Kael dreamed of fire.
Not the wild, roaring inferno of the dragon—but something quieter. Hotter. Contained.
He stood in an endless black space, the ground beneath him cracked like dried earth. In front of him floated the Proto-Form, no longer wobbling, no longer soft. Its surface shimmered between gray and obsidian, scales half-formed, constantly shifting.
It looked… unfinished.
Kael reached out.
The moment his fingers touched it, pain exploded through his arm.
He woke up screaming.
"—KAE—!"
Hands pushed him back into the bed. Someone swore. Another voice shouted for a healer.
Kael gasped, chest heaving, sweat soaking the sheets.
"Easy! Easy!" Iris Thorn's voice cut through the chaos. "Stars above, you're loud!"
Kael blinked rapidly.
Iris.
She stood over him, fiery red hair tied up messily, amber eyes sharp with concern. Her salamander-beast sat coiled around her shoulders like a living scarf, flicking its tongue irritably.
"What—?" Kael croaked. "Why are you here?"
She snorted. "Wow. Nearly dies. Blocks dragon fire. First words are an insult."
"I meant—"
"I know what you meant," she said, rolling her eyes. "You've been screaming for five minutes. Luna sent me to check if you were evolving or exploding."
"…Valid concern."
The pain faded slowly, leaving behind a deep, bone-weary exhaustion.
The System stirred.
[Dream-state synchronization detected.]
[Proto-Form emotional resonance increased.]
[Warning: unstable mental state may affect evolution.]
Kael groaned. "Can you not threaten me right after I wake up?"
Iris raised an eyebrow. "You talking to the air again?"
"…Yes."
"Cool. Just checking."
She handed him a cup of water. Kael drank gratefully.
"What happened?" he asked.
"You passed out," Iris said. "Again. Healers weren't happy. Professors even less so."
Kael sighed. "Story of my life."
She studied him for a moment, then leaned against the wall.
"Do you have any idea what people are saying about you?"
Kael hesitated. "…That I'm lucky?"
She laughed. "That's the nice version."
Kael winced.
"Some say you staged it," Iris continued. "Others think you're a plant from a dragon cult. A few are convinced you're cursed."
"…Any fan clubs?"
She smirked. "Working on it."
Before Kael could respond, the door slid open again.
This time, it was his parents.
The room went silent.
Kael's mother was small, sharp-eyed, and terrifying in the way only mothers could be. His father stood beside her, shoulders stooped, hands rough from years of labor, eyes filled with worry and pride all at once.
Kael froze.
"…Hi," he said weakly.
His mother crossed the room in three steps and smacked him upside the head.
"OW!"
"You idiot!" she snapped. "A dragon?!"
"I didn't summon it!"
"That's not the point!"
His father cleared his throat. "Your mother sold the last good pot for travel fees."
Kael's chest tightened.
"…I'm sorry."
His mother's expression softened—just a little. She sat beside him, gripping his hand tightly.
"You said you'd survive," she whispered. "You didn't say you'd do it like this."
Kael swallowed. "I'm still here."
She squeezed his hand harder. "You'd better stay that way."
The Proto-Form shifted under the blanket, sensing the emotion. It poked out slightly, wobbling.
His mother stared.
"…Is that it?"
Kael nodded slowly. "Yeah."
She stared for a long moment, then sighed.
"…It's ugly."
Kael laughed despite himself.
"Hey!" Iris protested. "That's rude!"
"It blocked dragon fire," his father said quietly, awe in his voice. "It's beautiful."
The Proto-Form gurgled happily.
The System chimed.
[External emotional reinforcement detected.]
[Proto-Form stability increased.]
[Evolution progress stabilized at 82%.]
Kael exhaled slowly.
After a tearful, scolding-filled, emotionally exhausting reunion, his parents were escorted out by staff.
Kael lay back, staring at the ceiling.
"…I'm really doing this," he murmured.
The door opened again.
Nyx.
She slipped inside silently, closing the door behind her.
"You're popular," she said.
Kael sighed. "I preferred obscurity."
She stepped closer, eyes fixed on the Proto-Form.
"It's changing," she said. "I can feel it."
Kael frowned. "Feel it?"
"My beast senses threads," Nyx replied. "Yours is… rewriting them."
That didn't sound comforting.
"Professor Halden requested you report to Training Hall Seven," she added. "Immediately."
Kael grimaced. "That sounds like pain."
Nyx smiled faintly. "Good luck."
Hall Seven was not like the others.
No dummies. No obstacle courses. No spectators.
Just a massive, circular arena carved directly into the stone, walls etched with ancient runes that hummed softly.
Professor Halden stood at the center.
"So," he said, "let's see what you can't do."
Kael snorted. "That's a long list."
Halden gestured. "Summon."
Kael hesitated, then nodded.
"Come on," he whispered.
The Proto-Form slid from his chest to the ground, wobbling slightly—then freezing.
The air thickened.
The runes flared.
The System screamed.
[WARNING.]
[Dragon-class resonance detected.]
[Proto-Form evolution imminent.]
[Do NOT interrupt.]
Kael's heart slammed.
"Wait—what?!"
The Proto-Form convulsed, its body expanding rapidly. Scales hardened. Its shape stretched upward, forming a crude, serpentine outline.
Heat flooded the room.
Halden's eyes widened.
"…Already?"
Kael staggered back. "System! Stop it!"
[Command rejected.]
[Evolution triggered by accumulated survival stress.]
Cracks spread across the arena floor.
The Proto-Form roared.
Not loudly.
Not fully.
But enough.
Kael felt it deep in his bones.
This wasn't a beast screaming.
It was something awakening.
Kael clenched his fists, fear and determination crashing together.
"…Don't you dare," he whispered. "Not without me."
The Proto-Form hesitated.
The chaos slowed.
The System chimed again, softer this time.
[Synchronization override accepted.]
[Evolution paused.]
[Condition applied: Tamer must endure.]
Kael gasped as pain tore through him—visions flashing behind his eyes. Fire. Wings. Skies full of shadows.
He screamed.
And stayed standing.
When it ended, the Proto-Form collapsed back into a smaller shape—larger than before, scales darker, a faint ridge along its back.
Silence fell.
Halden exhaled slowly.
"…You just delayed an evolution."
Kael panted. "Yeah."
"That's not normal."
Kael laughed weakly. "Neither is my life."
The System chimed one final time.
[Evolution locked.]
[New Path Identified: Draconic Origin Line.]
[Requirement: Growth through conflict.]
Kael wiped sweat from his face, eyes burning with exhaustion and fire.
"…Guess we're really doing this."
High above the Academy, far beyond sight, something ancient stirred again.
And this time—
It smiled.