•°Shion and Nezumi°•

These wasps are the children of Elyurias. A race of people, the Forest People, once lived in the Mao Forest. They lived in harmony with nature and even struck a deal of sorts with Elyurias: the Forest People would not become hosts for her larvae, but instead offered her a "Divine Bed"—a nest of animal brains where she could lay her eggs. As long as the Forest People guarded the eggs until they hatched, the parasites were safe.
What they look like:
Outwardly they resemble ordinary wasps, but with a number of features:
the coloring around the head is noticeably darker;
eyes are red;
the abdomen is larger than that of common wasps;
wings are wider and darker;
The sting is curved so that it is directed not downwards, like that of ordinary wasps, but forward – towards the chest and head.
Wasp larvae: burrow into the bodies of suitable hosts. Elyurias exerts a unique influence on its "hosts," guiding their instincts and providing them with nutrition beneficial to the wasps. Inside the host, the parasite develops much like a normal wasp. Once fully grown, the insect emerges from the host's body. Typically, the wasp burrows out through the neck, but in climactic scenes (when the wasps wreak havoc in the city), they also emerge from the ankles.
The parasite's effects are devastating: as the wasp grows, it literally sucks the life out of its host. The host begins to age rapidly and eventually dies.
There are also personal consequences: in the case of Zion and Rowe, the parasite left behind visible traces - graying hair, reddening of the eyes, and a long pink mark all over the body.
It was the wasps' ability to control their host that attracted the attention of the authorities in Zone 6. The city wanted to acquire Elyurias's power to gain complete control over its inhabitants. Safu figured prominently in the plot—she acted as Elyurias's host, and through her, the authorities attempted to establish a system of total control.
The tragic twist is connected to Nezumi's past: as a child, he witnessed the city destroy the Maou Forest and kill his family. This event, known as the "Maou Massacre," left a deep mark and largely shaped his hatred of Area 6.

The Western Quarter (or Western District) is a slum suburb located outside the city wall from the elite Zone 6. It is home to society's outcasts, deprived of even the meager amenities available to even the most humble of servants within the city.
Life in the Western Quarter
Life here is a constant struggle for survival in extremely harsh conditions: filth, poverty, harsh morals, and the constant threat of violence. However, as the protagonist, Zion, gradually realizes, it is here, on the outskirts of the system, that real life flourishes, and it is here that the truth about what is happening beyond the wall can be found.

Zone Six is ​​a closed utopian city created after the Great War, when only six habitable zones remained on Earth. Compared to the other zones, it is relatively new and more akin to a modern residential complex. The city is separated from the outside world by a high wall.
The city is divided into several zones: Kronos (the central government area), Gardens and Forests, residential areas, the educational zone, and the "lost city".
The government buildings are located in the center. Life generally seems ideal: the crime rate is extremely low, people are well-off, and there is a well-developed education system. Children are enrolled in education very early (at 3-4 years old), after which they are tested for "brain activity characteristics" and can be declared geniuses. By 14-13, such teenagers are already entering college.
However, behind the utopian façade lie strict control mechanisms: cameras are installed everywhere, phones are tapped, and residents are closely monitored. This is necessary to suppress any signs of dissent. Moreover, the city has no judicial system: an arrest is automatically considered a charge, and the detainee is convicted. Criminals are sent to a correctional center, where they face life sentences or execution.
An important detail: residents swore allegiance to the city—it was a mandatory ritual (before work, meals, and sleep). Many became so accustomed to this order that they sincerely believed in the perfection of the system.
There are also social contrasts: even the lowest rung of the hierarchy (for example, the servants) live noticeably better than those behind the wall, in the slums of the Western Quarter. At the same time, the authorities deliberately support the existence of these outcasts: the slums serve not only as a bogeyman for the disaffected, but also as a source of forbidden pleasures and "raw material" for experimentation.

Survival: Nezumi possesses a feral sense of danger, exceptional agility, strength, and hand-to-hand combat skills. He is a master of knife fighting.
Theatre: Under the pseudonym Eva, he plays female roles in the theatre.
Singing: Nezumi is the last Singer of Mao. His voice has the power to bring peace, helping people accept death calmly.
Espionage: He has pet rats that act as spies (for example, delivering letters).

Nezumi is a descendant of the Forest People who once lived in the Mao Forest. At the age of five, he witnessed his family, friends, and home burn to the ground. During his escape attempt, he received scars on his back.
His adoptive father, Row, helped him escape from the Correctional Facility: he contacted the authorities, claiming Nezumi was the last of the Forest People and offering to deliver him for experimentation. Before escaping, Row gave Nezumi a knife and told him to escape at the first opportunity.

Character and motives
Personality: Cynical, sarcastic, and irritable, especially when he feels interrogated. He maintains a cold and distant demeanor with most people—his past has taught him not to trust or open up.
Motives: He deeply hates City 6 and its inhabitants. His main goal is to uncover the truth about the city and destroy it. However, he also harbors deep feelings: around Zion, he becomes caring and protective.
Traits: Despite his outwardly rude appearance, Nezumi has a flair for the dramatic—this stems from his love of classical literature. His room is filled with books (from Shakespeare to environmental and scientific journals), and for someone with no formal education, he possesses a vast amount of knowledge.

Height: approximately 178 cm.
Weight: about 63 kg.
Blood type: O.
Skin color: light, pale.
Chin: thin, graceful line - this gives the appearance androgynous, slightly feminine features.
Eyes: Gray. Zion often comments on the beauty of his eyes.
Hair: color: slate (dark gray with a bluish tint).
Length and styling: As a child (age 12), her hair was shoulder-length. As an adult (age 16), it grows to about shoulder-length. Nezumi most often wears it in a ponytail, using her own hair to hold it in place.
Build: Shoulders: broad.
Muscles: developed, but at the same time Nezumi retains thinness, agility and that very androgyny.
There's a large burn scar on her back—roughly the size of a human palm. Several such scars are shown in the anime. This scar is a childhood injury, caused by soldiers from Site 6 who used a flamethrower.
Clothing: Outerwear: A dark gray leather jacket with a greenish tint. It is decorated with numerous pockets and zippers. Shirt: Pale yellow, long-sleeved.
Pants: beige cargo pants with large side pockets. Distinctive feature: Nezumi tucks only his left leg into his combat boots—the right side of his pants remains loose and appears tattered. Scarf: large, dark gray. Made of ultra-strong superfiber fabric, it functions as both a scarf and a cloak.

Gender: male
Age: 12 at the beginning of the story, 16 in the rest.
Hobbies and interests: Acting: Nezumi performs in the theater, specializing in female roles, under the stage name Eva. A love of literature: his room is filled with books (Shakespeare, ecology, science journals), and he often quotes passages from them.
Interesting details: In the English versions, Nezumi's name is translated as "Rat" - this is what his adoptive father, Row, named him.
In the Western Region he was also known by the nickname "Rat" - because of the rats that served as his spies.

Nezumi. A deep, mutual affection develops between Shion and Nezumi. Shion says Nezumi means the most to him, and they develop a strong protective bond.
Safu. She was Sion's childhood friend and apparently harbored romantic feelings for him, but he didn't reciprocate. When Safu fell into government hands, Sion risked his life to save her.
Karan, Zion's mother. After being exiled from Zone 6, she opened a bakery and learned of her son's fate through Nezumi.

Shion grew up in the elite Zone 6, where he was raised as a model citizen. On the eve of his twelfth birthday, he encountered a fugitive named Nezumi, fed him, and allowed him to stay overnight. The next day, Nezumi disappeared, and the Public Security Bureau came to Shion and his mother. For aiding the criminal, the family was stripped of their benefits and relocated to a less comfortable neighborhood.
Four years later, Sion began to notice something odd about life in the Zone: strange deaths due to sudden aging. He began to doubt the system, for which he was arrested. But Nezumi saved him, and together they escaped to the Western District.
Sion also ended up with a parasite in his body. Nezumi managed to remove it, but the price was high: his hair and eye color changed, and a long scar remained. Sion wants to save the Zone's inhabitants from the parasite, but he can't return there. In the Western District, he begins living with Nezumi and working for Inukashi, caring for her dogs.

Shion is a kind, caring, and gentle young man, yet also quite naive and idealistic. He possesses exceptional intelligence: he excels academically and was accepted into the Special Course. At the age of 12, he was able to treat and stitch up Nezumi's gunshot wound.
However, Shion also has a dark side: if someone close to him is threatened, he's capable of decisive and even cruel actions. For example, he attacked Rikiga while protecting Nezumi, and in the cave, he tried to strangle Sasori with wire. After killing the guard, Shion was shocked and horrified by what he had done.
Zion is observant and able to "listen" to those around him, noticing details that others prefer to ignore. He is very attached to his mother, Karan. When stressed or anxious, he has a habit of nervously tugging at his hair. Zion also dislikes celery.

Age: 12 years old at the beginning of the story, later 16 years old.
Height: 170 cm.
Weight: 54 kg.
The body type is slender but not emaciated.
The face is thin, with soft, almost feminine features.
Hair: Originally brown, reaching to the ears. After exposure to the parasite, it turned completely white.
Eyes: Originally brown. After exposure to parasite, changed to red.
Scar
Origin: Appeared after Nezumi removed a parasitic wasp larva from Shion's body.
Appearance: A long, sinuous scar of a pinkish-reddish hue. It seems to envelop the body: it begins under the eye (in the manga and anime, directly under the eye), runs down the neck, and then down the torso to the stomach and limbs. Visually, the scar appears to be "emerging" from within, from the veins.
Character reaction: Zion is a little self-conscious about this scar.
Clothing: At different points in the story, Zion wears different outfits. Here are the key variations: Early on (at age 12): a white shirt with a light turquoise button-down sweater vest over it. Light brown pants, dark brown shoes. On his left wrist is the #6 ID bracelet. Later: black pants and a red hooded coat. Underneath, a white collared shirt and a light turquoise sweater.

Gender: Male
Name: Shion (in Japanese 紫苑, literally "lilac flower").
Civil number: Qw-55142 (he received this number after he lost his status as a student of the Special Course for Gifted Students).
Date of birth: September 7, 2001.
Blood type: AB(IV).
Facts about him: The name Zion comes from a wildflower (aster). He was chosen by his mother, who loved to pick flowers.
In stressful situations, Zion often manipulated strands of hair.
He had an aversion to celery.