The auction house exceeded Raith's expectations, at this rate one could just call the black market a magic city.
Beyond the busy marketplace and streets of sales display was a vast land.
The vastness suggested to even the most brilliant of navigators that this is the end of the market. But the vastness was just a farce. An invisible barrier was situated around a particular side and as Mael passed through, the barrier revealed itself with ripples for a brief moment. Raith was getting more confused but followed through anyway.
The building that stood in front of him was colossal even though it was incomplete. Round and surrounded by hundreds of windows.
And lights spiraling all over from different windows and even the environment.
It was a world within a world.
The class of people that Raith could see in this place was different.
Expensive dresses, some are well-kitted in armor, while most of them wore clown masks of different kinds and were donned in elegant tuxedos and gowns as they climbed up the widely spread outdoor stairs that led them to the corridor of the entrance which was defined by towering pillars and masked guards.
"Wow..."
Raith subconsciously muttered.
He was quite familiar with the gatherings of influential people since it was a formality that he had to obey even if he didn't like being around the kind of people he found himself with.
Being in this place made him miss his days as the Dellagado's second son and he was slowly deviating from his lessons from Thard-Harl.
It was hard to not covet redemption with a family like his and the society that surrounds them.
"Pass?"
The tall and ripped guard stopped both of them and stretched forth his hand in a request for something they needed to remit.
Mael looked at the hand of the guard and walked him forward whispering something into his ear. As he came back the guard nodded and let him through.
"Wow, that was unexpected. What did you do there?"
Raith inquired.
"Nothing important really, just some stuff I heard from folks that have been around here a lot."
"Hmm... you seem to know a lot of folks that have been around here a lot. Almost as if you have been here yourself."
"What? Are you doubting my intentions already?"
Mael got stern with him.
"No... I just think there's no need to hide anything for me as friends."
'Unless your intentions are ill'
"See, I'm being honest... all you have seen me do so far. It is because I have heard a lot from people and it is exactly how they say it. Okay, so you chillax and let me help you sell this thing."
Mael said, stopping for a moment and tapping his chest gently before they finally entered.
Entering the building they were met by a massive hall with a flourish of redness, the interior was illuminated that so much light that the darkness outside would seem like a lie, the carpets were red and apart from all the floor which they cover, red curtains with different sigils could be seen hanging from different sides of the walls.
"Oh goodness... it is just like the imperial ballroom... but not as big."
Raith instinctively appreciated what he saw. He could see that whoever built this place was desperately trying to replicate the imperial ballroom of the Pomei Empire which is considered one of the largest buildings in the entire world. Although they were not even close but what they had managed to recreate should not be taken as a joke, this much could spark an all-out war.
The only difference was the five red curtains with different sigils.
The walls were glittering with gold and the chandeliers gave an extra exotic feel to the entire room.
Mael sucked the feeling in the air with a bright smile and a deep inhalation.
Even though his demeanor tried hard to spell out "I am seeing this place for the first place" all Raith could read was, "It's so good to be back"
"Then from here, what do we do?"
Raith asked.
"We should register our items, let's ask around to know where exactly to do that."
'Looks like he's not entirely dumb, he's gonna act it though'
Raith followed him around with a serene composure and allowed only him to do the talking.
The place was filled with people here and there, there was no need for a bold telling before anyone could tell that these were influential people that have gathered for the auction ‐ - it makes sense why they are wearing masks.
While both of them were walking around from person to person inquiring where to get their items registered for the auction and immersed in a river of being neglected every time they asked, a familiar wind swept past Raith.
~sniff~
~sniff~
He wasn't a smell-sensitive person but there is always that time when a cologne leaves so strong an influence that you can't but stop thinking about where you've encountered that fragrance.
Raith's face immediately followed through the breeze and at the end of it was a blond overflowing hair that followed a lady in a tight black gown with a parting on her thigh.
'Where have I —
It didn't take long for Raith to remember where he had encountered the flowery fragrance, although it didn't stand out like this few hours ago in Torpedough bakery, maybe we have the vanilla bread to blame for that.
'The level–O girl'
There was a better way to address her but that was the only thing about her that sank into his memories.
Turning his head back he couldn't find Mael again. His eyes squinted with a furrowed brow as he keenly scanned the increasing crowd for where his scheming friend might have wandered off to.
But it didn't take long before he came back.
"Hey, I've found it."
He tapped Raith from behind.
A normal person would have experienced a certain level of flustered-ness but Raith already felt the tingles from behind micro-seconds before he touched him.
It wasn't a special skill but an experience-born sensitivity.
"Okay let's go."
Right from this moment he began to anticipate the worst.