The next morning, I sat quietly in a sunbeam, staring at it.

—The Star Fragment of Kindness

A faintly milky-white crystal, just small enough to fit in the palm of my hand. It was warm. But unlike Rabbichu’s Star Fragment of Awakening, this one felt… different.

“Kyu?”

Rabbichu tilted his head in confusion. I gazed through the soft glow of the fragment and murmured,

“…This isn’t just an item. I think it’s a crystallized feeling.”

It wasn’t from a spellbook or a scroll. It didn’t look usable as a tool or equipment.
But I couldn’t let it go. Its gentle warmth touched something deep inside me—straight to the heart.

A few days later.

I snuck into my father’s study, searching for any records about “star fragments.”

One particular ancient tome caught my eye—its golden cover marked it as a Record of Ancient Monster Studies.

Flipping through the pages, I found it.

“In rare cases, a deep bond with a monster may crystallize into a Star Fragment. These are called Soul Shards (Shinpen), and possess properties distinct from regular items.”

“Rather than boosting stats, Soul Shards are said to promote growth of the soul. Their effects vary depending on the bearer.”

“In those with especially strong bonds, the shard may not just enhance their power—but change their very existence.”

Their very existence…?

“So not just ‘evolution’… but transformation?”

I couldn’t help but clutch the star fragment tighter.

Rabbichu might no longer be “just” a monster.

No—he probably already wasn’t.

“Kyu…?”

A small sound behind me.

I turned to see Rabbichu watching me with uneasy eyes.

I smiled gently and reached out to pat his head.

“…Don’t worry. You’ll always be you.
Even if your form changes, you’re still my partner.”

“Kyu!”

Rabbichu wiggled his wing-ears back and forth in pure joy (probably) and leapt into my arms.

That night, I had a dream.

In a pure white space, a single star floated.
The Star Fragment of Kindness emerged from within me and drifted gently toward Rabbichu’s chest.

Then—light bloomed.

From Rabbichu’s back, something new began to form.

It wasn’t wings, or horns.
It was more like… a small light.

A soft glow, like a flame of our bond, taking shape.

When I woke up the next morning, Rabbichu was still sound asleep.

But on his back, there hovered a faintly glowing orb of light.

A transformation—brought on by the Soul Shard.

A strength no stat screen could measure.

And one, I was certain, we would need for the journey ahead.