The moonlight cast a soft glow over Skyreach Spire as Azhaan stood on the dormitory balcony, the faint hum of the Spire's magic reverberating through the still night air. Shade was at his side, its red eyes glowing faintly as it gazed out at the horizon. The bond between them pulsed quietly, a steady rhythm that mirrored Azhaan's swirling thoughts.
The System's cryptic progress toward the Simulation Module lingered in his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about how vital it would be—not just for Shade's growth but for every beast he might contract in the future. Yet, each time he checked, the completion percentage crawled forward at an agonizingly slow pace.
43% complete.
Azhaan exhaled slowly, leaning on the railing. "Why does it feel like time's running out, Shade?"
Shade tilted its head slightly, its gaze fixed on the faint glow of the forest below. The bond pulsed with quiet encouragement, a gentle nudge to keep going.
"You're right," Azhaan muttered. "Sitting here isn't going to solve anything."
The next morning, Azhaan made his way through the labyrinthine halls of Skyreach Spire, his boots clicking softly against the polished stone floor. The Spire was waking up, its hum growing louder as students and tamers filled its corridors, each focused on their own tasks.
Azhaan's destination was the Alchemy Wing—specifically, one of the smaller private labs tucked away in a quiet corner of the sprawling chamber. He had convinced Leira, the young alchemist he had helped with the mana-infused water, to let him borrow the space for some personal experiments.
Leira was waiting for him when he arrived, her silver goggles pushed up onto her forehead and a faint smirk on her face. "Back so soon? I figured you'd be licking your wounds after yesterday's sparring session."
Azhaan chuckled, setting his pack down on one of the workbenches. "I don't have time to lick wounds. The tournament's coming up, and I need to be ready."
Leira raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicking to Shade, who had settled near the door. "And I'm guessing your definition of 'ready' involves more risky experiments?"
"Something like that," Azhaan replied, pulling out the materials he had gathered.
Leira crossed her arms, watching him with faint amusement. "Alright, genius. What's the plan this time?"
Azhaan arranged the materials on the table:
•A shard of Glimmerstone, faintly glowing with an iridescent light.
•A dried Emberbud flower, its petals still warm to the touch.
•A small vial of Mistshade Oil, its surface rippling like liquid shadow.
He explained his reasoning as he worked, his hands steady despite the weight of his thoughts. "Glimmerstone should enhance agility and perception, Emberbud can add a burst of power, and the Mistshade Oil should stabilize the shadow-based abilities. In theory."
Leira snorted softly. "'In theory' doesn't exactly inspire confidence."
Azhaan smirked, focusing on grinding the Glimmerstone into a fine powder. "It's better than nothing."
Shade watched intently from its place near the door, its red eyes glowing faintly. The bond between them pulsed with quiet curiosity, as if it, too, was eager to see the results.
As Azhaan mixed the materials, a faint glow began to emanate from the mixture. The light shifted between hues of blue and violet, its energy humming softly.
"Not bad," Leira admitted, leaning closer. "You might actually know what you're doing."
Azhaan chuckled. "Don't jinx it."
He carefully poured the mixture into a small dish and placed it on the ground in front of Shade. "Alright, buddy. Let's see how this works."
Shade hesitated for a moment before lowering its head to the dish. The moment it lapped up the mixture, its body shimmered faintly, a ripple of energy coursing through its form.
Azhaan held his breath as Shade moved, its motions growing sharper and more fluid. The glow around its body intensified for a moment, then settled into a faint aura.
Leira whistled softly. "Looks like you nailed it this time."
But before Azhaan could respond, Shade's movements faltered. Its body flickered faintly, as though caught between two states.
Azhaan's heart clenched. "Shade!"
The Shadow Stalker growled low, shaking its head as the flickering subsided. The bond between them pulsed sharply, a mix of discomfort and reassurance flowing through the connection.
"It's okay," Azhaan said, kneeling beside Shade. "We'll figure it out."
Later that evening, Azhaan sat in his dormitory, his thoughts heavy as he reviewed the day's events. The experiment had shown promise, but it still wasn't perfect. Something was missing—something crucial.
He activated his System, the glowing interface filling his vision. The progress bar for the Simulation Module appeared once again:
"Simulation module initializing… 45% complete."
Azhaan frowned. "Come on, System. Give me something I can use."
As if in response, the text flickered, and a new line appeared:
"Data collected. Further experimentation required."
Azhaan blinked, leaning forward. "Data? You're learning from what I'm doing?"
The System didn't respond, but the implication was clear. Each attempt, each experiment, was feeding into the Simulation Module, helping it refine itself.
Azhaan exhaled slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "So that's how it is. Alright, System. Let's see who finishes first—me or you."
Shade growled softly from its place near the window, its red eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. The bond between them pulsed with quiet determination, a shared resolve that filled the room.
The next morning, Azhaan found a new posting on the academy's notice board. The message glowed faintly, its words catching his attention immediately:
"Exploration Team Needed: Uncharted Ruin Discovered in the Verdantwilds. Volunteers Required."
Azhaan's pulse quickened as he read the details. The ruin was located deep in the forest, in an area few tamers had ventured before. The mission was risky, but the rewards were enticing—rare materials, valuable knowledge, and the chance to make a name for himself.
He turned to Shade, who growled softly, its red eyes glinting with anticipation. The bond between them pulsed strongly, a shared sense of purpose flowing through the connection.
"We're doing this," Azhaan said firmly.
As he signed his name to the volunteer list, he couldn't help but feel that this mission would bring him closer to the answers he sought—not just about evolution, but about himself and his place in this world.