The days in Stonefine Village passed with a slowness that Nathan took full advantage of.
His body was still that of a baby, but every small improvement felt like a calculated victory.
Ember, the ashen fox, had become his constant shadow.
He slept curled up at the foot of the crib, went out hunting mice during the day, and always returned before dusk to lick Nathan's hand, as if he understood who the true master was.
Evelyn found it adorable.
"It's like he knew you were his master even before you were born," she said while changing Nathan's cloths, smiling at him tenderly.
Nathan didn't respond.
He still couldn't speak fluently, but he already made clear, controlled sounds when he wanted to.
By two months old, he was already babbling simple words: "ma," "pa," "Ember."
Every time he said the fox's name, the animal wagged its tail and moved closer.
The system recorded everything.
[Secondary mission completed: Establish a basic bond with your first beast]
[Reward: +5 EXP, Passive Upgrade – Animal Loyalty +10%]
[Current progress: Level 2 (28/200 EXP)]
Nathan reviewed his stats every night, when the house fell silent and only the crackling of the fireplace could be heard.
'Animal loyalty. That means the beasts I tame won't betray me easily. Useful later on.'
He knew the road ahead would be long.
He also knew that at some point, he would need more than foxes and small wolves.
But for now, every experience point was another brick in the wall he was building.
One late spring afternoon, when warm sunlight filtered through the window, an unexpected visitor arrived.
A cart pulled by two mules stopped in front of the house.
From it stepped down a tall, slender man with pointed ears and silver hair tied into a long braid.
An elf.
He was accompanied by a girl around seven or eight years old, also an elf, with the same silver hair falling loose to her waist and eyes as green as new leaves.
Her name was Sylvara.
The girl looked at the cabin with curiosity while her father, Eldrin Vaelor, spoke with Gideon at the door.
"We were traveling along the northern route toward Lunareth," Eldrin explained in a calm voice.
"We're carrying some herbs and mana crystals. If you need anything…"
Gideon shook his head at first, but Evelyn came out holding Nathan and smiled.
"Please, come in and have something warm. The road is cold."
Eldrin accepted with a slight bow.
Sylvara, on the other hand, didn't wait for an invitation.
She walked straight inside and approached the crib where Nathan had been just moments earlier.
Ember lifted his head and let out a low growl, but Nathan extended a small hand toward the girl and said, clearly for his age:
"Hi."
Sylvara blinked in surprise.
Then she smiled, showing small, perfect teeth.
"You have strange eyes. I like them."
She stepped closer and touched Nathan's hand without asking permission.
Her fingers were cold, her skin soft like petals.
Nathan observed her with cold attention.
'Elf. High magical affinity. Likely long-lived. Potential long-term interest.'
The system reacted almost immediately.
[Superior race presence detected: Elf]
[Secondary mission generated: Gain the favor of Sylvara Vaelor]
[Reward: +4 Charisma, Elven Affinity (Rank F), Possible future contact with the village of Lunareth]
Nathan didn't change his expression.
He simply closed his fingers around the girl's index finger, as if accepting the deal without words.
Sylvara let out a small laugh.
"You're strange for a human. But I don't dislike you."
Eldrin entered at that moment and saw the scene.
His ears twitched slightly, a sign of contained surprise.
"It seems my daughter has already made a friend," he murmured.
Evelyn laughed.
"Nathan is… special. He even tamed that fox when he was just born."
Eldrin looked at Ember, who was now sitting near Sylvara's feet, watching her with curiosity.
"A natural tamer…," he said quietly.
"That's rare. Very rare."
Nathan listened to everything while pretending to play with the wooden pendant Sylvara wore around her neck.
It was a simple amulet, carved with a protection rune.
'Protection against minor curses. Interesting. This world has layers I don't know yet.'
The visit lasted a little over an hour.
Before leaving, Sylvara leaned over the crib and whispered to Nathan:
"When you're bigger, come to Lunareth. There are lots of strong animals there… and pretty magic."
Then she gave him a quick kiss on the forehead and ran out after her father.
Nathan stayed still, feeling the damp touch on his skin.
He felt nothing romantic or tender.
He only thought: 'First contact with elves. First step toward something bigger.'
That night, when the house fell silent, the system spoke again.
[Secondary mission completed: Gain the favor of Sylvara Vaelor]
[Rewards: +4 Charisma, Elven Affinity (Rank F)]
[New main mission: Reach Level 5 before turning 2 years old]
[Reward: Unlock first Magic Style + 50 EXP]
Nathan stared at the straw roof in the darkness.
Two years.
Three more levels.
'Feasible,' he thought.
And for the first time since arriving in this world, he allowed a slight curve to form on his lips.
It wasn't a smile of happiness.
It was the smile of someone who could already see the entire board and was beginning to move the pieces.
Ember lifted his head from the floor and looked at him.
Nathan extended his hand, and the fox moved closer to lick it.
'Soon,' he thought.
'Soon we'll be hunting bigger things.'
Outside, the moon illuminated the sleeping village, unaware of the child who, in his crib, was already planning to become something far more dangerous than any wolf or elf that had ever set foot on those lands.