Dawn broke with a crisp chill, mist curling like pale fingers between the trees of the ancient forest. Raven stretched, wincing as sore muscles pulled tight across his shoulders. Every swing from yesterday echoed in his bones. Heavy. But in that heaviness, there was something else—satisfaction. His body was changing. Adjusting to this world.
Zyra-chan perched on a fallen log, wings spread awkwardly as she tried to balance. Her tail lashed stubbornly before she toppled face-first into the grass with a squeak.
"…You'll get it eventually." Raven chuckled, tossing her a roasted hare bone from last night's hunt. She pounced with all the ferocity of a predator, growling as if it were her mortal enemy.
Raven's smile faded as he watched her gnaw. She wasn't just a contracted beast. She was his partner. His responsibility.
If I can't protect even her… then how the hell am I supposed to survive here?
Raven returned to the clearing with his makeshift branch-sword. His palms were raw, but he gripped it anyway.
"One… two… three…" His voice rasped as he swung.
By the fiftieth strike, his arms burned. By the hundredth, his shoulders screamed as if fire ate them from inside. But something shifted. His stance grew firmer. Each motion smoother, more natural. His breath fell in rhythm with the strikes.
The air around the branch rippled faintly, bending like heat haze.
Aura.
"...Hah." He dropped the branch, panting, lips splitting into a grin. "That's it. Apprentice Swordsman. First Star."
Not code. Not pixels. Reality.
Zyra-chan padded closer, sniffed at the branch—then promptly sneezed smoke onto it.
"…Oi. Don't ruin the moment."
By midday, hunger returned. Raven wasn't satisfied with berries anymore. If he wanted strength, he needed real prey.
Raven crouched low in the brush, gripping the dagger he'd snatched from the dirt by Zyra-chan's trap while saving her. Beside him, she mirrored his stance, her golden eyes burning with a faint, predatory light.
Ahead, a wild boar rooted noisily. Its tusks gleamed like daggers, body thick with muscle. Easily twice Raven's size.
His throat went dry. If I mess up, that thing will tear me apart.
But he tightened his grip. "Zyra-chan. Now."
The dragon pup chirped—and a burst of flame struck the boar's flank. It squealed, thrashing wildly.
Raven's heart hammered as he lunged. His dagger flashed, cutting across its throat. Blood sprayed hot across his arm, the metallic stench choking him.
The beast collapsed, twitching once. Twice. Then silence.
Raven staggered back, bile rising. I just… killed something.
The blood soaked into his skin, sticky and hot. He dropped to his knees, retching dryly, chest heaving.
Zyra-chan nudged his side, golden eyes steady. No judgment. Only quiet trust.
Raven swallowed hard, forcing the nausea down. "…Right. This is survival. Get used to it, Raven."
Together, they dragged the carcass back. The meat would last. But the image of its blood clung to him long after the fire crackled.
✦
The next day, voices broke the forest silence.
Human voices.
Raven froze, crouching low in the undergrowth. Zyra-chan crouched beside him, her growl low and dangerous.
"…So the rumor was true. A dragon pup was spotted near here." A rough voice, sharp with greed.
"Boss'll pay a fortune," another sneered. "Even a runt's worth more than enough gold."
Raven's blood ran cold. They're after Zyra-chan.
Three men entered the clearing—bandits, armor mismatched and weapons scarred from use. One carried a net. Another, a spear. The last held a cruel, rune-carved blade.
The leader's gaze swept the area. "Tracks. Someone's camping nearby. We'll find the brat."
Zyra-chan's sparks flickered dangerously in her throat.
The spear-man's eyes widened. "Over there—!"
Raven didn't think. He moved.
He lunged from the brush, slamming into the man's chest. They crashed into dirt, Raven's dagger plunging into his throat.
The man choked, eyes bulging. Blood spilled hot over Raven's hands.
Raven froze. Horror twisted in his gut. I… killed a man.
"Bastard!" The leader's runed blade swung down. Raven rolled desperately, earth splitting where his head had been.
Zyra-chan shrieked. Fire roared from her tiny jaws, engulfing the second bandit. His screams echoed as flames consumed him.
The leader's eyes widened. "That's a dragon?!"
Raven's dagger shook in his grip. His vision blurred.
The blade swung again.
Aura sparked.
Raven's dagger gleamed, brighter than steel. He slashed.
The leader's eyes went wide—then his throat split in a crimson spray. He collapsed without a sound.
Silence.
Only Raven's ragged breathing and Zyra-chan's growl remained.
Raven staggered back. His hands wouldn't stop shaking.
This wasn't like beasts. These were men. Real men.
He dropped to his knees, dagger clattering into the dirt. Bile clawed at his throat again.
Zyra-chan limped over, nuzzling his shoulder. She chirped softly—comfort, not pride.
Raven clenched his fists. His eyes burned.
"…I don't get the luxury of turning away, do I?" His voice cracked. "If I hesitate, I die. If I die… she dies."
He picked up the dagger again. This time, his grip didn't tremble.
Looking at the corpses, he whispered, "…I'll carry it. Every death. Every fight. Until I'm strong enough that no one can touch us."
The bond mark on his arm glowed faintly, pulsing in quiet agreement.
Zyra-chan curled into his lap, silver scales glinting even in the blood-stained clearing.
Raven stared into the darkening forest, jaw set.
This world wasn't a game anymore. It was survival. And he would master every path it had to offer.