Smoke clouded his vision and the silence was broken with the coughing sound. On the table, a tiny cauldron fir for only a portion of a potion, an opened tome, and several powdered herbs scattered. Luckily the air for the caugh didn't make more mess because Vega had the chance to create a simple air barrier keeping all of his stuff intact. Yet he recalled his friend who sat in meditation posture on his back and offered an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry." With a simple wave of his hand, the wind gathered around him and blew the smoke out.
"No problem. I quite like the smell," Dion replied still tapping his chest forcing the strange air out.
Vega smiled. Potions were a weird subject. It smelled wonderful yet when consumed, the bitterness overcame his tastebuds. He changed the whole layout of the room. Instead of looking like a normal room, he dedicated the corner to creating his potions. The last time he went out he had to bribe the smaller store to do an underhanded purchase of the ingredients because the guild forced all stores to sell only to potion masters who had been approved. After asking Dion to help him calculate their profit he agreed with the overpriced ingredients just because they needed the money for the upcoming auction.
With his tired eyes that grew heavy from the smoke and not getting enough sleep, the final batch was finally being processed. With the help of brainstorming with the talkative book, he managed to upgrade the quality of his potion. The normally reddish liquid now had a darker luster when held under the gleaming sun. Putting everything inside his ring, he blew the rest of the smoke out and headed toward the bathroom.
The cold water washed over his skin bringing all the fatigue and dirt down with it. With the help of his control over water, he washed his robe feeling the cloth had become thinner from all the washing. He took the tiniest portion of one of his potions to keep him clear-headed and did the rest of his preparation while waiting for Dion to finish his bath. Which was nice considering the noble refused to get help the moment he was able to do things independently.
The first time they opened the door from the inn, they were greeted with a wave of new arrivals that were also coming to the capital for the auction. He scanned the crowds for any suspicious figure but everyone looked suspicious with their own style of clothing that differed with the norms. With nothing else to observe, he sighed and asked, "Are we ready?"
Dion nodded. "Don't forget to keep all the stuff in your ring. More people like this means more crime."
Closing the door behind him, he noticed people staring at his friend because of his bright hair. He focused on his source and emitted his normal pressure as a high-level apprentice that helped shift the attention away. Some knot of tension disappeared, and he promised himself to buy simple magical items for flying. It wasn't nice walking around drawing attention while Dion's background was obvious enough for them to afford flying items. He scanned the sky with envy when several dots on the sky flew above him reaching the towering mountain in the middle of the capital.
"Do you think the other apprentices from the academy would join?"
"Yes, but as a lone wolf, do you think they will know who you are?" Dion joked.
"Of course not. But there's going to be many people there." Vega slapped his friend's shoulder while the ex-knight dramatically clutches his shoulder and screamed. "Stop it!" He pushed the wheelchair and smiled a little.
The mountain where the guild was stood ominously even right after they opened the door. As he feared, the street filled with people already walking toward the structure in groups. Some stores even closed their doors just for the occasion trying their luck to find something from the auction to sell with higher prices. The aura helped them to reach their destination faster and people parted ways when they sensed their aura touched upon their skin.
The capital's formation didn't forbid flying and the sight of high-level apprentices walking instead of flying was really a rare sight. Even the wind shook every time a flying magic item shot toward the mountain.
Under the hot sun, the crowds got separated into two lines when the tall building where all the academies representative resided stood in their way. Two different lines for two different groups. The capital had the main line separating the lower residences and middle residences. They took the left pathway where some of the official robes bearing symbols from their respective academies. Especially the major symbols from the Shoal Blue Sea, Nighthaze, Eight Flame, and Terra Vida attracted many onlookers toward them. While they headed toward the auction house confidently, some of the members felt the pressure when the white cloak passed by them. Even the guild members who were still outside, took their own time walking slowly gaining a lot of attention.
They finally arrived at the tall building and made a queue before the entrance. Two guards checked their invitations and one by one the apprentices went inside the building. The line got shorter and shorter and finally, it was their turn to go in. The building was weird and they followed the line and descended a set of curved stairs until they finally stepped on the natural rocks under their feet.
Because of Dion's wheelchair, Vega walked backward pulling the wheelchair slowly and ignoring the stares from the people in front of him who wasn't patient enough taking their time waiting for them. Emitting higher pressure, Vega forced the people to look away without daring to say anything but pouted in their journey downwards.
When they reached underground, some green lights emitted from the glowing moss in the cave made his hand itch to take out a blade to scrap them but held his hands. He knew from the map the passages led them right under the guild. If his memory was correct, they were right below a wide moat circling the guild building itself. The passages were quite long and there was some water tinkling down from the moat seeping through the cave. Luckily the rocks were sturdy enough to hold the river above them.
They finally arrived in the clearing right inside with some chairs and booths for special guests. Even though their level was enough to afford the chairs but as newcomers who had left all their life behind, their money was not enough to afford even a single seat. After more and more people occupied the space in the huge room, an apprentice floated toward the platform and a bell rang inside.
"Welcome to the annual auction of the Oase del Mare. We are under the guild thanks everyone for their visit."
The platform opened and from under it, a mechanic rose to the surface and brought the first item for the auction. The man opened the cloth covering the items and Vega saw a reflection from the metal that was clear for his eyes to see.
"Our first item was a set of practitioners' flying swords. Their lightness is the perfect material for any crafter to study. The price will start at 10 bronze coins."
While the adepts were bidding with growing numbers, Dion clenched his hand whispered. "The material is even more expensive than a mere bronze."
Vega put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "That's okay. We can't do anything right now." He knew that Dion wanted to buy those swords in regard to his background being a practitioner but he couldn't do anything because the bid reached 15 silvers. Dion stopped him and agreed to keep their money for the more important stuff.
The auction continues and the first few items came from practitioners and even a stack of paper talismans only garnered interest from the crafters and the sigil masters alike to study. All of the items were the result from the war and Dion's face grew redder to keep his emotion in check. When the next object finally appeared, he sighed gladly and listened to the description carefully.
"A magic item for you who has the water affinity," explained the host.
With his limited knowledge, Vega observed and noted that the sigils were too different and simple compared to his own pouch from his grandfather which could mean worse quality. The price climbed fast and finally, the item went to an apprentice with a flowing blue robe for 5 gold.
More and more items came out garnering the attention of all the apprentices who started to bid all their wealth to acquire the magic items that appeared on the stage. From the simple staff to help them cast the easiest spell to trap their enemies until a sword that could float around with their will and slash their enemy from afar. Vega noted that the demonstration was pretty similar to how the practitioners used their flying knives which only meant one thing, the guild had devised another way to use the practitioners' items for adepts to use.
Finally, after a long and arduous time, a simple boat with some sigil for air appeared on the stage. Vega's eyes twinkled when he saw the item and true to his knowledge, the host mentioned a flying magic item. The price climbed fast, and even the intermediate-level apprentices joined the bid to prepare before their advancements.
"10 golds!" Vega finally offered his own price.
"13!"
"15 golds!" He countered while holding his space ring tight.
Several apprentices started to watch the show with interest, but when they felt the aura from both Vega and the other person, they relented and let them fight for the price.
"25 golds! Give up, we the Skidbladnirs would be grateful for your help!" The apprentice shouted staring at his spot.
Vega almost relented. From Dion's explanation, the Goldenhearts and Skidbladnirs were the only ones who had enough finances to counter any major houses.
But Dion raised his hand and finally said, "I'm sorry the fellow from Skidbladnirs, my partner and I need this boat badly. Your cooperation with the Goldenhearts would make it easier to make the item yourself."
"Who--" Before the guy from the member of the Skidbladnirs raised the price, someone whispered in his ears and he stopped ocassional observing the red hue on Dion's hair while considering it was the real deal or only a fake one.
Vega needed to spend 35 golds for a simple piece of flying magic item. And looking at his coins, he was not sure that the leftovers of his coins were enough for more expensive stuff.
While the auction had grown more and more heated, a simple book appeared on the platform. "A diary from the late Silverling Goldenheart. I don't have to tell you how important is this to the Goldenhearts. But they will part with the diary if you can agree with one of their wishes."
The cavern was suddenly grown loud with many people discussing the possibility of the statement. Many thought that when a crafter, especially a family of crafters willing to part with their prized collection, they needed to trade something of equal value.
Even from the VIP booth, none stepped forward to take the bait and all waited until the first person started.
"We need to help them. The Goldenhearts would honor their agreements and their power almost rivaled the Helshounds even as a minor house."
Vega nodded. He recalled one of his nice friends, Philip. Even as a noble, he acted nicely toward him and helped him several times. Even during the last battle in the academy they both almost died together fighting several high-level apprentices at once.
He raised his hand and looking around, people finally agreed to bid on the manual.
"Because this is a special request, we are going to discuss the price privately after the auction is finished." The apprentice nodded toward a spot.
From behind him, Vega felt a tap on his shoulder and someone gave him a single piece of note. He scanned the note, nodded, and put the note away.
The auction continued with more and more expensive items appearing on the platform. One item in particular cost several magic crystals. Vega was also interested in the flask, but the price was too crazy. Even though it was a treasure to help him improve his affinity toward the minor water elements, he didn't have enough money to join the bid. He also noticed that the VIP booth finally started bidding on the items.
After more and more rare items appeared, mostly magic items and potions, the other apprentices could only watch with their mouths agape hearing the price increase higher and higher with more and more noble houses finally joined willing to part with precious magic crystals.
The last items could only be affordable for adepts or even second-level adepts. After the last item was sold for 5000 crystals, the auction finally finished.