That night, the sky above the capital of the Eterna Kingdom was scattered with faint stars, veiled by thin clouds. The air was damp yet cool.
In the distance, the sound of music from taverns mingled with the shouts of night hawkers peddling stolen goods, poisons, and whispers of forbidden information.
Inside a modest inn room, Arzael sat slouched on a wooden chair, the dim light of an oil lamp casting flickering shadows over his pale face.
On the table before him lay a strange assortment of objects: a demon's horn, a faintly pulsing crimson crystal, and a fragment of bone still radiating heat.
He rolled the crystal between his fingers.
"These things… in the Overworld, no one could have made them. If I sell them in a normal market, they'd panic,or call the guards. But… I need coin. A lot of coin."
The noise outside his window caught his attention. Two drunken men staggered past, talking in hushed tones.
"You heard? The black market in the Shadow District opens tonight…" one of them slurred.
"Hah, you're going there? Might as well sell your life," the other replied with a cynical laugh. "That place isn't for common folk."
"That's exactly where the big coin flows. Demon goods, forbidden artifacts… they've got everything."
Arzael narrowed his eyes, the corner of his lips curling faintly. "Black market, huh? A place like that… might be perfect for me."
He donned a black cloak, its hood casting his face into shadow. His steps were calm, almost blending with the darkness. The road to the Shadow District grew narrower, the cobblestones slick with moisture, moss clinging to the walls, and the mingled stench of alcohol and opium smoke thick in the air.
At a massive wooden gate, two muscular guards stood with spears in hand, their eyes scanning each passerby.
One of them raised a hand, halting Arzael. "Show your goods, or your reason for being here."
Arzael didn't waste words. He drew the crimson crystal from his pocket, letting its eerie light fall across the guard's face.
The guard's eyes widened. "…A demon's item?"
"Do I need to explain?" Arzael replied with a faint smile.
The guard chuckled softly and motioned him inside. "Go on. But remember… in here, sellers and buyers can just as easily be killers. Don't drop your guard."
"Good advice," Arzael thought. "Too bad I'm usually the killer."
Inside the Black Market.
The world changed the moment he stepped inside. Dark-clothed tents clustered close together, oil lamps swaying gently in the wind. The air was thick with the scent of blood, spices, and cold metal.
Merchants spoke in hushed tones, trading goods for coins or gemstones. Some stalls offered weapons tainted with a cursed aura; others displayed deadly poisons in crystal vials.
Arzael approached a small booth manned by a hawk-eyed old man.
"I have goods from the Underworld," he said.
The merchant raised a brow. "And you expect me to believe that outright?"
Arzael laid the demon's horn, the crimson crystal, and the searing-hot bone onto the table. The merchant fell silent, his fingers trembling as they brushed the crystal's surface.
"…They're genuine. And the quality… exceptional," the merchant murmured.
"I don't want your praise," Arzael replied coldly. "I want coin. Now."
The transaction was quick. Arzael left the stall with a leather pouch heavy with gold and silver coins. He counted silently in his mind. "More than enough to live comfortably for a few months… or to buy something interesting tonight."
As he strolled through the market's shadowy lanes, his gaze caught on a dimly lit corner. There, beneath the pale glow of an oil lamp, stood a girl with long white hair, skin as pale as snow, and crimson eyes utterly devoid of emotion,just look like arzael.
She stood behind iron bars, displayed like merchandise. Her clothes were tattered, but her face… so striking it bordered on unreal. Yet, no buyer dared approach.
As Arzael drew nearer, a fat merchant suddenly stepped in his path.
"Hey, kid! Don't go near her."
"Why?" Arzael asked evenly.
"She's… cursed," the merchant explained, his voice dropping to a hush. "Touch her skin, and yours will burn to the bone."
"That dangerous?"
"Don't be fooled by that face," the merchant warned. "Five men are dead because of her. She's not worth buying unless you've got a death wish."
Arzael looked at the girl again. There was no fear in his eyes,only curiosity. "Skin that burns… a curse… sounds familiar."
"How much?" he asked.
"What? Are you insane? I told you she's dangerous."
"The price," he repeated, his voice flat yet carrying quiet menace.
Sweat beaded on the merchant's forehead before he finally named a steep sum. Without hesitation, Arzael pulled a pouch of gold from his cloak and tossed it onto the table.
"Open the cage."
The merchant grunted but obeyed. The moment the bars swung open, Arzael stepped forward… and took the girl's hand.
Nothing happened. No searing pain. No burning flesh. No screams.
The girl's eyes widened slightly,the first change in her expression that night. "…How?" she whispered.
A faint smile tugged at Arzael's lips. "Because I am… a curse as well."
The fat merchant froze, mouth agape. A few onlookers whispered among themselves. Arzael kept hold of the girl's hand as they left the black market.
Through a dim alley toward the inn, the faint glow of a lantern cast their shadows long against the stone walls. Seraphina walked half a step behind him, silent, as though still trapped in her own world.
Arzael glanced sideways at her. "Your name?"
She hesitated for a moment before replying softly, "…Seraphina."
Arzael gave a faint nod. "Seraphina… from now on, you'll follow me. I don't care about your past, or what others think. By my side, you'll be free… so long as you don't try to harm me."
Her pale eyes glinted faintly under the lantern's light. "And… if I do?"
He was silent for a few seconds, then exhaled slowly. A small smile touched his face,not a cold one, but warm, almost reassuring. Leaning slightly toward her, his voice lowered to something only she could hear.
"If that happens… I'll protect you. Even… from yourself. Because I know pain doesn't always come from the outside."
Seraphina stood still, stunned. No one had ever spoken to her like that. For the first time, her gaze softened,just a little.