We found Virion in the dining room, having breakfast with my parents. The atmosphere was serious, and it was immediately obvious that something had changed.
"Ah, there you are," Virion said as we entered. "Sit down. We need to talk."
We sat, Sylvie perching on the back of Arthur's chair. My parents looked at us with expressions that mixed concern and pride.
"As you know," Virion began, "you have been training for two years now. You have progressed beyond my wildest expectations. Arthur, your Beast Will is nearly fully developed. Kael, your hybrid element control is exceptional. Tessia, your plant and healing magic has reached levels rivaling adult healers."
He paused, taking a sip of tea.
"But all that training has been in a controlled environment. Against stationary targets, weak mana beasts, or each other. You haven't faced real danger."
"What are you suggesting, father?" my mother asked, though by her tone, she already knew the answer.
"It is time for your first real mission," declared Virion. "A hunt in the Elshire Forest. Class A mana beasts, possibly AA. Real danger, real consequences."
Arthur straightened up, his eyes shining with barely contained anticipation. Tessia looked nervous but determined. And I…
I knew this was coming. It was part of Arthur's development in the canon. But knowing something and experiencing it were very different things.
"When?" Arthur asked.
"At dawn tomorrow," Virion replied. "I'll give you today to prepare. Check your gear, meditate, rest. Because once we're in the forest, there will be no mercy. You either survive, or you don't."
My father cleared his throat. "Virion, are you sure they're ready? Kael is barely eight years old…"
"Kael can create flames that combine three elements simultaneously," Virion interrupted gently. "He can maintain body reinforcement for thirty minutes without sweating. His core is light orange, which is extraordinary for his age. Yes, Alduin, he is ready. All of them are."
My mother looked at Tessia with obvious maternal concern. "And if something goes wrong?"
"I will be there supervising," Virion assured her. "I won't let them die. But they need to feel real danger. They need to know what it's like to fight for their lives."
A heavy silence fell over the table.
"I understand," my father finally said. "But if something happens to my son…"
"Nothing will happen to him," Virion promised, looking directly at me. "Trust me, Alduin. Trust your son."
---
I spent the rest of the day preparing mentally.
I had read about Arthur's hunts in the novel. I knew they would be dangerous. I knew there would be blood, pain, possibly death.
But reading about it and living it were worlds apart.
I sat in my room, meditating, letting the mana rotation in my core calm me. Sylvie was curled up next to me, feeling my anxiety.
"Kael is worried," she observed.
"A little," I admitted.
"Why? Kael is strong. Very strong."
"Strength isn't everything, Sylvie. Experience matters. And I have no experience in real combat."
"Then you'll get some tomorrow," she said simply, with that childlike logic that went straight to the point.
She was right, of course. There was no avoiding this. It was part of the path.
"Sylvie," I said after a moment, "you're coming with us tomorrow, right?"
"Of course! I must protect Papa and Rainbow Brother."
"Good. But I need you to promise me something."
She lifted her head, looking at me seriously.
"If something goes wrong, if I'm in real danger, I want you to use your connection with me. Like when I meditate and you feel the colors. But stronger. Can you do that?"
Sylvie tilted her head, thinking. "I think so. I've never tried. But I feel like I could… share the colors with you. Make them stronger."
"That's exactly what I want. But only if necessary, understand? It's our secret."
"Our secret," Sylvie agreed, touching her nose to mine.
---
That night, Arthur came to my room.
"Nervous?" he asked, sitting on the edge of my bed.
"A little," I admitted. "Aren't you?"
Arthur smiled, but it was a sad smile. "I… have been in life-or-death situations before. Not like this, but… I know what it's like."
He didn't ask how. He probably assumed I meant when he saved Tessia.
"Any advice?" I asked.
"Trust your training," Arthur said. "Trust your team. And don't hesitate. In real combat, hesitation kills faster than any beast."
"And if I freeze? What if I can't do it?"
Arthur looked at me directly. "You won't. I've seen how you train, Kael. I've seen your determination. You have more courage than you think."
He stood to leave, but paused at the door.
"And remember, I'll be there. Tessia will be there. Sylvie will be there. You are not alone."
For just $1, you can read all the advance chapters on my Patreon +3 chapters.
patreon.com/Mvxzz