As the night deepened, the mortals sleep around the bonfire —some cuddling each other. The day has been long, ruthless and filled with blood —some have been liberated; at least, they don't have to struggle.
Down the Hill Beast, the gentle wind whistles, creating a harmony with the tree leaves that dance to and fro. In between some of them stands Lucien, claw hammer in hand: he has rested enough, and it's time to search for food —even though he has no need for it.
Looking at the stage 1 boar, Lucy moves his hammer forward, hitting the tusk. In recipocation, the beast tries to enter into a contest of power —the definition of a stupid boar.
Lucien lowers the hammer on the ground, tricking the beast into going on top of the hammer's claw.
Thack—!
The boar's neck is pierced through, inciting the boar's child to attack him. Unfortunately for the young boar, two arrows pierce its eyes, leaving Lucy to finish it.
—After every kill, I need to adapt to the added strength.
Lucien didn't have time to ponder. Turning around, he looks calmly at the beige-haired youth walking toward him with a smile.
"Happy birthday, Derniere-san."
"Happy birthday, Shinji-kun."
For a few seconds they stay silent. They can tell each others' growth in attitude and appearance. Although it has been a while since they met each other, important matters have to be brought up first.
Shinji's face turns slight solemn, walking over to Lucien.
"Although I liked your idea of making the idiots dig trenches, I'm still worried about them taking advantage of you in digging. I know that Hill Beast don't sense anything happening to their rocky body parts, but I don't want you to get over worked. It's your idea, but..."
Lucien cuts his sympathy filled voice with a serious one.
"Let them. I want to get stronger, and if they don't, it's their problem when they die."
"I see."
Shinji drops the matter, before coughing out a mouthful of blood to his side.
Pfft.
Oddly enough, the blood is more like raspberry and less thick than normal human blood. Although Lucy wants to ask about his condition, Shinji is fast.
"Don't worry about it. I've been feeling like this since I was born."
Shifting the topic, the young man takes out sachets from within his robes, throwing them at Lucy.
"Those are some seasoning. I took them in preparation for coming to this place. You can keep them all, I have some more with me"
Lies.
—Me and him have inedia; we eat for taste. Why would he give me all?
Lucy's eyes contract; his glare carries a slight suspicion of Shinji's true intentions. Looking at sachets of many colors in his hands, another thought enters his mind.
—Is he trying to offer his condolences?
It was a reasonable assumption. When Shinji's parents died, no one offered their condolences.
Putting his past into consideration, Lucy willingly takes the seasonings.
***
The two didn't say much and prepared a fire, leaving Shinji doing the cooking. The aroma wafts through the air, forcing Lucy to take a bite with no seasoning —blend, but delicious.
Taking a glance at the beige-haired youth across the dancing flames, Lucien can see him stiff and awkward, his anxiety palpable.
"You're worried that Tsukino will find out about your secret identities, and about those borrowed feeling?"
Shinji looks at the ground.
If Tsukino finds out that he is the reason she is here, instead of her crippled little brother, things would take an awkward turn. Worse, be it the fact that: he has been helping her during this past few years in secret.
Lucien sighs.
"Tsukino will only find out if you let her."
He pauses slightly, taking a short look at the silver birthmark on his left wrist.
"Staying away from her might be a good idea. However, we have the same birthmark as her, we will end up getting connected somehow."
Shinji wants to move his mouth, but Lucien cuts him cold:
"As for the feelings: I don't think, I need to remind you, they aren't yours. They're from someone with the same birthmark as us. Ignoring or fighting them is up to you."
Meanwhile, the beige-haired youth is forced to contemplate. Taking a look at his left wrist, where his pink birthmark lies. Moreover, the signs there aren't something he knows, but apart from being signs of the Villain Rehabilitator, he can tell they are symbols of bad luck —mostly to him.
He sighs lightly, returning his calm gaze to Lucy.
—I'll try to fight them.
Cold silence envelopes them again, before Lucy's brought it to an end:
"After I killed Mama... my body has been growing stronger, by each kill I make."
'...what?!'
Shinji struggles to keep his composure. He didn't expect Lucy to calmly talk about his mother's death, but this is shocking news. His mind raced to the story of the First murderer who killed his father, and started getting stronger.
—There is no way he could awaken that body which was last seen in the Stygian Period, nearly two thousand years ago!
Shinji pushes the thought out of his mind, gazing at the dancing amber flames. Seeing that Lucy isn't going to talk more, he decides to end the chitchat, and speak about business.
With a serious face, his lips move.
"You already know want I want... what is it that you need my help with?"
Lucy answers bluntly.
"I need your help in making a Martial Art."
"Martial Art?"
Shinji's curiosity is understandable. Martial Arts are only recorded in the [Journey of the First Tama-Artist]. In a world where Tama decides one's strength, such things aren't needed.
Lucy didn't reply, instead, he takes his hammer. Avoiding places with long grass, because of his grass allergy, Lucien stands on dry land near a river. Taking deep breaths, he replays a sword dance he saw
...he deeply wanted to join the dancing crew, but he had to look after his beloved.
Placing his right foot forward, landing with its toes, he performs a horizontal swing with his right hand. Bringing his foot back, his hammer goes to the left, using the momentum to spin around. Stopping, Lucy vertically swings the hammer to the ground with both hands. Sending it cloudward, he jumps back.
Seeing this, Shinji's hazel eyes hidden by the bangs of his hair glow. He is mesmerized, even though Lucien's moves are crude and slow, unlike the beautiful sword dancers. However, as an artist Lucy got his intention.
A smile slowly emerges on his face. Taking out his shakuhachi, he helps Lucy in his performance.
—Using his strategic mind and my artistic mind, he wants to create a Death Art.
'Interesting.'
—I'll call it the Hammer Flute.