Chapter 186: Don’t Do Anything I Wouldn’t Do

Noah slowly walked across the paved courtyard outside the academy gates, casting the bad memories out of his mind.

Today would be different. It had to be.

Ahead, a neat line of enchanted carriages waited, their glossy black surface gleaming faintly under the light of the sun.

Each one was large enough to seat a handful of students, with some enchanted, and others pulled by horses.

Of course, the enchanted carriages were much more expensive than the ones with the horses.

Their respective drivers sat upright in the front, uniformed and professional, reins in hand, waiting for students to climb in.

As this was the seventh day, all this was routine.

Every week, the academy provided access to the capital with these carriages. Though, the students had to pay for their own rides.

Noah strode up to the nearest one, slipping his coin pouch from his spatial ring.

He handed the required fee to the driver without a word. The man nodded, gesturing inside.

The carriage’s interior smelled faintly of polished wood and clean leather, the seats padded with dark velvet.

Noah sat near the window, resting an elbow against the sill, his eyes already distant.

He wasn’t alone for long.

The door opened, and two other students climbed in together, chattering to each other in hushed, excited tones.

A boy and a girl, whom he was sure he recognized as one of the many bronze-tier students.

They glanced at Noah, their eyes briefly widening in recognition, but quickly decided not to disturb him.

Sliding onto the opposite bench, they resumed their quiet conversation, voices lowered as if afraid he might overhear.

Noah ignored them. He didn’t care.

The door opened a final time, and in came someone with a wide grin plastered on his face.

“Morning, everyone!” Arlo announced cheerfully, stepping in like he owned the carriage.

He carried his satchel slung across one shoulder, a plain blindfold wrapped over his eyes, and a spring in his step.

Noah almost groaned out loud, his head lowering for half a second.

Of all the people he could’ve been stuck with…

Arlo dropped himself onto the bench beside Noah, making himself comfortable with a smug little smile.

He turned towards the others, raising a hand in casual greeting. “Pleasure to meet you fine folks. Let’s enjoy the ride, shall we?”

The other two students nodded awkwardly, clearly unsure how to respond to his confidence.

Noah leaned back, his expression blank, while Arlo stretched his legs like this was all part of some grand joke only he was in on.

The driver snapped the reins, and with a neigh from the horses, the carriage began to roll forward, starting its journey down the long road towards the capital.

Arlo leaned back in his seat, hands laced behind his head as he grinned.

“Now, if it’s your first time in the capital,” he began loudly enough for all three of his fellow passengers to hear, “you can’t miss the central promenade.”

“Food stalls everywhere. I mean everywhere. Best meat skewers you’ll ever taste. Though, personally, I’d recommend the honey cakes. They melt in your mouth.”

The boy and girl sitting across from him glanced at each other, hesitant smiles tugging at their lips.

“And then,” Arlo continued, warming up, “there’s the western quarter.”

“Home to the famous glass gardens. Have you ever seen roses that shine like jewels under moonlight? It’s worth it, trust me.”

The girl tilted her head. “I thought the western quarter was for nobles only?”

Arlo chuckled, wagging a finger. “Ah, technically, yes. But rules are only rules until someone like me shows you how to get in.”

He leaned forward and made a motion that somehow conveyed the fact that he had just winked from behind his blindfold.

The boy raised a brow. “And how do you manage that?”

“Connections, my friend. Connections.” Arlo’s grin widened. “And a little charm never hurts.”

The two students laughed lightly, drawn into his energy despite themselves.

Arlo thrived on it, shifting gears. “Now, if you want something rowdier, there’s the colosseum. Blood, sweat, roars of the crowd.”

“There’s nothing like it. Just make sure you get there early, or the nobles will buy up the tickets before you blink.”

“Oh! And the night markets. They’re absolutely wild. Anything you could want, legal or otherwise.”

He rattled on, bouncing between topics, inviting the others to chime in, asking what they wanted to see.

They humored him, offering small answers.

Noah, meanwhile, sat in silence.

His elbow rested on the windowsill, chin propped against his hand as his eyes traced the landscape rolling by.

The sprawl of forest gave way to scattered villages, then to farmland stretching wide, golden fields waving under the breeze.

He barely registered Arlo’s voice anymore, letting the commentary fade into background noise.

His focus was elsewhere, on the road ahead, on the plan he had for today.

At last, the carriage crested a hill, and the capital came into view, towers rising, walls glinting in the sunlight, and banners fluttering from battlements.

Soon, the wheels clattered over the city gates, and they rolled inside.

The carriage slowed as it rattled into a bustling square, the clamor of voices and clattering hooves filling the air around them.

With a soft creak of wood, it finally came to a stop.

The door swung open, and the students clambered out one by one.

The boy and girl stepped onto the cobblestones first, and Arlo followed, stretching with a satisfied groan before flashing them both a bright smile.

“Enjoy your time in the city,” he said cheerfully, giving them a little mock bow. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Which, I admit, doesn’t narrow things down much.”

They laughed awkwardly before wandering off into the crowd.

That left Noah, stepping down last.

He stood there for a moment, eyes already scanning the streets.

Arlo turned to him, a wide grin on his face.

“Well, partner,” he drawled, “one last chance.”

“You come with me to the colosseum, and I’ll tell you exactly how I got my hands on those tickets.”

Noah met his grin with a flat stare. “Not interested.”

With that, he turned, walking into the flow of the capital’s crowd, his shoulders relaxed.

And Arlo stood there, watching him go.

He could tell from the look in his eyes.

Noah was about to do something stupid.

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