The dirt road stretched endlessly ahead, pale beneath the moonlight.
Akira’s legs ached with every step. His eyes burned, vision blurring as exhaustion pulled at the edges of his thoughts—hunger, fatigue, and the lingering sense that the forest behind him hadn’t truly let go.
By the time dawn broke, his pace slowed to a stagger.
Something small moved ahead on the road.
Akira squinted, blinking against the rising sun.
A creature sat near a bend in the path—low to the ground, oddly shaped.
At first glance, it looked like a lizard. Small. No bigger than his knees.
Then he saw the wings.
Folded neatly against its back, translucent and faintly iridescent. Its scales shimmered in colors he didn’t quite have words for.
‘…A lizard with wings,’ he thought dully. ‘Sure. Why not.’
The creature tilted its head, watching him. It didn’t flee. Didn’t attack.
Akira slowed, too tired to overthink it.
‘Taming,’ he remembered.
He raised one hand slightly and focused.
A faint pulse passed between them—gentle, exploratory. The skill didn’t force anything. It listened.
Golden eyes met his.
For a heartbeat, the fatigue faded.
The creature chirped softly.
Akira exhaled. “…I think it worked.”
The small dragon—because that was clearly what it was—hopped closer, wings fluttering awkwardly. Warmth radiated from its tiny body, steady and comforting in a way Akira hadn’t realized he needed.
Then his legs buckled.
“…Can’t… keep going…”
He barely felt himself fall.
The road, the sky, the forest—all blurred as exhaustion finally claimed him.
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When Akira woke, the world was orange.
The sun hovered low, casting long shadows across the dirt road. His cheek pressed against rough earth, muscles screaming in protest as he shifted.
Something warm moved against his chest.
“…Huh?”
He looked down.
The baby dragon was curled against him, wings tucked tight, tail looped around his arm as if by instinct. It breathed softly, tiny chest rising and falling.
His stomach growled.
The dragon squeaked quietly in response.
Akira sighed. “Yeah… figures.”
He leaned back against the edge of the road, cradling the small creature as the last light of day bled across the sky. For the first time since leaving the forest, the silence didn’t feel threatening.
“…Guess we’re stuck together for now,” he murmured.
The dragon settled closer.
Both hungry.
Both exhausted.
Both alive.
Akira stood slowly, testing his legs, the dragon balanced carefully in his arms.
“…Alright,” he muttered. “Let’s find food.”
They slipped back into the forest cautiously.
After several tense minutes, they found a clearing.
A lone deer grazed there—thin, wary.
Akira hesitated only a moment.
He focused, imbuing the end of his wooden shaft with the barest hint of fire—just enough to startle.
The deer bolted.
The baby dragon leapt from his arms.
Instinct guided her movements—claws, teeth, precision. It was quick. Clean.
Akira knelt beside the fallen animal, breathing out slowly.
“Well,” he said quietly, “we eat tonight.”
The fire was small.
Barely more than glowing embers and flickering flame, but it was enough.
The meat cooked slowly, skewered over the heat. The smell filled the clearing, rich and grounding. The dragon chirped softly, eyes bright as she perched near his shoulder.
Akira ate in silence.
When he finished, he called up his status screen once more.
Spearmanship: Lv. 12
Swordsmanship: Lv. 3
Modeling: MAX
Craftsmanship: MAX
Appraisal: MAX
Sense Presence: Lv. 1
Language Comprehension: MAX
Eternal Youth: No Level
He dismissed it.
The wooden shaft rested across his knees. The silver sat warm in his pocket.
Tools. Resources. Possibilities.
The forest beyond the firelight remained dangerous—but for now, survival was simple.
Eat.
Rest.
Learn.
Akira leaned back, eyes heavy, the baby dragon curled against his side.
Tomorrow, the road would continue.
Tonight, he lived.
