The arena was still. The smoke had cleared.
Two figures faced each other—scarred, tired, unyielding.
On one end, Luna stood with her fur scorched and soaked, eyes burning with resolve. Her body trembled slightly—not with fear, but fatigue. She could barely move, let alone dodge.
On the other, Boggy, Raelson's loyal partner, was barely keeping his legs steady. His flame had dimmed, but in his core, it still blazed bright.
Raelson stepped forward, his voice low, controlled.
"Use Flame Body."
As he is waiting for this order, at once, Whisp's entire form burst into a roaring flame. His body glowed orange-red, but this time, it didn't just shimmer—it burned, intensely, brightly. The air around him wavered from the heat. His paws scorched the ground beneath him as a second fireball began to form between his jaws.
But unlike before, this one wasn't just red.
It burned yellow and red.
An unmistakable sign—maximum temperature.
Across the field, Jimmy saw it too.
He didn't flinch.
His hands moved in calm, purposeful signals, then paused.
His eyes narrowed. His thoughts were crystal clear:
"Last move."
He raised his hand slowly, signed once—
"Use all your force."
Then pointed straight at Whisp.
"Aqua Jet."
Luna inhaled sharply. Her legs locked in place. She could no longer run, but she didn't need to. Instead, she bent low, her entire form condensing moisture from the battlefield around her, spiralling it around her body like a coiled ribbon.
Water began to spin—fast, tighter, sharper.
From across the field, two final forces built to their peak.
On one side—a scorching fireball, nearly white-hot at its core.
On the other—a concentrated jet of water, swirling like a torpedo.
They launched at the same moment.
WHOOSH.
FWWOOOOOSH.
Water and fire raced toward each other, trailing sparks and mist behind them. And then—
CRAAAASH!
They collided mid-air, releasing a massive shockwave. Wind exploded outward, dust and steam spiralling sky-high, the shock flinging both Luna and Whisp out of the arena, their bodies hitting the soft dirt just beyond the ring.
The entire stadium went silent.
The referee stood still—then raised the flag and blew the whistle.
"DRAW!"
The crowd erupted. Cheers mixed with gasps, applause thundered like a storm.
Jimmy didn't wait.
He ran to Luna, scooped her into his arms gently. Her energy was exhausted totally, her breathing shallow. Alive and still conscious.
Without hesitation, he placed her into a large bucket of water by the side of the arena. The water had been pre-prepared—mixed with healing portions, softly glowing with a blue hue.
Jimmy's hands trembled slightly—not from fear, but relief. He looked down at her, brushing her soaked fur gently.
In his mind, he replayed the battle.
That one miscalculation, that one moment when the mist didn't cover enough ground, when the clones hit too early.
That almost cost the match.
But still…
He gave a small, tired smile, and said aloud for the first time in the match—his voice rough but steady:
"It's good that it ended in a draw."
His focus didn't waver. He didn't even notice the roaring crowd.
He didn't even realize someone was approaching—until he felt a presence stop beside him.
Raelson.
The red-haired boy stood there, quiet. His usual confident grin was gone, replaced by something more respectful.
Jimmy looked up, surprised.
Raelson extended a hand and said, "It was a very good match. I've learned many things today."
Jimmy blinked once—then slowly rose to his feet. He extended his own hand, then bowed slightly in return.
"I also have learned well."
At that moment, Luna stirred.
Jimmy turned instantly. He could feel her awakening.
Without hesitation, A soft hum echoed, and in a flash of light, Luna vanished—safely transported.
Jimmy whispered in thought:
"Go to the mind's garden. Heal yourself first."
Inside the Whisp Taming Space
The interior was tranquil. Crystalline trees shimmered in soft blues and greens. In the centre of a pond, a radiant healing light enveloped the space.
As Luna materialized, the light immediately wrapped around her, and in an instant—
All her injuries dissolved.
She blinked, shocked by the sudden comfort, then closed her eyes, exhaling deeply. The pain, the weight—it was all gone.
Back in the real world, the teacher approached Jimmy, her long coat fluttering gently in the breeze. She looked at him over the rim of her glasses, her eyes glinting with pride.
"That was beyond a wonderful match," she said. "Your strategy, control, and understanding of Luna—it's rare. But I also understand... due to time limits, you didn't get to check every skill in depth, did you?"
Jimmy looked up and smiled.
He raised his hands and thanked her in sign language, graceful and humble.
She nodded in return, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Next time," she said softly, "I expect nothing less than brilliance."
And with that, the smoke cleared. The lights dimmed.
But in the minds of everyone who had watched—it was a match they'd never forget.
Two trainers. Two partners. One unforgettable battle.
And the story was far from over.
.................................................................
The field had quieted, but tension still lingered in the air.
As Jimmy stood near the recovery bucket with Luna peacefully soaking in the restorative water, Raelson approached one last time. His red hair glowed like embers beneath the evening sky, his expression caught between intrigue and disbelief.
He studied Luna carefully.
Then he asked, voice calm but curious:
"When did you make a contract with her?"
Jimmy turned slowly. He spoke quietly—but clearly this time:
"Day before Match."
Raelson's eyes widened for a moment, blinking as if he hadn't heard right.
"Yesterday?" he echoed, almost to himself.
Then after a pause:
"Did you raise her before that?"
Jimmy nodded without hesitation.
There was something about the way he stood—modest, still, unreadable—that made it hard to challenge him. Raelson's eyes narrowed, his mind racing.
He finally asked what had been bothering him the most:
"Where did you even get that kind of whisp?"
Jimmy didn't answer.
He just smiled—subtle, measured, and calm.
A smile that revealed nothing.
The teacher, who had been standing nearby, glanced at Jimmy briefly—but said nothing. She neither confirmed nor denied the origin of Luna.
Raelson furrowed his brows, clearly unsatisfied, but eventually let it go. With a light bow, he said:
"We'll meet in class then. Fellow student."
Then he turned and walked away, the last rays of dusk glinting off the edges of his boots.