With his hands stuffed in his pockets, Nishi strolled through the village, eyes like daggers as they stabbed into him. Heeding them no mind, Nishi maintained his pace, his eyes drifting around the village as a low haze consumed the air this morning.
A damp air blew through the village, the morning sun obscured by the mist's thickness. Entering into a large clearing next to the village, Nishi smirked as he leaned against a house, the large group of his endowed sorcerers sweating profusely as they sparred against one another.
"Good morning Master Nishi," Keiji spoke from behind, walking up with a gradualness, the dirt beneath his feet crunching lightly as he did, "How did you sleep sir?" Keiji asked gently.
His eyes drifted to the left, glancing to Keiji as he replied plainly, "Modern beds are exceedingly comfortable, I slept well," Nishi spoke calmly, glancing back toward the crowd.
Keiji spectated the crowd from afar, standing beside Nishi, "It's crazy to imagine that it's already been a month, Master Nishi," Keiji said with a smile, glancing to Nishi briefly.
Nishi pushed himself from the wall as he watched on from afar, his eyes widening when he saw an endowed sorcerer gut check another, cursed energy flaring from their fist as they breathed heavily from exertion.
Keiji commented aloud, "Looks like they are starting to grasp the fundamentals finally, Master Nishi," Keiji said happily.
Nishi appraised the crowd, smiling as he turned around and began to walk away, "They'll soon reach a critical threshold," Nishi commented, "It's only a matter of time before they experience their own little golden age."
Keiji hesitated before turning around, speed walking to catch up as he spoke promptly, "Uh, Master Nishi?"
Stuffing his hands back into his pockets as he kept walking, "Speak your mind," Nishi retorted somewhat strongly, scratching at the back of his head.
"I've been thinking about it and..." Keiji paused for a moment, Nishi glancing over with a raised brow, Keiji finally speaking as he seemed hesitant, "...I was wondering if I could help with collecting new subjects?" He asked with a rising tone.
Nishi thought for a moment as he stopped walking, glancing to Keiji as he replied plainly, "That's all? I thought you were going to ask for something stupid like being free," Nishi said with a chuckle, "I'd be more than happy, you've improved spectacularly after all..." Nishi commented as he grinned.
"Really?" Keiji said with a smile, visibly excited.
"I've been going once a week, but since these subjects of mine have finally begun to grasp cursed energy, it's about time I start ramping up," Nishi said with a smirk.
Glancing at Keiji, Nishi smirked, "How about we take on a large village this time? It'll give you a good experience," he said lightly, his head tilted towards Keiji.
Keiji seemed excited, nodding promptly, "When are we leaving?" Keiji said with a big grin.
***
Shin Nii, a young middle schooler in a rural village, walked along the beaten dirt path, slowly walking through the rice paddy on the dewy morning, a gentle mist lingered over the area.
Twisting and playing with one of his backpack straps as he walked, he looked to the clouds, "Hey look, a duck," he commented softly.
I wonder what mom's cooking for dinner, I hope she made tempura, Shin thought softly to himself.
Kicking a rock along the path, his eyes down, he heard a sudden voice, "Good afternoon Shin!"
The rock tumbled on as Shin glanced up, "Huh?" He said dimly, looking around, as he quickly looked down to his right, Mr. Masaru stood kneeling in the paddy, his sleeves and leggings rolled up as water dripped from his soaked hands.
"Oh, hello Mr. Masaru!" Shin said with a smile, stepping off to the side of the path, "How goes planting?" Shin asked with a tilt of his head.
Shin took note of the others planting alongside him, Masaru responding after wiping his brow of sweat, "It's going well, we're making good time, say how's that mom and dad of yours?" He asked as he crossed his arms, a rag dangling from the waist of his pants.
"They're pretty good, dad always talks about his work," Shin said with a smile as he adjusted his backpack.
Chuckling, Masaru popped his back as he replied, "What's he again, a webbing designer?"
"Web designer," Shin replied with a smile.
"Ah right, that stuff's all too complicated for me, I'm more of a get your hands dirty kinda guy," Masaru said as he laughed briefly.
"I don't know what dad is saying half the time myself," Shin said as he swayed in place.
Suddenly falling face first, Shin tumbled down into the rice paddy as Masaru heard him splash down into the shallow water, shuffling over as he grabbed his shoulder, helping him up as Shin coughed, "Ya' gotta be more careful son," Masaru said with a smirk, patting his back.
"I was, someone pushed me," Shin said irritated as he looked behind up the small incline, his eyes settling on Nishi.
Masaru and Shin both stared for a moment at the duo.
Nishi, a muscular physique that displayed an excess of training, slicked back black hair, and dangerous green eyes with a presence like a predator.
Keiji, a slim and toned physique, he had messy blonde hair and dull green eyes, and a somewhat nervous look on his face.
Masaru was the first to speak, "Excuse me?" He said irritated, placing a hand on Shin's shoulder, "What the hell is wrong with you, assaulting a young boy like that?"
Both of them stared for a moment as Nishi took the initiative, "I'm here to garner attention, children are a good way to get that."
Masaru looked on with anger in his eyes, "Attention?" He repeated, "How about you leave before I alert the authorities?" Masaru spoke with barely contained anger.
Raising a brow, Nishi smirked, "Good, go do that for me."
Shin looked on nervously as he looked at Keiji, Keiji nervously swallowing as he tapped Nishi's shoulder, "Wouldn't it be easier to go to the center of the village?"
Staring on for a moment, Nishi contemplated silently, "Fair enough, this village is much larger after all," he said with a hand to his chin, looking down to the two of them as he stuffed his hands back into his pockets, "Keiji, come along, I'll be expecting you to show me what you got here soon."
Nodding quietly, Keiji walked off with Nishi, glancing over his shoulder at the boy, noticing others from the rice field moving to them.
As Shin and Masaru watched them, Masaru gripped Shin's shoulder, Shin glancing up as he asked, "Who were they?"
"Nothing good," Masaru said firmly, patting Shin on the back, "You head on home, don't come back here, make sure to stay home with your parents, okay?" Masaru asked with a smile, leaning over slightly as he patted his head.
Nodding, Shin walked out of the rice paddy, looking back at Masaru who now spoke with others, walking along as he looked down at his clothes, "Man, mom's gonna have to wash my clothes now..."
***
Nishi and Keiji walked, the occasional person on the street sending a glance at them, Keiji quickly commenting, yet still audibly nervous, "So, Master Nishi, how exactly do you acquire subjects?"
"The same way I did it to your village, I walk in, claim the place, and take anyone who I deem is useful," Nishi said in a matter-of-fact voice.
"W-wait seriously? You just... take them like they're things?" Keiji retorted in shock.
Nishi slowly looked at Keiji, "The only people who have worth in this world are the strong, they can validate their existence, if you can't beat me..." Nishi said as he lightly punched his shoulder with a smirk, "...Then you are beneath me."
Bewildered, Keiji paused in the street, looking to Nishi, "I-is that the mentality I need to carry to be free..." Keiji said hesitantly, looking down at his feet, his fists balled up.
"Look, I mean..." Keiji started to speak, pausing as Nishi stopped, crossing his arms to listen, "...My home village, I hate so many people, but I still like some of them," Keiji said with great hesitance.
Nishi stared at Keiji who couldn't meet his gaze, soon he responded, "Do what you please with who you hate, save who you love, everyone in between is trash," Nishi said calmly.
"Don't worry yourself about right or wrong, all that matters is your desires," Nishi spoke firmly, turning around and continuing, "If you stop here, you'll stay this weak," he said with as he stuffed his hands into his pockets, "Do you want that Keiji?"
As Nishi walked ahead, inside Keiji raged a battle...
Is this the way I should live... Not worrying about right or wrong, Keiji thought as sweat beaded on his forehead.
Nishi entered an open area, houses lining the street as he looked around, noticing many people out and about. Keiji caught up briskly, still conflicted as he looked at all the people living their lives in peace.
Do we really have to ruin this for them? Should they suffer at the hands of his desires... Wait, what purpose does all this even serve? Keiji thought as he squinted in confliction.
Nishi glanced over his shoulder, eyeing Keiji as he smirked, turning around as he stood in front of him, "What's wrong, I thought you wanted to help, you look like you're about to throw up."
"M-master Nishi..." Keiji paused as he balled his fist up, "Why do you do this? What motivates you? What purpose does all of this amount to..." Keiji said as he trailed off, looking at Nishi nervously.
Nishi stared on calmly at Keiji, nodding along as he spoke, "I'm shocked you haven't grasped that yet," Nishi said with a gentle chuckle.
"Alright, I'll tell you, I'll tell you everything about me," Nishi said as he smirked.