Rent and Moro's journey continued along the rocky path. Slowly, they managed to put some distance between themselves and the grassland that had just served as an impromptu battlefield.
Still in the same situation, Moro went back to babbling about this world.
"So, Master, in this world, there is something called 'Elemental Spirits'. They are creatures of resonance, which means they can bond with a soul."
"Hmm. I don't get it," Rent replied briefly.
"Oh, come on, Master! Look, let me explain it in rough terms. They are creatures created from the overflow of elemental energy extracted from a Tree of Life. Not like the trees here, because this tree is, umm... not from around here, basically."
"Hmm." Rent nodded slowly.
"But just now, Master, you actually awakened one of those creatures."
Rent stopped walking, then slowly turned his gaze toward the furball.
"What do you mean?"
"Eh? I thought you already realized it. Did you not feel that you had performed a resonance?"
"No," Rent answered curtly. "And don't talk about that creature again, you understand, furball?"
"U-umm, but this involves the law of the jungle and—"
"I don't care about the law of the jungle. And if you keep chatting, I'm leaving alone," Rent cut him off, walking past Moro.
"W-Wait!" Moro floated quickly, stopping right beside Rent, matching his pace. "Alright! As a change of topic, I will explain the wonders of this place!"
"Haaah… here we go again." Rent stared straight ahead, ignoring the chatter of the furball that never seemed to stop talking.
Meanwhile...
Behind their steps, about ten meters away from the rocky road, hidden within the roadside bushes...
A pair of familiar orange eyes appeared again. Watching Rent's footsteps and the floating furball beside him.
The initial scenery of the grassy valley slowly changed. They began to enter an area filled with sharp, rocky paths.
The valley to the left and right was filled with large boulders—the size of yoga balls—scattered everywhere. Several animals lived there. Animals like raccoons and white rabbits (not the previous one) had built homes there, and now, a few of them just watched from behind the rocks as a young man and a chatty furball passed through their habitat.
"So, Master Rent. Right now, we are on the Western Path. The Stone Valley region. This place has a history too, Master!"
"Hmm." Rent nodded.
"Ahem. I'll explain briefly so it's not too quiet! So, this region used to be the site of stone pillars. There shouldn't be random rocks like this, but rather stone statues lined up—about 10 stones, maybe 7 feet high? I forgot the details, but clearly, an earthquake hit this place. So, all that remains is rubble."
"Hmm," Rent replied with a nod. His gaze was fixed solely on the road ahead. He didn't glance around in the slightest.
"Master! This place is also inhabited by many White Rabbits! Usually, adventurers will pick up one or two of them!"
"Moro..." Rent's hoarse voice returned.
"Yes, Master?"
"Can you shut up, just for a moment? I don't care about this place. Neither its history nor who lives here. Especially..."
Rent stared intently at Moro.
"Don't ever mention the word RABBIT. Do you understand?"
Instantly, the furball shivered. (Imaginary) sweat slightly dampened his fur. "Roger! I understand! Sorry, Master!"
"Good." Rent looked away from Moro, his eyes returning to stare straight ahead. "Now, just tell me. How long will this journey take to reach the civilization you mentioned, Moro?"
"Hmm... it shouldn't be too long, maybe about half an hour more. From here to that civilization, Master."
"Haaah. Alright. Half an hour for my poor feet."
Aside from Rent and Moro's conversation, the creature with orange eyes continued watching from behind the rocks. The white rabbits looking at the creature could only tilt their heads. If they could speak, they would probably say, 'A distant cousin of the rabbit clan.'
Just as the creature was about to jump to another foothold... it slipped. Its footing was unstable, and...
THUD! (GRUDUK!)
Rent and Moro instinctively turned around.
"Who's there?" Rent answered warily. "I'm not afraid. Come out now, or I'll throw these rocks at you."
Slowly, the dust cloud billowing by the side of the rocky road faded. It revealed a strange sight.
The Fire Rabbit, with its head stuck between a donut-shaped rock. Unable to move.
Instantly, Rent turned pale again. "Him... again? Why is he here?"
Meanwhile, Moro started trembling in panic again. "Master! He... he... he..."
"He what?" Rent replied quickly.
"HE'S GOING TO EAT US!" Moro screamed hysterically again. "Come on, Master! Let's get out of here immediately!"
Moro started using his body to push Rent's back, trying to shove him away.
"Wait, Moro." Rent swatted the Furball aside. "He... can't move. This stupid rabbit. He did the exact same thing as before."
"Well! Then let's take advantage of this now, Master! While that fire rabbit is trapped!" shrieked Moro.
Rent crossed his arms. He stared intently at the rabbit. "Hmm. You're right."
He stepped forward slowly. Still staring sharply at the fire rabbit.
"M-Master! Why are you getting closer?!" Moro replied in frustration.
Rent didn't answer. He stood right above the trapped fire rabbit, looking down at it like an eagle that had found its prey. Fyra-Bunn instantly growled again. But this time, without any blazing fire.
"Haaah... you really don't learn from your mistakes, do you? Stupid rabbit?"
"Grrrrhhhh!!" Fyra-Bunn's low growl seemed to retort against Rent's mockery.
"Tch. So troublesome."
Rent crouched down. While keeping a safe distance, he began to move the rocks one by one. Slowly, Fyra-Bunn's body began to move again.
"You... what do you actually want? Was my lunch not enough for you? You really are a greedy rabbit by nature," Rent muttered while picking up the remaining debris.
Moro floated closer. "Master, you better be careful. Because the moment you let your guard down, he could burn us in an instant like before!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Move. You're blocking my view."
All the rocks had been cleared; only one rock remained, stuck around Fyra-Bunn's neck. The rabbit's head poked out from the hole of the donut-shaped rock. Still in a growling position.
"You. Quiet. And don't move too much. I'm going to take this rock off your neck, stupid rabbit."
Rent's hands gripped the rock around Fyra-Bunn's neck. On the count of 3... 2... 1...
PLOP!
Fyra-Bunn's neck was finally free.
"Done. Now go away. I don't have any food left. Just go eat grass over there like the others," Rent answered sharply, pointing at the white rabbits. "Understand?"
Fyra-Bunn didn't listen; he just stared at Rent. Slowly, his sharp gaze changed slightly. Softening gradually.
He looked at Rent with a different kind of gaze.
Rent raised an eyebrow. "What is it? Still don't get it, stupid rabbit?"
Fyra-Bunn just tilted his head. Still staring intently at Rent.
Rent started to feel uncomfortable.
Why... isn't he leaving? And... Why does his stare give me the creeps?
"Oi! Are you deaf?" Rent massaged his temples. "Haaah... I'm the stupid one. Talking to a monster shaped like an animal."
Moro floated closer, leveling himself with Rent's face.
"Wait, Master. Something is strange." Moro observed Fyra-Bunn from top to bottom. "It seems... He..."
Moro turned to Rent.
"He's tamed."
Silence.
"Hah?" came spontaneously from Rent's mouth.
"He is tame now, Master. I can tell from the changes in you!"
"You... are joking, right?" Rent turned back to Fyra-Bunn. His gaze met Fyra-Bunn's round eyes again. They were no longer sharp like before.
"I don't trust him, Moro. And..." his hand pointed while trembling. "I'm sure he's acting right now so that when I let my guard down... he can chew my head off."
"Calm down, Master!" Moro replied quickly. "No need to worry! I've analyzed it down to the roots! Ahem... Does Master remember what I said about the Resonance of living creatures earlier?"
"No," Rent replied briefly.
"It's okay, let me explain the gist of it. Ahem... Creatures like Elemental Spirits can resonate with the souls of other living beings. Which means... Master has performed a Resonance binding with Fyra-Bunn!"
"Hah?! Since when?! You... don't talk as if this is a good thing!" shrieked Rent.
"Since Master Rent gave Fyra-Bunn that bread! At that moment, he saw that Master had a strong emotional attachment. Elemental Creatures like Fyra-Bunn have strong instincts towards the emotions of living things."
"Well, even though he initially wanted to roast Master, at least Master could handle it, right? For that... Congratulations, Master! You now officially have a contract with Fyra-Bunn!"
Rent massaged his temples again. "Ugh... so. This creature is going to keep following me? Forever?"
"Emmm, you could say that! Relax! This is a good thing, Master!" replied Moro enthusiastically.
Rent looked up at the sky. "It seems... my life is going to get even more complicated."
He looked back at Fyra-Bunn. His eyes returned to their tired look.
"And I just added another entry to the list of weird creatures in my life."
'Pyuuu?' A small sound was heard from the rabbit's mouth.