The day had gone smoothly so far. Kaito had finished buying all the blue gear for the Husky, and the Circle had snagged their own purchases. The market was lively, filled with laughter, chatter, and the scent of baked bread and roasting meats.
Kaito walked alongside the Husky, letting it sniff along the cobblestones. It padded confidently, leash loose in his hand, ears perked.
Then the dog froze. Its hackles rose slightly, and it growled—low, warning, almost melodic. Kaito stopped immediately, eyes narrowing.
A cart full of crates had tipped over ahead, spilling barrels of apples and sacks of grain across the path. But it wasn't the mess that caught Kaito's attention.
Two cloaked figures moved quickly through the crowd, slipping between panicked merchants and fleeing shoppers. One of them reached for a crate of valuables, a sharp glint of metal in their hand.
The Husky lunged, barking sharply, and spun in front of Kaito, its icy blue eyes fixed on the culprits. Its growl was enough to make one of the cloaks falter.
Kaito stepped forward, spear ready. He didn't flare the blue fire—not yet—but the pressure under his skin stiffened his stance, his body coiled like a spring. The cloaked figures froze for a moment, sensing the intensity emanating from him.
"Step back," Kaito warned, voice low. "Leave it alone."
The Husky barked again, sharp and commanding. The smaller of the two thieves hesitated, then bolted into the crowd. The second paused, caught in the dog's gaze and Kaito's silent intensity. After a tense second, they ran as well, disappearing down a narrow alley.
The market returned to normal. Merchants cursed their spilled goods, and shoppers gossiped, but no one realized how close the situation had come to escalating.
Aria exhaled softly beside Kaito. "That was… impressive. The dog knew exactly what to do."
"It's sharp," Kaito replied, scratching behind the Husky's ears. "And alert. I want it to be ready for anything."
The Husky wagged its tail lightly but remained vigilant, eyes scanning the crowd even as they continued through the market.
Ryo smirked. "Well, at least it's not just a cute pet, huh?"
Mira laughed. "Yeah, it's a tiny guardian with icy eyes. Don't get too attached, or it might kick your butt first."
Kaito glanced down at the Husky and smirked faintly. "It's ours. Small problem today… bigger ones tomorrow. But we'll be ready."