“And this is the spot that Zeera stood before I was able to throw the Roche Fruit in his mouth,” said Aurin, stretching out his arms and gesturing to the perfectly neat stone in the town square.

  “Absolutely wild,” said Jaden, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’re a little maniac these days, aren’t you?”

  “These days? That was nearly a year ago. I like to think I’ve mellowed since.”

  Luna cleared her throat and looked at Aurin pointedly.

  “Right,” said Aurin quietly. “There was also that whole incident with a rich knight kidnapping my Breminia and taking her to the Ruins of Transference. That one was more recent.”

  “You certainly know how to get yourself into trouble, don’t you?” asked Jaden.

  Luna grinned while poking Aurin in the side. “He always says that trouble finds him,” she said through her giggles.

  “Am I wrong?” asked Aurin. “Please, somebody tell me if I’m wrong. Anyone?”

  Kyle and Gardner shook their heads. “He’s not wrong,” said Kyle.

  “But you don’t help yourself in trying to confront the trouble head on, do you?” added Gardner.

  “What else am I supposed to do?” asked Aurin, throwing his hands up. “Roll over and let the town be destroyed? Let my Minakai be ripped away from me and brainwashed into serving some crackpot who thinks he can use tech and magic to fill up his Minakai collection?”

  “Alright, keep your hair on,” said Jaden with a laugh. He reached over and tugged Aurin’s hair firmly, making his younger brother wince. “There we go. Nice and secure.”

  Gardner glance at the nearby clocktower. “Agh, no!” he howled, checking his watch. “Sorry, but I’ve got to go. Thanks for lunch, Jaden. See the rest of you later.”

  “Where are you going?” asked Aurin as Gardner sped away.

  “Underground Dojo!” called Gardner over his shoulder before disappearing into the crowd in the square.

  “Underground Dojo? What’s that?” asked Jaden.

  “Oh, I forgot to mention that,” said Aurin. “A bunch of tamers started their own local training dojo underneath Hazelton Stadium.”

  “Why is it underneath Hazelton Stadium.”

  “That’s where the old Zodiac Squad base was. Well, their second base after the warehouse we ruined.”

  Jaden nodded his head knowingly. “Makes sense.”

  Luna leaned towards Kyle. “Is he being serious or sarcastic?”

  Kyle hesitated before answering. “I… I’m not sure.”

  Jaden put his hands on their shoulders. “Oh, I’m serious. You think some of the craziness that goes on in Hazelton is unique to this little pocket of the world? No, no. Some of the things I’ve seen on my travels would knock your socks off. I once saw a bank robber use his Minakai to invert gravity temporarily so nobody could alert the police while he blew the vault doors open.”

  Aurin was stunned. “Did he get away with?”

  “For a while, but he was caught trying to spend it. The police pulled no punches and tortured him with a psychic Minakai until he couldn’t tell you which way was up or down, never mind being able to invert them.”

  Luna’s eyes were wide with horror. “Where did this happen?”

  “Barijla,” answered Jaden, rolling the r. “I didn’t stay there for long, but you don’t want to break the law there and get caught, that’s for sure. Not that I would… anyway, Underground Dojo?”

  “I’ve never been,” said Aurin, “but we can show you if you want?”

  “Sure, sounds like fun.”

  “I’m going to head back to the ranch,” said Kyle. “Have fun, you three.”

  Aurin, Luna, and Jaden headed towards the stadium while Kyle made his way home. The town was abuzz with life today with the weather being surprisingly warm for early November. People were taking their time as they walked outdoors, the cafés had their outdoor seats filled for the first time in well over a month, and there was an overall uplifting energy in Hazelton.

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  As the trio crossed the bridge over the river and made their way to the stadium, they could see a small crowd of tamers dressed in their training gear standing in the square outside it. Among them was Gardner—the only one wearing normal clothes—and the tamers who so desperately wanted Aurin to train them; Rick, Nolan, and Holly.

  Gardner stood with his Vinewolf by his side, looking dejected. Facing him was a tamer largely obscured by the crowd, but as they separated, Aurin was surprised to see a face he recognised; Gray.

  “Well, well,” said Gray as he spotted Aurin, Luna, and Jaden approaching. “If it isn’t the Saviour of Hazelton himself.”

  The rest of the small crowd turned to look at Aurin.

  “Hello,” he said awkwardly, giving a small wave. “Nice day, isn’t it?”

  “It was a nice day,” Aurin heard Gardner say, his face sunken.

  “Cheer up, sport,” said Gray with a smile. “You put up a good fight, but your strategy did not pay off this time. I’m sure if we were to battle again, you’d be more prepared.”

  The tamer sounded as though he was sincere, but came across as patronising nonetheless. Gardner, sulking, left the circle and slumped over to stand beside Luna.

  “How about it, Aurin?” asked Gray. “Are you ready for a rematch without the restrictions of the Tamer Day tournament?”

  Aurin took a step forward. “You’re on—”

  “Sorry,” said Jaden, moving in front of his brother. “If you want to battle the master, you need to first get through his bodyguard. Think you’ve got what it takes, Silver Spike?”

  Gray smiled and looked Jaden up and down with great intrigue. “Very well,” he said, snapping his fingers and pointing a finger gun at Jaden. “I’m guessing you’re Aurin’s older brother, correct? Jaden if I’m not mistaken.”

  “My reputation precedes me, I see.”

  “Ah, I’m afraid not,” said Gray, his smile faltering. “I don’t mean to offend, but I only learned of you through deep research into Aurin. I’m afraid I’ll be battling you blind, Jaden.”

  “All the better for me,” said Jaden, striding forward and rubbing his hands together enthusiastically. “Let’s see what you’ve got, Silver Spike.”

  Rick sidled over to Aurin and whispered. “Gray’s no pushover,” he said. “How good’s your brother?”

  “He’s got this,” said Aurin confidently.

  “Holly, if you please,” said Gray, cocking his head to the side as he stared down Jaden.

  “No problem,” said Holly, holding her arm high and extending three fingers. “Three.” She curled a finger into her palm. “Two. “She curled another finger. “One.” She curled her finger and held her fist high. “Fight!”

  As Holly’s arm swung down and cut the air, Jaden and Gray summoned their Minakai. Before Jaden appeared a dark pegasus with large feathery wings. Its eyes swirled with lightning and sparks flew from them as though it needed to discharge excess energy. Its long, swishy tail swayed majestically as it reared up and let out a loud neigh. Aurin was taken aback, not having realised his brother possessed this Minakai. It was a split evolution of Litehorn called Blitzeus.

  Gray’s Minakai was another that Aurin had never seen in person before, but he had never seen it in photographs or on TV either. It was a creature made of pure ice, sitting on the ground with its legs crossed and its arms resting upon its thighs. It held its index fingers and thumbs together as though meditating. Its body was carved like a mighty ancient statue, but its head was wholly inhuman. Its nose was large and its ears were long, straight, and extended out directly horizontally. Atop its head were two devilish horns. They sprouted from the beast’s temples and then soon jutted directly upwards at right angles.

  “Ah,” said Jaden, a knowing smirk on his face. “Are you well-travelled or was this a gift?”

  “The former,” said Gray. “Devimusa, go!”

  As icicles burst from the ground, Blitzeus beat its wings and took to the skies. While it lacked its previous form’s horn, it had no trouble sending bolts of lightning from its eyes. Devimusa slid across the ground, dodging the attacks while remaining perfectly rigid. It was as though the creature truly was an ice statue, so still was its form.

  Aurin watched as the two exchanged a flurry of attacks. He held his breath each time a conjured icicle flew towards Blitzeus, exhaling in relief each time it missed. Both Minakai were incredibly precise in their attacks, but they were equally fast, which made the battle nerve-racking to watch.

  It was clear who had the support of the two tamers with the tamers of the dojo cheering Gray along. This left Aurin, Luna, and Gardner to make as much noise as they could for Jaden when the opportunities arose. However, most of those opportunities were simply nearer misses than others.

  Blitzeus was growing visible tired as he fought, but he somehow managed to maintain his agility. Devimusa, on the other hand, hadn’t moved at all save for its sliding and spinning across the ground. It was almost as though it was a hockey puck bumping against ever-changing invisible walls.

  There came a loud, pained neigh from Blitzeus as its wing was clipped by lightning. As it sank, Devimusa suddenly sprung to life. It uncoiled its legs and leapt into the air fist first. Its entire hand doubled in size as it soared towards its spiralling foe. With a thick crack, it delivered a devastating uppercut to the falling pegasus, knocking it out cold and leaving it to plummet to the ground. As Blitzeus spasmed on the ground, Devimusa returned to its meditating position mid-air and then gently floated to the ground.

  “Is this what he used to defeat you?” asked Luna, nudging Gardner with her elbow.

  “No,” said Gardner, his eyes wide. “I think if he used this, I’d have been finished much quicker.”

  “Sorry, mate,” said Jaden as he kneeled beside Blitzeus and stroked its mane. He arose and extended a hand to Gray. “Good match.”

  “Very much so,” said Gray, perfectly serene. “You are very talented. Taming must be in your blood.” He glanced at Aurin before smiling his eerie smile at Jaden. “It would be good to battle you again one day, Jaden. But for now, I must return to my training.”

  Gray gave his opponent a respectful nod and wandered in the direction of the river where the Zodiac tunnel had been turned into an entryway to the Underground Dojo. Rick bid Aurin farewell and joined the rest of his members in following Gray.

  Gardner had an ugly pout on his face. “I don’t like that guy,” he said once the dojo tamers were out of earshot.

  “He gives me the creeps,” said Luna, a shiver running down her spine.

  “But he’s not one to underestimate,” said Jaden, banishing his Blitzeus and shaking his head bitterly. “I didn’t think he’d be weak, but… well, he took me by surprise. He might even give you a run for your money, Aurin.”

  Aurin couldn’t help but smile. “I’m looking forward to fighting him again,” he said. “At full strength this time.”

  right here.

  Aurin's Team:

  Luna's Team: