After a long stretch of uneven dirt roads, the world before them shifted entirely.

  Cobblestone streets now spread out underfoot, flanked on both sides by tall, ornate buildings of timber and stone. Their walls bore intricate carvings, balconies jutting out above shopfronts that stood tightly packed together. The street was alive—voices rose in a constant hum as merchants hawked their wares, mingling with the clatter of cartwheels and hurried footsteps. It was chaos, but it was the kind that pulsed with life.

  Gloria came to a stop, one hand on her hip.

  “We’re here. This is Seraing.”

  Behind her, Xin remained in his properly humbled pose—head down, eyes averted—just as his so-called “Master” had instructed. He hadn’t noticed she’d stopped. His mind was still caught up in calculations, and his legs kept moving on their own… until he bumped straight into her back.

  “Gah—!” The nudge wasn’t strong, but it was enough. Gloria spun on her heel and shot him a cold glare. “Do you have eyes or not? Or were you daydreaming about something you shouldn’t?”

  Realizing his mistake, Xin quickly looked away, avoiding her eyes. But as his gaze swept across the vast city before him, something unspoken stirred within. Compared to Gedion—the tiny town where he'd been stuck for ten long years—this place felt like a step into another world entirely. If he weren’t caught in such a ridiculous situation, he might’ve actually wanted to explore it. Freely. On his own terms.

  “What exactly are we here for?” he asked, his tone hovering between curiosity and quiet caution.

  Before she could answer, a horse-drawn carriage came barreling down the road, forcing them both to dart under a nearby awning for cover. Instinctively, Xin reached out and placed a hand behind Gloria’s back—a deliberate motion, even if he couldn’t quite explain why he did it. Gloria froze for a split second. Her eyes flickered with something unreadable. But then…

  Gurgle. —An ill-timed sound echoed through the silence. Xin’s stomach made itself known, loud and proud.

  Their eyes met. The moment hung awkwardly in the air.

  Xin cleared his throat and quickly looked away.

  “I’m not… really hungry. It just… made that sound on its own.”

  Gloria crossed her arms, giving him a look that was part mockery, part quiet calculation. After a long exhale, she muttered under her breath.

  “…What a hassle.”

  Without another word, Gloria turned on her heel and headed straight toward a nearby restaurant. Xin blinked, caught off guard. He fumbled with the boxes strapped to his back, then quickly followed after her—carefully keeping a two-step distance.

  Inside, the two of them settled at a tucked-away corner table, far from the chatter and clinking of the other patrons.

  Moments later, a waiter approached, bowing politely.

  “What would you like to order, honored guests?”

  Gloria didn’t respond right away. Instead, she tilted her head slightly—just enough to signal Xin. He understood, opened one of the compartments in his pack, and waited. She reached in, pulled out a small paper packet, gently unfolded it, and emptied its contents into an empty cup on the table.

  The waiter glanced at the cup but said nothing. Without hesitation, he poured hot tea over the contents, his movements fluid—almost like he’d done this countless times before. Gloria remained composed, her gaze never leaving Xin. Her voice was calm, barely above a whisper.

  “Just bring us a few light dishes.”

  The waiter gave a small nod and silently stepped away.

  A moment later, she slid the cup across the table toward Xin and gave a single command.

  “Drink.”

  Xin raised an eyebrow, voice laced with suspicion. He wasn’t some idiot who obeyed every one of her whims.

  “You messing with me? How do I know what you just put in there?”

  Gloria smiled faintly. Her tone remained gentle, but there was a pressure beneath it—subtle, suffocating.

  “It’s an antidote. You’re free not to drink it.”

  Xin glanced at the cup, then back at her. She didn’t even blink.

  “Antidote?” he repeated, tension creeping into his voice. “What are you talking about?”

  Gloria rested her chin on one hand, lips curling into an amused little smile.

  “Drink, and you’ll find out. Or don’t—if you’d rather test how long your body can hold out.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she tapped him with the tip of her chopsticks—lightly, playfully, but with a chill in her voice.

  “Feeling anything yet? That twitchy, creeping sensation? Like something’s gnawing at you from the inside?”

  Xin’s eyes widened.

  He was feeling something.

  A faint sting started in his chest and spread toward his shoulder—not painful, but unsettling enough to rattle him. It didn’t feel like an ordinary wound. It felt like something was moving inside him… slowly, silently eating away at his will to resist.

  She… really did poison me?

  No more time to think. He grabbed the cup and downed it in one gulp. The warmth of the tea did nothing to stop the cold sweat forming on his brow. His hand trembled slightly as he set the cup down, his breathing shallow, eyes visibly shaken.

  Gloria rested her cheek on her hand, watching him like she was enjoying a particularly entertaining stage play. Under his shaken gaze, she gave a soft smile.

  “There we go. Feeling safer now?”

  Xin didn’t respond. He sat still, quietly tuning in to the strange sensations moving beneath his skin. His eyes flicked toward Gloria, full of silent resentment.

  For a brief moment, the air between them felt heavy—still.

  Then the waiter returned with their food.

  Gloria calmly picked up a piece of vegetable and placed it in her mouth, chewing slowly. Without looking directly at him, she tapped her fingers lightly on the table. Her voice had softened—just a little.

  “Eat. You’re not seriously planning to keep up with me on an empty stomach, are you?”

  Xin had no energy left to argue. Wordlessly, he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat. The food wasn’t bad… but it didn’t taste like anything either.

  After the meal, Gloria stood, dropped a few coins onto the table, and gave him a small nod—an unspoken signal: Time to move. Reluctantly, Xin got to his feet and followed. The two of them stepped back into the streets of Seraing, where light and noise swallowed them whole—like nothing had ever happened.

  Before long, they reached a far livelier part of the city.

  The square ahead bloomed with color—flags fluttered in the breeze, flowers decorated every corner, and the occasional butterfly or bee drifted through the air, even landing on outstretched fingertips.

  At the center stood a grand stage, erected right in the heart of the plaza. Vibrant red cloths hung from above, draped over several mysterious objects beneath. A large crowd had already gathered, forming loose circles around the platform, their faces bright with anticipation.

  Gloria stood off to the side, eyes calm, taking in the entire scene.

  Xin glanced at her, unease beginning to well up.

  “What exactly are we waiting for? Is this really worth watching?”

  She didn’t answer. Instead, she pointed to the stage. Right then, a well-dressed man stepped out from behind the curtains. With a graceful bow to the audience, he raised a hand and declared in a booming voice:

  “Ladies and gentlemen! I hereby declare—the Seraing Monthly Auction has officially begun!”

  A roar of cheers erupted across the plaza. The flock of pigeons scavenging nearby took off in a flurry, wings flapping wildly into the sky.

  “Please prepare yourselves,” the announcer called out, “to claim the finest treasures we’ve brought for today’s auction!”

  With a flourish of his hand, the host gave the signal.

  The first red cloth was pulled away, unveiling a beast glove from an Oman predator—black fur soft as silk, claws polished to a shine like darkened horn. It looked more like a showpiece than an actual weapon.

  Next came a pair of aquamarine dragon eyes, said to be from the Salt Lake leviathan. They glowed with a faint blue shimmer and already had holes drilled into them. Clearly, some cheap piece of jewelry.

  Then came a broken sword—once belonging to a White Knight of the Ares Order. The blade was charred, cracked down the middle, its surface blackened as if tossed aside after a humiliating defeat.

  Xin smirked, the corner of his mouth curling up.

  A broken sword? That’s not even worth comparing to Tabi’s.

  He truly couldn’t understand what made these items stir such excited chatter among the crowd. But when the final cloth was pulled away, the smirk on Xin’s face faded—along with the noise from the crowd. At the very center of the stage, on the tallest pedestal, stood a clear glass vial. Its lid had already been removed, revealing a single drop of shimmering dark liquid—like a star suspended in night.

  The announcer raised his voice, commanding the plaza’s full attention.

  “And now… the most prized item of today’s auction!”

  He paused just long enough.

  “The Tear of Sadani—a single drop of essence said to cure any illness known to man. Just one. And only one. Don’t miss your chance. Prepare your best numbers!”

  Instantly, the square exploded with noise. Voices rose in a frenzy—shouts, bids, desperate cries overlapping each other in a rising storm of chaos.

  Gloria, however, remained completely unfazed. She leaned in and whispered into Xin’s ear.

  “It’s a fake.”

  Xin turned to her sharply, suspicion in his eyes.

  “A fake? How do you even know that?”

  Gloria shrugged, a sly glint flickering in her gaze.

  “I have my ways. But more importantly... we’re not going to stand around and watch people fight over a worthless trinket. We’re going to take it.”

  Xin frowned. Now he was beginning to grasp her intention—and he didn’t like it one bit.

  “Wait… did you just say we?”

  Gloria chuckled under her breath and stepped in closer, her voice so quiet only he could hear.

  “Of course. You drank my medicine, didn’t you? I don’t recall giving you the option to refuse.”

  Hearing that, Xin felt a flicker of leverage. Instead of blindly agreeing, he quickly tossed out a counteroffer.

  “Hold on. If you want my help, you’ll need to show a bit of sincerity. How about… giving me the antidote first?”

  Gloria rested her chin on her hand, looking as if she were genuinely considering it. But her eyes—sharp and teasing—betrayed her true thoughts. She was too clever to let go of the leash so easily.

  “Are you under some kind of illusion? I just needed someone to carry things.”

  Xin scowled openly. He hadn’t expected her to be this sharp. With a huff, he turned his back on her, voice laced with faux indignation.

  “I’m not interested in playing the useless sidekick. Find someone else. Goodbye.”

  Gloria gave a casual shrug, her voice floating lazily to his ears like a whisper poured from a teapot.

  “Then go ahead—try running. Let’s see how long you survive without my antidote.”

  Xin lowered his gaze to the ground. He felt like a beast caught in a trap—every move he made only worsened the wound. After a moment of bitter hesitation, he clicked his tongue and let out a quiet sigh. In the end, he raised his metaphorical hands in surrender, hoping—just hoping—that some twist of fate might flip the game board later.

  Gloria, clearly satisfied with the outcome, adjusted the white ribbon tied at her back with a delicate touch. She tilted her head slightly, then spoke with calm finality.

  “Tonight, we leave. Our destination is the Dark Zone between Seraing and Nabylos.”

  The words hit him like ice down his spine.

  The Dark Zone. That was the very place he had barely escaped with his life.

  His shoulder throbbed in response, as if warning him—going back there might just be a one-way trip.