Dawn broke gray and misty over the Draemor estate, casting the world in muted silver tones that seemed to whisper of hidden dangers. Aeris stood at the edge of the Whispering Woods, his leather satchel secured across his shoulder and his grandfather's rusty blade hanging awkwardly at his hip. The forest loomed before him like a living wall of shadow and mystery, its ancient trees stretching so high that their canopy blocked out most of the morning light.
This was it—the moment that would determine whether he lived as more than just a footnote in someone else's story.
Taking a deep breath, Aeris stepped across the threshold from civilized land into the wild unknown. Immediately, the atmosphere changed. The air grew thicker, charged with mana that made his skin tingle. Strange sounds echoed from deep within the forest—chittering, growling, and calls he couldn't identify. Every instinct screamed at him to turn back, but he forced himself forward.
According to his memories of Tamer Chronicles, the Whispering Woods were divided into distinct zones based on danger level. The outer ring, where he now found himself, was relatively safe—home to mostly harmless creatures like Moss Rabbits and Singing Birds. It was here that he hoped to find his target: the Lunar Moths.
His status window had indicated a skill called "Survival Instinct" at Level 2, and as he moved deeper into the forest, Aeris began to understand what that meant. Without conscious thought, he found himself stepping carefully to avoid snapping twigs, instinctively choosing paths that offered better cover, and pausing whenever the forest grew too quiet. This body seemed to remember lessons his mind had never learned.
After an hour of careful progress, Aeris came upon a small clearing where shafts of sunlight pierced the canopy. In the center grew a cluster of Moonbell flowers—pale, luminescent blooms that were said to attract Lunar Moths. His heart raced with excitement. If the moths were here, this could be exactly what he needed.
He settled behind a fallen log to wait and observe, pulling out the small notebook he'd brought to record his findings. The clearing was peaceful, almost enchanting, with tiny motes of light dancing between the flowers like fairy dust. For a moment, Aeris almost forgot the danger that surrounded him.
That illusion shattered when he heard the growl.
From across the clearing, a creature emerged from the underbrush—a Forest Wolf, its gray fur matted and scarred, yellow eyes fixed directly on him. Aeris's blood turned to ice. Forest Wolves weren't supposed to hunt alone; they were pack animals. Where there was one, there were usually three or four more.
The wolf took a step forward, lips pulling back to reveal yellowed fangs. Aeris slowly reached for his sword, cursing silently as the old blade caught in its scabbard. His hands were shaking—whether from fear or adrenaline, he couldn't tell.
"Easy," he whispered, remembering fragments from the taming guide. "I'm not a threat."
The wolf's ears twitched, and for a moment, Aeris thought he might have gotten through to it. Then the beast lunged.
Aeris threw himself sideways, the wolf's claws raking across his shoulder as he hit the ground hard. Pain flared through his arm, but survival instinct kicked in. He rolled away as the wolf landed where he'd been, finally managing to draw his sword despite the weapon's protests.
The blade felt clumsy in his hands, heavier than he'd expected. In the novels, sword fighting always seemed so elegant, so natural. In reality, he could barely keep the point steady as the wolf circled him, looking for another opening.
Think, Aeris, he told himself. You know this world. Use that knowledge.
Forest Wolves were aggressive but not particularly intelligent. They relied on pack tactics and overwhelming force. A lone wolf might be injured or outcast—potentially desperate enough to attack a human despite the size disadvantage, but also possibly weakened.
Aeris studied his opponent more carefully. The wolf's left hind leg seemed to favor the right, and there were fresh wounds along its flank. This wasn't a healthy pack member; this was a desperate scavenger looking for easy prey.
The realization gave him a spark of confidence. If the wolf was already injured, he might actually have a chance.
The wolf feinted left, then darted right. This time Aeris was ready. He sidestepped and brought his sword down in a clumsy but effective arc, the flat of the blade catching the wolf across the snout. The beast yelped and staggered back, shaking its head.
"I don't want to hurt you," Aeris said, raising his free hand in what he hoped was a calming gesture. "We can both walk away from this."
To his surprise, the wolf seemed to actually consider this. It stopped circling, head tilted as if listening to something Aeris couldn't hear. Then, inexplicably, it sat down.
Aeris blinked in confusion. This wasn't normal wolf behavior at all. He glanced at his status window, wondering if something had changed.
[SKILL ACTIVATION: Monster Communication - Level 1]Basic empathic connection established with Forest Wolf (Injured)Wolf's Status: Hungry, Desperate, Curious
The notification appeared just as Aeris felt a strange tingling in his mind—not quite thoughts, but impressions. Images flashed through his consciousness: the wolf being driven from its pack, wandering alone for days, the gnawing hunger in its belly. And underneath it all, a cautious hope that maybe, just maybe, this strange human-scent creature might mean something other than violence.
Aeris slowly lowered his sword, his heart hammering against his ribs. The monster communication skill was working, creating a bridge between their minds. He could feel the wolf's emotions as clearly as his own fear.
Moving very carefully, Aeris reached into his satchel and pulled out a piece of dried meat from his meager rations. The wolf's ears perked up immediately, yellow eyes tracking the food with desperate intensity.
"You're hungry," Aeris said softly, extending the meat toward the wolf. "I understand. I've been hungry too."
The wolf crept forward, every muscle tense and ready to flee at the first sign of threat. When it was close enough, it snatched the meat from Aeris's fingers with surprising gentleness, retreating a few steps to devour it.
As the wolf ate, Aeris felt another wave of sensation through their connection—gratitude, mixed with continued wariness. The creature was clearly intelligent, capable of recognizing kindness even from a traditional enemy.
"What's your name?" Aeris asked, feeling slightly ridiculous for talking to a wolf.
The response came not in words but in images and emotions: running through moonlit forests, the joy of the hunt, the comfort of pack bonds now lost. And threaded through it all, a sound—a howl that seemed to echo with silver light.
"Silvermoon," Aeris whispered, and the wolf's tail twitched what might have been approval.
This was unprecedented. In all his reading of Tamer Chronicles, he'd never encountered a scene where someone formed an impromptu bond with a wolf through simple empathy and shared hunger. The protagonists always tamed their monsters through dramatic battles or magical rituals, never through... understanding.
[NOTIFICATION: Potential Bond Detected]Forest Wolf - "Silvermoon" - Compatibility: 67%Would you like to attempt formal bonding? Warning: Failure may result in hostile reaction.
Aeris stared at the floating text, his mind racing. This wasn't part of his plan. He'd come here looking for Lunar Moths, safe and predictable creatures that wouldn't fight back. Bonding with a Forest Wolf was exactly the kind of risk he'd wanted to avoid.
But as he looked into Silvermoon's intelligent yellow eyes, he realized that fate—or luck—had presented him with an opportunity he couldn't ignore. A wolf companion would be infinitely more useful than a moth, both for protection and for establishing his credentials as a real tamer.
The question was: did he have the courage to take the risk?
Silvermoon tilted her head, as if asking the same question. Through their empathic link, Aeris could feel her own uncertainty, her desire for companionship warring with instincts that labeled humans as dangerous.
Making a decision that would either save his life or end it, Aeris slowly extended his hand toward the wolf. "What do you say, Silvermoon? Want to give this partnership a try?"
The wolf studied his outstretched hand for a long moment. Then, with deliberate care, she pressed her nose against his palm.
[BOND INITIATION SUCCESSFUL]Congratulations! You have formed your first monster bond.Forest Wolf - "Silvermoon" - Bond Strength: 34%Your hidden attributes are now partially unlocked.
[LUCK: 87/100]
Aeris's eyes widened as the number appeared on his status screen. Eighty-seven? That was higher than most protagonists started with—higher than Leon Hartwell himself. No wonder he'd managed to turn a potentially deadly encounter into his first successful bond.
As the implications sank in, Aeris felt a grin spreading across his face. Maybe changing his fate wouldn't be as impossible as he'd thought. With Silvermoon at his side and luck like this, he might actually have a chance of becoming something more than just another casualty in someone else's story.