The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting warm light across the room. Sang-hoon stretched lazily in bed, the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air.
"Sang-hoon, breakfast is ready!" his mother's voice called from downstairs.
He blinked, his vision still blurry from sleep. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes and looked around. The room was familiar—the posters on the walls, the cluttered desk, the guitar propped against the corner.
"Was everything just a dream?" he muttered to himself.
Throwing on a shirt, he descended the stairs to find his younger sister watching cartoons and his father reading the newspaper at the kitchen table. His mother placed a steaming bowl of soup before him, her smile warm and comforting.
"You've been sleeping a lot lately. Big exams coming up?" she teased.
"Something like that," Sang-hoon replied, forcing a chuckle.
The day passed in a pleasant haze. He went out with friends, played games, and had dinner with his family. Yet, a strange unease gnawed at the back of his mind. Something felt wrong—like a fragment of reality that didn't fit.
That night, as he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the world around him began to blur.
The scent of the soup faded. The laughter of his sister grew faint.
Then darkness swallowed everything.
Sang-hoon jolted awake, his breath ragged and cold sweat beading his forehead. The soft light of a single mana orb illuminated the sparse dormitory room. Kaelith lay curled up at the foot of his bed, his chest rising and falling in rhythm with his breaths.
"It was just a dream," Sang-hoon murmured. His hand instinctively went to the harmonization necklace around his neck, its faint warmth grounding him.
Two weeks. It had been two weeks since he transmigrated into this world and assumed the identity of Elyska Grayson. Every day felt like a blur of survival, training, and learning.
He glanced at the clock—it was early. Too early to start the day, but far too late to fall back asleep. Quietly, he swung his legs over the bed, careful not to disturb Kaelith.
Pulling a book from his nightstand, Sang-hoon began to read. It was one of many he had borrowed from the library—a text on basic beast-taming techniques. The words were dry, but they provided insight into the intricacies of bonding with a linked beast.
Thanks to his extensive knowledge from playing the game repeatedly, he knew what to focus on. Kaelith was a Shadow Dragon, a beast known for its agility and stealth rather than raw power. Their bond needed more synchronization if they were to succeed in the trials ahead.
Over the past days, he and Kaelith had been training relentlessly. Whether it was commanding simple movements or honing their reflexes together, the progress was slow but steady.
By midday, Sang-hoon found himself standing in the academy's training field alongside the other members of the Gold Class. Rows of students stretched across the field, each paired with their linked beasts. Some were hulking, feral creatures, while others were lithe and graceful.
Seraphina stood nearby, her radiant Phoenix perched on her shoulder. Mira, ever composed, stroked the fur of her Arctic Lupin. Arden, the ever-present thorn in his side, stood with a menacing Saberwolf at his side, sneering in Sang-hoon's direction.
"Today," their instructor, a stern man clad in leather armor, began, "we'll be conducting mock battles between pairs. This is your first chance to test your skills in a controlled environment. Remember, the goal isn't victory—it's growth."
A murmur rippled through the class.
"You'll be paired with someone of similar standing to ensure fairness. Use this opportunity to learn."
Sang-hoon's heart sank as the instructor's gaze fell on him.
"Grayson, you'll be paired with Rellen."
A lanky boy with a cocky grin stepped forward. His beast—a sleek, black Pantherian—stalked beside him, its eyes gleaming with intelligence.
"Don't go easy on me, rookie," Rellen said, cracking his knuckles.
Sang-hoon gulped, glancing at Kaelith. The dragon chirped softly, as if to reassure him.
The two stood at opposite ends of the training ring, the instructor's whistle signaling the start of the match.
"Let's see what you've got, Grayson!" Rellen called, sending his Pantherian darting forward in a blur of motion.
"Kaelith, dodge!" Sang-hoon shouted instinctively.
Kaelith leaped to the side, barely evading the Pantherian's claws. Sang-hoon's eyes darted between the two beasts, his mind racing. He had read about how to counter faster opponents, but executing it in real life was another matter.
"Stay calm," he muttered to himself. "Focus on its movement patterns."
The Pantherian lunged again, but this time, Kaelith responded with a swipe of his tail, catching the opponent off balance.
"Yes! Now follow up!" Sang-hoon commanded.
Kaelith hesitated for a moment before charging forward, his claws extended. The Pantherian recovered quickly, meeting Kaelith head-on. The two clashed in a flurry of strikes, their movements almost too fast to follow.
Despite Kaelith's inexperience, his agility allowed him to keep up, though it was clear he was at a disadvantage in strength.
"Good instincts," the instructor observed from the sidelines. "But you need to work on synchronization."
Sang-hoon gritted his teeth, watching as Kaelith narrowly avoided another strike. "Kaelith, back off!"
The dragon retreated, panting slightly, his gaze locked on the Pantherian. Rellen smirked, crossing his arms.
"You're not bad, but you'll have to do better than that."
The whistle blew, signaling the end of the match.
"Enough. Both performed adequately," the instructor announced. "Grayson, your coordination with your beast needs improvement. Spend more time understanding its strengths and weaknesses."
Sang-hoon nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. He looked down at Kaelith, who chirped softly, his determination mirroring Sang-hoon's own.
That evening, back in his room, Sang-hoon replayed the match in his mind. He listed every mistake, every moment of hesitation, and every strategy that could have worked better.
Kaelith rested beside him, his eyes half-closed but still alert.
"We'll get better," Sang-hoon promised, stroking the dragon's head. "One step at a time."
The path ahead was daunting, but for the first time, Sang-hoon felt a glimmer of confidence. With Kaelith by his side and the knowledge he had painstakingly gathered, he was determined to carve out a place for himself in this world.