Oh! This Yojimbo fellow --I like him in the unique way a antagonizing sadist can be likeable. I enjoy the backstory you are giving him. He is an individual, and not so hollow and saintly as most of the Aeons seem. I also enjoy your sense of pacing, you are much more deft than I at moving a story along at a good clip. You also place the flashbacks well and the main narration flows nicely around them. I am kind of glad I held off starting this one...it would be an agonizing to wait til the next chapter.