"I have seen that blade elsewhere before... but I can't remember," Lucy muttered, her eyes narrowing as the figure of the Lone Wolf disappeared into the crowd.
"His Renshi aura is odd. I noticed it too," Sasaki added, his voice low and thoughtful.
"Yeah… he's a rare talent to come across," Lucy replied, though her mind seemed to linger on the boy's massive chained blade.
The group walked out of the bustling town and headed toward the nearest chariot garage. Dust rose beneath their feet as the chatter of Shinras faded behind them.
"Don't you think we need our own horses right now, Master?" Jackson finally asked, his voice calm but practical.
"That's a good point," Lucy agreed. She turned sharply toward the rider guiding their carriage. "Hey, Mister, do you deal in horses here?"
"Of course we do," the rider replied, adjusting the reins in his hands. "But we're already a long way from the garage. How do you intend to get the horses now?"
Lucy's eyes narrowed. "Don't act like a child, Mister. Just stop at the nearest chariot garage—we'll get them there."
The rider stiffened at her words, his tone suddenly sharper. "That's a good idea, Miss, but don't you dare insult me again. I might be a chariot rider, but don't forget—I'm still a Shinra."
Lucy sighed softly, unwilling to escalate the matter further. Silence followed until the chariot finally pulled into the next garage.
The stables stood wide and open, filled with dozens of strong, well-fed horses. Their manes glistened under the sunlight, and their sharp eyes followed the new arrivals.
"These horses… they look good. They must be well-fed," Sasaki commented as he stepped forward.
The shop owner immediately snapped back with a gruff voice, "Yeah, yeah, I get that all the time from cheap customers. No price deductions here. One thousand gold coins for each horse. Three horses… that'll be three thousand."
Lucy didn't hesitate. "Correct." She reached into her storage ring, pulled out three heavy bags, and tossed them onto the counter. "Here's three thousand gold coins. Count them."
The man smirked as he opened the bags, but before he could dip his fingers inside, Alfie leaned forward with a cocky grin. "It's correct, old man. How long do you think it'll take you to count all three thousand of them?"
The shop owner's eyes turned white, glowing faintly as he scanned the coins with his Renshi sense. After a moment, he snapped the bags shut. "It's all correct. But watch your mouth, boy. This is Ashura. Every Shinra makes a living through his skill. Next time, mind your words—some won't take them kindly."
Alfie frowned, but before he could retort, Lucy's sharp voice cut through the air. "Shut your mouth and come pick a horse."
He nodded quickly, falling silent as Lucy's serious gaze lingered on him.
Jackson, guided by the old rider, walked toward a tall brown stallion with sharp eyes and a proud stance. The horse snorted and bowed its head as Jackson reached out to pet its mane.
"It's a male," Jackson said with a faint smile. "He looks just like my old horse."
Meanwhile, Sasaki was locked in a comical struggle. He tried climbing onto a black horse with a fiery spirit, its long mane flowing like night's shadow.
"Don't struggle, you stupid horse—just let me ride you!" Sasaki growled, forcing himself onto its back.
"Are you an idiot?!" the shop owner yelled. "They're not chosen like that! Get off before you kill it!"
Suddenly, the horse stilled. Its obsidian eyes met Sasaki's, and for a moment, it felt as if they understood one another.
"Yahoo! It finally calmed down!" Sasaki shouted, throwing both hands into the air—only for the horse to immediately buck him off. He crashed onto the ground face-first, groaning as laughter erupted all around him.
But then, the horse walked toward him, lowered its head, and licked his ear.
"Hey, hey! Stop that!" Sasaki said, scrambling up. The horse nudged him gently, its massive frame towering over him.
"You finally found your owner," the shopkeeper said with a chuckle. "That beast has been here for years without a buyer. I guess you're the one he's been waiting for."
"So you've been alone here all this time, waiting for me, huh?" Sasaki whispered, petting the horse's dark mane. "Don't worry, buddy. I got you now,and what the hell is taking you so long Alfie ?
On the far end of the stable, however, all eyes turned to Alfie. He was surrounded by several horses—all of them calm, obedient, and almost drawn to him.
"Pipe down, Mr. Reaper!" Alfie shouted at Sasaki without looking. "I don't know what horse I should take. They're all obedient to me."
The shop owner's eyes widened in disbelief. "This is… strange. Some of them should've rejected you. Why are they all into you?"
Lucy walked up beside Alfie, her eyes calm. "Focus. Take the one that calls for you. Listen carefully—you'll hear it."
Alfie closed his eyes. Amidst the soft neighs, one voice rose clearer—the cry of a white horse at the farthest end of the stable. Its mane shone like silver in the sunlight.
"That's the one," Alfie whispered. He walked toward it, placed his hand gently on its neck, and smiled. "This is my horse."
The shop owner nodded, preparing saddles for all three. One brown, one black, and one white—they stood ready as their new riders approached.
"Thanks for your service, Mister rider. We're ending the ride here," Lucy said as she mounted her own horse, brought forth from her storage ring.
The chariot driver bowed slightly. "No problem, ma'am. Have a safe trip ahead."
Outside, Alfie fumbled with his reins. "Uh… Master, I don't really know how to ride this thing. How do I get it to move?"
The shop owner chuckled. "It's not difficult, boy. Tap him gently and he'll start walking. Use the reins to control the speed. As time goes on, you'll learn."
Alfie nodded gratefully. "Thanks for the guidance, Mister." He tapped the horse lightly, and it began to walk forward, steady and obedient.
One by one, they all rode out of the stables—Lucy leading the way, Sasaki grinning proudly on his black beast, Jackson calm on his brown stallion, and Alfie smiling wide as his white steed trotted beside them.