Noah's eyes were calm and cold, locked with the vendor's.
"Do I look like an academy student to you?" His voice was flat, even bored. "If I was, would I be standing here, in plain view, buying a ticket like anyone else?"
The man blinked, caught off guard by the sheer confidence behind the reply.
His suspicion didn't just disappear, but Noah didn't give him room to argue.
He simply reached forward, sliding coin across the counter with a finality that suggested the discussion was already over.
For a moment, the vendor weighed his options.
Academy regulations were strict. Students were only allowed outside on the seventh day of the week.
If he reported this young man and he really was from the academy, it could earn him favor with the authorities.
But if he was wrong? He'd lose the sale and possibly insult a paying customer. And judging by the cut of the young man's clothes, piss off a lesser noble.
