The New Bond

[The mana affinities we have are determined by the gods and goddesses in our realm. Each has a unique affinity determined by what they have control over. With over twenty gods, the mixing of affinities is vast, giving hundreds of combinations. A good reference is Durisa, the goddess of earth, and Frediur, the god of fire, whose affinities, when mixed, creates the magma affinity. - What do the gods do? Partuim Dulkton]

Aster

I skipped into the inner walls around the tower through the back entrance with only a small glace at the guards. I could feel Umbra on the other side and couldn’t hold back a smile as I saw her blue scales appear from around the corner.

“Umbra!”

“Aster!”

We spoke at the same time, and I could help speed up a bit and give a jump. Holding the four sticks of meat I had left and trying to hug Umbra was going to be an issue, or I thought so. Umbra solved that problem by scooping them up all at once. Even the sticks went into her mouth.

I looked at my empty hand and scowled, looking up at her. “You could have asked first,” I sulked.

“Well, then I wouldn’t get to see the look on your face.”

I rolled my eyes, then hugged her. “I missed you.”

She snaked her head around my body, letting out a pleased rumble. Only then did I realize she had to lean down slightly to do so. Blinking, I took a step back, looking her over.

“You’ve grown, or I’ve gotten shorter. Please tell me it’s the first one.”

She gave me a look, and I knew what she was about to say, so I cut her off. “No, I didn’t shrink! Anyway, tell me what you’ve been doing. I was too busy to really look at the bond much, but you’ve definitely gotten bigger.”

She flicked her tongue out. “Well, first, why don’t we go to our room? With you speaking out loud, the guards outside the gate are going to think you’re crazy.”

I felt my cheeks warm up and my tail twitch. I quickly nodded, then tilted my head, my ears flopping to the side. Wouldn’t all dragon riders speak aloud sometimes to their dragons? The guards had to be used to it. Still, I made my way inside, and seeing no one, I didn’t stop on the main floor, instead heading straight to my room. Inside, I found Umbra already on the bed, sprawled out, taking up the entirety of it, wings out and everything.

As I approached, I spotted something near the corner of the room, a white-wrapped bag, and looked at it with curiosity. “Did Roslin leave something?”

“No, a weird old mage gave it to me after I destroyed his ritual and breathed frost on some trees.”

I stared at the dragon, then blinked as I tried to find words for what she had just said, then shrugged, giving up. The world was proving to be a weird place. Sitting beside her after she folded in one of her wings, I smiled up at her.

“Did you look in the bag yet?"

"No, I hadn't really thought of it. I was eating. Then you showed up."

"Okay, So do you want to do status sheets first, then talk about everything, and we can look at it after?”

I felt her agreement meant through the bond and focused for a moment, pulling my status sheet up and sending it to Umbra, and at the same time, I got Umbra's. I took a look over mine first.

[Name: Aster]

[Grade: 1]

[Level: 32][Titles: True Daughter of Kulni , Bonded]

[Mana: 391/391]

[Stamina: 695/695]

[Race Class: Daughter of Kulni- Level 32]

[Class Skills: Stalker’s Movement, Pack Bond, Pack Formation]

[Second Class: Bonded Ranger - Level 25]

[Class Skills: Bond Speech, Frosted Arrow, Ranger's Aim, Night Eye, ]

[Passive Class Skills: Stealth - Rank One, Balance - Rank One, Rune Etching - Rank One.]

[Active Class Skills: Meditation - Rank One.]

[Attributes]

[Available Attribute Points - 0]

[Constitution - 49]

[Strength - 73]

[Endurance - 109]

[Dexterity -139]

[Charisma - 68]

[Intelligence - 50]

[Wisdom - 71]

I had mostly stayed the same except for a few new skills, all of which were still grade one, but the knowledge I was learning was incredible. It was a bit of a disappointment not to see any change, but then again, from what I learned from Mage Eldrim. Not everything could be explained with my status sheet.

I mentally swiped mine away and looked at Umbra's status.

[Name: Umbra]

[Grade: 0]

[Level: 26][Titles: Bonded]

[Mana: 265/265]

[Stamina: 385/385]

[Race Class: Frost Dragon]

[Class Skills: Draconic Breath, Freezing Talons, Bond Speech, Draconic Speech]

[Second Race Class: Unclassed (9 Months, 3 Days until unlock)]

[Passive Class Skills: Flying - Rank Two, Aerial Acrobatics - Rank One.]

[Constitution - 83]

[Strength - 54]

[Endurance - 54]

[Dexterity - 53]

[Charisma - 28]

[Intelligence - 30]

[Wisdom - 52]

I sucked in a deep breath, shocked. How had Umbra managed to jump so many levels in a little over a week? I looked at the dragon, who seemed to preen under my gaze. The biggest change was, by far, her rapid time drop for her second class unlock. She had somehow jumped over a year forward if it was to be believed.

I waved my hand in the air, gesturing to the sheet that she knew I was looking at. There were loads of questions I wanted to ask her, but I figured one would justify them all in one go: "How did you manage this?"

Umbra raised her head and assumed a pose, lifting her neck and looking at the stars.

"You see, it all started when I was a hatchling.." She was making her voice sound unnaturally deeper and regal as she stretched out the last word. I rested my face into my hand, groaning.

Umbra started to laugh, hissing, losing her composure, and her voice returned to normal.

"Silt has been teaching me a lot, and we go out daily hunting the beast the kingdom reports. It's a bit boring sometimes, but it's been helping with fighting."

She explained what she had learned about how dragons grew fast from leveling and how she could eat cores. Needless to say, I was astounded. We had learned about monster cores in enchanting and fundamentals, but nothing said anything about bonds being able to eat them. I had to assume it was some sort of secret or something only dragons could do.

I listened with fascination as she described the fight with some sort of big bird flock and how she had met the mage. I imagined what it would have felt like to be by her side while it was happening. It wasn’t going to be long until I could. My eyes turned to the white bag as she finished the story. What would a human give a dragon as a reward?

However, I held off on going over as I started explaining to Umbra how my week had gone. I explained each class and how they worked. Umbra did grow bored as I began to explain what I had to do in enchantment basics, and I skipped over most of it even if I found it interesting. Not everyone could enjoy it as much as I did. When I got to the adventuring class, Umbra started to pay more attention, and I began to wonder as I described the fights I had seen if my bond was enjoying fighting a bit too much.

"I can only imagine what will happen for both of us over the next few months. I want to have a talk like this weekly if you’re okay with it. I think sharing this information will help, and I'll try to get you more cores, too. Someone has to sell them in the city."

Umbra agreed, nodding her head with firm agreement, and we continued talking, going in-depth about how the system worked. It took well over an hour, maybe more, but I didn't keep track of the time. The stars were the only light I had by the time we finished.

Giving her a pat on her neck, I stretched.

"Are you ready to see what the reward was?" I teased her.

Umbra flicked her tongue out, then pressed her snout against me, shoving me forward. "What do you think?"

I snorted as I got off the bed. Making my way over to the bundle, I grunted as I tried to lift it, but it didn't move. Instead, I stumbled forward slightly as the fabric partially ripped. Looking up at Umbra, I glared at her as she hissed with amusement.

"Well, you're in a playful mood tonight, aren't you?"

I pulled up a chair from the writing desk and sat down as I undid the fabric knot. Umbra made her way to my side as I worked. I was surprised at how tight the knot was, but if Umbra had been holding it when flying, it made sense that the knot would be strained. After a long moment of failures, I just sighed and pulled out a knife, cutting the fabric off under where it was tied together.

I looked in confusion at the wooden box with a metal clasp and a lock on it, then looked up to Umbra. "Did that mage give you a key?"

She shook her head, and I sighed, moving the chair backward, then gestured to the lock.

"Your turn now. Can you break it?"

Umbra raised one talon in response and placed it on the lock. She then pushed down, and the lock held for only a few seconds until it gave way, making an awful screeching noise as it bent and broke, taking part of the metal clasp wrapped around the box with it.

I blinked at the ease with which she did it reminding me about what Instructor Eldrim had said.

"There is a hidden number for each one of your attributes that increases each grade. This number is available to you after your second-grade advancement. The amount of points put into an attribute only shows an amplification of what the base is.

"Like how an elf usually had a higher than average wisdom base at one point eight compared to the other races around one point two. I assumed a dragon had a much higher strength attribute than any other race I knew of.

The box was only two feet long and a foot wide, so I had no idea what could be in it suited for a dragon but I could sense Umbra's eagerness so swiping away the lock with my foot I reached down and opened it. Inside was an ebony-colored metal band of an unknown metal. The first thing I did was Identify it.

[Draconic Band - Rare - Designed as jewelry for dragons, this band was made by a Mastercraft kobold of metalworking with a unique metal. Enhanced to increase in size depending on the dragon wearing it.]

“Just who was that mage you met?” I asked, bewildered, but there was no response. I turned to Umbra and was surprised by the sparkle in her eyes as she looked down and nudged the band.

“It’s so pretty. Can you put it on?” She seemed entranced by the jewelry and didn’t seem to hear my words.”

“Umbra.”

Her name seemed to snap her out of the trance, and she looked up at me. I tilted my head in return, raising my eyebrows. “You think putting on a random object enchanted by a random person you’ve never met is a good idea?”

She looked awkward for a moment. “I.. well, no, but isn't that what you did with that band on your ear.”

My cheeks reddened at her words, and I looked away. She wasn’t wrong, but that was a week ago. I had picked up in my enchantment course the fact that enchantments could be hidden between then and now.

“That was different. Roslin said he was a friend! And anyway, I know more about enchantments now, just a little, but still. Let me take a look at it, at least.”

Umbra agreed, but she gave me an upset side eye as I picked it up. I looked it over with a bit of effort. I assumed it went around the arm. The enchantment runes were on the inside, and as I looked them over, I realized I still had a long way to go. The runes were all foreign to me except one, which was the mana-holding rune, albeit a more detailed and advanced version. Pulling out a notebook, I started to write the runes down, determined to show them to Professor Fore so he would know what they were. After around half an hour and a few complaints from Umbra, I was done and picked it up, holding it out for Umbra to slip her talons through. With a warning from Identify, I was ready as it seemed to grow in my hands. Once partly up the right forelimb, the black metal shrunk until it was firmly in place.

She seemed extremely pleased, her tongue flicking out. Sitting down on the bed, I mentally flicked through my storage, looking for something to eat. I wasn’t necessarily hungry but more in the mood for something sweet. My attention landed on a plate with a round piece of bread covered in a thick cream on top. I pulled it out, giving it a smell, and it was amazing. It was still as fresh as it had been on the table. I took a bite into it not minding that I got some on my nose and hands. It was sweet and savory, and the icing made it perfect. I let out a groan of pleasure. Umbra paused in her admiration of the metal band to look over at me, but I didn’t care. I loved this food. I closed my eyes, relaxing my shoulders and enjoying the moment. Today was going great.

My eyes shot open as the weight on my plate disappeared. I stared in horror, letting out a gasp as Umbra ate the entire dark-colored bread in one bite.

“You didn’t.”

Her eyes sparkled. “I did! Is there more? It was delicious. Do you have more?” She moved her head closer, tasting the air

I scowled at her. “That was from the castle. I don’t even know what it was called.” my shoulders slumped as I remembered the flavor.

“You didn’t Identify it?”

I looked away, embarrassed, ears drooping. I frankly had to remember to Identify more things.

“You didn’t either..did you?” I looked up to her, hopefully.

“I did, and it’s called cake. You're going to get us more, right?.”

Another thing I’d have to ask Roslin. Letting out a sigh, I relaxed back. “I hope they make more.”

The night passed enjoyably with me reading a book before falling asleep beside her. I’d missed not having Umbra by my side to sleep while at the Academy, with her cool scales and audile heartbeat when lying next to her. In the morning I earned a pleasant surprise while trying to get out of bed without waking up Umbra.

[Through practice and Action, your passive skill, Stealth - Rank One, has Increased to Stealth - Rank Two]

I smiled, rubbing her scales softly, eliciting a soft rumble before I snuck out of bed and into the shower, getting dressed before heading downstairs. I was surprised to see Roslin kicking back with her legs on a table. Wasn’t she usually a person who preferred to wake up later? Her eyes did have the look of someone who didn't want to be up.

She gave me a small glare as she sipped on what I’d learned was coffee.

“Silt told me you had questions or requests or something you wanted to ask before you left today?”

Figuring Umbra must have told Silt last night, and Roslin was grumpy because she had to get up so early, I nodded, sitting at the table and ignoring her yawn. “I do, just really a few questions before that, though I figured I’d spend every other night at the academy if it's okay. It's to help study, and coming here every night would become a bit of a hassle. It’s just a long walk.”

Roslin raised an eyebrow, looked off into the distance for a moment, then nodded. “I can see why, and I don’t see a problem as long you keep me updated if anything changes. We’ll plan for your training with Umbra to be on the two days off you get monthly and in those afternoons. It should work out fine. What else did you have to ask? I know you’re set on coin for now.”

“Well, there's a party at a nobles house in a few days. Kat, My roommate at the academy wanted me to go. She thinks that it’ll be good for me to meet some people.”

Roslin let up a snort. “Nobles and their parties, but still, there's no reason not to say yes. Have Umbra tell me if anything happens. Who is this roommate of yours? Tell me about her.”

So I did, I also explained the courses I’d chosen and how each was going. That brought up another topic. My course on bonds. Roslin agreed that it was a good choice and would provide some information that could help improve the bond. She also gave me a bit of advice on keeping what I was bonded to a secret.

“When it comes to a bond, some people prefer to keep what their bonded to a secret. It’s not too common, but it does occur. I’m sure your Instructor won’t prod too much into it. I’ve met Union on occasion, mostly at parties, and while he can be a bit flashy, he’s a good man. Just don’t ever insult his bond, not that there’s a reason to.

Our short conversation was brought short by the tolling of the bell which meant I only had an hour to get over to my first class. Hastily saying goodbye to Roslin and receiving a wave, I made my way to the Academy, only stopping to give Umbra a mental nudge. I grinned as she realized I wasn't in the bed anymore, and I could feel her confusion. I listened to her rant about not waking her up as I skipped out of the tower.

I met with Kat outside our dorm, having stopped by the cafeteria to pick up a pair of muffins. She was grinning ear to ear as she opened the door, and I knew something had happened. She took one of the muffins I offered before she grabbed her bag, and we made our way on our usual route while she started to talk.

“Last night, a thunderbird was spotted above the city.” She said excitedly

I tilted my head. “What’s a thunderbird?”

Kat rolled her eyes. “It's a massive bird that can call down lighting and start storms. Some say that it can stand toe to toe with a dragon, but that’s not why it's important.”

Not important? A bird that could fight a dragon above the city had to be important for just that reason, right? I listened as Kat continued.

“The thunderbirds are native to the eastern islands a few miles off the continent. For one to be this far inland means that it’s laying its eggs. Some of the students even said they heard the guild had issued a quest for it.”

It was interesting, and I wanted more than ever to see what the bird looked like. “I still don’t see what this has to do with us,” I said.

“That doesn’t, but a few instructors were sent out to determine the location of the thunderbird. They found a new dungeon where it was nesting, a grade-two dungeon! Apparently, thunderbirds are drawn to high-level mana areas to nest. The Academy was the first to find it! Can you believe it?” She was nearly vibrating with excitement.

“What does it mean though?” My tail was shifting curiously but I didn't understand what it meant for us.

Kat stared at me and then face palmed “I forget how little you know about the Kingdom. A new dungeon being found doesn’t happen often like once every fifty years. With the academy finding it, it means that we, as students, will be able to enter it. Well after it gets verified by the guild and the grade is confirmed. We're in the adventuring course, there's no way we won't be going!

My ears stood up straight as I finally understood. “We’ll be able to gain experience and levels!”

Kat nodded. “And, of course, the monster cores, Items, and anything in there.”

Cores! That meant I could gather courses for Umbra. If I could get enough, then I could

“I’m sure we’ll learn more from Adventure Herney in our course today,” Kat said as we entered our first course of the day.