Marcel's eyes widened as his mouth hung slightly open in disbelief.
"Don't get the wrong idea here, boys," Bash said firmly, his voice echoing slightly off the alley walls they'd just entered. "The moment I take you there, I'm coming back. There's no way I can activate a teleportation spell to that kind of distance without remaining connected to it."
Jackson raised an eyebrow, tilting his head curiously. "I… I don't think that's how it works, old— I mean, Mister Bash. My papa told me something about mages being able to teleport others without joining them."
Bash gave the boy a half-smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You're not as clueless as you look. But you're still wet behind the ears, kid. Here's the thing: I'm not a mage. Mages don't have innate Renshi. They use enchanted objects—scrolls, relics, sometimes tattoos inscribed with Renshical glyphs—to do their work. But when it comes to raw, internal power?" Bash pounded his chest. "That's us.Shinras . And when I use my spell, I must be in it. It's like anchoring a rope—cut the anchor, and it falls apart."
Jackson slowly nodded, still absorbing the explanation. Marcel looked at him, then back at Bash, still somewhat pale.
Inside, Bash was grinding through a storm of thoughts.
There's no way I'm leaving these kids alone, not after what I've seen. Optimism is a blessing, but it'll get them killed in a place like this. I just need a solid excuse to stay with them until I find Lyon… that's all. Protect them. Find him. Then disappear.
"Oh! Right!" Jackson suddenly snapped his fingers. "Sorry for the misunderstanding. I didn't mean to argue."
Marcel exhaled deeply, finally releasing the breath he didn't know he was holding.
Bash stepped forward. A glowing white Renshi seal began to circle beneath their feet, pulsing with quiet hums of RENSHI. The teleportation spell activated in a bright flash, and the trio vanished.
The moment they reappeared in the center of the Kingdom of Eminence, everything around them shifted—different architecture, busier streets, thicker air. The market square bustled with life, unaware of the Renshi-fueled arrival that had just occurred.
"We're here," Bash said quickly. "Kingdom of Eminence. Come on, let's get you somewhere safe before I go back."
Before the boys could say a word, he grabbed them each by the hand, and instantly activated Switch Mode. The trio zipped through alleys, across bridges, darting past merchants, startled shoppers, and small Renshi patrols. People glanced up, confused by the sonic flicker of movement, but Bash didn't stop.
"Where are you taking us, old man?!" Jackson and Marcel yelled at the same time, their voices nearly lost in the wind of velocity.
"To a friend," Bash shouted back over his shoulder. "He lives in a town on the far east of this kingdom. If anyone can help you find your father, it's him. He owes me a favor."
Suddenly, a tall Shinra clad in a silver cape dropped down from the rooftops directly in front of them. With one hand raised, his tone was commanding.
"Halt."
Bash immediately disengaged Switch Mode, skidding to a stop and gently releasing the boys' wrists. He stared at the Shinra, immediately sensing the deep, heavy aura radiating from him.
Damn. He's no ordinary patrol… He's a pro Darkside Knight. Stronger than me, by the feel of it. This could get messy fast.
The silver-caped Shinra stepped forward. "We detected unusual Renshi signatures. I am Lord Metro, one of the Pro Darkside Knights guarding this kingdom. State your name and purpose here."
Bash took a slow breath and nodded politely. "Apologies, Lord Metro. My name is Bash. I'm a pro Darkside Knight from the Kingdom of Guhan, in pursuit of a criminal who kidnapped a child. Our mages traced his movement toward the eastern region. These two are my students—young talents. I brought them along to give them a glimpse of field experience."
Metro eyed him, clearly unconvinced. "You've been tracking this criminal across multiple kingdoms… alone with kids?"
"That's how it's unfolded," Bash answered, keeping his voice even.
Metro's gaze shifted to Jackson and Marcel. "What kind of criminal abducts a child? Who is this child to you?"
More Shinras began closing in from all directions. Their cloaks shimmered as they slowly surrounded the trio, their expressions unreadable.
Damn it, Bash thought. This is escalating too quickly. If I mess this up, we're getting dragged into the castle… or worse.
"Something the matter?" Metro asked, narrowing his eyes. "You seem nervous. Lost your tongue?"
Bash's jaw clenched. "The child is a private matter, Lord Metro. We're not here to stay. I've already scanned the local Renshi patterns—my mark says the target isn't in this kingdom. We'll be gone before sundown."
Across the plaza, Marcel leaned closer to Jackson. "Jack… this is really bad. Look around. We're being surrounded."
"I know," Jackson whispered. "But Mister Bash is playing it well. We just need him to hold their attention long enough to get out of here."
Then a younger Shinra in dark red cape sprinted up and whispered into Metro's ear. The older Shinra's expression hardened.
"My Lord," the Shinra murmured. "Multiple mages have reported high-level Renshi movement in and out of the kingdom over the past three days. It's getting suspicious. We can't let these ones go without questioning."
"I see," Metro replied.
He looked back at Bash, this time with less patience.
"I'm sorry, Bash. Whether you're a Shinra from Guhan or not, we've been tracking too many unfamiliar powerful Renshi presences lately. I need you and your students to come with me to the special darkside knight. A few questions—standard protocol. If everything checks out, you'll be on your way."
Before Bash could respond, Jackson stepped forward.
"No!"
His sudden shout startled even Bash. He marched straight up to Lord Metro, his fists clenched.
"We don't have time for this!" Jackson said firmly. "A child's life is in danger right now, and every second counts! That kid doesn't have time!"
Metro stared at him, expression unreadable. The Shinras tensed.