Leona, full of energy and chatter, kept talking to Talon incessantly. Her smile was bright and enthusiastic, radiating warmth like sunlight spilling into a spring garden. Although Talon maintained his usual aloof demeanor, he didn't entirely ignore her. Every now and then, he would nod slightly, indicating that he was at least listening.
This unexpected interaction caught Alia's attention. She approached them, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Leona, I only dared to imagine the two of you not tearing each other apart, but I didn't expect you'd get along so well. What happened yesterday?" she teased.
Seeing Alia approach, Leona's excitement grew. Her eyes sparkled as she launched into an animated recounting of the previous day's events, brimming with joy and amusement.
---
The sun had barely begun to set the day before as Leona and Talon exited the Lord's chambers and strolled along the main road of Joy City. The evening air was cool, and the streets bustled with the energy of citizens going about their day. Leona turned to Talon with a mischievous grin. "Big guy, what are you planning to buy? Weapons, medicine, or armor?" she asked, her tone light but curious.
Talon took a moment to contemplate before responding, "Weapons aren't necessary; my claws are my weapons. As for armor and medicine, only the essentials are needed. If the palace is as simple as the Lord implied, we won't need anything too advanced. Besides, such things might not even be available here."
Leona narrowed her eyes, her hands planted on her hips as she stared up at him. "Are you looking down on us? The armor, weapons, and medicine we have here are all treasures from the Dark Forest, gathered by brave souls willing to risk their lives."
Talon's gaze flickered in surprise. "Most people can only gather materials around the outskirts of the forest," he said thoughtfully. "But if it's Allen, the Lord himself, then I suppose he might be able to delve deeper. I didn't expect him to still be involved after becoming the Lord."
Leona shook her head with a wry smile. "No, the Lord only ventures into the forest on rare occasions. Most of the materials are collected by soldiers of Joy City and some talented individuals from elsewhere. Of course, they benefit from the Lord's experience and the routes he mapped out." Her voice carried a sense of pride and admiration for the Lord's guidance.
A gleam of challenge danced in her eyes as she smiled at Talon. "Since you're so confident in your skills, I won't take you to the ordinary shops today. I'll show you our Joy Market, where the latest treasures from the Dark Forest are sold. Of course, some are fakes, and some are real. It all depends on your insight and discernment."
Talon raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. Though he maintained his indifferent tone, he couldn't completely hide the flicker of interest in his eyes. "Sounds interesting," he said, his voice cool and composed.
Leona's grin widened. "Legend has it that someone once bought dragon scales and teeth at the market," she said, her tone full of mystery. She leaned in as if she were sharing a closely guarded secret.
"Of course, it depends on your judgment," she added with a teasing smirk. "After that story got out, plenty of people rushed to buy 'dragon teeth,' only to end up with boar tusks instead."
She couldn't help but chuckle at the memory, and to her surprise, she noticed the faintest hint of amusement tugging at Talon's lips.
"Ah, so you *can* laugh," Leona remarked, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "I'll take that as a yes."
Before Talon could respond, Leona was already heading south toward the market, her steps brisk and determined. Talon, slightly taken aback, quickly followed.
The market was a vibrant place filled with noise and energy. After about fifteen minutes of walking, they arrived at a long street lined with vendors selling an array of goods. The air was thick with the scent of spices and the sound of haggling. Stalls were packed with armor, medicinal herbs, and even objects claiming to be dragon relics—scales, teeth, and claws.
Leona threw Talon a provocative glance. "Come on, big guy, see if anything catches your eye. But don't forget, even though the Lord reimburses us, you'd better not buy a bunch of junk and fake goods. Wouldn't want to tarnish the reputation of the werewolf clan, now, would we?"
Talon surveyed the scene with narrowed eyes. "I'm not familiar with this place. I'll follow your lead for now," he said, keeping his tone neutral.
"Smart move," Leona replied with a grin, and they began weaving through the market. She led him straight to a stall selling medicinal herbs, where a middle-aged man sat cross-legged, his face weathered but his eyes sharp.
"Leona, back for more good stuff, I see," the vendor greeted her with a knowing smile. "But let's be clear: once you buy it, it's yours. No refunds if it turns out to be junk."
Leona chuckled. "I know the rules," she said, her eyes scanning the array of herbs laid out on a cloth. She quickly picked out a few green sprigs, clearly pre-selected for their quality. Just as she was about to hand over the coins, something caught her eye—a large purple mushroom lying among the other herbs.
The vendor's expression brightened when he saw her interest. "Ah, you've got a good eye, Leona. That's no ordinary mushroom. It's a rare medicinal find. My team fought tooth and nail with a demon tiger to retrieve it. You take just a small piece, and you'll feel its effects—strength, ferocity, even heightened senses. I'm offering it to you for just 100 gold coins. I'll even throw in the rest of the herbs as a bonus."
Leona hesitated, her fingers hovering over the mushroom. The vendor's words were enticing, but she had heard too many exaggerated claims to be fully convinced. She glanced back at Talon, who was watching the exchange quietly.
"You really believe that story?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
The vendor grinned. "You're welcome to test it out yourself. But if you don't act quickly, someone else might snatch it up."