On the road again...[Travel]

The sun had barely created over the land of Rain, but Lucian Nazar was already on his way home. He had left early in the morning from an inn on the outskirts of Amegakure. He had completed his mission, he had found Mervyn, Ash and Rei. However, the state in which he found them was the problem. Ash and Rei were dead. Well, moreover, they had not only died, but had been killed. They had been killed by none other than Mervyn, the third person he sent to find. Suffice to say it was a mess, because Mervyn was royalty and how does one accuse royalty of murder without being silenced themselves?

It is just such a question that floated through Lucian's mind as he slogged through the ever increasing sheets of rain. Across his shoulders he he had his shakujo and on either end of it he held the burden of proof, Ash and Rei's weapons. That said it would still be his word against Mervyns. Certainly Lucian had events on his side, but truth and such did not go very far in a subjective world. Thus, he racked his mind over and over for a plan. Yet still none came.

To distract himself from his lack of plan he replayed Mervyn's drunken rant in his head in hopes of having a story down upon arrival in Hoshigakure. The man sat across from him in a short chair, a flagon of ale to his right and a platter of hastily created food in front of him. And then he spoke, he spoke of the deaths of Ash and Rei by his own hands. Their lack of screams and the sight of their charred bodies. Lucian had seen the aftermath. He had even buried the aftermath.

Then there was the missing hand. The night before Lucian had toss in turned in bed as he puzzled over the missing hand, but now, in the relative light of day, it became quite clear. The narrative was starting to coalesce in Lucian's mind. Mervyn, who like many in Hoshigakure, did not like shinobi-'not like' is perhaps an understatement hate is probably better. So, he accepted the task of chaperoning Ash and Rei with hidden intentions. These intentions were of course to rid the world of what he saw as devils, shinobi. From here Lucian could only assume he had killed the girls in their sleep or something like that as Mervyn did not look to be the most physically fit person in the world. Then, the Nazar boy could only assume, the holy man had mutilated himself in hopes of coming off as lucky survivor.

Honestly? Mervyn probably would have gotten away with it had it not been for a meddling monk. Fate had deemed the man unworthy to shoulder the deaths of two children, so the demon of drink loosened his tongue. A bit ironic really that drink would be Mervyn's undoing or maybe it was fitting. Lucian always had trouble discerning the difference between the two, irony and fitting. In the end though it didn't really matter either way.

Just thinking about it sent chills up and down the boy's back to such an extent that he found himself unconsciously clearing his mind. Clearing one's mind is much harder than you'd think, but having been trained from a young age it was easier for the Nazar boy. It also helped that the land was markedly unremarkable. Endless green sprawled out on either side of him and the ground was the same mud brown. Yes, Lucian was happy to be leaving the land of Rain. Sure, rain was nice in moderation, but a constant drizzle was too much. Everything in moderation, Mervyn could probably have used that advice.

Following the long road home Lucian was happy to be alone for once. Traveling to the land of Rain had been nice in a group, but at the moment he did not much care for company. Company meant explanations and he did not really feel up to telling his story nor did he wish to lie. After all, word could not get out of what Mervyn had done until he had returned to Hoshigakure and there was no escape. Timing would be everything. This line of thought of course dredged up the same question, what was he going to do in Hoshigakure? Who was he going to tell?

These questions dogged him throughout the day until the sun began to fall low in the sky. Finding himself in an odd transitional landscape from jungle to plains the boy elected to camp just at the edge of the swampy forest. The trees would provide shelter from the winds that Lucian knew from his trip to Amegakure could whip up at any moment. He did not much like the idea of having his camp blown out from under him. Crafting a makeshift lean to, Lucian settled in for the night.

Starting a small fire he cooked what a can of beans. No, it was no gourmet dinner, but it was filling and that was what mattered at this point. As the stars peaked out overhead the Nazar boy became lost in his dreams. For the first time in a while he slept well. Instead of charred corpses and missing hands he dreamed of his home. Tall peaks and lush valleys, Funkagakure had a beauty all its own and it was such beaty that populated Lucian's night. Every once in a while a respite from reality was important. Some used drugs, some dreams it all had the same effect really, an escape.

Unfortunately Lucian's escape was short lived as the sun rose early the next morning. Shaking himself awake the boy was hit by an ache in his shoulders. He had not noticed it the night before, but the load of weapons he bore with him was considerable. Alas, there was no better way to go about transporting them. So, he hooked up his contraption once again and set off.

By mid-morning he was already starting to see signs of the desert landscape of Hoshigakure. In a strange way it was comforting, like he coming home. As his gaze wandered here and there the scattered trees began to turn into cactus and other hardy plants lining the road here and there. He estimated he'd make it back to Hoshigakure before nightfall, which would be fortuitous for all involved. Hopefully the man he resolved to talk with was not terribly busy.

The man went by the name of Denkiteki and the title of kage. Lucian had never met the man nor had he seen him, but it was imperative he talk with him. On one hand he had wanted to tell Tehniyat first, but thought better of it. Who was to say if she was involved or if she would be able to act at all. No, better to talk someone who carried considerable political clout, but could also back up his words with force. The only man in Hoshigakure that could do that was Denkiteki. So, hopefully later in the day he would meet his first kage.

However, for now, he still had seemingly endless miles of road ahead of him. To keep his mind from the task ahead the boy took to glancing at the sky every now and again. The clouds near the edge of the desert danced and pranced about as thermals shot them up and made some wither. It was quite the show.

And so, the hours passed quickly for Lucian until at last he stood at the gates of Hoshigakure. Providing his needed papers he re-entered the village. He did not bother to stop or clean up. He had to see the Hoshikage directly. There was not time to waste when it came to murderers.

[1307/1250 instant travel from Ame to Hoshi]