Chapter 253: Chapter 253: When Growth Becomes Obvious II

He finally dismissed the interface with a small flick of his gaze. It faded cleanly, leaving only the training hall in front of him again.

And Mel.

And..

"Arthur."

Lyra’s voice came again.

He looked up this time and she was already back to normal.

No surprise left on her face, no lingering reaction.

Just the commander again.

Focused and sharp.

"We’ve had enough pause."

Arthur scratched the side of his head lightly.

"...Yeah."

He didn’t argue.

He couldn’t.

She was right.

They had already spent time enough catching up after her breakthrough. But training wasn’t supposed to stop because something interesting happened.

Lyra continued,

"Resume."

Arthur nodded, though a bit slower this time.

"...Got it."

She didn’t wait.

"You’ll time her next runs."

Arthur straightened slightly.

"Alright."

"Monitor the changes," she added, her tone steady. "And adjust based on that."

He nodded again.

But she didn’t stop there.

"And this time.."

Her eyes flicked to Mel.

"Take it slower."

Arthur paused for a second.

He understood what she meant.

Earlier, they had pushed too fast.

Too much weight too quickly.

Even if it worked out now... it could have gone the other way.

Lyra continued,

"I won’t repeat it."

Arthur let out a small breath.

"...Fair."

He glanced at Mel again.

The difference now was clear.

Back then, she had been forcing it.

Now she could handle it.

Still, he nodded.

"We’ll pace it."

Even if part of him wasn’t worried anymore.

The skill changed things.

He knew it.

But..

"...She just got it."

He muttered that to himself.

She still needed to settle into it.

Get used to it fully.

So yeah... slowing down a bit wouldn’t hurt.

Lyra watched him for a moment longer, like she was checking if he actually understood.

Then she gave a small nod.

"Good."

That was enough for her.

Arthur crouched slightly, his hand still resting on Mel.

"...You heard that."

Mel looked up at him.

Focused again. No more playful energy.

She was back to it.

Arthur smiled faintly.

"Same thing."

He tapped her lightly.

"We run again."

A small pulse of intent passed through the bond and Mel turned almost immediately..

Lyra watched it closely again.

That silent communication. No commands.

Just understanding.

Arthur stood back up.

"...Alright."

Mel moved to the starting point.

She didn’t rush it.

This time, she waited.

A small pause.

Then she glanced back.

Arthur raised a hand slightly.

"Go."

She moved.

Fast.

Faster than before.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed as he started counting without even thinking about it.

"...One."

Her steps were clean.

No wasted movement.

She cleared the first obstacle like it wasn’t even there.

"...Two."

Her landing was steady.

No adjustment needed.

She pushed forward immediately.

Lyra folded her arms.

Watching.

Silent.

"...Three."

Arthur’s voice stayed low.

Focused.

But even without counting they could both see it.

She was faster.

Not slightly. Not gradually. But noticeably.

Mel moved through the next set of obstacles, her body flowing through each motion without pause.

Arthur blinked once.

"...Already better."

Lyra didn’t respond.

But her gaze sharpened because she saw it too.

Mel wasn’t just keeping up. She was improving right in front of them.

The difference between the last run and this one was obvious.

Arthur exhaled slowly.

"...That skill is doing work."

Lyra nodded toward Mel as she whispered.

"She’s adapting."

A short pause.

"Too fast."

Arthur smirked slightly.

"...You said that already."

Lyra didn’t react because it was still true.

Mel cleared the final obstacle.

Clean.

No stumble.

No slowdown.

Arthur didn’t even need to stop counting.

"...Done."

He lowered his hand slightly.

"Faster."

Lyra nodded.

"Clearly."

Arthur called out,

"Back."

Mel turned immediately and ran back toward them.

Lyra watched her approach, then shifted her attention back to Arthur.

"That weight.."

She paused.

"...It’s not enough anymore."

Arthur nodded.

"I can see that."

Because he could.

The strain was gone.

Not completely, but enough that it wasn’t doing what it was supposed to do anymore.

Lyra continued,

"Double it."

Arthur blinked.

"...Straight to that?"

She didn’t hesitate.

"Yes."

Arthur looked back at Mel.

Then back at the course.

Then at Lyra.

"...Alright."

He didn’t argue.

Because honestly.. He was thinking the same thing.

Mel reached them, slowing just slightly this time.

Arthur crouched again, his hands already reaching for the weights.

"Hold still."

She did as he adjusted them quickly. And locked the new set in.

Twice the weight.

The difference was immediate.

Mel’s body dipped slightly.

Arthur noticed.

"...Yeah. That’s heavy."

But he didn’t take it off.

Instead, he met her gaze.

"You good?"

A pulse came back.

No doubt.

Just... Yes.

Arthur smiled faintly.

"...Figures."

Behind him, Lyra watched.

And for the first time in a while she actually felt unprepared.

"...I should have brought heavier ones."

She muttered it under her breath.

Because this wasn’t normal progression.

Not even close.

Her eyes moved between Arthur and Mel.

"...They’re both insane."

She didn’t say it out loud this time.

There was no point.

Arthur stepped back when he was done adjusting the weight.

"Alright."

He pointed forward.

"Again."

Mel didn’t wait.

She moved.

And this time the difference showed immediately.

Her first step was slower.

Heavier.

Her body adjusted to the weight again.

Arthur’s eyes stayed locked on her.

"...There it is."

But..

It didn’t last long.

Second step.

Better.

Third step.

Even better.

Lyra’s eyes widened slightly.

"...Already?"

That fast?

She leaned forward just a bit.

Watching closely.

Mel cleared the first obstacle.

Not as clean as before.. But not messy either.

Controlled.

Then the next.

And the next.

Each movement sharper than the last.

Arthur’s expression shifted.

"...She’s adapting again."

Faster than before.

Much faster.

Lyra straightened slowly.

"...This is not normal."

But she stopped herself.

Because trying to measure it like normal didn’t make sense anymore.

She turned her head slightly.

Toward the rest of the hall.

Then back at the course.

"...I need to adjust things."

The weights.

The obstacles.

Everything.

Because at this rate..

Mel would outgrow this setup too quickly.