Morning light filtered through the window, gentle and warm, pulling Kael from sleep. He blinked awake slowly, taking in the scene around him with a smile.
Vera had sprawled across the bed during the night, taking up far more space than seemed physically possible for her size. One of her paws was draped across Kael's chest, and her crystalline patterns pulsed gently with her breathing. Ember lay curled up next to Vera, her flames dimmed to a soft glow that barely lit the space around her.
The thunder-type eagle—soon to have a name—had claimed the bedpost as its sleeping spot, standing upright even in sleep with the peculiar ability birds had to lock their legs and doze while remaining perfectly balanced.
The moment Kael's consciousness fully returned, all three mythbeasts began to stir. Through their bonds, they'd sensed his waking, the connections between them allowing such awareness even in sleep. Ember was first to fully wake, her flames brightening as she launched herself into the air and began doing excited laps around the room. Her joy at the new day was infectious, radiating through their bond like sunshine.
Kael sat up carefully, dislodging Vera's paw gently. The large cat yawned, showing impressive teeth, then stretched with feline grace before settling back down to watch him with those intelligent violet eyes.
The eagle's sharp gaze was already fixed on Kael, waiting.
"I've decided on your name," Kael said, addressing the small bird directly. "I thought about it last night, and I think I've found something that fits who you are and who you want to become."
The eagle's attention sharpened even further, every fiber of its being focused on this moment.
"Fulminus," Kael said. "It comes from an ancient word meaning 'thunderbolt' from where I'm originally from. It represents power, speed, and unstoppable force—everything you aspire to be."
Through their bond, Kael felt the eagle's immediate acceptance and joy. The name resonated with something deep in the bird's spirit, a perfect match between identity and aspiration. Fulminus. Yes. My name. Perfect.
"I'm glad you like it," Kael said warmly. "Though if it's okay with you, I might shorten it to Ful sometimes? Just for convenience?"
Fulminus sent back an easy acceptance. Names could have shortened forms—what mattered was the identity they represented, not the exact syllables used in every situation.
Kael felt a surge of contentment through all three bonds. His team was complete, at least for the time being. Vera, Ember, and Fulminus—each unique, each powerful in their own way, each choosing to walk this path with him.
"Alright, team," he said, standing and stretching out the stiffness from sleep. "Let's get some breakfast, then head to the guild to meet Lyssa."
They made their way downstairs to the common room, where the smell of cooking food already filled the air. Merra was behind the counter as always, and she smiled when she saw them.
"Morning, Kael. The usual breakfast?"
"Please," Kael confirmed. "But I won't need a lunch to go today. We're taking it easy, just picking out our next quest and doing some training. Nothing that requires travel."
"One breakfast coming up," Merra said, then called toward the kitchen. "Mother! Breakfast for Kael and his companions!"
Elara emerged with remarkable speed, setting before him a plate laden with eggs, sausage, fresh bread, and some kind of fruit preserves that gleamed jewel-red in the morning light. It was, as always, delicious—simple ingredients elevated by skill and care into something special.
While Kael ate, he fed his companions their portions of raw meat. Vera ate with dignified efficiency, Ember nibbled delicately despite not technically needing physical food, and Fulminus tore into his portion with the fierce appetite of a growing predator.
Fed and ready for the day, they left the Sleeping Drake and began the walk to the guild. The morning streets were busy with people starting their daily routines—shops opening, workers heading to their jobs, early-rising tamers preparing for their own quests.
Kael noticed the dynamics of his team as they walked. Vera maintained her usual position close to his side, her presence steady and protective. Fulminus, after some experimental hovering, had found a spot on Kael's shoulder where he could perch comfortably, his talons gripping fabric rather than skin. The small eagle seemed satisfied with this arrangement, his head swiveling constantly to take in their surroundings.
I probably look like a pirate now, Kael thought with amusement. Bird on the shoulder, mysterious companions, just need an eyepatch and a ship.
Ember, as always, refused to stay in one place for long. She flew circles around them, sometimes perching on Kael's head to rest before launching off again to investigate something interesting. Her boundless energy never seemed to diminish, and through their bond, Kael could feel her pure joy at simply existing in this vibrant world.
The guild came into view, and Kael spotted Lyssa already waiting near the entrance. Granite stood behind her, his massive crystal bulk impossible to miss, but notably, there was no cart attached to his harness this time. Made sense—they didn't have a quest yet, so they didn't know if they'd even need one.
"Morning," Lyssa called out as they approached. Her eyes went to Fulminus on Kael's shoulder. "I see the eagle made it official. What's his name?"
"Fulminus," Kael said. "Ful for short. He bonded with me last night."
"Three bonds at seventeen years old," Lyssa said, shaking her head with something between admiration and disbelief. "You're either incredibly talented or incredibly reckless."
"Can't it be both?" Kael asked with a grin.
They entered the guild together, Kael and Lyssa with their smaller companions, while Granite settled down outside to wait patiently. The morning crowd was moderate—not as busy as the evening but still showing decent activity. They joined the line at the reception desk, and Kael used the waiting time to observe other tamers and their beasts, always learning, always cataloging information about this world.
When they reached the front, the receptionist—the same male clerk who'd helped them before—looked up and immediately recognized them. "Ah, the mythbeast collectors. Here for your ranking points, I assume?"
"Yes," Kael confirmed. "We're here to update our guild records from yesterday's quest."
The receptionist pulled out their files, consulting notes, and calculations. "Let's see... base quest was for five mythbeasts, you delivered forty-two. That kind of excessive over-completion gives substantial bonus points." He made some marks in his ledger. "For you, Kael Veyrin, that's seventy-five points added to your record."
Seventy-five points. Kael did quick mental math—he'd had twenty-five points from the bear quest, now gaining seventy-five more. That was exactly one hundred.
"That brings you to exactly one hundred points total," the receptionist confirmed. "Congratulations, you've ranked up to Rank 2." He held out his hand. "Guild card, please."
Kael handed over his bronze tablet, and the receptionist placed his hand over it. That familiar static sensation filled the air, and when the hand lifted, the engraving had changed.
Kael Veyrin
Age: 17
Rank: 2 (0/100 points)
Where there had been a "I" before, there was now a "II". Kael felt a genuine surge of pride looking at it. Rank 2 in just a few days. He was progressing, improving, becoming the tamer he wanted to be.
"And for you, Lyssa Thornwood," the receptionist continued, consulting her file. "You were already Rank 3, completing a Rank 2 quest. That's still worth points, though reduced. Fifteen points added to your record."
Lyssa handed over her own card for updating. When she got it back, it showed Rank 3 with fifty points toward the next tier. She pocketed it with a satisfied nod.
"Thank you," Kael said to the receptionist. "Now we're here to select our next quest."
"Of course. The job board is at your disposal."
They moved to the board together, and Kael's eyes immediately went to the Rank 3 section. His recent rank-up meant they could now tackle these higher-difficulty jobs together without needing special authorization.
The Rank 3 postings were noticeably more serious than the Rank 1 and 2. These weren't simple escort missions or pest control—these were jobs that required real skill and carried genuine danger. Hunting specific dangerous mythbeasts, investigating mysterious occurrences, and protecting valuable shipments through hostile territory.
One posting caught Kael's eye:
Poison-Type Mythbeast Elimination - Ironvale Village
Rank Required: 3
Location: Half-day travel northwest, following the western forest treeline
Issue: A large poison-type mythbeast has taken up residence in the village cellar
Threat: Contaminating the water supply, endangering residents
Reward: 70 Basilisks
Note: Poison resistance is recommended but not required
"This one," Kael said, pointing. "What do you think?"
Lyssa read it carefully, her expression thoughtful. "Half-day travel isn't bad. Following the western forest treeline is easy navigation. Poison-type in a confined space like a cellar could be tricky, but Vera's psychic abilities would give us range advantage, and Ember's fire might help neutralize some toxins." She paused. "You sure you want to take on a poison-type this early?"
"We'll be careful," Kael said. "Keep our distance, use ranged attacks, don't take unnecessary risks. Between all our abilities, we should be able to handle it."
Lyssa considered this, then nodded. "Alright. I'm okay with this quest. Let's do it."
They took the posting to the reception desk for confirmation. The receptionist reviewed it and made notes in his ledger. "Quest confirmed. Good luck, and be careful. Poison-types are no joke."
Outside, they approached Granite, who was dozing peacefully in a patch of sunlight. Lyssa stroked his crystalline neck to wake him gently.
"Tomorrow we'll need you to pull a basic carriage," she explained to him. "Nothing heavy like the cart, just something to carry us and supplies for the trip. Are you okay with that?"
Granite rumbled his acceptance. A light carriage was nothing to his immense strength—barely more than taking a casual walk.
"Perfect," Kael said. "Then let's plan to meet at the western gate tomorrow morning. Dawn again?"
"Dawn works," Lyssa confirmed. "I'll arrange the carriage rental and supplies tonight. We should bring antidote potions just in case."
They said their goodbyes, Lyssa and Granite heading off to make preparations while Kael and his three companions set off in the opposite direction. But instead of heading to the inn or staying in the city, Kael had a different destination in mind.
He walked south, leaving Thornhaven through the southern gate and continuing toward the forest that bordered that side of the city. The walk took about two hours at a steady pace, and Kael used the time to mentally prepare for what he wanted to accomplish today.
When they finally reached the forest edge—different from the western forest, but similar enough in character—Kael found a secluded clearing far enough from the road that they wouldn't be disturbed. This would be their training ground for the day.
"Alright everyone," Kael said, gathering his three companions around him. "Today is about training and pushing our limits. But first, Fulminus—there are some things you need to know about me. Things that make me... different from other tamers."
Through their bond, Fulminus sent curiosity mixed with attention. He was listening.
"I have special powers," Kael explained. "Two main ones that I need you to understand. First is a healing skill—I can completely restore injuries to mythbeasts or myself, but it has a sixty-minute cooldown between uses."
Fulminus's surprise rippled through their bond. That kind of healing was rare, valuable beyond measure.
"The second power is even stranger," Kael continued. "I gain the abilities of every mythbeast I bond with. From Vera, I got psychic powers and telekinesis. From Ember, I gained fire manipulation. And from you, Fulminus, I now have the ability to generate lightning, and my reflexes have been significantly enhanced."
The small eagle stared at him with an expression that clearly conveyed, " You're crazy, mixed with that's impossible, and a touch of are you serious?
Kael demonstrated. He held out his left hand and summoned fire, a small flame dancing across his palm. Then he held out his right hand and generated sparks, tiny bolts of electricity crackling between his fingers. The display was small-scale but undeniable.
Fulminus's shock was palpable through their bond, followed quickly by understanding and even more determination. If his tamer could wield his powers, then together they could push even further than Fulminus had imagined.
"Now," Kael said, dismissing the flames and sparks, "let's talk training. Vera, Ember—you two know your routines. Start whenever you're ready."
Vera immediately began her psychic exercises, lifting increasingly heavy objects with her mind and holding them in complex patterns. Ember started her flame compression drills, creating fireballs and condensing them down to intense, white-hot points.
Kael turned to Fulminus. "For you, I can see your optimal growth path through my abilities. Right now, your best training is this: fly in short bursts—quick acceleration, sharp turns, rapid stops. And during each burst, use your thunder powers to enhance your speed. Try to push electricity through your wings and body to make yourself faster and more agile. Build up your control and your power simultaneously."
Fulminus launched into the air immediately, eager to begin. He flew in quick bursts as instructed, and small sparks began dancing across his feathers as he tried to channel his lightning to enhance his movement. The first attempts were clumsy—he'd generate too much power and shock himself, or too little and see no benefit. But he was learning rapidly, each burst showing improvement.
Kael watched his companions train for a few minutes, then turned his attention to his own development. He had three different power sets now—psychic, fire, and lightning. Each was useful individually, but what if he could combine them?
He started simple, trying to fuse his fire and lightning abilities. Creating flame in one hand and electricity in the other, he attempted to merge them, to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
The first few attempts failed spectacularly. The fire would extinguish the lightning, or the lightning would disperse the fire. They were fundamentally different energies that didn't want to coexist.
But Kael persisted, adjusting his approach, finding the balance point between the two forces. After an hour of experimentation, he achieved his first success—a small sphere of flame wreathed in crackling electricity, unstable and volatile but undeniably present.
He threw it at a nearby tree.
The explosion was far more powerful than he'd expected. The combined fire-and-lightning attack hit the tree trunk and detonated with devastating force. The tree didn't just burn or char—it exploded, wood splintering outward as the exponential effect of both powers' explosive nature created a blast that far exceeded what either element could achieve alone.
Kael stared at the destroyed tree, simultaneously thrilled and slightly terrified. That had been a small-scale fusion attack, barely more than a test. If he could scale it up, master the technique...
He filed that away for future development and moved on to his next experiment. His psychic powers gave him mental speed and processing capability. His new lightning affinity came with enhanced reflexes. What if he could fuse those two, use psychic enhancement to accelerate his thinking while lightning enhancement sped up his physical reactions?
It would require more proficiency in both abilities than he currently possessed, but the potential was enormous. Imagine being able to think and react at superhuman speeds, to perceive combat in slow motion while moving faster than opponents could track.
That was a goal for the future, but even attempting it now would help him understand how the powers interacted.
Kael spent the next several hours training, pushing his limits, exploring the boundaries of what his combined abilities could accomplish. His fire-and-lightning fusion attacks grew more reliable, more powerful. He practiced until he could consistently create the explosive spheres and launch them with reasonable accuracy.
Around him, his mythbeasts trained with equal dedication. Vera's psychic strength grew visibly stronger—by the end of the session, she was lifting objects twice as heavy as when they'd started. Ember's flame compression had improved to the point where she could maintain a marble-sized fireball of white-hot intensity for over a minute without it destabilizing.
And Fulminus—the small eagle was showing remarkable progress. His flight bursts had become lightning-fast, quite literally, sparks trailing behind him as he learned to channel his electrical nature into pure speed. He wasn't there yet, but Kael could see the potential. In a few weeks, Fulminus would be a blur of speed and electricity, nearly impossible to track mid-flight.
The sun began its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold. Kael called an end to training, and his companions gathered around him, all of them semi-exhausted but satisfied with their progress.
"Great work today, everyone," Kael said, genuine pride in his voice. "We're all getting stronger. Tomorrow we have a real quest—a poison-type in a cellar. But I think we're ready for it."
They began the walk back to Thornhaven, tired but content. The streets were transitioning from day to evening, workers heading home, taverns beginning to fill, the city's rhythm shifting.
The Sleeping Drake welcomed them with warm light and the smell of cooking food. Kael ordered dinner for himself and meat portions for his companions, and they ate together in comfortable silence.
After the meal, Kael retreated to his room. Vera claimed her usual spot on the bed, Ember settled onto her smaller bed, and Fulminus returned to his bedpost perch. The three mythbeasts radiated contentment through their bonds, satisfied with the productive day.
Kael lay down, his body tired but his mind still active. As he drifted toward sleep, a thought occurred to him that made him smile.
If this growth rate keeps up—mine and my companions'—I'm going to need a ranch estate by next month. Somewhere with space for everyone to train and live comfortably.
It wasn't an unrealistic thought. With the money they were earning and the rate they were progressing through guild ranks, property ownership wasn't as far-fetched as it might have seemed just days ago.
Another thought followed, warmer and more satisfying.
This was the kind of day I wouldn't mind having every day. Training with my companions, growing stronger together, preparing for challenges, but not drowning in constant danger.
But even as he thought it, Kael knew the truth. Life wouldn't be that easy. Not in a world where mythbeasts could level cities, where bandits roamed the roads, where quests carried genuine danger.
Still, peaceful days were possible. Days like today, focused on growth and improvement rather than mere survival.
That was enough for now.
Through his three bonds, Kael felt his companions settling into sleep, their presence in his mind a constant comfort. Vera's steady strength, Ember's bright enthusiasm, Fulminus's fierce determination.
His team. His family. His future.
Tomorrow they'd face a poison-type mythbeast in a village cellar.
But tonight, they rested and recovered.