396 South of Endow Hill (1/2)

They reached the lawless zone at the south of Endow Hill quicker than anyone could imagine. Ever since the sand walkers received their names, they were no longer ordinary sand walkers. The boost in power they received from Zero's names must have gotten them stronger and faster. There was no other explanation.

”I think Ela and Grigoria are now your tamed beasts,” Bob yawned lazily on Zero's shoulder. They were currently camping a good distance away from the main road while Truen went to do reconnaissance and gather information about the territory.

Zero offered a chunk of meat to Bob who accepted it and transformed back to his human form to eat.

”What do you mean?” the doctor asked. He wasn't aware of doing anything special to tame them.

The dragon didn't know if he should sigh at Zero's lack of common sense or get used to it. He settled for doing both. Pointing to his master with the half-eaten chicken in one hand, Bob stared at Zero firmly.

”You have to be more conscious about forming contracts with magical creatures and beasts. You might not want to tame them but naming them is part of a contract forming ceremony. It might be a different kind of contract between us but your contract with Ela and Grigoria was done as a master-servant relationship because they were not very powerful beasts, to begin with. Naming them grants them power but also removes their freedom to decide what they want to do. It's a completely subservient relationship where beasts will throw their lives away for their master.”

With horror, Zero looked over to the mounts who were resting and snoozing in the shade. ”Did I enslave them without knowing by giving them names? I thought names made creatures stronger...”

Bob nodded. ”It is true. For nameless creatures and beasts with the ability to absorb mana, naming them will make them stronger. Being given a name by a sorcerer will make them undergo a forced evolution to become stronger. However, the process of giving a name and transferring a part of the caster's mana is similar to a contract for summons. The only difference is that named beasts don't need to be summoned with a sacrifice. They're your travelling companions.”

Looking at the two sand walkers, Zero felt extremely guilty. He didn't like slave traders but he didn't think that he would enslave two poor beasts unknowingly just by giving them names. He turned to Bob pleadingly. It was a good thing Truen wasn't here to know it.

”Is there any way I can un-slave them after we're done with Derby Desert?”

The dragon wanted to laugh. Un-slaving beasts was a very uncommon thing to do but since this was Zero, he should have expected it from his master.

”There isn't a way to un-slave a named beast. Once they have a name, their evolution is permanent.”

Quickly correcting himself, Bob told Zero that it wasn't impossible.

”You can free them by fulfilling their wishes! Tamed beasts don't leave their master's sides unless their wishes have been fulfilled then it cancels the bond immediately.”

Hearing this, Zero looked up. ”Fulfill their wishes? How? I don't know their wishes...”