[...Oh,] Evangeline replied awkwardly. [I didn't know, sorry.]
No, it's fine. I just didn't expect to see it here, Neraxis said, separating from the group and heading over to the stall holding that familiar dagger.
Neither Emily nor the others attempted to stop him, as technically, she did say they could begin exploring once they entered the Stradon Fortress grounds.
As for Aurelia, she followed swiftly along.
"N-Neraxis, what are you doing?" she asked.
"Checking something out," he replied steadily. "Take a look around the stalls if you want. I won't take long."
"No, it's fine." Aurelia shook her head. "I don't want to go alone, and also... my sister is too social. I can't be around her in a place ."
Neraxis chuckled at her comment, and soon, the two arrived before the weapon stall.
He grabbed the dagger and inspected it.
Sure enough, it was the same one he had bought for Alice many years ago.
Of course, he had found it in some local market for cheap, not in a fancy place , which led him to think that this encounter was intentional.
I see the Sovereigns, or whoever they are, like playing games with me, Neraxis thought.
"Are you interested in buying this dagger, sir?" the merchant asked.
It was a short man with a peculiarly long mustache.
Nonetheless, Neraxis put on a fake smile and said, "Yes, how much is it?"
"1,500 Crowns—1,250 since this is an event," the merchant replied. "The quality is top-notch, and it can cut through steel like butter!"
"It's ornamental," Neraxis corrected, making the man flinch. "I'll buy it for 250 Crowns."
"What!?" The merchant's eyes widened in anger. "Are you taking me for a fool!? You know I need to make a profit too, right?"
"I see." Neraxis nodded. "225 Crowns."
"I—I won't sell it to you!" the merchant yelled, yet his flustered expression was obvious.
After all, this ornamental dagger was not worth anything at all—225 Crowns was Neraxis being generous.
However, it had an interesting secret.
"N-No, you know what? Fine, 22—"
"200 Crowns," Neraxis interjected before the merchant could even finish his words.
"Fine..." the merchant conceded, and with a grin, Neraxis handed over the money before pocketing the dagger.
"I didn't know you used daggers," Aurelia said in a puzzled tone. "Unless... is it for Celina?"
"It's for me, Aurelia." Neraxis shrugged her off and glanced to the side.
Even though his haggling had only taken a few minutes, most of his club had dispersed—only Emily and the B-ranked girl were still roaming the area.
He had to stay vigilant simply because of the warnings he had received and the potential rift outbreak that could happen at any moment.
"Want to check out the view?" he suggested to Aurelia, who was idly staring at the sky.
"Huh? S-Sure." She stammered.
I wonder why she still feels embarrassed around me, Neraxis thought before heading a bit deeper into the inner parts of the fortress.
It was abandoned, with only occasional cleaning keeping it from looking like a pigsty.
But nonetheless, to humans, this was held as a popular location since it had resisted the rifts so long ago.
Personally, Neraxis wasn't that interested in history—he only really cared about what would happen.
[You could've just gone training instead? No? I don't think they'd force you to go if you actually didn't want to. At most, you'd get kicked out.] Evangeline raised the question.
Aurelia would be all alone then. She's already shy around people, so I doubt she would have had a fun time... he trailed off. Also, I don't trust them to protect her in the off chance a rift break does actually happen.
After a bit of walking, they finally reached a ledge, and when they looked down, they could see the ocean, with a few islands off in the distance.
"Whoa..." Aurelia exclaimed in amazement and leaned slightly over the guardrail.
"I think it doesn't look that bad." Neraxis nodded to himself. "But I'm surprised it looks so hollow despite all the rumors."
"What do you mean?" Aurelia tilted her head, pointing off to the sky. "Can't you see that?"
"No, what?" She furrowed her brows. "There's something shining in the sky."
Evangeline? Neraxis asked as he put his guard up.
[Nothing I can sense...]
"Oh! It disappeared..." Aurelia said, leaning back and glancing at him. "I guess it must have been some kind of reflection, maybe? I don't know."
"Maybe..." Neraxis replied with a smile, but he noted it down in his mind.
It was definitely not some reflection.
Nonetheless, after they finished looking at the sights, Neraxis led her toward where the supposed canteen was—he was growing a tad bit hungry, after all.
However, as they entered, what greeted their sight was a massive hall with long wooden tables stretching outward.
There were some coats of arms as well, but he could not recognize a single one.
This is one big-ass canteen. He whistled and approached the line where people were waiting for their food.
"Neraxis, are you bored?" Aurelia asked out of nowhere.
Noticing her glum expression, he assured her, "Not as long as you're here. I'm just getting some food for now, then we can continue exploring."
"Okay..." she replied with an embarrassed nod and stood behind him.
It took nearly ten minutes for them to reach the front of the line, and before long, he ordered two steaks with mashed potatoes for both him and Aurelia before sitting down at one of the long wooden tables.
He quickly scarfed the food down, even if it was not the best, and so did Aurelia.
"Hm?" Neraxis suddenly took notice of one of the banners on the wall.
It seemed uneven and out of place. The banner was slightly tucked in at the back as well.
A secret passage? he deduced, and after bringing their plates back, they headed toward the banner.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Not really... but..." Neraxis glanced around.
Even though this banner was supposed to be special like the rest, it was in the very corner—therefore, not many people paid attention to it.
That was why he stretched his arm outward, and immediately, it went through the banner.
"Huh? Is that a—" Before Aurelia could finish her words, Neraxis covered her mouth.
"Shh... I'm going inside. You wanna come?" he whispered, and she nodded in response.
Therefore, he released her before pushing the banner to the side and stepping inside the hidden room.
Despite his {Cosmic Sight} perk granting him excellent vision and other buffs, it didn't allow him to see in the dark.
However, just as he thought about that problem, Aurelia suddenly raised a single finger, and on top of it, a miniature ball of light formed.
"There, we can see now," she said with a smile.
Yet her smile froze as they took a look around.
It was a room with all sorts of tools scattered around, and in the very back was a tunnel leading somewhere else.
But he was more interested in the tools, since they all had one thing in common.
They're all used for torture... Is this a torture chamber? Neraxis focused on the walls, and he was able to spot a tiny smudge of dried blood.
It is. But why is it so out in the open? he wondered, when all of a sudden, an extremely faint growling noise resounded from beyond the dark tunnel in front of them.
Immediately, he tensed up, whispering, "Aurelia. There is a monster in the tunnel. Be careful and stay behind me."
"Yes, captain." she replied playfully, making his eyes widen.
But before he could comment further, the growling noise got closer and closer, until eventually, it was practically right in front of them.
However, once he noticed what kind of monster the growling was coming from, his stomach churned, and a frown appeared on his face.
What is that thing doing here?