The training grounds of Skyreach Spire were alive with activity. Tamers of all levels sparred with their beasts, the sounds of battle and shouts of instruction echoing through the air. Azhaan stood at the edge of one of the smaller platforms, his thoughts focused on a simple goal: experiment.
Shade sat nearby, its sleek body blending into the shadows cast by the towering Spire above. The bond between them pulsed faintly, carrying a quiet sense of anticipation.
Azhaan crouched, pulling a few items from his pack. He had managed to secure some common-grade materials during his earlier errands—nothing extraordinary, but good enough for testing theories.
"Alright, Shade," Azhaan muttered, his eyes scanning the items laid out before him. "This is going to be messy, but we need to figure out what works."
The materials were simple:
•A shard of Amberlight Crystal, glowing faintly with warm energy.
•A small pouch of Gloomroot, its dark, thorny vines pulsing faintly with shadowy magic.
•A vial of Ether Water, purified and faintly shimmering.
Azhaan leaned over the items, his brow furrowed in concentration. Based on what he had read, these materials could theoretically enhance Shade's stealth and agility—if used correctly.
But that was the problem. Without knowing the exact interactions, he was walking blind.
He activated his System, the familiar interface appearing before him. Shade's details filled the screen, its new abilities and attributes glowing faintly.
"Let's see if you can help me here," Azhaan muttered.
The System flickered faintly, and for a brief moment, the words "Simulation module initializing… 38% complete" appeared in the corner of the interface.
Azhaan frowned. "Still not ready."
Shade growled softly, its red eyes fixed on the materials. The bond between them pulsed with encouragement, a quiet sense of trust flowing through the connection.
Azhaan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess we'll have to do this the hard way."
Azhaan started with the Amberlight Crystal. He held it in his hand, feeling the faint warmth radiating from its surface.
"This should amplify agility," he said, more to himself than to Shade. "But it might mess with your shadow abilities if it overpowers the balance."
He glanced at the Gloomroot, its dark tendrils curling faintly as though alive. "And this… it's supposed to boost stealth, but it's unpredictable. Could backfire if we're not careful."
Finally, his eyes fell on the Ether Water. "This should stabilize everything. In theory."
Shade let out a low growl, its tail flicking. The bond between them pulsed faintly with impatience.
"Alright, alright," Azhaan said, smirking. "Let's see what happens."
He carefully combined a fragment of the Amberlight Crystal with a few drops of Ether Water. The mixture glowed faintly, a warm, golden light swirling through the liquid.
Shade stepped forward, sniffing the mixture cautiously.
"Try it," Azhaan said, holding out the small dish.
Shade hesitated for a moment before lowering its head, lapping at the glowing liquid.
The reaction was immediate. Shade's body shimmered faintly, its movements growing sharper and more fluid. It darted a few steps forward, its speed noticeably increased.
Azhaan grinned. "That's it! It's working!"
But before he could celebrate further, the shimmering light faltered. Shade staggered slightly, its form flickering as though caught between two states.
Azhaan's heart sank. "Shade!"
The Shadow Stalker growled, shaking its head as the flickering subsided. The bond between them pulsed faintly, a sense of discomfort flowing through the connection.
Azhaan knelt beside Shade, placing a hand on its head. "Are you okay?"
Shade let out a low, steady growl, its red eyes meeting Azhaan's. The bond pulsed with reassurance, a quiet sense of resilience flowing through the connection.
"Guess I messed up the balance," Azhaan muttered. "Too much Amberlight."
Azhaan sat back, his thoughts racing. The experiment had shown promise, but the instability was a reminder of how dangerous guesswork could be.
He activated his System again, staring at the flickering text in the corner.
"Simulation module initializing… 40% complete."
"It's not fast enough," he muttered, frustration bubbling in his chest. "I need this now, not later."
Shade growled softly, its red eyes glowing faintly as it rested beside him. The bond between them pulsed with quiet encouragement, a reminder of the progress they had already made.
Azhaan sighed, leaning back against the platform's edge. "We'll figure it out," he said softly, his gaze drifting to the distant horizon. "One way or another."
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting the training grounds in a warm, golden light, Azhaan heard familiar footsteps approaching.
"Still playing with rocks and water?" Kaela's teasing voice cut through the quiet.
Azhaan looked up to see her smirking, Lirian perched elegantly on her shoulder. The dragon's crystalline wings shimmered faintly as it watched Shade with sharp, calculating eyes.
"Not everyone has a perfect bond with a star-powered dragon," Azhaan shot back, though his tone was light.
Kaela chuckled, crouching beside him to examine the materials on the ground. "You're trying to refine Shade's abilities, aren't you?"
Azhaan nodded. "Yeah. I figured I'd start small, but I don't really know what I'm doing yet."
Kaela picked up the Gloomroot, turning it over in her hands. "You're not as clueless as you think. Mixing materials like this takes guts—and a lot of trial and error. Most first-years wouldn't even attempt it."
Azhaan raised an eyebrow. "Is that a compliment?"
"Don't let it go to your head," Kaela replied, smirking. "But if you want advice… focus on what Shade needs most right now. You can refine the rest later."
Azhaan glanced at Shade, his thoughts turning to the upcoming tournament. The Shadow Stalker's speed and stealth were already impressive, but its lack of defensive abilities was a glaring weakness.
"You're right," he said, his voice firm. "We need to prioritize."
Kaela stood, brushing off her hands. "Good. Keep experimenting, but don't push Shade too hard. The last thing you want is to destabilize your bond before the tournament."
Azhaan nodded, determination hardening in his chest. "Thanks, Kaela."
She waved him off, her smirk returning. "Just don't lose to me when we're paired in the finals."
As night fell over the Spire, Azhaan returned to his dormitory, his mind buzzing with plans. The experiments had been a small step forward, but they had also revealed how much he still had to learn.
He activated his System one last time before bed, his eyes narrowing at the flickering text:
"Simulation module initializing… 43% complete."
Azhaan sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Hurry up, System. We don't have much time."
Shade let out a soft growl from its place near the window, its red eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. The bond between them pulsed strongly, a quiet reassurance flowing through the connection.
Azhaan closed his eyes, his thoughts settling. The road ahead was still uncertain, but for the first time, he felt like he was beginning to understand what it meant to be a tamer.