Chapter 250: Chapter 250: The Will That Refused to Bend

Arthur scratched the back of his head lightly.

"Commander.."

"You took your time."

Her voice cut in before he could finish.

Flat.

Clear.

Arthur paused.

"...Just a bit."

Her gaze didn’t change.

"You were assigned a role."

Arthur opened his mouth, then closed it.

"...Right."

He tried again.

"Mel was doing fine, so I.."

"You weren’t here."

Simple and straight.

No room to twist it.

Arthur winced slightly.

"...Fair."

Lyra stepped slightly to the side, giving him a clearer view.

"Look."

Arthur’s eyes followed.

Mel was still on the course.

Still moving.

But slower.

Much slower.

Her steps weren’t clean anymore.

Each jump took more effort.

Each landing felt heavier.

Arthur’s expression shifted.

"...Wait."

Lyra spoke again.

"She hasn’t adjusted."

Arthur’s gaze sharpened.

"...No..."

Not like before.

Earlier, she adapted quickly.

Almost too quickly.

But now..

She was forcing it.

Pushing through something her body hadn’t caught up with yet.

Lyra crossed her arms.

"You would have noticed that if you stayed."

Arthur didn’t respond immediately.

Because she was right.

He stepped forward slowly.

Watching.

Mel slipped slightly on one of the turns, catching herself just before she lost balance.

Still going.

Still trying.

Arthur felt it through the bond.

The strain.

The push.

The refusal to stop.

"...You’re overdoing it."

His voice dropped.

Quiet.

Lyra glanced at him briefly.

"She hit her current limit."

Arthur exhaled slowly.

"...Yeah."

There was no argument.

No excuse.

He dropped his head slightly.

"I messed up."

It wasn’t dramatic. Just honest.

Lyra didn’t press further.

"That’s why you’re here."

Arthur nodded.

"...Got it."

He lifted his head again and focused.

"Mel."

The call wasn’t loud.

But it carried.

Through the bond.

Mel reacted instantly.

Mid-course, she slowed.

Then turned.

It wasn’t sharp like before.

This time it was slower.

Still Mel came running the moment Arthur called her.

Not just running... she was excited.

Even with the weight still strapped to her legs, she pushed through and closed the distance, her tail wagging fast as she reached him. The moment she got close, she leaned into him, almost bumping into his chest as if she had been waiting for this.

Arthur let out a small breath as he crouched.

"...Hey."

His hand rested on her head, gentle, slow.

"I’m back."

Mel responded instantly through the bond. There was no anger. No complaint. Just relief.

She had missed him.

Arthur felt it clearly.

And that made the guilt hit a little harder.

"...Sorry."

His hand moved behind her ear, scratching lightly.

"I left you for too long."

Mel pushed her head closer into his palm, as if dismissing it completely.

It didn’t matter to her.

What mattered was that he was here now.

Arthur smiled faintly at that.

"...Yeah, I know."

He stayed like that for a moment, just petting her while she calmed down.

Then he shifted slightly and glanced at the weights on her legs.

"We’re going to reduce this a bit."

His tone was calm, like he had already decided.

"You haven’t adjusted yet, so—"

"No."

The response came immediately.

Clear.

Firm.

Arthur paused.

"...What?"

Mel stepped back slightly, her stance changing just a little.

Through the bond, her intent sharpened.

She wasn’t confused.

She understood exactly what he meant.

And she didn’t want it.

"I can do it."

Arthur blinked once.

"...Mel."

But she didn’t back down.

There was no hesitation in her.

No doubt.

Just that same stubborn push he had been feeling from her since she started.

"I’m not done."

Arthur stared at her for a second longer.

Then exhaled slowly.

"...You’re serious."

She didn’t respond with words this time.

She didn’t need to.

He could feel it.

Behind them, Commander Lyra had already prepared a lighter set of rings.

She stepped closer, holding them out.

"We reduce it."

Her voice was steady.

Practical.

Arthur didn’t respond immediately.

Because he was still looking at Mel.

And Mel was still looking at him.

It wasn’t just a glance.

It lingered.

Longer than it should have.

Lyra frowned slightly.

"...Arthur?"

But he didn’t answer yet.

The two of them just stayed there, locked in that silent exchange.

It didn’t look like much from the outside.

Just a boy and a cub staring at each other.

But Lyra felt it.

Something was happening there.

Not words.

Not commands.

Understanding.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"...They’re talking."

But not in any way she could hear.

Arthur took a slow breath.

Then another.

"...You really won’t give it up."

Mel didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Arthur rubbed the back of his neck lightly.

"...You’re making this hard."

Lyra stepped in.

"We’re not risking injury."

Her tone was firmer now.

"This isn’t about pride."

Arthur nodded slightly.

"I know."

"Then we reduce it."

He shook his head this time.

Slowly.

"...She doesn’t want that."

Lyra’s gaze sharpened.

"That doesn’t change the fact that she’s a cub."

Arthur didn’t argue that.

"...Yeah."

"She hasn’t fully developed. Pushing too far now will only slow her down later."

Arthur knew that too.

He wasn’t ignoring it.

That was what made this harder.

But still..

"This is what she wants."

Lyra’s expression didn’t change.

"That doesn’t mean it’s the right call."

Arthur finally looked at her.

"She’s not guessing."

A small pause.

"She knows she hasn’t adjusted yet."

Lyra didn’t interrupt.

Arthur continued,

"But she still wants to push through it."

His voice stayed calm.

Not defensive.

Just... certain.

Lyra glanced down at Mel.

The cub met her gaze.

And for a moment..

It clicked.

There was no confusion there.

No fear.

Just that same stubborn resolve.

Lyra let out a quiet breath.

"...You’re both ridiculous."

Arthur almost smiled.

"...I’ve heard that before."

But she wasn’t done.

"If I see any sign she can’t handle it, we stop."

Arthur nodded immediately.

"Of course."

"No hesitation."

"None."

Lyra held his gaze for a second longer.

Then nodded.

"Fine."

She stepped back slightly, though her attention didn’t leave them.

Arthur looked back at Mel.

"...You heard that."

Mel responded with a small push against his hand.

Ready.

Arthur exhaled once more.

"...Alright."

He didn’t remove the weights.

He just stepped aside.

"Go."

A/N:

It’s Chapter 250😭🎉.. Another Milestone!!

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Thank you very much for sticking with me.. so far❤️