Chapter 27: Stage Four!
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Star answered with a proud trill and leapt skyward. He circled the tower rafters in a blur, claws clicking wood, before landing on the windowsill like a tiny herald of victory.
A golden screen shimmered before Zephyr's eyes:
[Stage 4 Unlocked – Rise of the Juvenile
Objectives: Raise Star's core grade to Level-E.
Expand host bloodline purity to 35 % (current 30 %).
Claim regional sky-territory: complete a 5 km flight circuit within 60 days.
Reward: Dragon-Sovereign Bond – Command Aura Tier 2 (area roar). ]
He read the text and told Fenna they needed to train Star. Fenna whistled. "Five kilometres... full flight. He'll need updrafts, and we'll need to dodge Guild eyes."
Zephyr reached for his cloak. "First step: more core fragments or another beast core." Outside the ragged window, distant ridges glimmered with new snow. "Stonejaw Range can provide what we need, if we stay alive long enough."
After a breakfast of fish broth, pine-root soup, and a dash of pepper to chase chill from their bones, Zephyr spread parchment on the floor. He marked their battered tower with a charcoal X. Fenna added known hazards, the raptor plateau, last night's tunnel choke, an abandoned copper mine. Star waddled across the map, tail tracing spirals.