A crescent moon hung low in the sky, its pale light casting a gentle glow across the landscape.
It traced the heavens while dancing its eternal duet, but the performance was nearing its conclusion. The distant horizon signalled the arrival of morning, the hues of a rising sun chasing away the night.
A set of boots shifted beneath the changing sky. Their footsteps were light.
Despite being punched for laces, the boots bore no strings. Laces were unnecessary, anyway. Their tight fit was enough to prevent them from slipping off their owner's feet, there was no need to secure them further.
The owner of the boots rubbed her bare hands together, snuggling deeper into her coat. She was not well dressed for the cold weather. What might've been acceptable in a warmer climate didn't work at all in the morning chill of a foreign land.
A strained yawn escaped the girl's lips, and she waved away the clouds of vapour that formed in the cold air.
The young girl had no destination in mind, only a vague direction. Now, as the morning light began to filter through the streets, she began to regret skipping sleep. Even so, she remained firm in her decision; the thought of waking up to an empty abode was one she did not relish.
If a little tiredness was the price to pay, then so be it.
She continued along the cobbled pavement, observing the passing structures to pass the time. It was familiar architecture, but on a grander scale than anything in her homeland. The buildings stood tall and imposing, each a testament to the prosperity and power of this city. She could tell that the bricks hummed with runes of strength. The roofs were steeply sloped; the higher they climbed, the more prestigious the home.
The morning streets were already bustling with activity, as one would expect from a free city.
Market stalls lined the road, and vendors were already preparing food for early risers, while others jangled their novelty souvenirs to attract the attention of tourists. Merchants shouted out to passersby, offering their wares. The girl listened carefully, picking out snippets of conversation: "Baked bread for two gild!", "A shipment of salted fish!", "Fine-quality furs!", and so on.
She kept a steady pace.
The bitter cold tempted her to stop and buy a scarf or a pair of gloves, but the night was almost over. And she did not intend on staying in this land for long; at best, additional garments would only make the trip back more troublesome.
Her funds were running low, and the hastily packed satchel slung around her shoulder had already grown uncomfortably light. Not that it was usually brimming with gild anyway, but she had taken many pains to ensure there was enough for the journey.
Distracting herself from monetary woes, she followed the bend in the street, and she found herself at the edge of a small square.
Under her feet, carefully placed tiles appeared to converge upon a single point, surrounded by buildings whose sole purpose seemed to be to direct the gaze toward the middle of the space.
A grand feature rose proudly into the sky as the centrepiece; her eyes were unavoidably focused to the apex of its spire.
The girl's eyes were drawn to the fountain piece's intricate spire, which was topped with golden statues of people facing the sky. Streams of water poured from their outstretched palms, cascading into a basin below.
Carved into its marble base, delicate gold lettering formed a mantra she'd read in the confines of her library innumerable times.
The words felt strange on her lips as she silently mouthed them.
The glimmer of adventure in the girl's eyes faded, replaced by a mix of apprehension and shame. Despite these emotions, the girl was compelled to approach. The fountain goaded her closer, an ephemeral voice whispering in her ear to advance. She felt the statue's gaze follow her every step from the edge of the plaza to its centre, judging her.
Something gnawed away at her spirit, and by the time she reached its base, her gaze was fully lowered and fixed on the water below. The statues on the fountain were proud, graceful, and dignified, but the face staring back at her from the water was none of those things.
As she stood before the fountain, she lingered on the surface of the water. Despite the streams trickling from above, the surface was still. No ripples marred its tranquil surface, with even the splashes inaudible to the ear.
An excessive use of magic, the girl bristled with quiet envy. In the first place, enchantments that altered sound or conjured illusions were considered military technology. At least, that is what she suspected this fountain had been imbued with. She could never trust her judgement on magical things.
Juliana's hand trembled slightly as she reached out to touch the surface of the water—she wished to be rid of the reflection staring back. Swishing her hand from side to side, the water disobeyed her command, unyielding in its perfection. It was as if the liquid hadn't even noticed that it had been touched in the first place.
The girl withdrew her hand from the basin and wiped away the water clinging to her hand.
"..."
It was only then that Juliana realised how strange it must've looked to the bystanders. A girl attempting to vandalise a sacred monument by waving her hands around in it.
A red blush descended upon her face simultaneously as she panicked, trying to figure out what to do. After brief deliberation, she clumsily positioned herself on the edge of the fountain's basin, trying to make the action appear as natural as possible. Unfortunately, it dawned on her a little too late that sitting on the monument was just as bad.
She shrank from the curious gazes of pedestrians who seemed puzzled by the girl's actions. She attempted to avoid eye contact by pulling the hood of her cloak over her head.
She did not stop to consider that becoming a hooded figure was perhaps the least productive thing she could've done at that moment.
This was a serious predicament.
She contemplated standing up and leaving, but that would've just appeared more unnatural. People would think she was fleeing the scene… it was simply too incriminating!
Having run out of options, the girl resigned herself to defeat. Beaten by some invisible force that made her every decision somehow worse than before. Had her reflection really caused such panic? She settled on pretending to be deep in thought (as best as a hooded figure could convey that message), hoping nobody would approach her.
Tilt her head, place a contemplative hand upon her chin, cross her legs…
As Juliana finally began to calm down, somebody ended up approaching her.
"Have you come to give thanks as well?" The sudden voice almost made her fall backward into the fountain. She quickly regained her balance, and looked up at the man standing in front of her. He wore a simple garb that covered his entire body, with oversized sleeves to match. The only outstanding feature about the man's attire was a golden pendant wrapped around his neck, recognisable to any human.
"A-Ah, priest!"
Juliana sprung to her feet and bowed.
The priest's face broke into a smile as he placated the flustered girl.
"Haha, no need to stand on ceremony," he said, pointing to the statues. "I am sure they do not mind sparing a seat for a weary one."
"Of course—of course!" Juliana replied, trying to remember what the priest had asked. "And yes! I, umm, I was here to give thanks."
She couldn't help but feel like a fraud, but she didn't have a choice. She did not relish lying to a member of the clergy; even if it was a harmless lie. Juliana knew she looked suspicious, but the priest didn't seem to point it out.
"Ah, good! Starting your day so early, and with such devotion at that! I applaud such dedication; it fills my heart with great joy that I can be confident the future generations will continue to uphold the ideals bestowed upon us by our great founders."
"T-Thank you," Juliana replied hesitantly, though she could not help but feel that she was being mocked somehow. She knew that she didn't embody such ideals in the slightest.
She waited for the priest to continue, but he remained silent, looking at her expectantly. Juliana realised she was supposed to proceed with her prayer.
"Erm," she turned to face the fountain, her voice unsure. She reached into her satchel and dug through various items, before withdrawing five golden coins. Looking back for the priest's approval, she was filled with dismay at seeing his goading expression.
Surely you could spare some more? That was the message his face seemed to convey.
She turned back to the fountain, hiding her grimace with a weak smile. She rummaged through her satchel again, and her heart progressively sank as she withdrew coin after coin.
In her hands, a total of ten gild rested in her palms.
She looked back at the priest, who nodded sagely at the sight of her heftier offering. Her stomach churned; was this punishment for lying to the priest? She was forgoing a week's worth of her budget just to keep up this front for this priest? Even if the gods did respond to her prayer, no matter how powerful they were, divine intervention was useless if the recipient starved to death!
Clutching her fists, the smooth edges of the coins dug into her palms.
Her eyes squeezed shut, and her lips pursed. She began:
"B-By the grace of the founders, the grace of humanity, I petition to you, O' Founders, for a blessing," Juliana paused to swallow. "A petition—that I may… that I could…"
Her words faltered, and her request was left unspoken.
"…"
She opened her eyes and stared at the fountain in silence. The priest remained silent too. The two of them stood like that for a while, until Juliana stepped forward.
"…P-Please accept my offering…"
She hurriedly dropped the coins into the basin, watching closely as they broke the mirror surface, tumbling deep into the water; metallic clinks reduced to a dull echo. Again, the water did not react, remaining perfectly still.
Juliana felt the weight of her failure pressing down on her chest.
Clearing his throat, the priest spoke comfortingly.
"That was a fine prayer." His voice was kind. "You know how to address our founders properly, but I got the impression you were inexperienced... A foreigner? No. The human nations are all versed in our traditions," the priest stated. "Where are you from, young lady?"
"Um…" Juliana hesitated at the priest's question.
She nudged her satchel over her shoulder, bringing it to her front side. Unfastening its shroud she lifted the flap, presenting careful embroidery inside to the priest. The priest's eyes sparkled upon recognising the symbol, sewn with threads of gold.
"Ah, that explains it! A branch family… My sincere apologies for my rash assumption; asking you to seek out your ancestors must've been an odd experience for one such as yourself. Divinity has no need to pray, for they are blessed with their own miracles!"
"No, I—I'm actually…" Juliana trailed off, unable to find the words.
"Do not fret, my lady," the priest said. "The mistake was mine. Your modest appearance is most deceptive, a most excellent disguise!" He chuckled softly. "It seems our heroes wish to see my humility tested today. A welcome trial, I say!"
Juliana made a complicated face in response to the priest's unabashed praise; it felt wrong to be on the receiving end of even a single compliment.
"My lady, there is no need to be embarrassed; we are no strangers to welcoming guests of your standing. While it's been getting busy in this humble city, I wager you're here for the exhibition, aren't you? I shall take it upon myself to make sure you are well cared for, and that your troubles are eased if that is the case."
'Exhibition?'
Juliana's ears perked up. "Is that—ah, yes! I was going! I was…" she looked at the fountain, then back at the priest. "I don't have an invitation…"
"You don't? That cannot be right." The priest shook his head. "No matter. However busy they may be, the organisers have some explaining to do. Nevertheless, I cannot help but feel our meeting was by design, my lady! We've had many visitors; many pilgrims! You are more than deserving of attending this grand event!"
The priest extended his arm to the girl.
"As this free city's humble servant, it is my pleasure to invite you," he said. "To rectify my presumptuous mistake, I will see to it that the Grand Exhibition will welcome my lady with open arms!"
Juliana's eyes hesitated as she regarded the priest's outstretched hand—a gesture that was both enticing and intimidating at the same time.
She did not mull for long.
It was exactly what she wanted; an opportunity to prove her worth. To be seen, to be acknowledged, to participate as one of them. The Grand Exhibition was the only reason her parents could have sent her here. They were testing her. If she returned with something, a relic of her dynasty, or perhaps some sort of artefact, surely that would be enough for them to finally accept her?
She seized the opportunity with both hands.
"I accept!" Juliana shouted.
The priest smiled broadly. "Excellent! Let us make haste then!" He turned to face the fountain. "The first step of any journey is to set foot upon the path; and it is now my duty to see you to the Exhibition!"
"Thirty thousand gild, one hundred and ninety-eight!"
"Thirty thousand, one hundred and ninety-nine!"
Juliana, sat in the packed auditorium and watched the battling bidders with increasing dread. They were negotiating prices—not for the exhibits, but merely for the seats themselves.
At some point, they even started poaching one another for cushions, arm rests, and foot stands in an attempt to drain the stamina of competing bidders. Those with the comfiest seats would last longest in the battle for prestige.
'...'
The closer to the front they sat, the more successfully one could inspect items and make appropriate offers. Those who sat in the back would have to solely rely on the host's description of the item, disadvantaged by distance.
For someone like Juliana, who had little knowledge of the items that would be put on display, this was a problem.
The eye-watering amounts of gild being flaunted even before the event started made her head spin. Servants hauling bags of gold or promissory notes around for their masters ran up and down the aisle stairs, handing off currency to those willing to give up their coveted seats.
This was madness; she was deeply thankful to the priest who had negotiated a seat for her—she had no idea how much of her life savings she would have given up otherwise. In retrospect, the ten gold spent winning the priest's support had proved to be well worth the investment.
Juliana's confidence, however, was dwindling. She had brought with her in her satchel one hundred gild. At the time, she was sure that was enough to purchase a decent trinket. Now, she was forced to admit that she had greatly underestimated the wealth of those in her company.
Of course, the event was a charity auction. Not only did you get to flaunt your 'benevolence', but doing so was tax deductible!
She looked around, trying to get a sense of the crowd. Juliana was positioned near the rear of the hall, and the people around her dressed relatively reasonably, save for the masquerade masks they sported. As her eyes drifted down the aisle, the clothes got more and more gaudy, and masks, more and more complicated. What was the point of remaining anonymous when you were adorned with phoenix feathers?!
She fiddled with the complimentary mask she received when she entered the room. In comparison to some, it was plain. At least it wasn't uncomfortable.
"Forty thousand!"
As the prices continued to climb, Juliana's shoulders slumped. How was she going to buy anything worthwhile? Even the most ordinary objects would be snatched up for prestige alone. It was a far cry from her expectations when she first heard of the exhibition. She thought it would be like the markets at home—a place where merchants and traders could meet and conduct business, with a bit of carnival thrown in. Instead, she saw the true face of commerce: a fierce competition between those who could afford the most and those who couldn't.
Juliana's freshly filled satchel, which seemed heavy an hour ago, may as well have been empty.
Her shoulders drooped lower as the evening progressed, with more people arriving as the bidding began in earnest. She was not the only one who looked crestfallen—the faces of nearby noblemen and women were all glum too, accepting their defeat.
Her mind imagined the items she could have proudly presented to her family; the ones that would have earned both admiration and recognition, rather than their scorn. An ancient ledger detailing the military exploits of one of the heroes, a painting of the founding of the first city…
Instead, she would be returning with nothing to show, and a feeling of shame began to cloud her mind—shame for having disappointed the kind priest, and shame for having been foolish enough to think she would be recognised as one of their own.
As the evening progressed, the atmosphere grew tense; the final item on the day's itinerary was displayed, and bidders competed for the honour of making the last bid of the day.
How much more were they willing to spend?
There was a sick sense of curiosity to see what was the limit. A dazzling gemstone was brought on stage, resting on a shiny platter and encased in glass. As large as a fist, its sparkling exterior could be seen from even the back of the auditorium. The host gave the usual spiel, telling of its origins and history. According to what she'd heard, it was difficult to see the gemstone serving as anything more than a display piece. Despite this, it would probably reach twenty—no, thirty—thousand gild.
"Bidding begins at two hundred thousand gild!"
Juliana almost choked. Her eye twitched as the starting price was declared, and the audience buzzed with excitement.
Her shock did not fade as the gemstone reached a value of one million. The crowds cheered at passing the magic number, like a wave breaking over a beach. Bid volumes surged once again with the golden number overcome. The bidding was more of a spectacle than anything else, and the true worth of the item lost in the rush of simply hearing the numbers go up.
Despite her best efforts, Juliana couldn't help but feel a little envious. For the kind of wealth and power that these people had access to, they didn't need to participate in the auction to prove themselves. It was all vanity. In the face of such extravagance, her jealousy climbed in step with each price increase.
She looked toward the competing bidders near the front, their intoxicated silhouettes brimming with excitement and greed. She wondered if it was as fun as it looked—to spend so much on something that amounted to a shiny rock.
Focusing on the rock itself, she hoped to find some beauty that she could appreciate. But all she saw was a paperweight, unworthy of the attention it was receiving. The centre of attention; generational wealth put down to stake a claim.
"Five million gild!"
When she thought about how easily the host's flattery had whipped the bidders into a frenzy, she felt a tinge of resentment.
"Sold! To that gentleman over there; number sixteen!"
As the gavel fell, she snapped out of her reverie, the host motioning to a member in the front row, the servant beside him holding up a paddle.
She did not consider for a moment that the noble had reserved a seat for both himself and his servant. Her attention lay solely on the price that had been announced.
Five million? An amount far too high for a rock.
And in that same instant, the impractical, heavy piece of decor had somehow transformed into the world's greatest jewel, the envy of every participant in the room. Juliana didn't want to believe it—that the concept of value could be so fickle. She clutched her satchel tightly. Could a hundred gild buy more than its own worth? She did not know the answer. To Juliana, it seemed that money always bought something worth less.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? The first day of our grand auction has come to a close, and it has been a pleasure to act as your host tonight. I extend my congratulations to all of today's winners. Your donations today help our many charitable organisations throughout the continent. Now, for transactions and collections, a dedicated team will assist you in the lobby. We hope to see you tomorrow for the second day of the Grand Exhibition, and—what's this?"
Juliana observed a lone staff member shuffle onto the scene, attempting to draw as little attention as possible. Unfortunately, the stage was so brightly-lit that not standing out was impossible. Hastily handing the host a sturdy clipboard, the extra whispered something into the host's ear before slinking away. The host's eyes widened as he read the attached note, motioning others to his side.
What followed was a flurry of activity; the staff carefully removed the gemstone from its pedestal, leaving an empty space on stage. Juliana was not the only one who noticed the shift in mood; the entire hall was quiet, both confused and excited.
The host cleared his throat.
"Ahem, I have been informed that a last-minute item has been added to our list!"
A last-minute item?
Juliana frowned at the news. She was looking forward to finally escaping the stuffy hall after sitting still for hours. She wanted to stretch her legs—and maybe grab a bite to eat if she found something cheap.
"Now, I'm afraid we don't have much information on this mystery item. However, why, look here! The anonymous donor has submitted a reserve price! To the discerning amongst you, this should shed some light on its value!"
Another ruse, that was it.
While her parents believed they could keep her in the dark forever, she caught glimpses of the meetings held in the manor. If there was one thing she knew about the upper nobility, it was that they loved showing off, and the announcer knew it too.
Those who missed their chance with the prized gemstone didn't want to face defeat again; a game of one-upmanship, enabled by this 'surprise'.
"Let's see... bidding starts at…"
Juliana shook her head; she had no intention of staying around if prices continued to climb. Her budget was a hundred gild. A mere hundred gild. A day ago, she would've been proud to call it her 'secret life savings', an amount that had taken meticulous effort to gather under the scrutiny of her family.
The young girl pushed off of the velvet-bound seat, prepared to make her leave when—
"O-One... One gild."
—She stopped.
Huh?
Juliana's eyes snapped onto the stage, blinking in confusion. Did she hear correctly? One gild? It was quite difficult to hear clearly from the back.
"One gild he said?!" A voice from the crowd yelled.
"..."
Juliana quickly reseated herself.
"W-Well, isn't this a surprise! Tonight has been full of surprises, don't you agree?"
The host moved to placate the audience, and she felt a brief spark of hope in her chest. She eyed the competition around and ahead, noting their indignant reactions. The item's starting price was an insult to them, apparently.
"Bidding begins at just one gild!"
Juliana did not think about it too much. Who cared if the starting price was low? She finally had a chance to bid on something!
Her eyes twinkled as the host seemed to fail at consoling the audience. Her chances improved with each protest, one less bidder to compete against.
"N-Now then, what could this mysterious item be? Even I am at a loss to guess."
It made no difference to her what the item was. It could be some common rock and it'd have the same utility as that gemstone: something to put on top of the hallway dressing table. She'd be able to prove her worth as long as she got something—anything.
She, however, dismissed those thoughts. It was ludicrous to think they would present a commonplace item like a rock. If it was here at the Grand Exhibition, it was valuable!
"Don't keep us waiting; bring it out!" The host snapped his fingers.
Slowly, the red curtains parted, and a hush fell over the audience. At first, only a corner peeked through the split. Juliana recognised the silver glint of a metal cage—the ones that had frequently been used throughout the day.
As more of the cage was revealed to the audience, the murmuring quickly grew into an incomprehensible rabble. A harsh spotlight flooded the cage with light, revealing…
… A demihuman?
It was a poorly looking thing; even Juliana could tell from her spot in the back of the auditorium. Scruffy, oily black hair; thin, weak limbs. Its face betrayed a mix of delirium and dread. It was a stark contrast to the well-groomed, tidy slaves she'd seen auctioned off earlier.
"...Kghk. W-What is the meaning of this—?" The host boomed.
Juliana did not raise her hand.
She did not want it.
The demihuman was sickly, like it could drop dead at any moment. Were slaves not supposed to lighten the load of their masters? All she saw was a liability. A drain.
"Ahhh—! Who is responsible for bringing such a lowly thing to this sacred occasion?! This is intolerable! Disgraceful!"
Juliana stared at the caged beast as the host berated it. She supposed everybody else in the room was also staring at it. And she supposed that everybody else agreed with her.
One gild was too high a price for the demihuman.
But then, she paused. Were those not awfully familiar words?
Five million gild was too high a price for a rock.
"…"
Strange, the girl thought. Was this not the same thing?
Value.
Determined only by the emotions of the people purchasing it.
Just as someone valued the rock at five million, surely one of the thousands here would value the demihuman at a single gild…
"Please, please! If you will all please settle down! Rest assured, this incident will be thoroughly investigated!"
… Nobody did.
Juliana bit her lip as she calculated. She wasn't good with these kinds of things.
She wanted to go back home.
Back to her room, to her library.
And yet…
The disdainful faces of her family resurfaced, accompanied by those painful memories. To them, was she any different from a potential corpse? Was she worth even a single gild to them?
"Handlers, take it back! Take it back!"
Was she any different from this demihuman?
The girl raised her hand.
"O-One gild for the black cat."
Juliana supposed she was worth at least this much.