The wind whispered through the canyon as Lucas sat beside the small form of the wounded dragon. The creature's light silver green scales were dulled by blood and dirt, its breathing shallow but steady. The metallic slave collar gone from around its neck.
Lucas clenched his fists.
"They did this to you... those bastards."
{She's young. Barely out of the nest. But her mana signature is potent. A wind dragon... a rare breed. And look at that wing—it's broken. She won't last long without help.}
"I have to save her," Lucas said.
{You're in luck, hero.}
DING!
[Quest Completed: First Bond Formed – Umbra, the Black Nemean Lion]
Reward Unlocked: [Tier 1 Healing Salve x1], [System EXP +50], [Reputation: +5]
A flash of golden light materialized into a small glass vial in Lucas's hand. Inside swirled a thick, iridescent liquid, glowing faintly with soothing energy.
Lucas knelt and gently opened the dragon's mouth.
"Hang in there, girl." He poured a few drops between her fangs.
At first, nothing happened. Then the salve's magic pulsed. The dragon's body twitched, wounds knitting together slowly. The broken wing shifted back into place with a faint crackle of bone and sinew.
The dragon blinked, groggy.
{Initiating bonding scan...}
[Beast Identified: Wind Dragon Hatchling – Zephyra] Status: Weak, Collared Taming Bond: Potential – 65%
Lucas slowly extended his hand. "It's okay. I'm not like them."
The dragon hesitated. Then, weakly, she nudged her snout into his palm.
DING!
[Beast Bond Established: Zephyra – Wind Dragon Hatchling]
Bond Level: Initiated (Developing Trust)
New Beast Skill: Wind Veil – Grants short bursts of incredible speed or stealth.
New Ability Unlocked: Twin Blade Weapon Form – Windforged Daggers
Zephyra let out a soft coo, her wing twitching as she curled protectively beside Lucas.
"Welcome to the family," he whispered.
—
Lucas traveled the next day with Zephyra gliding above and Umbra padding beside him. The road out of the canyon led toward his next destination—a place mentioned in his status window.
[Title: Heir of Barony Greystone]
It was late afternoon when he saw it.
The town nestled in a valley, its perimeter marked by a once-proud wall now fractured and blackened. Smoke rose from half-collapsed buildings. Bodies—some in armor, others civilians—lay in the dirt. Beast corpses were scattered among them, their monstrous forms still twitching from residual mana.
Lucas's heart sank.
{Welcome home, Heir Baron Carter. Or what's left of it.}
He stepped over a crumbled section of the wall and entered the ruins. The air smelled of ash and blood. A charred banner bearing the symbol of a roaring lion flapped limply in the wind.
DING!
[Territory Detected: Barony of Greystone – Inherited by Bloodline]
[Status: Critical – 12% infrastructure integrity, 23% population surviving, morale: collapsing]
[New Quest Unlocked: "Reclaim and Rebuild"]
Objective: Restore Barony Greystone to stability.
Sub-Objectives: – Recruit essential personnel (0/5) – Repair critical infrastructure (0/3) – Establish Beast Defense Patrols (0/3) – Raise morale above 50%
Reward: Unlock "Territory Management Interface", Title Upgrade, Unique Skill
Lucas stared at the prompt. Then he clenched his fists.
"I won't let this place die. Not if I'm the heir."
{A bold claim. Let's see if you can back it up. Uploading new interface...}
DING!
[Territory Interface Unlocked – Barony Greystone]
Resources: 120 Gold | 50 Lumber | 20 Stone | 3 Mana Crystals
Structures: Town Hall (Damaged), Wall (Partial), Blacksmith (Ruined), Beast Kennel (Ruined), Marketplace (Burned)
Population: 87 (wounded, starving, demoralized)
Military: 5 Active Guards (Low morale), 2 Beast Companions (Unbonded)
Titles Gained: Young Lord of Ash
Lucas barely had time to process the data when movement stirred nearby.
A group of ragged survivors emerged from the shadows—guards and civilians, some limping, others barely able to hold swords. Leading them was an older man in tattered noblewear, a clean gray beard on his face and a loyal husky-like beast beside him.
Behind him, a towering, grim-faced warrior with burn marks on his arms approached, a fire-colored bat beast perched on his shoulder.
The older man stepped forward, eyes wide.
"You… my lord... It's truly you." He dropped to one knee.
As if a dam broke, the others followed, falling to the ground in reverence.
"We believed you dead," the older man said, voice choked with emotion.
"But you live. The heir of Greystone lives!"
Lucas's throat tightened. "Who… are you?"
The man placed a hand over his heart.
"I am Reynard, your father's steward. This is Captain Hale, your former guardian."
"I was a child… I don't remember," Lucas murmured.
{Memory suppression from the reincarnation. It's coming back. Piece by piece.}
Reynard rose, eyes still glistening.
"Your father was slain six months ago—bandits and beast waves struck together. Our walls fell. Many died. We've held on for you, my lord... we've waited."
Lucas looked around, taking in the devastation. "Then let's rebuild. Starting now."
Reynard smiled, hope kindling in his weary gaze. "Yes... yes, my lord."
—
Back at the castle—a scorched, crumbling structure once fit for nobility—Lucas sat at the long hall table. The hearth was dark, the chairs missing legs or scorched. Yet, the people gathered.
Reynard poured tea—meager, but warm.
Captain Hale leaned over a rough-drawn map of the territory.
"We have three critical weaknesses: broken walls, no beast patrols, and starving people. If you can tame more beasts and gain resources, we might stand a chance."
Lucas nodded. "I've already tamed two. More will come."
He turned to the System panel.
[Quest Progress] – Recruit essential personnel (2/5): Reynard (Steward), Hale (Guard Captain) – Repair critical infrastructure (0/3) – Establish Beast Defense Patrols (0/3) – Raise morale above 50% (12%)
{Good start. But the hard part begins now. Leadership is more than power—it's knowing when to fight, and when to inspire.}
Zephyra curled near the hearth, her small body rising and falling peacefully. Umbra lay outside the hall like a silent sentinel.
Lucas looked to the sky outside—twilight was falling.
The ruins were silent.
But beneath the ash, a kingdom still beat with a heart.
And he would make it roar again.