The blacksmiths were farther than they’d expected. The first row of shops displayed a wide array of swords and spears, gleaming under the sunlight. Boris was instantly drawn in, eagerly testing several weapons before settling on a sturdy spear—and picking out a spare, just in case.

  They also purchased a light, oval-shaped shield for Suri, which paired well with the staff they had looted—she would wield the staff in her right hand, the shield in her left.

  Their next stop was a shop catered to [Thieves] and [Rogues], two of the most common classes among the masses. Kana browsed the compact weapons and tools with practiced eyes, eventually purchasing two matching sets of daggers—one for use, one as a backup.

  They visited a [Mage] shop—unsurprisingly, despite being one of the most common yet valuable classes, there was only one store dedicated to it. A few staffs were on display, already identified, meaning someone had appraised them in advance. But upon checking the price tags, they quickly exited; the cheapest staff was at least forty silver coins. Oddly enough, even the most expensive ones listed only sparse benefits—far fewer than what their looted [Blue Eye Staff] provided. Kana suspected the identifications were incomplete, likely lacking the skills who appraised the tools to reveal the staff's full capabilities.

  Their final stop was a bow shop, which boasted a collection crafted by bowmakers from across the kingdom. Kana picked out a spare bow made from the same material as her current one and stocked up on three dozen arrows.

  By the time they stepped out, the sun had begun to set, bathing the streets in warm orange hues. The trio paused to munch on snacks Suri had picked up earlier—sweet and greasy treats that clung to their fingers.

  As they leaned against a low stone fence and gazed up at the evening sky, their tone shifted.

  “Alright,” Kana said, brushing her hands clean, “let’s meet at midnight.”

  They exchanged nods and quietly parted ways, heading back toward the academy boardhouse as the city began to dim into night or else they would miss the attendance call before they closed the academy’s gate.

  …

  Suri had already left behind [Doppelganger] for both herself and Kana before they departed their room.

  “I’m here,” Boris whispered as he approached from the shadows beneath a twisted old tree near the abandoned academy building.

  With ease, Suri cast [Doppelganger] on Boris. The duplicate silently nodded, then turned and walked away—heading back to the dormitory to slip into bed and play the role of a peacefully sleeping student.

  Kana retrieved the black cloaks from her [Inventory] and handed them out. One by one, they pulled the garments over their heads, faces hidden beneath hoods, their presence now blending into the night.

  They approached the crumbling, half-forgotten building. As soon as Kana stepped near, her [High Awareness] lit up—five students were already making their way out of the academy grounds, and several more were creeping toward the ruins from different directions.

  The trio ducked into the shadows, weaving silently toward the entrance. Inside, down in the basement, they passed others who glanced at them but said nothing. The silence between them all was heavy—an unspoken understanding. These weren’t first-years. From the mature faces and quiet confidence, Kana guessed they were third or fourth-year students, veterans of this secret route.

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  The hidden passage was narrow—only wide enough for one person at a time. It took longer than expected to get through, with a small line of students ahead of them. No one spoke. Just walking feet, shallow breathing, and the damp smell of old stone.

  “At last,” Boris exhaled as he stepped out into the open and stretched, relishing the cold air against his face.

  At night, it was unnervingly calm. The daytime chaos had vanished—no noise, no shouting vendors. Just the occasional flicker of torchlight and the sound of their own footsteps.

  After walking for a while, they found themselves in the slum district. Suri pinched her nose, gagging slightly. “Ugh. It’s worse than I remembered.”

  Scattered beggars lay along the roadside. At first they appeared asleep—but as the trio drew closer, several of them stirred. Hands reached out, hoarse voices begged for coins. The group kept walking. There were too many of them, and giving to one might bring ten more.

  Unlike the stone and timber homes of the other districts, the slum dwellings were a patchwork of cloth, rusted metal, and scavenged wood—barely large enough for a person to lie down in. Even Kana’s modest home back in the village had more dignity than this.

  Finally, they reached their destination—an old sewage outlet built near the city wall. The smell intensified. Suri pointed toward a moss-covered opening in the wall just big enough for a person to slip through.

  “We jump in here,” she said, lowering her voice.

  Kana hesitated. “Are you sure this is it?”

  Suri didn’t answer. She simply stepped forward and disappeared into the hole.

  Boris shrugged. “Well. No going back now.”

  He followed.

  Kana took one last glance around, then jumped in after them—into the dark, wet unknown.

  …

  At the end of the tunnel, a large iron door loomed in front of them. Two men stood guard beside it, arms crossed, faces expressionless. Without a word, Suri stepped forward and handed over three silver coins.

  She probably learned it from her rat summons.

  The men accepted the payment in silence. One of them knocked on the door—four quick taps, a pause, then two slower ones. A click echoed from inside, and the door creaked open.

  “Welcome to the Secret Market,” Suri announced, grinning as she stepped inside.

  Kana and Boris followed her into the underground bazaar—and froze.

  The space was wide, stretching deeper than Kana had expected, carved into the old stone foundation of the city. Flickering lanterns hung from ropes overhead, casting dancing shadows across dozens of makeshift stalls. The air buzzed with murmurs, haggling, and the occasional clang of metal.

  People of all kinds wandered through the market—rogues in cloaks, masked figures with strange trinkets, even a few students like themselves, their academy uniforms hidden under travel clothes. Kana's eyes sharpened as she spotted certain items openly displayed—black-market scrolls, potions glowing with unnatural light, and even cursed weapons wrapped in sealing cloth.

  “Some of these are banned by the kingdom,” Kana muttered, brows furrowed. “This place is dangerous.”

  Boris, oblivious, was already gawking at a display of spears near one of the stalls. “Whoa, look at that one! Similar to mine.” He picked up a well-crafted weapon with a silvered blade and darkwood shaft. “How much?”

  “Five silver coins,” said the attendant behind the table, a man with a half-burned face and a casual smile.

  “What?” Boris blinked. “But I paid twelve for mine earlier today!”

  The attendant chuckled. “Newcomer, huh? No taxes down here. That alone cuts the price in half and this is slightly used but still good as new.”

  Kana narrowed her eyes, already running mental calculations. There were definitely risks in dealing here—but the savings and rare items might be worth it. She took quiet note of several promising shops they passed: one selling enchanted daggers, another with cloaks stitched with anti-tracking runes.

  Still, they had a mission tonight.

  After winding their way past the deeper stalls, they finally reached another doorway—this one smaller, built more like a reinforced hatch. Five men stood watch here, clearly more alert than the previous guards. Their eyes scanned everyone who approached.

  Kana felt it in her gut—this was the real checkpoint. Outside the walls.