The bustling energy of Verdant Haven’s inner city enveloped the Hatchlings as they followed Oliver through the streets. The air was thick with the chatter of merchants and pedestrians, the smell of fresh bread and cooked meats weaving through the pathways. Akira’s silver eyes darted from one corner to the next, taking in the details with a calculating gaze.

  “This is the central market, it’s the biggest one in Verdant Haven and has anything you can think of. Those who choose to stay will get used to it quickly, eventually you’ll earn Heart Core’s from your jobs or stuff to trade for here.” Nala said as he pointed around telling more details.

  So the currency here is either Heart Cores or trading for different items, it makes sense I guess. Akira thought to himself.

  Walking beside him, Leo inhaled deeply and let out an exaggerated sigh of delight. “Ohhh… something smells good around here.” His eyes locked onto a nearby food stall, where skewers of sizzling meat were being turned over a grill, juices dripping onto the hot coals below. His stomach practically growled in response. “Hey, Akira, do you think-”

  Akira cut him off with a flat stare. "No."

  Leo groaned dramatically, clutching his stomach as if he were on the brink of starvation. "Come on, man, look at that! It’s actual fresh meat, not just the dried stuff we’ve been choking down for the last two days. What if this is our only chance to eat something decent before the First Trial?"

  “You don’t have any way to pay for it, Oliver said not to stray too far from the group, plus this probably isn’t the last time we’ll be able to go around the inner city.” Akira stated, his words were like matter-of-fact.

  Letting out an exaggerated groan, Leo ran his hand through his curly brown hair. “Man, you’re killing me here.” He muttered under his breath, but despite his complaints, he also knew Akira was right. His eyes lingered longingly on the skewers before he finally sighed in resignation. “Fine, fine, I’ll wait. But first chance I get, I’m eating something actually good.”

  Ignoring Leo, Akira looked around, every person, every elder, every child.

  Some people were born here while others like me just get thrown in here without even knowing anything. I wonder how the Selection Trial works for those who were born here, if the Selection Trial is how one awakens their Heart Core and gets their powers, then the children are most likely Dormants like Oliver said… Was Oliver also born here? If so it would make sense of why he’s so protective of this place. Akira couldn't help but glance over at Oliver who was leading the Hatchlings around. But if he already went through and finished the First and Second Trial, why stay here? He said after each Trial there’s a diffrent Sanctuary so why come back to the first one?

  Though after lifting his gaze his thoughts were interrupted. Towards what seemed to be the center of the city a huge castle loomed.

  Akira's gaze was drawn toward the massive structure in the distance, the castle loomed over the city like a tall regal sentinel. The material seemed similar to that of the stone walls that surrounded the city, yet much more taken care of and in a pristine state.

  Its towering spires and intricate stonework were unlike anything he’d seen so far in Verdant Haven, almost out of place among the functional, natural buildings that populated the market area. It was a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the streets, exuding an aura of authority and mystery.

  Colored glass windows adorned its walls, big enough to be seen even from that distance.

  He dismissed the thought. It was bound to be explained anyhow, probably… hopefully.

  As the Hatchlings moved deeper around the market, Oliver continued his explanations, detailing the basic rules of trade, the concept of exchanging Heart Cores for supplies, and the possible jobs available for those who chose to remain in Verdant Haven rather than pushing forward into the Trials.

  Showing off the most popular and used shops that were in the market, though the knowledge was mostly useless to Akira as he wouldn’t stay long enough to work for Heart Cores here and buy stuff, he listened to Oliver half-heartedly.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  However one thing he could be bothered to pay attention to was the slit eyed young man. Keeping a watchful eye on the enigmatic youth. The way he moved, the way he distanced himself just enough to remain within earshot but not close enough to invite attention, it was all deliberate.

  A calculated approach, but a risky one. A man who liked to gamble yet have control, quite the predicament.

  His expression hadn’t changed since the dining hall, still carrying that same soft smile, relaxed yet unreadable.

  Akira’s gaze flickered toward him briefly, noting the way he moved. Unhurried and effortless yet he had a calculated edge to him.

  It gnawed and gnawed deep inside of Akria’s mind, they had a similar strategy yet wanted different results.

  While Akira played the role of a useless and pathetic person, a person that was better off being avoided altogether because they could not bring any kind of value or necessary skill set, he looked more like a burden than anything else.

  The long haired guy was doing the opposite, trying to look like a dangerous threat. That meant one of two things, either he was strong enough to back up his implied threat, or he wanted people to think he was.

  Either way if the time came Akira would try his best to avoid him or anyone else for that matter, even Leo, unless he had no other choice. But who knows, if the First Trial is even half as brutal as the Selection Trial was, he would definitely run into others.

  No need to overthink the future, I need to make sure I’m in the best position right now.

  He was about to return his focus to Oliver’s explanations when the young man suddenly turned slightly, despite his eyes being closed, Akira could feel it.

  He was being watched.

  The young man’s lips curled further, into a subtle, knowing smirk, as if he had caught Akira staring and found amusement in it. The moment lasted only a breath, but it was enough to send a sharp, irritated edge through Akira’s thoughts.

  Tch.

  Akira didn’t react outwardly, but his mind churned. Was this guy onto him? No, he wasn’t being that obvious about it. More likely, the young man was testing him the same way he was testing everyone else.

  The bastard was playing games.

  Fine. Let's play.

  He glances at Leo simply to check on him.

  Sightseeing and smelling the aroma of food in the air seemed to be more important to Leo than anything else, the man simply ignored the situation remaining completely out of the loop.

  He really is oblivious at times like this.

  Leo’s personality had come clear to Akira, the man was a goofy, arrogant man who had insanely good instincts, he didn’t take anything serious and was a glutton. But when things truly mattered and he got serious, he would be a frightening opponent, one Akira hoped he would never have to face.

  As the group passed by another food stall, Leo let out another dramatic sigh, still fixated on the skewers of sizzling meat. “I swear, Akira, I’m going to dream about this food tonight if I don’t get a taste.” He muttered under his breath. “Just one little taste… please?”

  What remaining patience Akira had in him felt drained. “How many times do I have to say it, we don’t have any way to buy it even if we wanted to.” He whispered just loud enough for the man to hear.

  Suddenly an idea popped into Akira’s mind and he glanced at Leo, the ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips.

  “Why don’t you ask Oliver, who knows, he might buy it for you.”

  Leo’s eyes widened at Akira’s suggestion, a glimmer of hope flashing across his face before he quickly masked it with a grin. “Oh, you’re a genius Akira!” He slapped his palm on Akira’s back, nearly knocking the air out of him. “Alright, I’ll go ask him.”

  Immediately starting to walk faster, Leo started making his way towards Oliver and the other caregivers who were leading the Hatchlings, excitement practically radiating from his every step.

  Akira couldn’t help but watch with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Leo’s carefree attitude always made things a bit more interesting, though it also had the potential to be an absolute headache.

  Knowing Leo, he might actually annoy Oliver or Nala to the point they will buy him the skewer.

  Akira could hear him start with persuasive rambling, something about how a proper meal could make all the difference during training and spars, how dried rations didn’t have the essential nutrients needed for peak performance, and of course, how much he’d appreciate it if a generous, kind-hearted leader like Oliver just happened to buy him something.