Arthur and Aziel prepared to depart from their temporary sanctuary. Arthur transferred their water jars into his realm storage—an oddly comforting sensation as the physical objects dissolved into particles of darkness before vanishing completely. The convenience of this ability felt more valuable than others in this hostile environment.
"That's everything," Arthur announced, adjusting his tattered robe. "We should move while we still have daylight."
They set off without ceremony, leaving behind the weathered stone temple that had sheltered them through the night. Arthur couldn't help but glance back as they walked, watching their last refuge gradually shrink into the distance. The structure stood defiant against the landscape of corruption—a final bastion of what this place had once been before everything went wrong.
As they ventured deeper into the second realm of Aragon, the sun climbed higher in the cloudless sky, beating down with merciless intensity. Heat waves distorted the horizon, creating shimmering mirages among the dead roses that stretched endlessly before them. Arthur was sweating profusely beneath his black robes, the heavy fabric clinging uncomfortably to his skin. Each step became an exercise in endurance.
Aziel, by contrast, seemed entirely unbothered by the scorching temperature. He strode confidently ahead, bare-chested and barefoot, displaying a physique hardened by years of training. His only concession to clothing was a pair of loose-fitting pants that hung low on his hips.
After observing this discrepancy for nearly an hour, Arthur's curiosity finally got the better of him.
"Why aren't you wearing a shirt or shoes?" he asked, wiping sweat from his brow. "I mean, you're not using the shirt as a pack anymore now that I'm here, so why?"
Aziel turned his head, flashing a self-satisfied grin. "You kidding me? Why would I ever want to hide my fantastic physique?" He flexed dramatically for emphasis. "And as for the shoes, I just love the way the ground feels on my feet. Don't you?"
He looked at Arthur with such genuine conviction that Arthur wasn't sure if he was joking or serious.
"Yeah... sure," Arthur replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Aziel merely giggled and turned forward once again, seemingly impervious to Arthur's lack of enthusiasm. They continued in relative silence, the only sounds being the crunch of dead roses beneath their feet.
The monotony of their journey weighed on Arthur's patience. After what felt like hours of trudging through the endless field, he posed another question.
"Why are we walking again? Wouldn't it be much faster if you ran with me like last time?"
Aziel tilted his head skyward, squinting against the harsh sunlight as he scratched his head thoughtfully. "Yeah, that would be easier, only..." He hesitated. "I can only use my powers like that for short bursts of time, and then they completely drain me. If we got attacked right after I used my powers to run, we'd be screwed."
He kicked at a withered rose with his bare foot. "So I'm saving it for if we run into the Reaper again." A mischievous smile played across his lips. "Plus, I don't necessarily enjoy carrying other dudes. I'd much rather have a cute damsel on my shoulder, you know?"
Arthur squinted at him, incredulous. "Is that all you ever think about?"
"Yeah, why?" Aziel answered immediately, his expression one of genuine confusion.
Arthur's eyebrows shot up in surprise. 'He answered immediately? Not even a moment's hesitation.'
Before Arthur could formulate a response, Aziel added, "Well, I also think about getting stronger and fighting, but besides that, yeah, mostly chicks."
Arthur rolled his eyes again, deciding further discussion on the topic would likely prove fruitless. They continued their journey as the sun traced its arc across the sky, eventually beginning its descent toward the horizon. The light softened from harsh white to golden amber.
As evening approached, painting the sky in muted purples and oranges, Arthur's thoughts turned inward. The relative quiet of their journey had given him too much time to dwell on their circumstances—the overwhelming odds against them, the losses he'd already suffered, the uncertainty that lay ahead.
"How are you always so calm and confident?" Arthur finally asked, breaking the long silence. "Especially with how horrible our situation is. I mean, the chances of even making it out of these roses are low, much less making it to the core."
Aziel smiled without tearing his gaze from the horizon. "What are you talking about? Of course we're gonna make it back." His voice carried absolute certainty. "And why would I be scared or nervous? This is the most fun I've had in ages."
Arthur stopped in his tracks, staring at his companion with a dumbfounded expression. "Fun?" he sputtered, the word tasting foreign on his tongue in this context.
Aziel laughed heartily at Arthur's reaction. "Dude, what's with that face?" He shook his head, amused. "Yeah, fun. You have to understand, I've been preparing for this since I could walk."
He slowed his pace to allow Arthur to catch up, continuing his explanation. "While it hasn't been proven whether or not the kids of the chosen are more likely to become chosen themselves, my dad was not taking any chances. He always raised me under the notion that I was going to develop a realm core one day."
Aziel's expression grew momentarily distant, as if recalling memories both cherished and painful. "Whether coincidence or not, obviously it worked out. But I spent my entire childhood training, preparing, and fighting. It kind of desensitized me, you know?"
His familiar grin returned as quickly as it had vanished. "I guess I'm what you would call an adrenaline junkie who got bored of everything the normal world has to offer. So something like this?" He gestured broadly at the deadly landscape surrounding them. "This is a paradise to me."
Arthur's face only grew more contorted with surprise. "A paradise, huh?" he muttered, unable to comprehend such a perspective.
With a heavy sigh, Arthur leveled his expression before continuing on his way. His mind churned with thoughts of everything he had gone through since entering this so-called 'paradise.' The weight of his grief stood in stark contrast to Aziel's carefree attitude, making Arthur wonder if his companion was genuinely fearless or simply masking deeper emotions.