Like always, the wind carried a cold breeze. But this time, rays of light from the sun accompanied that breeze, creating a contrast between the coldness and the small bit of warmth.
Shuku had wandered beyond the city and had reached the Eternal Nation's forests, which were overflowing with life and vitality, and where some people lived. The trees glowed a faint purple, reminiscent of their mystical nature as seeds of the Life Nurturer's kingdom, and the plants covered everywhere, even the path through the forests.
"The natural world is quite fascinating."
"The trees, the skies above, and even the earth below. All of it, born and bred by the will of the Gods."
"Hm. But, that's the same case for our suffering, isn't it? Wars are caused because of this world that they created, as they intended for it to be 'imperfect'."
"Yes," Lucas replied, "But, how do you know that this world is imperfect at all? Perhaps this is the most perfect world the Gods had in mind."
"Because I deem myself as an imperfection," Shuku told him without thinking, "…That's all."
"Huh… why do you view yourself as such, then?"
"Because, I've had a lot of time to think about the horridness I've suffered throughout my life, until now."
"…Well, I, for one, have never been much of a philosopher, but I think, even if the world may be imperfect, our suffering is for a reason. The Gods surely birthed this world for a reason."
"For a perfect world, is a devoid world."
Shuku furrowed his brow.
"Really?" Suddenly, he flinched, as he felt pincers dig deep into his flesh.
He turned to the Wild Rose Beetle on his shoulder, who had now become the size of his head. It now exuded a faint, luminescent azure hue.
"Huh… it's still by my side," Shuku murmured, while Lucas suggested,
"Why don't you give it a name? It doesn't seem like it'll leave anytime soon."
"…I'm not sure. Maybe… Azure?" Shuku said, obviously by the hue it emitted. But, the name fit quite nicely. From his perspective, at least.
It took a few tries before Azure truly recognised "Azure" as its name, but the only thing it did was a slight nod in his direction every time its name was spoken of or a small screech.
"I guess it's still hungry. I'll try again later. Ah…"
Shuku's legs started to ache, as he had walked for far too long. Even he, with his tempered body and toughened mind, knew his legs wouldn't last much longer like this.
"There seems to be someone fast approaching!" Lucas warned, just less than moments before someone ran right into Shuku, knocking him down.
"Gah! Watch your step, mister!" A green-eyed man yelled, before dashing away. Shuku groaned, and clutched his head, before noticing that he was being chased by two law enforcement envoys.
"…I tried to warn you…" Lucas murmured, and Shuku replied,
"You warned me too late. And also…"
Azure had, all of a sudden, gone missing. It could be that it was flung by the crash, but Azure was also far too heavy for that to happen. And, a few seconds later, a terrifically loud holler from afar quickly gave notice to Shuku as to what happened to Azure.
"Ha…" Shuku sighed, as he began to chase down the green-eyed man and his pursuers, "I'll just go and see what happened."
•••
As Shuku finally caught up with them, he arrived above a waterfall, where a large stream of water flowed over the edge and into a large lake of pristine water. And, just in front of the edge was the green-eyed man, who wore the attire of a bandit and had dirty blonde hair.
But yet, he seemed to look more like a fifteen or sixteen-year-old teen, strangely enough.
Azure was also biting deeply into his left hand, while he held a brown sheet of paper in his right.
"Crook! Hand over the 'Trickmark Rune' at once!" One of the enforcement envoys demanded while the crook replied, in a mocking tone,
"Why should I?! I'm almost home free, baby!"
"And, this Trickmark Rune would do much more good in my hands instead of yours!"
"A Trickmark Rune? Now this, this is interesting."
"What is a Trickmark Rune?" Shuku asked.
"A Trickmark is a Runic Impurity Spell, using named the third in terms of notoriety, while a 'Rune' is a mystifying sheet of paper, formed from magic, that mostly the wealthy have access to. It can, upon ripped, allow someone to use the power of the Runic Spell engraved on the sheet for about thirty minutes."
"…Then, that guy might not exactly be willing to use the Rune if he still hasn't used it."
"…Hold on…"
"Azure!" Shuku yelled, as his eyes flashed crimson red, slashing and aiming for the Trickmark Rune.
Azure responded quickly, getting out of harm's way, while the crook quickly moved his arm, trying to shield the Rune from harm but inadvertently falling. And, while he did, due to his panic he let go of the Rune, allowing one of the enforcement envoys to catch it before it fell too.
"Shit, shit, shit!" He yelled as he fell down the waterfall and into the lake below, swearing like a sailor, "F…frick you, mister!"
"Ha… quite shrewd thinking of yours," Lucas praised, snickering, "Also, are you intending to keep Azure as a pet?"
"A pet…? Like, a companion? If so… perhaps. I am quite lonely."
"Hey! Sir!" One of the enforcement envoys beckoned, "We appreciate the help! May we ask for your name?"
"Just call me Nameless," Shuku replied, now quite sceptical of revealing his name, in case something else transpires.
"I don't wish to reveal my name to… strangers."
The law enforcement envoys nodded. Even though that wasn't a proper name they could use, they didn't pry at all and left soon afterwards, leaving Shuku alone to gaze at what would be his next destination.
"Huh… beyond the waterfall, there is a city. Once far larger than the one before, too. This may be the capital of the Eternal Nation."
"The capital… then, this might be where the others are. Let's go." Shuku said, before dashing and leaping beyond the waterfall, and deeper into the nature-filled lands.
•••
Meanwhile, the immature, or more so childish blonde crook with green eyes spat out water and choked while catching his breath.
"Shit… my luck's flipped on its head today. Usually, things always go right for me…"
"I guess the Wheel of Blasphemy just didn't pay attention to me today. But, I guess I can afford to let things go for today because I can always find another Rune from one of those brokers."
"And, I suppose I should check in with the orphanage again, right? To make sure that they received my blessings at the shrine!"
He swam out of the lake eventually, and muttered,
"Hm… that guy… his eyes were crimson just before he tried to kill me. He's most definitely someone with a few tricks up his sleeve. But, I'll kill him for messing with me. I have much more Antiques than just that old sheet of paper with me!"
"And, once I get them out, even someone with a Runic Spell won't be able to stand up to me! It'll be good riddance to him when I'm done!" The blonde-haired crook said, before also starting his travel to the capital.