“Zap it out of the air!” Aurin ordered Tuptup. The hairy blue beast had only just avoided a swooping Peekan’s sharp beak.

  With a swing of his golden tail, a bolt of lightning flew from its tip and shot across the corridor of the tower. It struck the Peekan in the stomach as it swerved around, making the teal bird fizzle in mid-air momentarily before plummeting to the ground. It smacked the tiles, rolled over limply, and then vanished in a flash of light.

  “Another one down,” said Aurin, patting the bestial Minakai on the back. He received a static shock for his offering of congratulations and swiftly flattened his now-upright hair. “What do the pair of you think?”

  Flowl hopped from foot to foot, the fireball-engulfed chick enthusiastic to be allowed a chance to fight. Leonite, who was watching over the pair, gave a nod of approval and then shot a look of weariness at Flowl. The little bird was driving the lion crazy with his unrelenting cheeriness. Unlike Sunny, the other untiring optimist of Aurin’s team, Flowl was rambunctious and Leonite thought the creature’s youthful exuberance was unearned.

  Tuptup and Flowl had been in dire need of some attention, especially with the former having been hatched when Aurin first met The Collector in Newfort. Although neither were close to being tournament-ready, Aurin was determined to get them in top fighting condition by the time the next National Championships rolled around. He pushed the sliver of doubt that told him he would fail to qualify out of his mind. That was a loser’s thought, and he was a winner. Come this time next year, he would have the glory of being the first ever Hazelton Champion to be crowned National Champion.

  Click.

  A column of earth erupted from the ground, carrying Flowl to the ceiling and crushing him. As the trap retracted into the ground, the fiery bird fell with it and smacked the ground. He was snuffed out and vanished in a flash of light, his tower run ending upsettingly early.

  Both Aurin and Leonite watched the spot where the trap had sprung from with open mouths. The tamer and his lion looked at each other, and silently agreed that neither of them would ever speak of this again. They were rusty when it came to the tower and this was their wake-up call.

  Aurin cleared his throat. “And that, Tuptup, is a lesson to you. Always watch your step because sometimes I’ll miss things too.”

  Tuptup let out bark of excitement. The little beast looked rather pleased to be the sole focus of the tower run.

  “All eyes on you means that your flaws will be picked up just as much as your strengths. Don’t forget that, my friend.”

  Tuptup looked up at his master with pride, determined to show that despite his youth and inexperience, he was ready for whatever training lay before him. Aurin tussled the fur atop Tuptup’s head and felt that static lick his fingers. With a small wince, he smiled and led the way onwards, keeping the place slow and steady.

  As the trio progressed, Aurin kept a cautious eye out for any and all traps, Leonite continually sniffed the air for the faintest scent of approaching foes, and Tuptup paid close attention to both, wanting to learn as much as he could as quickly as he could. The blue beast was most intrigued by the shiny coins that his master picked up and pocketed. He wondered if perhaps they would unlock his true power in a pinch or maybe they were simply tasty morsels to satiate his hunger in longer tower runs. In any case, there was something enticing about them.

  Upon encountering a wild Rabbacat scratching its ear with its foot, Tuptup leapt to action. He wanted to test out his melee prowess and grabbed his distracted opponent with his teeth, shaking the stunned Rabbacat around for a few seconds. Once it had come around, the Rabbacat wasted no time in thumping its foot into Tuptup’s nose, shocking Aurin’s Minakai greatly. That Rabbacat had some nerve.

  Tuptup bit down harder and wrapped his tail around Rabbacat’s torso, squeezing it tightly. It unleashed a vigorous burst of electricity, making the Rabbacat spasm uncontrollably. The spasming continued until the wild Minakai fell limp and vanished in a flash of light.

  Aurin clapped slowly. “Good job, mate,” he said as Leonite stared on haughtily. “You didn’t let being hit in the face throw you off too much. You used your annoyance as fuel to finish the battle quickly and without expending too much of your energy. My compliments, little buddy.”

  Tuptup performed a surprisingly deft backflip and yelped proudly. He looked to Leonite for approval, who continued to stare with little emotion. He was a hard Minakai to please.

  The group’s journey through Harmony Tower continued with Tuptup finding the trek through the sixth floor particularly straining. It was only thanks to a Healing Herb that Aurin picked up on the fifth floor that he could keep going. The herb was bitter, but not unbearably so, and the second he swallowed, Tuptup felt his strength return. While he was not back to his peak condition, the burns, bruises, and abrasions he’d suffered mended themselves immediately.

  “Well, well, well,” came a sultry voice as Aurin and his Minakai entered the room with the elevator crystal.

  “Eclare?” asked Aurin, surprised to see stunning blonde girl standing before him.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  She winked at him and swept her long locks over her shoulder, letting it fall down her back like a sheet of silk. She placed her hands on her hips and smiled widely. Beside her stood a large Gittup—Tuptup’s evolved form. It was very similar in appearance to Tuptup, save for its long nails and unrulier hair.

  “I haven’t seen you around these parts in some time,” Eclare said, a hint of longing in her voice. “No Luna today?”

  “It’s dedicated training time with one of the rookies,” said Aurin, gesturing towards Tuptup.

  “Such a small member of his species,” said Eclare, bending down and scratching behind Tuptup’s ear with a single finger. “Although, considering his tamer, I am sure he packs more than a punch.”

  “He’s holding his own well. How’s your summer been?”

  “Good,” said Eclare, standing upright and brushing her fringe behind her ear. “It’s been a summer of intensive training. If you still think you’re the strongest tamer in town, you may very well meet your match when we next battle.”

  Aurin looked at Leonite, whose nose twitched in anticipation. The lion new exactly what his tamer was thinking. “We’re almost done here anyway,” said Aurin. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  “So forward,” said Eclare, inspecting her nails. “But very well. Gittup and I would be happy to oblige. I’m sure she can show your Tuptup a thing or two about what’s in store when he eventually evolves.”

  The two tamers stood at opposite sides of the room, aligning themselves so the elevator did not sit in the middle of their battlefield. Tuptup stood beside Aurin, bouncing from side to side excitedly. He could not wait to see the intense battle unfold.

  “Ready when you are,” said Aurin with a grin.

  “Ready,” said Eclare, giving her Gittup a nod.

  A crackling bolt of lightning flew from the beast’s tail. Leonite leapt out of the way as it struck the floor, kicking his feet into the wall and rebounding off it to dodge a secondary bolt. He pounced at Gittup, who began sizzling with charged electricity, ready to spring her devious trap.

  Leonite’s paw moved so swiftly that nobody saw his nails make contact with Eclare’s Minakai. There was barely a blur. Gittup’s eyes, however, were wide and her front legs collapsed as blood poured from them. She tried to stand up, but Leonite had injured her badly. She slumped over and whimpered, her tail glowing briefly blue as she tried to muster up the strength to conjure more lightning. It was to no avail and she fainted before vanishing from the tower.

  “Well,” said Eclare, trying desperately to hide her shock. “That was certainly… something.”

  “I tend to leave people lost for words these days,” said Aurin, flashing a cocky smile. “I don’t want to say that I’m a big deal or anything, but…”

  “Oh, shut up,” said Eclare with a laugh. She walked across the battlefield and looked at Tuptup. “You do exactly what he says and you’ll be the strongest Gittup in the land, little fella. Do you hear me?”

  Tuptup barked in agreement and then ran over to Leonite. The lightning elemental hopped around eagerly, but Leonite was unamused. While he appreciated the praise, he was starting to find Tuptup as tiresome as Flowl. Training partner for the newcomers was a job better suited to one of the louder Minakai like Shamtile or Steambot.

  Eclare looked at her tamer glove, pondering which monster to summon next. “I’m glad I wasn’t gunning for the top today,” she muttered.

  “Well, you’ve come to the right person for pointers!” boomed Aurin.

  “You’re quite the teacher these days, aren’t you? Oh, I heard all about your three new students. You really aren’t going to take them on permanently?”

  “I’m not a teacher,” said Aurin quietly, shaking his head. “What I want is people to spar with right now. When my goal is to defeat Tobias, teaching is something I can’t spare the time for. And besides, bad history and all that.”

  “Yes, yes,” said Eclare dismissively. “We all know about Conrad. But everyone got over that and we all fought together during the Zeera Crisis, didn’t we?”

  “That’s true.”

  “Take it from someone who nearly died that day, Aurin. It’s alright to let your guard down sometimes. You can take a chance and see how things play out. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out.”

  Aurin nodded slowly. “Maybe…”

  “You’re still taken, aren’t you?” asked Eclare, poking him playfully in the chest.

  “Taken and blissfully happy,” said Aurin pointedly.

  Eclare shrugged. “Just thought I’d check. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy for you. Don’t tell Luna I asked though.”

  Aurin chuckled. “Why? Afraid she’ll unleash her fury on you again?”

  “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m afraid of! She’s a feisty one when she gets riled up.”

  “I’m going to tell her. You know that, right?”

  “I know,” sighed Eclare. “It’s why I like you; you’re honest.” Eclare shook her head. “At the very least, you can accompany me through the next floor to make up for knocking out my Gittup.”

  “Only if I get to keep any eggs we find on the way.”

  “Deal,” said Eclare, strutting over to the elevator. “Now hurry up. I don’t want to be stuck in here all day.”

  *

  Aurin and Leonite strolled along the path towards the ranch with Tuptup dragging himself along after his tamer and the vastly more experienced Minakai. The lightning elemental was tired, sluggish, and barely able to spark his tail, but he was proud of his efforts.

  “Howdy, pardner,” said Kyle, making Aurin jump a mile. Leonite had heard the rancher walking through the trees with his keen ears and had recognised the gait.

  “What in the world are you doing in the forest?” asked Aurin, his heart beating out of his chest.

  “Gathering firewood,” said Kyle, pointing upwards.

  Wingbloom soared overhead with a large tree trunk held firmly between is claws. Judging by the smooth ends, the bird-like plant had used his sharp wings to deliver quick and clean cuts to the tree. Wingbloom did not stop and flew onwards to the ranch.

  “How did training go?” asked Kyle, looking at Tuptup.

  “There was a… well, a mishap,” replied Aurin, exchanging an awkward glance with Leonite. “Tuptup, however, did well for his first run.”

  “You struggled to adjust after such a long break, right?” asked Kyle with a smarmy grin.

  “Was it that obvious?”

  “I’ve been there. I’ve taken several extended breaks from tower runs over the years, especially after Wing’s sister died. You get back in the swing of things quickly. Don’t fret too much.”

  “I’m not fretting; I’m taking it as a lesson learned. Even a trap on third floor can pack a punch.”

  Kyle burst into laughter. “Third floor? You, the one who almost took down Tobias, lost a Minakai on the third floor? Leonite, how could you let him be so careless?”

  Aurin’s brow sank into a frown and Leonite suddenly seemed much smaller than before as he bent his knees, and lowered himself down in shame. The two did not utter a word, knowing that whatever words or roars escaped them would only serve as fuel for the amused rancher’s taunts.

  here.

  Aurin's Team:

  Luna's Team: