242: Wings Above, Chaos Below

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"Alright," Kai muttered, catching his breath. "So… two pulses does mean a turn. You're listening. Let's try again."

He tapped once with his aura through his palm. The Alka's feathers flexed. Then it soared upward, launching into a tight spiral that coiled around an invisible column of sky.

Kai laughed seeing the result.

Not the cold laugh of battle. A real one. He couldn't help it. The wind tore through his hair. His body armor shimmered with dew. And for once, there was nothing to devour, no enemies at his heels—just the open sky and the feeling of something greater obeying his will.

He practiced commands for the next hour.

One aura pulse: maintain altitude.

Two: slow tilt.

Three: evasive roll.

Push downward: dive.

Push forward: surge.

The beast didn't just follow him, it anticipated everything. A real bond was forming. Not a system forced or his skills marking contract. Something natural.