Sai woke with the familiar feeling of fatigue that had almost become a part of his normal state. His body still remembered the blows and strain of last night's training session with Aella, and his hands trembled slightly from holding the energy flow together with Nox for too long. But something smoldered within him, stronger than the weariness.
He opened his eyes, and his first sight was the dark silhouette of the little dragon, sleeping curled up in the corner of the room. Nox's wings twitched slightly, and Sai understood that even in its sleep, his magical partner could sense the shifts in its master's energy.
"It seems we're starting to feel each other more deeply," Sai said quietly, looking at the small, dark dragon. "Even if I don't understand everything yet…"
Sai got up quickly, washed, and dressed in his academy training uniform. Today was the first day after several days of recovery classes, and the instructor had forewarned them that there would be only four lessons, but each would be packed with practical assignments.
He went down to the dining hall, where he met Lars. The latter was already eating, not looking up.
"Good morning," Sai said.
"Morning…" Lars muttered. "You went to bed late last night, I see."
Sai nodded and sat down beside him. "Nox barely slept either. We'll be working even more today."
"Oh, more training?" Lars smirked. "I heard you're with Aella… she's tough."
"She doesn't joke around," Sai replied. "But I'm starting to understand that power only comes through control and endurance."
After breakfast, they headed to their first lesson—Algebra and Magical Formulas, where the instructor was already explaining that the students would be using spells based on precise mathematical calculations. For Sai, this was unfamiliar; every equation had to be visualized as a flow of energy that transformed into a magical effect.
"Try to synchronize the calculation with the movement of your hand," the instructor said. "An error of even a hundredth of a percent will lead to unstable energy."
Sai felt a familiar, slight tremor: his thoughts were focused, his hands moved, but the energy still wavered. Nox twitched slightly, sensing its master's instability.
"Focus," he muttered to himself. "Everything through control."
With each passing minute, he felt the internal energy flows gradually harmonizing, how magic became a part of his movement, not just his mind. He noticed his hands beginning to glow with a faint, dark radiance—a sign of the awakening shadow force that still needed to be channeled.
The second lesson was the History of War and Cataclysms, where the instructor spoke about how superpowers destroyed the old world using nuclear weapons, and then portals appeared, through which demons and monsters invaded. Some of them possessed the Will of Shadows—a forbidden form of energy that could destroy all living things around them.
Sai listened, mentally comparing what he heard with what he felt during his training: fear, pain, the fear for one's life, self-control. He realized that the power of shadows wasn't just energy; it was the ability to survive and act when all seemed lost.
"That's the kind of energy flow we're studying in practice," Sai thought. "You can't just summon it; you have to understand it."
The third lesson was Combat Tactics and Reaction to Aggression. The instructor selected random students to fight each other in simulated battles using magic and physical strength. Sai felt his body instinctively reacting to the opponent's movements, while Nox smoothly adjusted to him.
"First, fear," the instructor said. "Then, control. He who feels no fear is weak. The strong one is he who acts despite the fear."
These words strongly echoed what he had heard from Aella. Sai remembered her lessons and his own thoughts: I cannot be weak. If I am weak, I will be destroyed.
The fourth lesson was the Art of Stealth and Concealed Movement, where students had to navigate a maze while avoiding attacks from illusory opponents. Sai moved quietly, using the power of shadows to blend slightly with his surroundings. Nox moved beside him, helping to balance and direct the energy so the illusions would react to its master.
After all the lessons, Sai headed to the training field, where Aella was already waiting for him.
"You're not late," she said. "This is your third training session with me. Today, we'll correct the mistakes you made before."
"Alright," Sai replied. "I'm ready."
The training was grueling. Every strike, every maneuver from Aella forced him to correct his movements, to feel the flow of Nox's energy, to balance the dark currents, to concentrate on control and precision.
"Watch the movement, not the result!" Aella shouted. "No unnecessary movements!"
Sai fell, got up, and fell again. His arms and legs burned, his breathing was heavy. But he felt an inner warmth—that power awakening with every movement, with every correction.
"One more step, one more movement," he thought, "and I will become stronger."
After two hours, Aella finally stopped. Sai collapsed to the ground, barely able to breathe, and Nox lay down beside him, twitching slightly as if to say, "You did it."
"Good," said Aella, "but remember: mistakes will repeat until you learn to feel the energy flow completely."
Sai got up, wiping the sweat from his brow. He could barely stand, but his eyes shone.
"What kind of terrible revolver is this?" he suddenly asked, looking at Nox, who had curled up again in his small form.
"What?" Aella was surprised. "Ah, you mean the artifact? Nox?"
Sai nodded, feeling a strange tension in his chest.
"Tell me," he continued, "why can it turn into you? And how did that happen?"
Nox let out a quiet sound, as if confirming the question. The System, in a soft but mechanical voice, replied:
"Error… error unclear… request cannot be processed…"
"What the…" Sai muttered, his heartbeat quickening. He took the revolver in his hands and said: "Nox."
In an instant, the dark little dragon transformed into a revolver, metallic and cold, but with a faint energy that resembled the breath of life. Sai froze, not believing his eyes. He uttered the name again: "Nox," and the creature came to life once more, taking the form of the dragonet.
"Impossible…" he said quietly, "what kind of power is this?"
Aella watched in silence, but a slight smile appeared on her face. "Now you see what we're working with. Your power is unique, and only through control and understanding will you be able to use it fully."
Sai sat on the ground, holding the little dragon in his arms, feeling the flow of energy that connected them. Thoughts flashed through his mind: Every day is a step towards understanding, every blow, every movement is a step towards strength. And I must be ready for everything that awaits me ahead.
Evening fell upon the academy. The warm light of the lamps and the glimmer of the sunset illuminated the training field. Sai and Nox returned to his room, where he finally allowed himself to exhale.
"That was the first night training," he said quietly, "and it showed me that the path is only just beginning."
And when he looked at Nox, the dragonet shuddered slightly, unfolding its wings. For a moment, their eyes met, and Sai understood: ahead lay trials he couldn't even imagine, but now he had a power he could use.
And that moment concluded the day. Heavy, tense, full of discoveries and strength. A day that showed that the awakening of the shadows was only the beginning of a path that would lead to great battles, hardships, and the revelation of true power.