Chapter 240: Chapter 240: Small Steps, Heavy Growth II

Arthur muttered under his breath, "Good... keep that pace."

Mel’s ears twitched slightly, but she didn’t slow down.

Lyra folded her arms as she watched the cub move through the course again. "...Yeah. That’s not normal."

She stepped closer to Arthur. "We’ll increase the difficulty."

Arthur kept his eyes on Mel for another second before replying. "I figured."

"I prepared something."

That finally made him glance at her. "...Already?"

Lyra nodded once. "Minor weight rings."

Arthur raised a brow. "For her?"

"Yes."

He looked back toward Mel, watching the way she moved between the platforms. "...That’ll slow her down."

"That’s the point."

A faint smile pulled at Arthur’s lips. "Fair enough."

"We’ll adjust the weight based on her time," Lyra continued. "As she improves, it gets heavier."

Arthur nodded slowly. "Simple system."

"Clear progress," Lyra added.

"Yeah," Arthur replied. "I like that."

Lyra gestured toward the course. "Call her back."

Arthur didn’t move.

At least, not in any obvious way.

Lyra waited, her eyes fixed on him, expecting some kind of signal or command. But before she could say anything else, Mel suddenly stopped near the end of the course.

She turned sharply and immediately dashed back toward them.

Lyra blinked.

"...What?"

Arthur hadn’t spoken. He hadn’t whistled, gestured, or moved at all, yet Mel ran straight back without hesitation. There was no confusion in her movements either. She knew exactly where she was going.

Lyra slowly turned toward him. "...You didn’t even say anything."

Arthur barely reacted, like none of this felt unusual to him.

Mel slowed to a stop in front of him, and Arthur crouched down, resting a hand gently on her head.

"Good job."

Mel leaned into the touch immediately, her tail swaying lightly behind her. Through the bond, Arthur felt a soft pulse of satisfaction and pride.

He chuckled quietly. "Yeah, yeah. You did well."

Lyra stayed silent for a moment, studying the two of them carefully. Questions were written all over her face, but Arthur ignored them, not because he was avoiding her, but because to him, this really wasn’t strange anymore.

Instead, he focused on Mel.

"We’re making it harder now."

Mel looked up at him attentively.

"More weight," Arthur continued. "Same course."

For a brief moment, the bond went quiet.

Then the response came.

Not words. Just understanding.

And acceptance.

Arthur smiled faintly. "...Thought so."

Lyra watched the exchange closely. There were still no spoken commands, no visible instructions, but the communication between them was obvious.

"...Interesting."

Arthur picked up the weight rings Lyra had prepared and crouched again. They were light for now, but enough to make a difference. He carefully fastened them around Mel’s legs before patting her lightly.

"Try moving."

Mel took a step.

Then another.

Her pace slowed immediately as her body adjusted to the added weight. It wasn’t dramatic, but it was noticeable enough that she stopped and looked back up at Arthur. A faint trace of discomfort passed through the bond.

Arthur rubbed the top of her head gently. "You’ll get used to it."

Mel tested her footing again, moving a little more carefully this time.

Arthur nodded. "Good. That’s normal."

Lyra observed quietly from the side. There was no panic from Mel, no resistance either. She was already adapting instead of fighting against it.

Arthur stood and gestured toward the course. "Go on."

Mel turned without hesitation and moved back toward the starting point. She was slower now, but the focus in her eyes only sharpened.

Arthur crossed his arms as he watched her line herself up again.

"...Let’s see it." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The moment she stepped into the course, the difference became obvious. The extra weight threw off her timing and caused her to stumble slightly on the first obstacle.

But she didn’t stop.

She corrected herself mid-step and kept going.

Lyra followed every movement closely. "...Good."

Mel jumped onto the first platform. The landing wasn’t as smooth as before, but it was controlled enough for her to recover instantly and continue.

Arthur spoke softly from the side. "Don’t rush."

Mel’s pace steadied after that. Slower than before, but much more deliberate. Every step carried intent now, every jump measured more carefully than the last.

Lyra nodded slightly. "She’s adapting."

Arthur glanced at her. "She always does."

There wasn’t any arrogance in his voice. Just certainty.

Mel continued through the course while the weights forced her to pay attention to every movement. Her rhythm slowed, but it didn’t break.

Arthur pulled out a small timer.

Lyra noticed immediately. "You’re tracking it?"

"Of course." He didn’t even look up. "How else do we know if she’s improving?"

A faint smirk appeared on Lyra’s face. "...Good."

Mel reached the midpoint of the course, breathing harder now, but she still hadn’t stopped once.

Arthur kept his eyes on her movements. "Almost there."

Mel pushed forward, her steps heavier but steady, and eventually crossed the end point.

Arthur stopped the timer. "...Got it."

Mel turned around immediately and headed back toward him, waiting for his reaction.

Arthur smiled as she approached. "Good run."

Her tail moved lightly again despite the added weight.

Arthur crouched and rubbed her head once more. "You felt that, right?"

A small pulse came through the bond.

Clear.

Arthur nodded. "Good. That means it’s working."

Lyra stepped forward slightly. "Run it again."

Arthur didn’t even have to repeat the command.

Mel had already turned back toward the course.

He let out a quiet laugh under his breath. "...Yeah. She’s locked in."

The second run began.

It was still slower than before, and the weights were clearly affecting her, but this time her movements flowed more naturally. There was less hesitation, less overcorrection.

Lyra crossed her arms again. "...There it is."

Arthur checked the timer while Mel moved through the obstacles.

The weight still slowed her down, but it no longer disrupted her rhythm as badly.

When she finished, Arthur looked at the time again and a small smile appeared on his face.

"...Faster."

Lyra nodded. "I expected that."

A/N:

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