I am Just an Average Tamer

She looked at him, a bit stunned. "You really know what you're doing."

Kai shrugged as he packed up. "I've patched up worse."

The girl knelt beside her injured beast, gently running her fingers across its fur.

Her shoulders slumped with relief, though her eyes never fully left Kai.

He crouched beside her, wiping his hands with a cloth after finishing the makeshift treatment.

"The bleeding's slowed," he muttered, eyeing the beast. "It's out of the danger now."

"Thank you," she said quietly, "For helping."

Kai didn't respond. He was more focused on the beast's breathing.

Still shallow.

After a moment, he stood, brushing dirt from his trousers.

"So... what exactly was your plan before I showed up?"

She blinked at him. "What?"

"You and your half-dead beast. Running through the woods. Injured. Chased by those bandits. No supplies. No backup." He tilted his head. "What was the grand plan?"

She stammered. "I-I would've managed."

Kai raised a brow.

The smirked, "And how is that, if I hadn't jumped them, who knows what they would have done to you... Maybe you need a little demonstration."

Lina's breath hitched.

Her hand twitched near her boot.

A glint of steel caught Kai's eye.

But he didn't move.

"Relax. If I wanted to rob you, I wouldn't have bothered helping you or your pet."

A moment of silence passed between them.

"…He's not a pet," she muttered.

Kai gave a shrug, then turned to whistle.

Soooooew!

His Windsight Falcon circled above, letting out a low screech before landing lightly on a branch nearby.

"He needs rest," Lina said, glancing at her beast again. "We can't move yet."

"You can stay here then, I won't stop you," Kai said.

She hesitated, clearly calculating what to do.

Just as Kai turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Kai felt a tug at the hem of his tunic.

"What now?" He raised a brow, seeing her tugging his tunic.

She looked into his eyes and whined, "You aren't serious about leaving an injured girl alone in the forest, right?"

Kai narrowed his eyes, "Do I look like joking?"

She bit her lower lip, pressing them to a thin line.

Sigh!

"I'll scout the area, then we'll head to the nearby town." Kai said.

Lina nodded.

[<Beast Synchronisation activated!>]

[<Syncing with Windsight Falcon...>]

Then Kai signaled Windsight Falcon, and it let out a short screech and took off from the branch.

Kai sat cross-legged.

Meditating.

Then after few minutes, he stood up.

"I'll find something to eat."

Just as he turned to leave, the falcon let out a sharp, low cry in his mind—an image flashed, someone or something approaching from the east.

Kai's steps paused. His expression shifted.

"What is it?" the girl asked, noticing the change in his face.

Kai grinned. "We got a company."

Her eyes widened. "More bandits?"

He didn't answer right away.

"Stay here. Don't make noise."

"Wait, you're not seriously going alone—?"

Whoosh!

But he was already gone, moving silently into the trees.

Whoosh!

Kai perched on a branch above the forest floor, watching a trio approaching from the woods.

Leather armor. Muffled steps. No particular insignia. Definitely not knights.

Bandits?

'Tch'.

He clicked his tongue quietly, signaling to the Windsight Falcon above.

'Time for party, partner.'

The falcon's sharp cry echoed faintly.

One of the bandits looked up, but it was too late.

[<Essence Coating activated!>]

White light began glowing around the Windsight Falcon.

A gust of wind split the still air.

[<Sonic Dive!>]

A silver blur dove from the canopy—sharp talons gleaming like steel.

Whoosh!

The Windsight falcon struck the leading bandit in the chest with a concussive burst of air, sending him crashing into a tree with a crack that silenced the forest.

"Argh!"

"Wha—?"

The other two barely had time to react. One stumbled back, drawing a rusty dagger. The other grabbed his crossbow.

But—

Kai moved.

Swiftly. Silently.

The branch barely shook as he dropped down behind the crossbowman.

Thunk!

A dagger buried itself in the man's neck before he could raise his weapon.

Thud!

He gurgled, collapsed.

The last one panicked.

He turned to run.

But—

Too slow.

Whoosh!

The Falcon looped around and came in from the side—another Sonic Dive, not deadly this time, but powerful enough to slam the man face-first into the dirt.

Kai followed behind and pinned him down.

"Who sent you?" he asked coldly.

The man coughed, wheezing from the impact.

"We—we were just paid to catch the girl! That's all I know—!"

Kai's expression didn't change. "And who paid?"

"I don't know, I swear—some guy—hooded—!"

"Tsk."

Kai tsked and knocked him out with the hilt of his dagger.

The Windsight Falcon circled once above before landing on a branch. Its feathers puffed slightly in pride, eyes glinting under the dappled sunlight.

Kai looked up at it and smirked. "Not bad for your first kill."

Kai crouched beside the fallen bandits, rifling through their pouches with the ease of someone who'd done it a hundred times.

A soft whistle escaped his lips as he pulled out a small pouch stuffed with coins.

He held it up against the light, smirking. "Not bad for a stroll in the woods."

Above, the Windsight Falcon gave a sharp, approving cry as it circled down and landed gracefully on a nearby branch. Its feathers ruffled proudly as if expecting praise.

Kai glanced up, grinning. "You did good job."

Kreeah!

The falcon bobbed its head, then fluttered down beside him, eyeing the loot with clear curiosity. It pecked lightly at the coin pouch, almost like asking for its share.

Kai chuckled. "You'll get your reward. How about dried meat and some beast-grade feed, hmm?"

Kree!

The falcon tilted its head, as if considering, then let out a satisfied chirp.

But their moment was short lived as more of these thugs came.

One crossbow, one short-sword, and the third… some sort of chain weapon.

He let out a soft sigh. "Now."

[<Essence Coating activated!>]

The Falcon let out a piercing shriek, heading high in the sky and then—

[<Sonic Dive!>]

Whoosh!

The burst of air was deafening.

Leaves exploded outward as the falcon slammed into the crossbowman's chest, shattering his ribs and throwing him backward to the ground.

The other two reacted instantly.

The one with the short-sword rolled forward, shouting,

"Die, you damned bird!"

It changed its trajectory, avoiding the slash.

The chain-wielder spun his weapon and hurled it upwards.

The Falcon jerked mid-air—one link had grazed its wing.

Chriiiiip!

It let out a sharp cry, struggling hard to escape.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two throwing knives came flying in his direction.

Clink! Clink!

He deflected them, but it gave The Windsight Falcon the momentum it needed to free itself.

Kai turned his head towards it. "You okay?"

Kreeah!

A flash of reassurance pulsed in his mind.

The Falcon was hurt, but nothing serious, and could still fight.

The swordsman was about to move but—

Kai sprang from the branch and dropped behind him.

He ducked low, swiped the man's ankles, then drove his dagger into the thigh.

"AARGH!"

The man screamed—loud.

Too loud.

"Shut up."

Kai's elbowed him at the back of his head.

Knocking him out unconscious.

Whoosh!

The chain came flying again, this time aimed for Kai.

He barely dodged it, but the weight grazed his arm.

"Tch—"

The bandit smirked. "Not so fast now, are you?"

"Actually," Kai muttered, "I'm not the only one you are fighting."

Before he could comprehend his words—

The Falcon circled above him, its eyes glowing.

[<Falcon Sight!>]

Then it tucked its wings.

Skreee!

A sharp cry split the air.

[<Sonic Dive>]—at full force.

The chain-wielder turned just in time to see the blur before it crashed into his back, talons raking across armor and flesh.

"Argh!"

He staggered—then screamed as he collapsed, unconscious and bleeding.

The forest was silent again.

"Phew...!"

Kai walked forward, wiping his dagger on a leaf.

The Windsight Falcon fluttered down, landing on his shoulder with a light tremble in its wings. Its side was slightly bloodied, but its eyes burned with pride.

Kai glanced at it and gave a short nod. "You were awesome."

He gave it a normal healing potion.

With that, Kai pocketed the loot and stood, eyes glinting with that usual mix of mischief and calm calculation.

"Alright. Let's move before more idiots show up. Maybe this girl really is a magnet for trouble."

The falcon took to the air once more, wings slicing clean through the sky as Kai followed below.

Whoosh!

The falcon swooped down with a whoosh and, without hesitation, perched right on top of Kai's head.

Its talons adjusted gently against his hair, its wings folding with a rustle as if this was the most natural spot in the world.

Kai blinked, then sighed. "Seriously? You've got the whole forest, and this is where you choose to land?"

Chrip!

The Windsight Falcon gave a soft chirp, smug.

Shaking his head, Kai strolled back toward the cave where the cloaked girl and her beast were waiting.

She looked up as he approached, eyes narrowing slightly at the falcon's wings—but she said nothing.

Once inside, Kai dusted his hands and cleared his throat dramatically.

"So… about the payment."

She raised a brow. "Didn't we already agree on that?"

"Ah, yes," he grinned shamelessly, "but that was before—when I agreed to escort you. Now I saved your beast's life and hunted down more of the bandits who were chasing you."

She stared at him.

He leaned forward, smiling wider.

"A few extra coins won't hurt, right?"

Lina's eye twitched. "You're unbelievable."

"And still underpaid," he added with a wink.

She averted her gaze and sighed.

"... Fine."

Kai grinned. "Alright, let's go to Bramwell, it's not that far from here."

Lina nodded.

And they both left.

After walking for a couple of hours, they finally made it to Bramwell as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows on the cobbled streets.

Kai strolled ahead, tucking his hands in his pockets.

Lina trailing behind him, keeping her Hare close to her chest.

He then soon led her to the nearby Inn.

Once inside, they walked towards the counter, where a middle-aged man was sitting.

Upon seeing them coming, Garth raised a brow, his gaze flickering between Kai and Lina.

Finally, he smirked and gave Kai a knowing nod.

Kai—not knowing what it meant, nodded back with a smile.

She then rented a fine room that was worth few silver coins, the kind most commoners rarely saw.

Kai, of course, followed her right up to the counter, leaning slightly on it with a smug expression.

She ignored him and left.

Kai followed behind her.

"Young people these days, "Garth sighed, shaking his head before going to do his own work.

She turned to him, raising a brow. "Why are you still following me?"

He shrugged, "My payment?"

She sighed, regretting her decision.

Reluctantly she handed over the agreed amount. Kai counted it in front of her, made a pleased hum, and pocketed the coins.

With a tired groan, she made her way to the staircase, but when she looked back—there he was again, right behind her.

"Are you stalking me now?" she snapped, pausing halfway up the stairs, crossing her arms under her chest.

Kai gave her a blank stare. "You're not that interesting," he said flatly, walking past.

He reached the door to the right and unlocked it with his own key. "I'm staying here too."

He pushed the door open and vanished into his room, leaving her blinking at the door.

Also if you guys have some recommendations or suggestions you can tell me there.)