"So, what brings you here today?"
"Well, I’ve recently taken in a magical beast, and I was hoping to learn the basics of how to raise and train it... Allow me to introduce him. This is Shiro."
"Woof!"
Shiro barked happily as I stroked his back.
Seeing him, Alieze’s eyes sparkled.
"Oh! Oh, my goodness, what an adorable little thing! Shiro-chan! He’s quite round and small for one, but is he a Bearwolf?"
"Correct. He took a liking to me when I went on a magical beast hunt in the northern forest with Albert-niisan. ...Still, I’m impressed you could tell. He looks quite different from his original form."
"Ufufu, I just had a feeling."
A feeling, huh? I narrowed my eyes, suspecting as much.
Just as I had once identified individual lifeforms by perceiving their magical wavelengths, Alieze was likely doing something similar on a subconscious level.
"It has something to do with 'magic power,' right? I don't really understand it myself, though."
"Yes. And so, what I wanted to ask was..."
"Now, now, Lloyd. It’s a bit awkward standing around talking here, so why don’t we head inside? I’ll have some delicious tea served."
"Ah, good idea."
I had gotten a bit carried away. Alieze’s own magical beast was likely inside as well, so it would be easier to talk while observing it.
And so, led by Alieze, I stepped into the tower.
The interior was a massive atrium. Aside from a spiral staircase running along the outer wall and a few small rooms, the space was entirely open to the ceiling.
The ground was covered in grass, moss, ponds, thickets, and even full-grown trees, creating a perfectly preserved natural environment.
Seeing this, Grimo let out a voice of admiration.
"Hah—this is quite the sight, sir."
"Apparently, she opens it to the public as a zoo sometimes."
On those days, crowds of people visited to see rare plants and animals from across the kingdom.
Incidentally, Eris acted as the guide. Alieze had wanted to do it herself, but she’d been forbidden from doing so, for obvious reasons.
I sat down with Alieze at a white table in the center of the hall.
"Eris, please prepare some tea."
"Understood."
Eris bowed and began pouring tea from a pot she seemed to have produced from thin air.
The pleasant aroma of herbs filled the area, and Alieze closed her eyes contentedly.
"I’d like to see Alieze-neesan’s magical beast right away, if possible."
"My, aren't you the impatient one? Hehe, very well. Since it's you asking, Lloyd... Ril!"
At Alieze’s call, a fluffy ball of fur stood up from the roof of one of the internal structures.
With long, slender legs, a tail as long as its entire body, and pointed ears that twitched as it turned toward its master, the giant wolf leaped down. It landed gracefully beside Alieze.
It was a beautiful creature with silver fur and golden eyes.
Its shoulders stood at least three meters high. Its presence was truly intimidating.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is Ril. Go on, say hello."
"Woof!"
When Ril let out a high-pitched bark, Shiro scrambled to hide behind me.
I suppose his size was a bit much for Shiro to handle.
Even so, Shiro continued to stare up at Ril with intense curiosity.
"That’s a Lesser Fenrir, sir. It’s a high-tier evolution of the Bearwolf—and a fairly dangerous magical beast at that."
"An evolution? Maybe that’s why Shiro is so interested."
I had heard that Fenrirs were extremely cautious and rarely sighted by humans.
Their combat prowess was immense; they were said to be capable of hunting dragons in pairs.
To have tamed such a magical beast, even a "Lesser" variant—Alieze might be more talented than I had initially realized.
I felt a surge of anticipation for what she might teach me.
"Please! I want to be able to communicate with Shiro just like you do with Ril, Alieze-neesan! Please teach me how you do it!"
"Of course! I’m sure you can do it, Lloyd."
"Really!?"
"Yes. Now, the most important thing is..."
After a dramatic pause, Alieze gave me a radiant smile.
"—Love!"
A heavy silence followed.
Alieze, undeterred, continued.
"I truly believe it! Love is the bond that connects us to those who cannot speak our language. No matter the magical beast, if you give them enough love, you will surely reach a mutual understanding!"
As Alieze spoke with shimmering eyes, Eris let out a weary, long-suffering sigh.
"Haa... Lady Alieze is a natural-born lure for animals. She is a freak occurrence, and her 'methods' are entirely useless as a reference."
"A lure!? Honestly, Eris, that’s just rude!"
"It is simply the truth."
The two began to bicker.
Well, it was more like playful squabbling; they seemed as close as sisters.
"There’s no need for anything complicated! You just go floosh and then ta-da! Right, Ril? You can tell what I'm thinking and saying, can't you? ...See!"
"Woof!"
Ril nodded in agreement and rubbed its head affectionately against Alieze.
As Alieze spread her arms and spun around happily, small animals like birds and rabbits began to gather around her.
The atmosphere was so whimsical it felt like a scene from a fairy-tale picture book.
Eris watched the display with a look of pure exasperation. She really was an animal magnet.
Grimo, who had been momentarily speechless, finally found his voice.
"...Master Lloyd, this is a lost cause, sir. To put it kindly, she’s a genius; to put it bluntly, she's an airhead. She isn't the type you can have a rational conversation with."
That’s a bit harsh, isn't it? Though I mostly agree.
Alieze certainly wasn't the type to provide a logical explanation.
However, there was still a way to learn from her.
"I see. I think I’ve got the gist of it, Alieze-neesan."
"Wh—at!?"
Eris and Grimo both stared at me in shock.
Alieze’s face lit up, and she grabbed my hands, shaking them vigorously.
"Exactly, Lloyd! It’s all about love!"
Whether it was love or not, I had noticed something while watching the magic power leaking from Alieze.
When Alieze gave Ril an order, she was connecting her own consciousness to Ril’s using magic power as a bridge.
That was how she allowed him to read her thoughts.
She was likely altering the nature of her magic power unconsciously, but it was a brilliant oversight on my part.
With that method, one could transmit thoughts as mental images in real-time.
It wasn't about commanding; it was about sharing.
And I was quite adept at visualizing mental images.
"Shiro!"
I extended my magic power just as she had, connecting it to Shiro’s head.
Then, I projected the exact image of what I wanted Shiro to do.
Shiro’s eyes widened in surprise, and he suddenly bolted.
He began to run in a wide circle around us.
One lap, two laps... and on the third lap,
"Woof!"
He barked with plenty of energy. He had done exactly what I envisioned.
Perfect. It worked just as I’d planned.
"Y-You're joking, right? You actually understood something from Lady Alieze’s explanation...?"
Eris’s eyes were practically bulging out of her head.
"Mm-hmm! You're amazing, Lloyd! As expected of my darling little brother! It’s the power of love!"
"No, I’m fairly certain it isn't."
"Yes, it is! So there!"
The two went back to their bickering. They really did get along well.
Well, I had achieved what I came for, and I didn't want to overstay my welcome.
It was time to go.
"Well then, Alieze-neesan. Thank you very much for your help."
"Eh!? You're leaving already!? At least stay and finish your tea!"
"No, I’m not really thirsty right now!"
"Aww, Lloyd—!"
I waved a final goodbye to Alieze.
Beside the tearful princess, Eris was muttering something under her breath.
"Just now... the technique Master Lloyd used was that of a true Magical Beast Tamer! Lady Alieze’s power is purely instinctual. Because she doesn't understand it herself, it's uncontrollable, but Master Lloyd was clearly using it with full intent. Furthermore, while other tamers usually lose control of their beasts in Lady Alieze’s presence, he performed it flawlessly... If he continues to master these techniques until he surpasses Lady Alieze, he might be able to drive away the animals that keep swarming this place... This tower is so overrun with creatures that the other maids are too terrified to even step inside. I'm the only one left to handle the feeding and cleaning. I have no days off, no time for shopping, no time for cafes... Yes, this is it. I must ensure Master Lloyd works his hardest!"
Sensing a wave of intense, focused intent, I glanced back to see Eris staring at me with expectant eyes.
"Master Lloyd, please come again soon! It seems Lady Alieze has much more to teach you."
"Oh! Well said, Eris! Yes, that's right, Lloyd! I have so much more I can show you! So you absolutely must come back!"
It was true that the path of a Magical Beast Tamer couldn't be this short.
If I ran into any more roadblocks, I suppose I’d come back to ask.
...Though I wouldn't count on getting a sensible answer.