Kyrion awoke the next day to the sound of trumpets pre-dawn. The sun wasn’t going to rise for at least another hour. Combined with the fact that his sleep had been interrupted that night. Along with pushing himself nonstop in preparation for the fight to come. He was a bit cranky. To top things off, his stomach was also growling. He was hangry.

“Time for breakfast. Fairy, whose name I’ve yet to learn.” Kyrion growled.

“Finally!” The fairy cheered.

The duo left the hot spring. Kyrion had tunnel vision. Didn’t look at anyone, didn’t talk to anyone, and didn’t hear anyone, for all intents and purposes. Passing a group of six people dressed in uniforms he didn’t recognize.

“Kyrion?” Said a small yet familiar voice far below him.

Sadly Kyrion was a man on a mission and didn’t give them a cursory glance, let alone a second.

He noticed that they were following him deep down in his subconscious but didn’t care. His instincts took him to the tavern.

“Hey Kyrion, you look hungry. What can I get you?” The tavern owner smiled.

“Four.” Kyrion said the sound of his stomach growling in protest filled the tavern.

” Five I mean.” Kyrion corrected himself, placing the coins on the table.

“You eat more and more everyday. Yet you haven’t grown narry an inch. Which is surprising after a growth spurt like that.”

“It’s going to my muscles.” He said vaguely, flexing an arm that didn’t look nearly as strong as it was.

“I don’t doubt any of that.” The bartender said. Had it been two months ago, he would have had doubt, but the boy never hid his monstrous strength for someone his age.

“‘I have been pushing myself further than just my regeneration can heal with just mana. I need the nutrients or something.” Kyrion rubbed his eyes.

“Uh huh. Well if becoming a spirit master doesn’t suit you then I’m sure you could go into contract construction. The speed in which you can build things is astounding to say the least.” The bartender cleaned the glass.

“Eh em.” The fairy said next to Kyrion’s ear.

“Oh right. One mug of ale for my friend right here.” Kyrion sat the fairy on the table.

The bartender shrugged and poured a frothy mug for the fairy. It was much bigger than the creature.

The fairy proceeded to climb into the mug. A long bendy tube made from stone extended to the bottom. It then started drinking from the tube.

Kyrion underestimated his appetite and consumed a total of six of the specials before his stomach shut up, and he could think clearly again.

“That hit the spot.” He leaned back into his chair and started to relax.

“Kyrion?” Asked the familiar voice from before.

Kyrion looked down and saw a small girl with red hair giving him the stink eye. “Asela? When did you get here?”

“It’s cause I’m short isn’t it! This isn’t fair you know!” Asela was mad over something.

“Huh?” Kyrion stood up and saw that he now dwarfed his sister by a large margin.

“You’re almost as tall as your dad now.” Charles entered the conversation eyeing Kyrion expectantly.

“Yeah. How come you get all the height?” Asela asked.

“Lots of pain.” Kyrion shivered a bit. He then looked to Charles, who was only a few inches taller than him now. As though he was just noticing the butler. He then looked around and noticed that the others weren’t there.

“They decided to check into the fancy hotel before meeting with you. You had a mean expression on your face.” Asela pats Kyrion on his side, mostly because she couldn’t reach his shoulder.

Tiffany entered the tavern and eyed the duo before looking at Charles.

“Kyrion, I didn’t know you had a daughter?” Tiffany said with mock shock on her face.

“I am not!” Asela protested, eying the much older girl.

“Then who are you?” Tiffany smirked.

“I’m his co...” Asela started.

“She’s my sister. as far as I’m concerned.” Kyrion interrupted.

“Ah so this is Asela. She is much shorter than you. What is she four?” Tiffany eyed the small child.

“Seven…” Asela seethed, the room starting to get a little hotter.

“Just what is going on….” Kyrion muttered before he paid his bill.

“Wanna leave them to it?” Charles asked.

“Might as well.” Kyrion and Charles left the girls alone to bond or whatever they were planning on doing.

“About Asela. I know that you haven’t been told recently but I know.”

“I have learned the story from the birds and the beavers. Still doesn’t change the fact that I remember Asela being brought by a stork, when I was really little. She can deny it as much as she wants but I saw that bird.” Kyrion crossed his arms.

“Who informed you of the birds and the beavers?” Charles asked.

“No no no. I learned about it from both birds and beavers. Some of the beavers I had under me gave birth to litters. I asked Issac about it and he said that people are just mammals with extra steps and babies come from their mother. Birds just lay eggs and put dirt over them. Or was that backwards.”

“Was that all he told you?” Charles asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, is there more I should know?” Kyrion asked innocently, a glow shining in his right eye.

“Ask your teacher to explain it to you when he gets back. More for your own safety, if anything.” Charles pats the doe-eyed boy on his head.

They arrived at the hotel in a matter of minutes. “Kyrion. Did you really build this?”

“Yes, mostly. I had help from various animals and spirits.” Kyrion answered.

“Have you considered becoming an architect?” Charles asked.

“Yes I have, and I won’t. My teacher said that this is just a part of my training. He wants me to stretch the limits of my abilities by thinking outside of combat. I can now freeze and boil water, jump higher by using wind, and recruiting help from various monsters to assist in construction.”

“I see. Your powers are versatile from what I’ve seen. I assume he’s been trying to get you to embrace creativity as well I assume.” Charles eyed the boy.

“Yeah. I think that’s why he doesn’t want me fighting with my body.” Kyrion answered.

“Yeah, all that mana and potential would be a waste if you only trained to be a better puncher.”

“Huh. Makes sense. I heard something very similar recently.” Kyrion led Charles to the hotel and opened the door.

Jared was behind the counter checking on some paperwork given to him by a girl with white hair and a pair of glasses. Kyrion eyed the voice in the sky suspiciously.

“Kyrion what are you doing?” Charles asked.

“Thinking on a few things that make more sense now.” Kyrion sighed before entering the hotel entirely. He made a big deal of walking past the people assembled to see him without looking at them before he suddenly turned on his heels.

“Friends! How have you all been!” Kyrion yelled.

Jared answered first. “It’s been busy lately but I manage enough.”

The others took a minute to respond.

Noah was first. Noah had also grown considerably upon reaching rank four, placing himself at a full six feet tall and exceptionally muscular for his age. It looked like his uniform had been custom fit for his body, allowing it to fit him snuggly. His brown hair now resembled a lion’s mane, and he exuded an air of confidence that he didn’t have before.

“Wow.” That was all Kyrion could say as he looked up.

“You’re not the only one who grows.” His voice had also gotten a little deeper.

“You can also make yourself taller too. How big can you get now?” Kyrion was a little jealous of the change in his voice.

“Double my current height seems to be my limit right now.” Noah began to think.

“Just checking. We are the same age, right?” Kyrion asked.

“I turned ten during the school year and will be eleven in a few more months.” Noah answered.

“How tall do you think you’re going to be?” Kyrion tried to make himself look taller.

“Around seven or eight feet naturally. My powers are a bit more physical strength based so the more mass my body has the more power I can exert.” Noah started.

“Got it your bigger and possibly stronger than me as well.” Kyrion held his head as the information made his head hurt… Before he had an idea.

Noah saw the glint and sighed. “What did you just come up with?”

“I need a weapon heavier than this.” Kyrion pulled out his wooded staff and handed it to Noah, who was surprised by the weight but otherwise unbothered.

“I’ll need a forge and some very dense metals. Though it would only be a blank weapon. Didn’t think to bring anything for rune carving.” Noah explained.

Kyrion did not have either of those things. “Maybe I can ask Mr. Belfour to pick it up for me….”

The white-haired girl approached the distracted Kyrion and poked him in the ribs to get his attention. It did not work as Kyrion continued to talk with Noah. The finger then began to burn a bit.

“Mr.Belfour? Who’s that?”

“A friend of mine’s dad. I helped save him and his daughter on the trip to this town.” Kyrion answered. The fire seemed to get hotter.

Kyrion stopped talking to Noah. “Hey, is someone cooking here? It smells good. Kinda like bacon.”

Noah looked down and noticed Nico was right there. “Kyrion. You should probably be more attentive sometimes. Height has some glaring weaknesses,”

Kyrioon looked down to see a red-faced Nico poking him in the side with a finger made from flame.

“Long time no see. Did you get taller?” Nicole asked plainly, attempting to dig a bit deeper.

Kyrion looked at his friend in confusion. “Yes, a lot taller and sturdier too. You look different than what I remember.”

Nico looked at where her finger was and eyed it suspiciously. She then pulled it back and found that his clothes didn’t even look burnt. “Seems so.”

“So. You didn’t tell me you were a girl.” Kyrion eyed his friend with suspicion.

“Didn’t tell you I wasn’t one.” Nicole replied.

“Asela knew as well I bet, which probably means Everest also knew. I thought that was a slip up.” He crossed his arms.

“I was in hiding. Not much you can do about that. Your hair has some blue in it. Did you build this place?.” Nico changed the subject.

Kyrion motioned to the hotel, letting a cool breeze enter the room, cooling the occupants. “I built this place mostly with my own power.”

“I see. Where did you find blueprints for a place like this?”

“My master gave them to me.” Kyrion shrugged.

She scowled. “Master Gan gave you blueprints? Kyrion I didn’t want to speak ill of the man but I’ve never heard of him before.”

“I see… How about Gamodren?” Kyrion asked, keeping his face vacant.

“Oh. The stage magician. I heard he put on a show in the capital of Invan. Nothing special, wasn’t even awakened, but he had the ability to do magic through tricks and such.” Nico said matter of factly.

“I see.” Kyrion combed a hand through his hair, a bit surprised.

“What does Master Gan have to do with Gamodren?” Nico asked not to put two and two together.

Kyrion slapped his forehead. “What does Master Gan specialize in?”

“Illusion’s duh. He was strong enough to cover a mile or so of land in one big illusion for the last trial.”

“Couldn’t Master Gan just be a fake name?” Kyrion asked.

Nico started laughing. “Your master looks nothing like Gamodren. He was a short old man with a cane, Kyrion.”

Kyrion looked at Nico as though she had grown a second head. “You can’t be Nico.”

“Why do you say that?” She asked.

“You aren’t as inquisitive. That or I truly underestimated my friend.”

Nicole felt insulted and turned around, walking away.

Wura had grown a little though her height wasn’t that drastic. Her silver hair was a little longer, but not by much. “Gamodren and Master Gan are the same person. I think your friend is just a bit confused at the moment. School is quite a bit draining after all.”

Kyrion shrugged. “So, why did you choose to go with the others?”

“I realized that I’d be alone in a place with nothing but craftsmen. I got the feeling I’d go insane in a place like that.” Wura answered, though her attention seemed to be looking for someone else.

Kyrion thought for a moment. “What’s wrong?”

“I haven’t seen Jala. I would have thought she’d love to run around in a place like this. I even bought treats.” Wura said honestly.

Kyrion realized. “Oh right.” Pounding his left fist into his open palm, a pink cloud appeared out of nowhere.

Jala appeared on top of Kyrion’s head. Proceeding to hop down and start stretching as though she had been cramped. She then tiredly examined the group and nodded in acceptance.

“You’re quiet for once Jal….” Kyrion started.

“Wura! Other people! It’s been so long.” Jala hopped onto Wura’s shoulder.

“Is it me or did she get even more adorable?” Kiara pet the silver fox.

Nico also seemed to examine the fox, leaving Noah alone with Kyrion. “What are we, chop liver?”

“I rather like chopped liver and onions.” Noah stated.

“I only like it when Samantha cooks it. Anyhow, let’s get going, I’m sure you’d like to see Damian and Everest.” Kyrion led Noah to the training hall, where Damian and Everest were sparring that morning for possibly the sixth time.

“And here we have the combat maniac’s.” Kyrion pointed.

Ceres was acting as the referee. Damian used a set of twin blades, while Everest used a dagger gauntlet combination.

Seeing this fight made Kyrion realize one thing. Both of them had been hiding their strength while at the academy. Which made sense considering their current schools. One groomed to be, one who lurks in the shadows, while the other dances in the light.

Noah nodded as he saw the look on Kyrion’s face. “Looks like we were the only ones going all out.”

“Yes it does.” Kyrion said.

Damian managed to disarm Everest and held a sword to his friend’s neck.

“And the winner is Damian!”

“I call bull. I totally won that fight.” Everest jokingly protested.

Ceres looked at Damian, confused.

“No, he lost this one. Though I’m sure he could have one had he wanted to five moves ago.” Damian replied stoically.

“So you saw that. Do you belatedly admit defeat?” Everest smiled.

“Had you done the move, sure. Loss is the price of secrecy.” Damian smirked.

Noah approached the armored Ceres and started examining the material. “Inefficient. Too big in places and clearly too bulky given its material.”

“Excuse me? Who are you?” Ceres seemed ready to fight the strange giant.

“Noah, just checking out your armor, with some help from Everest I’m sure we can get you something more suitable for your form.”

“What about me? I’d like some armor.” Kyrion asked.

“My dude. While I’m sure you could move in armor, I don’t think you need it. Wind spirit masters tend to hate being confined by such things,” Noah answered.

“If I made you anything Kyrion then it would probably end up in tatters sooner rather than later.” Everest added.

“Not fair.”

“Kyrion, a healer who can jump in and out of a battlefield is more welcome than another knight to take the brunt of damage. Armor slows people down quite a bit.” Noah stated.

“Yeah yeah.” Kyrion crossed his arms.

“So what now?” Damian asked.

“Well. We have a few days left so let’s meet up with the others. To discuss training in the mornings and play in the afternoons.” Kyrion told his friends, and their reunion truly began.