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Back in the cellar Zephyr closed his eyes. Dragon Sense opened like a quiet circle around him: he "felt" shelves, door hinges, even spiders on the ceiling. He sensed Star's heartbeat, a bright dot of trust. The range was small, but it would warn him of intruders.
Two days later Wren cornered Zephyr in the infirmary. "You have been missing work for the past few days, most of the time," she said, arms folded. "Explain."
He bowed. "I study old feed recipes in the greenhouse to help beasts. Time passes quickly. So, I miss some work."
Her sharp eyes narrowed. "Fine. Tomorrow, show me what recipes you invented. I expect evidence."
Zephyr's stomach knotted. "Evidence?" He would need fake notes or recipes that appeared useful. That night he and Fenna spent hours inventing herb charts and plausible growth curves. She wrote careful numbers. He sprinkled moonleaf over parchment to scent it like feed.
They finished near dawn. Fenna yawned, head drooping onto his shoulder. He turned, catching the soft lavender scent of her hair. A wave of warmth swept him greater than any skill. She stirred, eyes half-open. "Sorry… tired."
He felt bold. "Rest here. I will keep watch." She smiled, closed eyes again. His eyes caught Fenna chests. His face turned red. Suddenly, Star chirped softly and curled on her lap. Zephyr came back to his senses. The three of them dozed beneath the steady hum of heat stones.
Hours later, Wren accepted the feed sheets without comment, though Zephyr saw her brow rise at the neat math. "Impressive," she said flatly, then moved on. Zephyr exhaled relief so hard his ribs ached.
That night the System announced a new milestone:
[Ding! System notifications-
Dragonling Growth: 11 (cm nose to tail,) wingspan 18 cm.
Attribute Bonus: Host Endurance +1.]
Tiny, but progress, soon he fell asleep holding Star on his lap.Zephyr woke in the cellar to a soft buzzing sensation. Dragon Sense flooded with colored sparks. Star raced circles across the shelves, wings beating fast enough to lift an inch off the straw.
"Careful!" Zephyr laughed. Fenna came, and saw Star, she started clapping quietly. "He's learning to fly!"
Star zoomed, wobbled, tumbled into Zephyr's arms. The tamer hugged him close while the hatchling chirped triumph.
System text glowed:
[Ding! System notifications-
Stage: Infant Flight Initiated.
Growth multiplier unlocked (1.2×).]
Zephyr met Fenna's glowing eyes. "He will grow faster now."
She squeezed his hand. "So will you."
For the first time since arriving at Lowmoor academy, Zephyr felt the academy roofs could not hold him. Above stone and sky lay untold distance and he, Fenna, and Star would travel it together.
Before climbing the cellar stairs, Zephyr knelt beside the nesting crate. Star pressed his small head to Zephyr's palm. Gold threads of the bond shimmered in the dim lamp.
"I promise," Zephyr whispered, "to guard you, to grow strong, and to build a world where we fly free."
Star's eyes glowed like two tiny moons. Fenna placed her hand over theirs. "And I promise," she said, voice steady, "to stand with you both until the sky itself yields."
The oath felt like a third heartbeat, settling in the room. Outside, bells rang for dawn lessons. The academy stirred.
No one knew that beneath the greenhouse, a Sovereign bond had formed, a dragon had taken its first breath, and a forgotten blood-line stirred to life.
Soon, the lie of the Hollowback Hatchkin would shield them. And soon after, the truth would burn brighter than any stars.
Morning light spilled through the cracked greenhouse panes in soft yellow stripes. Zephyr crouched beside the nest crate, lacing a tiny canvas harness around Star's chest and wings. The hatchling wriggled, silver eyes bright, tail flicking across the straw.
"Easy," Zephyr murmured. "The straps keep you close in public. No flying off my shoulder."
Star chirped, clearly proud of his new gear. Fenna knelt nearby, stitching green cloth into a pouch. "This sling clips under your cloak," she said, holding it up so Zephyr could see. "From outside, it looks like you're carrying herb samples."
Zephyr slipped the sling over his ribcage and settled Star inside. A faint glow leaked through the fabric, but when he folded his caretaker coat the light disappeared. Satisfied, he exhaled. "Today we test our story."
Fenna's smile faltered. "Inspection is at third bell. Wren will be there, plus three instructors from Beast Theory. Are you ready?"
He forced a calm nod. "I have to be." Inside, his nerves twisted. The Bound Beast System reminded him every hour: Secrecy countdown, six days remaining. Detection penalty, bond strain. He would not let that happen.
They rehearsed the story once more.
Beast Name: Star
Species Claim: Hollowback Hatchkin, an ancient field-scout creature.
Function: Detects subsurface tremors and mana leaks in ruins.
Reason for rarity: Egg discovered fossilized; assumed sterile.
Power level: "Registered D-Rank support, no combat."
Fenna added tiny chalk marks on the sling: false rune sigils of a hypothetical breeder guild. "If someone looks, they'll think Star was catalogued centuries ago."
Zephyr practiced his lines, voice steady but humble: "I found the egg half-buried and almost dead. It hatched by chance while I provided warmth." He repeated until words felt dull and safe.
Third bell rang. Students gathered on the training green where frost still clung to grass tips. Tables stood in a row; strict Instructor Marlen held a quill to record beasts. Wren watched with arms folded. Callen Dros loitered close, Bristle Fang at heel, smirking each time a nervous first-year presented a mouse or coil viper.
Zephyr queued with caretakers, not full tamers. Sweat cooled under his coat. Star shifted but remained quiet, lulled by Incubation Aura.
His turn came. Marlen barely glanced up. "Name?"
"Zephyr Valorian."
"Rank?"
"F." Around him, a few snickers. He kept eyes forward.
"Beast to declare?"