- I can only hold you for two months at the latest!

- Yes, we will come back as soon as possible

Putting on a knee-length cloak, Cori and Luna were extremely excited about the upcoming trip. This was the first time he had traveled so far without an adult accompanying him. As for Luna, needless to say, she kept asking about everything around her as soon as she stepped through the crack:

- Oh, is the house here that high? How can I see through the window without putting my hand through? What is this? Why is this box breathing fire?…

- Oh, Luna, I will explain to you later, right now we have to focus on the trip - Cori sighed after answering Luna's myriad of questions

- Here are your backpacks, I have prepared enough food, drinks, and weapons for you! Cori, hold this sword for self-defense. Pressing this button can cause an electric shock that can make people faint, so you have to be careful. As for Luna, I'll give you this waterproof lantern. Keep it safe, okay?

- Yes, we will, uncle!

- Wait, Cori, take these five gold coins and buy whatever you need

- Wow, that's a lot! Thank you

- What's that for, Cori? - Luna asked curiously

- It's a unit used to exchange items with each other, issued by the king. These five gold coins are equivalent to 5 super large fruit crates!

- Oh, I see…

So the two of them started to leave Uncle Elden's house and headed west, where the king's palace stood tall and proud, which was also their destination. Following the path on the map out of Havenfield Street where Cori lived, the first place Cori and Luna had to pass was Rivervale - A bustling market with a river running through it

As soon as they entered this place, they were greeted by a colorful fairground that made Luna excitedly run around the stalls and admire them, making Cori almost get lost

- Luna! Wait for me, we didn't come here to play, did you forget

- Oh yeah, I almost forgot!

Although his mother had brought him here many times, he still couldn't help but feel extremely happy when he came here. Everywhere were food and toy stalls of all kinds and colors. The fragrant smell of food from the cake and noodle stalls mixed with the bustling and cheerful atmosphere here made Rivervale attract many people from neighboring towns to join in the fun.

Just passing through this market, Cori couldn't help but feel excited and happy with the colorful stalls along the road

- Cori!

Luna suddenly grabbed his hand, running forward very quickly. Although her face was looking forward, Cori could easily see that she was looking back…

- We're being followed! I noticed that we were walking slowly, he was walking slowly. We were walking fast, he was walking faster. Don't look back, just keep going

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- Oh my god, what does he look like?

- I don't know, I haven't had a chance to see clearly

Glancing at a stall on the right, Luna said:

- You act like me!

- Huh???

- Oh Cori, look at that beautiful fish!

She pulled his hand to a nearby fish stall. Cori understood right away because this stall had two mirrors on both sides of the wall to make the fish tanks look larger, so he could see behind easily

- Wow, these fish are so beautiful, uncle

- That's right, I bought the real fish from the other side of the kingdom! - The fishmonger said

Pretending to look up at the fish tanks on the left to look behind, Cori saw that there was indeed a tall red-haired man standing there looking at it. And then when he looked at the man's eyes that were all black, Cori immediately knew what was happening

- HE'S BEING CONTROLLED! RUN, LUNA

No one paid attention to his screams because they were in the market, only the fishmonger didn't understand what was going on. He only saw him grab Luna's hand and run out of here. At that time, he stopped acting, running and looking behind

- He's running after us! Perhaps he knew he was exposed

- That's right!

Cori held Luna's hand and ran across the bustling market and to a dark and deserted street in the neighboring neighborhood

- Cori, turn here!

Pulling Cori into a dark alley, Luna and he waited silently. Sure enough, after a while, the red-haired man finally arrived at the alley. Looking inside, he let out a smirk as he finally cornered the two of them. Suddenly Luna raised her hand and a sharp branch shot out like an arrow towards the other man but was easily blocked by him. The branch in his hand also gradually turned black and disappeared

- Come on, I just want to talk for a bit~

- Why did you dare to possess someone else and follow us, you bastard! - Cori said loudly and pulled out Uncle Elden's sword from his backpack and pointed it straight at the other guy's face

- Hey boy, watch your words, I'm a thousand years older than you! I'm just here to negotiate with you two~

- What do you want to negotiate? - Luna asked

- You know, everyone has the right to be free, to do what they want

- You are NOT human, you DISGUSTING darkness! - Luna shouted

Being interrupted, his face immediately turned stern

- I need your body Luna, only you can free me! In return, I can give you everything you want~

Looking at each other, Cori and Luna answered in unison:

- NO!!!

Dozens of branches from the walls and the ground rushed towards him and tied up this person's body

- Cori! - Luna signaled

Understanding immediately, Cori rushed forward with the sword in her hand, aiming straight at his chest

- AAAAAAA

Roaring in anger, he threw Cori away with a half-liquid, half-gas darkness that sent him flying about 5m

- Brats, fine, if you don't give it to me, I'll take it!

From his hand, a jet-black liquid slowly flowed down and when it almost touched the ground, it froze into a sharp iron blade. Luna was no slouch either, as a branch grew from her sleeve and gradually twisted itself into the shape of a giant axe. This was also the reason why Uncle Elden didn’t need to give Luna a weapon for self-defense. Cori then slowly stood up and pointed her sword at him, starting a fierce battle…