A few weeks had passed since I brought Umbra home, and life had become... eventful, to say the least. The little guy was adorable, but he was also a walking bundle of chaos.
Take, for instance, what happened on his second day at the estate. One of the maids, eager to bond with him, picked him up and cradled him in her lap. She was brushing his scales, cooing over how soft and shiny they were, when out of nowhere, Umbra decided to bite her. And not just anywhere—he bit her breast.
I heard the screams from three rooms away.
When I got there, the poor maid was flustered, trying to maintain her composure as she held her blouse tightly to her chest. Umbra, on the other hand, looked completely unrepentant, tilting his head as if to say, What did I do wrong?
"That's strike one, little guy," I told him, though he hardly seemed to care.
But that wasn't the end of his mischief. Oh, no. A few days later, he managed to destroy three Rank 5-grade plants from my mother's personal greenhouse. For context, these plants were so rare that only 140 of them existed in the entire world. They weren't just decorative either—each one was worth a small fortune and could be used to create legendary-grade potions.
When my mother found out, I thought for sure Umbra was in for some serious punishment. But the moment he gave her those big, sad violet eyes, she melted.
"Oh, he's just a baby," she said, scooping him up and cuddling him. "He didn't mean to cause trouble."
And just like that, he got away with it. Again.
---
Now, here I was, walking toward the combat facility with the little devil perched on my head, chewing on my hair.
"Hah... Really, Umbra? You're so spoiled," I muttered, lifting him off and holding him in front of me. He gave a playful growl, his tiny tail swishing back and forth. "But I guess I only have myself to blame for that."
Umbra responded by nipping at my fingers—not hard, just enough to let me know he didn't appreciate the scolding.
---
The combat facility was one of my favorite places on the estate. It was massive, with different sections for sparring, magic training, and even beast taming. Today, it was mostly empty, which was perfect. I needed to focus on training with Umbra without any distractions.
We had been practicing together four to five times a week, but I quickly realized that Umbra's abilities were limited at this stage of his growth. Dark Dragons, I'd learned, unlock their more powerful skills as they age and grow stronger. It made sense, but I couldn't help feeling a little impatient.
"Alright, let's start with Shadow Veil," I said, setting Umbra down on the ground.
He gave a soft growl, his eyes glowing faintly as he activated the ability. Shadows swirled around him, and within seconds, he vanished from sight.
"Good," I said, scanning the area. "Now, let's see how well you can dodge."
I conjured a series of small mana bolts and fired them in random directions. Umbra reappeared just long enough to leap out of the way, his movements quick and precise.
"Not bad, not bad," I muttered. "But let's kick it up a notch."
This time, I activated a training golem. Unlike normal golems, this one was specifically designed for agility and speed. It darted toward Umbra, its attacks fast and relentless.
Umbra dodged and weaved, his small size giving him an advantage. But the golem was persistent, forcing him to stay on the defensive.
"Don't just dodge, Umbra—counterattack!" I called out.
The little dragon growled, his claws glowing with a faint dark energy. He lunged at the golem, slashing at its joints. The construct staggered, but it wasn't down yet.
"Flame Breath!" I shouted, hoping to prompt him.
Umbra hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth. A small, flickering flame emerged, more of a spark than the roaring inferno I'd imagined.
"Well, it's a start," I said, suppressing a laugh.
The flame was enough to disrupt the golem's mana core, and it collapsed in a heap of metal and stone. Umbra strutted back to me, clearly proud of himself.
"Good job, buddy," I said, scratching him behind the horns. "But we've got a long way to go."
---
As we rested, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Umbra didn't have to do much to grow stronger—he just needed to eat, sleep, and occasionally train. Meanwhile, I had to work my butt off every single day.
"Life's not fair," I muttered, glancing at him.
Umbra tilted his head, as if he understood exactly what I was thinking.
---
Later that day, I began preparing for an upcoming dungeon expedition. My goal was to practice using Umbra's abilities in real combat situations. While the training grounds were useful, there was no substitute for actual experience.
"Are you ready for this, Umbra?" I asked as I packed my gear.
The little dragon let out a confident roar, his wings flaring slightly.
"I'll take that as a yes," I said with a grin.
I'd chosen a low-tier dungeon for our first outing together. It wasn't particularly dangerous, but it would still provide plenty of opportunities to test our bond.
As we approached the dungeon portal, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. This was going to be our first real test as a team.
"Alright, Umbra," I said, placing a hand on his head. "Let's show them what we're made of."
To Be Continued…