They threw me back into the cell, telling me to wait until they were done checking all possible evidence.

I didn’t argue. Instead, I told them to find some vendors—people who might’ve seen me in that five-minute window before the guards showed up. Someone had to have noticed. A witness could be my best shot at proving my innocence.

It was different this time. Back on Earth, I’d been the type to just sit there and let things happen, but now? Now I was determined to act, to fight for my survival. I couldn’t let myself get swallowed by fear again. Not here.

But as I lay on the hard, cold bed in the cell, those thoughts started to slip away. The mattress felt more like a slab of stone, with no blanket to soften the chill. Still, I figured it was better than being out on the streets. At least here, I had a roof over my head and the muffled sounds of other prisoners to remind me I wasn’t completely alone.

Sleep didn’t come. My mind kept spinning, trying to piece things together, trying to understand. I thought about the memories of this body—the memories of him.

This world wasn’t like Earth. It wasn’t just another time or place; it was something entirely different. A world where magic existed, where swordsmen fought for power and status, and where everything seemed tied to something called myogen.

The word echoed in my head, over and over. Myogen. The lifeblood of this world. It flowed through everything—people, animals, even the land itself. It wasn’t magic, but magic could manipulate it. It was... something deeper. A force that connected vitality, spirit, and will.

It was strange how much this guy had focused on myogen in his memories. It wasn’t just knowledge to him—it was almost like an obsession. Maybe it was because of what it represented: a bridge between physical strength and something far more profound. People used it to wield incredible abilities, things that went beyond what I’d ever thought possible. And yet, it wasn’t just about power—it was balance. Control.

Myogen was the backbone of this world, a strange force that blended physical strength and metaphysical influence. From what I could see, it was more than just energy—it was a bridge. Something that allowed people to do extraordinary things while still keeping the balance of this sword-and-sorcery reality intact.

It didn’t make sense why this was the clearest memory I’d inherited from this body, but it stood out like a flashing warning sign in my mind.

“Hah! Another life huh?” I muttered, staring at my hand as I lay on the stiff bed.

Then it appeared.

Clink.

A faint, metallic sound. It wasn’t from outside the cell. It was closer—inside. And it was eerily familiar. My mind raced as the sound appeared again.

Clink.

Clink.

I knew it, this was the same sound I’d heard when I drowned. My chest tightened, and I stand up from the bed.

Crack.

Out of nowhere, something dropped from above. A massive egg, larger than anything I’d seen before, landed on the floor right in front of me. It was the size of an ostrich egg but strange, almost glowing faintly in the dim light of the cell.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“WHAT THE—!”

“Hey, shut up! Some of us are trying to sleep!” a prisoner barked from another cell.

I ignored him, too stunned to care. My heart pounded as I stared at the egg, which had already cracked open on impact. The shell was jagged and split, but when I looked inside, there was nothing. No creature. No slime. Just... emptiness.

I stumbled back, instincts screaming at me to get as far away as possible. “What the hell is this?” I whispered to myself, my voice shaking.

I saw it.

From the shadows, two violet eyes emerged, glowing faintly in the dark. They blinked, slow and deliberate, and locked onto me.

It was alive.

And it was creepy.

A second later, the glowing violet eyes disappeared. I felt a small wave of relief, but deep down, I knew it was still there. Maybe it just closed its eyes.

“HOOOOOO!”

The sudden shout sent a jolt through my chest. It wasn’t just loud—it was sharp, almost unnatural. Before I could process it, something jumped at me.

“What the—!” I hissed under my breath, trying not to shout too loud.

It was right in front of me now, and it wasn’t what I expected. I had braced myself for something monstrous—a dinosaur hybrid or some kind of terrifying creature—but no. What I saw was... small.

It looked like a tiny, shadowy fox. Its fur was pitch-black, and those violet eyes were even more striking up close. It looked almost harmless, but something about it felt... off.

“Human!” it said in a high-pitched, childlike voice that matched its size.

I blinked, staring at it in disbelief. My mind struggled to keep up. “What are you?” I asked cautiously, half-expecting it not to understand me.

“Your bond!” it said proudly, its voice brimming with excitement.

Bond? The word didn’t make sense to me. It was the first time I’d heard it in this context. I frowned. “Bond?”

“Yeah!” It nodded, its little head bouncing up and down. “I’m your bond!”

I still didn’t understand. Shaking my head, I tried again. “Sorry, but what’s a bond?”

“A companion!” it said, its voice practically bubbling with excitement.

My initial shock shifted to amazement. I studied it more closely, taking in its small, delicate frame and glowing eyes. It was undeniably cute, but there was something about it—something dangerous—lurking just beneath the surface.

"Like a pet?" I asked.

"Yup!" It nodded, its small, sharp teeth showing as it grinned.

It explained to me that it wasn’t just any bond—it was a soul bond. There were different types of bonds, it said, but this one was special. A soul bond meant our souls were intertwined, creating a pact that tied us together.

It went on to explain the different bonds.

Magical Bonds: Formed through magic.

Elemental Bonds: Linked to elemental forces like fire, water, earth, or air.

Blood Bonds: Created through blood, often passed down through heritage or family.

Life Bonds: A bond where if one gets hurt, the other feels it too.

Destiny Bonds: A connection tied to prophecy or fate, often linked to some grand purpose.

Emotional Bonds: Non-magical but incredibly strong, built through shared experiences, loyalty, or love.

I listened, trying to process everything it said.

“What’s your name?” I asked after a while. I’d started to feel a little more comfortable around it. We were sitting on the hard, cold bed, and I found myself tapping its small head lightly as I spoke.

"I don't have one," it said with a yawn. "But you can give me one."

I had no idea what to name it.

This was my first time having a pet, let alone one that could talk and understand me. It was overwhelming at first, but it started to feel a little more natural—still, naming it? That was a whole new level of pressure.

"Are you a boy or a girl?" I asked.

It looked at me like I’d just insulted its entire family. "A girl!" it said, with a tone that seemed way too happy for my comfort. Maybe it was just me, but it felt like if I messed this up, I might end up as its next meal. You know, just casually eaten for asking the wrong question.

Hmmm.

What should I name her? She was a girl, so that narrowed it down a little.

Foxy Brown? Nah, doesn’t fit. She had black fur, so maybe Foxy Black? Nope. Biscuit? Ugh, I kept thinking of terrible names. What about Foxy Cleopatra? That sounded cool, right?

"Do you like Foxy Cleopatra? Or just Cleopatra?" I asked her, but she gave me a look like I’d just suggested naming her after a used sock.

She raised one little paw, making some dramatic pose. I didn’t expect her to be so picky. But, yeah, naming a pet that could talk was a whole new level of stress. It could actually judge me if I gave her a terrible name.

"Maybe... Darky?"

She gave me a disappointed look that could freeze fire.

"Marlo?"

She glared.

"Gina?"

She turned her head.

"Marla?"

She gave the most dramatic “Nope” look ever.

"Okay, okay. What about... Nix?"

She stopped, blinking.

"...Nix?"

To my surprise, she seemed to consider it. Then she looked at me, as if saying, Finally, you’re getting it.

"Alright! You are Nix!" I said with excitement.

It felt different. Naming a pet had its effect on me, like I’d actually done something right for once. It was a weird sense of accomplishment. I felt fulfilled, and just seeing her with her new name made me happy.