Lyon stood motionless, his eyes closed as he searched through his memories for a suitable location in the Kingdom of Baska. He needed somewhere familiar enough to teleport to without drawing unwanted attention.
Just as he settled on a spot, a sudden thought struck him.
"AHHHHHH!"
HEY, EXCA! ARE YOU THERE?
What is it this time, Lyon? Exca replied through their telepathy link, his voice heavy with irritation. I was just about to get some sleep.
This man... this THING... is standing behind me like some well-mannered noble, but I can practically feel the madness boiling beneath his skin, Lyon whispered furiously. His aura is monstrous. If I'd teleported into Baska with him radiating that kind of pressure, the kingdom's Shinras would've torn me apart before I could even explain myself.
Oh, that? Exca yawned. I already cast a Renshi-concealment spell on him. His aura now feels no different from that of an ordinary human. Nobody will notice anything.
Lyon's face twitched.
You absolute idiot...
He immediately severed the telepathy link.
He does everything without telling me a damn thing. Is this really a partnership, or am I just his errand boy?
Before he could continue complaining, a calm voice sounded from behind him.
"So, what did my other self say? Did he find the location of the boy and the woman?"
Lyon nearly jumped out of his skin.
His other self? Does he think Exca and I are the same person?
He slowly turned around, forcing his expression to remain composed.
"Yeah. He gave me their last known location, but it's outdated. We'll have to search the surrounding kingdoms."
Sasaki's lips curled into an excited grin.
"Finally... I've been itching for a fight."
He cracked his knuckles, his crimson eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Let's go beat up that woman and drag the boy back."
Lyon stared at him.
He looks like a cheerful young noble, but beneath that innocent smile is something unimaginable...
Without wasting another moment, Lyon drew a teleportation circle on the ground and channelled his Renshi into it.
The circle began to glow. A faint shimmer spread through the air around them as the spell took effect.
"Listen carefully," Lyon whispered to Sasaki. "Don't speak to anyone or do anything without my permission. Just follow my lead."
Sasaki tilted his head.
"Why? Are we playing a game?"
"Something like that, Sasa..."
Lyon forced a smile.
Damn it... I nearly called him Sasaki again. One wrong word, and he might start doubting everything.
The teleportation circle flashed.
In an instant, both men vanished from Guhan and reappeared near the capital of the Kingdom of Baska.
----
Several miles behind them, another teleportation circle flickered into existence.
Jackson and Marcel stumbled out into an empty town square. Silent buildings surrounded them, and the cobblestone streets stretched in every direction without a single person in sight.
Jackson immediately grabbed Marcel by the arm and pulled him behind a nearby fruit stall.
"Keep your head down. Don't make a sound."
Marcel glanced nervously around the square before lowering his voice.
"What's the plan now? If we get too close, your father might detect your Renshi. We're already taking a huge risk just being here."
Jackson gave him an unimpressed look.
"Do you think I'm stupid? We're not going to follow them directly. I'll place a Renshi tracker on Sasaki. Once it's attached, we can follow his movements without getting too close."
Marcel blinked.
"Since when do you carry Renshi trackers?"
Jackson smirked.
"Since just now. I thought of it on the way here."
"You cocky little..."
Marcel suddenly stopped and began rummaging through his pockets.
"Wait... I think I have a Renshi storer."
He pulled out a small object and held it up proudly.
Then he examined it more closely.
"...It's a rock."
Jackson slowly covered his face with his palm.
"A rock? YOU IDIOT. What the hell is a rock doing inside your pocket?"
"Hey, don't underestimate it. Can't you transfer Renshi into a rock and use it to store energy?"
Jackson stared at him for a moment before reluctantly holding out his hand.
"Give it here."
Marcel handed him the stone.
Jackson infused it with a tiny amount of his Renshi, carefully keeping its energy signature as faint as possible.
"There. That should do it. Sasaki's aura is so powerful that even with Exca's concealment spell, my Renshi signature won't stand out."
Marcel grinned triumphantly.
"See? The rock was useful after all. You're welcome."
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Jackson muttered, slipping the stone into his pocket. "Now, let's go plant it before they get any farther."
The two boys cautiously emerged from behind the stall and scanned the deserted streets.
Jackson looked in one direction.
Then the other.
His expression suddenly changed.
"...Wait a minute."
Marcel followed his gaze.
The street was empty.
"AHHHHHH! THEY'RE GONE!"
Marcel's shout echoed across the deserted square.
"SHHHH!"
Jackson immediately clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Do you want the entire town to hear you?"
He peered down the street again, his expression darkening.
"Damn it... They must've used another teleportation circle."
Marcel pulled Jackson's hand away.
"We're doomed... How are we supposed to get back to Guhan now? Do you have any idea how far away it is?"
Jackson let out a deep sigh.
Why did I ever agree to bring this idiot along?
—
A few minutes later, in the Kingdom of Baska...
The moon hung high above the capital as Jackson and Marcel wandered through its quiet streets, still uncertain about what to do next.
After several minutes of walking, Jackson finally broke the silence.
"So, let me get this straight. Your biggest concern right now isn't the boy they're planning to capture or the woman they intend to kill. You're worried about getting stranded here?"
Marcel shot him an irritated look.
"Shut up... Of course I'm worried about them too. But my father always taught me to put myself first. That's how I've lived since I was ten."
Jackson stopped walking.
He turned toward his friend and looked him directly in the eyes.
"Then maybe it's time you changed that way of thinking."
Marcel frowned.
"What?"
"Being a Shinra isn't just about strength, Marcel. It's about standing up for something. Protecting people who can't protect themselves, whether they're your friends, your family, or complete strangers."
Jackson's expression grew firm.
"That's what I believe in. And if you're going to call yourself a Shinra in the future, I expect you to start believing in it too."
Marcel fell silent, seemingly unsure of what to say.
After a while, he spoke again.
"Jackson... Are you absolutely sure your father won't kill that woman?"
Jackson's expression softened slightly.
"I know my father. He might sound like he's following the Special Darkside Knight's orders, but I believe he's trying to save everyone in his own way."
He paused briefly.
"I can feel it."
Marcel shook his head.
"I don't know, man. I heard his voice myself. He was asking how to eliminate her."
"Then we'll follow them and find out the truth."
Jackson held up the small stone.
"We'll plant this tracker on Sasaki, follow their movements, and figure out what's really going on."
Marcel sighed.
"Fine. But we'd better move before---"
"Hey, you two! What are you doing out here so late?"
Both boys froze.
A tall Shinra wearing a blue-black cape emerged from the shadows, eyeing them suspiciously.
Marcel leaned toward Jackson and whispered, "We're in trouble. What do we tell him?"
Jackson quickly straightened his posture and bowed politely.
"Good evening, sir. We got separated from our parents and have been searching for them all day. We were just heading to a motel to get some rest."
Marcel stared at him in disbelief.
What the hell, Jackson? That's your excuse? He's going to see right through you.
The Shinra studied them for a moment.
"Oh? Separated from your parents, you say?"
His gaze shifted briefly to their clothes before he continued.
"Well, this isn't the best town to get stranded in. Motels don't offer free rooms here, you know. Do you boys have any money?"
Before Jackson could answer, Marcel stepped forward.
"No, sir. We don't. We were hoping someone might let us stay somewhere for the night."
Jackson slowly turned toward him.
YOU IDIOT! WHY WOULD YOU ADMIT THAT? OF COURSE WE HAVE MONEY!
The Shinra raised an eyebrow, then sighed.
"This isn't a kingdom that hands out charity to everyone. However..."
His expression softened.
"I have two boys around your age at home. I suppose I can make room for you tonight. Come along."
The boys exchanged a quick glance.
"Thank you, sir," they replied together.
After walking with the Shinra for several minutes, they finally arrived at his house.
His wife welcomed them warmly and prepared a generous meal. Exhausted and anxious after everything that had happened, Jackson and Marcel devoured the food before settling onto the guest mats.
Within minutes, both boys were fast asleep.
—
Meanwhile, in another kingdom...
Warm morning sunlight streamed through the windows of a quiet motel room.
Alfie lay sprawled across his bed, sleeping so peacefully that he seemed completely unaware of the world around him.
Beside him, Rebekah stretched her arms before turning toward their master, who was already awake.
"Good morning, Master."
"Good morning, Rebekah." Lucy glanced at her with a gentle smile. "Did you sleep well?"
"Like a baby," Rebekah replied cheerfully.
Then she paused, noticing Lucy's position.
"Wait a minute... Were you watching us sleep all night?"
"Not all night," Lucy answered with a small laugh. "Just for a little while. You two looked so peaceful that I didn't have the heart to wake you."
Rebekah smiled.
"Aww, Master..."
Her expression suddenly changed as she turned toward Alfie.
"Which brings us to this lazy idiot."
She marched over to his bed and grabbed his shoulder.
"HEY! WAKE UP, SLEEPYHEAD!"
"Mmm... Five more minutes..." Alfie mumbled, pulling the blanket over his head. "You can handle yourself..."
Rebekah's eye twitched.
"Oh, really?"
SMACK!
Her palm struck Alfie's cheek.
"WHAT THE---?"
Alfie shot upright so quickly that he nearly fell out of bed.
"REBEKAH! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? WHO SLAPS THEIR ELDERS?"
Rebekah folded her arms.
"Elders? You mean old fools who sleep through important missions?"
"YOU---!"
"ALFIE! THAT'S ENOUGH."
Lucy's voice thundered from the bathroom, where the sound of running water abruptly stopped.
Alfie's mouth snapped shut.
He slowly lowered himself into a chair, muttering under his breath.
"Hmph. Fine. What did you wake me up for, anyway?"
Rebekah rolled her eyes.
"Master let us sleep in, you idiot. It's already past eight. If we don't get moving, we'll end up riding through the night again."
Alfie blinked sleepily. Then a mischievous grin spread across his face.
"Ohhh, what's wrong, baby honey badger? Still stressed about a little traveling at night?"
Rebekah's expression darkened.
"Don't you dare call me that again."
"Relax. I don't mind traveling at night. As long as I get a good night's sleep, I'm perfectly fine."
He leaned back in his chair, placing both hands behind his head.
"Besides, sleeping until morning is what makes it a proper night's rest."
Rebekah stared at him in disbelief.
"IT'S MORNING NOW, YOU IDIOT!"
Alfie's grin widened.
"Exactly. Glad we're finally on the same page. This is when the sleep gets interesting..."
Rebekah pressed a hand against her forehead.
"Unbelievable..."
From the bathroom, Lucy let out a quiet laugh.
These two are going to drive me insane before we even reach Ashura.