: Friend or Foe

The morning sun rose gently over Eldoria as Kaelan woke in the small inn, Kuro lying up by his side, white eyes blinking sleepily.

Kaelan gently scratched Kuro's head.

"Morning, buddy," he whispered. "Today we

need to find out what this Power Link really means."

They stepped outside into the bustling streets, moving carefully to avoid drawing attention.

Kuro wore kaelan's old cloak like a small cape, his wings hidden beneath it.

As they walked, Kaelan felt the weight of

the quest on his shoulders. "The system won't tell us how to awaken it," he muttered. "Maybe someone else knows."

They reached the grand city library by midday. The building stood tall, with stone walls and large wooden doors carved with images of mythical beasts.

Inside, shelves stretched so high Kaelan couldn't see the top.

The scent of old parchment filled the air.

A thin, elderly librarian looked up from behind a desk. "May I help you?"

Kaelan nodded politely. "I'm looking for anything about bonds with beast companions… maybe something

about power sharing."

The librarian adjusted his glasses. "Hmm… follow me."

They walked through quiet aisles. Kuro padded softly behind, sniffing the air and peeking curiously at scrolls.

The librarian led them to a dusty corner and pointed at a shelf. "These texts speak of ancient bonds between guardians and magical beasts. Take your time."

"Thank you," Kaelan said.

Kaelan pulled out scrolls and old books, reading slowly. Kuro lay beside him, sometimes pawing at falling scraps of parchment.

Kaelan chuckled softly. "Careful, buddy."

Hours passed. Kaelan read legends of warriors sharing strength with companions, called Power Share.

Each story described a ritual, but details were always missing. Some spoke of true trust; others of a shared wish to protect each other.

Kuro sneezed suddenly, sending a tiny spark into the air. Kaelan quickly clapped his hand over Kuro's mouth. "Shhh! You want to burn the whole library?" he whispered.

Kuro blinked innocently, making a small

Chirp sound and passing a smile.

Kaelan sighed, unable to stay mad. "Just… be careful, okay?"

Then, Kaelan heard the librarian's voice again behind him. "If you're truly serious, there's someone who knows more."

Kaelan looked up, surprised. "Who?"

"An old man named Lucian," the librarian said quietly. "He lives on a hill outside the city. Spent his life among magical beasts.

If anyone knows about Power Share, it's him."

Kaelan bowed his head gratefully. "Thank you. Really."

The librarian smiled faintly. "Be careful. That person have a high temper and he does not like humans alot.

Best not to cause any trouble."

Kaelan's heart tightened. "Understood."

Outside, Kaelan wrapped Kuro more tightly in the cloak. "We need to be extra careful now, buddy."

They made their way through narrow alleys to avoid crowded streets. At one corner, Kaelan bumped into a man carrying crates.

"Watch it!" the man barked. Kaelan apologized quickly and hurried away, his heart pounding.

As they left Eldoria's gates, Kaelan glanced back at the tall walls. "Hopefully we won't need to come back here soon," he whispered.

The walk to the hill took most of the afternoon. The path grew quieter, lined by wildflowers and buzzing insects.

Birds flew overhead, and Kuro sometimes tried to chase them, making Kaelan laugh despite himself.

"Careful, little hunter," Kaelan teased. "We have an important meeting."

When they finally neared the hill, Kaelan froze. A massive creature sat near a small wooden house at the top.

It looked like a bear, but larger, with stone-like scales and feathers on its back. Its breaths came slow and heavy, making the ground tremble softly.

Kaelan and Kuro ducked behind a tree, peeking carefully.

"W-What is that…?" Kaelan whispered. Kuro tilted his head, as if unsure too.

They sat silently, hoping the creature would leave. Kaelan whispered, "Stay quiet, buddy. If it sees us…"

Minutes felt like hours. Finally, a figure appeared from behind the house. An older man with long dark hair streaked with grey, wearing a simple robe and a calm expression.

He spotted them immediately. "Why are you two sitting outside my house?"

Kaelan stood slowly, swallowing his nervousness. "Sorry… we didn't know if it was safe to come closer."

The man glanced at the giant creature. "Ah, don't mind Stoneback. He's gentle unless provoked."

Kaelan forced a smile. "That's… good to know."

The man looked at Kaelan carefully. "What brings you here?"

Kaelan hesitated, then said, "We heard you know about the Power Sharing ritual… we wanted to learn." The man raised an eyebrow. "May I know why you want to learn it?"

Kaelan took a breath. "We live in the jungle, and… we don't really know how to fight. I thought if we could learn this technique, maybe it would help us survive."

The man studied them for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I see. My name is Lucian. Come inside, we can talk."

Kaelan led Kuro forward carefully. The creature called Stoneback watched them but didn't move.

Inside, Lucian's house smelled of herbs and smoke. Strange bones and feathers hung from the ceiling, and scrolls were stacked in every corner.

Lucian sat on a low stool and gestured for Kaelan to sit. His eyes fell on Kuro. "Tell me truthfully… where did you get him?"

Kaelan's mind raced. "From the nearby jungle. I found him as an egg."

Lucian narrowed his eyes slightly. "Strange. I've lived near that jungle many years, and I've never seen a beast like this."

Kaelan forced a nervous laugh. "Maybe… maybe his parents migrated from somewhere far away and… didn't survive."

Lucian didn't speak for a moment, then nodded. "Possible. Nature holds many secrets."

Kuro looked at Lucian and chirped softly. Lucian's serious face softened. "He trusts you. That's good."

Lucian said, "I can teach you the ritual. But listen carefully: success is not guaranteed. Power Share can only awaken when the guardian and companion share a true bond—a bond strong enough that both are willing

to risk everything for each other."

Kaelan nodded quickly. "I understand. Thank you, really."

Lucian stood and began gathering small items: dried herbs, a stone bowl, and a small knife. "We will begin tomorrow morning.

You and your companion must rest tonight. You'll need your strength." Kaelan breathed out slowly. "Thank you, Lucian."

Lucian's eyes turned serious. "But understand this: power shared can be tiring. Guard your hearts well."

Kaelan nodded. "I will."

Far away, In Eldoria, hunters gathered in a dimly lit room. A man with sharp eyes and a gold-trimmed cloak spoke. "We have word from the king himself. Find the dragon before it grows stronger."

A hunter asked, "How will we find it?"

The man gestured, and a hooded figure stepped forward. His eyes were blindfolded, yet glowed faintly beneath the cloth.

"This man is a Seer," the leader explained. "He can sense where the dragon is hiding."

The Seer spoke in a quiet, raspy voice. "I will get the location of dragon by tomorrow morning."

The hunters exchanged looks. "Then we know where to go and we will head there tomorrow morning."

The Seer was accompanied by two hunters and agreed to pursue the dragon tomorrow morning with all necessary preparations.

Back at the hill, Kaelan and Kuro stepped outside Lucian's home as evening fell. The sky glowed red and gold. Kaelan knelt beside Kuro, resting his hand gently on his small head. "Tomorrow, we'll try the ritual," he whispered. "No matter what happens, we're in this together."

Kuro looked up at him, eyes calm and trusting.

Kaelan smiled softly, though worry twisted in his chest. "Yeah, buddy. I am here.

System: "Warning: Multiple hunters will be approaching this location tomorrow."

Kaelan's breath caught. He looked down the hill, the path disappearing into evening mist.

The chapter ends as Kaelan hugs Kuro tightly, preparing for what may come.