A Bond

After finishing the muffins – literally, as Sam ended up polishing off the entire box – they headed to the park. Though it was only a few streets behind his house, every time Theo stepped through the gate he felt like he'd entered the woods from a fairy tale, where the branches formed a rustling green ceiling and mushrooms dotted the roots of the trees and pure, liquidy trills of birdsong filled the air.

Close as it was, after Victor had left Theo almost never came here. Now, despite the peaceful surroundings, a familiar dull pain twisted inside his heart. 'Deal with it,' he admonished himself. 'You've already made your decision.'

"Wow, I had no idea there was somewhere like this around your house." Sam's loud voice cut through his thoughts. "It's so beautiful!"

Zenith was behind her, to Theo's surprise; rather than striding with his characteristic briskness, he kept pausing to glance around.

"Is something wrong, Zenith?" Theo asked.

"Ah." Zenith started a little. "Forgive me. I'm simply...unused to seeing so much greenery."

Of course. Tielos was a wasteland and Zenith had spent his time on Earth living in a city. Affection swelled inside Theo, bright and warm. This might be one of his favorite things about his familiar: how he looked at things that were ordinary to Theo, things he'd usually ignore, with such fresh innocence. It made Theo want to see the world with new eyes, too.

This park didn't just hold memories of Victor. It would be a place to form new memories with Zenith.

And Theo would start by opening his first arena here. "Okay, I think this is a good place," he said after clearing his throat. "Um, stand back?"

Truthfully Theo didn't have much of an idea what he was doing, but he figured the others might as well keep in their distance in case the spell blew up in his face. Taking a deep breath, he stepped back as far as he could without bumping into a tree.

This forest did have clearings, but the whole reason he'd chosen to open the arena here was to use the dense trees. So he'd have to make do with little space. He closed his eyes and began picturing the spell.

All his memorization practice had paid off: the diagram came in an instant, every line sharp and clear. As he traced them with his Levia, a familiar warmth bloomed beneath his feet and the world behind his shut eyelids flooded red. When he opened his eyes, he saw the diagram glowing on the forest floor.

He'd done it. Created his very first arena. But when he took a step toward it, a sudden rush of dizziness buckled his knees.

"Theo!" Sam's shout seemed to echo from far away. Cool hands wrapped around his waist and back, helping him upright.

Gasping for breath, Theo looked up into Zenith's concerned face. "Theo, are you all right?"

"Ah, I...." Theo blinked hard. Though he no longer felt he was in danger of falling, his Levia still flickered unsteadily. "Looks like...it used a little more Levia than I expected?"

"Really?" Sam popped up next to Zenith. "Then maybe you shouldn't...."

"No, I'm fine." Theo pushed at Zenith's chest, and the knight got the signal and let go. To his relief, Theo could walk on his own. "I just have to be careful about how much I use in battle. Come on."

Squaring his shoulders, he strode onto the arena. Its light engulfed him and a familiar crackle filled his ears, but it seemed gentler than the previous times he'd entered an arena. And the warmth from the spell didn't quite fade away even when the light cleared.

His heart flipped; the same trees surrounded him, stolid and green as ever. Had he failed? No – one look at the sky and awe swept away all his doubts. No longer blue, it was instead the pale pink of dawn dusted with wispy, gold-tinged clouds. Exactly like the sky in his dreams.

If he squinted, peering past the clouds, he thought he could make out vague shapes, faint outlines of crystalline structures….

A strange ache filled his chest, like the memory of nostalgia. Some part of him – the part from his dreams – wanted to chase that feeling down to its source, but he had business to focus on. So he turned his attention to his Levia, trying to gauge how much he had left. He couldn't tell exactly, but he already had the sense that he wouldn't be able to pull off multiple blade-sharpening spells like the one that Zenith had used to slice Avia's armor.

Which made doubt stir inside him, despite everything. Could he do this? Maybe he'd been premature thinking he could create his own arena.

"So, Theo, you got any ideas?" Sam's voice made him jump. She was leaning toward him, fists on her hips.

"Uh, I...." Theo felt uncannily like he'd been called on in class without knowing the answer.

"I see why you chose this area." Thank everything, Zenith spoke up. He had rested his hand on the nearest tree and was gazing at the rough bark. "The trees might break up Avia's line of sight."

"Yeah, exactly," Theo said, heartened. "That's what I was hoping, anyway."

Zenith turned his gaze skyward. "It will be a problem if she flies above the trees, however."

"So we'll have to keep her down near the ground...." But how could they manage that?

Sam giggled. Startled, Theo whipped toward her. Zenith stared at her too, just as confused.

Unbothered by the attention, Sam linked her hands behind her head. "Sorry, I was just thinking it's awesome how in sync you two are."

"In sync?"

"Yeah!" Sam grinned. "You two are practically finishing each other's sentences. It's cute."

Cute? Theo's face flushed. "Well, look, that's – "

But Sam kept on talking. "You guys have such a great bond, I'm kinda jealous. Oh man, I'd love to have a bond like that with my familiar!"

"A bond?" Zenith asked. "What do you mean by that?"

"Um, I guess – I mean, I could just be talking outta my ass," Sam said quickly, waving her hands. "Like, I don't know how this stuff works, but I guess – I think – if you were to ask me, that's what I think the relationship between wizard and familiar should be like. I know it's supposed to be a contract and all, but isn't it better if you guys have, like...a mutual bond? That's what I think, anyway."

Blushing, she rubbed the back of her head. Theo had never seen her so embarrassed before, and it sent a hot rush of emotion through him, even stronger than his Levia.. Affection and gratitude and love all mixed up into one.

"That's why – that's why – " Sam went on, blushing harder. "That's why I want you guys to win. Not just 'cause Ryan's a giant festering pimple. But...I guess...I want you guys to prove that your bond is stronger than whatever he's got with his familiar. Because I think it is. I know it is."

'Our bond is stronger.' Something sparked inside Theo – not quite a revelation, but maybe the cusp of one. When Zenith turned toward him, Theo realized he must have felt it too. Through their contract. Their bond.

Maybe...maybe that was the key to everything. He might not be able to use his strongest spells; he might not have nearly as much experience as Ryan. But he did have something that Ryan didn't.

No, not just him. Him and Zenith both.