The night's roar still echoed faintly in Raven's mind.
Even as he drifted in and out of sleep, he remembered it—deep, primal, shaking the very marrow of his bones. An adult dragon… His fingers unconsciously traced the bond mark on his arm. Zyra-chan had whimpered in her sleep at the sound, pressing close to him for warmth and comfort.
Morning came with a chill.
A cold dampness seeped through his cloak. Raven woke up with a groan, his back aching from the gnarled roots of the ancient oak. His hand twitched instinctively toward his belt, gripping the dagger's hilt. No ambush. No bandits. Just silence, broken only by the soft snoring of Zyra-chan.
The little dragon was curled tightly against his side, her silver scales glowing faintly with warmth. Every exhale sent a tiny puff of smoke into the morning air.
For a moment, Raven simply stared. She was real. Breathing. Alive. Nothing like the clusters of polygons he'd once rendered on a monitor.
"…Good morning, Zyra-chan." His voice cracked slightly.
The dragon blinked awake, stretching her wings with a squeaky chirp. Then she promptly bit his sleeve.
"Oi!" Raven tugged back, laughing despite himself. "I save you, and this is how you thank me?"
Zyra-chan puffed smoke at him in mock offense before curling back into a proud little ball, clearly satisfied with herself.
She's just a pup… but she's proud, stubborn… and dangerous. His gaze slid to the bond mark etched onto his arm. It pulsed faintly with warmth, answering her presence. A reminder: their fates are tied now.
By midday, Raven's stomach roared louder than any beast.
"…Right. Survival."
He scanned the undergrowth until he spotted a cluster of bright red berries. His developer's memory recognized them instantly: Crimsonfruit. Harmless in the code. Restores 20 HP.
He plucked one and popped it into his mouth. The tartness made his lips pucker, but it didn't kill him. A win.
Zyra-chan, however, sniffed the berries once and snorted fire at them, scattering ash across the ground.
"Oi, that was my lunch!" Raven snapped.
Ignoring him completely, she bounded into the brush. Minutes later, she emerged proudly, a limp hare dangling from her jaws.
Raven stared. "…You're more useful than me already."
Zyra-chan dropped the hare at his feet, puffing her chest and chirping for praise.
"…Thanks," Raven muttered. Hunger gnawed at him, stronger than his squeamishness. With clumsy hands, he butchered the hare using his dagger. The fire roasted it unevenly, burnt in some places, raw in others, but edible.
He chewed the tough, gamey meat slowly. Grease ran down his chin. Zyra-chan devoured her portion happily, occasionally flicking tiny flames over it as if to season it herself.
For the first time since waking, Raven felt a flicker of stability. I can survive. At least… for now.
✦
That afternoon, Raven found a sturdy branch roughly the size of a short sword. He gripped it tight, exhaled, and swung.
I designed aura to manifest gradually. But here… no menus, no skill windows. How do I even know if I'm progressing?
He swung again. And again. Sweat trickled down his back, his arms growing heavy. By the thirtieth swing, his grip faltered, and his breath came ragged.
Pathetic. If this were the game, I'd already have leveled.
Zyra-chan tilted her head, watching him with mild amusement. Every so often, she puffed smoke when his stance slipped, as if mocking him.
"…Don't look at me like that. I'm supposed to be your partner, not your comedy act."
Raven steadied himself. In the game, the 1st Star Apprentice Swordsman milestone was simple: produce aura sparks. Aura wasn't external. It was will, sharpened into force.
He closed his eyes. Inhale. Exhale. He pictured the branch cutting not through air, but through resistance itself.
Swing.
The wood hummed faintly, a ripple of pressure trembling around it. Barely visible—but real.
Raven's eyes widened. "Yes…!" His grin spread. "I can do this."
Zyra-chan immediately leapt and tried to bite the branch in half.
"…Oi."
Evening settled. His arms ached, blisters lined his palms, but pride warmed his chest.
At the pond, Raven leaned down to drink. His reflection stared back at him—armor scuffed, skin dirtied, bloodstains faint but present. He wasn't just playing anymore. He was living.
The water rippled. A shadow moved beneath the surface. Long. Slender. Fast.
"—!"
He jumped back as a scaled beast lunged from the water, jaws snapping where his arm had been. A crocodile-like monster, crystal spines running down its back.
Raven's pulse spiked. His dagger was in his hand before thought caught up. Zyra-chan hissed, sparks flaring in her throat.
The beast thrashed forward. Raven slashed wildly, nicking its snout. It screeched, crystal spines flaring with light. He stumbled, nearly dropping his weapon.
Zyra-chan leapt, fire bursting from her maw, scorching the creature's eye. It howled and recoiled, thrashing back into the pond. The surface stilled. Silence.
Raven collapsed onto the grass, chest heaving. His hands shook violently.
"…I almost died."
Zyra-chan nuzzled his arm, purring low, her small flames flickering like reassurance.
Raven clenched his jaw. Slowly, fear hardened into resolve.
No cheats. No respawns. No safety nets. If I want to live—if I want to protect her—I have to get stronger.
As the twin moons rose overhead, Raven sat by the fire, Zyra curled close. The dagger rested across his knees, gleaming faintly in the firelight.
Tomorrow, he will not wait for the beasts to find him. Tomorrow, he will hunt first.