Introduction: A veteran healer who once gave up on the world, now trying to save it one ripple at a time.An oceanic monster now trapped in gemstone, still dreaming of owning the stars.When Leod, a newly minted Sage, buys a 'domesticated' dungeon core from a travelling merchant, he expects a mildly useful magical homesteading tool to help him in his new life.Instead, he is soul-bound to a chaotic, hungry, and intelligent creature who refuses to be tamed.As they forge an unlikely partnership in the forgotten town of Fallowhold, both must decide: Is it better to stay safe in a cage? Or to risk everything trying to become more than they could have been alone?When the kingdom begins to collapse around them, they'll find out if their ideals can survive the fires of war....