Morning arrived with clear skies and the bustle of city life already in full swing. Kael and Lyssa woke early, quickly prepared themselves and their companions, and set off toward the palace. Granite walked alongside them—without his cart this time, moving with a lighter step now that he wasn't pulling their supplies.
The walk took nearly thirty minutes, the palace district being a considerable distance from their more affordable inn. But the journey gave them a chance to see more of the capital in daylight—shops opening for business, merchants arranging their wares, early-morning crowds already filling the streets.
When they finally reached the palace's main gates, the guards recognized them immediately from yesterday's encounter. One guard—the same one named Garrett who'd been on duty when they arrived—nodded in acknowledgment.
"Here to meet Princess Seraphina?" he asked.
"That's right," Kael confirmed. "She's giving us a tour of the city."
"She mentioned you'd be coming. You can wait here—she should be along shortly."
They settled in to wait outside the gates, their companions arranging themselves comfortably. Vera sat with regal composure, violet eyes watching the palace grounds with interest. Ember flitted about examining the ornate gate decorations. Fulminus perched on Kael's shoulder, electricity sparking faintly between his feathers. Mushy swayed gently near Lyssa's feet, their passive poison aura carefully controlled. And Granite simply stood patient and solid, the very picture of calm endurance.
About ten minutes passed before they spotted movement from within the palace grounds. Seraphina emerged, wearing a more casual dress than yesterday's elaborate gown—still clearly expensive, but practical for walking around the city. Ripple glided beside her, the massive water ferret moving with liquid grace.
"Good morning!" she called out cheerfully as she approached. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."
"Just got here ourselves," Kael replied. "How was your night?"
Seraphina's expression shifted to something between amusement and exasperation. "Tedious, honestly. My brother wouldn't stop fussing over me after you left. He kept asking if I was absolutely sure you could be trusted, that I needed to be more careful, that I shouldn't go wandering off with strangers even if they did rescue me from a carriage accident."
"Nothing abnormal there," Kael said with a grin. "He's just being a good brother. Looking out for you."
"True, but it can get annoying sometimes." She sighed dramatically. "I'm twenty years old, not a child. But try telling Hadrian that. He still sees me as his baby sister who needs constant protection."
"Better overprotective than indifferent," Lyssa offered.
"Also true." Seraphina's smile returned. "Anyway, I'm free now and excited to show you around the capital. Did you have anywhere specific you wanted to see?"
"What would you suggest, Sera?" Kael asked, using the shortened name she'd offered yesterday.
Lyssa shot him a look—she was still calling her 'Seraphina,' apparently unable to get past the mental block of addressing royalty so casually. But Seraphina seemed genuinely pleased by the familiar form of her name.
"There's a park right here in the city," she suggested. "It's the biggest park in the entire kingdom, actually. Originally designed and placed with the idea that it would serve as a sanctuary for mythbeasts who've lost their tamers or outlived them. It's also become a really popular place for people to just relax and hang out."
"A mythbeast sanctuary?" Kael's interest was immediately piqued. "That sounds amazing. I'd love to check it out."
"Then let's go!" Seraphina started walking, gesturing for them to follow. "It's about a twenty-minute walk from here, in the western district."
They set off through the capital's streets, Seraphina leading the way with the confidence of someone who knew every corner of the city. As they walked, she glanced at Kael with curiosity.
"Have you given any thought to a reward from my brother? He's definitely going to bring it up again—probably today or tomorrow. If you have something in mind, it might be easier to tell him rather than having him guess."
"Oh, this is going to be good," Lyssa muttered under her breath.
Kael shot her a quick look—supportive, please—before turning back to Seraphina. "Actually, I noticed something yesterday. Your sister and brother both have those water dragon-type mythbeasts, and you mentioned they're exclusive to your family. So why don't you have one? Not that Ripple isn't amazing," he added quickly, nodding to the ferret, "I was just curious about it."
Ripple chittered what sounded like appreciation for the compliment.
Seraphina's expression softened, becoming nostalgic. "That's actually a sweet story. When I was very young—maybe six or seven years old—I found Ripple outside our family's mansion one stormy night. He was just a tiny thing back then, barely the size of a regular ferret, seeking shelter from the thunder and rain."
She reached up to scratch behind Ripple's ears, and the massive creature leaned into the touch with obvious affection.
"I couldn't just leave him outside in that weather, so I picked him up and sneaked him into my room. The next morning, my parents found us curled up together, and that's when they explained he was actually a water-type mythbeast—one who was terrified of thunder, ironically enough. They said I could keep him if I took responsibility for him."
"And you bonded," Kael said.
"After about a week together, yes. We decided to be best friends for life, and the bond just formed naturally." Seraphina smiled warmly at her companion. "So I never had the chance to bond with one of our family's traditional water dragons. I already had Ripple, and he's been everything I could ask for in a companion."
"I knew it had to be something like that," Kael said with satisfaction. "The bond felt too genuine, too strong to be just a political arrangement or family tradition."
"That's wonderful, Seraphina," Lyssa added, her voice carrying warmth despite still using the formal 'Seraphina.' "Granite and I have a similar story, actually. I found him injured in the wild, helped him recover, and we just... clicked. Sometimes the best bonds are the ones that form unexpectedly."
They continued walking, the conversation flowing easily between them. The capital's western district gradually opened up before them, buildings giving way to more open spaces until finally they reached the park.
It was massive. Easily the size of several city blocks combined, with carefully maintained paths winding through natural-looking terrain. Trees provided shade, a stream meandered through the center, and open meadows offered space for running and playing.
The park wasn't crowded—just scattered groups of people enjoying the pleasant morning. But what really caught Kael's attention were the mythbeasts.
They were everywhere. Some wild ones who'd made the park their territory, living peacefully among the visitors. Others clearly belonged to people but were allowed to roam freely in this safe space. Children played with some of the gentler creatures, laughing as they chased or were chased in turn.
But then Kael noticed the others.
An older wolf-type mythbeast lying under a tree, missing its front left leg. A bird creature perched on a branch, one wing clearly damaged and unable to fold properly. A bear-like beast with deep scars across its face and body, fur patchy where old wounds had never properly healed.
These were the sanctuary residents. Mythbeasts who'd lost their tamers, either through death or separation, now live out their remaining years in this peaceful refuge.
Some looked content despite their injuries. Others watched the playing children and younger mythbeasts with expressions that seemed almost wistful, as if remembering their own prime years.
"Sera," Kael said quietly, his voice carrying an edge of concern. "These older, wounded mythbeasts... can't anyone heal them? Restore what they've lost?"
Seraphina's expression grew troubled. "There are healing-type mythbeasts, yes. But for missing limbs and deep old scars like these? There aren't many who could manage that level of restoration. It requires tremendous power and control."
"And the ones who can?" Kael pressed.
"Most belong to the Church of the Generous Healing God." Her voice took on a bitter edge. "And despite their patron deity's name, the priests are nothing like him. They're greedy bastards, every single one. They'd charge exorbitant fees to heal these mythbeasts—fees that no one here could afford. And even if someone could pay, they'd probably refuse anyway because there's no political benefit to helping 'useless' creatures who've outlived their service."
The venom in her voice was startling. Clearly, Seraphina had strong feelings about the church's corruption.
Kael looked around the park again, his gaze settling on the wounded mythbeasts. He could sense their power even diminished—some of these creatures had been formidable in their prime. That old wolf missing a leg radiated strength equivalent to a Rank 9 tamer. The scarred bear was probably Rank 10 or higher. And there, near the stream, a massive sandsnake with a visibly broken back that had healed wrong... that one felt like Rank 13 at least, despite its crippled state.
All of them, reduced to living out their days in peaceful retirement because no one could or would heal them properly.
Kael, Vera's mental touch was gentle but knowing. I sense what you're thinking.
I'm going to come back here, Kael projected to all his companions simultaneously. At night, when no one's watching. And I'm going to heal them. As many as I can, starting with the worst cases.
Ember's presence flared with immediate approval. Fulminus sent determination through their bond. Mushy radiated quiet support. Even Granite, through his connection with Lyssa, seemed to rumble agreement.
It's the right thing to do, Vera confirmed. And you have the power to do it. We'll support you completely.
Kael studied the mythbeasts more carefully, making mental notes. The sandsnake with the broken back would be first—that injury was severely impacting its quality of life. Then the wolf is missing a leg. Then the bird with the damaged wing. He could probably heal two or three per night without drawing too much attention, rotating through the park's residents over time.
"Kael?" Seraphina's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "You okay? You got really quiet there."
"Just thinking," he replied. "About what you said regarding healing. It seems wrong that these mythbeasts, who probably served their tamers faithfully for years, are left to suffer when help exists but won't be given."
"It is wrong," Seraphina agreed quietly. "But that's the reality we live in. Power and healing are commodities, controlled by those who can profit from them."
Not if I have anything to say about it, Kael thought grimly. But he kept that sentiment to himself.
They continued exploring the park for another hour, watching mythbeasts interact and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere despite the underlying sadness of some residents' conditions. Children laughed, younger creatures played, and life continued in its gentle way.
Eventually, they left the park and continued the city tour. Seraphina showed them various districts—the merchant quarter with its endless shops, the crafting district where artisans worked, the entertainment area with its theaters and performance venues. They stopped occasionally at food stalls, sampling local specialties that were unique to the capital.
As they walked through the midday crowds, Kael suddenly remembered something.
"Sera, I totally forgot when we were talking about the wounded mythbeasts in the park, but I'd actually thought of a possible reward from your brother."
"Oh?" She looked at him with interest. "What did you have in mind?"
"It might be presumptuous," Kael prefaced carefully, "but I was wondering about the possibility of bonding with one of your family's water dragon mythbeasts. If that's even possible for someone outside your bloodline."
To his relief, Seraphina didn't look offended. Instead, she appeared thoughtful.
"That's... actually not as presumptuous as you might think," she said slowly. "The dragons bond with our family traditionally, but there's no actual restriction preventing them from bonding with others. It's just that we've maintained exclusive access to their nesting grounds, so outsiders never get the opportunity."
"So it's theoretically possible?"
"Theoretically, yes. Whether Hadrian would agree is another question." Seraphina smiled slightly. "But I can promise to at least try to convince him. You did save my life, after all. And having another powerful bond would certainly help you in the tournament and beyond."
"I'd appreciate that," Kael said sincerely. "I understand it's a significant request. If he says no, I completely understand."
"I'll do my best," Seraphina assured him. Then her expression brightened. "Hey, this has been really fun today! Would you want to hang out again? Not tomorrow—I have some court obligations I can't avoid—but the day after?"
"Absolutely," Kael agreed immediately.
"We'd be happy to," Lyssa added.
"Wonderful! Same time, same place?"
"Works for us," Kael confirmed.
They continued exploring for another few hours, Seraphina pointing out landmarks and sharing stories about the capital's history. By late afternoon, they were all pleasantly exhausted from walking, and it was time to part ways.
"This was great," Seraphina said as they stood outside the palace gates once again. "I'm really glad I got to show you around. And I'll talk to Hadrian about your request tonight, see if I can soften him up to the idea."
"Thanks, Sera. For everything."
"See you in two days!" She waved cheerfully before heading back into the palace grounds, Ripple gliding beside her.
Kael and Lyssa, accompanied by their companions, began the walk back to the Silver Griffin Inn. The sun was beginning to set, painting the capital's buildings in shades of gold and orange.
"So," Lyssa said once they were well away from the palace, "you're going back to that park tonight, aren't you?"
Kael glanced at her, surprised. "How did you know?"
"Because I know you." She smiled slightly. "You saw those wounded mythbeasts, heard that no one would help them, and immediately decided you would. Probably late at night when no one would see you using Divine Restoration."
"Is it that obvious?"
"Only to someone who's been traveling with you for weeks and seen how you operate." Lyssa's expression was warm despite the gentle teasing. "You're constitutionally incapable of walking away from someone—or something—in need if you have the power to help."
"They deserve better," Kael said quietly. "They served their tamers faithfully, probably fought and bled and risked their lives countless times. And now they're just... abandoned or left alone to suffer because the people who could heal them won't."
"I agree. Which is why I'm not trying to talk you out of it." Lyssa paused. "What time are you planning to go?"
"Midnight, probably. Give the park time to clear out completely. I'll heal two or three of the worst cases—start with that sandsnake with the broken back, then probably the wolf missing a leg. Divine Restoration has an hour cooldown, so I can probably manage three heals in a few hours without rushing."
"And you'll need an alibi," Lyssa said practically. "If anyone asks where you were, I'll say you were in our room the whole night. Couldn't sleep, was meditating with your companions, whatever story works."
"You don't have to cover for me—"
"Yes, I do. We're partners, remember?" She bumped her shoulder against his. "You do the sneaky midnight healing runs, I provide the alibis. That's what teams do."
I really picked the right person to team up with, Kael thought with gratitude.
You did, Vera agreed warmly. Lyssa is a good person.
They reached the Silver Griffin Inn just as the last light faded from the sky. The common room was busy with evening patrons, but they headed straight for their room, where Granite was already waiting, having arrived ahead of them.
"Get some rest," Lyssa advised. "If you're planning a midnight excursion, you'll want to be sharp. I'll wake you if needed, but you should set your internal clock for about eleven-thirty."
"Thanks, Lyssa. Really."
"Don't mention it. Just be careful, okay? I know you can handle yourself, but midnight trips through an unfamiliar city always carry some risk."
"I'll be careful," Kael promised.
He settled onto his bed, not actually sleeping but resting and preparing mentally for the night's work ahead. His companions arranged themselves around the room—Vera near the window as always, Ember on her favorite bedpost perch, Fulminus atop the wardrobe, Mushy in their corner, and Granite near the door.
Are you all okay with this? Kael checked one more time. Coming with me to help these mythbeasts?
Four pulses of absolute confirmation answered him. They'd seen those wounded creatures, too. They understood the need.
Then we'll do it right, Kael projected. Quietly, carefully, and we'll make a real difference for those who need it most.
Hours passed. The inn grew quieter as patrons headed to their rooms. The city outside settled into its nighttime rhythm—never fully silent, but definitely calmer than daytime bustle.
When Kael's internal sense of time told him it was nearing midnight, he rose quietly. Lyssa was still awake, reading by lamplight, and she looked up as he prepared to leave.
"Be safe," she said simply.
"Always am."
"That's a lie, but I appreciate the sentiment." She smiled. "Go heal some mythbeasts, Kael. Show them that not everyone's given up on them."
He slipped out of the room with his companions following silently, ready to bring hope to creatures who'd probably lost faith in humans long ago.
The park awaited.
And Kael was going to make sure that at least some of its residents would wake tomorrow morning completely healed.