Halo woke to an unusual sight, a crow, fixated on him through the window. He met its gaze with matching intensity, but the creature behaved as though he were invisible.
Now that he'd beaten Light, his promise loomed. The crow was obviously Liam's messenger, sent to confirm whether Halo would honor his word.
This was something Halo wanted as well, so he had no reason to refuse. He needed supplies anyway, clothes for himself and Light, especially after having to ask Seraph to fetch him some when a Sinner destroyed his last shirt. Besides, he was curious to see how Mirror Steppe operated.
He worried his Sin Fragments wouldn't cover everything, especially with the list of food supplies Seraph had prepared for the castle. But Liam would probably handle anything beyond his responsibility.
After all, he wasn't the one who'd requested proper meals. He would've been fine eating bugs.
"What do you want when we get there? I've been there before, twice, actually. There's so much to see. Let me get you something… something to mark our friendship."
Halo and Liam walked through the narrow path between Rascal and Inferno Moist. The red atmosphere of the Moist loomed on their left as though it had been raining crimson for eternity, and the cursed Rascal rested on their right, its grim nature acting as a threat to anyone with life within them.
Liam's crows circled above while two kept watch at the castle with Seraph. Halo had chosen to leave Light behind for now. He needed to understand the economy here before wasting resources on something that would heal naturally.
"You want to buy me whatever I want, huh?"
Halo turned to Liam, whose eyes struggled to meet his own as though he was embarrassed.
Halo reluctantly let out a sigh.
This was why he mostly abstained from relationships. There were unspoken rules that needed to be followed, and worse, learning those rules required skills and understanding.
Why should he tell Liam what to buy him? That defeated the purpose of a gift. Wasn't the gesture itself what counted?
"Why not get me anything you think would be best?"
Liam finally turned in Halo's direction with his expression softened.
"No… what if you don't like it?"
'Why the heck does that matter? It's a gift isn't it?'
Halo exhaled and tapped Liam on his shoulder the moment he recalled his Flaw. He had probably been thinking about this for days and obviously had a few measures in place. He just needed to assure him.
"You're overthinking, Liam. Whatever it is, if it's from you, I'll love it."
"Really?"
Halo gave him a positive gesture.
Halo's previous friendship had been simpler. He and his friend shared the same harsh worldview, no emotional discussions needed, and they'd actually enjoyed each other's suffering.
But Liam was fragile and different. If Halo wanted to keep him close, he'd have to learn Liam's gentler approach to relationships.
Before long, they arrive at the enormous walls of Mirror Steppe with its gates open to the invisible barrier.
Halo turned to Liam and watched as he smiled with cunning enthusiasm.
"Before we fetch supplies, I want to show you all the places I like."
Liam said with evident excitement.
Halo tried to smile, but his cold nature robbed him of that opportunity.
The instant they entered the barrier, it felt like hands trying to peel their skin away. They had to force themselves through, pushing hard against its crushing grip.
Liam sighed. "I can never get used to this…"
Halo barely heard him. He was studying the zone in the distance with steel walls, smaller than the ones they'd just passed, ringed with guard posts, and a Knight stood sentinel at each one.
Without a moment's hesitation, they began approaching the citadel.
Halo expected a thorough inspection from the Knights, but all they wanted to know was if they were humans or not, which was a valid action in Halo's eyes.
Halo had expected the atmosphere to be grimy and thick with nothing but survival in mind. But he was far off the mark.
Buildings were tall and packed together, made of steel and concrete, yet this didn't give them a slum-like demeanor, since almost everyone on the streets wore a cunning and cheerful look.
But the deeper they got into the zone, the cleaner, more spacious, and more heavily guarded it appeared. It was without a doubt that most of the powerful Knights resided deep within.
The architecture became sleeker, featuring advanced materials, well-lit streets, and impressive estates. But the most fortified area practically housed the guardians of the Mirror Steppe, enforcer buildings, and maybe major guilds.
It seemed as though people in this zone weren't part of the same ruined world they lived in. The smiles, and laughter and though it didn't feel very lively as a normal city would with children and thrilling entertainment, this was like a utopia in this world.
Venders hardly called out their merchandise, but people moved to them regardless. It was as if there was a sense of discipline.
Liam didn't waste his excitement. Before long, he was dragging Halo everywhere… games, meals, anything he could think of.
Some experiences were familiar, others completely new, but all were memorable and fun. Though they had to pay for even the smallest things with Sin Fragments.
Something caught Halo's attention, though. Everywhere they went, people kept mentioning the "Vile of Hawks" as if it were some kind of cult.
Even in the midst of his curiosity to understand what the fuck those were, he mistakenly bumped into a girl. She had long dark hair and golden eyes, dressed in an eye-catching blue dress, though that hardly mattered since she already looked like a doll.
The girl barely met Halo's gaze, and though it was Halo's fault, she apologized immediately and fled. This prompted Halo to check his pockets with the mindset that he had been pickpocketed even though he had never been wary of it.
He pushed the thought aside when Liam reclaimed his attention. Four hours of roaming Mirror Steppe later, Liam finally had had enough of shopping but managed to get Halo a gift. A pocket watch.
"You didn't have anything to count the hours last time. Thought I'd fix that."
He said.
Halo appreciated this and was very grateful, though his expression spoke otherwise. Still, he doubted he'd ever use it.
The pocket watch cost only two Sin Fragments, and with the games and meals they already enjoyed, they only spent three Sin Fragments since they came as a package.
The five Sin Fragments he had to on Light's energy suddenly felt significant. That could buy him a week of meals.
"There's no way I'm going to spend that much…"