The Broken Halo

After Sonya coldly warned Akaza, the atmosphere became tense and Simon could not help but sigh.

He said nothing and just watched as Akaza pulled himself out of the river, and then both of them cleaned themselves.

Sonya did not bother creating a pathway or an earth wall for Akaza, causing the Martial Demon to bathe in the river for all the world to see his nakedness... luckily for him, no other demon was around and Simon had no desire to see the nakedness of another man.

When they were done, Simon was carried into the river by Sonya, then he brought out several items from his spatial ring after coming out of the river.

Three plain dark cloaks.

A clean piece of cloth to wear as replacements for their current clothes.

And a few strips of black fabric.

Akaza looked at the items, then he glanced at Simon.

”You had all this and you let us walk like this for hours?”

Simon looked at him.

”I was asleep.”

Akaza opened his mouth, then closed it.

”Dumb ass.” Sonya sneered.

Akaza clicked his tongue, then he picked up the strips of black fabric.

Sonya did the same.

Then both of them used the black fabric to wrap around their missing right hands.

The fabric was not special, but it was dark enough to hide the bloodstains. Sonya tied hers with ease using one hand and her teeth, while Akaza struggled for a few seconds before Sonya helped him with a mocking expression.

”I wonder if you have a pussy down there and not a dick.”

Akaza’s gaze darkened and he was about to speak, but Sonya tightened the fabric around his severed hand, causing him to groan in pain.

Sonya’s lips curled up slightly.

”This Honourable did not say you could speak.”

”That’s enough, Sonya. Let it go... You too Akaza.”

Sonya looked at Simon who spoke with a cold voice, then she nonchalantly shrugged.

”Whatever. I feel better now.”

Akaza gritted his teeth in anger, but he said nothing.

However, he inwardly swore to have his revenge in the future.

As for how?

Only time would tell.

After calming himself, Akaza removed the cloak of the Shadowgrave Clan after Simon told him to and wore one of the cloaks.

He placed another around Simon

one of the cloaks and placed another around Simon.

The cloak covered most of Simon’s wet body and hid the dark golden cracks on his skin.

It was obvious that he was still injured cause of some dried blood that needed scrubbing and all, but it wasn’t as bad as before.

Sonya created another earth wall as she removed the clothes of the Shadowgrave Clan and wore one of the plain dark cloaks, but did not pull the hood over head so as to not look suspicious.

Akaza adjusted Simon on his back, then he looked at the road ahead.

”So what’s the plan?”

Simon looked at the direction of Vashar City.

”Enter the city. Find a place to stay. And obtain more information about the city and our location.”

Akaza raised a brow.

”Shouldn’t we go straight to a healer.”

He asked cause of Simon’s condition and because of his missing hand.

Not having both his hands was really uncomfortable.

”No.” Simon replied immediately.

Sonya frowned.

”Why no healer? You need one.”

Simon shook his head.

”Don’t worry. I don’t need a healer.”

”As for your hands, know more about the city, so that you’ll know the right healer to go to... that’s if they have one.”

Sonya and Akaza looked at one another, then Sonya slowly nodded without trying to convince Simon that he needed a healer.

”An inn then.”

”An inn, a rented room, or anywhere that allows us to stay without asking too many questions.” Simon said.

Akaza nodded, them he started walking.

Sonya followed after.

They followed the dirt road, staying close to the trees as Simon had instructed. The river remained to their left, and as they continued walking, the signs of civilization became more obvious.

The wheel tracks on the road deepened.

More footprints appeared.

Some belonged to demons. Some belonged to beasts. Some were too strange for Akaza and Sonya to identify.

A broken cart wheel lay near the side of the road, half-buried in mud. Not far from it was an old campfire with cold ashes. A few bones were scattered nearby, but whether they belonged to a beast or a demon was not easy to tell.

The sky was becoming darker.

Night was approaching.

The forest slowly thinned until the trees became scattered, and after walking for some time, they finally saw the city.

Vashar City was not enormous.

It did not pierce the clouds.

It did not have walls that seemed capable of stopping armies or a powerful beast hordes.

It was not a city that made one feel small just by looking at it unlike Gondor City.

But it was still a city that was not rundown.

Its walls were made from dark brown stone and blackened wood, and they were tall enough to keep out some beasts and weak demons. Large spikes made of bone and metal lined the top of the walls, and dried beast skulls hung from some of the watchtowers.

The gates were open, but two heavy iron doors stood on both sides, ready to be closed at any moment.

A few guards stood near the entrance.

Some were bored.

Some were drinking.

Some were looking at the demons entering the city with eyes that were more predatory than watchful.

A line of carts and travelers slowly moved through the gate.

There were merchants with covered wagons, hunters carrying the bodies of small demonic beasts, a group of scarred demons pulling a cage that contained something covered in cloth, and several ordinary demons who looked like they wanted nothing more than to enter the city before night fully arrived.

The smell of smoke, sweat, blood, roasted meat, and wet stone drifted from the city.

Akaza looked at the gate with a slight raise of his brow.

”Looks normal.”

”Yeah.” Sonya said calmly.

Simon observed the city quietly from Akaza’s back.

Vashar City looked ordinary.

And that was good for Simon.

An extraordinary city would have too many powerful demons, too many arrogant nobles or young masters, too many factions, too many eyes, and too many rules.

A normal demonic city was easier to hide in and recuperate.

At least, that was what Simon hoped.