"Mages, do you copy?"
The Court Captain's voice echoed through the telepathic link.
"Yes, Captain," one of the Mages replied. "How is the situation on your end?"
"It's all good. I just eliminated the Special Darkside Spirit."
The Captain paused to catch his breath.
"What about your end? What's the situation?"
The Mage hesitated.
"It's bad..."
His voice grew grim.
"Really bad. We've lost almost all our Shinras."
The Captain's expression changed.
"If it weren't for the smith, we'd all be dead by now."
"The smith?"
The Captain looked surprised.
"You mean the smith is battling the Special Darkside Spirit?"
He turned toward the distant forest.
"I can still sense that strange Dark Renshi from here, and it's getting weaker. What happened?"
"I don't know if he's still fighting. They're out of sight," the Mage answered.
"The smith..."
He paused, struggling to explain what he had witnessed.
"Something changed in him."
"What do you mean?"
"He suddenly awakened with a massive surge of Dark Renshi. It was overwhelming."
Disbelief crept into the Mage's voice.
"He sent the Darkside Spirit flying with a single punch."
The Captain's eyes widened.
"So that Dark Renshi aura I sensed..."
He clenched his fists.
"It was coming from him?"
This is bad.
He turned toward the fading Renshi.
I need to get there immediately.
Without wasting another second, the Captain took flight and raced through the sky at full speed.
As he traveled, he noticed something unusual.
The Special Darkside Spirit's aura was moving away from the battlefield.
It's fleeing...
His expression grew serious.
Which means the smith has been defeated.
He accelerated.
I have to reach him.
I can eliminate the Darkside Spirit whenever it shows itself again.
His eyes hardened.
But first, I need to hear his final words.
A warrior like him deserves that much.
---
The Captain finally landed.
The forest was almost unrecognizable.
Broken trees littered the ground, and crater after crater scarred the earth.
Amid the destruction, Falco lay motionless.
His clothes were torn, and blood covered his body.
The Captain slowly approached him.
"Hey, Smith..."
Falco's eyes barely opened.
The Captain knelt beside him.
"I had no idea you'd be the one to save all my Shinras."
He looked at the wounded blacksmith with genuine respect.
"You're a hero."
Falco managed a weak smile.
"I'm no hero..."
His voice was barely a whisper.
"I was just... fighting for my family."
He coughed, struggling to breathe.
"And humanity."
His breathing grew weaker.
"I pushed too far."
Falco looked away.
"Maybe now... they'll never forgive me."
"Don't speak."
The Captain moved closer to his wound.
"I'll get the Mages. We can stop the bleeding."
"It's too late."
Falco coughed up blood.
"You know it."
He drew a slow, painful breath.
"My Renshi's gone..."
His eyes began to lose focus.
"I'm done."
With trembling fingers, he grabbed the Captain's cape.
"Don't waste yours trying to save me."
The Captain stared at him, unable to respond.
Falco tightened his grip.
"Make me a promise..."
"Anything."
The Captain leaned closer.
"Just name it."
"Go to my home..."
Falco struggled to force out the words.
"...in the Guhan Kingdom."
The Captain listened intently.
"I'm a well-known blacksmith there. It won't be hard to find my family."
His breathing became increasingly faint.
"Take my son in as your student."
The Captain's eyes widened.
"Teach him how to control both Light and Dark Renshical sides."
Falco swallowed painfully.
"Help him master it..."
His voice cracked.
"Help him become someone strong enough to protect the people around him."
The Captain stared at him in disbelief.
"Don't tell me..."
His expression changed.
"Your son has Dual Renshi?"
Falco smiled faintly.
"Surprised?"
He let out a weak laugh.
"You shouldn't be."
He looked directly at the Captain.
"I know you have it too."
The Captain froze.
"Both types."
Falco's voice grew quieter.
"But you hide your Dark Renshi..."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"...so your men don't question who you are."
The Captain's expression went completely still.
"How did you know that?"
Falco's eyes slowly closed.
"Does it matter?"
He forced them open one last time.
"Just go to my house."
His voice was barely audible.
"Train Alfie..."
He paused to catch his breath.
"Teach him everything."
Falco's breathing became uneven.
"I never let him go to the Shinra Academy."
"Why?"
"Because I was afraid."
Sadness filled Falco's fading eyes.
"Afraid he'd lose control."
He struggled to draw another breath.
"Afraid the world would discover the power he inherited from me..."
His voice trailed off.
"...from the legendary witches."
"Don't call him that."
The Captain's voice was firm.
"He might be stronger than any witch we've ever known."
Falco let out a faint laugh.
"You're talking about a ten-year-old..."
He coughed.
"...possessing Renshi compared to the legendary twelve Wizards, Captain."
"I'm talking about potential."
The Captain glanced toward the sky.
"Anything is possible."
Falco's breathing grew weaker as he looked at the Court Captain, his expression heavy with regret.
"If only I had made a different choice all those years ago," he murmured. "Perhaps things would have ended differently."
He gave a faint, bitter smile.
"My Light and Dark Renshical sides must be furious with me."
His gaze drifted away before returning to the Captain.
"Please, take my son, Alfie, as your student. Teach him what I never could. Don't let him follow the same path I did."
Silence settled between them.
Then the Captain suddenly realized something.
"I never asked for your name, Smith."
He looked back at the dying blacksmith.
"What should I call you?"
Falco's lips moved.
"Falco..."
His voice was almost gone.
"...and my son's name is Alfie."
The Captain nodded slowly.
"I won't forget."
Falco gave him one final, peaceful smile.
Then his eyes closed.
For the last time.
The Captain remained silent for several moments before gently lowering Falco's body to the ground.
"What a warrior..."
He looked down at the fallen blacksmith.
"He gave his life for his family..."
His fists tightened.
"...and for comrades he barely knew."
The Captain lowered his head.
"He was more than a smith."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"He was a Shinra."
He looked at Falco one last time.
"A great one at that."
---
Later
The surviving Shinras eventually regrouped with the Captain.
Together, they returned to their original kingdom, carrying Falco's body with them.
The Captain personally laid the blacksmith to rest in the kingdom's cemetery.
As the burial preparations were being made, a Shinra responsible for overseeing the cemetery approached him.
"Captain..."
The man glanced toward Falco's grave.
"Isn't this against protocol?"
He hesitated before continuing.
"He wasn't one of us."
The Captain slowly turned toward him.
"Tell me something."
The cemetery Shinra looked at him.
"What is a Shinra?"
The man froze, unable to answer.
The Captain continued.
"A Shinra isn't defined by wearing a cape with a badge or carrying a sword."
His gaze settled on Falco's grave.
"A Shinra is someone who fights to protect humanity..."
His voice grew firm.
"...and the people they love."
He placed a hand against his chest.
"Falco did that."
The Captain looked at the grave one last time.
"And more."
He turned away.
"He deserves to rest among heroes."
Without another word, the Captain walked away.
---
Guhan Kingdom
The door opened.
"Welcome back, Mama."
Elijah and Marcus ran toward Margaret.
She smiled warmly at her sons.
"How are my boys doing?"
"We're fine, Mama," Marcus replied.
He looked up at her.
"When is Papa coming back?"
Margaret knelt and picked him up.
"Don't worry, sweetheart."
She hugged him close.
"Papa will be back soon."
A gentle smile crossed her face.
"Just a little longer."
"I can't wait to see him."
Marcus hugged her tightly.
Margaret kissed the top of his head.
"And where's your brother?"
"He's still at Papa's forge," Elijah answered. "He's been working on that sword since Papa left."
Margaret smiled faintly.
"He's so dedicated."
She glanced toward the forge.
"I hope he continues to grow."
After setting Marcus down, she stepped outside and walked toward the garden to gather some grain.
The afternoon was peaceful.
A gentle breeze moved through the town.