Why would there be Black Market so close to the academy?
At first glance, it sounded absurd—reckless, even. But Azhriel knew better.
Alaric knew about it.
Of course he did. He wasn't just aware; after all, he had allowed it.
Everything in this world had a dark side.
Alaric had lived long enough to see it in every form, in every corner. The brighter something shone, the deeper the shadow it cast.
So why allow it?
The answer lay in human nature—particularly in the nature of nobles.
Unlike the enigmatic Headmaster and main cast, who treated commoners and nobles without distinction, not all shared their ideals.
To some nobles, commoners were nothing more than tools to be used and discarded.
Alaric could forbid them.
He could punish them.
But habits woven into the bones of generations could not be erased so easily. They would find a way to surface—through slaves, through gambling, through all manner of vices.
So instead of trying to crush it outright, Alaric gave it a cage.
