CHAPTER 1063: INTO THE BLACK MARKET

Erend kept his steps steady, following Adrius down the narrow stone tunnel.

His eyes traced the torchlight flickering along the walls but his mind was restless.

He trusted Adrius enough not to question his direction yet a knot of unease twisted tighter inside him the further they descended.

He usually never asked questions about Elf or human Magic. It wasn’t necessary for him. If they wanted him to burn something, he burned it. If they needed him to fight, he fought.

That was the extent of his role and he was content with it.

But this time, something felt different.

He couldn’t ignore the tension pressing against his chest.

Eventually, the silence gnawed at him until he finally spoke.

"What exactly is it you need in a place like this?" Erend asked with a low voice even though it still echoed slightly in the tunnel.

Adrius didn’t slow, his boots clicking sharply on stone, but his voice dropped to a hushed tone. "We need corpses of Magical creatures. Something like this can only be bought in the black market."

Erend frowned. "Why? Adventurers can hunt them, right?"

"No," Adrius said, shaking his head, the movement barely visible in the dim light. "Well, not exactly. Of course they can hunt them. But they cannot bring them into the kingdom. That would cause a great deal of trouble."

"Like what?" Erend pressed.

Adrius’s voice grew heavier as he explained. "Some of these creatures are corrupted and their appearances could be deeply disturbing. There are those that stalk humans, kill them, then wear their skin or face as if it were their own. There are other kinds of monsters that can mimic the voices of the people they devour. And there are some so foul that a single glimpse can make a person sick or even drive them mad. Do you see why such things cannot be paraded through the capital?"

Erend’s expression tightened slightly, but he didn’t interrupt.

"That is why the king forbade their presence above ground," Adrius continued. "Yet, he knows their remains hold power. Their bones, blood, hides are materials that can shape strong rituals and rare enchantments. So, quietly, he permitted this place to exist. Hidden and controlled. The black market is the only way these things can change hands without stirring panic."

The words lingered in the air as Adrius finished.

Erend gave a slow nod. He didn’t fully understand the finer points but it wasn’t necessary. Adrius had told him what mattered and that was enough.

Erend dropped the subject and walked in silence once more.

The tunnel sloped downward until the walls widened, and the faint torchlight ahead flared brighter.

The sound of their footsteps no longer echoed emptily. It blended with the distant murmur of many voices.

When they finally stepped out of the tunnel, the underground market opened before them.

It was vast and a sprawling cavern lit by enchanted crystals glowing from the high stone ceiling, not just torches anymore.

The space stretched so far it felt almost like a city beneath the earth.

Stalls lined the uneven stone floor, their counters piled with strange wares like jars of glowing ichor, scales from beasts no ordinary man would see, bones etched with runes that was not carved but already there since birth, and cages draped in cloth that trembled as though something inside still moved.

Merchants shouted their prices over the din like they were in real market, some wearing masks of bronze or bone to hide their faces.

Buyers haggled fiercely, coin clinking and voices rising.

Cloaked figures slipped between the stalls like shadows, carrying bundles wrapped too tightly to guess their contents. Some of them were definitely criminals.

The air smelled of blood, herbs, and smoke, a mix both foul and enticing.

Adrius walked forward without hesitation, his presence parting the crowd just as it had above ground, but here no one dared even whisper his name or talk about him. They act as if he was just another buyer.

Erend followed, his eyes scanning the vast hidden bazaar. He just realized that there was a place alive with forbidden trade like this beneath the kingdom’s heart.

Then Adrius leaned closer to him and said, "We shouldn’t waste time sightseeing. I want to show you many things here, but now is not the time."

Without waiting for a reply, Adrius lengthened his stride, moving with purpose through the crowded lanes of the market.

Erend fell in step behind him, his shoulders brushing past cloaked figures and wary merchants.

The path narrowed ahead and not long after they reached a stone bridge that arched over a dark chasm splitting the cavern floor.

On the far side stood a heavy iron gate flanked by armored guards.

The guards straightened as Adrius approached, their hands tightening around their halberds.

They exchanged uncertain glances. One began to raise his hand in warning, but Adrius’s voice cut through the air.

"Move."

The word carried pressure on them. Recognition dawned on the guards’ faces. The Archmage himself stood before them.

Whatever orders they had been given were gone before the presence of Adrius.

Neither of them wanted to test his patience.

With stiff motions, they stepped aside, pulling the gate open.

Adrius strode across the bridge without hesitation.

Erend followed close, glancing over the edge into the abyss below.

It looked like a drop into endless black.

Beyond the bridge, the atmosphere changed. The cavern opened into a quieter chamber. This one was smaller but far more refined.

Here, the stalls were spread out, each draped in black cloth and lit by pale blue lanterns.

Unlike the clamor of the main bazaar, the voices here were hushed. Buyers whispered rather than shouted. The air felt heavier, thick with secrets.

Erend slowed, his eyes sweeping across the hidden wares.

Unable to keep the question back, Erend asked, "What are we buying?"

Adrius stopped at the center of the chamber, his gaze fixed ahead.

"We need the corpse of a Fey in full human form," he said, lowering his voice. "Its essence can be used to track Magic beyond natural laws. Nothing else can serve that purpose."

Erend’s brows furrowed. But then he just nodded.

Adrius turned slightly toward him, his eyes narrowing. "But be careful, Erend. The aura such a corpse gives off can fracture the mind. If you look at it for too long, it can corrupt you. Use your Magic to guard your eyes. Even if you’re a Dragonborn I need to warn you about this."

Erend gave a curt nod. "Got it."

With that, Adrius moved again and led them deeper into the chamber.

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