SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

"Or they've reason to believe it won't be discovered by the right authorities." Gwyar suggested, arms crossed over his chest, brow furrowed deeply.

Perhaps the root of the problem was such that strength alone would not be enough.

Gwyar crouched low, his digits touching against the pokeballs hanging off his belt.

"It's no issue. I wasn't expecting this either." the man said, before releasing his Stoutland onto the field.

"I would focus on finding tracks to pursue. The Spoink might yet live— time is of the essence." The man said as his Stoutland began to sniff around, careful to not step on the blood. "Leon— Odor Sleuth."

The Stoutland's nose seemed to gleam briefly as its hairs stood on end, before its eyes narrowed and it began to dart around the place.

"Perhaps more importantly, though..." The man said, turning his still tense expression towards the young Champion. "What will you do?"

Terrakion had brought Kyle there, ultimately. Gwyar was, as ever, a tag along to the Swords of Justice' true disciples— an earnest observer and student himself.

---

SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

"Right." The man said with a nod, before Leon bounded off towards the Champ.

At his request, the Stoutland began barking enthusiastically, suddenly filled with a well of boundless positive energy as it darted past the two men and began its way down the pass, stopping just short of disappearing from sight to bark at them to keep up.

"Oh...? Someone's enthusiastic today." The blonde said as he rose to his full height, brow tilted. "What could have possibly gotten him so excited?"

Scratching at his cheek briefly, Gwyar eventually shrugged his shoulder before beginning to run after Leon, who began to move the moment they all gave chase.

"Has the sword I lent served you well?" Asked the knight as they ran after the canine.

He didn't quite trust himself to craft the young man's sword just yet. He felt needed quite a bit more guidance from Aurelie Lefevre before he gave it a try.

His gaze dragged over to Terrakion.

"Has Ser Terrakion sparred with you yet?" Though it wasn't a fair fight by any means, Cobalion often sparred with Melody Miro.

Gwyar believed it was good— both for their relationship, and Melody's swordsmanship. Not to mention Gwyar himself— he had no clue how Cobalion (and the Cloud's effigy of Zacian) wielded swords with such sublime skill in their mouths.

SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

He had gotten kinda used to Kyleisms by now, chuckling at the other's blunt honesty.

"Glad you've found it of use." The man said with a smile as the sprinted. "And that's great to hear! Let's put those skills to the test sometime!"

With Kyle's body, he wouldn't have been surprised if the youth had some preternatural talent for swordsmanship— may as well test his progress out!

Speaking of sparring, though—

"I don't believe level has anything to do with it!" The man said with a chuckle, shaking his head. "Ser Cobalion was Ms. Miro's sparring partner from the moment they began."

Which meant the decision was up to Ser Terrakion, he supposed. His gaze shifted over to large sword of justice, smiling.

"Perhaps Ser Terrakion is waiting for another form of growth before granting you a spar?" He suggested, taking a guess.

SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

"And why is that?" Gwyar asked the younger man, wishing he could run and take notes at the same time. "Ms. Melody's sworn to never become a victim again. I believe that is, at least partly, what drove her to train."

He supposed he couldn't fault Kyle for not possessing the same drive, given he had essentially started out of curiosity.

That aside—

"Pardon?" He said with a measure of shock, glancing between Kyle, his great sword, and Ser Terrakion. Before he could let Kyle know that swords against guns was a terribly lopsided match up even before one accounted for pokemon—

Leon barked, staring at the champion excitedly before bounding forward yet again, rushing through the trees of the mountainous area until it lead them to——

"Ah— is that the fiery path?" Gwyar began to say as the entrance to the cavern systems appeared before them.

Leon ignored it entirely, bounding beyond it towards a...

Bush?

Leon grind to a halt before the suspiciously bulky bush, sniffing and pawing at it whilst growling, eyes narrowing as he baped at its leaves repeatedly.

SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

Gwyar is quick to catch on, stepping out of sight as well, whistling at Leon to follow.

A wise choice by their champion— those inside the secret base noticed the breach almost too quickly.

"Who's out there?!" Shouted someone from inside, followed by the familiar sound of a cocking gun, and the guttural growl of a... canine?

Sounded... dark and fiery.

Gwyar's brow furrowed, eyes narrowing. A secret base so near to the site of the crime was hardly a good spot to hunker down— specially when the perps had 'goods' they needed to get elsewhere.

They must've been waiting for a transpor—

BANG BANG!

Gun shots flew out of the hole, entirely missing them but nonetheless making Leon flinch, the large dog shoving his ears down with his paws.

"You've got 3 seconds to come out, or my friend hre will! One! Two! Thr—"

SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

The hunter's knee caves forward as Kyle's sword smashes behind them, the man struggling to find his balance and strength before getting bodily tackled to the floor by Gwyar's large frame.

"Well done! I don't think we need to worry about interrogations—" He said to the younger man as he shoved the struggling man's face into the dirt, wrestling his arms behind his back as he got out his cuffs. His gaze shifted back to Kyle and the base a moment later, noting the collapsed entrance. "Yet."

Oh.

"Never mind me, then!" He said, proceeding to roll the man under him onto his back. "I can take the lead in the interrogations— but I'm afraid I'll need your assistance all the same, Mr. Lopez."

Terrakion was there, watching, after all. Best to keep Kyle fully involved into the proceedings, and in any case...

"Have you ever played 'good cop, bad cop' at your precinct?" He asked the other cheerfully.

He couldn't run that particular grift on his own.