Tom POV
The summer at the orphanage had been long and uneventful. No magic. No secrets. No girl in glass coffins. No whispers of shadows or golden eyes.
For weeks, he had convinced himself: it was nothing. A dream. Strange, vivid, meaningless.
And for a time... it had worked.
But the first night back at Hogwarts changed everything.
He lay on his narrow Slytherin bed, staring at the ceiling. The castle was silent, expectant. Moonlight spilled across the stone floors, casting long shadows.
And then it came.
The dream.
---
Zaila POV
The System pulsed sharply.
[SYSTEM ALERT: Host confirmed presence - first dream after summer detected
MISSION OPPORTUNITY: Strengthen bond; assess changes in Host behavior
Reward: 100 SC + Ability Integration]
Zaila felt the familiar hum of connection. Her Minor Telepathy and Emotion Echo rippled gently into his mind.
[EMOTIONAL IMPACT: curiosity, intrigue, faint recognition (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)]
[SYSTEM WARNING: Host interest unusually high. Maintain caution. Premature exposure could compromise safety.]
Zaila had reached the milestone point, their bond had strengthened enough to allow her to safely sit up and speak (in the dream), guided by the System.
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: Dream-Lock Awareness - can subtly reinforce soulmate bond while awake or asleep (Doctor Who)]
[SC REWARD: 100 added]
---
Tom POV
The green-tinged cavern stretched before him, ancient stone walls glowing faintly. And there she was-the girl in the glass coffin. Her hazel eyes caught the torchlight of the dream, molten gold at the edges, just like he remembered, alive and intentional.
For the first time, the glass shimmered as she moved. She sat up, brushing dark hair from her shoulders.
He gasped.
'She's... awake.'
And then she spoke.
"Tom..." Her voice was soft, melodic, careful. Measured. Safe.
A warmth spread through him. He leaned forward in the dream as well, heart hammering.
"I'm... here," she said, gesturing gently with one hand. Shadows flickered at the edges of the cavern, playful yet non-threatening.
---
Zaila POV
The System pulsed a soft warning:
[CAUTION: Direct speech engaged. Monitor Host reaction. Avoid premature revelation.]
She smiled faintly. "Don't be afraid," she said, using Minor Telepathy (Doctor Who) to reinforce calm without breaking dream integrity.
The emotional echo flowed through him-curiosity, calm, cautious fascination (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic).
---
Tom POV
He felt an unshakable pull toward her-curiosity, recognition, the faintest thread of longing. The shadows danced at the edges, teasing and guiding, leaving him aware of the girl's intentional presence.
He woke moments later, sheets tangled, heart racing. Moonlight pooled across the dormitory floor.
'She's real...'
And he would follow the thread to her, no matter how long it took.
---
Zaila POV
[Bond milestone reached. Direct dream communication possible, but continue caution. Host is highly responsive. Strategic patience remains key.]
For the first time, she felt the power of the bond-not just in guiding, but in interacting fully in the dream.
The game had resumed. And now, it had a voice.