Primal Outcasts

Chapter 18: The Past Never Forgets

The sun was still low on the horizon when Kuma and his friends began their journey back home. The towering cliffs of Las Mesozoic faded behind them, swallowed by morning mist. The air here was lighter than the thick jungle heat, carrying a calm that felt strange after days of chaos.

Jagger walked near the front. He glanced back at Kuma, who was trailing a little behind the group, and gave a small grin.

"Hard to believe I'm walking away from home," Jagger said, voice steady. "But I've decided—I'm sticking with you, Kuma. My king has enough soldiers to guard the throne. Out here... feels like the battles that matter."

Kuma blinked, surprised, but before he could answer, Amy stretched her arms above her head with a loud sigh.

"Ugh, I'm going to miss that lava sauna," she said dreamily. "You have no idea how good it feels to melt the stress right out of your bones. Honestly, I think I could live in there forever."

Max gave her a look like she'd grown another head.

"You mean boil yourself alive? No thanks." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Besides, if I see one more slab of dinosaur steak, I'm going to be vegetarian. My stomach's still fighting me from last night's feast."

That earned a chuckle from Tuskarr, who waddled along behind them, his staff clicking on the stones. "Vegetarian, eh? That'll last until the next campfire when you smell roasted fish."

Amy smirked. "Not if I claim all the fish first."

Their banter rolled over the quiet path, but Kuma stayed silent with Freedo resting on his shoulder. His fingers brushed against the purple crystal necklace at his chest. The faint shimmer inside it caught the light—reminding him of battles fought, of Bloodcrush's crushing power, and of how close he had come to breaking against that mysterious Ice Dragon.

Riyu noticed his son's gaze and slowed his pace until he was beside him. For a moment, he said nothing—just let the silence settle between them. Then, gently, he spoke.

"Kuma... you've grown a lot. Stronger, braver... but I can see it. These enemies are unlike anything you've faced before. When we return home, I think it's time I teach you something new. A spell from the Sky Dragons. One that may tip the scales."

Kuma's eyes widened, the weight in his chest shifting to a flicker of excitement. "A new spell? From the Sky Dragons?"

Riyu gave a smile. "Yes I believe it's time for me to teach you the Sky Dragon's Blessing."

Back in Nibel, Riyu led Kuma out to a high cliff where the winds roared so fiercely that even Jagger and Amy chose to stay back and watch with Freedo hiding in Tuskarr's clothes so he won't be blasted away easily in small form. Only Tuskarr trudged along, arms crossed, muttering something about "reckless dragon fathers."

At the edge of the cliff, Riyu planted his Omniblade in the ground. The wind whipped his cloak as he turned to his son.

"Before we begin, let's review the basics."

Kuma blinked. "The basics?"

"Yes. If you want to master advanced spells, you must first understand the roots." Riyu lifted a hand, the air bending around his palm. "There are six fundamental classes of magic: Water, Wind, Fire, Earth, Light, and Shadow. Every advanced technique comes from these six."

Kuma listened closely as Riyu continued.

"For example to shape lava, you must first master earth—stone, soil, minerals—and then learn how fire changes it. To call a storm, you must understand wind and water together. Even ice," he gave Kuma a knowing look, "is simply water tempered by cold and infused with control."