The Broken Halo

”...I’m telling you, beams of light pierced the sky.”

The demon at their table paused after seeing Sonya and Akaza’s strange reaction.

Akaza and Sonya did not turn their heads, but their attention shifted.

At a nearby table, three demons in travel-stained clothes were speaking in low voices. They looked like caravan guards or hunters who had been on the road for a long time.

One of them took a drink, then continued.

”Dozens of beams. Maybe more. They came from the direction of Blackwind Valley.”

Another demon scoffed.

”Blackwind Valley? That place is cursed. Who would go there?”

”That is the point. Nobody goes there unless they have a death wish.”

The third demon leaned forward.

”I heard it wasn’t beams from a treasure. I heard a ruin appeared.”

”A ruin?”

”Yes. A hidden ruin. Maybe it’s ancient. Maybe it’s sealed.”

The first demon shook his head.

”No, no. That’s not what I heard. I heard two Demon Kings fought there.”

The second demon laughed.

”Two Demon Kings? If two Demon Kings fought anywhere near a trade route, half the region would know.”

”Maybe half the region does know. Why do you think everybody is talking?”

The table became silent for a moment.

Akaza’s expression became strange.

Sonya also remained quiet.

The rumors had already reached Vashar.

This did not mean Vashar was close to Blackwind Valley. It meant the trade routes carried information quickly. Merchants, travelers, message artifacts, flying beasts, and loose mouths could spread news faster than armies could march.

And rumors became worse every time they passed through another mouth.

The third demon spoke again, this time with a lower voice.

”I also heard something else.”

The first demon frowned.

”What?”

”I heard that’s where the Shadowgrave Clan is hidden.”

The moment those words were spoken, the nearby conversations became quieter.

Even the thin demon standing beside Akaza and Sonya stopped pretending not to listen.

The Shadowgrave Clan was not a name ordinary demons treated lightly.

The second demon looked at the third with disbelief.

”Are you drunk? The Shadowgrave Clan? One of the six main clans? In Blackwind Valley? That terrifying clan of elite assassins?”

”I’m just saying what I heard.”

”Then whoever told you that is mad.”

”Maybe. But if it’s not true, why did beams of light appear there? Why are people saying shadows covered the valley? Why are people saying a Demon King fought there?”

”Because people lie.”

”People also die when they ignore things they call lies.”

The demons fell silent.

Then another voice from a different table spoke.

”My cousin’s group came from the northern road. He said some merchants are already changing their routes because of Blackwind Valley.”

Someone else replied.

”Good. Let the fools go there and die.”

A drunk demon raised his cup.

”If a ruin appeared, then there will be treasures.”

Another demon laughed.

”If the Shadowgrave Clan is there, then the only treasure you’ll find is your corpse.”

The tavern became livelier after that.

Several demons began speaking about Blackwind Valley, and none of their words matched perfectly.

Some said a hidden ruin had opened.

Some said beams of light came from under the ground.

Some said a Demon King fought another Demon King.

Some said the legendary Shadowgrave Clan had finally been exposed.

Some said the whole thing was nonsense created by merchants to change trade prices.

Some said treasure hunters were already preparing to go there.

Some said anyone who went there would never return.

Akaza listened with a complicated expression.

Seeing everybody speculating on what the truth was when he knew the truth made him feel strange and in an inexplicable way.

But now, the truth had been broken into pieces and scattered across the mouths of strangers.

Sonya slowly picked up her cup and drank.

”His plan is working.”

Akaza nodded slightly.

”Faster than expected.”

The thin demon beside them looked at both of them with narrowed eyes.

”You two seem interested.”

Akaza looked at him calmly.

”So is everyone else.”

The demon stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled faintly.

”True.”

Sonya placed a few more hell stones on the table.

”If you hear anything reliable about Blackwind Valley, send word to River Rest. Ask for the three demons in the last rooms on the left of the second floor.”

The demon took the hell stones.

”Names?”

Sonya smiled slightly.

”You don’t need names.”

The demon looked at her smile and wisely nodded.

”No names then.”

Akaza and Sonya stood up a few minutes later, and Akaza looked at the remaining roasted meat on the plate.

Sonya noticed.

”Take it.”

Akaza looked at her.

”I didn’t say anything.”

”You were looking at it like it owed you money.”

Akaza wrapped the meat in a clean cloth after paying for it.

”This is for Blackmoon.”

Sonya looked at him.

”Little kitty can barely chew.”

”Then it’s for me.”

”At least you’re honest.”

Akaza smiled slightly.

”Unlike some demons.”

Sonya raised a brow.

”Are you referring to this Honourable?”

Akaza walked toward the exit.

”I didn’t say that.”

”But you implied it.”

”I implied nothing. You’re imagining things.”

Sonya scoffed, the she followed after him.

The two left The Split Coin and returned to the streets of Vashar City.

They did not return to River Rest immediately. Instead, they walked through a few nearby streets and listened to more conversations. They did not ask too many questions, and they did not stay in one place for too long.

Most of what they heard matched what they had already learned.

Vashar City belonged to the Darkness Kingdom, but it was heavily influenced by trade with the Kharzul Kingdom. The Kharzul Kingdom was a minor kingdom that survived by bowing its head to the Darkness Kingdom while pretending to stand on its own feet.

The Black Lantern Hall was indeed powerful in Vashar. It was not the strongest force in the city, but it was rich, useful, and connected to medicine, trade, and healing. Master Avarn was its most valuable healer, which meant visiting him would not be as simple as walking into a roadside clinic.

As for Blackwind Valley, the rumors were spreading everywhere.

In the market, a beast hide merchant claimed the beams of light were signs of an ancient inheritance.

Near a weapon stall, a scarred demon said he heard a Demon King died there.

Beside a cart filled with bone charms, an old demoness whispered that the Shadowgrave Clan had angered something buried beneath the earth.

None of them knew the truth.

But the truth no longer mattered in its pure form.

The rumor had already been born.

Akaza and Sonya eventually returned to River Rest.

The old demoness at the counter looked at them as they entered.

”Back alive.”

Akaza raised a brow.

”You seem livelier than normal.”

The old demoness shrugged.

”Should I be moody and sad all the time?”

Akaza stared at her, then chuckled.

”Fair enough.”

Sonya ignored the old demoness and walked up the stairs. Akaza followed behind her, carrying the wrapped meat with an expression that made it clear he had no intention of sharing unless forced.

When they reached Simon’s room, Sonya knocked once.

”Enter.”