The first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of orange and purple as Sang-hoon stood on the academy's training grounds, his breath visible in the crisp morning air.
Kaelith perched on a nearby rock, his small frame almost blending with the shadows of the early hour. The academy grounds were quiet, save for the occasional chirping of birds and the distant hum of mana barriers maintaining the campus's security.
It had been three weeks since his arrival in this world, and the weight of his situation hadn't grown lighter. His match with Rellen the previous week had been a harsh reminder of how far behind he was compared to his peers. The battle had exposed his lack of synchronization with Kaelith, his clumsy command execution, and his tendency to overthink under pressure.
He tightened his fists, staring at Kaelith, who tilted his head curiously.
"We'll do better today," Sang-hoon said aloud, his voice firm despite the gnawing doubt in his chest.
Kaelith chirped in response, hopping off the rock and landing gracefully beside Sang-hoon.
As Sang-hoon reached for his training journal, a familiar chime resonated in his mind.
[System Update]
New Mission: Gain Approval
Objective: Impress the instructor during your practical combat session to earn their approval.
Reward: Level up for you and Kaelith. Attribute points will be distributed for future allocation.
Failure: Loss of affinity with Kaelith.
He blinked in surprise, the text hovering briefly in his vision before fading away.
"Approval, huh?" Sang-hoon muttered. The stakes had just been raised. He glanced at Kaelith, whose gaze sparkled with newfound determination, as if the dragon had understood the mission.
"Let's make it happen."
The morning passed in a blur of sweat and repetition. Sang-hoon worked tirelessly, guiding Kaelith through a series of dodges, feints, and mock engagements with wooden dummies he had borrowed from the training hall. By the time the sun hung high in the sky, his body ached, and Kaelith's movements had grown sluggish.
"Enough for now," Sang-hoon said, sitting on the grass and wiping the sweat from his brow. Kaelith collapsed beside him, letting out a soft hum of exhaustion.
His mind wandered to the details of the mission. Impressing the instructor wasn't going to be easy, especially after yesterday's performance. But the thought of leveling up sparked a glimmer of hope. If they could grow stronger, perhaps unlocking Kaelith's latent skills wouldn't be so far off.
By midday, Sang-hoon found himself seated in the academy's lecture hall, surrounded by his Gold Class peers. Professor Lustrum, a portly man with a booming voice and a passion for dramatic storytelling, was in the middle of a lecture on ancient beast-taming techniques.
"...and it was through the Synchronization Ritual that the ancient Tamers of Torvast could command beasts far stronger than themselves!" Lustrum exclaimed, gesturing wildly.
Sang-hoon jotted down notes absentmindedly. The information was useful, but his mind kept drifting back to the practical session ahead. This wasn't just another training exercise—this was their chance to grow.
He glanced at Seraphina, seated a few rows ahead. Her Phoenix glowed faintly even in the well-lit room, a testament to their powerful bond. Arden, as usual, exuded smug confidence, leaning back in his chair while his Saberwolf rested lazily at his feet.
When the lecture ended, the students filed out toward the academy's arena.
The arena buzzed with anticipation as the Gold Class gathered in their designated training rings. Today's session paired each student with a beast of comparable level to test their adaptability and strategy.
Sang-hoon stood at the edge of the ring, Kaelith perched on his shoulder.
"Grayson!" the instructor called, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Your turn. Ring three."
Nerves coiled in Sang-hoon's stomach as he stepped into the designated ring. A mana barrier shimmered to life around him, sealing the space. On the other side, a small but ferocious Direfox was released, its crimson fur bristling as it snarled.
"Your task is to immobilize the beast without harming it," the instructor explained.
Sang-hoon nodded, his heart pounding. He glanced at Kaelith, who stared intently at the Direfox.
"Okay, Kaelith," Sang-hoon whispered. "We've got this. Stick to the plan."
The Direfox darted forward, its movements a blur.
"Dodge left!" Sang-hoon shouted.
Kaelith leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast's snapping jaws.
"Counter with a swipe!"
Kaelith swung his tail, but the Direfox was too quick, darting out of reach.
"Focus on its patterns," Sang-hoon muttered. He watched the Direfox's movements carefully. It circled them, its eyes gleaming with predatory cunning.
"Wait for it to commit," he instructed.
The Direfox lunged again, but this time, Kaelith sidestepped smoothly and lashed out with his claws, grazing the beast's flank. The Direfox skidded to a halt, growling in frustration.
Sang-hoon felt a surge of confidence. "Good! Keep it up!"
The battle continued, a dance of feints and counters. While Kaelith's attacks lacked power, his agility and growing confidence kept the Direfox at bay.
Finally, Kaelith managed to pin the Direfox momentarily, his claws digging into the ground around it.
"Stop!" the instructor called. "That's enough."
The mana barrier deactivated, and the Direfox was led away by an assistant.
Sang-hoon let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Kaelith chirped, hopping onto his shoulder with an air of pride.
"Well done," the instructor said, nodding. "Your coordination has improved, and you've shown the ability to adapt under pressure. Keep honing your bond."
The system's familiar chime rang in Sang-hoon's ears.
[Mission Complete]
Objective: Gain Approval
Reward: Level Up!
[Level Up!]
You have leveled up! Kaelith has leveled up!
Attribute points available: 5
A rush of energy surged through Sang-hoon, a warmth spreading across his chest. Beside him, Kaelith let out a triumphant cry, his scales shimmering faintly as if reflecting their shared achievement.
That night, Sang-hoon sat in the academy's library, poring over books on beast-taming and combat strategies. The system's notification about attribute points lingered in his mind.
The interface had provided no immediate instructions for using the points, but he knew better than to rush into a decision. Allocating them strategically would be key to his long-term growth.
Kaelith rested on the table, his eyes half-closed but alert. Sang-hoon ran a hand over the dragon's sleek scales, smiling faintly.
As the hours ticked by, a sense of purpose settled over him. He wasn't just surviving anymore—he was moving forward.
"We're getting stronger," he murmured. "One step at a time."