"My apologies, esteemed customers," the shopkeeper said with a polite bow. "I'll give you the two fastest horses I own. Follow me."
He led Jackson and Marcel toward two magnificent black horses standing apart from the others.
"These two once belonged to a pair of Special Shinras who died in battle a few months ago. Strangely enough, both horses returned from the battlefield without a single scratch. The kingdom rejected them, labelling them abominations. I took them in and have been waiting for the right owners to come along. If you're interested, they're yours."
"We'll take them," Jackson declared immediately.
"Don't make decisions for me, Jack," Marcel protested. "Those horses look terrifying. I'll choose one of the normal ones."
"Suit yourself."
Jackson quickly mounted one of the black horses, but his excitement soon faded as he looked down the road.
"Ahhh... We've messed up. We've lost track of Papa. They're already too far ahead."
He turned toward Marcel.
"Hurry up and get a horse. We have to catch them."
Marcel hurriedly mounted a brown horse, and the two boys galloped out of the shop.
"Hey, kids... Are you looking for your parent?" the shopkeeper called after them.
"Uh... Sort of," Jackson replied awkwardly, slowing his horse as he remembered that they still hadn't paid.
"If you're chasing the two men who came here earlier, you'll need a map. Otherwise, you'll never catch up with them."
Jackson stared at him in surprise.
"How do you know we're following them?"
The shopkeeper chuckled.
"Don't take me for a fool, boy. There's a barrier spell covering this shop. It detects every human with Renshi the moment they enter. I noticed you sneaking around as soon as you arrived."
Marcel groaned.
"You mean all that sneaking was for nothing? Then why didn't you expose us?"
"I have my reasons," the man replied calmly. "But you shouldn't waste any more time. Here, take this map. Those two men are heading toward a town in the southern part of the kingdom called Unbalance."
His expression grew serious.
"Be warned, though. That place isn't friendly."
Jackson accepted the map and nodded gratefully.
"Thank you, sir."
The boys urged their horses forward and raced toward Unbalance.
---
Meanwhile, farther along Alfie's journey...
"Master! Master! Maaaster!" Alfie called repeatedly.
"Pipe down, Alfie," Lucy sighed. "I know you're tired, but you'll have to endure it until sunset. We can't stop now."
"Don't answer him, Master," Rebekah interrupted. "At this rate, Alfie will still be acting like a child when he's thirty."
"Hey, hey, you honey badger," Alfie grumbled. "Don't piss me off. I'm already too tired to waste my energy arguing with you."
"Call me that again, and I'll punch your face," Rebekah warned.
"Hoooooneeeey baaadgeeer," Alfie drawled, wearing a mischievous grin.
"That's enough, both of you," Lucy snapped.
She glanced ahead and spotted a town in the distance.
"You both look exhausted. There's a town up ahead. We'll stop there and soak in the hot springs."
"Now that's what I'm talking about," Alfie shouted excitedly.
With their spirits lifted, the three continued riding toward the town.
---
Kingdom of Scale, Town of Unbalance...
Lyon and Sasaki finally arrived at their destination.
"This way," Sasaki said as he dismounted. "I can still sense traces of the boy's Renshi, but they're faint. I doubt he's still here."
"No point chasing ghosts, Sasa..." Lyon caught himself. "Exca."
Damn it. I nearly blew my cover again. I need to stop calling Sasaki 'Exca' out loud. I just need to keep the conversation simple.
"I'm teleporting us two kingdoms ahead. We're wasting time here."
"Agreed," Sasaki replied with a nod. "They shouldn't be too far ahead."
This mission is exhausting.
Lyon rubbed his forehead.
"You alright, partner?" Sasaki asked.
"Yeah," Lyon replied quickly. "Just thinking about how to pinpoint the kid's exact location."
"Then let's keep moving."
---
At the same time...
Jackson and Marcel raced toward Unbalance, their horses galloping at full speed.
"Don't slow down, Marcel. According to the map, we're almost there. I don't know how that man knew where my papa was headed, but that's our least concern right now," Jackson shouted.
"You don't have to shout everything, Jack. I've got this," Marcel called back confidently.
Soon, they reached the town's entrance.
But the moment they crossed into Unbalance, both boys slowed their horses. Their eyes widened as they took in what lay before them.
Unbalance was a haven for rogue Shinras, individuals who had abandoned their sacred duties and chosen to use their powers for personal gain.
Once a Shinra was officially declared a rogue by a kingdom, they were generally treated as criminals and outlaws. Some Shinras left their duties peacefully, but rogues were different. They had chosen power over order and were willing to do whatever it took to satisfy their ambitions.
And in Unbalance, there was no law.
The town operated entirely outside the kingdom's control, its streets filled with dangerous individuals who answered to no authority.
Even the Kingdom of Scale's Special Darkside Knight had once been a rogue.
That was why Unbalance was allowed to exist. As long as its inhabitants didn't interfere with other kingdoms, they were free to govern themselves.
According to the ancient pact, no kingdom was permitted to interfere in another's affairs unless the situation threatened the balance of the country.
Jackson and Marcel exchanged uneasy glances.