HISSS...
The sharp scrape of metal chains dragged across stone echoed through the dimly lit path, each link clinking with a cold finality.
Demetrica walked ahead, her dark armor glinting under the pale moonlight, her every step resounding with the commanding weight of authority.
Behind her, Ardyn followed at an unhurried pace, the heavy cuffs around his wrists rattling with each slow step.
If he felt any fear or anger, he didn't show it. Instead, there was an almost eerie calm about him.
Ahead of them, the roars of the beasts echoed across the courtyard, a cacophony of fury and power. The air itself seemed to tremble, heavy with the energy of the raging Leizage and Umigis. Their growls and snarls reverberated through the stone walls, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
****
On the other side of the courtyard. Ren sprinted. His breath catching in his throat with every thunderous roar that shook the air.
"Leizage!"
The beast's eyes snapped toward him, glowing with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.
Ren's eyes snapped toward the soldiers holding the chains.
"What are you doing?! You're hurting it!"
One of the soldiers, a grizzled man clad in iron-plated armor, tightened his grip on the chains, his jaw clenched as Leizage thrashed violently against the restraints.
"We're containing it!"
The soldier barked, his voice strained as sparks of emerald energy crackled dangerously close to his hands.
"If we don't, this thing will tear the entire courtyard apart!"
"Leizage isn't some thing!"
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, their grips unwavering despite the beast's relentless struggle. One of them, a younger recruit, shifted nervously, clearly unsure about holding the leash of such raw, unbridled power.
Leizage let out another deafening roar, its massive claws tearing at the ground as it reared back, the chains groaning ominously.
The green energy radiating from its body surged outward in a pulse, forcing Ren to brace himself as the shockwave rippled through the air.
"S-Sir!"
The younger recruit shouts.
"I-I believe we should leave this to its tamer!"
The grizzled soldier shot the recruit a withering glare, his knuckles white as he gripped the chains.
Ren didn't wait for permission. He pushed forward, stepping dangerously close to Leizage despite the crackling waves of energy that lashed out, scorching the stone around him.
The beast froze momentarily, its glowing eyes locking onto Ren. Its body trembled with restrained power, the chains creaking as if they might snap at any moment.
"Listen to me! Calm down!"
Leizage growled low, the sound vibrating through the air like distant thunder. The beast's wild energy pulsed once more but faltered, dimming ever so slightly.
"That's it..."
Ren whispered, his hands trembling as he reached out toward the creature.
"It's me, just calm down..."
The younger recruit took a hesitant step back, his wide eyes darting between Ren and the large beast.
"It's... it's actually listening to him..."
Ren focused entirely on Leizage. Step by step, he closed the distance, his hand outstretched toward its muzzle. The beast's breaths were ragged, each exhale hot enough to sear the air.
The chains suddenly slackened as Leizage lowered its massive head, the glowing energy around it fading into a faint shimmer. Ren exhaled a shaky breath, his fingers brushing against the rough scales of its snout.
"Good," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "That's good. I'm here..."
The sound of the chains broke the fragile silence. Demetrica and Ardyn emerge from the shadows.
Ardyn walk with his cuffed hands resting casually in front, watching the scene unfold with unusually serious expression.
The chains clinked softly as Ardyn stopped beside Demetrica, his sharp gaze fixed on the now-calm Leizage. His expression, typically unreadable, shifted slightly—just enough for Demetrica to catch the flicker of surprise in his eyes.
He turned his attention to Ren, whose hand rested gently on the beast's snout, the boy's breathing uneven but determined.
A loud splash echoed from the opposite side of the courtyard. The raging Umigis, whose thrashing had churned the nearby fountain into a whirlpool, abruptly stopped.
"Impossible..."
The black bear walked closer, its massive body rumbling on itself as it lowered its head. Its menacing growls ceased entirely, replaced by a low, resonant groan.
The soldiers restraining Umigis exchanged uneasy glances. The chains they gripped slackened slightly, no longer taut with the tension of restraining a raging force.
Demetrica turned to Ardyn, her tone sharp and demanding.
"What did you do?"
Ardyn's eyes flickered toward her, his expression unreadable once more.
"I did nothing," he said evenly, his voice carrying an undertone of disbelief.
His gaze returned to Umigis, the faintest trace of something akin to concern crossing his features.
"It... stopped on its own."
He took a slow step toward Umigis, the chains around his wrists rattling softly. The beast's glowing purple eyes met his, and for a moment, the courtyard was utterly silent.
Umigis let out a low rumble, almost like a sigh, and leaned its massive head toward Ardyn. The action sent a ripple of shock through the gathered soldiers and even Demetrica, who took an involuntary step back.
Ardyn reached out, his bound hands trembling ever so slightly as his fingertips brushed against Umigis' wild, wet fur.
A soft, ethereal glow emanated from his pocket. His brow furrowed as he felt the faint warmth against his leg, and he instinctively reached down, the cuffs on his wrists clinking softly.
The soldiers watched warily, their grips tightening on the chains, though none dared interrupt the strange, almost sacred moment unfolding before them.
Ardyn retrieved the source of the glow—a smooth, palm-sized stone etched with intricate patterns that pulsed with a deep purple light.
Umigis let out a low, resonant growl, its massive head tilting slightly as if urging him to act.
The bond stone pulsed in rhythm with Umigis' steady breaths, and Ardyn closed his eyes, allowing himself to focus.
"Stand back."
Ardyn commanded, his voice calm yet firm.
Ardyn held the stone aloft. A surge of energy erupted from it, swirling outward in a vortex of light and shadow.
The beast let out a deep, resonant roar that shook the courtyard. Chains clattered to the ground as the soldiers stumbled back, unable to maintain their grip. Umigis' massive form began to dissolve into pure energy, flowing toward the bond stone in shimmering streams of purple and blue.
Ardyn lowered his hand, the bond stone now cool and dormant once more. He turned to Demetrica, his expression unreadable but his tone laced with quiet defiance.
"I've dealt with it, now put me back in the cell."
As he turned away, Ren stepped forward, still holding Leizage's snout. The beast rumbled softly, its energy subdued yet watchful.
"We'll meet again, Ardyn."