"Thank you, Mr. Shinra," Rebekah said softly. "I promise I'll make their deaths mean something."
Tears streamed down her cheeks as her voice trembled.
Marco watched her in silence.
She knows so much for someone her age. But deep down, she's still just a child.
"Don't cry, Rebekah."
Alfie rose to his feet, clenching his fists.
"Everything will be alright. I'll eliminate every last Darkside Spirit in this world."
"Pipe down, kid," Marco said firmly. "This isn't the time for bold promises."
"I don't care what time it is. That's my dream, and I'm going to pursue it with everything I've got."
Alfie smiled confidently.
"As soon as Papa comes home, I'm joining the Shinra Academy. That's when my journey begins."
Marco stared at him.
I'd almost forgotten why I came here.
His expression darkened.
I still haven't told them the news. How do I even begin?
I need to speak to his wife first. Gently.
Marco quietly turned toward the door.
Margaret was finishing the dishes in the kitchen.
"Ma'am, do you have a moment? I'd like to speak with you outside."
"Of course, Mr. Shinra. Just give me a second."
Marco stepped onto the porch and leaned against the wooden railing. Countless stars filled the night sky above him.
Those two kids... They both have so much potential.
One has already endured a life filled with loss. The other is about to experience it for the first time.
He lowered his gaze.
I'm about to crush that boy's spirit. But he deserves to know the truth.
Will he still chase his dream after hearing it, or will this break him?
"Mr. Shinra?"
Marco turned around.
Margaret stood behind him, drying her hands with a towel.
"You said you wanted to talk. I've been standing here for a while now."
She looked at him with concern.
"Is everything alright?"
Marco straightened.
"Sorry. I got lost in my thoughts and didn't realize you'd come out."
"It's fine."
Margaret folded the towel in her hands.
"What did you want to talk about?"
Marco took a slow breath.
"My name is Marco. I'm a Special Darkside Knight from Mechan."
Margaret nodded quietly.
"A few days ago, I received a battlefield delivery from a blacksmith from this kingdom."
He paused.
"He was an incredibly sharp man with remarkable senses. Just before he left, he detected Darkside Spirits approaching our position."
Margaret's expression began to change.
"He warned us just in time. Many of the soldiers doubted him, but I believed him, so we prepared for battle."
Marco continued.
"Just before leaving, he returned and confirmed that the Darkside Spirits were closing in from every direction."
Margaret's fingers tightened around the towel.
"There was no escape, so he stayed and fought alongside us."
Marco's voice grew heavier.
"But it was a trap. A Special Darkside Spirit appeared and split our forces apart."
Margaret stared at him, saying nothing.
"I assigned several elite Shinras to protect him and my squad. But another Special Darkside Spirit appeared where he was."
Marco lowered his head.
"The others didn't stand a chance. The blacksmith fought it head-on, buying us time and saving countless lives."
He fell silent briefly.
"But by the time I reached him, it was too late. He had almost completely exhausted his Renshi and was already dying."
Marco met her eyes.
"With his final breath, he made me promise something."
Margaret's voice faltered.
"What... did he ask?"
"To protect his son."
She froze.
"And to help him master the two types of Renshi within him."
Her eyes widened.
Marco took a breath.
"His final words were calm. He simply said..."
"'My name is Falco.'"
Margaret went completely still.
"Falco..."
She whispered his name as if she could hardly believe what she'd heard.
"You said he fought a Special Darkside Spirit?"
Her voice shook.
"That can't be right. My Falco didn't have Renshi. He was just a blacksmith."
Marco's expression softened.
"That's what he kept hidden from everyone. Not because he wanted to deceive you or keep secrets from you and the boys, but because he wanted to protect his family."
Margaret's eyes widened further.
"Your husband was a dual Renshi user, what most people call a witch."
"A... witch?"
"Witches are different from Shinras. They possess two types of Renshi, light and dark."
Margaret struggled to process his words.
"Falco awakened with Dark Renshi. He kept it sealed because he feared what might happen if anyone discovered it."
"He... had Renshi all this time?"
"Yes."
Marco nodded.
"He could have returned to the Shinra world, but he refused. He never wanted that life again."
"Why?"
"Because he chose his family over power."
Margaret's legs gave way.
She dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
"No..."
She covered her mouth.
"No, that's impossible."
Her voice broke.
"If he had Renshi, the Shinras would have sensed it. The Darkside Spirits would have sensed it. Someone would have noticed."
"They could have."
Marco crouched beside her.
"Dual Renshi users aren't like ordinary Shinras. Their Renshi is unstable and unpredictable, but they can conceal it."
He paused.
"Though doing so comes at a cost."
Margaret bowed her head, crying silently.
"He never told me..."
Her voice was barely audible.
"He carried all of that by himself."
Marco remained quiet for a moment before speaking gently.
"I'm sorry you had to learn about him this way."
Margaret wiped away her tears.
"But you should be proud of him."
She looked up at Marco.
"Falco didn't die as a simple blacksmith."
His voice grew firm.
"He died protecting others. He died as a protector of mankind."
Margaret turned toward the star-filled sky, tears still running down her cheeks.
"Falco..."