Simon did not even spare any extra thoughts toward his classmate.
What his classmate did not know was that if he had fallen to the side and not directly in Simon’s path, Simon would not have stepped on him.
Unfortunately for him, he fell in Simon’s path, and Simon trampled on him...just like he was going to do to his enemies in the future.
Some minutes later, Simon met up with Akaza close to the entrance of the market square.
"You’re early." Akaza said with folded arms, and Simon nodded.
"Class finished earlier than I expected. It’s a good thing though, means we have more time to prepare."
Akaza tilted his head slightly, then he turned and looked at the building behind him.
The Academy’s Market Square
Or Market Square like how some demons loved to call it.
Market Square was not an open market with shops, stores, and so on.
No.
It was a massive building which was carved into the cliff wall of the academy, and dim emerald lanterns hung along the archway, their light barely pushing back the darkness around.
Above the entrance, Emerald demonic scripts wrote the words- Market Square.
"Let’s go. We can’t waste anymore time." Simon said, then he walked inside Market Square.
Akaza exhaled softly, wondering just how his life had changed in the blink of an eye.
A few seconds later, he followed Simon into Market Square.
Just like majority of the buildings of the Shadowgrave Clan, the moment one enters inside a building that was carved in the cliff wall, they would encounter a space beyond what the outside suggested.
Market Square stretched deep into the cliff wall, and it was a vast cavern layered with multiple tiers carved into the stone like a labyrinth.
Narrow stone bridges crisscrossed overhead, connecting ledges and platforms, while spiral staircases clung to the walls, winding up and down.
The air was thick-warm, heavy, and alive with overlapping voices, bartering, negotiations, laughter, and the occasional sharp argument.
It echoed strangely, as though the cave itself was listening.
The shops were embedded directly into the rock. Some were just shallow alcoves lined with shelves, others were deep hollows that disappeared into darkness. A few were sealed behind shimmering barriers instead of doors, their contents flickering behind translucent layers of energy.
Light came from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. There were floating glowing orange orbs that drifted lazily through the air, casting uneven glows.
Some stalls used caged flame like lanterns, others used glowing crystals.
This was the Market Square, and it was a place where one could purchase nearly anything...legally or illegally.
"What are you buying?"
Akaza asked when he saw that Simon was not moving. He was merely looking around.
Simon did not answer for a few seconds, then he looked at Akaza.
"It’s not what I’m buying, but what you are buying."
Akaza was immediately baffled.
"What do you mean?"
Simon shook his head softly.
"Have you forgotten that I’m a slave? Anything I buy would be triple the original price. So, you’re going to be buying certain things for me from now on."
Akaza’s eyes widened slightly in realization and surprise.
’But...isn’t that a loophole in the rules of the academy?’
He wondered, and he decided to ask Simon.
"Can you do that? Is that allowed?"
Simon’s lips curled into a smile.
"Of course. There’s nothing like that against the rules. Besides, have you ever heard of a slave being the master of a clan member?"
Akaza’s expression darkened, and Simon chuckled.
"The clan would definitely not make a rule against a clan member purchasing things for a slave since they would not expect a slave to be the master of a clan member, and if a clan member decides to buy things for a slave, then it would only be once in a while."
"So, Akaza, it is not against the rules, and it is allowed."
Pat
Pat
Simon patted the shoulder of Akaza with a bright smile.
"Let’s go shopping, Akaza."
Simon chuckled as he walked away with a smile, not bothering about Akaza’s dark expression.
’Damn it. I just need to find the antidote for the damn poison, but none of the Initiates who excel in poison have been able to break down the antidote and discover what its ingredients are.’
’And I don’t have the money to hire a top poison expert of the academy or the clan.’
’Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it all!’
’All because of a damned poison, I’m being ordered around. Just what sort of poison did that bastard give me.’
Akaza clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in anger as he watched Simon walk away.
He could feel the utter nonchalance Simon had around him. Simon was not even wary that he’d attack him from out of nowhere.
’I just need to get that antidote.’
Just as Akaza had this thought, Simon stopped walking and turned around. He tilted his head slightly and waved.
"You coming, Akaza?"
’Damn it all.’ He gritted his teeth and cursed.
A few seconds later, he stood beside Simon and both of them walked side by side.
While Akaza was lost in his thoughts, Simon spoke, dragging Akaza out of his thoughts.
"Akaza."
"Hmm?" Akaza glanced at him.
"Where do they sell quality armors? You’ve been in the academy far longer than me, so you must know some places."
Akaza frowned for a moment, then he shifted his gaze to a staircase.
Simon followed his gaze.
"I don’t wear armors, so I’m not hundred percent certain where they sell the best armors, but I know a good shop that sells quality weapons and armors... But the guy’s items are a bit expensive."
Simon raised a curious brow. "How expensive are we talking about?"
Akaza glanced at him as they both walked to the stairs leading to the second level of Market Square.
"For a demon of your strength and at your level...thousands of merits."
Simon’s right eye instantly twitched the moment he heard this.
After selling the two books to Agramormos and Tibat, he had a little bit over ten thousand merits. But even with that, he just couldn’t spend anyhow.
However, he needed a quality armor, and it wouldn’t hurt to check out some armors.
"Alright. Let’s go."