The Broken Halo

Vashar City was already awake, and the morning streets were filled with the usual noise of trade. Carts moved over uneven stone roads, merchants shouted prices, and beasts growled as they pulled wagons filled with goods.

Simon walked slowly, and it was the first time in three weeks that he had walked for this long.

That alone made Sonya glance at him more than once.

Akaza also took glances at him, but after seeing that Simon was not trembling or finding it difficult to walk, he focused on their destination.

The place they were heading to was near the eastern gate of Vashar City. It was not exactly a station, and it was not exactly a market either. It was a large open yard where drivers, caravan leaders, beast handlers, and travelers gathered.

Rows of carriages stood beneath wooden shelters.

Some were simple wooden carts.

Some were covered wagons.

Some were reinforced beast carriages with iron plates and thick wheels.

Demonic beasts of different sizes were tied to posts or being fed by handlers. Some looked like horses with scales. Some looked like lizards with thick legs. One looked like a bull with three eyes and a tail covered in spikes.

The smell of beast dung, leather, sweat, and oil filled the air.

Akaza looked around.

"This place stinks."

Sonya glanced at him.

"You say that like you smell better after training."

Akaza looked offended.

"That is the smell of hardwork, perservance, and progress."

Sonya scoffed.

"Sure thing."

Simon closed his eyes briefly and he wanted to release a tired sigh, but he controlled himself not to.

He didn’t know when, but Akaza and Sonya had gotten close.

Although they bickered a lot and argued a lot, Simon could see that after spending weeks moving about Vashar City together, they had become friends.

But their friendship was the type that frustrated and annoyed him most of the time.

"Both of you. Not today and definitely not now."

Akaza and Sonya became quiet, though Sonya’s lips curled slightly.

They moved through the yard, ignoring the drivers who shouted destinations and prices.

"Kharzul border road!"

"South merchant route!"

"Velmora! Velmora City! Leaving before noon!"

"No refunds if beasts attack!"

Akaza looked toward the voice that mentioned Velmora.

A broad demon with dark blue skin and thick arms was standing beside a covered carriage pulled by two scaled horse-like beasts. The carriage was not luxurious, but it looked sturdy enough.

Several demons were already near it.

Some were merchants.

Some looked like travelers.

Some looked like guards.

Akaza was about to walk toward the driver when Simon suddenly stopped.

Sonya noticed immediately.

"What is it?"

Simon did not answer.

His gaze was fixed on the group standing beside the carriagem

Sonya followed his gaze, then he realized why Simon had stopped.

Mira and her companions.

Mira stood beside Devia, Brukk, and Orven. The four of them seemed to be speaking to the driver, and from the look of things, they were also heading toward Velmora City.

For a few seconds, Simon said nothing.

He only looked at Mira with a calm gaze but a slightly suspicious expression.

From what he could see, Mira and her companions were also going to Velmora.

Simon could not help but wonder what were the chances that Mira would also be going to the same city he was going.

Simon found it very strange, and he tried observing Mira and her companions to be certain that none of them were suspicious.

But he sensed nothing.

Three weeks had passed, and he had not spoken to her.nHe had not approached her, and he had not even allowed Sonya to observe her or obtain more information about her.

And now, just when he was leaving Vashar City, she appeared in front of him again.

Akaza looked at Simon?

’Could this just be a coincidence?’ Simon thought with slightly furrowed brows.

Then he shook his head and decided not to think much about it.

Coincidences happened.

Even before the arrival of the Heralds on Earth, some humans have experienced such a thing where they would meet somebody they knew but had not seen for a long time at a bus stop.

Both of them would take different vehicles to their destinations, but later in the day, they might encounter one another on a different bus stop.

Since Simon could not think of anything, he decided to just let this go as a coincidence.

Though, he was still suspicious and was paying attention to his surroundings.

Mira seemed to sense their gazes and turned her head.

Her eyes landed on Simon.

For a brief moment, she froze in shock.

Simon looked very different from the half-dead demon she had seen three weeks ago. He was still pale, still injured, and still moving slowly, but he was standing now.

His hood covered part of his face, but his sky-blue eyes could still be seen from beneath it.

Those eyes.

For some reason, those eyes of his bothered her.

And she wasn’t sure if it was because they were utterly indifferent and cold.

Mira’s fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her bag.

Devia noticed her reaction and frowned.

"Mira?"

Mira did not respond immediately, but when Devia looked in the direction Mira was looking at, she was also taken aback when she saw Simon, Akaza, and Sonya.

Simon indifferently looked away.

"Let’s go."

Akaza glanced at Mira one more time, then followed Simon. Sonya walked beside Simon, and her lips curled slightly.

"What a coincidence. This is going to be fun."

Simon remained silent and said nothing.

He walked toward the driver, but because Mira and her companions were standing close to the demon, it made it seem like he was approaching them.

Mira, Devia, and the rest became wary and worried.

Was Simon planning on finding trouble with them?

Mira noticed this, then she clenched her fists and decided to step up and sort out this uneasiness in her heart.

She walked forward, causing Simon to stop and look at her with raised brows.

Simon stared down at her, and Mira gulped for a moment as she stared up at Simon’s cold and indifferent sky-blue eyes.

She summoned up the courage and finally spoke.

"Have we met before?"