The camp was quiet that night, broken only by the crackle of the bonfire.
Robert's heart was still pounding. He forced himself to calm down and review everything he knew about dragons.
White fur—corresponding to the sheen of silver dragon scales.
A voracious appetite—matching the legendary metabolism and immense energy needs of the dragon race.
And the ability to breathe fire—undeniably the hallmark of a silver dragon's breath.
Then there was its strange appearance. Why a white-furred lynx?
He reasoned that this must be a young, mutated silver dragon, gifted with a rare magical talent that allowed it to master transformation spells even in infancy.
All the scattered clues suddenly clicked together like pieces of a puzzle.
And now, with that final proof of "fire breathing," the answer stood clearly before him.
The adorable, gluttonous white-furred lynx that had been frequenting his camp—was the very young silver dragon he had been searching for days without success!
The realization sent a thrill through Robert's chest.
No wonder he had found only faint traces deep inside the mine, never the creature itself.
The little trickster had simply strolled into his camp in disguise, eating his food every day right under his nose.
What a sly and gluttonous dragon!
The small creature had just finished the last bite of meat and was now lazily licking its paws. Its pale golden eyes narrowed in contentment, and a soft purr rumbled from its throat—utterly unaware that its true identity had been uncovered.
Robert took a slow breath, forcing down his excitement.
Now was not the time to startle it.
He needed to think. He had found his target—but how could he form a contract with it?
Beast contracts were difficult at the best of times. Contracts with dragons were nearly impossible.
Dragons were proud, powerful beings with keen intelligence—nothing like ordinary magical beasts. Silver dragons especially were known for their elegance, wisdom, and extremely selective nature. Convincing one to willingly sign a contract was almost laughable.
Yet Robert glanced at the little white-furred creature beside the fire—so harmless, so content—and a knowing smile tugged at his lips.
Perhaps this wouldn't require complex magic or impossible persuasion.
Perhaps this would take… a gentler hand.
Force was out of the question; it would only backfire.
Temptation, however, might work.
And what better bait for a dragon obsessed with food than a feast too tempting to refuse?
Robert acted as if nothing had changed. When the bonfire burned low, he returned to his tent as usual. But he didn't sleep. By the faint glow of a magic lamp, he pulled a scroll from his satchel.
It was no ordinary parchment. The material shimmered faintly with a silvery luster and felt warm to the touch. Intricate runes spiraled across its surface, pulsing with quiet magical energy.
This was the Beast Contract Scroll—purchased at great expense before he had left Stormdrake City.
He would need perfect timing. And a meal worthy of a dragon's greed.
The next day, Robert continued his usual routine, entering the mine to survey ore veins. But his thoughts were far from the stone walls and glimmering minerals.
By evening, under his command, his companion Aide hunted down a plump Wind Rabbit—a small magical beast that radiated faint energy fluctuations. Its meat was soft and tender, a rare delicacy even in the city.
As night fell, Robert lit a new bonfire. Fat sizzled in the flames as he slowly turned the roasting rabbit over the fire. A mouth-watering aroma filled the camp, drifting through the cool night air.
He didn't have to wait long.
That familiar figure appeared again—the little white-furred lynx, bounding toward the scent. Its pale golden eyes locked on the glistening rabbit, tail swishing eagerly. A soft purring, almost like a bellows, came from its throat as drool nearly dripped from its mouth.
It completely forgot its usual aloofness, running straight to Robert's feet and rubbing its head against his pant leg, letting out a series of pleading "meows."
Robert chuckled, slicing off a juicy rabbit leg with his dagger—but he didn't hand it over just yet.
"Want to eat?" he asked, teasingly swaying the roasted leg.
"Meow!"
The white-furred lynx circled impatiently, its paws scraping at the dirt. Every bit of its attention was fixed on the meat in his hand.
Robert slowly extended the rabbit leg—but subtly positioned it near the glowing contract scroll.
"Little one," he murmured, unrolling the scroll, "I know you're smart."
"Form a soul contract with me. From this day forward, we'll be partners—sharing life and death."
He smiled faintly, voice soft but full of temptation.
"And as partners… you'll have endless roasted meat."
The young dragon's instincts stirred as it sensed the scroll's power. Yet its youth, its growing trust in this human who fed it daily, and—above all—its irresistible craving for food overcame its hesitation.
After a brief pause, it reached out, grabbed the leg of rabbit, and began eating happily.
The scroll flared with light.
Robert pressed his palm gently to the creature's forehead.
No resistance came.
A strange, delicate connection formed in his mind—like a thread of consciousness reaching outward to touch another soul. It was faint, but it was there.
The bond had been made.
As the light faded, the runes dimmed and the scroll fell silent once again.
Robert had done it.
Through the simplest, most unorthodox means imaginable, he had forged a soul contract with a young silver dragon.
At the moment, the "majestic dragon" looked more like a spoiled kitten conquered by roasted meat.
Robert laughed quietly and set another piece of meat before it.
"Eat," he whispered. "There'll be plenty more from now on."
The creature chirped in delight, diving headfirst into the food. For a fleeting instant, as the firelight flickered, a faint shimmer of silver scales glimmered beneath the white fur—then vanished.
The night deepened. The embers glowed softly, their warmth fading into the cool air.
Robert watched the "lynx," now greasy-mouthed and purring with contentment. Its tail swayed unconsciously, beating a small rhythm in the dirt.
So much for the legendary majesty and wisdom of the silver dragon.
At this moment, all he saw was a cub completely defeated by good food.
Robert smiled faintly. "Once you've eaten my food," he murmured, "you're my dragon now."
He hesitated, then added softly, "I'll call you… Moonlight."
The name slipped out like a promise.
Moonlight's chewing slowed. Its ears flicked slightly, and it looked up, meeting Robert's gaze for a brief moment. In those pale golden eyes, there was no malice—only innocence, and a faint annoyance at being distracted from its meal.
Then, as if nothing had happened, it lowered its head and continued eating.
Robert chuckled and let it be.
Leaning back against his tent, he gazed up at the deep night sky, scattered with stars.
Now that the contract was sealed, even this lonely mining camp seemed a little less desolate.
He could already feel the faint resonance between them growing stronger—the shared pulse of emotion, the gentle awareness of the creature's joy and satisfaction.
Though they couldn't yet communicate in words, he clearly sensed Moonlight's contentment.
By the time the fire burned down to embers, Robert had drifted to sleep under his blanket. This time, the white-furred lynx didn't slip away as it usually did after eating. Instead, it yawned and curled up beside him, the rhythmic rise and fall of its small body blending with his own breathing.
The next morning, Robert awoke to the pale light of dawn. The air was fresh, the world quiet. Then, as always, the familiar stream of daily intelligence flowed through his mind—calm and precise, like pages of an unseen book turning one by one.
Black Rock Mine: Faint signs of earth-element accumulation have been detected deep within the No. 3 tunnel, possibly marking an unexplored ore node.
Rocky Slope Wolves: The pack of magic wolves in the east had a skirmish last night. The old wolf king was overthrown, and a new alpha—one who awakened a mutated wind attribute—has taken its place, advancing to a Tier-2 magic beast.
Weather Alert: A thunderstorm is approaching, expected to cover the entire northern mountain range. Duration: approximately two hours. Lightning precautions are advised.
Blackstone Town – "Thorn's Whisper" Store: A dusty brass ring has been left unsold for years. The ring is actually a magic artifact rendered dormant by a missing inlaid gem. Once repaired, it will reactivate and unleash a Tier-2 spell, Wild Heart, temporarily increasing the wearer's strength, agility, and stamina by 20% for one minute.
Moonlight's Growth: The young silver dragon is currently in its infancy. Feeding it high-energy magic beast meat can accelerate its development and help it enter its growth phase sooner.
Alchemy Resources: In a sparse forest thirty kilometers east of Black Forest Town, large clusters of Blood-Clotting Grass have ripened. This common alchemy herb is always in steady demand for crafting Tier-1 potions and sells at a stable price.
Nearby Threat: Fresh tracks of a Giant Sloth—a Tier-3 magic beast—were spotted five kilometers from camp. Though sluggish and sleepy, the creature's immense strength makes it highly dangerous if provoked.
Regional Danger – Hydra Activity: The Hydra is nearing a breakthrough in rank and has entered deep slumber to accumulate power. During this time, its lesser offspring—the Magic Snake Claws—have grown restless and begun invading human territories. A scouting team of these creatures is expected to appear in the Blackstone Territory this morning. Failure to repel them could spell lasting instability for the region.
Personal Update: Following your soul contract with the silver dragon Moonlight, you have received both physical enhancement and a sharp rise in magical aptitude. With this comprehensive improvement, you are on the verge of breaking through to become a formal Knight—or perhaps, a Magic Knight may be your true path.
Robert exhaled slowly, feeling the faint pulse of energy in his veins—the aftereffect of the new bond.
He glanced at the sleeping lynx beside him, its fur gleaming faintly in the morning light.
A soft smile touched his face.
The road ahead was still long and uncertain, but with Moonlight at his side, it no longer felt lonely.