The Broken Halo

Simon was visibly shaken when he saw the familiar face of Mira as she walked into the inn with three other demons.

One of the three was a demoness, while the last two were demons.

Simon recognized none of them, but his eyes remained fixed on Mira as she spoke to the demoness who seemed to be her companion.

A million thoughts instantly appeared in Simon’s head.

And the main thought was if his mother was currently in the same city.

When it came to Mira, Simon knew very little or maybe one could even say, close to nothing about her.

If not for the fact that he had the mind of an adult when he was born, he would not even know how Mira looked like.

After his birth, Mira remained in the Duskfang Tribe for about six months before leaving.

During that period, she was Mora’s source of strength and motivator aside from him.

She helped his mother with things his mother could not do, and even before leaving, she gave some of her money to Lyssa so that he could be fed better for some time.

Even though he was a baby around that time, he could remember everything, and he even knew that Mira had joked and suggested at one point in time that his mother should sell him because of her financial situation.

A joke and suggestion that didn’t sit right with him and a joke that made him have sleepless nights on some days.

When Mira left for a reason he had no knowledge of, he could recall the relief he felt.

’I was worried that Mira would kidnap me one day and sell me for money because she of the jokes and suggestions she made a few times about my mother selling me.’

’I was relieved that she left, and I was relieved that my mother did not sell me off like she suggested, but at the end of the day... My mother did sell me off.’

’She didn’t sell me off to a member of another tribe because subconsciously, the money would never be enough to make her have such thoughts.’

’Money can buy anything. The amount just has to be right.’

Simon released a soft sigh with a slightly complicated expression, but he threw the memories of the past into the back of his mind.

Although he was curious if his mother was in Vashar City, he had a feeling that this was most likely not the case.

Mira had left the tribe a long time ago, and his mother had left more than a decade after.

The chances of them meeting was little.

’Wait... Don’t tell me that we’re close to the Wildlands?’

Simon’s eyes flashed.

”Please don’t tell me that you’re not satisfied with this inn? Cause I swear, I am not taking another-”

”It’s alright. We can use this inn.”

Simon cut off Akaza who was about to rant in frustration and anger.

Akaza clicked his tongue, then he approached the inn.

Sonya followed.

The inside of River Rest was dim and quiet.

A few demons sat at separate tables, eating or drinking in silence. A large fireplace burned weakly at one side of the room, and the smell of stew filled the air.

Behind a wooden counter sat an old demoness with wrinkled dark red skin and two antennas on her head.

The moment they entered, many demons glanced at them for a second especially because they were wearing black robes and covering their faces with hoods.

But when they perceived their auras and saw Sonya and Akaza’s missing arm, majority looked away and minded their business.

Simon glanced around, then his eyes landed on Mira who was sitting and conversing with her companions.

She and her group were among those that chose to mind their business.

Simon observed them for a moment before taking his eyes off.

The first thing he noticed was that Mira and her companions were dressed more like merchants than fighters.

He was curious... extremely curious, but he didn’t approach her for now.

Even if he did, he was very certain that she would not recognize him because he had changed a lot compared to before.

And in his current state, it was better not to deal with the unknown.

Although there was the possibility that he would not see her after today, he was okay with such a thing happening.

”Get us a room.” Simon spoke to Akaza who nodded.

Akaza approached the old demoness at the counter.

Her eyes moved from Akaza to Sonya, then to Simon.

She did not look surprised with their current appearances.

”How many rooms? And what type of room do you want? Low budget? Standard? Deluxe? Or luxury.”

”Standard. Three rooms.” Simon responded before Akaza could.

Sonya and Akaza looked at Simon with raised brows, and he decided to explain.

”We can’t sleep in the same room. We need our privacy to cultivate, train, and do whatever you wanted to do.”

Although Simon said this, Sonya and Akaza were fairly certain that what Simon truly meant was that he needed his privacy.

They didn’t have a problem with that though.

Akaza looked at the old demoness.

”Three rooms then. But make them close.”

The old demoness stretched out her hand.

”Payment first. Thirty hell stones.”

Akaza brought out a pouch of hell stones and placed it on the counter.

The old demoness grabbed the pouch and thew it slightly into the air before nodding.

She pushed a key across the counter.

”Second floor. The last three rooms on the left. No fighting inside. If you break something, you pay. If someone dies you clean it up or pay me handsomely to clean it.”

Akaza stared at her with raised brows.

”Does that happen often?”

The old demoness looked at him like he had asked a foolish question.

”Isn’t that normal in any city?”

Akaza scratched the back of his head, then he took the key to avoid the old demoness gaze and left for the staircase.

Sonya followed behind with a slight smile on her lips.

Simon took one last glance at Mira before looking away.

As Simon, Akaza, and Sonya went up the stairs, Mira and her companions looked in their direction with frowns on their faces.