The moment he stepped out of the inner gates, the world seemed to have changed. Gone was the quiet and peaceful environment of the palace replaced with absolute chaos.

Merchants lined the lower floors curved into the mountainside, their stalls stocked with everything from weird mineral ores he had never seen to strange beast carcasses that radiated aether.

"Fresh Ember fang ribs! Still hot... come look you’ll get a discount for five bought."

"Spirit thread robes. Wooven from the highest quality silk from the frozen moon lake."

"Oi! Watch where you’re going. "

He paused slightly, shifting out of the way as another trader barreled past him shouting the same as anyone who was before him.

"It’s... more lively, " he said, glancing around, " than I had expected."

"Actually this is the quieter side," Zelpher said, his tone slightly raised to match the noise," you wouldn’t want to visit the main market."

Atheline briefly glanced back at him.

"Really," he said," so this is the milder one, where is the louder one?"

His tone was almost dismissive, like he wasn’t fully interested.

"In the lower floors," Zelpher said," this is for nobles, that’s why most of the things sold are of higher quality but there are still some commoners who leave and visit these parts."

Atheline nodded. Seeing everything firsthand was something he had wanted since he was brought to the palace.

He wanted to map the whole Court fully, even the hidden passages but he knew he had to be patient.

Luther, his male servant, was now responsible for all that since Lilith managed almost everything about him in that regard.

Since the poisoning, her suspicion of who brought the poison into the palace shifted to Luther directly.

It was pretty obvious by then.

Atheline had sent him out again until her anger had reduced.

They wandered deeper almost aimlessly with Atheline leading the way while Zelpher followed right behind him, offering explanations when asked.

The four mountains were a single structure, spiraling downwards in layers. Bridges connected cliffs while staircases twisted unpredictably.

The four peaks loomed over like a watcher of the court.

He stopped at a stall selling small carved stones. Imitations of moon crystals.

"They say the queen brought back a whole mountain’s worth," the merchant was saying to a customer, voice low but eager," real ones. Not these fakes."

"Yeah? And you believe that?"

"Believe? Which hole have you been living in? Haven’t you heard of the ruin found in the blood ocean just outside the Titam kingdom trade routes?"

"No, what happened. "

"Tsk, tsk, if you buy two stones I’ll tell you everything."

The woman desperate for information gave out the coins.

Atheline just chuckled slightly.

"Rumours really spread fast," he whispered to Zelpher, who was frowning.

"It seems the council has started to move," he quietly said.

Atheline nodded. He turned to leave when he heard a voice.

"Hey."

The voice came from his side.

He turned.

A girl, maybe late teens, stood there, arms crossed. She didn’t look like a noble and her sharp gaze showed she wasn’t scared either.

"You’re not from around here, are you?" She said plainly.

Atheline glanced at Zelpher to find him leaning against a stall a few steps away, arms crossed looking at him.

He smiled faintly at the girl. "Is it that obvious?"

She studied him for a second longer and then shrugged.

"What’s your name?" Atheline asked.

"Madeley, " she calmly replied.

Atheline nodded.

"Well don’t get scammed. Half of these people will sell you painted rocks and call them elemental ore," she continued before he could say anything.

"I’ll keep that in mind."

A small silence passed between them then she broke it.

"Are you here for the moon crystal news too?"

There it was again. The council had really outdone itself.

He tilted his head slightly. "What do you think?"

She snorted.

"Depends on who you ask. Some say the queen is hiding something. Others think she’ll make a big move," she said her voice lowering slightly.

"A move?"

"Power move," her gaze flickered upwards, towards the higher levels, " you don’t bring something like that and remain quiet."

He couldn’t help it, a small amused breath escaped him which she noticed immediately.

She bristled.

"What?"

"Nothing, just... interesting?"

A sudden commotion rippled through the streets at that moment.

Atheline could feel people stiffen and sudden tension rising in the air.

A group of armoured men pushed through the crowd, their presence heavy enough that people instinctively stepped back.

Enforcers.

They weren’t quite like guards but close to. They were responsible for keeping peace inside the mountains at each level.

Their eyes scanned everything. One of them paused, his gaze meeting Atheline’s, then slid to Zelphers his eyes widening.

For a moment, the market dulled.

"Don’t stare back at him," the girl beside him muttered.

He didn’t. He watched the exchange between Zelpher and him. The guard nodded towards him before rejoining his group.

"You’re weird, " she said after a beat.

"I’ve been told."

"They don’t usually ignore people like that."

"I’m not ’people like that.’"

She blinked, then laughed a short surprised laugh dismissing him.

"Alright, "she said, stepping back," I’ll give you that one."

She hesitated, then jerked her chin towards a narrow side path.

"If you want real stuff, not this polished garbage they sell here, go down there. Lower ring. That’s where the hunters sell."

"Hunters."

"Yeah. The ones who actually go outside the mountain and come back alive."

She started to leave but Atheline called out.

"Hey."

She paused turning towards him confused. Atheline covered the distance before them.

"For your information."

He passed her a small pouch of coins. She looked up at him in surprise.

"What me to tell you a secret?" Atheline whispered.

He didn’t want to let such an asset go without leaving an impression. Since she was young, it was easier for her to get information and she seemed clever enough.

She would be the best start.

His hood slipped slightly, the illusion briefly breaking before it returned to normal. Zelpher was beside him faster than he could react.

"You’re highness, " he whispered, his reprimand clear.

The girl’s eyes widened.

"I really enjoyed our talks Madeley, " Atheline said, straightening the girl, who was too shocked to move," I hope we can meet some day."

He turned to leave, Zelpher following him.

"I don’t mind if news about me being here spreads tomorrow, " his voice carried through the winds only for her ears.

Before the Coronation he wanted his name to be remembered, better if it could eventually become a household name.

"Where do you want to go next your highness?" Zeloher asked.

Atheline smirked.

"The lower ring."