The sun had barely risen over the village when Kaito and Eryo stood at the academy gates, Dex pacing between them, tail flicking with anticipation. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of distant smoke—an echo of past chaos.
Kaito adjusted his grip on his spear, eyes scanning the horizon. "You're ready," he said quietly, more to himself than to Eryo. "We'll test your instincts in the field today. Nothing too dangerous… but enough to get a feel for each other in real combat."
Eryo nodded, staff at the ready, eyes sharp. "I'm ready," he said. "I can feel the bond… it guides me. I trust it."
Kaito allowed a small, approving smile. "Good. Then let's move."
The streets outside the academy were mostly empty at this hour, but movement caught their attention. Shadows flitted between buildings—fast, deliberate, and threatening.
Kaito's hand tightened on the spear. "Attackers," he muttered. "Looks like they're testing the academy's defenses again."
Eryo's instincts flared immediately. His body shifted into a natural combat stance, and he moved without thinking, aligning perfectly with Kaito's own rhythm. Every dodge, every counterstrike, flowed seamlessly between them, like echoes of battles long past.
The first assailant—a masked figure wielding a short blade—rushed them. Kaito met him with a sweeping strike, while Eryo anticipated the next angle, blocking another strike before it could land.
"Your timing…" Kaito muttered, impressed, even as he parried another attack. "It's like you've been here all along."
Eryo's eyes glimmered with a memory-flash, just for a heartbeat, of flying beside Kaito, of scales and wings cutting through stormy skies. The instinct didn't falter. He reacted immediately, disarming the attacker with a precise motion that spoke of experience far beyond this body.
The remaining assailants hesitated, caught off guard by the coordination between the two. Kaito didn't give them a second to recover, sweeping forward with Eryo matching every step.
"Remember," Kaito said mid-motion, "this isn't just about winning. It's about instinct, trust, and flow. Don't hold back."
Eryo's strikes became sharper, faster, almost preternatural. He felt the old rhythm, the bond, the centuries of shared experience guiding every motion. Dex barked excitedly, weaving between their legs, sensing the unity between them.
The last attacker fell back, eyes wide, clearly unnerved by the duo. They didn't need to strike with full force—just the presence, the synchronized movements, and the instinctive bond was enough to scatter the threat.
Breathing heavily, Kaito lowered his spear and turned to Eryo. "See? We work together. Like we always have. You remember now, and it shows."
Eryo's staff lowered slowly. "It feels… perfect," he admitted. "Like no time has passed at all."
Kaito nodded. "Good. This is only the beginning. There are bigger threats coming, and the bond we share will be our edge. But for now…" He glanced at the retreating shadows. "…we've made our first strike count."
Dex barked, tail wagging furiously, as the two of them walked back toward the academy, the morning sun casting long shadows behind them.
The world was still dangerous, still uncertain—but Kaito and Eryo had begun reclaiming what was lost, together.
And for the first time in what felt like centuries, their instinctive teamwork could face the enemy head-on.