"Falco Alfie," Marco repeated, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the boy beside him. "Your father's name is Falco?"
"Yes, sir!" Alfie responded, surprised by the sudden intensity in Marco's voice. "Do you know him?"
Marco paused, the reins tightening in his gloved hands. "We'll talk about that later. For now, get on the horse."
"Okay, but she's coming with me." Alfie turned to Rebekah, who stood quietly nearby. "She just lost her family... I don't think she has anywhere to go."
Marco nodded without protest. "Fine. Both of you, hop on. You two did something incredible today. Not even most Shinras can take on an Alpha darkside spirit like that."
As the two teens climbed behind him on the horse, Marco glanced over his shoulder. "Tell me—who was using that dark Renshi earlier?"
Alfie raised his hand awkwardly. "Uh... that was me."
Marco's expression tightened.
"It just… happened. When I got knocked out by that thing, I woke up in this massive castle—dark and cold, but I could still see where I was going, not where I came from. Then, this voice spoke to me, and I asked it to lend me power. That's how I got the dark Renshi. It felt amazing, like I was someone else entirely."
He's the one, Marco thought grimly. Falco wasn't lying… but if this boy's first awakening was with dark Renshi, that's a serious problem. I can't let him walk free—not yet.
"Alright," Marco said aloud. "We'll head to your place first. Point me in the right direction."
"Just across the Cliff. I'll show you the way," Alfie said.
The journey back was quiet for a while, until Rebekah broke the silence.
"Hm… Alfie, right? That's a nice name. I'm Marshal Rebekah."
"Rejakah?" Alfie repeated, tilting his head.
She rolled her eyes. "No, you rockhead—it's Rebekah!"
"My bad! Rebekah, got it." Alfie laughed as she sighed in mock frustration.
They descended the Cliff trail, the forest growing smaller in the distance.
"Which way now?" Marco asked.
"Go straight into town and take the first left," Alfie said, but suddenly tensed. "Wait! Stop the horse!"
Marco pulled the reins. "What now?"
"My mama! I didn't find her! She's still in the forest—we have to go back!"
"No need," Marco replied calmly. "I used a sensory spell on the entire forest when I arrived. There were only a few dead bodies… all Renshi users. No one else was alive in that forest. Does your mother use Renshi?"
"No," Alfie said, a wave of relief flooding him.
"Then she's safe. Let's keep going."
"Just up ahead—that's my house!" Alfie pointed. "And those are my brothers! They're outside... maybe Mama's back too!"
Marco brought the horse to a stop. The three of them dismounted.
"Big brother!" Elijah and Marcus cried out, running into Alfie's arms. The boy embraced them tightly.
"Don't cry, Eli. Marcus. I'm safe now," Alfie whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.
From the house, Margaret stepped out, her eyes locking onto Alfie.
"Mama!" Alfie shouted and ran to her—only to receive a hard knock on the head.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"That's for scaring me half to death, you reckless child!" Margaret snapped as she pulled him into a hug. "Disobeying your father's orders, going across the Cliff alone—what were you thinking?!"
"I thought the darkside spirit got you," Alfie mumbled through his tears.
"I'm safe, Alfie. I went to visit an old friend in Lucky Town."
She looked up at Marco and Rebekah. "And who are they?"
Alfie wiped his face. "That's Marco, the Shinra who saved us. And the girl is Rebekah. Her family was killed by the darkside spirit. She doesn't have anywhere to go, so I brought her here."
Margaret's face softened. "You did well. You all must be exhausted. Come in—I'll make dinner."
They entered the house together. As Margaret prepared the meal, Alfie retold the whole story—his battle, Rebekah's bravery, Marco's arrival, and his sudden awakening to Renshi. His mother and brothers listened in shock and awe.
"You… you used Renshi?" Margaret asked, her voice trembling.
"Yeah… I don't know how, but it was real. And I think… I want to join the Shinra academy."
Rebekah grinned. "Me too. If you've got Renshi, they let you in free."
"Then we'll become Shinras together," Alfie said, smiling at her.
And for the first time in days, laughter filled the small house. Even as questions lingered and dangers loomed in the shadows, a bond was formed—one that neither dark Renshi, nor fate, could easily break.