The sun had long set beyond the hills, bathing the sky in shades of indigo and silver. In the backyard of the Chosen family manor, Ray stood under the dim light of the training lamps, facing an old tree that had served as a punching post for years. Tonight, it was Charmander's turn.
"Alright, partner," Ray said, clenching his fists. "Let's work on what we talked about. Full focus—scratch, not swipe."
Charmander narrowed his eyes in determination. The little fire-lizard had already practiced basic footwork and a few warm-ups. Now, it was time to get serious.
"Ready? Go!"
Charmander's claws began to shimmer faintly—just a gentle glow, not bright or flashy. Ray could feel the mana gathering, concentrating precisely at the tips. This wasn't raw power. It was focused energy—controlled and clean.
Then—whoosh—Charmander sprang forward.
His leg muscles tightened visibly, his body dropping slightly lower into a runner's stance before exploding into motion. His tail flicked behind him like a burning arrow, and within a blink, he slashed at the trunk.
CRACK—SHHHT!
Three thick lines etched themselves into the bark, deep and even, the center cut biting nearly an inch inward.
Ray blinked. "Whoa…"
Charmander stood before the tree, panting slightly, claws still warm. The tip of his tail flickered excitedly.
"That's it!" Ray said, rushing forward. "That was a clean hit! Muscle timing, mana flow, and speed—all lined up perfectly."
Charmander grinned, hopping in place. "Char!"
Ray jotted something quickly in a small notebook clipped to his waistband. "Scratch improving. Still one-star, but close to evolving."
The two continued their training, mixing short dashes with moves like Ember and Smokescreen—nothing too complex yet, just enough to build familiarity, speed, and control. Ember didn't always hit its mark, but the range had increased, and Smokescreen was beginning to spread more widely and linger longer.
Ray was soaked in sweat by the end of it, his shirt sticking to his back.
Charmander's tail was still burning bright, but he, too, was visibly tired.
Just as Ray reached for a towel, a familiar voice called out from the patio door.
"Ray! Charmander!" Amelia waved from the doorway. "Come in, the bath is ready!"
Charmander tilted his head.
Ray smiled. "Medicinal soak. Trust me—you'll love it."
Inside the house, the tub was already filled with pale green water, steam rising from the surface. It smelled faintly of herbs, fresh leaves, and warm stone.
The bath wasn't magic, but Amelia's recipes were practically legendary. A mix of spirit grass, muscle-soothing vine oils, and trace mana stones infused the water with gentle healing and energy-restoring properties.
Charmander had his own basin—heat-resistant and flame-safe, specially made by Amelia's forge friend in the east district.
Ray dipped his hands in and sighed. "Perfect."
Charmander hopped into his tub with a soft splash, letting out a content "Charrr…"
Amelia poked her head back in, smiling. "Make sure you scrub behind his ears, too. Fire-types build up soot there."
"Got it!" Ray laughed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back in the dining hall of the Chosen family manor, a warm, rich aroma filled the room—braised beast meat, mana-infused rice, and roasted root vegetables, all seasoned to perfection.
Ray sat at the long wooden table with his parents and Lily, while Charmander sat comfortably beside his chair with a small dish of flameberry slices. Its tail flickered softly in satisfaction.
Amelia refilled Lily's cup of berry nectar while slicing into a roasted cut. "So," she began casually, "how was your first training day, Ray?"
Ray scooped a spoonful of rice. "Productive. Tiring. Charmander's catching on fast, though. He landed a clean three-scratch combo on the practice tree."
Richard grinned. "Good. A card that listens and adapts is worth ten that just rampage blindly."
Ray looked up after a sip of soup. "Hey, Dad… Mom… when did you both level up your first cards? I mean—what were the stats like?"
The room quieted for a beat, the air taking on a more thoughtful mood.
Richard was the first to answer, his tone calm but proud.
"All my beast-type cards followed a personal rule," he said, setting down his spoon. "I didn't level them until all their base stats reached A-rank, and at least one reached S-rank. That's the minimum to withstand real pressure in field missions."
Ray raised a brow. "Minimum?"
Richard smirked. "Except for my first partner—Cloud."
"Cloud?" Ray leaned forward with interest.
"My first card. A sky wolf beast. He was different." Richard's eyes glimmered slightly. "I pushed him harder than any other. I didn't allow his evolution until all his stats hit S, and his Speed reached SSS."
Ray choked slightly on his rice. "SSS?!"
Even Lily paused, blinking in awe. "That sounds like a legendary."
"He nearly was," Richard said, the corner of his mouth lifting in nostalgia. "Speed like thunder, fangs that could split stone. The League called him 'the blue blur of the eastern range.'"
Amelia chuckled, dabbing her lips with a napkin. "Oh, don't let your father's ego run wild again."
Ray turned to her, eyes still wide. "What about you, Mom? What did you aim for?"
She gave a thoughtful hum. "My first card was a mystic type. Stats were less important early on—what mattered was attunement. But my elemental companion, later on… I waited until her Magic reached S and all other stats were at B+. I trusted her instincts and let her evolve early."
"So... different styles for different cards?" Ray muttered, mentally noting every word.
"Exactly," Amelia nodded. "But our rule of thumb was always the same: Don't rush evolution. Stats aren't just numbers—they're indicators of control. You'll know when your partner is ready."
Richard raised his glass. "It's better to be slightly underpowered but perfectly in sync… than to evolve too early and end up with a partner you can't handle."
Ray nodded slowly. The message sank in deep.
Charmander let out a soft "Char...", almost like he understood the gravity of the conversation.
The rest of dinner passed with lighter chatter—Lily sharing stories from school, Amelia giving Ray a teasing warning not to skip bathing Charmander again, and Richard casually dropping advice about mana resistance training.
Later that night, as Ray sat in bed flipping through the Grimoire one last time, he murmured, "All A and one S, huh…?"
[Charmander – Status Update]
Level: 1
Attack: I0 → I9Defense: I0 → I2Speed: I0 → I8Magic: I0 → I3
He looked at the sleeping fire-lizard next to him, then smiled faintly.
"We'll reach there, partner. Together."