Every soul had its price; the trick was knowing what tender they accepted. Raiden had proven this theory on his fellow soldiers, studying their weaknesses until he could buy their absolute devotion.
Nico's price had been laughably easy to determine. Raiden needed information; Nico needed water. The exchange was as straightforward as it was pathetic.
That minor exchange had brought him something unexpected—a child whose adoration and loyalty went far beyond what Raiden had anticipated.
By mid-afternoon, the desert had become a furnace. Raiden and Nico moved sluggishly across the burning sands, their dragging footsteps the only sound as they made their slow progress toward the city on the horizon.
"Purple Land isn't a city or a town. No one truly stays there… " Nico turned toward Raiden as he spoke, catching the moment when Raiden's practiced smile started to shed its artificial edges.
