“Konrad, come on let’s just go.”
“I can’t believe we’re just going to take this lying down, Chantelle. We - the Sun Wraiths - bled for that thing. That appraiser had to either be lying or drunk. You saw how it shone-”
“Konrad, it''s the grand auction house. They don’t make mistakes like that. It’s not their fault that we got conned. You need to accept that and move on.”
“No! We didn’t! There’s no way-”
Both Kite and Jarvan made a point not staring at the group of four silver-rankers exiting the grand auction hall’s foyer just as they entered, with one of the humans of the group - apparently named Konrad - being all but bodily hauled from the building by a huge and heavily built runic woman which seemed to be his teammate.
“She’s right. The grand auction house isn’t perfect in its estimates down to the last lesser coin, but they don’t make those kinds of mistakes,” Jarvan murmured once the group was out of silver-ranked earshot. “And they surely don’t short-sell their clients either. Purity’s prunes, just imagine how much their reputation is worth to them.”
“Fortune be willing, we hopefully won’t have to leave with disappointment equal to theirs,” Kite agreed, following Jarvan towards the hall with the many clerks receiving listings. Recognizing the malachite-haired celestine from yesterday at one of the booths further into the room, they got in line and eventually found themselves seated across from Sephia.
“Greetings, honored functionary,” Kite said, giving a short bow as he laid out his token on the table. “Are we perhaps blessed enough that the appraisal of the item we turned in yesterday is done?”
“One moment, and I will check,” the celestine woman replied, still brimming with the same professionality as yesterday as she touched Kite’s token to an enchanted stone slate while gesturing with her other hand which caused a stack of papers to float gently into the air as it seemed to rifle through itself.
“Ah, here we are. It seems to have been completed and-”
Both Kite and Jarvan straightened as they felt the startle in the bronze-ranker’s aura even though the only outward sign of it was the pause, that alone was enough given her earlier composure.
“Is… something amiss?” Kite asked as Sephia’s aura calmed somewhat.
“My apologies, I was simply surprised. It isn’t too often we get items in this price range from a silver-ranker. On behalf of the auction house, I am pleased to inform you that the fruit you left with us has been deemed worthy to be auctioned off during our most prestigious event. Should you wish for it, the next grand auction is held in nine days, and a private booth will be provided to you as a contributor of one of the most highly valued listings. Here are the detailed information and going rates,” she finished, sliding a small stack of papers across the counter.
Kite picked them up and quickly started going through them while Jarvan read over his shoulders. It stated the different appraisers involved in the process and their verdicts as to the authenticity of the object, the cut which the auction house would receive in the case of a sale and a starting price at…
“That… that is a lot of gold spirit coins,” Kite breathed, reading and re-reading the number.
Jarvan in turn only laughed out loud, clapping a hand on Kite’s shoulder to steady himself. While Sephia threw him a slightly disapproving look, the privacy screen surrounding them would mask the reaction for most anyone else.
“Merchant’s mighty manhood, Kite,” Jarvan eventually managed to get out, earning himself a disapproving frown from the clerk. “I mean, I suspected it might be interesting to some important people, but this? Well, suddenly your family compound seems a lot smaller than it could be. Or perhaps should.”
Sephia took the moment of silence which followed as an opportunity to continue.
“Do you wish to confirm the listing now, or do you wish for some time to consider?”
Collecting himself somewhat, Kite once more gave a quick bow to the clerk before he replied.
“It would be my pleasure to confirm the listing at once, honored clerk. Not taking this opportunity would be beyond foolish. Tell me, is it possible to add some information and a request to be announced along with the item at the auction?”
“Of course, esteemed patron.”
“Excellent. Then I have a few choice words I’d wish to add before we will bid you farewell. It seems we will now have a couple of additional days to spend in this grand city. And, should everything go well, this most fortuitous development opens up a whole new host of options.”
<hr>
“And- this- is why- you- don’t- neglect- your- grappling-” Soul said, punctuating some of the words with a fierce jab to the trapped axeman’s face.
His weapon, a brutal, double-bladed thing with serrated edges and enchantments increasing its momentum did little of all the severing and slashing which the wielder had promised upon the start of their duel as it was instead harmlessly pinned to the ground along with its wielder’s arm. The man in question, a silver-ranker clad in the colors of the Flowing Viper sect, did put up some fight as he struggled to get loose from Soul ignobly pinning him to the stone ground of her arena.
But from the way he had so far failed to produce any kind of power which could dislodge either himself or Soul, the man was left with his silver-ranked body and technique. And they were both found sorely wanting.
“Fight- fight me, outcast wench!” he slurred between the blows before once more trying to spit blood up at Soul. To his credit, the attempt was actually an attack made possible by his blood essence which turned the blood into long needles which carried potent venom. But it was nothing new, and much like before Soul used her greater speed to flick the projectiles away before punching him again, this time with a fist glowing with transcendent light.
“I am, in front of Warrior and onlookers both,” she commented matter-of-factly as he was momentarily stunned by her flashing fist. “It is through no fault of mine that you are performing your part so poorly.
Her response this time was only a snarl as the man heaved again, failing to throw her off even while he unleashed more toxic blood,this time in a wave erupting from his body. As there was no dodging while keeping her hold, Soul simply activated a pair of her boons in response to reduce damage and heighten her regeneration while trusting another special ability to deal with the toxin in short order. A worthwhile trade, it turned out, as it also let her land a heavy elbow strike to his throat on her way down from an attempt to heave her off.
The following wheeze let Soul shift and further grip his head in a firm hold between her thighs - which caused a not inconsiderable amount of jealous looks from some among the audience - while her shins still pressed down on the prone man’s arms long enough for her to finish the bout and a few, mighty hammer blows which threatened to crack the stones beneath with their resounding force.
“Victory goes to Soul, blessed of Warrior and Mistress of the Autumn arena!” called the acolyte of Warrior who was currently presiding as the man between her thighs fell limp in body and spirit both.
Soul released her hold and nimbly rose to her feet, casting a glance which indicated that she would quiz them of the bout later to the guild members who kept returning to the arena time and time again no matter how she protested. It was only when she felt several silver-ranked auras push against hers that she actually stopped to properly take in the others who had crowded into the floor of the arena.
“S-such dishonor towards the inner disciple! Have you now shame, outcast?” a woman in the robes of the Flowing Viper sect demanded, backed up by three more equally outraged members. “It demands retribution, swift and brutal! The honor of the Flowing Viper demands no less! You will regret-”
“Get in line, little snakes. The blessed one has said she will take on all challengers who wish, and we’ve been waiting for our chance of tempering with the dignity that befits upstanding members of a sect of any true importance. I recommend that you do the same.”
To Soul’s surprise, another woman - a tall elf with pale blue hair and lips - had teleported from her place among the audience to stand at Soul’s side, with her companions already moving in to gather behind her. Soul did not know her name, but recognized the robes of the Fated Severance sect, meaning that this group had also traveled far.
“You dare? Does the Fated Severance sect side with outcasts now, getting in the way of proper retribution?” the other inner disciple called back, but seemed a lot less sure of herself now that there were five other silvers looming behind Soul.
“I, Cobalt Breath, Inner Disciple of the Fated Severance sect, have heard rumors of this champion in the north, blessed by Warrior as an incarnation of skill and prowess,” the elf replied calmly even though her aura was fierce and solid. “Much like you have, I surmise, or you wouldn’t have come crawling here, little snake. Your Inner Disciple here knew what he was getting into. Now cease this misconduct and either take your place in the line of petitioners looking to fight the blessed one or leave. Either way you sully the purity of this arena with your tantrum, a place dedicated to combat beneath the glorious gaze of Warrior.”
The disciples of the Flowing Viper bristled at the words, but it did not take more than a quick glance around to see that the others of the audience had nothing but looks of disdain to offer them. Their parting threats barely registered to Soul as they dragged their fallen fellow from the arena, as the celestine instead turned to regard Cobalt Breath with a raised eyebrow.
“We are sorry for the interruption, blessed one,” the elf said in return. “But word of your prowess and the purity of this place of tempering has spread far and wide even with its… unconventional foundation in this guild of yours. We have come far, as have others, in order to test ourselves as warriors first and sect members second. It only felt proper to denounce those fools who interrupted your proceedings.”
Soul regarded the other woman for a while before she eventually responded with a single nod. “Then may the next challenger approach. I need no time to recover from this last one. May Warrior bless me with more of a challenge.”
<hr>
“Why director, you look most impressive,” Kite noted as Jarvan joined him in the lobby of the hotel in which they had stayed during the past week in the city of flowers. The director was wearing a gray suit in the Vitesse style with embroideries and cufflinks in gold which matched his fair hair, now neatly trimmed to further hint at the lion’s mane which Kite had always likened it to in his head.
“Well, it’s not often I get a chance to visit a proper tailor,” Jarvan replied, adjusting his sleeves. “No offense to the Hua-Xi fashion, but it does feel good to wear a proper suit again. But you wear your native style well too, I suppose. I did say that mister V was a master of many styles and regions, did I not?”
“Once more, I am awed by your worldliness,” Kite replied cheekily, even if he had to admit that he was most pleased with how the enigmatic tailor had managed a proper set of midnight blue robes in the style of his homeland while playing with the cut of the sleeves and the arrangement of the buttons just enough to hint at the local fashions. “Let us be off then. And do remember to give your regards to Glint. She has been working on her outfit for quite some time.”
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
The familiar was already waiting outside for them in her larger, serpentine form which now wore a mesh of thin golden chains across her back which even looped up into her crystalline horns where other pale gems hung like the charms of some fairytale spirit. Glint was already accepting impressed glances from plenty of passersby, but was otherwise happy to be off towards their destination and her true chance to show off.
“A good night, my bond. A good night indeed,” she noted as they streaked along the still heavy air traffic of the Vitesse evening in the light of the magical city beneath.
“Try not to steal the spotlight too much, little beauty,” Kite said fondly, patting one of Glint’s shimmering scales.
“One does not steal what already belongs to her.”
As it turned out, the grand auction was quite the event even by Vitesse standards, only dampened somewhat by its regularity. But given its status as one of the adventuring capitals of the world, there was simply so many curiosities coming into the city at any given time that the frequency was due to simple demand. As such, it had also become an event where the mighty found reason to gather, mingle and make connections even though they might not have any actual interest in the listed items.
Drawing close, it was easy to make out the line of gold-rankers heading towards their assigned entrance in one type of exotic transport or the other, while Kite, Glint and Jarvan instead joined the much longer line of silvers hoping to make deals and contacts in equal measure. With so many auras squeezed into one place, the norm was to keep one’s spirit both contained and relatively close as any slip up could attract the attention of some disgruntled gold.
The wait was a pleasant one though, with the mild winter evening combined with the many exotic essence-users around providing something new to notice each moment. And even in that crowd, the now adorned Glint did get her fair share of appreciative glances, further highlighted by the faint veil of glittering mist she had conjured to coil around herself.
Once they arrived at the entrance platform for those who approached through the air, Kite and Jarvan dismounted through easy leaps before Glint shifted to her draconian form and joined them. The thin gold chains shifted with her, rearranging themselves into a long dress in the local fashion; sleeveless and leaving much of the back exposed.
“Hats off to your tailor, Glint. Or perhaps goldsmith?” Jarvan mused with an appreciative clapping of hands. “I can see why you’ve been spending so much time there during the last week. Attuning those enchantments to your shifting couldn’t have been easy.”
“A worthwhile endeavor, to be sure,” Glint agreed while she stepped ahead of them to strike a pose for an onlooker with a recording crystal before rejoining the others as they entered the huge lobby adjoining the huge main auction hall.
While the opulent space - complete with plenty refreshments available for purchase from a multitude of bars - wasn’t tiered or otherwise split into sections, anyone with an aura sense would still be able to easily feel the different heights of power gathering and sorting themselves like light split through a prism. The golds mostly kept to themselves while followed around by lower-ranked attendants or family members while the mix among the silvers was greater but still easily noted.
“Some things apparently are the same anywhere,” Kite noted as he looked around the gathering from where the trio had stopped near a small alcove after purchasing drinks.
“Such is the hierarchy of power,” Jarvan agreed. “Most golds I’ve met are decent people, but after a time of moving in a bit of a different world and timeframe than many of us of lower rank they tend to gravitate more and more towards their peers.”
While the mingling continued, it was easy to note a few draconians carefully making their way closer to the trio. Or more specifically, towards Glint, but they were each left disappointed as the chime announcing the start of the auction interrupted their social prowl.
A short queuing later, Kite and the others found themselves following an auction house attendant through more narrow corridors and stairs around the grand auction hall, eventually ending up in the private booth they had been promised.
“The panels here control the privacy screens as well as the sound distortion, should you wish to use it when making any bids of your own,” the elven attendant explained while gesturing around the small but comfortable circular space containing four lavish armchairs and tables brimming with different kinds of snacks.
The booth was like a small balcony which jutted out into the conical auction hall, the walls gradually narrowing down the the floor level where more cramped seats were arrayed in lines before the podium where the auctioneer would hold their mercantile court in the hours to come.
The trio got seated after thanking the attendant and Kite leaned back in his armchair and just took a moment to really take in the gathering of the mighty. Unlike what he would have thought, the golds were surprisingly divided in where they sat as they either occupied the largest private booths at the very top of the hall or the seats closest to the podium.
“Ah, this takes me back,” Jarvan said as he finished pouring himself another drink. “Me and Fantina got to accompany my uncle here back when we were just early bronze-rankers. I remember sitting down there and just trying to keep holding my aura under control and not embarrass myself.”
“Amusing, as I feel a bit of the same even as a silver with a private booth,” Kite admitted. “I’ve never been in the presence of so many golds at the same time before.”
“And you probably won’t be outside of gatherings like this. Even in the high-magic parts of the world, it’s not like they’re that common in the grand scheme of things. It usually takes events like this to get this many to gather. But speaking of events, it looks like things are about to start off.”
Jarvan’s words were accompanied by the susurrus of murmuring voices dying down as a runic woman with brilliant golden runes visible across her scalp, face and bare arms took to the stage. She too was a gold-ranker, and enchantments on the podium let her words carry across the entirety of the hall with ease.
“Welcome, one and all, to the grand auction of Vitesse; the foremost seat of magical wonders in all the world! For those who don’t know me, I am Marielle du Fleurlevoux; head auctioneer and curator of this establishment. It is not every auction where I choose to personally officiate, but with the interesting set of wonders listed tonight, I simply could not keep away as Lord Merchant would surely have smote me thoroughly if I neglected such wonderful goods.”
The presentation continued as Lady du Fleurlevoux went over the rules of the proceedings. As he had taken a look at the listings beforehand, Kite had quickly realized that many of the more unique things were probably out of his price range as he was not bold enough to assume that the sale of the fruit would truly go for something along with what the listing told. Using money one did not have was a surefire way to trouble, after all.
With the introductions out of the way, the grand auction of Vitesse began in earnest. Kite found the process surprisingly fascinating, both the items themselves as well as the obvious skill with which Lady du Fleurlevoux set the mood for each new listing. Some were made to seem most mysterious and rare while others were presented with excitement and flair, and he had to really center himself and keep a tight grip on his spirit to not be swept up in the excitement and add bids on listings which he was only passably interested in.
And during one particular listing - an impressive and unique silver-ranked growth item in the form of a greatsword - another reason for the Lady’s presence today was revealed.
“-and as I said, Ratainne, my family will not look kindly upon you attempting to drive the prize up even though you know we will get it in the end. None of your brats are fit for the sword anyway, making your attempt as obvious as it is pathetic.”
“That just shows how ill informed you are, Chambers. My grand-nephew has just come of age and absorbed his essences. He’ll be a mighty champion, mark my words, and this blade will be perfect for him when he comes of age. Now step aside and end this farce. You have been trying to shove my family down for too long!”
The shouting match was between a pair of gold-rankers who, after an extended series of bids, had started letting their frustrations with each other get a bit more heated than what was proper. Along with the heated emotions, their auras had started to gradually slip as well which left their clashing spirits like an oppressive weight over the room. That is, until Lady du Fleurlevoux stepped in.
“Gentlemen,” the runic said as her own aura, previously only a background whisper, unfolded into something of surprising potency as she separated their squabbling spirits like an adult untangling a pair of wrestling children. “While competition is the name of the game, this has gone on for long enough. Any more bids from the two of you will be delivered via proxies, because if either one of you speaks another word I will have you removed from the premises.”
As the pair fell into sullen silence, Jarvan leaned over to Kite as he whispered. “Lady du Fleurlevoux is old. Very old. And it seems she hasn’t let her aura skills decline either.”
“One probably needs it in an event such as this,” Kite agreed. “Just imagine some poor silver standing there helpless as things devolve into brawl.”
“Oh believe me, that can happen anyway. I’d almost like to see it. Lady du Fleurlevoux isn’t a core user, after all, and rumor has it that she has taken out the trash many times herself in the early days of her position here. Before people learned. Besides, I’d also bet that both of those two posturing up there are just trying to one-up each other rather than having an actual interest in the sword itself. Such is the rivalries of the mighty.”
Still, things did calm down somewhat and Kite and his companions had a great time speculating on the prices - and sometimes even the uses - of some of the items listed.
“-and sold to the esteemed anonymous lady for two gold and seven silver coins. May you find all the options of the casket of tentacles to your liking,” Lady du Fleurlevoux proclaimed as the shuddering object was carried from the stage by her two burly and impeccably groomed pale-furred leonid men.
“Your fruit is up next, isn’t it?” Jarvan asked, glancing at the pamphlet in his hand. The listings were all there, but most - Kite’s fruit among them - were only announced in veiled and mysterious terms.
“It is,” Kite confirmed, leaning forward. “May Fortune bless our endeavors here.”
The words were said with a kind of nervous energy which had been accumulated over the last hour, the festive mood proving most infectious.
“Oh, and what have we here?” Lady du Fleurlevoux asked theatrically as she looked at her list while one of the leonids carried forth a tray with a velvet cloth hinting at the stasis cylinder beneath. “The third true curiosity of the evening if you ask me.”
With a flourish, she reached out and revealed the fruit, clearly visible through the translucent cylinder. Its revelation caused a curious murmur to spread through the hall as some leaned in as if to get a closer look.
“This here is an exotic find from an anonymous seller, carried here from a far-away astral space. A fruit, ladies and gentlemen. But not just any common treat. We have it on good authority from our appraisers, and with verification from none other than Despina the Bloom-Shepherd, that this curiosity is able to awaken new powers within certain magical creatures. It has been used on one bonded familiar so far, with apparently spectacular results as its repertoire of magical power grew permanently more versatile. Still, the limited stock has meant that no more trials have been made which makes this a marvelous opportunity. And you know how astral spaces are. Who knows if more will ever be found even within the lifetimes of us gold-rankers.”
She fell silent, letting it all sink in as the murmur in the room grew from curious to excited or disbelieving. Still, no calls of lies and falsehoods arose, proving the reputation of the auction house and its experts.
Apparently having decided that those present had stewed enough, Lady du Fleurlevoux continued.
“Whether it may be for your dear familiar, guild mascot or perhaps botanical research, this does indeed smell like the opportunity of a lifetime, does it not?” Lady du Fleurlevoux called, but held up a hand to forestall the murmur which had begun rising in volume again. “The seller does seem interested too, because there has been a note added to the item. Should they wish, any who purchase it may leave a time and a place for a secure, private meeting which will be conveyed to the seller for a chance at further collaboration on the matter of this most exciting listing and its origin. It’s truly a shame that I am not allowed to bid myself, as my darling familiar Pontefoux would surely have loved this. The bidding starts at twelve gold coins, and-”
Kite instinctively leaned back in his seat as a small cacophony of bids followed. Not a complete roar, as most present wouldn’t be able to afford the ridiculous starting bid. But the fruit did seem to have made all of the big players interested, at least enough to make them want to be seen taking part in the fun.
“Heavens. This… This is…” Kite breathed as the bidding passed twenty gold spirit coins, and were well on its way towards twenty five when a single bid caused the room to fall silent as if someone had severed the noise with a scissor.
“Four diamond coins.”
The voice came from one of the private booths which had its privacy screen set to opaque, voice garbled into odd androgynity. But the bid itself spoke volumes.
“That… is noted,” Lady du Fleurlevoux said in the silence which followed. “Then we have a bid of four diamond coins, or forty gold. Any other takers?”
The prompt seemed pretty half-hearted to Kite, and the silence which followed was deafening as neither present, not even the golds, made another bet.
“Then it is sold to the anonymous bidder in booth eighty-one,” Lady du Fleurlevoux called, deciding not to miss a beat. “Definitely our record bid for this evening, and in diamond coins too! My, now I’m even more curious! Alas, it seems that it is not for the rest of us to know. Now, as for the next listing, this is sure to get your blood up and running again after this scare. It is-”
By now though, Kite wasn’t listening. Instead he sat back in his chair, stunned at the bid and its implication.
“Fertility’s feisty fanny, Kite,” Jarvan said at his side, seeming a bit less stunned and a bit more excited as he turned to the younger man. “It seems like you’ve caught the attention of a diamond-ranker.”