We gradually returned to Cathopia as I was still recovering from the excessive amount of energy I had used up to purify the problem. If I had left it for the four days it would have taken to return to Cathopia and back again, the pollution would have been much worth, perhaps it might have even reached Cathopia.

By the time we had reached the point where we had crossed when first heading off. I had restored my lost energy and we were able to walk across the river, reaching into the orchard.

Brendan and I reported to Queen Daz about what had happened, she was pleased to hear the situation had been dealt with.

“I knew you were the one for the job,” smiled Queen Daz.

“It wasn’t too hard,” I boasted.

Brendan shook his head. “He used all his power using advance skills to purify the waters.”

“Is that so,” she was intrigued. I glanced at Brendan, I had wanted to seem tough in front of her, but Brendan had ruined that. “Fang, just remember not to push yourself too hard.”

“Fine,” I sighed. “Is there anything else your highness,” I bowed.

“Not at the moment, but if I need of you I will call,” she responded softly. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

I stared up at her, wondering if there was anything she could do for me. “Send for dad to come back.”

“Oh Alex,” she gently put her hand on my shoulder. “He will be back soon, that I have no doubt. A mission as grand as the one he accepted to do cannot be ignored, have faith in him.”

I wanted to argue with her, but she was right. I would need to be patient for dad to come back home in a couple of weeks at the most. “How about you Brendan?”

“I have what I need,” he glanced at me. “I hope I can also be of use to you your highness, for allowing Athena and I to stay when we had no place to call home.”

“Anyone is welcome to stay in our city.” Queen Daz gently stroked us both on the head. “Now then, I have other business to attend to,” she bowed to us before taking her leave.

“She’s amazing,” commented Brendan.

“I know,” I agreed. I smiled. “Let’s go home.”

“Um…Not yet.” Brendan spoke up.

“What’s up?” I looked at him.

“Can we maybe…You know spar or something?” His words were slow, hesitant. “Perhaps you could teach me, how to become stronger.”

“You want me to help you,” I gave him a weird look.

“Please,” he was begging now.

“All I know is what dad taught me,” I admitted, thinking about it. “Perhaps you can come with me to see Master Lance. I still train with him.”

“Master Lance?” he repeated.

“This way.” I signalled for him to follow me, heading for the training ground.

Master Lance was busy training up Loki as usual, who was laying on the ground exhausted with holes all around him. Looked like Master Lance had been trying to get him to master his natural ability again. I could already guess that it hadn’t gone well.

“Fang.” Master Lance was a little surprised to see me. “I thought you were on a job for the queen.”

“Finished that,” I responded.

“What can I do for you?” he asked, always to the point.

“Brendan wanted help to become stronger,” I replied.

“Really.” Master Lance looked Brendan over. “I’ve never trained an Ursus before.”

“Could see it as an experiment,” I commented.

“True,” he nodded. “First of all, I’ll ask you some questions Brendan, just to get an idea of what areas to cover.” Brendan nodded. Master Lance proceeded to ask Brendan a load of questions. “Now tell me Brendan what is the general fighting styles for an Ursus.”

“Umm…” He hesitated to answer. “I guess most Ursus use heavy based weapons like long swords, battle axes, claymore, mostly based on our strength, but my brother was amazing, no one could beat his strength or speed, the most powerful within our tribes.” Brendan’s expression went sad thinking about the brother he had lost.

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“Considering you are now living among Feles I suggest we train you like one, your strength should develop as you grow.” Master Lance was really thinking about it. “Have you ever fought before?”

“No,” he shook his head. “Not everyone becomes a warrior, I didn’t want to fight.”

“From your response I am going to go ahead and say that you have never used that claymore before.”

“No.” Brendan glanced back at the claymore. “It belonged to my brother, only the strongest warrior of the tribes are allowed to wield it, said to hold the power of our ancestors.”

“It’s a talisman,” I added. “Earth attribute, pretty powerful too.”

“I see,” nodded Master Lance.

“Can you help me?” questioned Brendan.

“Of course. Fang I’ll need to burrow that sphere.” My eyes widened as he mentioned about it. I slowly reached into my pouch, pulling it out. “That’s the one, only if you don’t mind.”

“If it helps Brendan I don’t,” I shook my head. I turned to Brendan. “I’m guessing Master Lance wants to begin with speed. All you have to do is avoid it, if it hits they’ll be a consequence.”

The sphere lifted in the air and we began Brendan’s training, he wanted to protect Athena, like I wanted to protect Tigra, and I would help him to complete his goal.

I smiled watching him as he stumbled all over the place just to avoid the sphere, but strangely enough he avoided the sphere for quite sometime, even after we increased it to level 4.

“Not bad,” I commented.

“Shouldn’t you be training too,” said Master Lance. “I want you to master Larana’s flight.”

“Larana’s flight,” I repeated letting out a sigh. I’d only ever done that by accident. “Fine.” I moved away from Brendan to do as my master had ordered.

I glanced over at Brendan one last time as he got hit by multiple spheres at once, but he just shook it off as if it had never happened, Ursus were certainly tough Animalia, he didn’t even flinch. I could only imagine the kind of warrior his brother would have been and the warrior he would become.

“Okay Larana.” I took a deep breath, calling forth her power all around me. “Let’s fly.” I jumped in the air to have nothing happen.

“You need to summon my wings first master,” commented Larana with a little giggle.

“Okay.” I nodded. “How?”

“Picture them on your back, bend the wind to shape them,” she instructed as she flew in front of me.

“Your wings on my back,” I said. I pictured her perfect little wings, but bigger on my back, hearing Master Lance speak as he instructed Brendan to do something else.

“That’s enough of that I think, now I want to see you wield that claymore,” instructed Master Lance. I quickly glanced over to see Brendan holding his claymore shakily with both hands. His stance was weak as he stumbled about as he swung it to the right then left. I saw Master Lanced let out a sigh, then moved towards Brendan where he proceeded to adjust his stance. There was a lot of work to be done.

“Focus master,” snapped Larana.

“Oh, right.” I got back to what I was doing, feeling the wind circling around my back. I could do this. I made a jump in the air, feeling my feet leave the ground, holding it there for a few seconds before I was back down again.

“Again!” Master Lance called over to me. It almost made me jump as I thought all his attention was on Brendan.

I said nothing as I jumped again. I guess I was hoping flying would just happen, but all I did was hover for a few seconds, then landed again.

I closed my eyes for a moment to sense my own energy, I had plenty, but I had no idea how much would be needed for flight.

“Feel the wind, let it lift you master,” said Larana.

“Let it lift me.” I summoned the wind around me, allowing it to blow wildly, perhaps I needed more wind for my first flight. I kind of wished dad were here to teach me this, he had once flown with Larana he would have known what I needed to feel.

I kept my eyes closed, breathing in deeply feeling the wind growing in strength. I opened my eyes again as my feet left the ground, lifting up a little higher.

“I think I got it,” I smiled amazed. I glanced back to see my wings moving just like Larana’s. I tried to move forward a little, but it disrupted my balance and I headed in a different direction. “Wow!” I headed straight in Brendan’s direction, he looked at me as I came closer.

“Fang!” He cried out my name as I tried to move a little more to the left to avoid him, but it didn’t work, instead I began moving faster towards him and crashed.

We both laid on the ground in complete shock, my power had stopped, the wind dispersed. I sat up a little dizzy, looking up to see Master Lance’s displeased expression.

“Sorry.” I rubbed my head nervously.

“Fang.” He shook his head.

“What?” I looked away. “Not like you know how to fly.”

“We’ll try again another day.” Master Lance knelt down. “I know this is hard without your dad Fang, but master this and show off when he comes back, imagine how proud he’ll be.” I glanced back. “Now I want you two to spar, to finish today off.”

“Spar,” gulped Brendan. “With him?”

“This’ll be fun.” I jumped to my feet. “Come on.”

“Do we have too?” responded Brendan going back to being nervous.

“Come on,” I encouraged. “How can you know what you can do, if you don’t spar with someone else.”

“Umm…” Brendan glanced between Master Lance and I, thinking about it. “But I’m not ready.”

“Brendan you need more confidence, if you’re ever going to become stronger and hear the talisman of your clan,” said Master Lance. Brendan’s eyes widened. “You came to me for help, trust me.”

“Alright,” he slowly nodded.

“Show me some of that Ursus aggression I’ve heard rumours about.” I taunted.

Brendan drew his claymore, holding it tightly with both hands. “I’ll show you what I can do.”

Brendan came running at me, he had only had a few hours’ worth of training, so I didn’t expect much. I dodged to the left to have him swinging his claymore towards me. I held my hand up, sending out a condensed burst of wind at him.

The wind was only enough to redirect his sword and move Brendan away by a few inches. Brendan shook it off and had another swing at me.

“Alright then.” I made my next move, while Brendan’s claymore came closer. I grinned; this was going to be more fun than I thought.