Both Alfie and Rebekah collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath after their desperate escape.
"We're so screwed this time," Rebekah wheezed, barely able to get the words out.
"We just have to prepare for the worst," Alfie muttered.
He removed the scabbard from his back and carefully placed it in the corner of the room. Rebekah followed suit, untying hers and setting it beside his.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Lucy stepped inside, wearing a chilling smile that immediately made both students scramble to their feet. They stood stiffly, bracing themselves for whatever punishment she had in mind.
But Lucy simply snapped her fingers.
In an instant, both children dropped onto the bed, their bodies going completely limp.
"Hmmm, hmmmm, hmmm..." Lucy hummed cheerfully as she watched them struggle.
Alfie and Rebekah desperately tried to move, but their efforts were useless. They couldn't control their arms or legs, and even their voices had been silenced. The only thing they could move was their eyes, which darted helplessly around the room.
"This isn't a punishment," Lucy said calmly as she headed toward the bathroom. "Think of it as a little gift from a master to her beloved students."
The sound of running water soon filled the room as Lucy took her shower, leaving Alfie and Rebekah trapped on the bed.
After a while, she emerged in her pajamas and walked over to the bed. Slipping beneath the covers, she reached out and switched off the lamp.
"Good night, my lovely students," she whispered with a peaceful smile.
Moments later, Lucy drifted off to sleep.
Alfie and Rebekah remained motionless, staring blankly at the ceiling. Eventually, despite their helpless state, exhaustion caught up with them, and they too fell asleep.
---
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Scale...
Jackson and Marcel had settled into Bash's modest home after enjoying a hearty meal. Empty plates and leftover food still covered the small table.
"Thanks for the meal, old man. We really appreciate it," Jackson said as he rose from his seat and approached Bash, who was sitting at the far end of the room.
Marcel followed behind him.
"Yeah, thank you. That was delicious."
Bash simply nodded, chewing on a toothpick as he listened.
Jackson's expression grew serious.
"We need to ask you for a favour, mister. I don't know if you'll agree, but this is our only chance. If you refuse to help us, we might be stuck here forever."
He dropped to one knee and bowed his head respectfully.
Bash raised an eyebrow.
"Get up, kid. Just tell me what you need. If it's something I can help with, I'll do it."
Jackson straightened up and took a seat nearby.
"My papa is out there somewhere. We don't know exactly where he is, but he's always a few kingdoms ahead of us. We need a teleportation technique... something that can help us find him or, at the very least, get us closer to him."
Bash leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"Hmm... Teleportation, huh? I know a little about it, but I've never actually performed it myself."
He glanced at Jackson.
"Do you know your father's exact location?"
Jackson shook his head.
"No, sir. We've been following him, though. He usually jumps two or three kingdoms ahead of us. I'm not really sure how far he goes, just guessing."
"So you're basically guessing where he might be," Bash remarked bluntly.
"Pretty much. We just need you to send us in the right direction," Jackson replied.
Bash folded his arms.
"Alright, then. Which direction have you been travelling so far?"
"Honestly, we don't know," Jackson admitted. "We've just been hijacking his teleportation spells and following whatever traces he leaves behind. We haven't even figured out where we are right now."
Bash let out a quiet sigh and fell into thought.
If these boys came from the Kingdom of Guhan, then Lyon must be heading east. That would put him somewhere between the Kingdom of Eminence and the Kingdom of Berserker.
"I've never visited the Kingdoms of Sunflower or Ashura," Bash muttered to himself. "But I have passed through Eminence."
He turned his attention back to the two boys.
"Here's what I'll do. I'll send you both to a kingdom not too far from here. After that, you'll have to figure out the rest yourselves."
Jackson narrowed his eyes slightly.
If I ask him about the bloodline tracking technique, he'll start wondering how I know about it. Better to keep my mouth shut and play dumb.
"Thank you, old man," Jackson and Marcel said together.
Bash watched them with a faint, approving smile.
They didn't even hesitate. These boys are determined to handle things on their own. Good kids.
"Old man, are you alright?" Jackson asked, noticing Bash's strange smile.
"Huh? Oh, yes, yes. Just an old man lost in his thoughts," Bash replied, clearing his throat. "You two should get some rest. Once the sun rises, I'll send you to the Kingdom of Eminence."
"You can share the bed with us," Marcel offered. "We'll make room."
Bash waved him off.
"Don't worry about me, kid. I've been sleeping in this chair longer than you've been alive. You'll need all the strength you can get for tomorrow."
The boys exchanged a glance before nodding.
---
At the same time, in the forest between the Kingdom of Sunflower and the Kingdom of Eminence...
Lyon lay quietly among the highest branches of an enormous tree, resting beneath the night sky. Scattered clouds drifted overhead, while the moon cast a pale glow over the dense forest below.
Farther away, near the forest entrance leading into the Kingdom of Eminence, Sasaki crouched atop another tree.
His eyes remained closed as he slowly inhaled, carefully examining the scents carried by the night breeze. He stayed perfectly still, concentrating on even the slightest change in the air.
Then the wind shifted.
Sasaki's eyes snapped open.
"Found you, kiddo..." he murmured with a dark grin.
In a flash, he leapt from the tree and landed soundlessly on the forest floor.
The moment his feet touched the ground, he activated Switch Mode.
His figure vanished, reappearing at different points as he rapidly moved through the forest toward Lyon's location.