I was in the training grounds, practicing my flying. I managed to hover for a short period of time before I’d start to wobble. I let out a sigh, landing again. I had managed to fly to the top of the pillar protecting the crystal I needed to get for the crafting of my sword, but apart from that I couldn’t quite control my flying patterns.

“You can’t be scared master,” said Larana. “Just go for it, pick a target and go.”

“Pick a target.” I looked up at the sky, I just wanted to fly. “Alright.” I summoned more wind as I prepared to just shoot up into the sky.

“Fang.” I heard my name, so I stopped myself, dispersing the wind.

I turned to see Queen Daz walking towards me. “Your highness.” I bowed.

“No need Fang,” she smiled. “Not training with Master Lance,” she wondered.

“Nah, he said he had something important to go over with Loki, said I would only get in the way,” I shrugged. “So, found the most open space I could practice my flying.” I sighed. “Which I have yet to master and same with the crystal sword.”

“You’ll be able to draw on that power in an instant when you need it most,” responded Queen Daz.

“I’m not so sure about that,” I admitted. “I’m sure you haven’t come all this way to watch me. So, what can I do for you your highness.”

“I have a request of you Fang.”

“Anything,” I nodded already accepting whatever it was she wanted me to do.

“Straight to the point then,” she smiled. “My husband has begun to request more from some of the villages around Panthera, which I fear will bring tension between Cathopia and them if something is not done quickly to relax the other party.”

“What do you mean request more?” I questioned.

“Since Fang and the first king set up the city of Cathopia it has had a balanced trade relationship with all the villages and tribes around Cathopia, what they provide us we give back in equal return, but the amount of what my husband wants from them has increased.”

“Ok,” I nodded. “What do you want me to do about it?”

“To calm some of the tension by delivering this for me,” she handed over a scroll. “This scroll is important and will inform them of what is really happening.”

“Just one?” I looked down at it.

“This is one of the most important villages as they provide Cathopia with herbs for medicine and food, if the connection is destroyed they may stop trades all together, and within the city walls we cannot grow the herbs necessary to heal the sick or wounded,” informed Queen Daz, her expression held much concern about this situation, perhaps she was just as worried about things as mum was.

“I’ll head out as soon as possible,” I nodded.

“Good,” she said. “One more thing, this village is the birth home of Gual, of the Panthera Pardus.”

“Great,” I sighed thinking about the scary Gual.

“You’ll be fine,” she reassured me, but I wasn’t feeling it.

“I’ll get Brendan and we’ll head off.” I began to walk off when she stopped me.

“Sorry you’ll need this too,” she quickly handed me over a single sheet of parchment. “A map, otherwise, you might get lost.”

“Thanks.” I happily took it, thinking about getting lost with Brendan, who would probably eat me if we couldn’t catch any prey. “I’ll deliver your message your highness.” I bowed and ran off.

I headed straight home where I found Brendan digging into a huge fish, he did say he was going to go hunt for the biggest fish he could catch in the lake. I had my doubts he would catch anything, but here he was devouring it gleefully.

“Hey Brendan.” I sat opposite as he looked at me, giving me a strange look, speaking as he swallowed down his first bite.

“What do you want?”

“What gave you the idea I wanted something?” I grinned.

“I know that look in your eye Alex, you’ve come here to drag me off somewhere again.”

“You agreed to be my partner while I am still a knight-in-training remember,” I reminded him.

“I don’t want to end up somewhere as sad as last time, thank you,” he took another bite out of his fish.

“Oh, come on, it wasn’t that bad,” I commented. “This time it’s to a Panthera Pardus village to deliver a scroll for Queen Daz.”

“Deliver a scroll, is that it?”

“Yep,” I nodded.

“Knowing you something will go wrong,” remarked Brendan.

“Oh, I don’t always get us into trouble, you haven’t been around me long enough to get in that much trouble,” I smirked. “But I guess you can refuse; I’ll just go on my own.”

“I’m coming,” he snorted. “Just prepare what we need, while I finish my fish.” Brendan ignored me after that, so he could get back to enjoying his fish.

“Alright,” I cheered, thinking I would have had a harder time getting him to come. I shrugged heading off to prepare a pack for the walk, didn’t really know how long it would take us so too sleeping bags, considering this was not an official mission handed out by the masters, I would be unable to get one of those special tents, I would love to fall asleep in one of those again.

Within the hour we were off. Brendan seemed a little happier now he had enjoyed his fish, most probably wouldn’t need to eat anything else for the rest of the day.

As we headed out of Cathopia heading across the blue mermaid bridge, I had to ask Brendan something, about why he never seemed to refuse coming with me, when he didn’t really have to join me.

“You said yes, faster than I thought you would,” I commented. “May I ask why.”

Brendan looked at me. “You saved my life, by my clans code I am indebted to you until I can return the favour, until I save your life.”

“Really, a life debt,”

“Yes,” he nodded. “Anything you ask of me I will do as it is decreed by the code.”

“I would have preferred you do it because I am your friend,” I admitted.

“You are, but my life debt comes first, repaying you and becoming strong enough to protect Athena is all I care about,” informed Brendan. “Let’s get this over with so I can start that new training plan Master Lance has in mind.”

“Moving onto some higher level stuff then,” I said.

“I am, thanks to you and Master Lance I am starting to sense and feel the energy of my clan’s talisman, but still no voice,” mentioned Brendan.

“You’ll hear it eventually,” I encouraged.

“He has a long way to go before that master,” mentioned Larana appearing on my shoulder.

“Hey Larana,” I smiled.

“You’re a talisman Larana, do you know the spirit within mine?” asked Brendan.

“I don’t know all spirits,” commented Larana. “Plus, clan weapons such as this one is a little different from your conventional talisman, it carries the knowledge and power of your ancestors and as you grow in power and strength you will be able to access all that they have to offer you.”

“My ancestors,” pondered Brendan. “Mind my bother always came out with strange information about all kinds of stuff, like he’d read a thousand books.” He really loved talking about his brother, if only he knew his brother would be the one to guide him when he was strong enough to hear his voice.

“Do you know about the village where we are going?” I asked.

“Yes,” sighed Larana. “The ancestors of the Panthera Pardus were amazing hunters, following their power over shadow much like Gual and I suspect his son Zack will be the same. It took some time before they could trust my first master as the land had so little to give.” Larana stared up at the sky. “The village we are heading to was one of the first places my master purified from darkness, making it the richest place to find the most amazing and beneficial herbs within all of Panthera and is why the land was named Panthera, after the first trades between them were set up as a sign of eternal friendship.”

“Wow,” responded Brendan and I.

“You’re just full of information, how old are you anyway?” questioned Brendan, gawking at her.

“Hmph,” Larana huffed. “You should never ask a lady her age.” She looked away from him, turning her back.

“Larana, I’m sorry.” Brendan was in a panic realising he had somehow offended her. I let out a laugh, this was going to be fun.

I thought about it, thinking I would be meeting the descendants of those who first connected to my ancestor Fang, going to the place he brought light and peace to. I could just imagine it now, the beauty and perhaps I would even learn something from them.

“Someone’s excited,” commented Larana.

“Of course, I am,” I smiled. “The first who connected with the legendary Fang, maybe I could even follow in his footsteps.”

“Perhaps you already are,” smiled Larana. “My dear master.” She rubbed my cheek.

“The legend of Fang is just some bedtime story,” commented Brendan.

“Legends and myths have to come from somewhere,” I commented. “Keep an open mind Brendan, you might learn something.” I pointed a head. “Let’s keep moving.” I cheered.

“You get way into this,” he shook his head.

“Just like Yamato,” giggled Larana. My smile grew bigger at her comment, maybe I would ask dad more about his adventures when he was my age, but for now I would focus on my own, then tell him all about it.