Chapter 47: A Paradise
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.