested in purchasing it due to its refusal to eat, and it was offered at a significantly lower price. The staff had considered killing it and selling its valuable materials instead.
The price offered was not only a loss but also foolish. Killing the gryphon and selling its body parts would have fetched a higher price. Seeing that the Gryphon Arena was not interested, the staff outright refused to negotiate further. They would rather kill the gryphon and sell its valuable parts.
Due to the condition of the white-maned gryphon, the shopkeeper hesitated to recommend it to Duke Rogest.
Duke Rogest did express a particular interest in the gryphon, but its poor condition made him uncertain about purchasing it. Aresia, his daughter, discreetly informed him of a solution.
Acknowledging Aresia’s suggestion, the Duke listened as she whispered, “Father, despite its appearance, this gryphon’s magical power is still quite strong. If you buy it and administer some magic medicine, it can be nursed back to health.”
Squinting at the ailing gryphon, the Duke carefully assessed its condition. He whispered, “Are you sure?”
Aresia nodded affirmatively.
The Duke straightened up and approached the store’s manager. They promptly discussed the feasibility of purchasing the gryphon. The news of someone willing to buy the near-dead gryphon surprised the shopkeeper, who quickly summoned the owner.
Aresia, skilled in negotiations, managed to secure a deal at nearly half the initially quoted price. Despite the substantial discount, the Duke still spent nearly a hundred thousand gold coins on the gryphon. The owner, while receiving the payment, couldn’t help but express astonishment at Aresia’s bargaining skills, stating that selling at such a low price might lead the shop to bankruptcy if it happened frequently.
Duke Rogest didn’t fully believe the owner’s words, suspecting that the low price was due to the owner recognizing them. To maintain anonymity, the Duke didn’t wear the Rogest family crest, and his guards didn’t carry it as well. So, the shopkeeper failed to recognize them.
After settling the payment, the owner attempted to establish a rapport with the Duke, mentioning a themed auction featuring magical beast eggs that evening. Intrigued by the prospect of gryphon eggs being auctioned, the Duke accepted the invitation, wondering if the beast companion contract was indeed a reality.
The owner, delighted with their acceptance, emphasized their willingness to assist the gryphon delivery, showcasing the enthusiasm of Holy Lotean’s renowned merchant for their esteemed guests.
The Duke declined the offer of assistance. His guards, with the almost-dead gryphon in tow, arranged for its transport back to the estate. They commandeered a carriage from the shop, placed the gryphon inside a covered cage, and discreetly trailed behind the Duke’s carriage.
However, unforeseen trouble arose. The scent of the gryphon disturbed the carriage horses, specially trained for magical beast battles, causing them distress. The coachman spent considerable time calming them down, and although the Duke’s guards were accustomed to such situations, their mounts were still slightly uneasy.
On the way back, they stopped at a magical herb store where Aresia purchased materials for a magic potion. The round trip took until almost three in the afternoon when they finally arrived back at the Duke’s residence.
The carriage transporting the gryphon was directed to a specific location in the Duke’s garden—a glasshouse that the Duke’s wife had set up for cultivating magical plants. Having lost interest over time, the greenhouse was now managed by a gardener.
One section of the greenhouse, originally reserved for the Duchess’s tea gatherings, was repurposed to temporarily house the ailing gryphon. Aresia instructed, “Have the kitchen prepare fresh meat and clean water for it.”
The Duke sensed a certain commitment in Aresia’s demeanor, one that hinted at the potential confirmation of the beast companion contract.
Unbeknownst to him, his daughter already taken steps to try the contract.
The steward nodded and summoned a servant to inform the kitchen, while they continued their journey.
Upon reaching the garden, the guards had already placed the gryphon’s cage on an empty space. The covering on the cage remained intact, muffling the heavy breathing from within.
Aresia turned to her father, inquiring, “Has the decision on the contract holder been made?”
The Duke replied with a question, “What do you think of this gryphon?”
Aresia nodded, “Despite its weakness, its magical energy response is not weak, indicating good potential.”
Duke Rogest smiled, “Interesting. I had the same impression.”
His gaze scanned the members of the guard present, eventually settling on the current captain of the guard. “Let’s have Duru give it a try.”