Chapter 10: Reunion and Resolve
Bright light refracts off the invisible barrier as it parts, and Zylus steps into the Safe Zone. His breath catches at the scent of moss and silver wood, but one sight eclipses everything else.
Just beyond the hollowed trunks of glowing trees, a figure rises from a patch of emerald moss: Lucky. The pup who once tumbled at Zylus's feet is no longer the scrawny puppy he remembered. In the year apart, Lucky has grown into a lean, white-furred, beautiful pup. His coat is a soft ivory that glimmers in the filtered sunlight, tipped with faint silver streaks. He stands a bit taller, with sturdy legs and a proud stance. His eyes, once wide and unsteady, are now clear and amber-bright, showing a fierce intelligence and a gentle warmth all at once.
As Lucky spots Zylus, his tail whips back and forth in a rapid blur—an unrestrained, infectious joy. He bounds forward, paws barely touching the moss, until he launches himself into Zylus's outstretched arms. Zylus kneels, hugging him through the barrier's soft hum, and Lucky presses close, his fur warm under Zylus's cheek.
Zylus's eyes blur with tears. He buries his face in Lucky's neck, voice trembling. "I've missed you so much."
Lucky licks his cheek, then pulls back to nuzzle Zylus's chin. For a moment, nothing else matters.
Medrus steps forward, hands tucked into the pockets of his dark cloak. He glances at Sorei, who stands a few steps away near a silver-barked tree. Sorei's gray eyes soften as she watches the reunion. Her shoulders relaxed now, though she still cradles Lucky's travel pouch at her side. She smiles faintly, recalling the lullaby she'd sung only hours ago.
Medrus clears his throat gently. "He's grown," he says quietly to Sorei. "Stronger than I ever expected."
Sorei nods. Her silver hair is tousled by a gentle breeze that seems to echo Ren's family's Wind-Amora. "He's ready, but is he?" She glances at Zylus and Lucky with measured concern, then back to Medrus. "Your student bears a heavy burden."
Medrus's jaw tightens. "He's stronger. Stronger than he knows. This place is safe for Lucky. But Zylus…" He lets the sentence hang. "Zylus still has much to learn."
Zylus's tears slip onto Lucky's fur. "Please," he chokes out between breaths. "Can I take Lucky with me? I've trained for a year. I can protect him now. I'm ready."
Medrus's expression hardens. He kneels, brushing a hand over Lucky's head. Gentle, yet final. "Not yet," he says firmly. "Not until you can defend everything around you. First, focus on yourself. Then you can protect others."
Zylus shakes his head, stepping back. "Why not? Lucky and I… we belong together. I won't let anything happen to him."
Medrus stands, gaze steady. "I know you love him. But this is not your responsibility alone. It's mine to keep Lucky safe for your sake. When you can stand guard for those you protect, when you can forego your own fear, then you'll earn the right to have him at your side."
Zylus's fists clench. "That's not fair." His voice breaks. "I've bled, I've suffered, I've fought… Why can't I defend him now?"
"This world is bigger than you imagine," Medrus says quietly. "A fourteen-year-old boy, no matter how skilled, would bury himself trying to protect someone he loves. When you forget yourself, you fail those you swore to defend."
Zylus's shoulders slump. He sinks to one knee, eyes locked on Lucky's bright gaze. "I—I don't want to lose him again."
Lucky presses his muzzle against Zylus's cheek, and Zylus starts trembling, tears slipping freely.
Sorei steps close. She gently lays a hand on Zylus's shoulder. "Zylus… you've grown, yes. But there is still a journey ahead. You must learn to stand on your own before you can carry another life on your back."
Zylus looks up, eyes raw. "Then I have to go," he whispers. "I have to become something worthy of keeping him safe. I promise… I will return."
Medrus nods once. "That's the heart of a warrior."
Zylus hugs Lucky fiercely one last time. Lucky's ears droop; he lays his head against Zylus's collar. Both of them whimper until Zylus pulls free.
"My family," Zylus says to Medrus and Sorei. "Thank you." He takes a breath. "For everything."
Sorei steps forward, brushing a tear from Zylus's cheek with a slender finger. "Go," she says softly. "Go become all they believe you can be."
Medrus places a hand on Zylus's shoulder. "I'll see you at the cabin, then."
They watch as Zylus turns away and strides toward the barrier's edge, each step trembling but determined. Sorei and Medrus stand side by side as the wind stirs around them, carrying Zylus's promise into the air.
Later That Evening: Mire Valley
Medrus extends a hand, and Zylus places his palm against it. A soft hum of wind surrounds them, and in the blink of an eye, the silver trees of the Safe Zone vanish.
When Zylus blinks again, he stands ankle‐deep in puddles beneath a flickering lantern. The air smells of damp stone and wood fire. They're in a narrow alleyway, the walls on either side lined with stacked crates and ragged cloth hung from clotheslines overhead.
A lone figure huddles near a broken barrel: an older woman with matted hair and threadbare clothing. Her face, lit by the weak yellow glow of a single lantern, is hollow with hunger. She clutches an empty bowl, head bowed. At the far end of the alley, a dirtied mess of hair and dust.
Medrus's cloak flutters in the breeze as he watches Zylus's reaction. "This," he says quietly, voice low, "is the dark side of Mire Valley. Isn't it?
Medrus responds quickly. "How'd you know?"
Zylus's face aces. "It has the exact same scent as before."
Medrus grins, "You've truly grown a lot. You know that?"
Zylus's heart leaps into his throat. "Why… why bring me here?" His boots splash through a shallow puddle. "I—" He swallows, searching the woman's gaunt face. "How… how do people live like this?"
Medrus doesn't answer at once. He slides the hood back, letting his white luxurious hair fall over his forehead. "I want you to see the world you're about to reenter. It isn't all candles and wind chimes. Not everyone has enough work. Not everyone has a home or clean water. There's beauty here, yes. But also shadows."
Zylus's eyes flick from the woman to the damp cobblestones, to a flicker of movement at the alley entrance: a few slouched silhouettes watching from a distance. "I… I don't know what to say."
"That's fine," Medrus replies gently. "None of this is your fault. You did what you had to do to survive. But now you have a chance to change things. To help." He places a steady hand on Zylus's shoulder. "First, though. Let's get something warm in your belly."
The city lights of Mire Valley glow against the night sky as Zylus and Medrus emerge from the alleyway onto a narrow dirt road. Zylus's eyes flick around, alert. "What if people recognize me? I look the same way I did… when I was attacked. They'll remember."
Medrus chuckles, arms sliding into his hoodie pockets. "You've changed more than you know. You carry yourself differently. Head held high, shoulders straighter. They'll see a boy who's survived a year on his own, not the scrawny kid they once saw bleeding in the woods."
Zylus hesitates, nods slowly, and the two continue down the road until a sign appears in lantern light: "The Silver Hearth Inn & Restaurant." Rustic wooden beams line the building, and a hand-painted sign of a silver leaf sways in the breeze swinging above the door. Laughter and cooking aromas drift through open windows.
Without further...
It for sure piqued Medrus and Zylus' interest.
...