A month slipped by in that easy, deceptively calm way life sometimes does when you're not dodging Titan-class disasters or mythical prank-gods.
Cyrus settled into a rhythm at the King Estate: mornings spent running data logs for his parents' research, afternoons training with his team, and evenings wrestling Gengar off the security system so it wouldn't rename the Wi-Fi to "BUTTS_5G" again.
Ceruledge refined its strikes until it could split a walnut at twenty feet.
Tyrunt learned how to not bite the furniture (mostly).
Meltan worked with Dr. Maren King on energy-density tests, occasionally melting metal samples and once an entire desk.
Ditto practiced form-stability drills until it could hold a full Ceruledge copy for twenty minutes without drooping.
And the Bloodmoon Ursaluna…
…just got stronger. Calmer. Steadier.
Sometimes he followed Cyrus during training. Sometimes he watched from the hilltop like a silent guardian. But he was healing — and that was enough.
Life almost felt normal.
Almost.
It started in the lab.
Joseph Von King stood over a holomap table, fingers tapping in that pattern Cyrus knew meant he was working through a pitch.
"Cyrus," he said, not looking up. "When you have a moment?"
Cyrus stepped over, wiping dust from his hands. "What's up? Need help with Meltan's containment again?"
"No, no," Joseph said. "We've… got an opportunity. And we think you're the right one for it."
Maren glanced up from a monitor, expression a blend of curiosity and "try not to terrify the child."
"Another field assignment?" Cyrus asked, already bracing.
"Yes," Maren said. "But not a crisis. Not like Bloodmoon Mountain."
Joseph nodded. "Divide City."
Cyrus blinked. "That's on our continent, right?"
Joseph chuckled. "Barely. It's far enough north you'll need a flight. Their terrain's… complicated. And the city's split into districts that don't exactly get along. We've been asked to help survey an anomaly there. Small, stable, contained. Nothing Titan-sized."
"Define 'anomaly.'"
Maren gave a diplomatic shrug. "A distortion ripple that refuses to dissipate. They want our input before they escalate it to the League."
Cyrus considered it. "And what do you need me for?"
"You're mobile," Joseph said. "You're adaptable. You have unique field instincts. And…"
He paused, giving Cyrus that look parents use right before saying something annoying.
"…Divide City has rules."
"Rules?"
Joseph sighed. "Mandatory gym certification. Every entrant from outside their region must hold at least 2 badges to move around outside the city. One from our district, one from theirs. It's their way of keeping unprepared travelers from wandering into danger."
Cyrus blinked at him. "…So if I don't have a badge, I can't even leave the airport?"
"No," Maren said. "They won't even let you step off the landing pad. They're very strict."
Cyrus folded his arms. "And you're telling me this now because…?"
"We thought you might need time to prepare," Joseph replied gently. "Particularly for our local gym. It's not exactly beginner-friendly."
Maren added, "Divide City's gym is even less friendly."
Cyrus exhaled slowly.
"So, step one: go earn a badge here.
Step two: fly to Divide City.
Step three: earn another badge just to access the city?
Step four: handle whatever weird rippling thing they've got going on."
Joseph smiled. "Yes. Exactly."
Cyrus smiled back. "You're enjoying this."
"Very much."
Cyrus rubbed his forehead. "Alright. I'll do it. But I need a plan. And probably a spar marathon. And maybe a therapist."
Maren chuckled. "Your team is strong. You've been training well. And… you won't be alone."
Cyrus raised a brow. "What does that mean?"
She only smiled.
Joseph clapped his hands. "Good. We'll send the details to your holo-device. The gym here specializes in mixed-terrain challenges — you'll want to bring partners with mobility. And durability."
Cyrus glanced toward the window, where Ursaluna stood on the hill like a statue carved from twilight.
A small grin crept across his face.
"Yeah," he murmured. "I think we can manage."