A QUIET NIGHT

Alfie and Rebekah waited inside the motel's reception hall, fidgeting with impatience.

"If you ever call me a honey badger again, I swear I'll discipline you right here before Master gets back," Alfie said seriously, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Ohhh, look who finally decided to speak—the quiet little moron," Rebekah replied with a smug smile, her voice barely hiding her amusement.

"What did you say?" Alfie snapped, rising from his seat and reaching out with his palm in mock attack.

"Alfie! What do you think you're doing?" Lucy's sharp voice rang from the front of the motel, halting him mid-action.

Alfie froze, then turned with a forced smile. "H-Heh, I was just complimenting Rebekah's clothes. I wanted to touch them and feel the texture."

Rebekah folded her arms. "Liar. I've been wearing these same clothes since we left home. Your mom gave them to me, remember? You just noticed them now?" she said, laughing quietly.

"Enough, both of you," Lucy said firmly as she stepped in.

After checking them in, the three made their way to the room. Freshened up and settled, they finally sat for dinner.

"It's nice to have a proper meal for once," Alfie said between bites.

"Master," Rebekah asked curiously, "how do you keep paying for everything? We've never seen you carry a purse or money bag."

"Yeah," Alfie chimed in, his mouth still full. "How do you do it?"

Lucy grinned. "Oh, that? Top secret. Can't let you in on all my tricks."

"That's not fair!" both kids complained in unison.

"No means no. Now eat and rest. We're leaving before sunrise."

"Aaaah, master, that's way too early! We need rest to grow," Alfie groaned.

"Hahaha, don't worry. You'll get all the sleep you need once we reach Ashura. For now, we're on a traveling adventure," Lucy replied.

"Adventure? More like torture! My butt's been sore for days riding that horse," Alfie muttered.

"Did you just insult my horse?" Lucy's face shifted to a threatening calm.

"N-No, I meant… it doesn't hurt. Not at all," Alfie backpedaled, his expression panicked.

"So you admit you said it hurt earlier." Lucy stood, walking toward him.

"Master, please! Alfie's just being Alfie. You know how he gets!" Rebekah jumped in, trying to mediate.

"Hmm. That's right. He does act like a foolish student sometimes," Lucy nodded. "I'll let it slide. Now off to bed—both of you."

Soon, the room was quiet, the kids fast asleep.

Lucy sat on a chair, gazing at them with a soft smile.

"Just look at them… so peaceful. I hope this lasts. I can't bear to watch them face the reality of this cruel world so soon. Guhan… it still bothers me. I don't know if they're after Alfie or not. Maybe I'm overthinking." She sighed and finally climbed into bed.

---

Meanwhile, Back in Guhan…

After hours of struggling, Exca had finally brought Sasaki's aura under control.

"That took forever, you fool," Lyon said, frustration in his voice.

"Don't be dramatic. Controlling fifteen years' worth of stored aura with only a fragment of my soul form in Sasaki's mind isn't exactly easy," Exca replied coolly.

Lyon scoffed. "Just a fragment? How's that enough to keep him under control?"

"It's not complete control. It just binds his will. He can still speak and ask questions, so don't engage him. If he responds to the name 'Exca,' proceed with the mission," Exca instructed.

"This is a disaster waiting to happen," Lyon muttered, but with no other choice, he teleported back into the dungeon.

Unbeknownst to them, Jackson—Lyon's son—had been watching everything from the shadows, hiding among the trees.

"So that's what it took to control Sasaki…" Jackson murmured. "Papa and the Special Darkside Knight… releasing a monster like that. Isn't that a crime? And no one else knows? I've got a really bad feeling about this."

He turned and rode toward the dungeon, determined to uncover the truth.

Just then, a voice echoed from the tree canopy ahead.

"If it isn't Jackson… What are you up to this time ?"

Jackson looked up, startled. "Ah, don't tell me… Marcel? What are you doing here? I thought you were still at the castle."

From the shadows, a figure dropped down to the ground—it was Marcel, the son of Exca.