Thalandir appeared through the mist like a cluster of fallen stars. Granite homes were lit from within, their windows glowing with the warmth of family hearths. As Crispin approached the base of the amphitheater, crowds were already gathering. The young tamers stood in a line, their new companions tethered or perched beside them.
Lucien stood near the front. A black dragon whelp sat in his arms, its scales smoking while it gnawed on a piece of charred meat. Lucien looked up as Crispin approached; a sneer already formed on his face.
Crispin ignored him. He kept his head high, his hand resting over the small, glowing slime on his shoulder. He took his place at the end of the line. The Elder was already moving between the tamers, his carved cane clicking against the stone with rhythmic precision.
The ceremony was about to begin. Crispin took a deep breath, trying to ignore the stinging pain in his arm. He had Regulus, and as he looked at the tiny smile on the slime's face, that felt like enough.
The Elder reached the first tamer. The crowd went silent. Crispin closed his eyes for a moment. A faint pulse of warmth radiated from Regulus.
"Tamers," the Elder's voice rang out, pulling Crispin's focus back to the stone podium. "You have returned. Some with scars, some with glory. Let the validation begin."
He moved with agonizing slowness. One by one, he applied the clear, viscous potion to the creatures. The ritual was ancient. The potion acted as a catalyst, forcing the beast's latent potential to flare just long enough for the System to recognize the bond and quantify it.
First, Sara, with the feathered beast, went. A bright, emerald light washed over her; the crowd cheered as her joy became visible. Next came Dario, and the hulking primate. He looked satisfied, even if the glow was a steady, common amber.
The three dragons were the highlight. The amphitheater seemed to hold its breath as the Elder reached the golden dragon. When the potion touched its scales, the resulting flare was so bright that many had to shield their eyes.
"Legendary," the Elder announced.
Bethany beamed. A shockwave of excitement rumbled through the spectators. Therone, their visitor from the Silver Empire, a white serpentine dragon. Lucien looked as though he might burst with pride.
The Elder reached Crispin and stopped.
Snickers broke the silence.
"A slime?" Lucien's voice carried through the still air. "That is all you could manage, Crispin? I thought you at least had enough sense to find something with legs."
He stared straight ahead. His jaw ached from the pressure. Regulus, however, did not take the insult. He hopped once on Crispin's shoulder, puffed his body to twice his size, and mimed a series of rapid-fire punches toward Lucien. A few people laughed, breaking the tension. Crispin flushed.
The Elder looked down, his sharp, pale eyes softening. "Hello, little one," he breathed.
Regulus hopped.
The Elder uncorked the vial. Shimmering liquid touched Regulus' surface and paused. It did not sink, as it had for the others. Instead, it pulsed. A rhythmic, golden light throbbed from the core, reacting to the early twilight sky.
The Elder's brow furrowed. The golden light turned a deep, vibrant swirl of complexity that made the dragons' revelations look crude.
"Drink," the Elder commanded, handing the vial to Crispin.
He took the glass. His hand shook as he drained the remaining drops.
The world tilted. As if someone had stripped a veil from his eyes, information surged into his mind, organized and undeniable. It was not a whisper, but a trumpet of truth.
SYSTEM INITIALIZED: BOND RECOGNIZED
Companion: Regulus
Tier: Legendary Emperor Slime
Level: 1 | EXP: 0/100
Attributes:
MAS: 24 G | COH: 32 | ASC: 1
PRC: 28 | SPL: 1 | SPD: 0
Potential Pathways Detected: Summoner | Alchemist | Sovereign | Mimic
Crispin's knees almost buckled. He stared at the shimmering text only he could see, his heart racing faster than it had during the chase in the cave.
SYSTEM STATUS — INITIAL REGISTRATION
Name: Crispin Thorneborn
Race: Aldyr
Age: 19
Level: 1 | EXP: 0/100
Class: Tamer
Bonded Companion: Regulus
Attributes:
HP: 35 | Stamina: 30
Strength 9 | Dexterity 10 | Endurance 10
Perception 12 | Will 13
System Advisory: A Sovereign-class entity has acknowledged you. This bond will not respond to coercion or command. Trust, timing, and restraint will define your survival.
The Elder turned to the silent crowd. He lifted his cane high, the beadwork clicking in the quiet.
"Our final legendary," the Elder announced, his voice ringing clear and pleased, "has appeared."
The silence that followed was absolute.
"Crispin," the Elder continued, "with a Legendary Emperor Slime."
Lucien's smile vanished. The amphitheater froze. Sound returned in a deafening wave of gasps and frantic whispers. With a new, burning curiosity, Bethany, with her golden dragon, stared at Crispin, her eyes wide.
He stood his ground. He felt the cool, firm weight of Regulus on his shoulder. The little slime flexed his tiny, translucent bicep one more time, and for the first time in his life, he was no longer the boy left behind.