The Realm's Champion, part VI

For three days, I either studied salamanders, gathered volcanic rocks, or worked with Mervyn.

I learned that some salamanders were poisonous, so much so that they could taint water merely by touching it. Others could cause trees to wither. Some never ate anything, but survived by bathing in flames.

Mervyn couldn't do any of this.

My salamander didn't get larger when placed in a bonfire. He consumed enough fish during one meal to fill a wagon, and nothing about the little salamander was poisonous.

Mervyn did learn how to control his inner fire during training, so now Ruebin didn't squeal when Mervyn sat on his back.

Now back on the plain, I strode toward the newest challenger.

A young girl with pigtails, her moon rabbit was a sleek little thing that gave off a milky glow.

“This is my first challenge!” The girl announced as she shook my hand. Mervyn and the moon rabbit were watching each other, the rabbit's gray nose twitching.

“Your moon rabbit looks well cared for.” I said, and the girl grinned.

“Spots is the best, he can do anything!” The girl smiled at the moon rabbit, and the milky glow brightened. A moon rabbit was a great champion for a child, as they drew strength from the imagination of their master.

After we recited the traditional opening of a challenge, our champions took off.

Spots the moon rabbit was fast, but that milky glow revealed his position in the tall grass.

And even though Mervyn wasn't big, or poisonous, or anything else a dangerous salamander was supposed to be, he was fast.

Fast enough to catch this moon rabbit, and win his second challenge.

And so we added a moonberry orchard to the mainland.