The morning sun bathed the academy grounds in golden light as Sang-hoon walked to his first solo practical training session.
The Royal Academy of Beast Taming was more than a school—it was a symbol of the kingdom's strength, a place where the best and brightest honed their skills.
For Sang-hoon, it was also a battlefield where he had to navigate the unfamiliar rules of this world while surviving as Elyska Grayson.
The academy's vast campus sprawled over a ridge overlooking the capital city.
Massive spires of white stone rose toward the sky, connected by winding bridges and shadowed courtyards.
Statues of legendary tamers and their beasts lined the pathways, their marble eyes watching over the students.
As Sang-hoon approached the training grounds, he marveled at the grandeur of it all.
This wasn't just a faithful recreation of the game—there were details he'd never noticed before, from the faint hum of magic in the air to the subtle shifts in the expressions of NPCs who had felt static in the game.
This world was alive.
Before practical training, the day began with a lecture in the Arcane Hall, a towering amphitheater carved into the side of the main academy spire.
Inside, glowing glyphs lined the walls, shifting subtly as though they were alive.
Students filed into their seats as Professor Corvin, clad in his signature long coat embroidered with golden runes, strode to the center stage.
"Today's lesson," Corvin began, his voice resonating through the hall, "is on the foundation of taming: understanding the soul bond."
Sang-hoon leaned forward. While he knew the basics from the game, the professor's tone hinted at depth the game's tutorials had never explored.
"The bond between tamer and beast is not merely one of dominance or obedience," Corvin explained, pacing slowly. "It is a merging of essences. A beast entrusted to you offers a piece of its soul. In return, you give it part of yours. This exchange allows you to command their strength, but it also ties your fates together."
Sang-hoon's gaze flicked to the small black dragon perched on his desk, now lazily swishing its tail. Its red eyes met his briefly, and a strange warmth settled in his chest. Was that the soul bond at work?
Corvin continued, "The strength of this connection determines the power you can wield together. But beware: a fragile bond can shatter under pressure, and when it does…" His voice dropped ominously. "Both lives are forfeit."
The hall fell silent. The weight of Corvin's words wasn't lost on anyone, least of all Sang-hoon. The stakes of his bond with the dragon suddenly felt far heavier.
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After the lecture, the students gathered in small groups to discuss the material.
Predictably, Sang-hoon's attempt to keep a low profile failed.
"Hey, Elyska," Arden called, his tone dripping with false sweetness. "Why don't you share your thoughts? Surely the tamer of the untamable has insights we mere mortals lack."
The surrounding students chuckled nervously, their eyes darting between Arden and Sang-hoon.
"I just listen and do my best," Sang-hoon replied evenly, refusing to rise to the bait.
Arden's smirk faltered, but Seraphina cut in before he could press further.
"Mocking him won't make you stronger, Arden," she said, her voice sharp. "Maybe you should spend more time training instead of picking fights."
Arden glared at her but backed down, muttering under his breath.
Sang-hoon gave Seraphina a small nod of thanks, but she didn't acknowledge it.
Instead, she turned her attention to the professor, who had begun outlining their practical exercise for the day.
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The afternoon brought Sang-hoon to the Bestiary, a labyrinthine structure housing the academy's collection of magical creatures.
Each wing of the Bestiary was dedicated to a different region of the kingdom, showcasing beasts native to deserts, forests, mountains, and seas.
Their task was simple: select a beast and learn to interpret its behavior. But for Sang-hoon, nothing ever seemed simple anymore.
The dragon perched on his shoulder attracted both admiration and jealousy as he walked through the halls.
Students whispered behind his back, and even the instructors cast curious glances his way.
As he wandered through the maze of enclosures, a familiar voice called out.
"Grayson."
It was Mira, the prodigy known for her affinity with aquatic beasts.
Her presence was magnetic, her bluish hair catching the light as she approached.
She carried a notebook filled with meticulous sketches of creatures, each page annotated with precise observations.
"Your dragon is… unique," she said, her tone more curious than accusatory. "It doesn't behave like any hatchling I've studied."
Sang-hoon hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I'm still figuring it out myself."
Mira's gaze softened. "If you ever need help, let me know. Beasts like that… they don't choose just anyone."
Before he could respond, a commotion erupted further down the hall.
A large enclosure had been breached, and a serpent-like creature with shimmering scales slithered into the open, its golden eyes glowing with menace.
The students froze, and the instructors weren't close enough to intervene.
Suddenly, a transparent frame appeared from above with prompts on it.
[Eagle Serpent]
[Flying Beast - Category II]
[Mission: Subdue the rampaging creature and protect the students.]
[Success will reward the player with a 'Gift'.]
[Failure will decrease your status.]
"It was just like... A game."
Sang-hoon could feel it. It was just like he was speed running the game once again.
The mission was given as if he had to conclude the game. Could it be that was why he was sucked into Realm of Taiming?
The more questions filled his head, the more he became curious to discover it himself.
Mira observed cautiously as Elyska Grayson smiled briefly throughout the chaos. His malicious grin growing as far as it could reach on the way up his face.
"Failure will decrease the status? Pfft... I've never failed a mission before."
Sang-hoon's instincts took over. The dragon leapt from his shoulder, landing between the serpent and a frightened student.
Its wings flared, and it let out a low growl that seemed to reverberate through the air.
The serpent hesitated, sensing the dragon's challenge.
"Easy," Sang-hoon murmured, stepping forward.
The serpent hissed, its golden eyes narrowing as it coiled, ready to strike at the students frozen in fear.
Sang-hoon's heart quickened. The system had returned, just as it had in the first moments of his arrival in this world when he formed his bond with his little dragon.
Was this the game's way of guiding him? Or was it some cruel mechanism testing him for reasons he couldn't yet understand?
His mind raced as the students around him shouted in panic.
"What now?" Mira hissed, standing by his side. Her voice was sharp, but there was an edge of fear she couldn't hide.
The serpent lashed out suddenly, its movements quick and predatory. Sang-hoon barely had time to dodge, pulling Mira back as its fangs missed her by inches.
He clenched his fists, the dragon on his shoulder snarling. Failure isn't an option.
Sang-hoon dug into his knowledge of the game.
The Eagle Serpent was a beast with a reputation for aggression, but it wasn't undefeatable.
"Calm it, don't overpower it," he muttered to himself, recalling the strategy guides he'd made during his years of playing Realm of Taming.
The Eagle Serpent was naturally territorial. Its aggression stemmed from feeling threatened. Sang-hoon's gaze shifted to its golden eyes—deep and glowing with magic.
The key was submission, not strength.
"Mira, I need you to trust me," he said, his voice steady.
She blinked, surprised. "What are you planning?"
Without answering, Sang-hoon stepped forward, putting himself between the serpent and the crowd. He raised his hands slowly, deliberately. His dragon chirped in protest, clearly agitated, but Sang-hoon shot it a calming thought through their bond.
The serpent hissed, its long body curling tighter as it assessed this new threat.
Sang-hoon took a deep breath, focusing on the bond with his dragon. Professor Corvin's words echoed in his mind: "The strength of your bond determines the power you can wield together."
Closing his eyes, Sang-hoon extended his hand toward the serpent, channeling the calm he shared with his dragon. Through their connection, he projected an aura of tranquility outward.
He could only hope for it to work. It would be his first time trying to use some kind of 'power' in his life.
He needed it to work.
At first, nothing happened. The serpent remained coiled, its body tense. But as the magic of the bond enveloped it, the glow in its eyes flickered. Its aggressive posture softened slightly, and its movements slowed.
"I need more time," Sang-hoon muttered, impressed while being able to do something he could only dream back on Earth.
But the serpent suddenly reared its head, shaking off the calming aura. It hissed louder, striking toward him with renewed aggression.
Sang-hoon barely dodged, but the serpent's movements were becoming erratic.
Inspiration struck.
"If I can't calm it with magic alone, I'll need to rely on something physical."
"Distract it!" he called to Mira, who had been clutching her notebook tightly.
"What? How?"
"Throw something! Anything shiny!"
Without hesitation, Mira flung the silver clasp of her notebook toward the serpent. It caught the light as it flew, reflecting a burst of brilliance that distracted the creature for a moment.
Sang-hoon seized the opportunity. He reached into the nearby supply shelf, grabbing a container of powdered moonroot—a herb known to pacify beasts when inhaled—he had seen earlier.
"Cover me," he instructed his dragon.
The black dragon leapt into action, diving at the serpent with a series of calculated feints. Its small but agile form kept the serpent's attention while Sang-hoon darted forward.
In a single, fluid motion, he uncorked the container and hurled the powder into the serpent's face. The shimmering substance enveloped the creature, and its thrashing gradually ceased.
The Eagle Serpent's body relaxed, its golden eyes dimming as the effects of the moonroot soothed its agitation. It lowered itself back into a resting position, its breathing steadying.
Sang-hoon let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
A soft chime echoed in his mind, followed by the translucent frame:
[Mission Concluded!]
['Gift' has been stored in Elyska Grayson's inventory.]
He clenched his fists in quiet triumph, the familiar sense of accomplishment from his gaming days washing over him.
The instructors arrived moments later, rushing to secure the serpent and assess the situation.
"You… you actually did it," Mira said, her voice low with awe. She stared at Sang-hoon as though seeing him for the first time.
He shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. "It's all about understanding the beast."
The dragon returned to his shoulder, nuzzling him briefly before settling down.
As the chaos settled, Sang-hoon could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on him.
Whispers spread through the hall, speculation and admiration mingling with envy.
"That was impressive," Mira said, walking beside him as they exited the Bestiary. "But you're not just lucky, are you?"
Sang-hoon glanced at her. There was curiosity in her eyes, but also something more—a challenge, perhaps.
"I just do what I have to," he replied.
But in truth, he couldn't shake the feeling about the system's sudden appearance.
Could he have a status window just like in a game?
The thoughts of it made his gaming mind instinctively overthink it.
The dragon returned to Sang-hoon's side, its eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
The hall erupted into murmurs, and even the instructors seemed impressed.
[Mission concluded!]
['Gift' was stored in Elyska Grayson's inventory]
Sang-hoon clenched his fist to celebrate his first mission.
"Elyska Grayson," Mira said, her voice tinged with awe. "You're full of surprises."
As the day ended, Sang-hoon retreated to his room, exhausted but exhilarated. The dragon curled up on his bed, its rhythmic breathing a comforting presence.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Sang-hoon allowed himself to reflect.
The academy wasn't just a backdrop—it was a living, breathing entity with secrets hidden in its shadows.
He thought of Corvin's warning, the serpent's escape, and the strange warmth of the soul bond.
"What are you hiding?" he murmured, looking at the dragon. It opened one eye, its gaze piercing.
Before Sang-hoon could dwell further, a faint knock echoed at his door.
Opening it, he found a sealed envelope bearing the academy's crest. Breaking the seal, he read the message inside:
"Elyska Grayson, report to the Headmaster's tower at midnight. Do not speak of this to anyone."
Sang-hoon's heart raced. The headmaster had already shown unusual interest in him, and now this secret summons?
The dragon stirred, sensing his unease.
"Looks like we're in for another long night," Sang-hoon muttered.
The game was no longer just a story he could control.
It was a world full of choices, challenges, and mysteries waiting to unfold. And if he wanted to survive, he would have to face them all—one trial at a time.
"I wonder what this 'Gift' might be..."