“The hermit died shortly after, with the people of Druford casting his body out to sea. Inside the shack, there was only a single possession besides the hermit’s bedding and kitchen utensils: an ornate chest with a magical lock. Eventually, the chest’s enchantment was deactivated with anti-magic and cracked open by the curious villagers. But, when they peered into the chest’s velvet interior, they saw only a grain of sand that looked just the same as any other.”

“And?” Elwin asked. “What happened after that?”

“Nothing. That is the end of the story.” Blue replied.

“Really? That’s the story?” Kari asked, his voice ripe with disappointment. Despite his initial disinterest, the man had developed a genuine interest in the fate of the hermit.

“That is all,” Blue confirmed, matter-of-factly. “What do you think the hermit saw?”

“He lost his mind, clearly. Seeing things that aren’t there.” Kari replied, emphasising his words by gesturing confidently.

“I agree with Kari, perhaps the hermit mistook an ordinary grain for perfect in his psychotic obsession.” Elwin agreed.

“What do you think of the idea that the hermit deliberately took a normal grain and declared it perfect?” Blue asked.

The boys fell silent for a moment, letting the gentle pitter-patter of rain fill the void once more.

“I don’t think so.” Kari finally replied.

“I don’t see why he would do that.” Elwin agreed, with a perplexed look on his face.

Blue seemed to be carefully considering how she should respond to the boys’ answers.

“Why do you think Lord Exerops first sought after a perfect grain of sand from Giant’s Beach?” she asked them, while they continued to trudge through the wet dirt.

“Perhaps it was his way of securing a worthy successor to his throne,” Kari suggested.

Elwin didn’t respond, his eyes glazed over in thought, staring into the rain-soaked foliage.

“Elwin, any ideas?” Blue asked.

“What? Oh.” Elwin said, suddenly coming to upon hearing Blue’s voice. “I was just thinking that Lord Exerops must’ve been a pretty happy person.”

“What makes you say that?” Kari asked.

“Well, he had lordship over the entire Great Basin. He makes an impossible quest, with the reward basically being his entire life? It sounds like he had no more earthly desires… which would make him a pretty happy guy.”

“Perhaps we need to have a discussion on how to find happiness,” Blue said in awkward correction. “But, I see the point you are trying to make, youngling. You are saying that Lord Exerops wanted nothing material, that the perfect grain he was searching for represented something else.”

“Yeah,” Elwin affirmed warmly, pleased that Blue understood his half-baked idea.

Kari was rather unimpressed, giving out an unperturbed grunt in response.

Stolen novel; please report.

“So, what did the grain represent to Lord Exerops, then?” Blue asked, curiosity evident in her speech.

“I think he wanted proof that perfection existed.” Said Elwin. His answer was met by silence.

Small rustlings and chirpings could be heard coming intermittently from the forest as they walked, and if one looked closely, small birds could be seen, huddled together for warmth in the branches.

“…Then why would Lord Exerops later declare an ordinary grain perfect?” Kari asked. “He must’ve lost his mind.”

“There is another explanation-“ Blue began.

But Elwin beat her to it, having been inspired by Blue. “He accepted that perfection doesn’t exist.” The elf said.

“Yes,” Blue said joyfully.

Kari was silent, listening. Elwin took a glance at him. More than simply thinking, he seemed distracted; looking around the forest for something.

“Nothing in this world is perfect.” Blue declared with certainty.

“Well, I can agree with that.” The grim Kari said. “The world is too tragic a place. A flawed place filled with flawed beings.”

“And flawed beings such as ourselves can only produce flawed things. ‘Perfection’ is just a concept. Take one the perfection of one person and present it to another, and you will have an argument on your hands, more often than not.” Blue told them.

Kari, ever the practical one, was growing impatient at this line of conversation.

“So what’s the use of knowing that, then?” the grizzled human asked in disgust. “This whole conversation is just a waste of time.”

“If you think it is a waste, then you will never become the powerful Gift-user you wish to be. The Hermit of Giant’s Beach teaches us that enlightenment awaits those who realise that nothing is perfect. Nothing, but most especially things created by mortal minds… Take Universal Law, for example.”

At this statement, both Kari and Elwin stopped walking, unsure if they had misheard what Blue had said.

“What?” Kari exclaimed. “Did you just say that Universal Law is not a part of nature?”

“Come now, it should come as no surprise to you, human. Do you think the Almighty Creator would create something so obviously flawed? The evaporation trick I taught you is proof of it, and look at how that encounter turned out in your favour.”

“What is she talking about?” Elwin asked. This prompted Kari to explain how he had taken advantage of the energy change associated with forcibly changing the state of water.

Although the hydrohand could not directly manipulate the water inside someone’s body, he could manipulate the state of water molecules outside the body, which would draw energy to or from the water in question. Following the physical laws of the universe, that energy would be exchanged with the surroundings… meaning that energy could even be drawn from or given to the body of someone protected by Universal Law. It took a moment but based on how Elwin’s eyes widened, it seemed that he understood.

Blue continued her speech once she saw recognition in Elwin’s eyes. “That is the way of this world. Some fear the rules. Most proclaim to know them. But it is only the wisest that accept the rules and master them, no matter how they may agree or disagree, they learn to take advantage of their loopholes. Heed my words: The last category of people rises to the top. Always.”

What were Kari and Elwin to make of this advice? Kari got to thinking as they continued their way towards the swamp in the north.

The rain finally stopped in the late afternoon, and they made camp in the evening. Kari did his best to keep their flooring, some logs gathered together by Elwin, dry.

Around the campfire, they were again visited by their new friend, the wild boar. The boar seemed to report to Blue in a brief exchange of snorts and snuffles, before approaching Elwin expectantly.

“More food?” Elwin asked.

Blue nodded her holographic head in reply.

With the pig fed, it trotted off into the dense shadows of the forest once more.

“What did it say?”

“The coast is clear… though it worries for our safety in the swamp.”

On the morning of the third day, Effie finally contacted the unlikely trio after a long radio silence.

She knew nothing of the force in the swamp which had wiped out a battalion of Lucina’s Angels, leaving the trio with a growing sense of foreboding as they journeyed closer into unknown danger, step by step.

Meanwhile, Blue herself noticed that Kari kept checking behind them every so often, even despite Blue assuring them that she would notice if the Angels were onto their scent.

Despite Kari’s best attempts to reassure them that he was just cautious. Elwin himself was beginning to grow suspicious. Was he hiding something from the rest of them? Elwin wondered. He decided to be on his guard despite his friendly outwards demeanour.