The first day of travel dawned bright and clear, the morning sun casting long shadows across the King's Road as Kael, Lyssa, and their companions made steady progress southward. Granite pulled a sturdy cart laden with supplies—food, water, camping equipment, and various other necessities for an eight-day journey. The massive crystal ox seemed unbothered by the weight, his powerful legs eating up the distance with patient, measured strides.
Vera walked alongside Kael, her midnight-black fur gleaming in the sunlight. Ember flitted between perching on Kael's shoulder and exploring the surrounding countryside, her curiosity as boundless as ever. Fulminus soared overhead, already running aerial exercises even though they'd barely left Thornhaven behind. Mushy swayed gently in the cart, content to rest among the supplies and conserve energy.
The road itself was impressive—wide enough for three carts to travel abreast, paved with smooth stone that showed signs of meticulous maintenance. Clearly this was an important thoroughfare, one that saw regular use and care.
"So," Kael said after they'd been walking for about an hour, "I have a confession to make."
Lyssa glanced over, eyebrow raised. "Oh? This sounds interesting."
"I actually have no idea where we're going." He laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean, I know we're heading to the capital, obviously. But I couldn't tell you the route, the distance, what we'll pass along the way. I usually just... go by feeling, I guess? Follow my instincts?"
It was as close to the truth as he could get without revealing his transmigration. In reality, he'd only been in this world for a couple of weeks and had spent almost all that time in or around Thornhaven. His knowledge of geography was essentially nonexistent.
Lyssa laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "Well, good thing you've got me then. I've made this trip twice before—once when I first came to Thornhaven, and once when I had to travel to the capital for guild business about a year ago."
"Then please, educate me." Kael gestured expansively. "I'm all ears."
"Alright, geography lesson." Lyssa settled into an easy walking pace, clearly comfortable with the role of guide. "So, Thornhaven and Ironpeak are both in the far north of the kingdom, practically on the border with two other countries. We're frontier cities, basically—first line of defense if anything ever comes from the north, but also the most remote from central authority."
"Which explains why it took so long for official tournament news to reach us," Kael observed.
"Exactly. Now, this road we're on?" She gestured at the smooth stone beneath their feet. "This is called the King's Road. There are multiple King's Roads throughout the kingdom, all leading almost directly to the capital from different directions. North, south, east, west—they're designed to allow rapid movement of troops, supplies, and information to and from the capital."
"Smart," Kael said. "Centralized infrastructure radiating outward. Makes governing easier and military response faster."
"You think like a strategist," Lyssa noted with approval. "But yes, exactly. The capital is about eight days of travel south from Thornhaven—assuming good weather and steady pace, which we should have. It's positioned in the heart of the kingdom, roughly equal distance from all borders."
"How big is it? The capital, I mean."
"At least ten times larger than Thornhaven in terms of area. Maybe more." Lyssa's voice carried a note of awe that suggested the memory had stayed with her. "Thornhaven feels like a proper city when you're in it, but the capital is something else entirely. Multiple districts, massive walls, buildings that reach six or seven stories high. The population alone is probably fifty times what Thornhaven has."
Kael let out a low whistle. "That's... actually kind of intimidating."
"It can be overwhelming if you're not prepared for it," Lyssa agreed. "But it's also amazing. The diversity, the culture, the sheer energy of the place. You'll see what I mean when we arrive."
"What about the surrounding geography?" Kael asked, genuinely curious now. "You mentioned the capital's positioning—what else is around it?"
"There's a mountain range to the south," Lyssa explained, warming to the topic. "Not as tall as the northern peaks past the border, but still substantial. Provides natural defense and a source of mineral wealth. And to the west of the capital, there's a massive lake—Lake Silvermere, they call it. The thing is almost the size of Thornhaven itself, maybe bigger. Crystal-clear water, fed by mountain streams."
"Sounds beautiful."
"It is. The wealthy nobles have estates along the shore. The lake also provides fresh water for the capital and serves as a trade route for goods from the western regions." Lyssa paused, then continued with a more serious tone. "But the real defense of the capital isn't the walls or the geography."
"Oh?"
"Mythbeasts," she said simply. "The capital is protected at all times by creatures rumored to be equivalent to Rank 20 tamers. Maybe even higher—the exact numbers are kept secret, but the stories suggest incredible power."
Kael's eyes widened. Rank 20. Guildmaster Thorne was Rank 10, and she was one of the three strongest people in Thornhaven. The thought of mythbeasts double that rank was staggering.
"They could decimate an entire country if they wanted to," Lyssa continued. "But they're bound to the royal family—protectors of the king and the line of succession. They've served for centuries, passed down through generations. Some say they're immortal, or at least functionally so. Ancient creatures that remember when the kingdom was first founded."
"That's both reassuring and terrifying," Kael admitted. "Reassuring that the capital is so well defended, terrifying that such power exists and could be turned against people if something went wrong."
"It's a balance," Lyssa said. "Other countries have equivalent protectors—their own Rank 20 or higher mythbeasts bound to their ruling families. It's part of what keeps the peace. Mutual assured destruction, in a way. No one wants to start a war when both sides have weapons that could erase entire cities."
Like nuclear deterrence, Kael thought but didn't say aloud. The parallel to his old world was striking—nations kept in check not by morality but by the knowledge that aggression would result in catastrophic retaliation.
"So the capital's protectors stay in the capital?" he asked instead.
"Almost always. They're there to defend against possible invasions or takeovers from neighboring countries. Moving them away would leave the heart of the kingdom vulnerable, which no ruler would risk." Lyssa shrugged. "It's why border cities like Thornhaven have to be more self-sufficient. We can't rely on the capital's power to solve our problems—by the time help arrived, it would probably be too late."
They walked in silence for a while, processing the information. The scope of the world was becoming clearer to Kael—not just Thornhaven and its immediate surroundings, but a proper kingdom with infrastructure, politics, and power dynamics that extended far beyond what he'd experienced so far.
Overhead, Fulminus continued his aerial exercises, diving and climbing with increasing speed. The thunder eagle's dedication was impressive, but Kael couldn't help but think about the upcoming days of travel.
"Hey, Lyssa," he said, breaking the comfortable silence. "What would you think about doing some light training while we travel? Nothing intensive, but maybe working on power projection while walking, or practicing control exercises while sitting in the cart during breaks?"
Lyssa considered this. "Light training sounds reasonable. Keeps us sharp without exhausting ourselves. We need to stay alert in case something happens on the road—bandits, wild mythbeasts, whatever. Can't afford to be completely drained."
"My thinking exactly." Kael glanced up at Fulminus. "Though I think someone might want to push harder than 'light training.'"
As if summoned by the mention, Fulminus descended in a controlled dive, landing on Kael's extended arm. The thunder eagle's mental presence pressed against their bond with a clear question.
Hard training? While traveling?
"You want to keep doing the intensive cycles?" Kael asked aloud for Lyssa's benefit. "Train to exhaustion, heal, repeat?"
Fulminus sent a pulse of fierce affirmation. His training was aerial—it didn't interfere with the group's movement. Why waste time when he could be growing stronger?
"He makes a fair point," Lyssa observed. "Flying training doesn't slow us down. And you can heal him during our breaks without affecting anything else."
Kael studied his companion's determined eyes. The drive to improve, to become the strongest possible version of himself—it burned like a furnace in the small eagle. Trying to suppress that would be cruel and counterproductive.
"Alright," Kael agreed. "But we're setting limits. I don't want you burning out completely. Five intensive sessions per day—train to exhaustion, I heal you, you rest for a bit, then repeat. Five cycles, no more."
Fulminus's mental presence radiated disappointment. Only five? He could do more. He wanted to do more.
"I know you do," Kael said gently. "And I appreciate the dedication. But even though Divine Restoration heals physical exhaustion perfectly, I still want you to have some actual free time. Time to just fly for enjoyment, or rest, or be part of the group without constantly pushing. Training is important, but so is balance."
The thunder eagle was silent for a moment, processing this. Then, with what felt almost like reluctance, he sent acceptance through their bond.
Okay. Five sessions. But I'm using them fully.
"I wouldn't expect anything less." Kael smiled. "Now get back up there. Session one starts now."
Fulminus launched from his arm with a crack of displaced air, electricity already sparking between his wings as he climbed toward the clouds.
"That one's going to be terrifying when he's fully grown," Lyssa observed. "That level of determination combined with lightning powers? I almost feel sorry for your tournament opponents."
"Almost?"
"Well, they'll be trying to beat you, too. Can't feel too sorry for them."
They both laughed and continued walking.
---
The days developed a comfortable rhythm. Each morning, they'd break camp, load the cart, and set off down the King's Road. Granite pulled steadily, never complaining about the weight. The crystal ox seemed to genuinely enjoy the work, his calm presence a stabilizing force for the whole group.
Kael spent his time experimenting with his powers as they traveled. Nothing exhausting—just a gentle exploration of what he could do. He'd summon small flames while walking, practice maintaining psychic holds on stones he carried in his pockets, let lightning dance between his fingers, and generate wisps of poison mist that he'd immediately dispel.
It was Lyssa who suggested he might want to work on power combinations during these practice sessions.
"You've got fire-lightning mastered for offense," she pointed out on the second day. "And that terrifying fire-poison thing for emergencies. But what about utility combinations? Defensive options?"
"Like what?"
"Well, you've got psychic powers and poison. What happens if you combine those?"
Kael blinked. He'd been so focused on offensive combinations that he hadn't really considered other applications. "Psychic-poison fusion. That's... actually a really interesting idea."
He spent the next hour experimenting as they walked, trying different approaches. The straightforward method—weaving psychic energy and poison together as he did with fire and lightning—produced interesting but limited results. A psychic barrier that was slightly toxic to touch, but nothing groundbreaking.
But then he tried something different. Instead of merging the energies, what if he used psychic power to deliver poison? Not as a physical projectile, but as a mental attack?
The concept was tricky. Poison affected the body. Psychic power affected the mind. Combining them required thinking about poison not as a physical substance but as a corrupting influence.
What if he could create a psychic attack that carried the concept of poison? Something that would affect an opponent's mind the way poison affected the body—slowing thoughts, introducing doubt, corroding mental clarity?
He tested the theory on himself very, very carefully. Just the barest touch of the combined power, applied to his own consciousness while maintaining strict control.
The effect was subtle but noticeable. His thoughts felt slightly sluggish, like trying to think through fog. Decision-making became fractionally harder. It was the mental equivalent of mild poison—not debilitating, but definitely impairing.
"Interesting," he murmured, immediately dispelling the effect.
"Find something?" Lyssa asked.
"Maybe. Psychic-poison combination that affects the mind rather than the body. Makes thinking harder, introduces doubt, slows mental processing." He considered the implications. "Could be useful for making opponents question their own moves, second-guess their strategies. Especially effective against tamers who rely on quick tactical decisions."
"That's actually kind of devious," Lyssa said with approval. "I like it. Very different from your straightforward offensive combinations."
"I'll need to practice it more to make it reliable. And figure out how to deliver it effectively in combat." Kael filed the concept away for future development. "But yeah, it has potential."
Overhead, Fulminus completed another intensive training cycle, diving toward Kael with wings trembling from exertion. This was his third session of the day, and the thunder eagle's progress continued to be remarkable. His speed had increased noticeably even since leaving Thornhaven, his control over electrical propulsion growing more refined with each passing hour.
During their midday break, Kael used Divine Restoration on Fulminus, the golden-white light washing away exhaustion instantly. The thunder eagle rested for about thirty minutes—nowhere near as long as Kael would have preferred, but at least it was something—before launching back into the sky for session four.
Vera watched her aerial companion with a mixture of admiration and concern. He pushes himself very hard.
"He does," Kael agreed silently through their bond. "But it's his choice. And he's getting results."
As long as he doesn't burn himself out before the tournament.
"I'll make sure he doesn't. Promise."
Ember spent most of her time exploring the countryside as they traveled, flitting from tree to tree, investigating interesting rocks, and chasing butterflies. The fire fairy's joy was infectious, her mental presence a constant source of warmth and happiness through their bond.
Mushy remained in the cart most of the time, content to sway gently among the supplies. The gentle mushroom mythbeast seemed to find peace in the steady rhythm of travel, their passive poison aura carefully controlled to avoid affecting the food and water stored nearby.
The second day passed much like the first. Then the third. The King's Road continued south, straight and well-maintained. They passed occasional travelers—merchants with their own carts, other adventurers, farmers bringing goods to southern markets. Everyone was cordial but focused on their own journeys.
On the third night, they camped near a clear stream that ran parallel to the road. Kael practiced his psychic-poison combination on some unfortunate insects, testing delivery methods and potency. The results were promising—a psychically projected poison that affected mental clarity without requiring physical contact.
The fourth day of travel began with overcast skies that threatened rain but never quite delivered. Kael used the time to continue his experiments, gradually refining his understanding of how different power combinations could be applied in different situations.
Fulminus completed his five training sessions with his usual fierce dedication, each cycle pushing his limits before restoration brought him back to peak condition. The thunder eagle's aerial speed was now legitimately impressive—even Kael's lightning-enhanced reflexes had difficulty tracking him at full sprint.
As the sun began to set on their fourth day of travel, they made camp in a cleared area just off the King's Road. The routine had become familiar now—Lyssa handled the fire and cooking while Kael tended to the mythbeasts, making sure everyone was comfortable and cared for.
"Four days down," Lyssa observed as they sat by the fire, eating a simple but satisfying dinner of dried meat and vegetables. "Four more to go."
"We're about halfway there," Kael agreed. He gazed south, toward where the capital waited somewhere beyond the horizon. "Hard to believe we've already covered this much distance."
"Time moves fast when you're focused on other things." Lyssa poked at the fire with a stick, sending sparks drifting upward. "Your power experiments going well?"
"Better than expected. The psychic-poison combination is coming together nicely. Still needs work, but the foundation is solid." Kael flexed his hand, phantom energies dancing through his memory. "What about you? How are you feeling about everything?"
"Honestly? Excited. Nervous, but excited." She smiled. "It's been a while since I've been to the capital. And I've never been there for something like a tournament. The atmosphere is going to be incredible."
"Think we're ready?"
"I think you're as ready as you can be. You've trained harder than anyone I've ever seen, your companions are incredibly strong, and you've got abilities most tamers can't even dream of." Lyssa met his eyes across the fire. "The question isn't whether you're ready. It's whether the competition is ready for you."
Kael laughed. "No pressure, right?"
"Just a little." She grinned. "But seriously, Kael, you've got this. Whatever happens in the tournament, you'll handle it. I believe that."
"Thanks, Lyssa. Really." He looked around at his assembled family—Vera resting nearby, Ember flickering contentedly on a low branch, Fulminus preening his feathers after a full day of intensive training, Mushy swaying gently near the cart, and Granite standing watchful at the camp's edge.
They were halfway to the capital. Halfway to the tournament. Halfway to discovering what challenges awaited them in the kingdom's heart.
But tonight, they could rest easy, surrounded by companions and friends, under a sky full of stars.
Tomorrow they'd continue south. Tomorrow they'd cover more distance. Tomorrow they'd draw closer to their destination.
For now, though, this was enough.
The fire crackled. The night air carried the scent of pine and distant rain.
Four more days to the capital.
Four more days until everything changed.