Si-Woo tilted his head curiously. “Do you two have bonds?” he asked, glancing between Lirin and Oapa.

Lirin adjusted her glasses, her indigo eyes flickering with faint amusement. “Yeah, I do,” she said, her voice steady. “But she’s really small... and really shy.” She hesitated for a moment before sighing. “Alright, don’t freak out,” she muttered. “Toro.”

In an instant, a tiny black, mouse-like creature appeared on her shoulder, its cat-like ears twitching nervously. The creature’s fur seemed to shimmer slightly, Its round eyes glimmered faintly as it peered at Si-Woo and Z with caution.

“This is Toro,” Lirin said, gesturing to the tiny creature with a soft smile. “A cuose.”

Si-Woo’s eyes widened in amazement. “A cuose?” he echoed, leaning in slightly. “I’ve read about them before. They’re... common creatures, right? But almost impossible to find, none the more to bond with.”

Lirin nodded, stroking Toro’s fur gently with her fingertip. “Exactly. They have fantastic camouflage—so good that even the most skilled warriors can overlook them. And when they’re in grave danger...” Her tone shifted slightly, her expression growing more serious. “They’re known to turn into nightmares. Toro hasn’t done that yet, thankfully, but it’s a fascinating phenomenon.”

Z, perched on Si-Woo’s head, chirped in interest and hopped over to Lirin’s shoulder, tilting its head at the tiny bond. Toro’s ears twitched, and in a flash, it disappeared from view.

“Toro!” Lirin exclaimed, though there was no real alarm in her voice.

Si-Woo blinked, glancing around. “Where did it go?”

A sudden blur zipped across the rooftop, and Z immediately launched into pursuit, chirping excitedly. The tiny black form of Toro darted between shadows and sunlight, barely visible as it weaved across the terrace. Z’s wings flapped rapidly as it chased after the elusive bond, the two creatures engaging in what could only be described as an impromptu game of tag.

Lirin sighed, crossing her arms as she watched the scene unfold. “Great,” she muttered, though a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Si-Woo chuckled, leaning back slightly. “Z seems to be having fun,” he said, his eyes tracking the playful chase.

Oapa, who had been silently observing, let out a low laugh. “It’s not every day you get to see a whiteblood wyvern and a cuose interact,” he remarked, his tone amused. “You should probably let Toro know the game can stop before Z wears her out, though.”

Lirin sighed again but called out, her voice firm. “Toro, that’s enough.”

The tiny black bond skidded to a halt near the rooftop railing, reappearing with a slight shimmer as it climbed back onto Lirin’s shoulder. Z flapped down to Si-Woo’s arm, looking slightly disgruntled but content.

“She’s not much of a fighter,” Lirin admitted, stroking Toro’s fur again. “But she’s smart. Really smart.”

“She’s amazing,” Si-Woo said sincerely, his eyes still wide with wonder. “I never thought I’d see a cuose up close, let alone bonded with someone.”

Stolen novel; please report.

Lirin adjusted her glasses, her expression unreadable. “Well, now you have,” she said simply.

Oapa leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as he gazed out at the mountainous horizon. “That reminds me,” he said thoughtfully, his light green eyes glinting faintly under the hood. “I need to go back to Ondur to visit family during these upcoming days off from the academy.”

Si-Woo’s attention perked up, his curiosity piqued. “A friend of mine—and my sister—was planning to head back to Ondur during the break too,” he said. A small smile crossed his face as he added, “Maybe we could tag along?”

Lirin, who had been idly stroking Toro on her shoulder, suddenly straightened, her indigo eyes sparkling with excitement. “Wait, the sister with three bonds?” she said, her voice rising in pitch. “Count me in too!”

Oapa raised an eyebrow at her enthusiasm. “You’re awfully eager,” he commented, his tone dry.

Lirin shrugged, adjusting her glasses with a faint smirk. “Of course I’m eager. How often do you get to see someone with three active bonds? It’s practically unheard of, especially if they’re as young as her.”

Si-Woo chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. “Ha-Yoon’s... unique,” he admitted. “Her bonds never seem to leave her alone for long.”

“That’s exactly why I want to see it for myself,” Lirin said, leaning forward slightly as if to emphasize her point. “Besides, a trip to Ondur could be a nice break from... certain people here.”

Oapa shook his head with a low chuckle. “I’ll have to clear it with my family, but I don’t see why not,” he said, glancing at Si-Woo. “If your friend and sister don’t mind the company, it could be a good opportunity to travel together.”

“Great,” Si-Woo said, genuinely pleased. “I’ll check with Mai and Ha-Yoon tonight.”

“Perfect,” Lirin said, her tone almost gleeful. “This should be interesting.”

Just as they were settling back into their conversation, a loud laugh broke through the calm rooftop atmosphere. Si-Woo glanced over to see three underclassmen tossing a ball back and forth near the far side of the roof, their movements energetic and careless.

“Should they even be playing up here?” Si-Woo asked, raising an eyebrow.

Oapa sighed, his gaze shifting to the group. “Technically, no,” he muttered.

The ball suddenly veered off course when one of the kids missed the catch, and the closest player grew visibly annoyed. “I’ll show you how it’s done!” the kid shouted, infusing the ball with a surge of serein before kicking it with full force.

The glowing ball zipped through the air like a comet, its trajectory aimed squarely at Lirin’s head. Before she could react, Si-Woo’s instincts flared. In a split second, his hand shot up, catching the ball just inches away from impact.

The ball spun aggressively in his grip, the residual energy causing it to vibrate. Si-Woo gritted his teeth, focusing his own serein into his hand to counteract the force until the ball finally stopped. He let out a small breath of relief, glancing over his shoulder. Oapa was standing directly behind him, his hands calmly poised as though he’d been ready to act.

“You saw that coming too?” Si-Woo asked, his voice tinged with surprise.

“Of course,” Oapa replied, his tone dry. “I just thought I’d let you handle it.”

The three underclassmen ran over, their faces pale with guilt and fear. “We’re so sorry!” one of them stammered, bowing quickly. “We didn’t mean to—”

Oapa held up a hand, silencing them. His light green eyes glinted with a stern authority. “What are you three doing playing up here?” he asked, his voice firm. “The rooftop is not a playground. Take this as your first and last warning—next time, I’ll report you to the student council.”

The kids nodded furiously, muttering more apologies before scurrying off with the ball.

Lirin, who had remained silent during the commotion, adjusted her glasses and glanced at Si-Woo. “Well, that was... impressive,” she said, her tone neutral but her indigo eyes betraying a hint of appreciation.

Si-Woo chuckled lightly, brushing Z’s tail as the wyvern chirped approvingly. “I guess I’m getting used to things around here.”

Oapa sighed again, shaking his head. “Let’s hope your adjustment doesn’t involve too many more near-miss incidents like that.”