WOODEN BLADE HEAVY HEART

"Calm down, Honey Badger," Alfie said with a light grin, holding up a rough, carved blade. "This wooden sword I made from that fallen tree can actually hold my Renshi. It doesn't destroy things like my silver sword does. That's why I think it's better for training."

Rebekah raised a brow. "Hmm, I see. I was hoping for a duel with you—but if you're using a wooden sword, then forget it. We'll just train with the trees around us."

"Don't worry," Alfie chuckled. "We can still go one-on-one."

"That's a death wish, you fool," Rebekah shot back. "You might be stronger, but with a wooden sword? Easy win for me. And stop calling me Honey Badger—I'm not some little animal, you moron."

Alfie grinned. "I think you're underestimating me. Come on—try breaking this wooden sword with my silver one. Let's see what happens."

He stepped back, raising the wooden blade above his head with both hands, his stance steady and serious.

Rebekah frowned. "What are you doing? I don't want to hurt you with your own sword. My papa always told me and my brother—'A Shinra's sword is his best friend.' I can't use it against you."

"Cut the crap, Rebekah. Here I come!" Alfie shouted, suddenly charging forward as he switched the wooden sword into his right hand.

"You asked for it! Just don't blame me after this!" Rebekah growled, gripping the silver blade and preparing for his strike.

Alfie began circling her, swiftly switching the wooden sword between hands, keeping his movements unpredictable.

"What's he doing? Some kind of trick?" Rebekah thought, holding her ground.

"Here I come!" Alfie shouted again, dashing straight toward her.

As she raised her sword to block, Alfie swiftly switched hands mid-strike, dodged her counter, and delivered a light but sharp knock to her back with the wooden blade.

"You lost, Rebekah. Because you hesitated," Alfie said calmly. "Come at me with everything you've got. We don't have time to stay weak."

Rebekah clenched her teeth, humiliated.

"If that's what you want—fine! Don't blame me if you get hurt!" she shouted.

She channeled her Renshi into the silver sword. It began to glow with a brilliant, sparking purple aura.

"That's what I'm talking about," Alfie said with a smirk, concentrating his own Renshi into the wooden blade. The aura shimmered faintly along the grain of the carved weapon.

"Here I come, Alfie!" Rebekah yelled, charging him.

She swung down hard from above, but Alfie blocked the strike cleanly with the wooden sword in his right hand.

"See? I told you—it won't break that easily," he said.

"That's… interesting. How did you do it?" Rebekah asked, surprised, as she continued her flurry of attacks.

"I'm focusing my Renshi into the blade, reinforcing it. Makes it uncuttable," Alfie replied as he calmly blocked her strikes.

"That's amazing! Looks like you're finally getting the hang of your power," Rebekah said.

"Of course, Honey Badger," Alfie smirked.

He suddenly stopped blocking and dodged instead, then went on the offensive. His attacks came fast—so fast Rebekah couldn't keep up.

Forced back, she panted. "H-He's too fast…"

"Enough! Both of you!" a voice rang out from above.

Startled, they looked up to see Lucy perched on a tree branch nearby.

"We can't waste our Renshi," she said. "If what Alfie's feeling is real, we're moving. Now."

"Huh?! Master? How did you even get up there?!" they shouted in unison.

"Don't be so surprised, kiddos. I was a special Darkside Knight. Don't underestimate my abilities," Lucy said, landing gracefully beside them.

"You heard everything?" Alfie asked, serious.

"Yeah. I heard everything," Lucy said. "That feeling of yours isn't something ordinary. I just hope it's not something worse than bad."

"What's worse than bad, Master?" Rebekah asked, eyes wide.

"You don't want to know," Lucy replied darkly. "Now come on. Change your clothes, eat something—we're heading out of this kingdom immediately."

She turned and started walking toward the town.

Alfie jogged behind her. "Master, you don't think I'm going crazy or anything? You actually believe me?"

Lucy didn't stop. "I'm not so inexperienced that I can't tell when a kid's being serious. You're not joking, Alfie. What you're feeling is real. And we need to act now."

"You better hurry," she added. "It's going to get dark soon."

Alfie and Rebekah walked behind her in silence. Then Rebekah held out Alfie's silver sword.

"Here, Alfie."

"Huh? Oh, no—you keep it," Alfie said, waving it off. "I think the wooden one suits me better. And besides, you don't have a sword. How are you going to protect yourself if anything happens?"

"I don't know…" Rebekah muttered. "But don't you think it's wrong for me to carry the sword your papa made for you?"

"Don't worry," Alfie said with a small smile. "If my papa were here, he'd do the same."