Cue the theme from the movie Rocky. Not to mention Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger".
With a new beast in the mix, Lamant and the rest of the family want to prepare us all for the Beast Taming Elimination Tournament.
Two days after Gussie joined the household, I pad into the training arena, nearly tripping over my paws. But then, I have a little secret spring in my step. Apart from those pearl pills, I was able to sneak sips of coffee. Yes, this game has coffee, even though it's classified as a Drug and a Booster Potion.
Apparently, no one thinks anything of random beasts in this household just wandering into the kitchen. No one calls a health and safety inspector. As beasts, we have the run of the household. So, when I saw a lukewarm cup of coffee sitting untouched all by its lonesome on a kitchen table, my paws had wings. I climbed on a chair and sucked down my first coffee since the morning of the exam.
The game system was quick to warn me. [Coffee is a Drug and can make energy levels and health unpredictable.]
Thanks, Game System, but some human habits are impossible to break, even when you're low to the ground, have a tail, and need to sleep more often than the average human.
And my caffeine habit is going to help me crush training here. Training to do new things and take on entirely new challenges. Different than agility training.
[Objective: Master Shooting Stars.]
My paws glow, because I'm still juiced from my Pearl Pill of Power, and I also took a Potency Pill today. Apparently, I need a double dose for this energy cocktail, because Demos has mastered being the Glowmeister. You could find your way in the dark with his paws.
Gussie, as a new beast, is sitting watching how it's done. Her bond with Lamant is too new for her to attempt some of the training we're doing. But Lamant wants to educate her about every aspect of being a tamed beast. When he walked in just now, she rode on his shoulder. Unless she's with us, she can frequently be seen riding on his shoulder.
"Now we just have to get Mom her own beast," Kaline remarked this morning at breakfast.
Minette coughed into her coffee mug. "Dear, sometimes it just happens. It happened for you and Vedette, and obviously for your father. You can't force a beast taming bond. Not only is it illegal, it defeats the purpose of forming a bond. The way Blaze follows Kaline around and sleeps on her bed, and the way Demos lights up whenever Vedette's around, and the way that Gussie nestles on your father's shoulder...you cannot buy that with all the gold in Tanglewood."
Sitting in the center of the arena with the floor mosaic lightly illuminated, I can feel what Minette was saying. Kaline standing beside me, cheering me on, is something priceless in my life. It is my life now. Except with my human family in my past life, I do not think I've ever had a relationship as close as this one. One that I depend on for my happiness and well-being.
Lamant clears his throat. "Right. The Shooting Stars task is simple. It requires cultivating your energy and focusing on your heart chakra, then channeling that energy through your paws. You can actually go higher to your third eye chakra and then your crown chakra. Sometimes, you can use your solar plexus chakra and sacral chakra, but if you use your root chakra, it's not going to produce the best results. Does anyone know why?"
Gussie flaps her wings and chirps, "Chakra."
Stroking her feathers, Lamant says, "We need to awaken your throat chakra so you can say full sentences. Just think of that! Anyway, anyone else have an answer?"
Vedette strokes Demos' furry ears. "The root chakra is all about survival. If you're focused on pure survival, that's what all your magic is going to produce. Sacral chakra energy will generate a few stars or sparks. Solar plexus chakra means you are confident and can act from faith, so a few golden stars will come out of that. But the heart chakra produces the most power."
Kaline agrees, passing a pink and green crystal wand over my chest while I sit on my haunches, my front paws raised and hip width apart. "Now I awaken Blaze's heart chakra."
WHOOSH.
The crystal rod lights up and emits a musical chime. I guess that means my heart chakra is working just fine..
Nearby, Vedette repeats the process with Demos. CHIME.
I have a sensation of being able to do anything. Of so much strength and courage and can-do energy. Magic practically crackles in my veins. I must be glowing by now! You must be able to see me from space in this world. Or at least as a tiny glowing dot in the game map.
[Blaze Heart Chakra Awake. Full health. No blockage.]
Phew! A blocked chakra would most likely not be good.
"They are both ready to generate Shooting Stars," Lamant declares. "As you know, it is one of the events that they'll be expected to perform well in if they want to advance to the final round. It's also the supreme test of the bond between master and beast."
[Task Objective: Generate shooting stars and light up the mosaics around you in a consistent pattern. Make the mosaics sparkle and glow. Successful completion of this task will earn +7 XP and increase Magic by 7.]
Okay, so we have to glow up here to level up. Got it.
Kaline turns to Vedette. "You go first. You are the oldest."
"Oh, no, dear sister, the youngest should always have the honor," Vedette answers.
How about a coin toss?
The two of them get in a quarrel about who goes first, "no you," "no you," no you," until Ser Maartenwitz blows a whistle and strides out into the arena, balancing a gold coin in his fingers.
"Heads Mistress Kaline goes first, tails Mistress Vedette does," he declares in his pompous way. "Call it."
"Heads," Vedette calls out.
With a flick of his wrist, Ser Maartenwitz tosses the con and it rolls on the tiled floor with a clatter, then stops...heads up.
I roar, ready and raring to go. We're up first!