This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Teleportation arrays were fast, clean, and efficient.

But even the instant travel they provided couldn’t send Kain and Serena to the capital quick enough to beat the crowd gathering for the auction.

Which is why Kain and Serena—two beast tamers with far more intelligence than they were currently using—stood at the edge of Celestial Plaza in the capital, staring at the blinking No Vacancy signs lighting up every hotel they passed.

“I can’t believe we didn’t think of this,” Serena muttered, arms crossed, eyes narrowed at the elegant facade of the third luxury hotel they’d tried.

Kain adjusted his sleeves awkwardly. Since he hadn’t gotten to shower after training before heading to the capital, the sweat-dried clothes were beginning to feel uncomfortable. “It’s the Royal Auction. Of course every upper-class room in the city is booked.” He sighed, wiping his forehead with the edge of his already sweat-dried sleeve. “And we came straight from training. I feel like I’m wearing cardboard.”

“You look like it too,” Serena muttered.

Kain gave her a sideways glance. “You’re one to talk.”

She shrugged. “I know I look good even after training.”

He didn’t respond. Mostly because he couldn’t argue. She did somehow still look good, even with her hair tied up messily and wearing a plain black shirt that clung a little too perfectly to her form. The faint scent of her body still carried that crisp, floral hint that managed to be refreshing despite the fact they had just finished being roasted alive in training drills two hours ago.

“Anyway,” Serena said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “We could try the outer districts. Some of the lower-tier inns probably have vacancies.”

“And bugs,” Kain replied flatly. “Also, the commute from there tomorrow morning would be a nightmare.”

She hesitated.

Then took a breath.

“There’s… another option,” she said.

Kain looked at her.

Her face was unusually tense. Not her usual cool, nonchalant expression. This was something else. She wasn’t meeting his eyes.

“My family home’s here,” she said, voice casual—but just barely. “It’s not far. Twenty minutes on foot. We can walk.”

Kain didn’t blink. “You’re inviting me to your house?”

She finally looked at him. “Do you have a better plan?”

“No,” Kain admitted. “So yes. I accept.”

She nodded and immediately turned on her heel before he could see any flicker of hesitation.

They walked in silence—past the glittering shops and public benches with an antique charm, down winding paths bordered by blooming white-rose trees. The sun was slightly past its peak in the sky and beginning to sink, signifying the fact that it was later in the afternoon.

Then they reached a gated street.

No name. No plaque. Just an ornate, stonework arch and a single uniformed guard sitting quietly by the gate. He didn’t even stop them—just nodded once at Serena and pressed a switch.

The gate creaked open with an almost reverent slowness.

Kain had seen mansions.

He had seen estates.

But what waited at the end of this path made him pause.

No house was visible yet, but the sheer size of the lot was staggering. Wide cobblestone roads branched into perfectly groomed fields of mistgrass and tiered ponds filled with glowing Moon Koi. The perimeter was guarded by stone walls partially covered in flowering vinecrests, and there were staff tending to hedges, clearing leaves, and adjusting lighting crystals embedded in the pathways.

They were clearly wrapping up their tasks for the day, but still bowed respectfully as Serena passed.

“How much land is this?” Kain muttered.

Serena shrugged one shoulder. “A few dozen acres. Probably more.”

“Of course,” Kain said, dry. “Because a few dozen acres in the capital is totally reasonable.”

Even with ten times the amount of money he currently had, Kain wasn’t sure if he could purchase so much land in what was probably the most expensive neighbourhood in the Empire.

They kept walking.

And then they reached the smaller inner gates of the estate, the ones that most of the staff couldn’t even get through and offered additional privacy to the family that owned the land.

The massive wrought-iron gate was etched with the crest of House Storm— A chalice, tipped and overflowing—not with water or wine, but with wild, jagged spiritual flames. The overflow floods the border of the crest, crossing it entirely. A clear symbol of abundance that cannot be contained.

Kain took it to be a representation of the hereditary gift of the Storm family—limitless spiritual power.

And beyond the gate…

The manor came into view.

Elegant. Towering. Built in the signature Imperial Capitol style—white stone and navy-blue tile rooftops, moon-shaped windows, high-arched pillars and fluted balconies with gently glowing lanterns. But this house… this palace was on another level. More than twenty windows across just the front face. A domed observatory tower on the side. Twin wing extensions curved backward like open arms.

History and authority emanated from its walls. Kain didn’t even need spiritual senses to feel the weight of power and history imbued into every brick. This was a founding family’s home. One of the originals from the empire’s inception.

Serena walked up to the front gate console and pressed her hand to a sigil-inscribed panel. Her voice was quiet, but firm.

“Serena Storm. Returning.”

A soft chime. A ripple of light. Then the gate swung open as if welcoming the owner home.

Kain followed her in, still trying to decide whether this was real. ‘Poverty truly does limit one’s imagination…’ Kain lamented. Because even with all of his current wealth, when designing the new home for his family at the orphanage, not even the most extravagant ideas of he and his siblings came close to what he was currently seeing.

While Kain was lamenting the limits of his imagination, they reached the front door of the massive ‘palace’.

Serena stopped.

Her back straightened. Shoulders tightened. Her hand hovered near the doorknob.

Kain noticed.

“You good?” he asked quietly.

She didn’t answer.

He reached out, touched her shoulder gently.

She flinched. Like he’d electrocuted her. Her body stiffened under his hand, and she turned sharply, blue eyes wide with something he couldn’t read.

Before he could ask—

The door opened.

A tall middle-aged man stood in the doorway.

He had the bloodthirsty air of someone who belonged on the battlefield but was wearing the clothes to attend a high-society gala. White hair, combed neatly. Piercing blue eyes. His face was handsome—too handsome, in fact, like time had dared not touch him too much once he’d reached his prime. He wore no armor, no jewelry, just a midnight-black suit trimmed in silver. But his presence—

It was suffocating.

His gaze went straight to Kain’s hand still hovering near Serena’s shoulder.

And if looks could kill, Kain would have evaporated on the spot.

Kain slowly lowered his hand awkwardly.

The man didn’t blink.

Didn’t smile.

Didn’t say anything.

But Kain had a feeling he’d just entered a lion’s den.