The morning after bringing the small water dragon back to their inn, Kael woke with a sense of purpose. The little creature—they really needed to give it a proper name—was still curled up in the corner where it had fallen asleep, looking small and vulnerable despite being a mythbeast from a legendary bloodline.
Lyssa was already awake, quietly organizing their supplies. She glanced up when Kael stirred, giving him a knowing look.
"Planning to heal it today?" she asked softly.
"Yeah. No point in waiting." Kael stretched and moved to where the young dragon rested. "The sooner it can use its powers, the sooner it can start feeling like it actually belongs."
The dragon's eyes opened as Kael approached, immediately alert despite the early hour. Through Vera's translation, Kael could sense its wariness—the ingrained expectation that something would go wrong, that this hope would turn out to be false like so many before.
"Hey," Kael said gently, crouching down to eye level. "I want to show you something. My abilities—what I can actually do."
He raised his hand and summoned a small flame, letting it dance above his palm. Then he added lightning, blue-white arcs crackling around the fire. Psychic energy shimmered next, lifting a small stone from the floor. Finally, a wisp of poison mist seeped from his skin.
The dragon's eyes widened with obvious shock. Four different elemental powers, all active simultaneously. For a tamer to personally wield even one element was impossible. Four was reaching the realm of the gods in its eyes.
"I have a healing ability too," Kael continued, letting the powers fade. "A very strong one. I think—and I'm pretty confident about this—that I can heal your birth defect. Restore your ability to use your water powers like you're supposed to."
You... you think you can fix me? The dragon's mental voice through Vera carried desperate hope mixed with deep skepticism. Everyone says it's impossible. That I was just born wrong.
"I've healed missing limbs, broken spines, internal damage that was decades old," Kael replied. "Your defect is just another injury, in a sense. Damage that prevents your body from functioning correctly. And I'm very good at fixing damage."
But what if it doesn't work?
"Then we figure out another way, or we accept that you're still valuable and wanted even without powers." Kael smiled. "But I really think this will work. Will you let me try?"
The dragon was silent for a long moment, clearly torn between hope and the fear of having that hope crushed. Finally, it gave a small nod.
Okay. Try.
Kael placed his hand gently on the dragon's head and reached for Divine Restoration. Golden-white light flowed from his palm, spreading across the small creature's body with that now-familiar warmth.
But this healing was different from the others. Kael could sense the Divine Restoration working deeper than usual, not repairing physical damage but correcting something at a fundamental level. The defect wasn't a wound or broken bone—it was like a blocked channel, pathways that should have connected the dragon's will to its elemental power but had never formed properly during development.
The healing power flowed through those non-existent pathways, creating them, establishing the connections that should have been there from birth. It took longer than most healings—nearly three full minutes instead of the usual one or two—but eventually the golden light faded.
The dragon blinked, looking confused. I feel... different. Like something that was always missing is suddenly there.
"Try summoning water," Kael encouraged. "Just a small amount. Focus and will it into existence."
The dragon's expression became intensely concentrated. For a moment, nothing happened. Then—
A sphere of water materialized above its head. Small, maybe the size of an apple, but perfectly formed and hovering steady in the air.
The dragon stared at it with something approaching religious awe. The water sphere wobbled slightly as its concentration faltered, but it stayed manifested.
I did it, the dragon's mental voice was barely a whisper. I actually did it. I can use water. I can... I'm not broken anymore.
Tears began to form in the creature's eyes—actual tears of joy and relief and overwhelming emotion. The water sphere dissipated as the dragon lost focus completely, but Kael could see it didn't matter. That single successful summoning had proven everything the young dragon needed to know.
"You were never broken," Kael said firmly. "You just needed help accessing what was always there."
The dragon looked up at him with absolute devotion. Thank you. Thank you so much. I don't... I can't...
"Don't mention it," Kael replied with a warm smile. "That's what friends do—help each other."
Vera, Ember, Fulminus, and Mushy all gathered around the small dragon, projecting feelings of happiness and acceptance through their various mental connections. Even Lyssa and Granite approached, the crystal ox lowering his massive head to gently nuzzle the much smaller dragon.
"You're one of us now," Lyssa said. "Welcome to the family, officially."
"Though we should probably give you a proper name," Kael added thoughtfully. "Can't keep calling you 'the water dragon' forever. How about... Spritz? It's got water connotations, and it sounds friendly."
Spritz, the dragon, tested the name through Vera's translation. I like it. Yes. That's my name now.
"Spritz it is then." Kael stood, stretching. "Now, I need to get ready for tonight. Lyssa, you and Granite, good to stay here again while I do my midnight run?"
"Of course," Lyssa confirmed. "Take your time."
---
That night, Kael made his third trip to the sanctuary park, this time with all his companions, including their newest member. Spritz stayed quiet during the walk, clearly processing everything that had happened—the healing, gaining powers, being given a name, and being accepted into a real family.
When they reached the park's center, the usual gathering was waiting. More mythbeasts than before—word was spreading efficiently. The sandsnake was there, as always, its restored body radiating power and authority.
Kael healed seven more mythbeasts that night. A cat-type missing both front legs. A bird with a shattered beak that prevented it from eating properly. A bear with internal damage so severe it could barely move without pain. Two wolves with old battle scars that had healed wrong. A deer with a broken horn that was somehow connected to its ability to channel natural energy. And a serpent-type with a crushed skull that had miraculously survived but lived in constant agony.
Spritz watched each healing with growing respect and understanding. This wasn't just kindness—this was Kael using his incredible power to restore hope to creatures who'd given up, to give them back what they'd lost or never had.
You're amazing, Spritz projected to Kael as they walked back to the inn afterward. What you're doing here... these mythbeasts worship you. They'd do anything for you.
"I'm not looking for worship or favors," Kael replied. "I just see beings in need that I can help. How could I not?"
Most people would walk away. Would say it's not their problem.
"Then most people need to do better."
They returned to the Silver Griffin Inn well after midnight, everyone settling in for what remained of the night. Kael fell asleep quickly despite the late hour, his sleep deep and satisfied.
---
Morning came later than usual—the midnight healing runs were taking their toll on Kael's sleep schedule, though he didn't regret it. When everyone was finally awake and had eaten breakfast, he gathered the group to propose his training plan.
"Alright, everyone, here's what I'm thinking. Four days of hard training—the intensive kind with train-till-exhaustion, heal, repeat. Down by Silvermere Lake, where we won't be observed. I want us to be as strong as possible before the tournament."
He turned to Spritz specifically. "For you, that means learning what your powers can do and how to control them. You can join the intensive training if you want, or just come watch and practice at your own pace. No pressure either way."
I want to train, Spritz responded immediately. Hard training, like everyone else. I've spent a year being useless. Now I have powers, and I want to learn how to use them properly.
"You sure? It's going to be exhausting."
I'm sure. I want to become strong enough to protect others like me—mythbeasts who can't fight for whatever reason. That takes strength, and I won't get strong by taking it easy.
"Fair enough." Kael smiled. "Then you're in. Lyssa, you good with this plan?"
"Absolutely," she confirmed. "Four days of hard training sounds perfect. The tournament is getting close now—we need to be at our absolute peak."
They set off for the lake around midday, having slept in slightly due to the previous night's activities. The walk took about forty minutes, and they found their secluded spot along the western shore still perfectly private.
"Okay, Spritz," Kael said once everyone was settled. "The best way for you to train your water powers is to focus on precision and force. Try to summon water in a beam—like a high-pressure stream. Make the opening where it sprays out as thin as possible, and push the water through as hard and fast as you can. Water pressure at high speed can cut through solid materials. That's what you're aiming for."
Spritz nodded and began practicing. The first attempts were clumsy—water forming in uneven spurts, pressure inconsistent, the beam too wide to be effective. But there was noticeable improvement with each attempt. By the end of the first hour, Spritz could maintain a steady stream for several seconds.
"Good progress," Kael encouraged. "Keep that up for a week or so, and it'll become extremely lethal. You'll be able to slice through stone."
While Spritz practiced, Kael turned his attention to his own training. He'd been thinking about power combinations, and one in particular had been on his mind—the psychic-poison fusion he'd experimented with before.
"Fulminus," he called out. "Want to try something? It might help increase your mental resistance."
The thunder eagle landed on his shoulder immediately, projecting eager affirmation. Fulminus never turned down anything that might make him stronger.
"I'm going to test my psychic-poison combination on you during a mock battle with Vera. It's designed to affect mental clarity—slow thinking, introduce doubt, and make decision-making harder. You'll be trying to fight normally while I influence you. Sound good?"
Yes, Fulminus confirmed without hesitation. Do it.
Vera moved into position, her violet eyes already glowing as she prepared for the mock battle. Fulminus launched into the air, electricity crackling between his feathers.
Kael reached for his psychic and poison powers, weaving them together in that specific way he'd discovered—not as physical poison, but as a corrupting mental influence. The energy was invisible to most, but psychic-sensitive mythbeasts like Vera could see it as a faint greenish shimmer.
He projected the combined power toward Fulminus, letting it attach to the thunder eagle's consciousness like a subtle fog.
Vera made the first move, launching a psychic pulse at Fulminus. The eagle dodged—but slower than normal, his timing slightly off. He counterattacked with a lightning strike that missed its intended target by a noticeable margin.
Through their bond, Kael could feel Fulminus's confusion. The eagle knew something was wrong with his thinking, but couldn't quite identify what. Decisions that should have been instantaneous took fractional seconds longer. Movements that should have been precise were slightly off-target.
They continued the mock battle for five minutes, with Kael adjusting the intensity and focus of his psychic-poison influence. Too weak and it had no effect.
When they finally stopped, Kael immediately used Divine Restoration on Fulminus, just to be absolutely certain there were no lingering effects.
That was strange, Fulminus projected. I knew I should dodge left, but I hesitated. I knew where to aim, but I doubted. It was like fighting through fog.
"That's exactly what it's supposed to do," Kael confirmed. "Make opponents second-guess themselves, slow their reactions just enough to give us an advantage. In a real fight, that could be the difference between winning and losing."
The training continued. Kael worked on his lightning-fire combination for maximum destructive power, practicing different ratios and manifestations. Vera continued her telekinetic strength training. Ember refined her flame compression. Mushy worked on poison condensation. Even Spritz pushed himself hard with the water beam exercises, making steady progress.
They also began incorporating mock battles between different pairs—Vera versus Fulminus, Ember versus Mushy, various combinations to practice evasion and accuracy. Sometimes they did free-for-alls where everyone had to avoid multiple attacks simultaneously while trying to land their own strikes.
Granite remained on the sidelines as always, the gentle giant really not enjoying combat even in mock form unless it was genuinely necessary. But he watched attentively, and Kael suspected the crystal ox was learning anyway, analyzing tactics and strategies even if he wasn't directly participating.
The first day of training stretched into the evening. They'd done three full cycles of train-to-exhaustion followed by healing for each companion, and the improvement was visible. Everyone moved with more confidence, powers came more quickly, and control was noticeably tighter.
That night, Kael made his trip to the sanctuary to heal another seven mythbeasts. The routine was familiar now—arrive at midnight, let the sandsnake choose who needed it most, work through the healings, return to the inn by about 3 AM.
The second and third days followed the same pattern. Intense training during the day, sanctuary healings at night, whatever sleep Kael could grab in between. It was exhausting but satisfying—they were getting stronger at a remarkable pace, and he was making a real difference for mythbeasts who desperately needed help.
On the return from his third night of healing—technically early morning of the fourth day—Kael and his companions found something unexpected waiting at the Silver Griffin Inn.
A royal guard stood at attention near the entrance, his wolf-type mythbeast companion sitting alertly beside him. As Kael approached, he recognized the man.
"Garrett?" he asked, slightly confused. It was past 3 AM—what was a royal guard doing here?
"Kael Veyrin," Garrett acknowledged with a respectful nod. "Apologies for the late hour. Princess Seraphina sent me with an invitation. She wishes to meet with you tomorrow at the palace—well, today technically, since it's already past midnight. She sends her apologies for not mentioning a specific date during your last visit. You were all supposed to meet up again, but the day was never actually specified."
Kael blinked, then mentally kicked himself. They'd completely forgotten about that. "Right, yeah. We got caught up in training and lost track of the days. Tell Seraphina we'd be happy to meet her. What time?"
"Morning would be preferred, whenever you're able to arrive. The Princess's schedule is flexible today, specifically for this meeting."
"We'll be there. Thank you for coming all this way at such an odd hour."
Garrett smiled slightly. "The Princess was quite insistent that you receive the message as soon as possible. I volunteered for the late-night duty. Safe rest to you."
The guard departed with his companion, leaving Kael standing in the pre-dawn darkness with his own mythbeasts and a change of plans.
"Well," he said to his companions, "guess tomorrow's intensive training is on hold. We're going to the palace instead."
Probably for the best, Vera observed. You need proper sleep anyway. These midnight healing runs are taking their toll.
"I'm fine," Kael protested.
You're functional, Vera corrected. That's not the same as fine.
She had a point. Kael was pushing himself hard—harder than he probably should be. One day of rest wouldn't hurt, and spending time with Seraphina sounded enjoyable anyway.
They headed into the inn and up to their room. Lyssa was asleep, but she'd left a lamp burning low for Kael's return. He extinguished it and collapsed onto his bed, asleep within minutes.
---
Morning came far too early despite sleeping in. Kael woke to find Lyssa already dressed and preparing for the day, their companions all stirring with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
"Heard about the palace invitation," Lyssa said. "Garrett must have stopped by again early this morning to make sure I knew, too. You ready for this?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." Kael stretched, trying to work out the stiffness from too little sleep. "At least it's just hanging out with Seraphina, not some formal court thing."
"You say that like you'd be bothered by a formal court thing," Lyssa observed dryly. "You literally called the Queen 'ma'am' instead of using proper titles and somehow got away with it."
"Why mess with success?" Kael grinned.
They prepared quickly, making sure all their companions were fed and ready. Spritz seemed particularly excited—this would be the small dragon's first return to the palace since leaving with Kael, and now it could actually use water powers. Kael suspected it was eager to show the other dragons what it could do.
The walk to the palace was pleasant, the morning sun warming the streets as the capital came to life. By the time they reached the palace gates, Kael felt more awake and ready to face whatever the day held.
The guards recognized them immediately and waved them through without questions. They made their way to the familiar meeting spot where they'd waited before, their companions arranging themselves comfortably.
"Think she's planned another tour?" Lyssa wondered aloud. "Or maybe something different this time?"
"Could be anything with Sera," Kael replied. "That's part of what makes hanging out with her fun—she's unpredictable in the best way."
And she genuinely cares about you both, Vera added. That's rare in nobility—someone who values friendship over status and political advantage.
"We're lucky to know her," Kael agreed.
They settled in to wait, watching the palace grounds with their usual mixture of awe and growing familiarity. The morning was beautiful, the company was good, and whatever Seraphina had planned would undoubtedly be interesting.
Life in the capital was turning out far more eventful than Kael had expected when they'd first set out from Thornhaven. Rescued princesses, legendary dragons, midnight healing runs, royal invitations—it was almost enough to make him forget that a tournament was coming up in just a few days.
Almost, but not quite.
Because beneath the social activities and the healing missions, there was still that core purpose: prove himself in the Royal Tournament. Show what he and his companions could do against the kingdom's best young tamers.
They were ready. Or they would be, by the time the tournament actually started.
For now, though, it was time to see what adventure Seraphina had in store for them today.