Nexus Bond

Band of Wolves Arc: Part 2 

A massive water ball struck Akira, throwing him to the ground with a loud crash.

"Mel, come here," Grandma called, her voice stern and commanding.

"Grandma, no!" Mel protested, stepping in front of Akira. "He hasn't done anything wrong."

Two water whips extended from Grandma's hands. With a swift motion, she caught Akira's leg and slammed him into the ground again.

"Grandma, please wait! He's my friend," Mel pleaded, wrapping her arms around her grandmother's waist in an attempt to calm her.

"Mel, what are you saying? He set fire to the shed and tried to harm you," Grandma said, her gaze unwavering.

"No, he was protecting me from the wolf!" Mel explained.

"A wolf?" Grandma asked, her tone softening slightly.

Mel quickly recounted the events, from the wolf's attack to Akira's intervention. Meanwhile, Akira picked himself up, brushing off the dirt from his clothes.

Grandma glanced at Akira, her expression still wary. "He's an odd one, isn't he? No codices, no Ou mark. Strange indeed."

After a pause, Grandma sighed. "Well, we need to clean up this mess. But first…" She leaned in and whispered something to Mel.

Mel approached Akira, her expression apologetic. "Hey, Akira, I'm sorry about what Grandma did."

"No need to apologize. I'm just glad it wasn't my body getting slammed around," Raz interjected from within.

"But now, can you help us dig two graves?" Mel asked quietly.

Akira nodded solemnly and got to work. Once the graves were prepared, Mel placed flowers on them. She knelt before the small mounds, tears streaming down her face.

"Daisy and Kelly were the playful duo of our herd," Mel began, her voice trembling. "I grew up with them, played with them. But now, I'll never see them again."

Akira stepped forward, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I understand how you feel. I once had a dog named Mickey. He was as energetic as I was. One day, he got sick and…" Akira's voice faltered. "He didn't make it."

Mel looked up at him, her eyes filled with sorrow. "How did you cope?" she asked.

Akira gazed at the sky. "Loss is a part of life. It teaches us to be stronger, to become better versions of ourselves. Mickey may be gone, but he's still with me… in my heart. As long as I remember him, he's never truly gone."

Mel's eyes glistened as she absorbed his words. "A person dies when they're forgotten," Akira continued. "I'll never forget Mickey, not until my last breath."

Mel's tears flowed freely, but a small smile graced her lips. "Then I'll never forget Daisy and Kelly. They'll live in my heart forever."

Akira smiled back, his expression warm and reassuring.

"Is it done, Mel?" Grandma asked, stepping forward.

"Yes, Grandma," Mel replied, wiping her eyes.

Grandma's stern expression softened. "Thank you for saving my granddaughter," she said, addressing Akira. "Now, come inside. There's food waiting."

As the three of them enjoyed their meal, a sinister scene unfolded deep in the forest.

The gray wolf that had attacked the farm sprinted through the woods, fear etched into every movement. It reached a clearing where its pack waited. The other wolves surrounded it, their eyes filled with curiosity and disdain. One wolf howled, summoning another from deeper in the woods.

The summoned wolf, larger and more imposing, approached. The pack fell silent, parting to make way for their leader. Sitting atop a cliff was a massive white wolf, one eye clouded and white as pure snow. His presence was commanding, and his gaze fell on the gray wolf with cold indifference.

The gray wolf lowered its head in shame, approaching hesitantly. It stood before the white wolf, trembling. When it dared to lift its gaze, the white wolf snarled and lunged. His jaws clamped around the gray wolf's neck, and with a powerful motion, he threw it off the cliff.

The gray wolf let out one final, pleading howl before disappearing into the abyss below. The pack watched in terrified silence, stepping back instinctively.

The white wolf turned to his pack, his gaze burning with rage and determination. He barked sharply, each sound resonating with vengeance. Then he looked to the sky and howled, a mournful yet commanding cry. The pack joined in, their collective howls echoing through the forest as they accepted their leader's decree.