Finally, Lyra let out a small breath.
"That’s enough for today."
Everyone visibly relaxed slightly.
"Get proper rest."
"Tomorrow will be harder."
Torren looked devastated already. While Ryn smirked slightly beside him.
Arthur glanced down at l.
She looked perfectly fine sohow.
Actually...
She looked ready for another round.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"...You’re terrifying."
Soon, the squad mbers left the training hall with far fewer words than usual.
Even Nox, who normally had sothing to say about everything, stayed quiet as they stepped out together. The atmosphere around the stronghold had changed after the commander’s announcent, and everyone could feel it.
Arthur carried l in his arms as he walked through the evening streets. The cub rested comfortably against him, though her ears still twitched every now and then at the sounds around them.
He didn’t head straight back to the dorm.
Instead, he turned toward the sa food stall from the previous day.
The mont l noticed where they were going, her tail imdiately started wagging.
Arthur laughed softly.
"So you actually rembered."
l gave a small bark through their bond, and he could practically feel her excitent.
The stall owner noticed them from afar and sighed the mont he saw the cub again.
"You ca back."
Arthur smiled awkwardly. "I did."
"And the wolf too."
l tilted her head at the man while chewing lightly on Arthur’s sleeve.
The stall owner still looked unsure, but compared to yesterday, there was less tension in his face now. Familiarity had at least softened the shock a little.
Arthur ordered the sa double ration of steak for l and another for himself.
The man prepared it quickly this ti.
Still, the surrounding stares remained.
So explorers glanced over curiously while others frowned openly at the sight of a monster calmly sitting beside a human like a pet dog.
Arthur ignored them. But l ignored them even harder.
The mont the at was served, all her focus disappeared into the food.
Arthur watched her happily tear into the steak and couldn’t help smiling.
"You really like this thing, huh?"
l responded by eating faster.
"Right. Dumb question."
The stall owner looked between them strangely.
"You really understand that cub?"
Arthur shrugged casually. "Enough."
"That thing’s dangerous, you know."
Arthur gently rubbed l’s head. "She’s family."
The man looked unconvinced, but he didn’t argue anymore.
Arthur didn’t stay there long. He wasn’t interested in becoming the center of attention for another evening.
So once l finished most of the food, they headed back toward the dorm.
Just like yesterday, l spent the entire walk focused on the remaining at in her mouth instead of the people staring at her.
Back at the dorm, things settled into their usual routine.
Bath first.
l resisted a little at the beginning, especially when the water touched her fur, but Arthur had already figured out how to handle her.
"One extra steak piece tomorrow."
l paused.
Arthur smirked. "Thought so."
After washing and drying her properly, he finally cleaned himself up too before changing into lighter clothes.
The room beca quiet afterward.
Arthur sat on the bed while l climbed beside him and rested against his side.
His hand moved through her dark fur slowly.
The silence gave him too much room to think.
The stronghold.
The ergency.
The Abyss worshippers.
The world changing.
It all sounded bigger than before.
Far bigger.
But strangely enough, fear wasn’t what bothered him most.
It was l.
He looked down at the cub resting peacefully beside him.
She was strong.
Far stronger than a normal cub had any right to be.
But she was still young.
The thought of bringing her into real battles bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
Even after everything they’d gone through together, part of him still wanted to shield her from all of it.
l suddenly nudged against him through the bond.
Arthur blinked.
Then he sighed softly.
"You can feel that too, huh?"
A warm feeling ca from her.
Confidence.
Trust.
Dependence.
She wasn’t worried because he was there.
Arthur stared at her for a mont before laughing quietly.
"That’s unfair, you know."
l only pushed herself closer.
Arthur shook his head.
"Fine. I’ll protect you."
The response he got back through the bond was imdiate.
Simple happiness.
That alone eased his thoughts more than he expected.
So he stopped worrying for the night and simply stayed there, running his fingers through her fur until both of them eventually fell asleep.
Morning ca quickly.
Light slipped through the room while l woke up first again.
Arthur didn’t even need the bond to know she was excited.
Her tail already smacked against the bed before he fully opened his eyes.
He groaned.
"Why are you always awake this early...?"
l climbed onto him imdiately.
Arthur stared at the ceiling for a second.
"Is this because of training or the steak?"
The excitent he felt from her sohow answered both.
Arthur laughed tiredly before finally getting up.
They cleaned up quickly this ti.
l behaved far better during grooming today, mostly because Arthur kept reminding her about the promised steak later.
After polishing his armor and getting dressed, he headed toward the training hall with l beside him.
As expected, almost everyone was already there.
Nox stretched his shoulders while Torren adjusted his gauntlets nearby. Selene checked her arrows carefully while Althea reviewed mana circles under her breath.
Ryn stood alone practicing footwork.
Arthur could already see traces of yesterday’s skill mixed into his movents.
The guy looked even sharper now.
Nox noticed Arthur first.
"You’re late."
Arthur looked at him blankly. "I’m literally early."
"Not early enough."
Torren chuckled. "She’s been excited since morning because of the mana training."
Nox clicked her tongue. "Of course I’m excited."
Arthur smirked. "Just don’t pass out halfway through."
The group finally relaxed a little as they spoke.
Arthur paid attention quietly.
He wanted to know how serious everyone was ntally before training started today.
And honestly, he liked what he saw.
Reviews
All reviews (0)