That not so important character turned out to be important

I was born in the Clan of Velvet Dragons, a race that prized power above all else. A clan divided into three classes: the mighty Apex Predators who ruled with unmatched strength and wisdom, the Fighters who forged their own paths through sheer will and ferocity, and the Nobodies, the lowest rung, dragons with no remarkable gifts except the name of their race. But even among the Nobodies, I was something less.My mana was weaker than that of a human child. I lacked wings, the symbol of freedom and dominance that every dragon aspired to. My scales were a dull, lifeless gray, unlike the gleaming, vibrant colors of my kin. My body was small and frail, showing no growth even after a year, and though I could understand words, I could not speak like the others. Among a race that revered strength and potential, I was a stain—a failure in their eyes.

My mother, an Apex Predator whose bloodline was celebrated in the clan, cast the harshest judgment of all. Her final words still haunt me:

"If he is a true dragon, he will survive. If he dies, he was never my son—a blood of the 1st Class of Velvet Dragons."

And with that, I was abandoned.

Left in this wild, untamed land, I was given a death sentence. No guidance, no protection—only the endless expanse of a dangerous forest filled with predators that saw me as nothing more than a meal.

It has been six years since I was left here—six years of living in fear, hiding, and fighting only when I had no other choice. The monsters of this land are relentless. Every day has been a struggle to survive.

I didn't endure out of hope for rescue or dreams of revenge against my kind. No, I survived because I wanted to live. I didn't want to die. I didn't want to remain weak.

But even after all these years, I am still just as weak as I was when I was left behind. My body remains frail, my mana pitiful, my growth nonexistent. I have barely managed to cling to life in this unforgiving land.

Fought not for glory, nor for a place in my clan, but for myself. Each time I bled, each time my body screamed in agony, I refused to yield. I told myself that if survival defined a true dragon, then I would prove my mother wrong. I would show her, my clan, and myself that I deserved to live.

Yet, sometimes, doubt creeps in. I question myself, my strength, my purpose.

But even in those moments of despair, something inside me refuses to give up.

Something deep and primal whispers: Endure.

Shaun sat cross-legged on the sturdy branch, his back leaning against the massive tree trunk as the late afternoon sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above. The little dragon stirred in its makeshift leafy nest, its tiny claws flexing as it slowly awoke. Its eyes, a deep and shimmering amber, flickered open and focused on Shaun.

For a moment, it appeared disoriented, scanning its surroundings with a low, weak hiss before instinctively squirming to free itself from Shaun's arms.

Shaun chuckled softly, raising both hands in mock surrender.

Shaun: "Easy there, firecracker. Relax, I'm not your enemy, alright? You're still breathing because I patched you up back there. Though... maybe I might've been the reason you fainted. Uh, never mind that part."

The dragon paused, its hiss fading as it tilted its head in wary confusion. It didn't fully trust him, that much was clear, but it also didn't attack—a small victory in Shaun's book.

Reaching into his bag, Shaun pulled out a small bundle wrapped in cloth. He unfolded it, revealing a chunk of bread and a strip of dried meat. He held them up, letting the dragon see them before tossing the pieces gently toward its nest.

Shaun: "Here, take this. Nothing fancy, but it's all I've got to offer for now. Consider it... a peace offering."

The dragon sniffed the air, its nostrils flaring slightly as it caught the scent of the food. It hesitated, glaring at Shaun with a mixture of suspicion and hunger. Finally, it leaned forward cautiously, sniffing the bread first. It gave it another curious sniff, then gingerly took a bite.

Shaun leaned back, watching with an amused grin as the dragon chewed slowly, then started on the meat with slightly more enthusiasm.

Shaun: "Go on. It's not poisoned or anything. I'd waste my time dragging you up here just to finish you off."

The dragon glanced up mid-chew, its amber eyes narrowing briefly as if offended by the comment. Shaun couldn't help but laugh.

Shaun: "What? Did I hurt your pride? Sorry, buddy, but you're stuck with me now. So let's try to get along, yeah?"

"Get along? Why would I get along with you? stuck with you What is he even talking about? Weird creature… First, he attacked me when I was injured, then he healed me, and now he's feeding me? Why?" The dragon's gaze flickered to Shaun's calm expression, unsure what to make of him. "He's definitely strong—way stronger than me. That's why I can't attack him recklessly. But he's not showing any hostility now… and he's speaking that language. Like the one in that old place."

The dragon finished its meal, licking its small, sharp teeth clean before curling back into the nest. Its tail flicked once, still signaling wariness, but its eyes stayed on Shaun—not as a threat, but as a quiet, reluctant acknowledgment.

Shaun, smirking to himself: "Yeah, we'll make it work. One step at a time."

The dragon, having finished its meal, shifted uneasily . Its eyes darted to the edge of the branch, calculating the distance below. With a sudden jump, it leaped,

But before it could make its escape, Shaun lunged forward, catching it mid-air like someone snatching a mischievous cat.

Shaun: "Nah, firecracker, you ain't going anywhere."

He held the squirming dragon firmly but gently, one hand supporting its belly while the other steadied its wriggling tail. The dragon hissed in protest, its claws scrabbling against his arm as it tried to twist free.

Shaun: "Relax, will you?" he said, adjusting his grip. "Let's talk some business before you decide to go skydiving without a parachute."

The dragon froze momentarily, staring at him with narrowed eyes, clearly uneasy but unable to escape his hold. It wriggled again, growling faintly, but Shaun's grip didn't budge.

Shaun: "You know, for a baby dragon, you're surprisingly feisty. I like that. But here's the deal—you and me? We're kind of stuck together now. So how about we figure this out like civilized beings? You know, instead of you trying to jump to your doom I promise it won't take that long, and of course, I'd never force you to do anything you don't want to"

The dragon let out a small, frustrated chirp, its tail flicking sharply. Shaun chuckled, holding it up to eye level like he was inspecting a particularly defiant kitten.

Shaun crouched slightly, leveling his eyes with the little dragon, his tone softening just enough to sound convincing.

Shaun: "Look, I saved your scaly hide back there. Least you could do is hear me out. And I don't know if you noticed, but this place? It's not exactly friendly for tiny, wingless dragons like you. So how about hearing me out? I could make you stronger, superior—an apex predator."

The moment those two words—apex predator—left Shaun's mouth, something flickered in the dragon's eyes. A spark of recognition mixed with disbelief, its fiery gaze narrowing as its tail twitched in agitation.

Unknown to Shaun, the term carried an immense weight in the dragon's mind. To its kind, "apex predator" wasn't just a phrase. It was a sacred title, a symbol of unparalleled strength and respect in the hierarchy of dragons.

The dragon's thoughts churned.

"What does he mean? How could he make me an apex predator? I'm weaker than a human child... a disgrace to my kind. How could someone like me possibly rise to that rank? Is he mocking me? Like the others did? But... it didn't feel like mockery."

It studied Shaun's expression carefully. The human's tone didn't have the cruel bite of scorn or laughter. If anything, it was resolute, almost… confident.

The dragon's claws flexed slightly, still wary but no longer hostile. Its tail flicked again, slower this time, its head tilting slightly in thought.

"I can at least hear him out," it reasoned, its small chest rising and falling with a deep, reluctant sigh. "At the very least, I will judge him after that. It's clear he won't let me go anyway."

With a faint huff, the dragon stopped struggling altogether, settling uneasily in Shaun's grip.

Shaun smirked, sensing the subtle shift in the dragon's demeanor.

Shaun: "That's the spirit, firecracker. See? I knew you were smart. Now, let's have a proper chat about how this little partnership's gonna work."

As Shaun gently placed the little dragon on the sturdy branch, he couldn't help but smirk to himself.

"So, he does have some level of understanding. The way he reacted to my words—yeah, he gets me. And even better, he's capable of logical decisions based on the information presented. Perfect."

He leaned back, arms crossed, watching as the dragon shifted uneasily on the branch, its fiery eyes still locked onto him. Shaun's thoughts raced, analyzing the situation.

"Good. The last thing I wanted was to end up with some creature that can't even comprehend what I'm saying. Animal abuse isn't exactly my style, and working with something mindless? No thanks. That's a hard pass."

Shaun glanced at the dragon again, gauging its reactions carefully.

"But this one? It's got a brain. That makes things a lot easier. To use my abilities fully, I need to clearly state what I'm doing, how it works, and get consent from the other party. No shortcuts. No coercion. It's gotta be mutual. Otherwise..."

He paused, his gaze briefly drifting to the surrounding forest.

"...otherwise, I'd be creating a useless no mind zombie, not a familiar. And I'm not in the market for undead slaves."

Shaun's eyes flicked back to the dragon, which was now cautiously curling its tail around its small body, still watching him with guarded suspicion.

Shaun: "Alright, firecracker. Here's the deal. I'll lay out what I can do, you listen, and we see if we can make this work. Sound fair?"

The dragon didn't respond aloud, of course, but its steady gaze and lack of aggression told Shaun all he needed to know.

"Yeah," he thought, his grin widening. "This might actually work."

Shaun turned to the dragon, speaking with a calm yet firm tone. "First, if anything I say is unclear, or if you're having trouble with something, make a sound with your tail or just hiss, alright?" He paused for a moment, watching the dragon carefully.

In the dragon's mind, the response was quick and clear: Does he know I can't speak? Whatever, just get this over with fast. The dragon, though unable to speak, flicked its tail slightly, a soft hiss escaping as a sign of acknowledgment.

Shaun raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Good. Now, let's start."

Shaun leaned forward slightly, watching the little dragon carefully, gauging its reaction. He wasn't going to rush this; the dragon needed to understand the gravity of the situation but also the potential benefits.

Shaun: "Alright, here's the deal. I'm an aura user, and I came to this forest for one reason—to train and find a familiar. I didn't come here to just mess around. I'm here to push myself and find someone who can keep up."

He paused, letting the words settle in, knowing the dragon was probably listening closely even if it wasn't responding yet.

Shaun: "You were the first creature that got my attention. You're weak, wingless, and probably still a baby in dragon terms. But I saw something in you. Your will to live. Your determination. It's rare to see that kind of spirit in a creature, especially one in your condition. That's the quality I look for in my familiar. Unwavering ambition, an unstoppable desire."

He stepped a little closer, keeping his movements slow and measured, giving the dragon the time to react however it chose.

Shaun: "If we work together, both of us gain something. I'll train you, use my abilities to awaken your potential. I'll help you reach your peak and make you the absolute battle beast you're meant to be. In return, you stick with me, follow my commands, and be a trusted partner."

He let his words hang in the air for a moment, making sure the dragon understood the deal wasn't one-sided. There was a genuine offer here.

Shaun: "You'll get power. You won't have to feel helpless anymore. You won't have to worry about being bullied or walked over. And if anything else comes up, I'll help you with that too. I'm not just offering strength. I'm offering survival, control, and growth."

He stepped back slightly, allowing the dragon some space, his eyes narrowing with a more serious tone.

Shaun: "But you need to understand this: betrayal or disobedience won't be tolerated. There will be severe consequences if you cross me or don't follow the rules. Once we move to the next step, there will be other rules and responsibilities you'll have to know."

Finally, he gave the dragon a sharp look, his voice turning more final.

Shaun: "You can leave now if you want. I won't chase you. I won't pursue you. But if you accept this offer and later decide to refuse to follow through, there will be problems. I don't deal with half-heartedness."

Shaun stood back, watching the dragon closely, giving it time to process everything. The choice was now in its claws.