Chapter 2: Bond of Shadows
Caleb barely had time to dodge as the wolf lunged, its massive jaws snapping shut inches from his face. His heart pounded like a drum, and the adrenaline coursing through him made his limbs feel both weightless and heavy at once.
The wolf's silver eyes glinted in the dim moonlight as it circled him, its growls low and menacing. Caleb could feel the weight of the system's words echoing in his mind: Tame it, or lose everything.
But how? He had no training, no weapons, and no idea how to tame a creature that looked like it wanted to tear him apart.
[Hint: Utilize your bond with the Dark Wolf System.]
"What bond?" Caleb shouted, narrowly dodging another swipe from the wolf's claws. He stumbled backward, his foot catching on a root. He hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of him.
As the wolf closed in, Caleb felt the burning sigil on his arm pulse again. A surge of energy rippled through him, and suddenly, his thoughts weren't his own. Images of the wolf—its life, its pain, its isolation—flooded his mind. He saw it wandering through endless darkness, battling other creatures for survival, longing for something it couldn't name.
It's not just a beast, Caleb realized. It's lost… just like me.
The wolf hesitated, its growl faltering. Caleb pushed himself up slowly, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "I'm not your enemy," he said, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him. "I don't know why we're here, but… maybe we can figure it out together."
The wolf growled again, softer this time, its ears flicking back. Caleb could feel its doubt, its wariness. But he could also feel a spark of something else—curiosity.
[Step 1: Establish trust.]
The system's voice rang in his head again, and Caleb felt the sigil pulse once more. This time, a strange warmth spread through his chest, and he instinctively extended his hand toward the wolf. Shadows began to swirl around his fingers, forming a faint, glowing thread that reached out to the beast.
"Come on," Caleb whispered. "You don't have to be alone anymore."
The wolf sniffed the thread cautiously, its glowing eyes locked on Caleb's. Then, to his astonishment, it stepped closer and pressed its nose to his hand.
[Trust established. Bond forming…]
The warmth in Caleb's chest grew into a blazing heat as the thread of shadow connected him to the wolf. The sigil on his arm flared, and he felt an overwhelming rush of power and emotion—strength, loyalty, and a fierce determination to protect.
The wolf let out a low howl, its silver eyes softening as it lowered its head in a gesture of submission.
[Congratulations! You have successfully tamed the Dark Wolf.]
Caleb's breath came in ragged gasps as the forest began to dissolve around him. The moonlight faded, replaced by the glaring lights of the academy's grand hall. He was back, lying on the cold marble floor.
But he wasn't alone.
The Dark Wolf stood beside him, its sleek black fur shimmering with an otherworldly glow. Gasps and murmurs filled the room as students and teachers stared in shock.
"What… what just happened?" Caleb muttered, still trying to catch his breath.
A voice boomed from the back of the hall. "What happened, young man, is that you've done the impossible."
Caleb turned to see a tall, stern-faced man with silver hair and piercing eyes striding toward him. His uniform marked him as one of the academy's elite instructors.
"Taming a beast directly from a gate is a feat few seasoned tamers can accomplish," the man said, his gaze shifting to the wolf. "And yet, you—a first-year student—have done it on your first day."
Caleb swallowed hard. "I… didn't mean to. It just… happened."
The instructor's eyes narrowed. "Nothing about this was accidental. The system chose you, and now you bear the responsibility that comes with it."
"What responsibility?" Caleb asked, his voice trembling.
"To stand between this world and the chaos beyond the gates," the man replied. "And to uncover the truth about why they've started opening again."
Caleb looked down at the wolf, its silver eyes meeting his. In that moment, he realized he wasn't just a student anymore.
He was a beast tamer. And his journey was only beginning.