2026-05-13 14:27:29Knox woke to a voice inside his head.
‘Hungry.’ He jerked upright, his heart pounding, and looked around the empty dorm room. Early morning light filtered through the window, grey and cold. The voice came again. ‘Knox... I'm hungry.’ Knox's breath stopped. He looked down at Ignis, who was still curled beside him on the bed. The creature's ember-orange eyes were open, staring directly at him. "Did you just—" Knox started. ‘The…. bond,’ Ignis said, his voice clearer now but still halting. ‘I can hear your thoughts. Your words. I learned them from your mind.’ Knox stared at the creature in shock. Ignis tilted his head. ‘I just hatched. Everything is new. But your mind is loud.’ "You can hear everything I think?" Knox asked quietly. ‘Not everything. Only when you think loud or feel strong emotions.’ Knox ran a hand through his hair and took a slow breath. The bond allowed communication. That made sense, but hearing another voice in his head was still unsettling. "How long have you been awake?" Knox asked. ‘I don't sleep the way you do, Ignis said. I felt you were sad. Alone.’ Knox's chest tightened slightly, but he pushed the feeling down. "I'm fine," Knox muttered. Ignis made a soft sound that felt like disagreement through the bond. Knox shook his head and stood. His body ached from sleeping against the wall, and his muscles felt stiff. He walked to the window and looked out at the academy grounds. "Ignis," Knox said quietly. "The system showed your attribute as Gravity. Do you know what that means?" ‘There's something inside me, Ignis said slowly. Something heavy. But it's …sleeping. I don't know how to wake it.’ Knox's mind raced. Gravity was not just weight. It was the force that pulled worlds together, bent space, controlled movement. If Ignis could manipulate gravity, even a fraction of it, the power would be terrifying. But right now, neither of them knew how to use it. Knox turned away from the window and froze. Words appeared in the air before him, glowing faintly. [Daily Keeper Trial: Foundation] Time Limit: 12 Hours Objective 1: Complete 50 push-ups Objective 2: Complete 50 sit-ups Objective 3: Complete 50 squats Objective 4: Run 2 kilometers Reward: Strength +1 Stamina +1 Dragon Points +3 Knox stared at the notification. A training quest. The rewards were real. But there was no penalty listed. Knox's jaw tightened. Every system story he had read on Earth taught him one thing: when the penalty was not shown, it meant the system was hiding something worse. Refusing was not an option. "I have to do this," Knox said to Ignis. "Stay here." ‘Be careful,’ Ignis said, worry pulsing through the bond. Knox dropped to the floor and started the push-ups. The first twenty were manageable. By thirty, his arms were shaking. At forty, his chest burned and sweat dripped onto the floor. His body was weak, and every movement felt like it was tearing his muscles apart. But thoughts of being weak and what he had to prove to everyone who shit on him pushed him further. Knox finished the push-ups and collapsed onto the floor, gasping. [Objective 1 Complete: 50 push-ups] He forced himself up and started the sit-ups. His stomach cramped after fifteen. By thirty, his core was on fire. He finished barely holding himself together. [Objective 2 Complete: 50 sit-ups] The squats came next. His legs burned with each rep, and by forty, his knees were shaking. He finished the last ten barely standing. [Objective 3 Complete: 50 squats] Knox leaned against the wall, breathing hard. His entire body screamed at him to stop. One more. The run. Knox stepped into the hallway and started running. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the empty common dorm building. Students were mostly still with their families, so the hallways were empty. He ran down the stairs, through the corridors, up and down the floors until the distance tracker in his mind hit two kilometers. His legs trembled. Nausea rose in his throat. But he kept moving until the notification appeared. [Objective 4 Complete: Run 2 kilometers] [Daily Keeper Trial: Foundation COMPLETE] [Rewards Granted] Strength +1 Stamina +1 Dragon Points +3 Knox stopped and collapsed against the wall, gasping for air. His whole body shook and sweat poured off him. But something changed. His breathing steadied faster than it should have. The burning in his muscles faded slightly. His body still ached, but when he stood, his movements felt smoother and his steps felt less heavy. The system reward was real. Knox walked back to the dorm room, exhausted but functional. He cleaned himself up quickly and got dressed. As he pulled on his academy uniform, he thought about the Dragon Vault and where Ignis had come from. "Ignis," Knox said. "You came from the Vault, right? When I bonded with you, I saw the fortress." ‘No,’ Ignis said. ‘I came from the Other Side. The place humans call the Other Side. I saw the Vault for the first time when you did.’ Knox frowned. That did not make sense. If Ignis came from the Other Side like every other summoned beast, then why did the awakening connect him to the Dragon Vault? Why did the system choose him as Keeper? He had no answers. And no time to investigate. Knox checked his reflection in the mirror and straightened his uniform. Today was the suitability test. If he failed, the academy would send him home regardless of the Dragon Vault's power. He looked at Ignis. "Ready?" ‘Ready,’ Ignis confirmed. Knox opened the door and stepped into the hallway. The academy testing ground was massive. A wide stone courtyard stretched out before Knox, surrounded by tall stone walls and observation platforms. Hundreds of candidates filled the space, most of them clustered in groups, talking nervously or making last-minute preparations. Ignis hopped onto Knox's shoulder, his small body settling around the back of Knox's neck. His weight was barely noticeable, but his warmth was comforting. Knox walked through the crowd alone. Whispers spread as Knox passed. "That's the Aston failure." "I heard he got disowned." "He spent last night in the common dorms." "Look at that grey lizard. It's even smaller than I thought." Knox ignored them and found a spot near the back of the courtyard. He leaned against the wall and waited. Across the courtyard, Noah stood among the noble candidates. His Frost Wyvern was not summoned yet, but everyone treated him like he had already passed. Instructors nodded to him respectfully. Other nobles greeted him with polite smiles. Knox looked away. A voice called out from the crowd. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the discarded noble." Knox turned. A tall candidate with slicked-back hair and an arrogant smirk stepped forward. He wore expensive academy robes with a family crest Knox did not recognize, but his eyes gleamed with malice. "I heard you got kicked out of the noble dorms," the candidate said loudly, making sure others could hear. "Sleeping in common housing now, are you? With a dull lizard and no sponsor? How pathetic." Several candidates turned to watch. Want me to bite him? Ignis asked through the bond, irritation flickering across their connection. Knox stayed calm. "Are you done?" Knox asked quietly. The candidate's smirk widened. "Done? I'm just getting started. A failed noble is an easy—" "I don't care," Knox said, cutting him off. "Move along." The candidate's face flushed red, but before he could respond, the entire courtyard went silent. The Instructor in charge had arrived.
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Chapter 20: The Hooktail Challenge
Knox arrived near the challenge arena for the afternoon session with Ignis on his shoulder. His body was stable after the mana pill and light training, but he was not fully fresh. The earlier tests had already dropped his mana, though it had recovered slightly to around 56/60. His wrist was wrapped, but the faint ache beneath the cloth told him it was not completely healed.He kept thinking about how fast Tobin had accepted the challenge. Tobin had a Rare-rank Hooktail Lizard, a higher rank, and more official match experience, yet he accepted instantly. That meant confidence. Knox understood this fight would not be like Venn. Venn had rushed because he was angry but Tobin had accepted because he believed he already understood how to beat Knox.The weekend challenge session had drawn students who wanted to watch fights. The crowd was not huge, but enough people pressed against the arena barriers to make the match feel public. Knox's name had started attracting attention after his defen
Chapter 19: Tobin Marr
Ignis crouched low, his claws scraping lightly against the ground. A faint shimmer of mana gathered around his legs before he shot forward two meters. The movement was fast, but the landing was still rough. Ignis stumbled once before steadying himself.[Burst Step Activated]Range: 2 metersControl: UnstableStability: ImprovingPrimary Cost: Ignis StaminaBond Mana Drain: 3Knox Mana: 54/60 → 51/60Knox felt the small tug through the bond and clicked his tongue. Ignis’s Burst Step did not use Knox’s mana the same way Echo Step did, but because the trait was still unstable, every forced activation pulled a little mana through their bond. That meant Ignis could not spam Burst Step freely either. If Ignis pushed too hard, Knox would feel the cost too.After that, Knox walked to one of the wooden training posts and placed his palm lightly against it. He did not try to activate Tremor Palm fully as that would be mana waste and stupid. Tremor Palm was different from Echo Step.Echo Step pu
Chapter 18: Names Above Him
Knox woke up late in the common dorm. Sunlight streamed through the window at an angle that told him it was already past morning. The other beds were empty. Most students were already outside enjoying the weekend. There were no classes today, no Professor Crane lesson, and no academy drills.Knox sat up slowly. His wrist still ached faintly, but the sharp pain from yesterday was gone. He flexed his fingers. Stiff, but functional. He checked his recovery status.[Recovery Status]Mana: 55/55Physical Strain:Lower Body Fatigue — ClearedRight Wrist Backlash — FadingMana Channels — StableRecommendation:Light activity permitted.Avoid repeated Tremor Palm activation.Knox dismissed the notification and looked at Ignis. The drake was still curled up near his pillow, breathing steadily. His legs twitched once, like he was trying to use Burst Step in his sleep. Knox did not wake him.Instead, Knox counted his silver. He pulled out the pouch from under his mattress and spread the coins on the
Chapter 17: The Wrong Kind Of Attention
Knox woke up alone in the common dorm with his wrist still aching from Tremor Palm. His palm felt numb, his fingers were slow to close, and his legs were still sore from the recent fights and mission. He checked his condition.[Recovery Status]Mana: 34/55Physical Strain: Lower Body Fatigue — MildRight Wrist Backlash — ActiveMana Channels — Slightly IrritatedRecommendation: Avoid repeated skill activation.Ignis was still sleeping close to him, his legs twitching once like he was trying to use Burst Step in his sleep. Knox did not wake him. He understood they were both tired and that challenging anyone today would be stupid. He decided today was for rest, food, and recovery.Ignis woke up minutes later, hungry. Knox pulled out a beast feed pellet from his pouch and handed it to him. Ignis sniffed it suspiciously and made a disgusted face through the bond.“The rabbit tasted better,” Ignis complained.Knox was annoyed because the feed cost him silver. “Then make your own money and
Chapter 16: When The Pulse Answers
As the first Tremor Mole went still inside the suppression sack, Knox felt the tremor pattern linger faintly in his palm. The system flickered.[Compatibility Detected][Progress: 1/?]Knox stared at the notification and waited. With the Swift-Horn Rabbits, Ignis had felt hunger the moment he pinned the first one. His instincts pulled him toward the essence. That hunger led to the Swift-Step Foundation and Burst Step. Knox expected the same reaction now. But Ignis only shifted his claws uncomfortably and looked away from the suppression sack. No hunger or pull.Knox frowned. If Ignis did not want the Tremor Mole, then what was the system reacting to?"Are you going to stand there all day?" Knox looked up. Serena stood near the next Moonroot bed with her arms crossed. Her expression was calm and unreadable, but her tone carried faint exasperation. "Whatever it was, you were waiting for, to happen," she continued. Her gaze flicked to the suppression sack, then back to Knox. "It did not.
Chapter 15: Beneath the Warmstone Greenhouse
Knox arrived at the Warmstone Greenhouse with Ignis perched on his shoulder.The building sat on the eastern edge of the academy grounds, half-buried into a slope to keep the temperature stable. Heat rolled out from the entrance, thick and damp. Inside, rows of herb beds stretched beneath curved glass panels that caught the afternoon sun.Moonroot beds lined the center section. The plants had pale silver-white roots that glowed faintly under the soil. Thin mana lines ran beneath them, feeding the roots with steady energy.Knox wiped sweat from his neck as he walked deeper into the greenhouse. The mission still looked like dirty pest work, but the system had reacted differently.When he accepted it, only one message appeared.[Compatibility Detected]Nothing else.No explanation or reward preview.Knox did not know what the compatibility meant, but he could not ignore it.A middle-aged man in work robes approached. His sleeves were rolled up, and soil stained his hands. He looked Knox
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