Chapter 19: Exploring the Black Market
The first steps into the Black Market immediately stirred a mix of awe and unease. The jet-black walls of the surrounding buildings seemed to devour every trace of light, creating a grim yet captivating atmosphere.
There was no uniformity—some structures towered with small, eye-like windows, while others sloped with curved roofs resembling giant claws.
Lanterns hung along the paths, but their glow wasn't the usual golden hue. Instead, they emitted shades of blue, green, and purple, creating the illusion of being in another dimension.
The air was cold, infused with sharp, foreign aromas mingling with drifting smoke.
Godan, Marta, and Jomie walked slowly among the stalls, their eyes fixed on the strange items displayed.
One merchant sold ancient map scrolls sealed with wax emblems unknown to any continent.
Another stall showcased glass bottles containing glowing green liquid that seemed to writhe as if alive, while the vendor whispered incessantly,
"A rare potion for courage… only for the brave!"
Jomie edged away, clearly uninterested in the contents of the bottles.
"Read this! The Wonders of Amhail Continent!" exclaimed an old man with one non-functioning eye.
"Look at that," Marta whispered, pointing to a sword hovering above a table without any strings or supports. It shimmered faintly, almost as if it were breathing.
"How is that even…"
Jomie swallowed hard. "I think it's better we don't know."
At one stall, a small bird with silver feathers spoke to customers in a human voice. "Five gold coins for a secret!" it chirped, glancing at them.
Godan paused, trying to make sense of the atmosphere. Every corner of this market seemed to hold secrets, something unattainable elsewhere in the Amhail Continent. Objects that felt like they belonged to another world, full of riddles.
But the longer they explored, the more evident it became that this market was more than just a trading place.
There was something deeper—the suspicious gazes of the merchants, the faint murmurs from the guards, and the sudden silences when they ventured too close to certain areas.
"Where can we sit?" Jomie asked, glancing around. "We need to look at the map."
Marta pointed to a quieter corner, where black wooden benches were lined up in front of a small shop selling peculiar drinks. Thin smoke wafted from the cups served, exuding an aroma like roots and fungi.
The three approached and sat cautiously. Marta went inside, hoping to order three drinks so they wouldn't be thrown out.
The people inside were peculiar, their clothing varied and unusual. Marta tried not to look nervous as she approached the menu board.
Dragon's Blood Tea: 3 Delas
Black Mud Tonic: 3 Delas (special from the waste city)
Bone Syrup Ice: 3 Delas
Dark Sun Ale: 3 Delas
The list continued, but Marta couldn't bring herself to read further. The names alone made her stomach churn.
"I'll take one Dragon's Blood Tea," she said hesitantly.
"It'll be ready shortly, miss. Anything else?" asked a man with a tattoo under his eye.
"D-Do you sell… regular fresh water?"
"No." The man grinned.
"Then just that." Marta handed over three Delas.
She returned outside. Godan was spreading out the map they had brought, flattening its folds on the wooden table. The purple light from the lantern above made the lines on the map seem to glow, almost alive.
"So," Marta began softly, breaking the silence. "What exactly are we looking for here?"
Godan sighed, his eyebrows furrowed as he stared at the map. "I don't know," he admitted honestly.
"…"
Not long after, a server arrived, placing a steaming red drink on the table. The server squinted, displeased, seeing they were three but had only ordered one drink. However, he said nothing and walked away.
"Marta, what did you order?" Jomie examined the steaming red liquid.
"You better not ask. Just drink it if you want."
Godan and Jomie hesitantly sipped.
"Ughhh!" Jomie held back the urge to gag.
"This tastes worse than Mrs. Lenna's stale tea," Godan blurted.
"What did you expect in a place like this?" Marta retorted.
* * * * *
Marta reached into the small pouch on her belt, pulling out a few shimmering coins under the dim purple lantern.
"We only have fourteen Delas left," she murmured softly, her voice like a whisper to herself. "Let's hope we can find a place to sleep tonight."
Godan nodded, though his mind wandered far. His gaze was fixed on the map spread on the table, but his thoughts drifted back to Somara—a city filled with trash, smoke, and incessant noise.
He hadn't expected to miss that place. Despite all its chaos, Somara felt more alive, more human.
But here—in the Black Market—everything felt foreign, cold, and brimming with secrets that could destroy anyone who made a wrong move.
Meanwhile, Jomie couldn't contain his curiosity. He stood from the bench, walking toward the nearest stalls. A small table filled with carved wooden pieces caught his attention.
In another corner, he spotted a necklace with a faintly glowing red stone, as if it held something within.
"How much for this necklace?" he asked the vendor.
An old woman in a black veil that only revealed her sharp, glimmering eyes stood behind the counter. But before she could answer, Jomie's eyes were drawn to another item hanging behind her—a small, glimmering object with carvings resembling the symbol on their map.
Unconsciously, Jomie took a step closer, his eyes glued to the object. Within a few steps, he had disappeared from sight.
Godan looked up from the map, noticing the sudden silence around him.
"Jomie?" he called, glancing left and right. But there was no answer. Jomie's seat was now empty.
He turned to Marta, who was still busy counting the coins. He looked around again.
"Marta, have you seen Jomie?" he asked absentmindedly.
Marta didn't respond. Godan frowned. "Marta?" he repeated.
He turned to Marta's seat, only to find it empty as well. No sound of footsteps, no moving shadows. Marta had disappeared—just like that.
Suddenly, the air around him felt colder, heavier. The purple lantern above them dimmed, as if the Black Market itself was trying to hide something.
Godan stood up slowly, his eyes scanning the area, but all he felt were unfamiliar gazes watching him suspiciously and unfriendly smiles.
* * * * *
A chill ran down Godan's neck. He hurriedly entered the shop, hoping to find his friends, but all he got were strange looks from the people inside.
He went back out and shouted for them.
"Marta! Jomie!"
He jogged, glancing left and right, approaching each peculiar stall in the market. Nothing here was normal.
Again and again, Godan called out, but there was no answer. His voice seemed to sink into the growing commotion of the Black Market.
The purple and green lanterns swayed wildly, their lights flickering as if responding to something.
He quickened his pace, stopping in front of the stall selling the silver-feathered bird that had earlier caught their attention. But this time, the bird was silent. Its eyes, once lively, now stared unblinking at Godan.
"Five gold coins for a secret…" the bird said, its voice heavier and echoing, no longer friendly. "Or… you will be lost forever."
Godan stepped closer, gripping the edge of the table. "Where are they? What's happening here?"
The bird didn't answer. Instead, its silver feathers trembled, and its body gradually turned dark as though consumed by the night's shadow.
"This market is alive," the bird's voice changed, deeper and colder. "And it chooses who may leave… and who must disappear."
Godan stepped back, trying to make his way to the entrance. But the place that had been guarded by Arthon Parda—the smirking gatekeeper—was now nothing more than a misty archway.
The gate was shut, reinforced with chains and a large padlock. Around it, the market seemed to shift. The once-bustling stalls now appeared like shadows, floating between reality and illusion.
"Jomie! Marta!" Godan shouted again, his voice now hoarse. But his cries were drowned in the chaotic hum that somehow felt increasingly distant.
Godan stepped back, but something behind him stopped his movement. He turned, and without realizing it, held his breath.
A new gatekeeper stood there—towering over two meters, with a body of pure black shadow. Its glowing red eyes burned as they stared directly at Godan.
"Have you lost something?"