Zu Mari hadn't eaten at all the previous day.

The fact that the prisoners had been moved to a place that was apparently day instead of night did not prevent the full day of no food from affecting him. His inner phoenix could sustain him indefinitely if absolutely necessary, but right now he felt it was not necessary to starve himself. He could and would find something to sate his hunger.

Casting Shadow's Darkest Secrets Surrounding once again to be sure he wouldn't be seen, he left the towers and made his way through the streets down the side of the mountain toward the more normal looking collection of buildings below. They were the sort that could be mistaken for ordinary until you got close enough to see the polished pearl texture and tiny whorls of detail that looked as though they'd been carved from the biggest shell in existence. Uncanny walls.

But Zu wasn't here to critique the architecture. He was here in search of sustenance. And something in the vicinity smelled amazing. Not quite normal, but given how little respect and care he'd been given back in the Mari clan, he would take abnormal over poor quality and unpalatable.

He didn't like thinking about Fire Twilight Death's words, when they'd first spoken after his transformation. The idea that he was only accepted because of the Protagonist Fragment... it didn't bother him in the way Fire Twilight Death seemed to think it would, but it did its best to eat away at his self confidence.

He'd come so far! He'd shown everyone how strong he could be!

Wasn't that enough for them? Did they really need some mind-twisting artifact to convince them of Zu's awesomeness?

Why hadn't they recognized him sooner?

He shook his head and laughed at himself. Apparently lack of sleep and proper food was making him crazy-headed. None of these concerns were worth consideration. He was Zu Mari! Of course everyone would love him. And the Protagonist Fragment only made that process faster and easier. There was nothing to worry about. 'Everyone who is touched by that cursed power comes to hate it' indeed.

Zu Mari would not hate any power that helped him on his path of ascension. He would accept it and subsume it and exploit it for everything it was worth.

In that spirit, he found the stall which was the source of the delicious smells, and sat in the shadows as close to its chef as possible. He waited for almost a half hour, watching the man's expression in his occasional glances around. At first he had a gruff sort of look, the disinterested look of someone used to the city, who'd seen it all and would not be swayed. Then it shifted somewhat, to a more puzzled look, as though something was dissonant or unfamiliar. Curiosity next, then open bafflement.

Zu decided the time had come. He moved away, released Shadow's Darkest Secrets Surrounding, and strode to the stall.

"Hello, good man! I am Zu Mari. I hope you don't mind providing me with some of your lovely wares?"

The man nodded, as though some great mystery had just been revealed to him. "Ah, Zu Mari. Of course. I've been wondering what took you so long to come to me. I have your order right here."

He piled three of everything onto a platter, then passed it across with a look of pleased relief. "Thank you for visiting. Do stop by again sometime."

Zu accepted the platter with a gracious tip of the head, then disappeared back into the shadows with his bounty.

"Protagonist Fragment, you do not disappoint," he murmured gleefully. Take that, Fire Twilight Death. Zu Mari was made of stronger stuff than any past so-called heroes who failed to utilize its full potential.

What else did he need? He felt much happier now, strolling along sampling the best of the city's comestibles. He quickly discovered several new favourite foods, and swore to return here regularly in future loops.

Ah, yes. A sword. It would be no replacement for Fire Twilight Death, but when stranded in another world by a goddess, you made do with what you could get. He found the most powerful spirit emanations from a particular weapon crafter, and followed his pattern of entering the shop hidden by shadow in order to give the Protagonist Fragment time to work on the master smith.

Alas, this shop was not so easily conquered.

The moment he stepped over the threshold, a high ringing pierced the air and the proprietor came running, a pike in his hands, and a pair of armed assistants flanking him. They looked around, searching for the source of the disruption. Zu remained out of sight, but the way they swung the weapons around made him back up until he'd left the shop. The ringing stopped, but the two assistants continued out into the street and took up posts on either side of the door. If he tried to enter again, they could skewer him the moment he set foot inside even if he were completely invisible.

He dropped his stealth and approached them openly. They lowered their weapons threateningly, but Zu held up his hands. "Good day! I am simply here to see what your fine shop has to offer."

"Oh?" growled one.

"Serious purchasers only," scowled the other. (Zu had never heard anyone scowl something before, and it was quite the experience.)

"I am very serious!" Zu protested. "I have come from the green flame tower over yonder. I need a spirit blade for the next stage of my apprenticeship."

He sidled closer, hoping the proximity would help the Protagonist Fragment work faster, and spoke slowly so he could get as much influence over them as possible before they had to reply.

"Why haven't you sent a requisition order in before now?" growled the scowler.

"You should know better than to show up on our door expecting a custom blade on the spot!" scowled the growler.

Zu decided he found both of them rather tiresome. "Just let me look around. I haven't fully settled on a craftsman for my blade." He lifted his chin, doing his best to imitate the blasé indifference of those who knew they'd be listened to, or else. "If your master has no wish for my custom, then I'll seek elsewhere."

That changed their tunes real fast. Scowler scowled more deeply, and Growler muttered something about arrogant young masters.

"If you end up wasting our master's time, I'll gut you myself, however much influence you have with the Flame," Scowler said.

"I'll keep an eye on him," growled Growler. "You keep watch out here."

Scowler nodded, and gestured for Zu to enter the building.