The sound of birds chirping drifted through the air, a stark contrast to the usual static of his computer screen.
Sang-hoon stirred awake, his senses sluggish, his body oddly uncomfortable.
His eyes fluttered open, revealing not the dim glow of his small bedroom but a wide blue sky above him.
"What the…?" he muttered, sitting up abruptly.
He found himself lying on soft grass, surrounded by towering marble structures that gleamed in the sunlight.
The buildings were adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures—dragons, gryphons, phoenixes, and beasts he couldn't name.
Around him, a throng of young people dressed in uniforms bustled with energy, their voices blending into an indistinct hum.
Sang-hoon's confusion deepened as he looked down at himself.
Instead of his well-worn pajamas, he was dressed in a simple white shirt and brown trousers. A leather-bound satchel rested beside him, its weight suggesting it was packed with something.
"This can't be real," he whispered, his heart pounding.
The world was all too familiar.
Every structure, every detail of the sky, even the faces in the crowd—it was exactly like Realm of Taming, the game he had been obsessed with for years.
He'd just started his twenty-third playthrough the night before.
"This isn't possible. It's just a game," he told himself, but his trembling hands and the crisp scent of the air said otherwise.
As he stood, a sharp voice cut through the chatter.
"New students! Gather by the main gate!"
Sang-hoon turned toward the sound.
A tall, imposing man in a dark coat waved his hand, gesturing impatiently for the crowd to form a line.
His stern face was unmistakable—Instructor Darien, a key NPC in the game who oversaw the entry trials at the Royal Academy of Beast Taming.
Sang-hoon's stomach churned. It wasn't just the world; he was in the game.
His mind raced as he stumbled to join the line.
In his twenty-two previous playthroughs, he had never encountered a situation like this.
How had he ended up here? More importantly, who was he in this world?
As he reached for the satchel, he noticed a reflection in the polished metal plate strapped to a nearby pillar.
The face staring back at him wasn't his own.
Sang-hoon's heart sank.
He recognized the face—a NPC from the game's early missions.
The character's name was Elyska Grayson, an unremarkable student who failed his first beast taming attempt and faded into the background after the initial chapters.
He was known as "The Forgotten NPC" among the game's forums.
"This has to be some sick joke," he muttered.
"Why him? Of all people, why Elyska?"
Elyska was a throwaway character, meant to add color to the academy's story.
He had no connections, no prospects, and, most importantly, no talent for taming beasts.
"This is just great..."
The line moved toward the academy gates, where a massive arch carved with the likenesses of legendary beasts loomed overhead.
Sang-hoon couldn't help but marvel at the realism.
The statues seemed alive, their eyes gleaming with a faint magical light.
The crowd was abuzz with excitement.
A group of students ahead of him pointed toward a girl with flowing silver hair and piercing blue eyes.
She stood apart from the rest, exuding an aura of authority and confidence.
"That's Seraphina Valen," one student whispered.
"The Valen heiress. Her family has tamed wyverns for generations."
Sang-hoon's breath caught. Seraphina was a major character in the game, one of the most skilled beast tamers in the academy's history.
Seeing her in person was surreal.
"Focus," he muttered to himself.
"You need to figure out what's going on, not gawk at NPCs."
But it wasn't just Seraphina.
As they moved further into the academy grounds, he spotted other key characters—Arden, the cocky rival who always vied for the top spot; Mira, the prodigy who specialized in rare aquatic beasts; and even Professor Corvin, the enigmatic mentor who hid more secrets than he revealed.
The realization hit Sang-hoon like a bolt of lightning.
He wasn't just in Realm of Taming.
He was in the opening arc.
"Listen up!" Instructor Darien's booming voice silenced the crowd as they gathered in the central courtyard.
"Welcome to the Royal Academy of Beast Taming. For the next year, you will endure rigorous training to earn your place as tamers of this kingdom. But first, you must prove you belong here."
The students exchanged uneasy glances.
Sang-hoon already knew what was coming. He was anxious.
"The first trial begins now," Darien continued, gesturing to a series of cages lining the far side of the courtyard.
Inside each cage was a creature—some small and harmless, others snarling and feral.
"Your task is simple: form a bond with one of these beasts. Fail, and you will be sent home."
The crowd erupted into murmurs. Sang-hoon's heart raced.
In the game, this trial was a scripted tutorial where the player chose their starter beast.
But for Elyska Grayson, this moment was a disaster.
He'd chosen a wolf cub and failed miserably, earning the ridicule of his peers.
Sang-hoon clenched his fists.
"Not this time," he muttered.
As the students approached the cages, Sang-hoon scanned the creatures. Most were as he remembered—common beasts like foxes, hawks, and small lizards. But one cage at the end of the line caught his eye.
Inside was a tiny, jet-black creature with glowing red eyes. It resembled a hatchling dragon, though far smaller than any dragon he'd seen in the game.
Its cage was marked with a warning sign: Do Not Approach.
"That wasn't in the game," Sang-hoon thought, his curiosity piqued.
As he drew closer, the creature locked eyes with him.
A strange sensation washed over Sang-hoon, as if the world around him had faded.
The dragonling tilted its head, studying him with an intelligence far beyond its size.
"Hey, you!" a voice barked.
It was Darien, his expression stern. "That one's off-limits."
But what Darien was really thinking was:
"What the hell is that beast doing in here?!"
He wasn't sure. So wasn't Elyska Grayson.
Sang-hoon hesitated. Something about the dragonling called to him. Against his better judgment, he reached out.
The moment his hand touched the cage, a sharp pain shot through him. A notification appeared in the corner of his vision, glowing faintly:
[System Activated: Soul Bond Detected]
Sang-hoon staggered back, clutching his chest. The dragonling let out a soft growl, its eyes gleaming brighter.
"Impossible," Darien muttered, his stern demeanor replaced by shock. "That beast… it's been untamable for years... it shouldn't even be there!"
The other students stared, their expressions a mix of awe and envy.
Sang-hoon's mind raced. The system was real, and it had chosen him—Elyska Grayson—as the first to bond with this mysterious creature.
As the beginning trial continued, Sang-hoon remained in a daze.
The dragonling perched on his shoulder, its warmth both comforting and unnerving.
He could feel its heartbeat, synchronized with his own.
This wasn't just a game anymore. It was real, and the stakes were far higher than he ever imagined.
As the day ended and the students were led to their quarters, Sang-hoon sat on the edge of his bed, the dragonling curled up beside him.
Instructor Darien had tried to take the creature away since it wasn't part of the initiation, but headmaster Corin intervened and allowed Sang-hoon to stay with the creature.
"Why me?" he whispered, staring at the creature.
It opened one eye, its gaze filled with something Sang-hoon couldn't quite name—trust, perhaps, or an understanding of what lay ahead.
Whatever the reason, Sang-hoon knew one thing for certain: his life had changed forever.
And so had Elyska Grayson's forgotten destiny.