The moment I step into the dining room, chaos greets me."Show us your dragon!" That's the first thing my little sister shouts — no hello, no congratulations, just pure excitement."Calm down, Elara. If you act this hectic, Zenon won't be able to show us his Spirit Animal," says my older sister, Selene.She recently started forming her Mind Core — meaning she's fourteen now — while Elara is twelve and just as fiery as our mother.
"Come here and meet Nephyra — the newest member of our family. She might outshine all of us soon enough," I say, holding Nephyra in front of me to show her off."Wow, it really is a dragon — not a lizard! Her wings are so cool," Elara says, gently petting Nephyra's head with one finger."Mhm… she really is cute." Selene's voice stays calm, but her grin betrays her excitement.
"Honestly, is this what passes for noble behavior now? The daughters of House Myrvale wrestling a dragon in the middle of a doorway? The future looks bleak for us, husband.""Mother!" my sisters cry in unison, cheeks flushed, voices overlapping in protest.
My mother only laughs — bright and melodic, the kind of laugh that fills every corner of the room."Let them have a little fun," my father says from behind her, still standing in the doorway we're blocking. His tone is calm but laced with amusement."The last few days have been serious enough for all of us — after all the preparations for the Second Birth Ritual."
Nephyra chirps softly in my arms, as if agreeing with him, and the tension melts into laughter all around.
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After a relaxing lunch with my family, it's finally time to train.Now I can truly train with my Spirit Animal. After all, a whole year of nothing but physical drills and Mind Core formation has been taxing enough.Watching the warriors of our house train alongside their Spirit Animals while I could only watch… that was harder than I'd ever admit.
Right now, I'm on my way to find Eldran — my grandfather — to finally learn how to control my Attribute and train together with Nephyra.He should already be at our family's training grounds, just behind the main building.
Nephyra seems to have claimed my left shoulder as her throne. I'm not even sure she's touched the ground once since she hatched. Every few steps, her tail sways, scattering a thin veil of mist that drifts in my wake. When I turn my head, she tilts hers in perfect rhythm, as if watching the world through my eyes. Sometimes, when my thoughts wander, she hums — a low vibration that settles the air around us. It's strange how something so small can make the world feel steadier.
I spot Eldran near the center of the field, standing as still as the stones around him. A light mist flows around his form — just enough that you can never tell where his body ends. It's always like this when he draws on his Attribute.For a moment, I wonder if the mist gathers around him out of respect… or obedience.
"You're late," he says. His voice carries easily through the fog — calm and even — but every word lands with weight."I'm sorry. Lunch lasted longer than usual because of all the questions," I answer. I can't help the flicker of anticipation beneath my calm — finally, I get to learn how to grow stronger together with my Spirit Animal.
"Doesn't matter. Let's get started," Eldran says, his tone shifting into that calm, instructive rhythm of his. "Tell me again what defines each tier of Spirit Animals."
I nod and begin."Lumen-1 are small to medium-sized animals without an Attribute. They offer only minor boosts to physical or mental abilities.""Lumen-2 are medium to large animals, still without an Attribute, but their boosts are much stronger. From this tier onward, a Spirit Animal starts to provide real advantages.""Lumen-3 marks the real turning point. These are large predators or creatures with a defining trait — speed, strength, cunning. They grant strong boosts to certain abilities, and some even begin to share special powers with their partners.""Lumen-4 are special beings. They're born with an Attribute that fits both their nature and their user's spirit, greatly enhancing their partner's capabilities.""And Lumen-5 — the Mythicals — are the highest tier. They possess unique abilities, perfect harmony with their Attribute, and unmatched synergy with their partner. While other tiers can ascend once in their life, Mythicals begin where others can only dream to reach."
I stop there, the words still echoing faintly through the mist.
Eldran gives a small nod — the kind that means acceptable. But there is more to it."Well done, that's all you need to know for now. Let's start with getting in touch with your Attribute."
Eldran closes his eyes and exhales. The mist thickens, spreading outward until it almost hides him from view.A low growl rolls through the fog — deep enough to vibrate in my chest. Then, from the haze, a massive shape emerges."Veilfang," Eldran says softly. No shout, no gesture — just a name. And the world answers.
The Mythical Spirit Beast standing before me is a wolf about four meters long, its fur a pale grey streaked with silver. Its claws and fangs gleam like curved knives, and its unblinking eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine.With every breath it takes, it fades deeper into the mist it exhales — until it's almost invisible. And for the first time, I understand what this creature could do to an army.
It had been a while since I last saw my grandfather's Spirit Beast. He trains in his own area, and Veilfang is too big to stay with him all the time. I heard Veilfang roams our territory when he's not needed here, so I guess Grandfather summoned him just to help me train.
"In the beginning, you need to build a connection with your Spirit Beast. Sit down and focus on Nephyra."
I do as I'm told and hold Nephyra in my hands before me. She tilts her head, clearly confused. She looks really cute with her beautiful silver-grey scales and all that fog rising from her.
"Grandfather, what am I supposed to feel?""Remember the connection you had to the Mind Core. It's the same feeling — only outside your body. But this time, there's a sentient receiver."
As I sink back into my thoughts, I hear only my own voice in my head — it repeats every thought I have out loud, just like yours probably does while you read this.But as I sink a little deeper, I start to hear something else. It doesn't sound like a voice — more like incoherent stammering, the kind of sound a baby makes.
"I think I hear it. There's a sound, but I can't make any sense of it.""That's it. Focus your mind on it — this is the connection to your Spirit Animal. Nephyra is still just a baby, that's why it doesn't make sense yet. If you start to see colors in your mind, you're on the right path."
While I listen to the sound of Nephyra's mind, I think about the colors I connect to her, and as I do, my mind gradually turns grey. And with it, all my thoughts disappear — all I can hear now is Nephyra.
"…hhhhhrr… hhhmmm… rrhhh…"Each sound fades before it's born, as if the fog keeps swallowing its own words.As I listen to this, I can feel myself disappearing little by little.
A sudden smack to the back of my head snaps me out of it — the mist I was fading into scatters instantly."Focus, boy! Don't you dare disappear while I'm here," Eldran says, shaking his head."Wha… what?" I stammer."It seems you have the ability to dissolve into mist — and luckily, you take your clothes with you," he says, his tone caught somewhere between surprise and anticipation.While I'm still trying to make sense of it, he's already talking about its possible uses.
"Don't try this when I'm not around — we don't know what happens if you completely disappear. Let's leave it at that for now.""What? But we just started! I can keep going!""Boy, you've been sitting there on the ground for two hours without moving. Your body will be crying tomorrow if you push it any further."
I sigh, reluctantly standing up. But as I do, I could swear the mist reacts to my movement — just slightly — as if it's waiting for me to call it again.