The Extra is a Genius!?

"Ow…" Noel rubbed the top of his head, glaring at the small iron sphere now rolling across the floor like it had a personal vendetta. "Perfect. First Mirelle's cryptic nonsense, now I'm getting assaulted by my own training gear."

He leaned down to pick it up—but before his fingers touched the ball, a faint chime echoed through the room.

Ding.

Noel froze. The sound was unmistakable. A soft blue glow spread across the air in front of him as translucent letters began to take shape.

[Familiar Evolution Complete.]

[Shadow Wolf (Noir) — Rank Ascendant.]

For a moment, Noel's mind went blank. His breath hitched halfway through his throat, and his eyes widened as if afraid to blink in case it disappeared.

"…Noir?" he whispered, barely believing the word leaving his mouth.

A shadow rippled beneath his feet, spreading outward across the floor like ink in water. The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees, and the faint scent of ozone filled the air.

Noel's heartbeat quickened. He took a slow step back, staring at the black pool forming in front of him.

"Wait—no way. It can't be—"

The surface of the shadow stirred. Then, two glowing purple eyes blinked open within the darkness.

Noel's breath caught.

The shape inside the shadow rose, forming four paws, a small muzzle, and a tail. The ink-like pool pulled upward, twisting into a familiar form—sleek, dark, alive.

And then, with a single bound, the creature leapt out of the shadow.

A blur of black and violet light slammed into Noel's chest, knocking him flat on his back.

For a heartbeat, silence.

Then a soft whine. A familiar weight. Warm fur.

Noel's eyes trembled as he looked down. "...Noir?"

The small wolf wagged her tail, pressed her head against his chest, and barked once—low and happy.

Noel just stared at her, the corners of his mouth twitching upward as disbelief gave way to something far stronger.

For a long second, Noel couldn't move. His hands hovered awkwardly midair, unsure if this was real—if the warmth against his chest wasn't just some cruel illusion from the system.

But the heartbeat beneath his fingers said otherwise.

Slow. Steady. Alive.

"Noir…" His voice cracked halfway through the name. He finally wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "You're alive."

The little shadow wolf yipped softly, her tail wagging so fast it brushed his face. Her fur, once dull and frayed, now shimmered with faint violet streaks of mana. Her eyes glowed like twin amethysts in the dim room, reflecting the soft light from the window.

Noel laughed—a short, unsteady sound that trembled with relief. "You stupid girl. You scared me half to death."

He pressed his forehead against hers. She responded by licking his nose, earning an incredulous groan from him.

"Gross. Yeah, I missed you too."

For a moment, everything else disappeared—the mission, the mansion, even the suffocating weight of the Thorne legacy. There was only her warmth and the soft rhythm of her breath.

He remembered the last time he'd seen her—bloody, broken, her mana core flickering so faintly he'd thought she wouldn't survive. Sending her to evolve inside his shadow had been a gamble, one he took knowing it might kill her.

And now… she was here.

Noel's throat tightened again. He lifted a hand, brushing his thumb across the fur on her head, tracing the faint violet markings that hadn't been there before.

"You really evolved, huh? Look at you."

Noir tilted her head proudly and gave a small bark, almost as if saying of course I did.

Noel chuckled, voice softer now. "Guess I should've known. You never do anything halfway."

He leaned back against the wall, still holding her. "Welcome back, partner."

Noir's tail thumped against his leg in reply, her eyes bright and full of something that looked dangerously close to affection.

Noel sat there for a while, just breathing, his fingers absently tracing the smooth line of Noir's fur. It was softer than before—still cold to the touch, but now layered with faint traces of energy, like static dancing under his skin.

Then, another faint ping echoed in the air.

[Familiar Link Established.]

[Shadow Link — Passive.]

[Effect: When within ten meters of your Familiar, mana regeneration increases by 25%. Shared perception available upon focus.]

Noel blinked, scanning the glowing text.

"…Shared perception?"

He barely had time to think before his vision flickered—suddenly, he was looking at himself from a lower angle, through eyes filled with shades of violet and darkness. He could see the rise and fall of his own chest, the faint aura of mana pulsing beneath his skin.

The sensation vanished a second later when he shook his head. "Okay… that's new."

He looked down. Noir was sitting proudly on his lap, tail flicking lazily, clearly pleased with herself. "So, that's your doing, huh?"

The wolf barked once—sharp, affirming.

Noel laughed under his breath. "Alright, fine. You've got tricks now. You win."

He reached out and rested a hand on her head again, focusing on the soft hum between them. The Shadow Link pulsed faintly, and he felt her emotions—small bursts of warmth, joy, and relief, all tangled together.

'You were worried about me too, huh?'

He smiled faintly. "You don't have to be. We're even now."

For the first time in days, his mind felt lighter. The pressure, the plans, the doubts—all dimmed under the quiet comfort of her presence.

He could feel her heartbeat syncing faintly with his through the link, two rhythms beating as one. The sensation was strange, grounding, almost peaceful.

Noel leaned his head back, closing his eyes. "You really came back stronger, huh?"

Noir barked again, soft and proud.

"Yeah," he murmured, smiling faintly, "me too."

The room was quiet again.

The storm outside had faded completely, leaving only the gentle hum of mana from the candles Noel had lit earlier. Noir lay curled in his lap now, her tail slowly swaying back and forth, the faint violet streaks along her fur glowing with every breath she took.

Noel rested his back against the wall, one arm lazily draped around her. "You know," he muttered, voice low, "I was starting to think I'd lost you for good. Guess I should stop doubting you, huh?"

Noir lifted her head slightly, eyes half-lidded but attentive.

"You're… different," Noel continued. "Not just stronger. Calmer. Like you've seen something I haven't."

He paused, fingers brushing her fur again. "Still… it's good to have you back. Really good."

The wolf tilted her head, studying him for a moment before lowering it again, letting out a soft, rumbling sound that was somewhere between a purr and a growl.

Noel smirked faintly. "Yeah, I missed you too."

He closed his eyes, exhaustion finally catching up after the week of endless investigation, sleepless nights, and tension. The warmth against his legs lulled him, and for once, the silence didn't feel oppressive.

'Maybe things will start making sense soon,' he thought, half-drifting. 'For now… this is enough.'

His thoughts were starting to fade when a voice—soft, clear, unmistakably feminine—echoed in his mind.

'Hello, dad.'

Noel's eyes snapped open. He froze, breath caught halfway in his chest. Slowly, he looked down.

Noir was staring right at him, small, tail flicking idly, her eyes glowing brighter than before.

"…Did you just—?"

Her mouth didn't move. But the warmth in his mind pulsed again, gentle and certain.

'Hello, dad.'

Noel's jaw slackened slightly, somewhere between awe and panic.

"…What the hell…" he whispered.