"But now the whole forest knows my age," Lucy sighed, rubbing her temples.
"We're sorry, Master. It's just... shocking," Alfie and Rebekah said in unison.
"Stop copying me, you rock head! Let me apologize first," Alfie snapped.
"You're the one getting in my way! Let me go first!" Rebekah shot back.
"Enough, both of you!" Lucy shouted, her voice cutting through the air. "No more talking until sunrise. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Master..." they both muttered.
"We're going to fall asleep if we don't talk. We're exhausted from all the stress today," Rebekah said quietly.
"I agree with Rebekah on this one. Aren't you tired too, Master?" Alfie asked.
Lucy sighed internally. They may act like adults, but they're still kids. I shouldn't overwork them.
"Okay... The next kingdom is just ahead. We'll take a room at the nearest town and rest there tonight. Hang tight."
"I'm glad you approved," Alfie smiled.
They arrived shortly after and rented a small motel room to spend the night.
---
The next morning...
"Wake up, you sleepyheads! Time to hit the road!" Lucy called out.
"Just one more minute, Master..." Alfie mumbled, half-asleep.
"You slept all night. One more minute won't make any difference now."
"Good morning, Master," Rebekah greeted, already up.
"Good morning, Rebekah. Go wash up. We'll grab something to eat and head out."
Lucy turned back to Alfie. "Wake up, already!"
Rebekah, growing annoyed, slapped Alfie's leg. "Idiot! Stop stressing Master. Get up and get ready!"
Alfie jumped out of bed. "You moron! How dare you hit me—I'll show you not to mess with me!"
"Hold your horses, Alfie," Lucy stepped in. "Don't stoop so low attempting to hit a woman. You're a man who's sworn to eliminate darkside spirits, right?"
"Hah! Cry all you like," Rebekah teased. "You can't even get close to me with Master around."
"But Master! She hit me first!" Alfie complained.
"Calm down. Both of you. Clean up, let's eat, and then we move," Lucy said, clearly done with the drama.
"Yes, Master," Alfie responded quietly, walking toward the bathroom.
After they cleaned up and ate breakfast, the scene shifts to the Guhan Kingdom, where a meeting was being held in the castle.
---
Inside the castle, a gathering of high-ranking Darkside Knights was underway.
"Do you really think it was wise to let that kid leave the kingdom?" asked Lyon, the right hand of the Special Darkside Knight. "He could become a threat to humanity as he grows stronger and stronger."
"I have my reasons, Lyon," Exca, the Special Darkside Knight of Guhan, replied calmly. "That kid is in safe hands. Bringing him into the Academy would've only put others at risk. If he went berserk, we'd lose one,no more of the kids before we will be able to interfere."
"But trusting him to an unknown woman?" another pro darkside knight questioned.
"She's no ordinary woman," Exca said. "Her power might rivals mine. I've never seen anything like her for a long time. When she first appeared, she was a advanced old man—with the stance of a Special Darkside Knight. Then, right before our eyes, she transformed into a young Lady. There's something hidden about her, something dark and unpredictable to understand."
"Such an advanced spell… even her transformation eludes detection. How can we track someone like that?" another pro darkside knight said.
"No need to worry. They've already left Guhan. I can't sense the boy's Renshi anymore. She must have sealed it somehow," Exca explained. "Our focus should remain on this kingdom's issues, not chasing ghosts."
"If that's your command, Special darkside knight, we won't interfere," said the others as they stood and exited the meeting room.
Once alone, Lyon turned to Exca. "You played that one well."
Exca's expression darkened. "They're not the real threat… That woman is. After all the years I've waited for a host with a Renshi strong enough to awaken my Twin Dragon Soul, I won't let an unknown woman end my dream. If I succeed, my strength will rival that of the god slaying KNIGHT.