Unspoken Bonds

Chapter 6 — Unspoken Bonds

Fel returned to the sword, vanishing as though he had never been there.

Lux stood silently, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Synoh..." Lux began, his voice hesitant. "That wolf... how—"

Synoh turned to him, still pale from the battle. His body ached, but his spirit felt sharper than ever. He looked Lux in the eyes, his expression serious.

"I can't explain everything," Synoh said quietly. "But Fel... he's a part of me. A promise... something I need to protect."

Lux studied him, eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"I won't tell anyone," he promised, his voice unwavering. "I respect your secret, Synoh. You're a fighter... and I'll never betray that."

Synoh's gaze softened, a rare moment of gratitude crossing his face.

"Thanks, Lux."

---

Back at the Academy

The academy's gates loomed ahead as Synoh and Lux staggered in, battered and bruised.

Lux's face was streaked with dirt and blood, his golden hair matted against his forehead.

Synoh barely stood, supported by Lux's steady grip on his shoulder.

The academy's main courtyard was unusually silent as they approached the instructor's office.

The instructor, an older knight with a grizzled face, met them with wide eyes, a mix of concern and frustration.

"You two..." His voice cracked with disbelief. "What happened? What did I tell you about the mission? You were supposed to report back with intel, not... not look like this."

Lux managed a weak smile. "We found the bandits. But... it didn't go exactly as planned."

"Obviously," the instructor muttered, his face darkening. "I thought you were beyond this—too advanced for normal training! But it seems I've underestimated the realities of the world."

Synoh looked down, feeling the weight of the instructor's words. He knew they weren't ready for that fight... but he had never anticipated just how overwhelming the bandits would be.

The instructor shook his head.

"I've failed you both. I pushed you too hard, too soon. You're prodigies, yes, but I didn't prepare you for the dangers of the real world."

He seemed lost in thought for a moment before muttering to himself, "Maybe I've been too focused on pushing for results. I almost threw away your future."

Synoh and Lux exchanged glances, understanding now why their instructor was so troubled.

---

At the Bandit Site

Meanwhile, a group of seasoned knights was dispatched to the clearing where Synoh and Lux had fought.

The air was thick with the scent of blood and magic.

Dozens of dead bandits lay scattered across the forest floor.

The leader was nowhere to be seen.

"Looks like they put up one hell of a fight," one knight said, examining the bodies. "These aren't your typical bandits. Some of them were trained, maybe even ex-soldiers."

The commander grunted. "But the leader escaped. And it seems they had more than just brute strength — they were smart. We need to figure out where he went."

After searching the area for hours, the commander sighed.

"Whatever their plans were... they've suffered a serious blow. I don't think they'll be attacking again anytime soon."

One of the knights nodded. "We should send a warning to the nearby villages. But... this might be over for now."

---

Back at the Academy

Synoh and Lux were sent to their quarters to rest, though neither of them could sleep. The adrenaline from the fight still lingered in their veins, but the pain from their injuries made every movement feel like agony.

Lux sat on his bed, deep in thought.

"Synoh, do you think..." he hesitated. "Do you think we were ready for this?"

Synoh didn't answer right away. Instead, he closed his eyes, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"I don't know," he said quietly. "But we survived. And that's what matters."

Lux looked at him, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"We did, didn't we?" he said, his voice soft but proud. "Maybe we're not as invincible as we thought... but we're getting there."

Synoh nodded, feeling a weight lift from his chest. "Yeah. We'll keep fighting."

---

End of Chapter 6