Morning sunlight filtered through the window, warm and gentle, coaxing Kael from sleep. He stretched slowly, feeling the pleasant ache of muscles that had worked hard during the escort quest but were now beginning to recover. Around him, his companions were stirring—Vera lifting her head from her sprawled position on the bed, Ember's flames brightening as consciousness returned, Fulminus's sharp eyes opening from his perch, and Mushy's cap tilting upward as the small mushroom woke.
Kael sat up, taking a moment to appreciate the peaceful morning. They were home, safe, well-rested, and ready to resume their training. But first, there was something he needed to address.
He turned his attention to Mushy, opening their communication through Vera's translation abilities. The small mushroom mythbeast had been with them for over a week now, rescued from that terrible village and given time to figure out what kind of life they wanted.
Mushy, Kael sent gently, have you decided what you want to do? Where do you want to go from here?
He continued quickly, not wanting the question to feel like pressure. There's absolutely no rush. You can take as much time as you need to figure things out. You're welcome to stay with us as long as you want, bonded or not.
Through Vera's translation, Mushy's response came back clear and certain. The small mushroom had been thinking about this, processing everything that had happened since leaving that cellar.
Want to bond. Want to stay with you. With Vera, Ember, Fulminus. Want to be family, not just guest.
Kael felt warmth spread through his chest. Are you sure? Bonding is permanent. Once we do this, we're connected for life.
Sure, Mushy confirmed with absolute certainty. You saved me. Protected me. Showed me kindness when others showed hate. Want to stay. Want to grow strong together. Want to protect others as you protected me.
"I'm happy to have you with us permanently," Kael said aloud, his voice carrying genuine emotion. He reached out toward Mushy, and the small mushroom shuffled forward to meet him.
The bonding happened naturally, that familiar sensation of a new presence settling into his mind alongside Vera, Ember, and Fulminus. The weight was gentle, non-intrusive, finding its place in Kael's psychic landscape like a puzzle piece clicking into position.
His interface flickered to life.
[Beast Resonance Activated]
Mythbeast Tamed: Mushy (Poison-type)
Bond Established: 4/???
Ability Acquired: Toxic Manipulation
- Generate and control poison in various forms
Trait Gained: Poison Resistance (Medium)
- Significant resistance to toxins and venoms
Optimal Growth Path: Available
The abilities settled into Kael's awareness. He could feel the potential now—the ability to generate poison similar to how he could create fire or electricity. Toxic Manipulation, a dangerous and versatile power that opened up entirely new tactical options.
And Poison Resistance meant he could train with Mushy's abilities without risking serious harm to himself. Medium resistance wasn't complete immunity, but it was substantial protection.
Kael was eager to test these new powers, to see what he could do with poison manipulation combined with his other abilities. But that would have to wait—he couldn't practice with Lyssa and Granite around, and they had training planned for today.
"We'll celebrate this properly," Kael announced to all his companions. "After training today with Lyssa and Granite, we'll do something special. Go to a nice restaurant, have a good meal, mark Mushy officially joining our family."
Through his bonds, he felt his companions' responses. Vera sent calm approval—Mushy had proven trustworthy and determined, worthy of permanent inclusion. Ember radiated pure joy—new permanent family member! Fulminus conveyed respect—Mushy had shown courage and commitment, earning their place. And Mushy's gratitude was overwhelming, the small mushroom almost unable to process the acceptance and belonging.
They headed downstairs for breakfast, the common room already showing signs of morning activity. Merra was behind the counter as always, and she smiled when she saw Kael approaching.
"Morning," she called out. "You look well-rested. Ready for another day?"
"I'm happy to be home," Kael said honestly, settling at his usual table. "There's something about familiar places and friendly faces that just makes everything better."
Merra's cheeks colored slightly, a faint blush that Kael didn't notice because he'd turned to settle Vera and his other companions. But Elara, emerging from the kitchen with his breakfast, definitely noticed.
"Oh?" Elara said, her tone carrying a teasing note. "Happy to be home, or happy to see certain people who happen to work here?"
Kael looked up, confused by the sudden shift in tone. "I... what?"
"Mother," Merra said, her blush deepening. "Don't—"
"I'm just saying," Elara continued, clearly enjoying herself, "it's nice to be appreciated. Though I notice Kael specifically mentioned friendly faces rather than just the room or the food."
Kael blinked, processing. Was Elara suggesting—? But he'd meant it genuinely, appreciating the warm welcome and familiar environment. He hadn't been trying to flirt or imply anything beyond simple gratitude.
"I appreciate everything about the Sleeping Drake," Kael said carefully, still not entirely sure where this teasing was coming from but not minding it. "The food, the room, the company. You've all made me feel welcome since I first arrived."
"See?" Elara said to Merra. "The company. He specifically mentioned the company."
"Mother, please," Merra said, though she was smiling despite her embarrassment.
Kael decided the safest approach was to simply eat his breakfast and let this run its course. Through his bond with Vera, he felt her amusement—his large cat companion found the entire exchange entertaining and was offering no help whatsoever.
Breakfast was delicious as always—eggs, sausage, fresh bread, and some kind of fruit preserve that was absolutely wonderful. His mythbeasts received their portions, including Mushy's first official meal as a permanently bonded member of their family.
After eating and paying, Kael and his companions set out for the western gate where they'd agreed to meet Lyssa. The morning streets were busy with people starting their day, and Kael enjoyed the familiar rhythm of Thornhaven's morning routine.
They found Lyssa already waiting with Granite, the massive crystal ox looking ready for another day of training. Lyssa smiled as they approached.
"Morning. Everyone ready for—" She paused, looking at Kael's group more carefully. "Something's different. Did something happen?"
"Mushy bonded with me this morning," Kael explained. "Officially part of the family now."
"Finally!" Lyssa said, genuine pleasure in her voice. "I was wondering when that would happen. It was pretty obvious Mushy wanted to stay permanently."
Through Vera's translation, Mushy sent back shy pleasure at being so easily accepted.
"Did you get to choose a proper name?" Lyssa asked the small mushroom directly. "Or do you want to keep Mushy?"
Mushy's response through Vera was clear—the name Mushy felt right, fit perfectly. It had started as a temporary nickname but had become part of their identity. Changing it now would feel wrong.
"Mushy it is then," Lyssa confirmed. "Welcome officially to the team."
They set off toward their usual training spot in the western forest, falling into comfortable traveling patterns. During the walk, Kael explained the morning's bonding to Lyssa in more detail, though he carefully avoided mentioning the specific abilities he'd gained—Toxic Manipulation and Poison Resistance were powers he couldn't reveal without exposing his entire secret.
"It was just a matter of time," Lyssa observed. "Mushy's been with you for over a week, training with everyone, clearly wanting to be part of the group. The only question was when, not if."
They reached their usual clearing, the familiar space welcoming and well-suited to their needs. Everyone began their training routines with practiced efficiency.
Vera started her psychic exercises, lifting progressively heavier objects and manipulating them with increasing precision. Her control had grown remarkably—she could now manage five or six objects simultaneously while maintaining exact positioning.
Ember practiced flame compression, creating fireballs and condensing them to white-hot points of intense heat. Her ability to hold the compression had improved significantly, maintaining stability for over two minutes now.
Fulminus performed his flight burst drills, electricity crackling across his feathers as he pushed his speed higher and higher. His movements were becoming almost too fast to track, brief blurs of motion punctuated by sharp turns and rapid stops.
Mushy worked on poison mist generation, consciously producing the toxic cloud in increasing volumes. The small mushroom's control had improved dramatically since those first attempts—now the mist came easily, dense and visible, spreading in a controlled area around Mushy's body.
Granite continued his strength and endurance training, pulling weighted loads and pushing through Vera's psychic resistance. The massive crystal ox was showing clear improvement; his stamina was increasing noticeably week by week.
And Kael... Kael couldn't train his powers. Not with Lyssa and Granite present. So instead, he focused on basic physical conditioning—running laps around the clearing, doing bodyweight exercises, working on his baseline human strength and endurance.
It was frustrating in some ways. He had five different power sets now—psychic, fire, lightning, poison, and healing—but he could only train them when alone. Still, maintaining his physical fitness was important. Powers were valuable, but a strong, healthy body was the foundation upon which everything else was built.
Lyssa joined him in the physical training, and they ran laps together, occasionally racing to add an element of challenge. Through their conversation between exercises, Kael learned more about Lyssa's background, her years struggling with the bad luck that had defined so much of her life, her relief at its apparent end.
"I keep waiting for something to go wrong," Lyssa admitted during a water break. "For the bad luck to come back. But it's been a week now, and nothing. Just... normal life. Normal accidents and complications that anyone might experience."
"Maybe it really is gone," Kael suggested carefully. "Maybe whatever caused it ran its course or was tied to something specific that changed."
"Maybe," Lyssa said, but her eyes were thoughtful, studying him with that same suspicious intelligence that told Kael she hadn't stopped wondering about his mysterious "good luck ability."
The training session lasted several hours, everyone pushing their limits but being careful not to overexert. They were training for a potential tournament, yes, but also for long-term growth. Injury from training too hard would set them back rather than move them forward.
Finally, as the afternoon sun began its descent, Kael called an end to the session. "Alright, everyone, that's enough for today. Excellent work."
As they packed up their things and prepared to head back to Thornhaven, Kael turned to Lyssa with a suggestion that had been forming during the training.
"Hey, want to join us for dinner tonight? To celebrate Mushy officially joining the family. We were planning to go somewhere nice—a proper celebration."
Lyssa's face brightened. "I'd love that. Where were you thinking?"
"That big restaurant we went to in Ironpeak gave me ideas," Kael said. "I noticed there's a similar place in Thornhaven—the Round Table, I think it's called? Big tables, lots of space for mythbeasts, outdoor seating for Granite."
"The Round Table is excellent," Lyssa confirmed. "Perfect choice."
They made their way back to Thornhaven, everyone tired but satisfied with the day's training. The city welcomed them with its usual evening energy—shops closing, people heading home, street lamps being lit.
The Round Table was exactly what Kael had hoped for—a large establishment clearly designed with tamers in mind. The outdoor seating area had enormous tables with generous spacing, and Granite fit comfortably without crowding anyone.
They settled around one of the large circular tables, Granite's massive form on one side, Vera claiming a spot next to Kael, Fulminus perched on the table's edge, Ember hovering nearby, and Mushy tucked in close to the middle between Kael and Granite. Lyssa sat across from Kael, and the arrangement felt natural, comfortable.
The menu was extensive and accommodating, offering options for both humans and various types of mythbeasts. Kael ordered generously—this was a celebration, after all, and he had money to spend on special occasions.
For himself, he chose a substantial meal of grilled meat and roasted vegetables. Lyssa selected something similar. Their mythbeasts received appropriate portions—raw meat for Vera and Fulminus, something Ember could interact with even if she didn't strictly need food, a vegetable-heavy option for Mushy that the small mushroom clearly enjoyed, and a specially prepared meal for Granite that Lyssa assured him her companion would love.
The food arrived and was delicious; everyone was eating with satisfaction and contentment. The atmosphere was relaxed, conversation flowing easily, laughter coming naturally. This was what Kael had wanted—a proper celebration of Mushy joining their family, shared with the people and mythbeasts who mattered.
They ordered desserts, everyone choosing something that matched their preferences. The meal stretched into the early evening, nobody in a rush to leave, simply enjoying the company and the moment.
Finally, as the sun set and the city's night lamps fully illuminated the streets, they paid their bill and prepared to part ways. Lyssa would head to her residence with Granite, while Kael would return to the Sleeping Drake with his growing family.
"Thank you for inviting us," Lyssa said as they stood to leave. "This was wonderful. Mushy, congratulations again on joining officially. You've got a good family here."
Through Vera's translation, Mushy sent back grateful happiness. The small mushroom was still processing the acceptance, the belonging, the reality of having a permanent place.
They said their goodbyes, and Kael headed back to the Sleeping Drake with his five bonded companions. The inn was settling into its evening routine when they arrived, and Kael went straight up to his room rather than lingering in the common area.
Once inside with the door closed and privacy assured, Kael settled onto his bed with his mythbeasts gathering around him. Vera claimed her usual sprawled position, Fulminus returned to his bedpost perch, Ember nestled onto her smaller bed, and Mushy tucked into the corner that had become home.
Through his bonds, Kael opened a question to all of them. I've been thinking about something. About Lyssa and Granite.
He felt their attention focus on him, curious about where this was leading.
They've proven themselves trustworthy, Kael continued. Lyssa's been a good partner, honest and capable. And if they knew about my abilities—about the elemental powers and especially the healing—I could train properly even when we're together. I could use Divine Restoration actively in our training, which would multiply our growth rate dramatically.
He paused, considering the implications. But telling them means revealing secrets I've kept from everyone. It means trusting them with information that could make me a target if it got out to the wrong people. What do you all think?
Through their bonds, his companions' responses came back.
Vera's was thoughtful and measured. Lyssa had demonstrated loyalty and competence. The risk of revelation was real, but the benefits of training freely and having allies who understood his full capabilities were significant. Her assessment: the trust was worth the risk.
Ember's response was characteristically optimistic. Lyssa was a good person! Friends should trust friends! Sharing secrets brought people closer together! Her assessment: Tell Lyssa, it would be wonderful.
Fulminus's analysis was more tactical. Having allies who knew his full strength meant better coordination in combat. Lyssa knowing about Divine Restoration meant someone else could help protect the secret while benefiting from its capabilities. His assessment: strategically sound to share information with proven ally.
And Mushy, newest to the group but with perhaps the clearest perspective on trust, sent back simple certainty. Lyssa had accepted Mushy without question, shown kindness without expectation of return. Someone who acted that way was trustworthy. The small mushroom's assessment: Lyssa would keep their secrets.
So you all think I should tell her, Kael summarized. That she's trustworthy enough.
Unanimous agreement flowed back through their bonds.
Alright, Kael decided. But I'm going to sleep on it first. Make sure I'm certain before I actually do it. This is a big decision, and I don't want to rush it.
His companions accepted this, settling into their evening routines. Kael changed into his sleeping clothes and lay down. Vera's warm bulk pressed against his side as always.
Sleep didn't come immediately. His mind churned with thoughts about the potential revelation to Lyssa. What would he say? How would he explain? Would she believe him? Would she understand the need for secrecy?
Through his bonds, he felt his companions' steady presence. Vera's calm confidence in his judgment. Ember's bright optimism about the future. Fulminus's fierce determination to support whatever decision Kael made. And Mushy's grateful trust in the person who'd saved them.
Four bonded companions now. Four mythbeasts who'd chosen to walk this path with him, who trusted him completely, who formed the foundation of everything he was building in this new life.
Tomorrow, he might tell Lyssa the truth. Or he might wait longer, give it more thought, be more certain.
But tonight, he had his family around him, safe and comfortable and together.
And that was enough.
Sleep finally claimed him, pulling him down into dreams of training and tournaments, of growth and revelation, of a future that stretched bright and uncertain before him.
Tomorrow would bring its own challenges and decisions.
But for now, rest.
For now, peace.
For now, the simple satisfaction of a day well-spent and a family made stronger by one more addition.
Mushy was home.
And Kael was ready for whatever came next.