The bell above the shop door chimed softly, its delicate ring echoing in the quiet room.
Elena lifted her gaze from the counter, where a half-finished cup of tea sat beside an old leather-bound book. Dusty sunlight spilled through the window, catching on the floating particles in the air, giving the small shop a timeless glow.
She had been waiting. Not for anyone in particular—but for someone.
The door creaked open.
A boy, no older than sixteen, stepped inside, clutching a small cage tightly to his chest. His school uniform was wrinkled, his shoes muddy, as if he had run a long way to get here.
Inside the cage, a small black kitten crouched low, its fur bristling, golden eyes glowing unnaturally bright. The creature hissed softly, but its trembling body betrayed fear more than aggression.
"H-hello…" the boy stammered, glancing around nervously. The shop was unlike any pet store he had ever seen. The shelves weren't stocked with bags of food or toys, but with ancient jars, strange crystals, and scrolls with symbols he couldn't read.
"They told me… this is the place… where pets can become stronger."
Elena closed her book with deliberate calm. Her long black hair slid over her shoulder as she rose to her feet. Her eyes—dark yet glimmering with a faint light—met his.
"That depends," she said softly, her voice steady, almost too calm.
"On the pet."
The boy hesitated, gripping the cage tighter. "He… he's weak. Always sick. I tried everything, but nothing works. They said you could…" His voice cracked. "Please. I don't want him to die."
Elena stepped closer. Without another word, she extended her hand.
"Let me see him."
The boy bit his lip but obeyed, setting the cage carefully on the counter. The kitten hissed, pressing itself into the corner. Its golden eyes glowed brighter, reflecting not fear—but intelligence.
Elena's expression didn't change. She unlatched the cage and reached in.
The moment her fingertips brushed against the kitten's fur, the shop changed.
The shelves trembled. The air thickened with invisible energy, humming like the low note of a distant bell. Shadows stretched unnaturally across the wooden floor.
Above the kitten's head, glowing letters appeared out of thin air:
Bronze (Lv.1)
The boy gasped, stumbling back. "W-what is that?!"
Elena's lips curved into the faintest smile. "Its true potential."
She lifted the kitten gently, her hand steady despite its frantic struggles. Looking into its golden eyes, she whispered, "You're not ordinary, are you?"
The kitten froze, as if it understood.
The boy stared, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You mean… you can help him?"
Elena crouched down, setting the kitten carefully on the floor.
Then, with a graceful snap of her fingers, the shop transformed.
The wooden walls dissolved, melting into streams of golden light. The shelves stretched upward and vanished into an endless sky. The floor expanded into a vast arena of glowing runes, humming with power. The boy gasped, clutching his chest as the air vibrated around him.
Elena stood tall, her long coat swaying in the invisible wind, her presence commanding yet calm.
"In here," she said, her voice resonating in the strange space,
"everything grows stronger."
The kitten's golden eyes blazed, no longer trembling.
It raised its head, its fur shimmering faintly, as if responding to something only it could hear.
The boy's breath caught in his throat. "What's happening to him?"
Elena's eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on the kitten as runes beneath it began to glow brighter.
"The first trial," she said.
"Bronze must always be tested… before it can shine."
The arena rumbled.
A shadow emerged from the glowing ground, shaped like a beast but without a face. Its growl echoed through the endless space.
The kitten arched its back, golden eyes burning like fire.
And the first battle began.