The Broken Halo

"We’re leaving."

Akaza, who was seated on a chair and was testing the movement of his regenerated right hand, paused.

Sonya, who was leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, opened her blinds eyes slightly.

Akaza looked at Simon.

"When?"

"Tomorrow." Simon responded without looking back.

Akaza flexed his fingers slowly, and he remained silent for a while.

He never said it or made it known, but he had been getting tired of staying in Vashar City.

The peace and quiet was very much needed in the first week, but two weeks later, he was beginning to get bored.

Vashar City was not as developed as the Shadowgrave Clan in the sense that it did not have good training grounds, cultivation towers, or exciting events that would make Akaza’s blood boil.

He had been getting bored. Especially when Simon told them to be low-key and to not draw the attention of powerful and influential individuals in the city.

However, he also knew that Simon needed time to heal, so he never brought it up. But that didn’t mean that he was happy to hear Simon say those words.

Surprised and confused, but happy nevertheless.

He decided to ask.

"Are we leaving because of the growing rumors?"

Simon shook his head.

"No."

Sonya tilted her head slightly.

"Then why?"

Simon looked down at the street for a few more seconds before answering.

"Vashar has nothing to offer me."

"And it’s not good to remain in one place for too long. We were too noticeable when we came in, and if a whisperer or member of the clan happens to come to this city, he or she would most likely find us."

The room became silent for a moment, then Akaza slowly nodded.

Everything Simon said was right, especially his latter words which Akaza had not even thought of.

Sonya also understood that Simon was right, and she too was actually bored of staying in Vashar City.

But she was more interested in knowing where they were going to. So she folded her arms and asked.

"Where are we going?"

Simon remained silent for a moment, his eyes flickering with a calculating glint, then he responded with slightly narrowed eyes.

"Velmora City."

Akaza raised a brow. He had never heard of that city before.

"Velmora?"

Simon nodded slightly.

"It’s in Darkness Kingdom. It’s not one of their main cities, but it’s better than Vashar. It’s larger, richer, has better markets, has better access to rare resources, and many more."

There were a few other reasons why Simon wanted to go to Velmora City, but he couldn’t tell Akaza and Sonya for now.

Sonya had a thoughtful expression.

"Velmora is going to have more dangerous demons."

Simon nodded slightly.

"You’re correct."

Sonya looked at Simon with a slightly solemn expression.

"For a city like that, it’s highly possible that the Shadowgrave Clan has influence there. We might be noticed."

Simon nodded once again.

"You’re right. But the security in that city would be a lot better than the security here, and the Shadowgrave Clan would find it more difficult to kill us so as to not offend that city and the Darkness Kingdom as a whole."

Akaza leaned back on his chair and could not help but raise a brow at Simon’s words.

"Shouldn’t you recover more instead of going to a place that’s obviously more dangerous?"

Simon finally turned and looked at Akaza, his lips curled up slightly.

"You don’t have to worry about me. I can heal on our way to the city. It’ll take some time after all."

"Besides, I’m not as weak as before. I can fight now."

Akaza nodded and decided to say no more. It was not his place to tell Simon what to do.

Sonya too decided not to say anything.

Simon slowly stood from his chair, and placed his hands behind his back.

"We leave tomorrow morning." Simon said again.

Akaza stood and stretched his hands like he had just woken up from a long sleep.

"Good. I’m tired of this city anyway."

Sonya pushed herself away from the wall.

"You’re tired because you have been banned from three taverns."

Akaza looked at her.

"I was not banned. I was politely asked to never return."

"That is called being banned."

"The wording matters."

"No, it does not."

Simon looked back at his window and stared at the city with an expressionless gaze.

"Prepare what we need. Food, water, road information, and a carriage. I’m not walking to Velmora in this condition."

Akaza raised a brow.

"I thought you said you were good and could fight?"

Simon looked at him.

"Do you want to walk from here to another city?"

Akaza scratched the back of his head.

"A carriage it is then."

Sonya shook her head slowly with a disappointed expression.

Akaza ignored her and picked up his cloak.

"I’ll find a driver."

Sonya followed after him.

"I’m coming with you. You might pay thrice the price because of how soft you are."

Akaza looked at her with raised brows.

"Me? Soft?"

Sonya scoffed.

"I have still not forgotten the time you got tricked into buying a rock that was said to contain a life changing opportunity."

Akaza’s lips twitched.

"That witch used her bewitching powers on me."

Sonya scoffed once again.

"Sure knucklehead."

The two left the room, and Simon remained alone once again.

He sat on the bed and looked at his hands.

He clenched them slowly.

His body was still weak.

His pathways were still fragile.

His mental energy had completely recovered.

His soul was no longer strained to the point of discomfort, but it still had a long way to go before it was fully recovered.

’Fortunately for me, Lilith destroyed the Soul Eating Centipede when she took control of my body. And it was much easier and cleaner than what I would have done.’

He fell on his bed with his arms outstretched, and his gaze fell on the ceiling of his room.

"A new city tomorrow then."

The next morning, Simon, Akaza, and Sonya left River Rest.

The old demoness at the counter glanced at them as they came down the stairs.

"You’re leaving?"

Akaza nodded.

"Unfortunately, yes. I’ll miss your terrible attitude."

The old demoness scoffed.

"I won’t miss yours."

Akaza grinned.

Sonya placed a medium sized pouch of hell stones on the counter.

"For the rooms."

The old demoness took the pouch, weighed it in her hand, then nodded.

"You paid properly. Good. I’ll be sure to treat you guys well if you ever come back to River Rest."

Akaza chuckled.

"We’ll see about that."

Simon, who was walking slowly beside them with a dark cloak covering his body, glanced at her but said nothing.

The old demoness looked at him for a moment.

"You look better than when you came in."

Simon replied calmly.

"I’ve been better."

The old demoness chuckled softly.

"Have we not all been better?"

Simon’s lips curled slightly.

"Maybe."

The old demoness stared at him for a second, then she waved her hand.

"Go. And don’t bring trouble back to my inn."

Akaza laughed softly.

"We’ll try."

The three left River Rest.