“We’ll start the main portion of the Night Auction with…” The gorgon paused, allowing a two-part sword to float in.

Dallion’s heart skipped a beat. Could that be a world item? If he wasn’t wearing the blocking bracelet, he would be in a position to ask. As things stood, though, he had to guess, same as everyone else.

“The Wetie Blade,” the gorgon finished. “The weapon of choice of the first Archduke of the province, the weapon was lost in the wilderness during the Archduke’s unfortunate demise. Let me assure everyone that the authenticity of the item has been guaranteed and beyond doubt. Considered exceptionally powerful at the time, the Wetie Blade is officially recognized as a conduit weapon, allowing magic channeling, provided its owner has the magic trait. Bidding starts at twenty-five thousand.”

So, that’s what the “main part of the auction” meant. The items were a whole different level. If up to now, the things on auction were novelties and decorations, this had practical appliances. The shape resembled the weapon Dame Vesuvia had when fighting the chainling. From what Dallion could remember, her blade was surrounded by several layers of air, making it capable of slicing through anything without any danger of getting corroded or corrupted.

“We have twenty-fine thousand. Does anyone want to offer thirty?”

Bids increased by five thousand at a time, exceeding Dallion’s funds in seconds. Falkner wasn’t kidding when he said he couldn’t afford anything from here on. Watching how things were going, he regretted not buying some of the earlier items. Then again, they wouldn’t have offered him much.

The next item, ironically, was a kaleidervisto. The initial price started a lot lower than the blade, but quickly ramped up to forty thousand. No sooner had that been sold than Falkner leaned forward. Anyone could tell that was the item he was looking forward to.

Okay, let’s see what you find so important, Dallion thought.

“Next, we have something rather exquisite,” the gorgon said. “The necklace of the Second Empress.”

A golden necklace made its way to the pedestal. Unlike all previous items, however, this one didn’t float, but fluttered of its own accord.

Dallion blinked. There was no mistake that the item in question wasn’t an object, but an actual creature.

“One of the only two known flutterblades in existence,” Eos announced. “It was said to have been found in the wilderness by the second empress herself and in gratitude became her familiar. After the empresses passed away, the flutterblade was passed on to from mother to daughter and so on for generations.”

They’re selling creatures? Dallion tried to concentrate on the creature, but the cursed bracelet prevented to use his empathy or music skills. If he was in the front rows, there was a chance that he would be able to speak with the creature, or at the very least hear it. At present, though, the distance was too large.

“That’s what you’re going to buy?” he whispered to Falkner.

“The tradition was unfortunately broken a few months ago, when the familiar’s previous owner passed away without having any female heirs,” Eos continued. “The imperial family, thus, decided to part with the item. Needless to say, that apart from being exceedingly beautiful, the necklace can also serve as a protector and companion to all that have it, as long as they are female. For those unaware, flutterblades have the ability to slice through all common materials, and a few not-so-common ones, as if they were made of silk. And yes, that includes people as well. So, if you obtain it, best be sure you don’t mistreat it. Rumor is that the flutterblade will slice the head off anyone she finds unworthy.”

As if to prove the point, the creature flapped its wings twice, slicing off a small prism of the pedestal.

“And, as you can see, it has a cutting sense of humor and the ability to understand three languages.”

Polite laughter followed throughout the room.

“Initial bidding starts at fifty thousand.”

Immediately, Falkner raised two fingers. The price was beyond anything Dallion could afford. Personally, he didn’t think he had the means even to assist.

“Sixty thousand,” the gorgon said. “Seventy. Eighty.”

The gorgon sounded like someone counting up to a thousand. For ten seconds, the numbers increased without any indication they would stop. It was only in the three hundreds that people slowed down to the point that the gorgon began asking for offers. Given that all offers were lost, that meant that the auction would pocket a tidy sum.

“Three hundred and forty thousand,” Eos said. “Will anyone do better?”

“For hundred thousand,” Falkner said out loud.

Everyone turned to look in his direction. This was a clear power play—an indication that he was willing to continue to the end. It was also a warning to others not to claim his item. Being the son of a noble and not the noble himself, that didn’t convert a direct threat. Even so, people were calculating in their mind whether they wanted to risk bad relations with the Arlerla family.

“We have four hundred thousand.” The gorgon acknowledged the offer. “Four hundred thousand going once. Four hundred thousand going twice.”

Dallion looked around. There were several women among the participants, even more that would be willing to buy the item to give to one. However, it turned out that none of them were willing to enter a direct confrontation. Either that, or they were saving their money for something better later. With this amount of money spent on the necklace, it was pretty certain that Falkner wouldn’t be able to participate in anything further.

“Sold to Falkner Arlerla.”

The flutterblade waited for a few seconds, then flew off the pedestal, making its way to Falkner. There, the creature hesitated, fluttering in the air, five inches from his face.

He didn’t buy me for himself, I hope? the flutterblade asked in a ringing female voice.

The question almost made Dallion jump up from his seat. For one thing, he expected the bracelet to limit his understanding of creatures. But beyond that, he didn’t expect it to address him so casually, especially since there was no way it could know that he had the skill to understand it.

“No,” Dallion whispered, just as a test.

Falkner gave him a weird look.

Good. The flutterblade flew on, landing on Falkner’s shoulder. Instinctively, the young noble reached to take the “necklace” off, but Dallion was quick to grab his hand.

“Don’t,” he whispered. “Leave Gloria to do that.”

A few tense moments followed. Falkner still wasn’t sure what was going on, however, knowing of Dallion’s reputation with creatures, he decided to go along with the suggestion. His hand relaxed. Then—as Dallion let him go—he moved it away from the flutterblade.

Meanwhile, the next item was already on display. Missing the introduction, Dallion only made out that it was an epaulet of some renowned Imperial General from the past. The item theme so far seemed to revolve around items of historical significance that were also powerful in their own right. Some, of course, were far more impressive than others. The epaulet had to be the latter, since it was sold for half a million gold coins. The following two items did even better, each going for over six hundred thousand. It was at that point that Dallion noticed that less and less people were taking part in the bidding.

“Finally, we have the final open item of the auction,” the gorgon announced. A large tome floated to the now chipped pedestal. “The second volume of the Gregorius Chronicles. They are said to include a large collection of the arch-mage’s early works, including his philosophical musings on the perfect society. While a rather valuable collectible item, only those with a magic trait will be able to read its contents. Bidding starts and ten thousand gold.”

Ten thousand? That was rather low. Possibly it was due to the fact that for the majority of people, the tome would be nothing more than a rather large and extremely expensive blank diary.

“We have ten thousand. Twenty-thousand. Thirty thousand.”

The price jumped up again. Even useless magic books remained magic books. When the price reached six figures, the bidding finally stopped.

“This concludes the open part of the Night Auction,” Eos said. “In one minute, we’ll proceed to the special items. Once again, the current owners of the items have requested that the items be kept secret until the start of bidding. As such, the prices might vary.”

Maybe I’ll have a chance, Dallion thought. The amount he had was pitiful in comparison to everyone else, but if the item was linked to a prerequisite than no one else had—the empathy trait, for example—there still was a chance that he might be able to buy it.

The light crystals got even dimmer to the point that the only thing visible was the pedestal and the gorgon on the podium behind it. A large bird-cage covered in sun gold cloth.

“Finally, we begin the highlight of the auction,” the gorgon said. “The first item isn’t something that you’re likely to your yourself, but it would make for more than a perfect gift, especially to a close friend or family member.”

The cage cover was pulled off. There was a cage pretty much as Dallion expected. Secured in it was nothing less than a single blue gem—a skill gem. The sight was enough to cause a few nobles to gasp in surprise.

“You are not mistaken. What is offered is nothing less than a wild skill gem with the ability to grant scholar skills to anyone with a desire to obtain them. As all wild skill gems, this one is hereditary, ensuring that an entire family line would take advantage of its benefits. Some might even say that it’s a good investment, even if you don’t have anyone in mind to give it to. After all, who is to say what will happen in five years? Or even ten?”

The whispers increased.

“Starting bid is five hundred thousand.”

“I thought it was forbidden to sell skill gems,” Dallion whispered.

“The Imperial Family is allowed to,” Falkner said. “As is the Academy.”

That made even less sense. Neither of the two were in need of money. They had more than enough, not to mention they could make gold themselves.

The price quickly jumped, moving past a million. No one hid their desire to obtain the item. There was no telling when another would appear, so no one wanted to lose that chance. The price kept on rising to two million, then three. One by one, bidders dropped off in groups. Finally, only one remained.

“Sold for three million and two hundred thousand.”

The number was so high that Dallion didn’t even find it real. He honestly had no idea what he could buy with such an amount. It was no longer a matter of money, but a display of power.

“And now, with that done, we come to our conclusion and the crowning event of the auction.” A single marble box floated in, no larger than the one Dallion was given for his chips. “I present you—” the box opened, revealing a single knife-like item made entirely of purple light “—a phoenix feather.”

That’s not supposed to exist, Dallion gasped.

At least, that was what Nil had told him. According to the echo, there was no such thing as phoenixes in this world. Not only that, but Dallion hadn’t found any reference of similar creatures in any scroll or tome he had read, even the bestiary he’d received. And yet, something claimed to be a feather of such a creature was glowing before his every eyes.

“Found in the northern wilderness by a group of hunters and brought here in secret. It is the only known item to guarantee awakening. Sent down to the world every few centuries by the Purple Moon himself, such feathers are jealously guarded by the Order of the Seven Moons. The one and only time it was used was at the death of the fourth emperor, when his one and only hair was about to ascend the throne, unawakened.”

Dallion let out a mental sigh of relief. So, the old echo hadn’t lied to him after all. The weather, it turned out, was sent by a deity. The name, though, was most peculiar.

“Have you seen one of these before?” Dallion whispered, unable to take his eyes off the feather. The allure was so great that, for a moment, he considered whether he could obtain it through force. Not that he needed it—he was already awakened. However, he just had a burning desire to own it for the sake of owning it.

“You’re joking, right? Falkner said, no less mesmerized. “You don’t get to see something like that in a single life-time. This is incredibly fortunate. And to think that the special items weren’t even originally announced. Someone must have included them in the last few hours.”

The coincidence was so remarkable that Dallion had no doubt that it wasn’t random. Two once-in-a-lifetime sales taking place on the very same day he got to take part in the Night Auction defined any odds. Someone had deliberately put them for him to see. The question was why.