Morning light filtered through the window of their room at Stone's Rest, gentle and warm. Kael blinked awake slowly, his consciousness returning in comfortable stages. He stretched carefully, mindful of sharing the bed with Lyssa, and turned his head to check on his companions.
Vera was lying on the other bed—the one she'd claimed immediately upon entering the room the previous evening. But she wasn't sleeping. Those intelligent violet eyes were fixed on Kael, and there was something in her expression that he could only describe as a mischievous glint.
Kael narrowed his eyes, suspicion dawning. Through their bond, he sent a pointed question. You took that bed immediately after we entered here on purpose, didn't you? Knowing it was too small for both of us but perfectly sized for Lyssa and me together?
Vera's response came back loaded with smug satisfaction and entirely unrepentant amusement. Perhaps. Seemed practical. Two humans fit better together than a human and a large cat.
Practical, Kael sent back dryly. Right. Nothing to do with you being a meddling matchmaker.
Vera's mental equivalent of a shrug radiated through their bond. Can be both practical and beneficial. Not mutually exclusive concepts.
Kael shook his head, unable to suppress a smile. His mythbeast companion had apparently decided to play cupid, using sleeping arrangements as her opening gambit.
Lyssa stirred beside him, her eyes opening slowly. She stretched, then noticed Kael's attention was focused on Vera with a knowing expression.
"What's that look about?" Lyssa asked, her voice still rough with sleep.
"I just figured out that Vera took that bed on purpose," Kael explained, gesturing to where the large cat lay looking entirely too pleased with herself. "She knew the beds were too small for us to share, but big enough for two humans. She engineered our sleeping arrangement."
Lyssa's eyes went to Vera, and her expression shifted from sleepy confusion to understanding and then to amused exasperation. "Oh, really? I'll remember that, Vera. Matchmaking mythbeasts—that's a new one."
Through their bond, Kael felt Vera's complete lack of shame. She was quite satisfied with her manipulation and would absolutely do it again given the opportunity.
They got ready for the day, gathering their things and rousing their other companions. Ember woke with her usual bright enthusiasm, immediately beginning aerial circles around the room. Fulminus stretched his wings from his perch, sharp eyes already alert and scanning. Mushy stirred slowly from the corner, the small mushroom taking longer to wake but emanating contentment through Vera's translated connection. And Granite, who'd barely moved during the night, finally lifted his massive head with a rumbling yawn.
"So," Kael said as they prepared to head out, "what's the plan? Breakfast first, then explore?"
"Definitely breakfast," Lyssa agreed. "Then we can wander, see what Ironpeak has to offer. No rush—we've got the whole day."
They left Stone's Rest and entered Ironpeak's morning streets. The fortress city was already bustling with activity despite the early hour. The architecture was noticeably different from Thornhaven—more stone, less wood, everything built with defense and durability in mind rather than aesthetics or comfort.
As they walked, Kael's nose caught an unexpected scent—delicious barbecue, rich and smoky and mouth-watering. At this hour? Most places were serving simple breakfast fare, not elaborate grilled meats.
"Does anyone else smell that?" Kael asked, following the scent. "That's definitely barbecue."
Through their bonds, his companions confirmed—yes, they could smell it too, and yes, it smelled amazing.
They found the source quickly—a street vendor with an impressive setup. Large grills covered with various meats, all being tended by a broad-shouldered man with a massive boar-type mythbeast helping manage the fires. The vendor looked up as they approached.
"Morning special!" he called out cheerfully. "Fresh grilled meats, seasoned and ready. Popular breakfast in Ironpeak—we like our protein substantial around here."
"We'll take enough for everyone," Kael said, his mouth already watering. He paid several wolverine coins and received generous portions wrapped in leaves—enough for both humans and all their mythbeasts.
They found a nearby bench and settled in to eat. The meat was incredible—perfectly seasoned, smoky and tender, with a flavor profile that suggested herbs Kael didn't recognize. Even Mushy, despite being plant-like in appearance, seemed to enjoy the offering.
While they ate, Lyssa's attention was caught by a nearby conversation. Two men were talking animatedly about something, their voices carrying.
"—heard it from my cousin who works in the capital—"
"—definitely happening, tournament for sure—"
"—royal guards, apparently—"
Lyssa leaned closer to Kael. "Did you hear that? Something about a tournament?"
Kael had caught fragments. "Tournament in the capital? For royal guards?"
Lyssa stood and approached the two men politely. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear. What's this about a tournament?"
The men looked at her, then at Granite's massive form, and seemed to decide she was someone worth talking to. "Oh, you haven't heard the rumors? Word is there's going to be a tournament in the capital—over a month from now, supposedly. They're looking for royal guards for the third princess and the second prince."
The other man chimed in. "They're twins, apparently. Just turned twenty. The story goes that they were really weak at birth, but they both have incredibly strong mythbeasts now. Need proper guards to match their status."
"The tournament's supposed to be open to any tamer who meets the minimum qualifications," the first man continued. "Good prize money even if you don't get selected, from what I hear. Plus, the prestige of competing would be massive."
"Thank you for the information," Lyssa said, returning to Kael and their companions.
As they resumed walking through Ironpeak's streets, Kael mulled over what they'd learned. "A tournament in the capital. That could be interesting."
"You thinking of entering?" Lyssa asked.
"Maybe," Kael said thoughtfully. "If we're anywhere near the capital when it happens. Even if I'm considered too weak to be a real contender, it would be an incredible fighting experience for my companions. Testing ourselves against the best tamers in the region—that's the kind of challenge that forces growth."
"It's over a month away," Lyssa pointed out. "A lot could change between now and then. We could be significantly stronger, especially with the training we've been doing."
"True," Kael agreed. "I'll keep it in the back of my mind. Something to work toward, maybe."
Through his bonds, he felt his companions' responses. Vera was calculating—assessing whether they'd be ready for that level of competition. Ember was enthusiastically in favor—tournament meant fights, fights meant excitement! Fulminus sent back fierce determination—he would be ready, would prove himself worthy. And Mushy conveyed cautious interest—the small mushroom wanted to be strong enough to participate someday, even if not in this tournament.
They spent the late morning exploring Ironpeak, discovering shops and sights unique to the fortress city. The market district was impressive, with vendors selling equipment and supplies that reflected the city's military heritage—sturdy armor, weapons designed for mythbeast combat, specialized travel gear.
Kael bought a few small items—a better knife, some rope that was allegedly "mythbeast-proof" according to the vendor, and a small first-aid kit that seemed more comprehensive than what he currently carried.
Around midday, they decided it was time for some light training. Lyssa knew of an open field about thirty minutes' walk from the city walls, a place where some tamers often went to exercise their mythbeasts without disturbing the city's residents.
The field was perfect—flat, open, with good visibility in all directions. A few other tamers were using the space as well, but it was large enough that everyone had plenty of room.
Kael's mythbeasts began their routines, though he reminded them to keep it light today—they needed to conserve energy for the journey back tomorrow. Vera practiced her psychic lifting, but with smaller objects and shorter durations than her usual intensive training. Ember did flame compression drills but stopped well before exhausting herself. Fulminus performed flight bursts but at seventy percent intensity rather than maximum.
Granite, however, had a different kind of training today. Without the cart to pull, they could focus on other aspects of his development.
"Today, we work on speed and resistance," Kael explained to the massive crystal ox. "Vera's going to use her psychic powers to push against you—constant resistance from all angles. You push through it, work on maintaining speed despite the pressure."
Granite rumbled understanding, and Lyssa gave her companion an encouraging pat. "You've got this, boy. Nice and steady."
Vera extended her psychic force, creating constant pressure against Granite's massive form. Through their bond, Kael felt her exertion—she was pushing with about two thousand pounds of force, not enough to actually stop Granite but enough to provide meaningful resistance.
For the crystal ox, it was like pulling a normally loaded cart—significant effort but manageable. He began moving around the field, maintaining a steady pace despite the invisible force working against him.
"This builds stamina and strength simultaneously," Kael observed. "And it's good practice for Vera too—maintaining sustained psychic output over time."
They trained for about an hour, then called it done. Everyone was pleasantly tired but not exhausted, exactly the level of exertion Kael had aimed for.
"Food?" Lyssa suggested as they walked back toward Ironpeak. "I'm starving."
"Definitely food," Kael agreed.
As they entered the city, they searched for somewhere suitable to eat—a challenge with Granite's size. Many establishments simply couldn't accommodate a mythbeast of his proportions.
Then they spotted it—a huge establishment clearly designed with large mythbeasts in mind. The tables were round and spaced enormously far apart, with both indoor and outdoor seating available. The outdoor area had tables big enough that even Granite could comfortably join them.
"Perfect," Lyssa said, heading for an outdoor table.
They settled around one of the large round tables, Granite's massive form fitting comfortably in the generous space. Vera claimed a spot next to Kael, Fulminus perched on the table's edge, Ember hovered nearby, and Mushy tucked in close to the center.
Through his bond with Vera, Kael suddenly received a question that made him pause. Is this what people would consider a date? I've overheard people talking about dates sometimes. Seems similar—eating together, spending the day together, enjoying company.
Kael couldn't suppress a chuckle at the question. Vera, ever curious and analytical, was trying to understand human social concepts and had apparently been eavesdropping on conversations.
"What's so funny?" Lyssa asked, her tone light and curious rather than offended.
"Vera just asked me if this counts as a date," Kael explained, still smiling. "She's been listening to people talk and trying to figure out social concepts."
Lyssa's expression shifted to amusement. "A date? I mean... it could be, I suppose. We are spending the day together, enjoying each other's company, sharing meals."
"I've never actually been on a date," Kael admitted. "Not in my... previous situation." He carefully avoided mentioning his past life. "So I wouldn't really know what qualifies."
"Me neither," Lyssa said, and there was a hint of something wistful in her voice. "The bad luck always got in the way. People would plan something nice, then equipment would break, or freak accidents would happen, and they'd decide I wasn't worth the trouble."
She cast a suspicious glance at Kael. "Though I notice I haven't experienced any bad luck today. Or yesterday. Or any day since that pot almost fell on you when we first left Thornhaven."
Kael met her gaze but didn't respond to the implicit question. He couldn't explain about Divine Restoration, couldn't reveal that he'd potentially healed whatever curse or condition had plagued her. So he just smiled slightly and changed the subject.
"Should we order? I'm curious what this place specializes in."
The menu was extensive, offering dishes for both humans and various types of mythbeasts. Kael ordered a substantial meal—grilled steak, roasted vegetables, and fresh bread. Lyssa chose something similar. For their mythbeasts, they ordered appropriate portions—raw meat for Vera and Fulminus, something that Ember could nibble on even though she didn't strictly need food, and a vegetable-heavy option for Mushy that the small mushroom seemed eager to try.
The food arrived quickly and was delicious. Everything was prepared well, seasoned perfectly, portions generous without being wasteful.
Only Fulminus seemed less than thrilled with his meal. Through their bond, Kael felt the eagle's mild disappointment—the meat was fine, technically, but not quite to Fulminus's preference. Still, the small eagle finished everything on principle, wasting nothing.
After the main course, they decided on desserts. Kael chose something with chocolate and berries—sweet and rich. Lyssa picked a fruit tart that looked amazing. Vera received a special treat made for carnivorous mythbeasts—some kind of sweetened meat preparation that she devoured with obvious pleasure. Ember got tiny crystallized sugar formations that she could safely interact with, her flames making them sparkle beautifully. Fulminus chose small candied fruits that he pecked at with more enthusiasm than he'd shown for his main course. And Mushy received a honey-based dessert that made the small mushroom's cap wiggle with delight.
"Everyone happy?" Kael asked, looking around at his companions.
Through their bonds and Vera's translations, the response was unanimous—yes, very happy. Good food, good company, a peaceful day together.
They finished their desserts at a leisurely pace, watching the sun begin its descent toward the horizon. The day had been exactly what they'd needed—no quests, no danger, just exploration and companionship and the simple pleasure of existing together without pressure.
Eventually, they paid their bill, with Kael footing the bill, and headed back toward Stone's Rest. The evening streets of Ironpeak were beautiful, with lamps being lit along the main thoroughfares and the city taking on a warm, inviting glow.
Back at the inn, they settled into the same sleeping arrangement as the previous night. Vera claimed her bed with obvious satisfaction—still pleased with her successful manipulation of the situation. Kael and Lyssa took the other bed, maintaining appropriate distance and professional boundaries, but comfortable enough with the arrangement after one night of experience.
Granite settled into his hay, Fulminus returned to his perch, Ember dimmed her flames for sleep, and Mushy tucked into its corner.
"Tomorrow we head back," Lyssa said quietly. "Two more days of escorting Lord Cedric."
"Hopefully as smooth as the journey here," Kael responded. "Though I have a feeling our luck can't hold forever."
"Your luck has been holding pretty well lately," Lyssa pointed out, that suspicious note back in her voice.
Kael just smiled in the darkness. "Maybe I really am your lucky charm."
"Maybe," Lyssa said softly. "Or maybe something else is going on. But... either way, thank you. For whatever you did or are doing. Even if you won't explain it."
She suspected. Of course, she suspected. Lyssa was smart and observant, and the sudden cessation of her lifelong bad luck coinciding with Kael's mysterious "good luck ability" wasn't exactly subtle.
But she wasn't pushing for answers, respecting his privacy even as she clearly had questions. That trust meant something to Kael, made him want to eventually tell her the truth when the time was right.
"You're welcome," he said simply. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's another long day of travel."
Through his bonds, Kael felt his companions settling into sleep. Vera's steady presence, Ember's warm contentment, Fulminus's vigilant rest, Mushy's peaceful gratitude.
Tomorrow they'd begin the return journey.Two more days of watching over Lord Cedric, navigating the young noble's temperament, and earning the other half of their substantial payment.
But tonight, Kael let himself simply exist in the moment—comfortable, safe, surrounded by companions who'd chosen to be with him.
The tournament in the capital lingered in the back of his mind. Over a month away, but maybe, just maybe, they'd be ready for it. Maybe they'd be strong enough to compete with the best tamers in the region.
Something to work toward, Kael thought as sleep began to claim him. Something to push us to keep improving.
His companions' presence in his mind was a constant comfort, their bonds a reminder that he wasn't alone in this journey.
Whatever challenges tomorrow brought, they'd face them together.
Just like always.
Sleep came easily, pulling him down into dreams of tournaments and challenges, of growth and possibility, of a future that stretched bright and open before him.
Tomorrow would bring Lord Cedric and the return journey.