"Oh, yes. I'll call you Master Lu."
Alfie grinned.
Lucy raised an eyebrow. She had already found clothes in Alfie's mother's wardrobe and changed into them.
"Who gave you permission to call me 'Master'? And don't shorten my name without asking first."
Without hesitation, Alfie dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead against the ground.
"Please make me your student, Mr.... I mean, Master Lucy."
He bowed even lower.
"I'm sorry for how I acted earlier. I can't let my father's death be in vain. I have to carry on his will... and eliminate every last Darkside Spirit from this world."
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Lucy sighed, her expression softening as she looked at him.
"You're still such a kid. I thought fighting a few battles would help you mature a little, but..."
She knelt and gently helped him to his feet.
"Don't cry over something so small. If you want to become a Shinra who operates in the shadows, you need to observe your surroundings instead of simply reacting to them. The moment you saw me, I expected you to understand why I'd returned. But I overestimated you."
She paused.
"That was your first lesson."
Alfie sniffled, keeping his head lowered.
"You've been my student ever since I promised your father I'd train you. I've already convinced your mother to move to another town, and I took your brothers and Rebekah to the Shinra Academy. Now, go say your goodbyes. Our journey begins here."
She gave him a gentle smile.
"And one more thing. I'm a woman, so stop calling me 'Mr.'"
Alfie burst into tears again, though a relieved smile spread across his face.
"I promise. I'll never call you Mr. again."
Lucy smiled and pulled him into a warm embrace.
"Don't cry, little Alfie. You're going to make your papa proud."
Suddenly, a small voice came from behind the door.
"Why are you crying like a baby, rockhead?"
"Rebekah?" Alfie turned in surprise. "How are you here?"
Lucy looked equally astonished.
I remember disconnecting my horse from the chariot before coming here alone. How did you get back?
"I snuck onto the food supply chariot heading this way," Rebekah replied proudly. "I'm not going to the Academy. I can't let my abilities get rusty."
"Just what I expected from my underling," Alfie said with a smirk.
"What? I'm not your underling. Where did you even get that idea?" Rebekah snapped.
"Master Lu told me to observe situations carefully. So, I observed this one and figured out that you followed her because you want to become her student too. Since I'm the first student, that makes you my underling."
Alfie folded his arms, looking rather pleased with his deduction.
Lucy chuckled.
"You're catching on quickly, Alfie. I'm impressed."
"Let's go see Mama and my brothers," Alfie announced, dashing toward the door.
"I'll wait here," Lucy said. "I can't let your mother see me like this. She still thinks I'm an old man, remember? You two go ahead."
"Okay, Master Lu. Let's go, Rebekah."
Alfie grinned.
"Ugh. Stop calling me Master Lu. You make me sound like someone from an ancient Chinese tale. Just call me Lucy," she complained, rubbing her temples.
"I can't help it. It was the first name that popped into my head, and now it's stuck," Alfie replied with a shrug. "But... how are we going to get to Mama? I can't control your horse."
"Don't worry," Rebekah declared confidently. "My dad taught me how to ride horses. Leave it to me."
She hurried toward Lucy's horse, but the moment she tried to climb onto its back, the animal panicked. It snorted and kicked wildly, forcing her to retreat.
"Whoa. Easy, easy," Rebekah shouted, stepping back.
"Stop," Lucy said calmly. "That horse only allows one rider, and that's me. She's my best friend, and she's never let another human ride her."
"Then maybe we need to think differently..." Alfie muttered.
Suddenly, he dashed back into the house.
"Mama bought me and my brothers some alien costumes last week. Maybe... I'll ride as an alien."
Lucy watched him disappear and sighed before lowering herself onto a nearby rock.
"This kid's going to get kicked into the air." She shook her head. "But let him try. He won't learn unless he experiences it the hard way."
She exhaled and closed her eyes.
"Ugh... I need a long soak in a hot spring."
A minute later, Alfie emerged from the house wearing a green alien costume complete with antennae.
"Let's go, horsy. The alien has arrived."
"Stop fooling around, moron," Rebekah shouted. "You're just going to get your butt kicked."
"Stand back and witness the genius of Alfie," he declared dramatically.
Approaching the horse slowly, he raised his hands.
"Easy, horsy... I come in peace."
Surprisingly, the horse showed no resistance.
Alfie carefully climbed into the saddle and settled himself in place.
"YAHOO. I told you it would work." He grinned triumphantly. "Never underestimate Alfie's brains."
"Okay, okay. I'm impressed," Rebekah admitted, climbing onto the horse behind him.
"You two should get going," Lucy reminded them. "It's getting dark. The longer you stay here, the more Darkside Spirits will come sniffing around."
"Understood, Master Lucy," Rebekah said, saluting.
"Enough with the 'Master' stuff. You're making me feel ancient," Lucy grumbled.
"You said we're your students," Alfie replied with a shrug. "And if we're students, then you're our Master."
"Fine, fine..." Lucy muttered, waving them off.
The horse galloped away into the fading light, carrying Alfie and Rebekah toward their destination.