The night before the Bond Awakening arrived like a whisper carried by the wind—silent but stirring something deep in the hearts of two special children.
Lan Zhen lay curled beneath his blanket, the hearth light flickering low across the wooden floor. Outside, the night breathed softly, trees rustling in rhythm with the stars above. Inside, everything was still.
But within Zhen's dreams… a storm was rising.
Zhen's Dream
He stood on a vast field of silver grass, endless and shimmering beneath a purple twilight sky. The moon above was massive, casting strange shadows across the land.
A rumble echoed.
Zhen turned.
Dragons.
Not just one—hundred. No, thousands. Of all colors, shapes, and sizes. Some soared through the sky, their wings vast as clouds. Others slithered across the earth like rivers of scaled power. Some had antlers, others had horns of molten fire or crystal. Each one radiated a primal force that made the air itself hum.
And they were all looking at him.
Zhen's heart raced. He tried to step back—but the earth itself seemed to hold him in place.
Then, one by one, the dragons lowered their heads.
They bowed.
To him.
A red dragon with scales like living sunlight approached, eyes glowing with ancient wisdom. It reached out a clawed hand, pressing it against Zhen's chest.
At that moment, his hands began to glow.
He looked down—and gasped.
His arms were no longer small and human—they were massive, armored in midnight-black scales, ending in glowing, crackling claws.
A deep voice echoed inside his mind.
"Heir of the Bonds Unseen. The Dragon Path remembers."
Then—darkness.
Na'er's Dream
At the same time, Gu Na'er slept soundly in the guestroom, bundled tightly under warm quilts. But her mind drifted far beyond her room.
She stood at the top of a floating tree made of light. The sky around her was endless, like an ocean of soft colors—gold, pink, and pale blue.
The wind shimmered, and the air was filled with birds.
Hundreds.
No—countless.
Magical beasts of the skies. Rainbow-colored falcons, golden sparrows, phoenix-tailed doves, and even birds shaped from pure wind. They circled her, chirping softly, harmonizing like a grand choir.
And like the dragons in Zhen's dream—
They bowed.
Each one flapped their wings and lowered their heads in reverence.
Na'er felt tears in her eyes. The love in the air was overwhelming.
Suddenly, her arms glowed.
She looked down. Her fingers elongated, and feathers of fiery crimson burst from her skin. Her hands were no longer human—they had become the elegant wings of a divine phoenix, burning with soft flame and gentle majesty.
A voice like birdsong echoed in her mind.
"Child of the Sky's Embrace. The Wings remember."
And then—she awoke.
Morning — The Confessions
Sunlight spilled gently through the windows.
Zhen rubbed his eyes and sat up in bed. The dream still clung to him, like ash and gold on his skin. He stumbled toward the kitchen.
Na'er was already there, nibbling a steamed bun and humming to herself. When she saw him, she grinned. "Morning!"
Zhen blinked at her, then blurted out, "I had a weird dream."
Na'er tilted her head. "So did I."
They stared at each other.
"You first," she said.
Zhen hesitated, then told her everything—the dragons, the bowing, the claws.
Na'er's eyes widened. "That's crazy… mine was like that too. But with birds. All kinds. And I had wings. Phoenix wings."
They both sat in stunned silence for a moment.
Then Zhen whispered, "What… does it mean?"
Their parents, who had been in the next room, heard the conversation and slowly stepped in.
Lan Hai's face was unreadable.
Gu Sheng exchanged a glance with him. Lan Xin and Yuehua looked more awed than afraid.
"They've already been chosen," Yuehua said softly.
"No doubt," Lan Hai muttered. "Those aren't just dreams. They're calls."
"From what?" Zhen asked, confused.
"From your future," Lan Xin said gently, kneeling next to him. "From the Bonds waiting for you."
Gu Sheng turned to Lan Hai. "They won't form tool bonds, will they?"
Lan Hai shook his head. "Not with dreams like that. They've already awakened a resonance. Both of them are beast-bonded. And not just any beast… legendary ones."
Na'er clutched Zhen's hand tightly. "Is that good?"
Lan Hai smiled faintly. "It means your path will be harder. But also… brighter."
Later That Day — Bond Awakening Begins
The village square was alive with murmurs and anticipation. Dozens of families had gathered. Children aged seven stood beside their parents, faces a mix of nervous excitement and awe.
Lan Zhen and Gu Na'er stood among them, side by side, holding hands without even realizing it.
"Will it hurt?" Zhen whispered.
"I hope not," Na'er whispered back.
From the forest's edge came a sudden gust of wind.
The leaves scattered.
And from that wind walked a tall figure draped in robes of deep forest green and charcoal black, adorned with silver wind patterns.
His steps made no sound.
His hair fluttered unnaturally as if always caught in a breeze.
He was Rank 58—Holy Tyrant Wind Master.
The Bond Master.
The air around him shimmered. Every adult bowed respectfully. The children stood still, wide-eyed.
He smiled gently. "Children of this generation. I am Feng Yan. And today… you shall meet the ones you were born to walk beside."
He stepped to the center and raised a single hand.
The wind swirled.
And the Bond Awakening ritual began.
One by one, the children would be called. One by one, destinies would begin.
But somewhere in the sky above, a phoenix stirred in its sleep.
And deep beneath the earth, a dragon opened its eyes.
The world had begun to turn… and it would never be the same.