Chapter 12: The Rock with Eyes
> System Log – Host: Elric Greymourne
Age: 4 Years, 1 Month
Class: Legendary Shepherd (Sealed)
Pack:
– Twig (Deerling) – Loyalty 90
– Fangshade (Shadow Pup) – Loyalty 55
– Boneclaw (Wild Hound) – Loyalty 30
– Mossback Sprite (Plant Familiar) – Loyalty 68
Skills:
– [Beast Sense I]
– [Bond Link I]
– [Summon: Nature Spirit – Basic]
Skill Progress (Locked):
– [Summon: Stone Golem – 6%]
It was a quiet morning.
Too quiet.
Elric peeked around a tree near the edge of Verdantreach Forest. He wasn't allowed in too far—Mom's rule. But the edge didn't count, right?
Twig munched grass beside him.
Boneclaw was digging a hole for no reason.
Fangshade napped upside down in a tree.
The sprite? Hiding in Elric's hood.
Then he saw it.
A big rock. Round. Gray. Cracked.
With two tiny glowing blue eyes.
"…Okay," Elric said, "rocks aren't supposed to look back."
The rock blinked.
> New Entity Detected: ???
Classification: Proto-Golem Fragment
Status: Dormant – Curious – Hungry?
He poked it with a stick.
It sneezed dirt.
"…Twig, I think I found a baby rock."
Twig looked unimpressed.
> System Message:
Golem Core Resonance Detected
[Summon: Stone Golem] Progress → 9%
Reaction: Passive Bond Forming
Elric grinned. "You're joining the pack, Mister Pebbles."
The tiny golem made a low thunk sound and slowly rolled closer.
> Pack Updated:
– Proto-Golem Fragment (Mister Pebbles) – Loyalty 4 (Warming Up)
Back at home, Elric tried to sneak Mister Pebbles into the house.
It thudded up the stairs. Loudly.
Mom opened the door.
"Elric... why is there a rock in your bed?"
"…He's cold."
> Family Suspicion: +3
Stealth Attempt: Failed
Bond Status: SafeDespite the noise, Grandpa Riven just sipped his tea again and said, "Make sure he doesn't eat the chimney bricks."
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That night, Elric watched the stars with Mister Pebbles curled up beside him like a pet stone.
He wasn't summoning golems yet.
But he was close.
> Progress: 9% → 12%