Dawn broke cold and clear over Thornhaven as Kael stretched outside the western gate, his breath misting in the frigid air. Lyssa stood beside him, adjusting her pack while Granite rumbled a low greeting to the arriving companions. Vera, Ember, Fulminus, and Mushy, besides them.
"Final three-day push," Lyssa said, rolling her shoulders. "You ready for this?"
"More than ready," Kael confirmed. He glanced at his companions, feeling the bonds that connected them humming with anticipation. "We've got the rhythm down now. Time to see just how far we can push in these last days before we leave."
They set off toward their training clearing, the thirty-minute walk passing in companionable silence. The forest was just beginning to wake around them—early birds calling to one another, small creatures darting through the undergrowth, the distant sound of water trickling over stones.
When they reached the clearing, everyone moved to their established positions without needing direction. The routine had become second nature over the past week.
Granite planted himself at the clearing's edge, crystalline armor already gleaming as he prepared for Vera's psychic assault. The massive ox's stance was noticeably more solid than it had been even three days ago—weight distributed perfectly, muscles coiled and ready.
Vera's violet eyes began to glow as she gathered her power. The air around her shimmered with psychic energy, visible distortions rippling outward like heat waves. She'd grown considerably stronger over the past training sessions, her telekinetic grip now capable of exerting tremendous force.
Fulminus launched skyward with a crack of displaced air, electricity already dancing between his wing feathers. The thunder eagle's determination burned like a furnace through their bond—three more days to grow stronger before they traveled to face the kingdom's best.
Ember hovered near her usual cluster of rocks, tiny flames already forming between her hands. Her compression exercises had become almost meditative, the fire fairy capable of maintaining intense focus for extended periods now.
Mushy settled near their patch of moss-covered stones, the passive miasma that always surrounded them beginning to thicken immediately. The poison mythbeast had grown remarkably since bonding with Kael, their control over toxic energy sharpening with each training session.
Lyssa began her running routine, her breathing already measured and controlled. She'd maintained her own steady improvement through conventional training methods, her endurance and strength growing day by day.
Kael moved to his position at the clearing's center and closed his eyes, reaching for the four powers that resided within him. Psychic energy from Vera, cool and precise. Fire from Ember, warm and eager. Lightning from Fulminus, sharp and fierce. Poison from Mushy, heavy, and dangerous.
He'd made significant progress over the past few days. His record for maintaining all four elements simultaneously now stood at nearly three minutes. Today, he wanted to push it to five.
Kael raised his hands and summoned all four powers at once. The mental strain hit immediately, but it was more manageable now—like a weight he'd grown accustomed to carrying. Psychic energy shimmered around his right hand as he lifted three stones into orbit. Fire blazed from his left, orange-red flames dancing hungrily. Lightning crackled across his shoulders and down his arms, blue-white arcs jumping between his fingertips. Poison mist seeped from his skin like steam, greenish and ominous.
He held the configuration, focusing on control rather than raw power. Making the stones orbit in complex patterns. Varying the flame intensity. Directing the lightning into specific channels. Thickening and thinning the poison mist in response to his will.
One minute passed. Then two. The strain built gradually, a pressure behind his eyes that grew with each passing second. But Kael pushed through, maintaining his focus with grim determination.
Three minutes. His previous record. He gritted his teeth and pressed onward.
At three minutes and forty-five seconds, his concentration finally shattered. All four powers cut out simultaneously, the stones dropping to the ground with soft thuds. Kael bent forward, breathing hard, sweat dripping from his forehead despite the cold morning air.
But he'd done it. Almost four minutes. Another forty-five seconds of progress.
Impressive, Vera's mental voice carried genuine admiration. Your control improves daily.
"Thanks," Kael managed between breaths. "But we're just getting started."
---
The training proceeded in carefully orchestrated cycles. Each companion pushed themselves to their absolute limit, then received Divine Restoration when their turn came in the rotation.
The hour-long cooldown meant they had to be strategic. Kael had worked out a schedule that maximized everyone's training time while ensuring each companion got healed three times throughout the day.
The first cycle started with Fulminus. The thunder eagle had been pushing his aerial speed exercises so hard that his wings trembled from exertion after just forty-five minutes. When Kael called him down and placed his hand on the small eagle's shoulder, golden-white light washed over Fulminus's form. The trembling stopped instantly, exhaustion vanishing as complete restoration took hold.
Again, Fulminus projected with fierce determination, launching back into the sky before Kael could even respond.
Sixty minutes later, it was Ember's turn. The fire fairy had been holding a compressed flame the size of a grain of rice for nearly an hour straight, her entire form shaking from the effort of containing such concentrated heat. The relief that flooded through their bond when Divine Restoration washed over her was palpable.
Next came Vera, who'd been pressing against Granite with enough psychic force to actually make the massive crystal ox struggle. The golden light seemed to sink into her midnight-black fur, violet patterns glowing brighter for a moment as the healing took effect.
Then Mushy, who'd been generating their thickest poison clouds for extended periods, pushing the boundaries of how much toxic energy they could produce and control simultaneously. The gentle mushroom mythbeast swayed with relief as exhaustion melted away.
Granite received healing next, despite technically being Lyssa's companion. The crystal ox had been training just as hard as everyone else, and the restoration helped him recover from the constant pressure of resisting Vera's telekinetic force.
Finally, Kael healed himself after pushing his multi-element control to the breaking point. The mental fatigue vanished like morning mist, leaving him ready to begin the cycle again.
And then they did. Again and again and again.
Push to failure. Heal. Repeat.
It was brutal. Exhausting. And incredibly effective.
---
By midday of the first training day, everyone's improvement was becoming visible. Fulminus's speed had increased to the point where even Kael's lightning-enhanced reflexes struggled to track him. Ember's compressed flames now burned white-hot at their cores, so intense they left afterimages. Vera's telekinetic strength had grown enough that she was winning the pushing contest with Granite more often than not, forcing the massive ox to brace with all his considerable might.
Mushy's poison clouds had nearly doubled in size and density, responding instantly to mental commands. Even the passive miasma that always surrounded them had intensified, becoming visible as a faint greenish shimmer rather than just a subtle haze.
Granite himself showed remarkable progress. His stance had become unshakeable, his crystal armor gleaming more brightly, and he'd developed sophisticated techniques for distributing force across his entire body rather than trying to resist at single points.
Kael's multi-element control had jumped to five minutes and thirty seconds of sustained use by the afternoon, and his fusion techniques were becoming more refined. The fire-lightning combination no longer felt like forcing two incompatible energies together—instead, it flowed naturally, white-hot destruction at his fingertips.
Even Lyssa, training through conventional human methods, showed noticeable improvement in her endurance and strength. She could now run for hours without stopping, her breathing remaining controlled even during intense exertion.
When they finally called the end of that first day, returning to Thornhaven as the sun touched the western horizon, everyone moved with the satisfied exhaustion of hard work well done.
"Same time tomorrow?" Lyssa asked as they walked through the western gate.
"Absolutely," Kael confirmed. "Two more days like this, and we'll be in the best shape possible for the journey."
---
The second day followed the same pattern. Push, heal, repeat. But the familiarity of the routine didn't make it any less challenging—if anything, knowing exactly how hard they could push made them push even harder.
Kael worked on perfecting his fusion techniques, experimenting with different combinations and applications. Fire-lightning for pure destructive power. Psychic-lightning for enhanced mental processing and reaction speed. He even practiced his fire-poison fusion again, though he was extremely careful about where he aimed it and made sure to dispel the corrupting flames quickly.
The purple fire still terrified him a bit. The way it spread and accelerated, consuming and corrupting everything it touched—it was a weapon of last resort, something to unleash only when absolutely necessary. But understanding its nature and limitations was important, even if he hoped never to use it in actual combat.
By the end of the second day, Kael's sustained multi-element control had reached seven minutes. Fulminus's speed left visible shockwaves in his wake. Ember could compress flames to nearly invisible points of white-hot intensity. Vera's psychic pressure had grown strong enough that she could actually lift Granite off the ground for brief moments, despite his massive bulk and crystal-enhanced weight.
Mushy had developed the ability to condense their poison into semi-solid forms—not quite projectiles yet, but getting close. Following the same path Ember had taken with fire compression, the gentle mushroom was learning to transform its gaseous poison into more concentrated, controlled manifestations.
---
The third and final day of intensive training dawned with the same crisp cold as before. Kael felt a strange mixture of excitement and melancholy as they made their way to the training clearing. This was their last day here before traveling to the capital. The next time they'd be in this clearing, they'd likely be preparing for entirely different challenges.
"Let's make it count," Kael said to his assembled family and Lyssa. "Everything we've got. One last push before we travel."
The training that day was perhaps the most intense yet. Everyone knew this was their final opportunity to improve the most before facing whatever awaited them in the capital, and they held nothing back.
Kael pushed his multi-element control past eight minutes, maintaining all four powers simultaneously while actively using them—lifting stones, creating flames, channeling lightning, generating poison mist, all at once in complex patterns. The mental strain was enormous, but he endured, knowing that this kind of control could be the difference between victory and defeat in tournament combat.
Fulminus achieved speeds that defied belief, his small form moving so fast that he appeared in multiple places simultaneously, afterimages trailing behind him like a flock of ghost eagles. The thunder mythbeast's fierce determination had paid off spectacularly—he'd become genuinely dangerous, a lightning-fast aerial threat capable of striking before opponents even realized he'd moved.
Ember's flame compression reached a new threshold. She created a fireball and compressed it down to the size of a pinhead, holding it stable for over three minutes. The heat radiating from that tiny point was intense enough to make the air shimmer ten feet away. When she finally released it in a controlled expansion, the resulting explosion obliterated a boulder.
Vera's telekinetic abilities had grown to the point where she could manipulate six objects simultaneously with fine control, or exert enough concentrated force to crush stone. Her psychic barriers had become nearly impenetrable, shimmering shields of violet energy that could deflect tremendous impacts.
Mushy achieved their first successful poison condensation, creating a semi-solid sphere of toxic energy that held its shape for nearly thirty seconds before dispersing. It wasn't quite a projectile yet, but it was close—another few weeks of practice and they'd be able to launch concentrated poison attacks rather than just generating clouds.
Even Granite showed remarkable progress, his defensive capabilities having grown to match his tremendous strength. The crystal ox could now distribute psychic pressure so efficiently that Vera had to use nearly her full power to make him budge.
As the sun began its descent toward the western horizon, Kael called an end to the training session. They'd pushed as hard as they possibly could. It was time to rest and prepare for tomorrow's departure.
Walking back to Thornhaven, Kael found himself mentally reviewing the past week of training. The progress had been extraordinary—far beyond what should have been possible in such a short time. The healing-assisted training method had proven even more effective than he'd dared hope.
"You know," he said to Lyssa as they approached the city gates, "I've been thinking about how much stronger everyone's gotten. Trying to put it in perspective."
"And?" she prompted.
"On average, I'd say everyone's about fifty percent stronger than they were at the start of this week. Maybe more in some areas." He glanced back at his companions walking contentedly behind them. "Vera and Ember working together—or hell, just me using their powers—we could easily handle that thunder-horse we fought weeks ago. The one that nearly killed us. It wouldn't even be close now."
Lyssa let out a low whistle. "That's... actually kind of terrifying when you put it that way."
"Now it'd be target practice," Kael agreed. "Which means we're ready. Or as ready as we can be, anyway. Whatever we face in the capital, we'll handle it."
Confidence suits you, Vera's mental voice carried warm approval. But don't become overconfident. The capital will have tamers who've been training just as hard, and longer.
"I know," Kael acknowledged. "But we've got something special. Something most tamers don't have." He gestured at all his companions. "A real family. Everyone supporting each other, training together, growing together. That's worth more than raw power alone."
Fulminus sent a pulse of fierce pride through their bond. Ember radiated joy and agreement. Mushy projected steady gratitude. Even Granite rumbled what sounded like approval.
They parted ways at the usual intersection, agreeing to meet at the northern gate at dawn for their departure. As Kael and his companions walked toward the Sleeping Drake, he felt that familiar sense of homecoming mixed with anticipation for what lay ahead.
---
The inn's common room was moderately busy when they arrived, but Kael headed straight for the front desk, where Merra stood organizing the evening's check-ins.
"Good evening, Kael," she greeted with her usual professional smile, though something in her eyes seemed softer than normal. "How was training?"
"Good. Really good, actually." He paused, suddenly feeling the weight of the upcoming departure. "Listen, we're leaving at dawn tomorrow, and I wanted to say goodbye properly. In advance, I mean. Is Borin around? And your mother?"
"I'll get them." Merra's professional mask slipped slightly, revealing something that might have been sadness before she turned away. "Just wait here a moment."
She disappeared into the back, returning a minute later with both parents in tow. Borin's magnificent beard practically gleamed in the lamplight, while Elara wiped flour from her hands with a cloth—clearly they'd interrupted her dinner preparations.
"Kael, lad!" Borin's voice boomed with genuine warmth. "Merra says you're leaving tomorrow?"
"At dawn," Kael confirmed. "Heading to the capital for the tournament. We'll be gone for a month at least—maybe six weeks depending on how things go. But I wanted to make sure I said goodbye and thank you properly before we left."
"No thanks necessary," Elara said kindly. "You've been a model guest. Though we'll certainly miss having you around."
"I'll miss being here," Kael admitted, and was surprised by how much he meant it. "But I'll definitely return after the tournament. Thornhaven's become... well, it feels like home. This inn, especially."
"You'll always have a room here, lad," Borin declared, clapping Kael on the shoulder with enough force to make him stagger slightly. "Whenever you return, the Sleeping Drake welcomes you."
"I appreciate that. Really." Kael glanced at his companions, who'd arranged themselves nearby. Vera sat watching with her calm, analytical gaze. Ember hovered near his shoulder, her form flickering between solid and flame. Fulminus perched on the front desk, head cocked attentively. Mushy had settled near Vera, their cap bobbing gently.
Borin and Elara exchanged a look—some unspoken communication passing between them that Kael couldn't quite interpret. Then Borin nodded slightly.
"Well then," the dwarf innkeeper said, his tone suddenly becoming deliberately casual, "Elara and I should get back to work. Dinner won't cook itself, and there are still ledgers to balance. Merra, you can handle the front desk for a bit, aye?"
"Of course, Papa," Merra replied, her voice carefully neutral.
"Good evening, Kael," Elara said with a warm smile that seemed to carry hidden meaning. "Safe travels tomorrow."
"May the gods watch over you on the road," Borin added.
And then they were gone, disappearing back toward the private quarters with what Kael could only describe as suspicious speed, leaving him alone at the front desk with Merra and his quietly observant companions.
An awkward silence stretched for a moment before Merra broke it.
"So," she said, her professional mask firmly in place, though her eyes betrayed nervousness. "Tomorrow morning."
"Yeah." Kael rubbed the back of his neck. "Early departure. Trying to make good time on the road."
Another pause. Merra seemed to be working up to something, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the ledger on the desk.
"Kael, I wanted to ask you something. Before you left." She took a breath, meeting his eyes. "Are you... Might you be looking for another party member? Another tamer to join your group?"
The question caught him completely off guard. "I—what?"
"For your adventures. Your travels." Merra's words came faster now, as if she'd been rehearsing them. "You've got Lyssa as a partner, but larger groups are common for higher-rank quests. I just wondered if you might be open to expanding your party. Eventually."
Kael's mind raced. Was she asking what he thought she was asking? "I mean, not necessarily? I haven't really thought about adding more people. Lyssa and I work well together, and with all my companions..." He gestured at the four mythbeasts watching with varying degrees of interest. "We're pretty effective as we are."
"But you wouldn't be opposed to it?" Merra pressed. "Hypothetically?"
"I guess not?" Kael studied her face, trying to understand what was really being asked here. "If someone wanted to join and it made sense for the group dynamic, I wouldn't automatically say no. Why? Do you know someone interested?"
Merra's cheeks colored slightly. "I was thinking... maybe. I mean, I'd need to find a suitable mythbeast first. Bond with a companion of my own. Papa could help with that—he still has connections in the adventuring world, knows where to find reliable companions."
Understanding finally clicked into place. "You want to join. Not someone else. You."
"Only if you'd be open to it!" she said quickly. "I know I don't have any experience yet, and I'd need to train, and—"
"Merra." Kael held up a hand, stopping her nervous rambling. "Take your time with this. We're going to be gone for at least a month, maybe longer. If you want to find a mythbeast companion and start training, you can do that while we're away. Then, when we get back, if you still want to join up, we can talk about it seriously. See how everyone meshes. No pressure, no rush."
Relief flooded her expression. "Really? You'd consider it?"
"Of course. You're smart, capable, and you know how to deal with adventurers—that alone is valuable experience." He smiled. "Plus, you put up with me for weeks. That shows remarkable patience."
Merra laughed, the tension breaking. "You're not that bad. Your mythbeasts are much better behaved than some of the other tamers we get."
I like her, Vera's mental voice carried warm approval. She has good judgment.
Ember projected feelings of enthusiastic agreement. Even Fulminus sent a pulse of what might have been acceptance—high praise from the fierce eagle who rarely approved of anything.
"So," Merra said, her smile genuine now. "I'll find a suitable mythbeast while you're gone. Papa will help make sure it's a good match. And when you return, we can see about me joining your adventures."
"Sounds like a plan." Kael extended his hand. "Deal?"
"Deal." She shook his hand firmly, her grip surprisingly strong. "And Kael? Be safe out there. The capital, the tournament, all of it. Come back in one piece."
"I will. Promise." He squeezed her hand gently before releasing it. "We'll be back before you know it."
"I'll hold you to that." Merra's professional mask returned, but something warmer lingered beneath it. "Now, you should probably get some rest. Dawn comes early, and you'll want to be sharp for the journey."
"You're right." Kael gathered his companions with a gesture. "Come on, everyone. Last night in a proper bed for a while."
He headed for the stairs, his mythbeasts following. At the landing, he glanced back to see Merra still watching, a small smile on her face. He waved, she waved back, and then he continued up to his room.
That went well, Vera observed as they settled into their usual sleeping arrangements. The innkeeper's daughter is braver than most. Not many would ask to join seasoned adventurers.
"We're hardly seasoned," Kael pointed out, pulling off his boots. "I've been in this world for what, a couple of weeks? And I'm only Rank 2."
Yet you've accomplished what many Rank 5 tamers struggle with. Plus, you have four bonds, multiple power fusions, and Divine Restoration. Don't underestimate yourself.
"Fair point." Kael lay back on the bed, hands behind his head. "What do you all think? About Merra potentially joining us?"
Ember sent waves of approval. Fulminus projected cautious acceptance—he'd reserve final judgment until seeing her in action. Mushy radiated a gentle welcome; their nature was too kind to object to adding another member to their family.
"Then we'll see how it goes when we return," Kael decided. "For now, we focus on the tournament. Everything else can wait."
He closed his eyes, feeling the familiar presence of his four companions settled around the room. Tomorrow, they'd leave Thornhaven behind for the first time since arriving in this world. Tomorrow they'd begin the journey to the capital, to face challenges he couldn't yet imagine.
But tonight, he could rest easy, surrounded by family.
---
Morning came far too quickly. Kael woke before dawn, the sky outside his window still dark. He moved quietly, gathering his belongings and making sure everything was packed and ready.
His companions stirred as he moved around the room. Vera rose smoothly, always alert. Ember flickered to full wakefulness instantly. Fulminus ruffled his feathers and stretched his wings. Mushy swayed gently, their cap bobbing as consciousness returned.
"Ready for this?" Kael asked them quietly.
Four pulses of confirmation answered him through their bonds. They were ready.
He shouldered his pack and led the way downstairs. The common room was empty at this early hour, but lamplight glowed from behind the front desk where Merra stood, clearly having risen early specifically to see them off.
"Morning," she greeted softly, mindful of the sleeping guests above. "I had the kitchen prepare some travel rations for you. And Mama insisted on packing extra—she worries."
"Tell her thank you," Kael said, accepting the wrapped package. "And thank you, for..." He gestured vaguely, encompassing everything. "For making this place feel like home."
"It'll be here when you get back." Merra came around the desk, standing in front of him. "So this is the real farewell. For a while, anyway."
"For a while," Kael agreed. "But don't worry—I'll be back as soon as possible. We've got unfinished business here."
"Unfinished business," she repeated, something in her tone making it sound like more than just guild quests and tournament returns. "I'll hold you to that."
"You should." He smiled. "Take care of yourself, Merra. And good luck finding a good companion."
"Safe travels, Kael. You and all your family." She looked at each of his companions in turn. "Come back with stories to tell."
"We will."
He headed for the door, his mythbeasts following. At the threshold, he glanced back one last time. Merra stood in the lamplight, raising one hand in farewell. He returned the gesture, then stepped out into the pre-dawn darkness.
The streets of Thornhaven were nearly empty as they made their way to the northern gate. A few early-rising merchants prepared their stalls, and the night watch was beginning their shift change, but otherwise the city slept.
Lyssa and Granite waited at the gate as promised, both looking alert and ready despite the early hour.
"Morning," she greeted. "Sleep well?"
"Well enough. You?"
"Same. Ready to do this?"
Kael looked back at Thornhaven one last time—at the massive walls that had protected him, the buildings that had housed him, the streets he'd walked during his first real weeks in this new world. Then he turned to face north, toward the capital and everything that awaited them there.
"Ready," he confirmed.
They passed through the northern gate as the first hints of dawn began to paint the eastern sky. The guards on duty waved them through with minimal fuss—two young tamers with their companions, heading out for adventure. A common enough sight.
The road stretched before them, winding north through forest and field. Eight days of travel to reach the capital. Eight days to wonder what kind of competition they'd face, what challenges awaited, what prizes they might claim.
Kael found his thoughts drifting to the tournament as they walked. What kinds of tamers would they face? How many bonds would they have? What types of powers and combinations? Would there be others like him, with unique abilities born from unusual circumstances?
Worrying already? Vera's mental voice carried gentle amusement.
"Not worrying. Wondering." He smiled. "There's a difference."
If you say so.
Fulminus sent a pulse of eager anticipation. The thunder eagle was ready to prove himself against the kingdom's best. Ember radiated simple joy at the adventure ahead. Mushy projected steady contentment, happy just to be included.
Lyssa walked beside him with Granite's massive form providing a reassuring presence. His partner and friend, ready to support him, whatever came next.
They'd trained hard. They'd grown strong. They were as ready as they could be.
The capital awaited.
The tournament awaited.
And Kael couldn't wait to see what challenges they'd overcome together.