Silent shock gripped us for a fleeting moment, the weight of Jean's revelation hanging in the air like an impending storm. The significance of this information settled upon us like a heavy cloak.
"Tonight," I said aloud as if it was reverberating in my mind. It was happening.
"We need to move," Darius's voice cut through the stillness, a command laced with urgency. "Gather what's necessary. We don't have time to waste."
His words spurred us into action, a synchronicity born of shared determination. In a flurry of movement, we dispersed, each seizing upon a variety of tasks. We didn't have much time to waste.
As we each darted around The Den, we grabbed only what was necessary. A few materials to use in an emergency such as Hollow Marbles and various powders. We had been blessed with the experience of taking Fritz Haand on not so long ago making it much easier to figure out our weaknesses in such encounters.
In the frenetic haste that enveloped The Den, a sense of urgency gripped us all. The impending night, pregnant with danger and possibilities, demanded swift action. I darted to the corner where I kept my Huntsman uniform, but before my fingers could touch the fabric, Fleur's voice cut through the commotion.
"Elias, disguises would be wiser," she asserted, her gaze locking onto mine. "Our usual black attire would scream suspicion amidst the crowds. We need to blend in."
That made sense. King may know of us coming but there might be other figures that we should be hiding our presence from.
Lucas approached, his quick strides betraying his urgency. "Savile Row Tailors supplies our uniforms. They could provide the necessary outfits if necessary," he suggested to Fleur.
She nodded decisively. "That sounds like a plan. Lucas, head to the tailors quickly. Pick out varied outfits for each of us. Savile Row should already have our measurements as well. I'll get Darius to pick up the bill later."
His departure was swift, leaving us to organize the rest of the unfolding chaos.
"Fleur," Darius's voice resonated with authority, "the layout of the markets. Enlighten us."
Her eyes glazed over momentarily, a depth of knowledge seeping into her words. "It's expansive," she began, her voice an echo of familiarity. Fleur, with a mastery borne of familiarity, outlined the labyrinthine layout of the expansive underground markets.
"We will also need an escape plan. After getting ahold of the pages, there are multiple exits that only a few people are aware of. Thankfully I have been aware of them for a long time. They should still be available." she emphasized, her knowledge of the markets extending beyond mere layout.
Her extensive knowledge intrigued me. Fleur's proficiency in navigating the markets suggested either a history entwined with its depths or a frequent visitor. Her hidden past or expertise? I couldn't discern.
As Fleur charted the hidden pathways, Lucas returned, three tailored outfits over his arms like a banner of fabric.
"For me," Lucas presented a distinguished blue three-piece suit with a brown jacket. "For Fleur," he revealed a sleek black suit adorned with a crimson jacket, an emblem of sophistication. Then, turning his attention to me, he offered a more inconspicuous ensemble—various browns woven into a relaxed outfit with a trench coat. It resonated with a familiarity that mirrored my past style.
Having a more unspectacular outfit to the others would aid in moving eyes away from me and onto them. It worked out perfectly.
Caius, perplexed by the absence of his own outfit, voiced his confusion. "Why not one for me?"
Fleur, ever composed, approached him with a measured explanation. "Caius, your presence won't go unnoticed inside. You aren't an arcanist. Without the distinction, even with an invite, they won't allow you inside the markets."
Disappointment momentarily shadowed Caius's face, yet determination soon took its place. "Makes sense," he conceded. "I'll keep watch outside. I know the exits; I'll ensure a clear path for our escape."
After a lengthy discussion on strategy, the afternoon sun was beginning to go down. It was a good time to head out and begin our mission.
With a newfound determination, Lucas, Fleur and I each don our rather fashionable disguises and walked out of the Den, followed by the rest of the team. Our eyes on the outside.
"Tonight," I murmured to myself, the gravity of those words sinking in. Our fate was entwined with the imminent auction—a venture fraught with uncertainty, danger, and the weight of clandestine secrets.
The carriage ride to the entertainment district was swift, yet each bump of the wheels seemed to echo the anticipation bubbling within. Lucas, Fleur, and I traversed the pink-coloured streets, the fading sunlight of the cool afternoon casting elongated shadows across the cobblestones.
As we neared the entrance to the underground markets, the atmosphere shifted. The once bustling streets gave way to a throng of people congregating at the entryway. It seemed the imminent auction had drawn a substantial crowd, arcanists and onlookers alike.
Navigating through the bustling masses, we approached the door, familiar guards donning their telltale white masks and trench coats stationed by the entrance.
Recognition sparked in the guards' eyes as they laid sight upon Fleur. Her assurance that King had sanctioned her entry earned a nod of acknowledgment between them.
"King told me I could bring them in," Fleur indicated, gesturing towards Lucas and me.
A momentary pause hung in the air before the guards relented without a word, granting us passage into the concealed depths of the underground markets.
Stepping inside, the ambience hit me differently from my prior visits. It was far busier with unrecognizable faces in distinctive clothing that was most definitely not from the Leode area. Many incognito arcanists must've travelled far for such an event. It made sense when Darius said it had been a long time since an event like this had happened.
There was a long makeshift stage set up at the back of the markets made out of wooden beams. It had chairs set to the side and next to the stage was the door to likely King's office. Where I had seen him the first time at these markets underneath the floorboards.
To make space for the crowds of arcanists piling in, all of the usual market stalls had either been moved to the sides and outskirts of the market, or completely removed. Nobody would be paying attention to them anyway since much more eye-catching produce was going to be on display.
"Eli, we need to blend in and spread out. When they bring out the pages, you make your way near the front by the door. I'll be nearby in case something goes awry." Fleur said as a final precaution. We had now seen the layout of the newly set up markets so last-minute adjustments were foreseen.
Fleur turned to Lucas who looked ready. "You need to keep an eye out for anyone else either looking for us or looking at us. We don't know who could already know of our plan and could be looking to screw it up."
Lucas nodded with an assurance on his face. A much more serious look than I had seen before. This time he was completely determined as was the rest of us.
The throngs of arcanists flooded the space, their murmurs and animated conversations weaving an intricate tapestry of sound. Amidst the chatter, it seemed unlikely anyone would hear our discreet exchanges, unless, of course, some ability enabled it.
Amidst the sea of expectant faces, a commanding voice reverberated from the elevated wooden stage. Our gazes gravitated upward, drawn to the enigmatic figure with his long white hair and multi-coloured eyes.
"Ladies and gentlemen, arcanists and seekers of the unknown! Welcome to this auspicious evening," he proclaimed, his words dancing through the air, captivating the audience's attention.
"Welcome to those who have travelled long and far, drawn together by the allure of mysteries, of secrets unveiled and treasures to be revealed. I welcome our esteemed guests, to the locals and my humble regular customers, to patrons old and new of the mystical underground markets!" King's gestures were grand, encompassing the vastness of the gathered assembly.
As King continued his extended introduction, Fleur, Lucas, and I exchanged a subtle nod. It was our cue to disperse into the crowd and separate, navigating through the bustling arcanists, each of us with a purpose—blending in while navigating toward our designated positions.
King took a slow puff from his pipe and blew it out into the air before continuing."For those who don't know me, I am the one who stands tall inside this palace made of shadows and secrets. The one that makes these underground markets thrive. I am the enigmatic King."
Cheering from all around me came about as King made his announcement to the world. Like a cacophony of noise coming from everywhere as I navigated past a sea of bodies crying out towards the wooden stage.
His mighty voice echoed, punctuated by the eager roars of the amassed crowd, a chorus of anticipation swirling around me. I edged through the maze of arcanists, their excited chatter melding into a symphony of voices, each vying for attention.
The bidding hadn't even begun, yet the fervour in the atmosphere crackled with energy. My steps were deliberate, weaving through the myriad of bodies. I wasn't even halfway to my intended position up near the front when King commenced the auction, his proclamation cutting through the mounting anticipation.
"I present to you tonight's first offering," King's voice boomed, commanding the attention of the gathered assembly.
One of the white-masked guards wheeled out a table with an object on top, covered by a small cloth. With a swift and flashy action, King whipped off the cloth to reveal the first item up for grabs.
"Flesh-eating gold!" King's booming voice reverberated through the crowded space, his words a magnet for the eager crowd's attention.
My steps faltered momentarily as I caught sight of the ghastly item. A golden skull encircled by writhing tendrils of gilded substance—animate, pulsating like a living entity confined within its glass encasement. A shiver slithered down my spine, grateful for the barrier separating me from its ominous allure.
Swiftly pushing through the throngs of bidding arcanists, I diverted my focus, intent on my assigned task amidst the flurry of frenzied activity.
King's voice melded into the discordant symphony of bids and raised hands, the auction gaining momentum with each successive item presented.
"Bidding starts at 500 gold!" King's announcement sent ripples through the assembled masses, igniting a cacophony of offers from every corner.
"1000!"
"2000!"
"2500!"
"2800!"
"2900!"
The rapid-fire bids clashed, a crescendo of voices swirling around me, creating a chaotic backdrop to the proceedings.
"5000 gold!" A single resounding bid cut through the noise, prompting a pause in the bidding war.
"Sold!" King's voice boomed triumphantly, his pipe pointing toward a figure in the crowd.
I watched as the guard wheeled the cart off stage and could be seen taking the glass case through the door next to the stage. Where King's office was. It was going to be tricky to get inside to get the pages afterwards but that's where it must be.
With quick thinking, I brushed past a few shouting bodies and used my fractured sight on them to see more of the auctions' future. With just a blink, I could see a webbed scene of the stage, with King shouting towards the crowd as expected. The glass case with the pages was still up on stage as I had seen in my previous fracture, but for some reason, I couldn't see further.
As King's booming voice continued to announce the auction's items, the relentless rhythm of bids and sales persisted. Each item, a relic or a rarity, incited fervent competition among the arcanists, driving the tempo of the auction to a frenzied crescendo of noise.
"Tritons' Ointment!"
"Aged Goodbery Wine from Aurich!"
"Foggy Emerald from the Ira Hills!"
"Venom of a Deepwater Riversnake!"
"An Executioner's Blade from the Oberia Kingdom!"
"Dustsuit from Hukros!"
Finally, once the last item was sold and taken into the office, King brought everyone to a hush and took a long puff from his pipe.
King's imposing figure commanded attention as he addressed the buzzing crowd, his words carrying weight and consequence.
"Ladies and gentlemen," his voice boomed, resonating through the hall. "Our next offerings are a rarity—unique, exquisite, and not for the faint of heart. So, those with shallow pockets, I implore you, do not attempt to grasp at the unattainable."
His proclamation stirred whispers among the attendees, a sense of anticipation palpable in the air.
As I maneuvered nearer to the front of the gathering, my senses heightened. I halted, almost shoulder to shoulder with the fervent audience, granting me an unobstructed view of the stage. I was only a few meters away from the stage. A perfect distance for when I needed to sneak to King's office.
"There have been rumours, my friends," King's voice boomed, a sly smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Rumors often carry grains of truth. Some may have speculated about this auction, some may have talked about someone here tonight..."
The crowd began erupting, a chorus of voices vying to affirm King's words. Yet, King, ever the showman, settled the fervour with a well-timed gesture, taking another deliberate puff from his pipe.
"These next items," King's voice cut through the murmur, "have been assembled exclusively by the new supplier for our esteemed markets."
I tried to peer into the future again by brushing against someone once more, a quick attempt to unveil what lay ahead, to see if the pages were to be wheeled off stage and into the office. But the fracture kept getting cut short, giving me the same scene I had seen before once again.
As the murmurs in the crowd swelled, King's theatrics held the audience in rapt attention.
"And now," King declared, his tone carrying an air of reverence, "I present to you the architect of this evening's spectacles, our new supplier, Xerces!"
The crowd's buzz crescendoed into an eager uproar as a figure emerged from the shadows, walking purposefully to King's side up on the wooden stage.
In that instant seeing him, I knew for a fact I had seen Xerces before.