Word Count: ~1,200
In Kazuki's defense, the punch was completely reflexive.
The celestial wolf lunged.
Kazuki screamed.
And then his fist, powered by panic and several bowls of breakfast rice, met the side of the beast's divine snout with a loud, echoing smack.
There was silence.
The runes stopped spinning.
Even Smile blinked.
"…Oops," Kazuki muttered.
The enormous moon wolf, Getsuryu, floated back, blinking its glowing eyes. Its silver fur shimmered like moonlight reflected in water. Its eight tails froze mid-air.
"You… struck me."
"I did! But only out of self-preservation," Kazuki said quickly. "And also clumsiness! Mostly clumsiness, really!"
Getsuryu slowly lowered to the ground, eyes narrowed.
Kazuki was trembling. Smile had slithered behind his boot like a wobbly shield.
"Well," Kazuki said nervously, hands up, "do I fail the trial, or does this count as passing with 'aggressive misunderstandings'?"
Getsuryu sniffed. Then it snorted.
"…You are absurd."
Kazuki blinked. "Um. Thanks?"
The celestial guardian tilted its head, watching Kazuki with an unreadable gaze. Then, to his absolute horror, the giant wolf sat. Like a big, glowy dog. Tail swishes and all.
"No one has ever landed a strike on me during the trial."
"Oh. Cool. I didn't mean to."
"That was the test."
"…Wait, what?"
"The test was to act without calculation—to face danger, not because you wanted power, but because your instincts are unclouded."
Kazuki stared. "So punching you by mistake… passed the test?"
"Indeed."
"…I am so confused."
Smile was now doing excited victory hops.
[System Notification]
You have completed the Lunar Bond Trial!
Getsuryu has acknowledged you.
Title Gained: Moon-Bound Idiot (Blessed)
Companion Gained: Getsuryu – Celestial Wolf of the Eight Tails
Warning: You are now being tracked by The Celestial Lawkeepers. Good luck.
"Oh come on! I didn't even want a celestial wolf!"
Getsuryu growled softly. "Too late. We are bound now. You are my moon-brother."
Kazuki slumped. "This is why I can't have normal adventures."
Smile happily squelched into a crescent shape.
✦
Later – Emerging from the Forbidden Ruins
When Kazuki and Smile returned to the palace halls, covered in moss, moonlight, and residual starwolf energy, they were met by…
Guards.
Dozens of them.
Swords drawn.
Tala stepped between them and Kazuki, exasperated but not surprised.
"Let me guess," she said, arms crossed, "You fell into another ancient vault."
"I walked," Kazuki corrected. "Fell is rude."
One of the guards raised a scroll and read aloud:
"Kazuki Amano, you are charged with violating Royal Containment Protocol, disturbing a sealed celestial entity, and blowing a hole through the Emperor's koi pond from below."
Kazuki winced. "Okay that last one might have been me."
A nobleman in ridiculous shoulder pads approached. "This is unacceptable! Who is this man?"
The Princess arrived just in time, still adjusting her tiara. "He's a hero. Technically. And now he has a moon wolf. So… he's your problem."
Getsuryu stepped into view behind Kazuki, ethereal and majestic, making the guards immediately regret their career choices.
"Who dares threaten my moon brother?"
Everyone stepped back.
Kazuki smiled sheepishly. "I'm gonna go clean the koi pond."
✦
Elsewhere – Aurelis' Perspective
Aurelis was polishing his sword when the news hit.
Kazuki Amano had tamed a celestial wolf.
"WHAT?!"
He stood up so fast he knocked over his tea table.
"First the wyvern. Then the talking eagle. Now the moon wolf?! What's next? A phoenix that sings jazz?!"
His companions looked at each other.
"I trained for years," Aurelis muttered, pacing. "I fought bandits, conquered trials, and I've earned every level."
He pointed at the headline.
Local Buffoon Punches Ancient God-Wolf, Gains Brotherhood Status
"…He tripped into greatness!"
"Technically," said his mage companion, "he also punched it."
"That doesn't help!"
He slammed his palm on the table.
"This isn't over."
✦
That Night – Palace Garden
Kazuki sat on a stone bench, staring at the stars. Smile slept like a pudding dumpling on his lap. Getsuryu curled beside them, glowing faintly.
"So," he said aloud, "what now?"
"You're marked now," Getsuryu said. "Other celestial spirits will sense me. Some may challenge you. Others will try to test your worth."
"Cool cool cool. So we're in even more danger than before."
"Indeed."
Kazuki leaned back, eyes wide. "All I wanted was to skip dinner."
Smile gave a tiny snore.
He looked up at the sky.
And for once, despite the chaos, he smiled.
"…I guess I'm not alone, huh?"
Getsuryu gave a low, approving rumble.
"Not anymore, Moon Brother."