Sai froze, his heart hammering. This was the first awakened form—his personal Echo monster, which had been waiting for the moment to manifest. He couldn't move, couldn't speak. The room was silent, only the soft whisper of the wind outside the window and the quiet crackle of the dragonling's wings.
The dragonling's body was small, but it held an unusual power. Its black, glossy scales, as if saturated with night, reflected the lamplight, and its horns sparkled faintly with a dark radiance. Its eyes—two shards of white light—stared directly at Sai.
"What… what is that?" Sai whispered.
And then, unexpectedly, the calm, monotone voice of the system, integrated into his perception of the world, sounded:
"Attention. The entity manifesting before you is not an Echo. Its classification: Shadow Drake. Influence level on the owner: High. Compatibility with the owner: Critical."
Sai took a deep breath, trying to process the words. Not an Echo? So, the revolver, which he had always considered a simple weapon, held far more than he could have imagined.
"Compatibility… critical?" he muttered. "What does that even mean?"
The system continued:
"Owner and entity are linked. The entity's energy responds to the owner's emotional state. Control over the entity is impossible without gradual training. Failure to adhere to interaction protocols may lead to unpredictable consequences."
Sai felt something inside his chest suggesting: this dragon wasn't just a manifestation of power. It felt alive. And it sensed him. Felt him, reacted to him.
The dragonling twitched slightly, its wings crackling, and a thin stream of black smoke escaped its small mouth. But this smoke didn't spread through the room—it seemed to envelop Sai, hiding under the lamplight and creating a sensation that the space around them had changed.
"Alright…" Sai said slowly, as if testing himself. "It seems we'll have to learn together."
The dragonling took a step forward, then turned its head, as if inviting him closer. Sai's heart beat faster, but the fear wasn't the same as before. He took a cautious step, keeping his hand near the revolver.
"No sudden movements," he muttered to himself. "Just calm…"
The dragonling let out a quiet hissing sound, like a mix between a purr and a crackle. It glided across the room, cautiously sniffing the floor and the air, as if studying the new space.
"Listen," Sai said quietly, "I don't know who you are… or what you are… but… you'll have to wait. I don't want to hurt you, understand?"
The dragonling blinked, its eyes flashing with a bright white light for a moment. Sai felt an inner trembling, as if the energy within the dragonling was trying to synchronize with his own heart.
"System," he said quietly, "how do I interact with it?"
"Training function: Initial level. It is recommended to begin with observation and light synchronization of the owner's breath and energy with the entity. The influence of emotions on the entity is critical. Any sudden reaction may provoke aggression or temporary disengagement of the entity," the system replied.
Sai took a deep breath. He sat on the floor, trying to remain still. The dragonling also sat down, watching him, its little tail twitching as if expressing impatience.
A strange sensation began to gradually grow inside Sai. It wasn't fear, nor anxiety. It was… attention. Complete focus, an inner alignment with the being sitting before him.
He closed his eyes and imagined: breath, heart rhythm, the sensation of energy—all of it had to be synchronized. He felt the little Shadow Drake seemingly mimicking his breathing. With each of Sai's breaths, the dragonling did the same, slowly, cautiously.
"Excellent…" he murmured to himself. "Look, it's not just a toy… It's a living being… and it seems to trust me."
He opened his eyes and saw the dragonling raise its wings. The movement was smooth, yet undoubtedly authoritative. Sai understood: before him wasn't just a small creature—it was the prototype of what might one day become his true power.
"System…" he said quietly, "can I name it?"
"Affirmative. The owner may assign a name to the entity to facilitate interaction. It is recommended to choose a short, memorable name," the system responded.
Sai thought for a few seconds, then said quietly:
"Let it be… Nox."
The dragonling blinked, and for a moment, its eyes seemed to sparkle, as if it understood its new name.
"Nox…" Sai repeated aloud. "Alright, Nox. We have a lot of work ahead of us."
He raised his hand and lightly touched the dragonling's scales. It flinched slightly but didn't run away, didn't attack. And that was already a victory.
"So…" Sai continued, striving to maintain calm. "First exercise: we just stay here together. You learn to trust me, I learn to understand you."
The dragonling exhaled a weak stream of smoke, and this stream enveloped Sai's hand. He felt a slight tingling—an energy he had never felt before. The system warned: "Entity's energy is synchronizing with the owner. Continued training is recommended under observation."
"Under observation?" Sai thought. "No one's observing. It's just me and Nox."
He slowly stopped thinking about fear. Inside him, a feeling of confidence gradually grew, as if something within him was finally beginning to accept this new element of his life.
"Alright, Nox…" he said quietly. "Let's try again."
The dragonling took a small step forward, tilting its head. Sai felt an internal energy impulse transmitting through his fingers, through the air. It was a strange, almost magical feeling, as if the darkness itself was trying to connect with his consciousness.
He sat on the floor and closed his eyes. Breathing slowly, he tried to sense every movement of Nox, every breath, every rustle of its wings. Sai began to understand—this wasn't an Echo, this wasn't ordinary power. This was a living, intelligent being that responded to his emotions and will.
"System…" he said quietly, "I understand. It truly isn't an Echo. It's something more… and I must be ready."
The dragonling let out a light hissing sound, almost like agreement. Sai smiled. The room was quiet, only the sound of breathing and the soft crackle of wings.
He rose to his feet and looked at Nox.
"That's it, Nox. Today, we just got acquainted. Tomorrow—we begin training. But remember one thing: you and I are one. Without trust, without understanding—we won't get far."
The dragonling slowly spread its wings, flew a circle around the room, and for a moment, its silhouette was tinged with a black radiance. Sai stood still, amazed by the creature's beauty and power.
"Good," he whispered. "The first step is taken."
Suddenly, the soft crackle of wings became more intense. Sai looked at Nox and understood—even after the first night of training, the true awakening had begun.
He took a deep breath, feeling the tension of the last few days gradually recede. All that remained was him, the dragonling, and the energy they had to master together.
The room slowly sank into silence, broken only by the whisper of the wind and the soft crackle of Nox's wings.