After a bit of coaxing—and a promise that I'd make it up to him later—Lio finally calmed down.
Fishing had a way of doing that.
We spent the rest of the day along the shallower parts of the island, lines cast into the water, feet dangling over warm stone. The island didn't have many land animals—most life here belonged to the sea. Fish, crustaceans, tide-creatures. Anything bigger usually stayed far from shore.
It made fishing less about skill and more about patience.
Bren was terrible at it.
"I swear," he muttered, tugging his line up for the fifth time. "The fish are doing this on purpose."
"They are," Lio said seriously. "They sense fear."
"That's not how fish work," Bren shot back.
I smiled faintly and let them argue.
Moments like these were… grounding.
No systems.No treasures.No destiny pressing down.
Just waves, wind, and the creak of wooden rods.
Still—
Curiosity stirred.
I had already looked at Mother's panel.I had looked at Lio's.
Which meant there was only one left.
While Bren was distracted untangling his line—for the third time—I focused on him.
Inspect.
[INSPECT — Bren Zephyris]
[Status: Unawakened]
[Age: 14]
Physique: 7]
[Mana: 6]
[Luck: 6]
[Potential Talent:]Windbound Navigator (Unawakened)
[Description:]An innate affinity with wind currents, air pressure, and directional flow. Grants heightened spatial awareness and instinctive route optimization.
[Potential Evolutions:]— Sky-Sea Pathfinder— Tempest Helmsman— Horizon Breaker
[Awakening Requirement:]
Navigate through a dangerous environment relying primarily on instinct rather than tools.
[Progress: 0 / 3]
I blinked.
Windbound Navigator.
Of course.
Son of a captain. Raised on ships. Always watching the sky, the sails, the horizon.
Not a combat talent.
Not flashy.
But invaluable.
A talent that kept crews alive.
I glanced up at Bren just as he finally managed to cast his line properly, face lighting up with triumph.
"There!" he said proudly. "See? I told you I had it."
"You caught nothing," Lio pointed out.
"Yet."
I leaned back against the rock, the knowledge settling quietly in my chest.
Lio would walk with beasts.Bren would guide ships through storms.And me…
I would hunt what the ocean tried to hide.
The sun dipped lower as we fished, laughter carrying over the water. For today, at least, the sea allowed us peace.
But I knew—
This calm wouldn't last forever.
And when the waters grew rough…
We would be ready.
Here is the clean, natural continuation of Chapter 7, keeping the slice-of-life tone, dialogue rhythm, and your setup for Lio's first bond. No system panels here—just story flow.
As the sun dipped lower, we packed up our fishing gear and started heading back toward home. Halfway there, I subtly adjusted our route, steering us toward the market instead of the main path.
Lio noticed almost immediately.
"Kael," he said suspiciously, squinting at the familiar stalls ahead. "Why are we going to the market? Mom's waiting for us. And I want to eat cake."
He leaned forward as he spoke, deliberately softening his voice, trying to look extra pitiful.
I ignored the act.
"I just need to buy something," I replied.
That only made him frown harder.
The market was small—just a cluster of wooden stalls and permanent shops near the docks—but there was one place I was headed toward in particular.
The island's only animal and beast seller.
The man who ran it had once been part of an exploration team. A veteran treasure hunter. He'd left the seas after losing an arm to a deep-reef beast and now made his living traveling to nearby islands, trading eggs, young animals, and—on rare occasions—magic beasts.
Earlier that day, while wandering the town alone, I had seen it.
A baby Skyrend Eagle.
Iron-rank.
Young.
Sharp-eyed.
Perfect.
It would be an ideal first bond for Lio. A low-risk, high-utility companion. More importantly, it would let him experience bonding before I ever brought him to the Tidecoil Serpent egg.
Practice.
Confidence.
Progress toward awakening.
The moment Lio formed a true bond with the Tidecoil Serpent, his awakening would trigger instantly. I needed to make sure he was ready.
Lost in thought, I almost missed his next question.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Lio asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Just wait a little longer," I said. "I need to buy a present."
That made him stop walking.
"…What?"
I glanced at him. "It's for you."
His expression froze.
"What?" he repeated.
Then Bren leaned in from the other side, eyebrows shooting up.
"Hold on—he's getting a present on your birthday? Where's mine?"
I looked at Lio.
Then at Bren.
Then Lio looked at Bren.
For a second, none of us said anything.
And then—
We all burst out laughing.
Lio clutched his stomach.
Bren wiped his eyes.
I shook my head, grinning despite myself.
"Fine, fine," I said. "If this goes well, maybe you'll get something too."
Bren brightened instantly. "Now that's a birthday I can support."
Lio still looked confused—but there was excitement in his eyes now.
The market stall was just ahead.
And waiting inside it…
Was the beginning of Lio's path.
The bell above the shop door chimed as we stepped inside.
The familiar scent of straw, feed, and sea-salt filled the air.
"Hey, Marcel," I greeted casually. "How's the store doing?"
The man behind the counter looked up, one eye crinkling as he took us in—me, Bren, and Lio already half-bouncing with curiosity.
"Ah," Marcel chuckled, resting his elbow on the counter. "The trouble trio is here."
He looked older than most remembered him—sun-weathered skin, thick beard streaked with gray, and an empty sleeve tucked neatly at his side. A former explorer, retired after losing a hand to a reef beast, Marcel now made his living hopping between nearby islands, trading in animals, eggs, and the occasional magic beast.
As we talked, Lio had already wandered off.
I didn't need to look to know that.
Sure enough, he was crouched near the back of the shop, surrounded by cages and pens, talking animatedly to the animals inside as if they could understand him.
"Easy there, little guy," he murmured softly.
I smiled faintly and turned back to Marcel.
"I need the baby Skyrend Eagle," I said.
Marcel's brow immediately furrowed.
"Are you sure?" he asked, serious now. "That's not some house pet. Magic beasts aren't easy to tame—Skyrend Eagles especially. Fierce little things. One nearly took off my remaining fingers when I tried to move it."
He lifted his hand slightly, emphasizing the point.
"Really?" I said mildly. "It doesn't seem that fierce to me."
I gestured toward the back of the shop.
Marcel turned.
And froze.
Inside the reinforced cage, the baby Skyrend Eagle sat calmly, wings tucked in, eyes half-lidded in clear contentment. Lio had slipped his fingers through the bars, gently scratching beneath its chin while offering it a handful of berries.
The eagle chirped softly.
Softly.
Marcel stared.
"…That beast tried to peck my eye out this morning," he muttered.
Lio looked up, confused. "Did it? It's nice."
The eagle leaned into his hand.
Marcel closed his mouth. Opened it again. Then closed it once more.
"…You Marens raise strange children," he finally said.
I laughed and pulled out a coin pouch.
"I'll take it," I said. "And some feed."
Marcel sighed, shaking his head as he counted out the price."1,000 coins. And if it starts biting people, don't bring it back."
I paid without hesitation.
Minutes later, we stepped out of the shop into the afternoon light. Lio held the small cage carefully in both hands, trotting happily behind me, eyes shining as he peeked inside every few steps.
"Kael," he whispered excitedly, "can I name it?"
"We'll see," I replied.
Bren leaned over, peering at the eagle. "So that's my birthday gift too, right?"
I snorted.
The Skyrend Eagle chirped once, sharp and clear—its eyes never leaving Lio.
And for the first time, I was certain.
This bond wasn't just going to work.
It was meant to.