…On top of that, something special also happened to Yggdra all of a sudden! She began to glow…
A soft, emerald green light emerged from her stem and leaves, pulsing gently like a beating heart. The magical aura she released wasn't wild or chaotic—it was warm, soothing, and very alive. The glow wrapped around my hand as I fed her my mana once again, and to my surprise, I felt something respond.
["Mana synchronization at 80%… Connection established."]
The System's voice rang clearly inside my mind.
["Yggdra has awakened latent spirit potential. Mana flow stabilized. Nature-type elemental resonance detected. Seed-class Sprout Familiar contract possible."]
Wait… what? A familiar contract?! Already?
["Yes. Yggdra's prolonged mana exposure and your continual emotional attachment have allowed a pseudo-spiritual bond to form. Do you wish to initiate a Soul Pact?"]
"I-Isn't it too early? I thought this was supposed to happen at age five!" I muttered.
["System override initiated. Restrictions irrelevant. Host's soul capacity adequate. Mana core fully stabilized. Synchronization optimal. Proceeding is advised."]
Hearing that… well, how could I not accept? This tree is more than just a plant to me now. It has grown alongside me every single day. It listened to my dumb jokes, absorbed my mana, stood by my window through sun and moon, and even whispered to me once.
"Yes… I want to form a bond."
The moment I muttered those words in my soul, I felt a sudden pull, like a warm current spiraling from my chest and reaching into Yggdra's roots. A beam of green light linked us together, forming a circuit of life energy.
["Initializing Familiar Pact: Yggdra."]
["Please designate Familiar Class."]
"Uh… I don't know… Life Tree? Or Spirit Sapling?"
["Confirmed. Familiar Class: Spirit Sapling."]
["Familiar Yggdra has been successfully contracted."]
In that moment, I heard it.
"...Leon…?"
A tiny, almost silent voice. It came from Yggdra. I gasped as I fell on my knees next to the planter box. I placed both hands over the soil where her roots were growing and leaned in.
"Yggdra?! Was that… you?"
"...Thank you… for nurturing me…"
She spoke!
It wasn't a dream or a hallucination this time. It was real.
"I can… hear you now. You've… awakened," I said softly, my chest swelling with joy.
"I was always listening… Your warmth… your mana… It felt nice… and I… grew," her voice echoed like a breeze in the spring.
A soft giggle escaped my lips, and I felt tears well up in my eyes. I wasn't alone. I had just gained another precious companion.
From that moment on, my connection with Yggdra deepened. Her presence now remained within my soul as a soft, green wisp of light, and I could feel her life pulsing through me.
["Familiar Yggdra connected. Nature Elemental Enhancement +15%. Mana Efficiency with Nature-type spells increased. Passive: Spirit Link (Regenerates Mana slowly when near forests or fertile ground)."]
"What the heck?! This is amazing!"
Having Yggdra as my familiar wasn't just an emotional bond, but it gave me solid advantages too. My Nature magic became more efficient, and I felt like casting Agriculture or even commanding plants had become second nature now—no pun intended.
I immediately ran outside and began testing the bond again. I focused my mana on the grass once more, but this time, it responded almost instantly. In seconds, the green strands began to sway and coil, forming shapes—tendrils, a shield, even a whip.
This time, I wasn't forcing them to grow or bend. I was merely asking.
"Yggdra… did you help me?"
"Yes… I'm always helping now… whenever you ask nicely…"
I chuckled. "I'll make sure to always ask nicely, then."
The System pinged again.
["Familiar Development Path unlocked. Spirit Sapling Yggdra may evolve through nurturing, experience, and emotional growth."]
So she can evolve too? Like Pokémon? That's… awesome.
This has really motivated me. With Yggdra now by my side and the red dragon Ignatius boiling somewhere inside my soul like a temperamental furnace, I was slowly gathering a team of familiars even before turning two.
That's right. I'm not just building up my power—I'm building bonds.
This world might be filled with monsters, demons, and corrupt humans… but I won't be alone.
Even if the system is glitched… even if my soul is flawed… and even if the road ahead is dark and full of pain, I'll walk it with my companions.
Yggdra… System… and even you, Ignatius. One day, we'll all fight together.
But first… I need to survive my first adventure trip.
Because tomorrow…
We're heading to the jungle.
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