I was alarmed to discover the one I had been brought here to investigate was actually my dad, someone I had not seen in many years now. I was overwhelmed by so many emotions, I was so happy to know it was him, but also confused as to why he was here, did King Alton know about this? Was this the real reason I was sent here?

Unfortunately, I had no chance to enjoy the moment, or to even tell him it was me, as he was preparing for another attack. He had changed Zekon into his bow form, which could whip up a tornado with a single shot, and that tornado was usually summoned right at you.

“What do we do Larana?” I asked. “I don’t think he knows it’s me, even with you.”

“It must have something to do with this storm, as I was unable to sense the spirit was Zekon,” admitted Larana.

“It would seem I might have to defeat my own dad,” I sighed. “I don’t want to fight him, not now I know it’s him.”

“Unfortunately, he isn’t going to give you that choice. Look out!” cried Larana.

My attention returned to dad who was still focused on taking me down, how was I going to tell him. Perhaps if I released more of Larana’s power, would he recognise it?

I stood still as he fired several arrows from his bow. I held out my hands. “Ready to put on a show Larana?”

“Always master,” she responded.

I allowed her more access to my power and she did the same for me, my body again faintly glowed green. As his arrows came closer, a tornado was summoned all around me, I felt it pulling and tearing at my clothes, but this was nothing. Zekon may be a powerful talisman but no talisman with the power over wind was as strong as Larana.

I lifted my hand, my palm facing upwards as I sent wind skywards, breaking apart the tornado without much thought about it.

I dashed forward, getting closer to dad, he was prepared as he twisted around, then swung the bow itself, creating an updraft of mud, rocks, and a blaze of fire up at me.

I took a breath, blowing out a gust, splitting the fire right down the middle, but he was waiting past the flames, as he kicked me sending me across our battlefield. I quickly used Larana to balance myself, to stop myself, but again he was waiting, suddenly behind me where I was kicked again.

“Agh!” I cried, how’d he get the upper hand again. There was so much about my dad’s power I had never seen before; he was this strong then why did he not take down Dumah?

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“This ends now,” I heard him speak, my dad’s voice. As he came in to kick me again, I thought I was prepared, but he created an updraft that disrupted the mud and dirt beneath my feet, breaking apart my footing.

Dad pushed me over with a gust of wind from in front and above me. I hit the ground hard, then he was above me. Zekon changing into his dagger form as he prepared to strike.

“Dad!” I shouted. His sword stopped inches away as he heard me say that word, he stared at me. “Dad.” I said it again as a lightning bolt came down near us, lighting us both up in a split second of light.

“Alex?” He reached his hand forward removing my hood.

“Hi dad,” I smiled.

Dad moved off me removing his hood, he held an expression of confusion and proudness. “My haven’t we grown.” Dad quickly moved towards me as another lightning bolt had tried to come down on him.

“What’s with the lightning?” I asked.

“A long story,” he answered. “What are you doing here?”

“I was sent here on a mission to investigate the village and what is happening here,” I said.

“Seems he’s managed to get you in this trap too.” Dad glanced about. “Come it is not safe to talk here, follow me.”

“Alright,” I nodded.

“I am guessing the others who came at the same time are with you,” he said. I nodded again. “Have them follow too.”

“Okay.” I touched Larana’s bracelet. “You know what to do.”

“Yes, master.”

“So.” I went to walk beside him. “You are awesome.”

“You weren’t too bad yourself,” he laughed. “And I’ve seen you’ve kept up with your training.”

“Of course,” I smirked. “I do have to become Tigra’s Guardian yet.”

“Asked her out yet?” asked dad.

“What? Dad.” I cried. “I can’t do that.”

“I suppose not,” smiled dad.

“Saying that King Alton picked a street dancer,” I mentioned.

“Ah, she told you that, did she?”

“Nope, I saw it and what happened to her,” I admitted.

“I can see your sync rate has gotten pretty high, it’ll almost be time for the next level, which you are quite close to achieving,” said dad.

“Next level?”

“The armour you saw was Zekon’s power when a master and their talisman are at max sync rate, more powerful than how you use her power at the moment,” informed dad.

“Whoa, really,” he nodded as we left the undergrowth and into a small run-down village. Most of the houses had patched up roofs from the lightning I was guessing and there were lightning rods everywhere.

Dad walked up to the biggest of the houses and headed inside. I headed in to, the place was simple, everything made from wood, sofa, table, small kitchen, and a nice warm fire at the other end of the room.

As dad removed his cloak, I noticed a few cuts and scorch marks over his fur. Dad smiled as he spoke. “Now tell me all about what I’ve missed while we wait for your friends.” We both sat down by the fire as I began to tell him everything, I felt like a little boy again gazing with admiration at my dad.