Lady Isolde's revelation left me dumbfounded. My mind raced to process the shock of discovering that the leader of the mysterious auction house was, indeed, my mother. The awkwardness of my initial comment hung in the air, and I stammered, "Mom? Why... how?"
My mom pulled my ear and furiously said, "I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing here?"
I winced in pain as my ear was firmly grasped. "Ouch, Mom! I'm here on a mission to stop Regulus."
She released my ear, her gaze still piercing. "You always manage to find trouble, don't you? And leave Regulus to me."
I met her gaze and said, "No, mom. I want to catch him."
Mom gave me a stern look, "Magnus, you're still my son, and I won't let you face this danger alone. I will deal with Regulus. You stay put."
I pulled her hand, "But mom, my friends are currently in the auction house."
Mom sighed, relenting a bit. "Fine, I will protect your friends, but promise me you'll stay hidden. This is not a place for a family reunion."
With a swift gesture, she signaled her assistant, a mysterious figure dressed in a hooded cloak. The assistant nodded and motioned for me to follow. We entered a discreet room adjacent to the auction hall.
As the door closed behind me, the assistant spoke in a low, raspy voice, "Lady Isolde's orders. You stay here until further notice. No wandering."
The assistant removed her cloak; she had jet-black hair and wore assassin clothes. She had a deadly scar on her eye. I curiously went close to her and asked, "So who are you?"
The assistant remained silent, her gaze fixed on some hidden point in the room. It was clear that she had no intention of engaging in conversation. The air in the room grew tense, and I began to feel a sense of unease.
I tried again, "I understand you're following orders, but at least tell me your name. Who should I thank for keeping me confined here?"
She continued to be silent, and for a brief minute, I thought I would never get any answers. However, just as I was about to resign from the company, she spoke in a measured tone, "Call me Lyra."
I nodded, grateful for the information. "Lyra. Thank you for at least sharing that much. Do you serve my mother willingly?"
Lyra's eyes flickered with a hint of emotion, but she quickly masked it. "I have my reasons."
I gave her a shocking look, "Oh, did my mother save you?"
Lyra became shocked as she smirked, "It seems like you have inherited the family gene."
I raised an eyebrow, bewildered by Lyra's response. "Inherited the family gene? What does that even mean?"
She leaned against the wall and gave a menacing look, "You see, you resemble your mother's side of the family. Always the smart and cunning ones."
I crossed my arms and said, "I am not cunning. And what do you mean by my mother's side of the family?"
"That story will be told by your mom," she smirked and swung a knife in my direction. I managed to dodge the knife in time.
I took the knife and smirked as I twirled it, "You shouldn't throw things at soon-to-be friends. How does my mom even trust you?"
Lyra gave me a side eye, "What I did to you is not even one percent of what your mother's family does to her."
I raised an eyebrow, still processing Lyra's words. As I twirled the knife in my hand, I couldn't help but wonder about the enigmatic ties my mother had with her lineage.
Lyra's eyes locked onto mine as she stated, "Your mother's family has its share of secrets and intrigues. Lady Isolde trusts me because I've proven my loyalty over time."
I leaned against the wall, contemplating the information. "Loyalty, secrets, and family drama. Sounds like a typical day in the life of Magnus Thaddeus."
Lyra's smirk suggested that my comment wasn't far from the truth.
Inside the auction hall, my friends - Alina, Elijah, and Rowan found themselves in a corner, observing the unfolding auction.
Alina whispered, "This place is fancier than I expected. And more dangerous, I assume."
Elijah nodded, his eyes scanning the room. "We need to stay strong. Regulus might use the chaos of the auction to his advantage."
Rowan remarked, "Let's keep an eye on any artifact. If Regulus is after something, that might be our lead."
As they strategized, the auctioneer's voice resonated through the hall, "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, we present to you a relic of ancient origin, shrouded in mystery and power. Bidding starts at one million gold coins."
The attendees began to raise their paddles, and the bidding war commenced. Alina frowned, "We don't have time for this. Magnus should be here."
As the bidding intensified, Alina's concern deepened. She scanned the room, looking for any sign of my presence. Elijah reassured her, "Magnus knows how to handle himself. We have to focus on the task at hand."
Rowan chimed in, "Right. Let's gather information discreetly. We need to find out if Regulus is among the bidders or if he has other plans."
As the bidding continued, a mysterious figure in a hooded cloak entered the hall. The figure approached the stage and whispered something to the auctioneer. The bidding paused momentarily as the attention shifted to this unexpected arrival.
Alina squinted, "Who's that?"
Elijah replied, "Let's find out. Stay close."
The figure in the hooded cloak began to speak, "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, I bring a unique item of great power not listed in the catalog. Behold, the Tear of Twilight, a crystal infused with Astral energies."
Everyone was shocked by this new revelation.
I looked at the scene which unfolded before me through a small window. During my travels in the Astral realm, I encountered an old slate regarding the Tear of Twilight - it contains a lot of astral energies that allowed the wearer to gain enough power to enter the Astral Realm.
It is dangerous. I thought as I shifted to my Astral form.
Lyra grabbed my body, which fainted due to the separation of my soul. I knew that I could trust her with my body.
I glided towards the center of the auction hall. Suddenly, the mysterious person removed his hood. I was Regulus Mapisto.
Regulus, the mastermind behind the chaos, removed his hood. A wicked smile played on his lips as he spoke, "Ladies and gentlemen, this artifact holds untold power. But power, my friends, comes at a price. Behold!"
With a wave of his hand, Regulus unleashed dark energy, and the Tear of Twilight began to resonate. The atmosphere in the auction hall grew heavy as shadows coalesced, taking the form of menacing demons.
Alina, Elijah, and Rowan witnessed the unfolding mayhem and readied themselves for battle. The attendees panicked, fleeing in fear as the demons wreaked havoc.
As chaos ensued, I seized the opportunity to follow Regulus into the Astral Realm.
Alina, Elijah, and Rowan faced the demonic onslaught in the auction hall.
Alina unleashed her magical prowess, conjuring protective barriers to shield her allies, and drew her sword. Elijah wielded his sword precisely, striking down astral demons with each calculated move. Rowan, skilled in archery, targeted the demons from a distance.
But there was no end to the demon onslaught. The group was exhausted. Suddenly, a powerful magic disrupted the battlefield. A figure clad in a cloak of shifting shadows appeared, wielding magic with authority and familiarity.
The demons recoiled as a commanding voice echoed through the void, "Enough!"
The shadows converged around the mysterious figure, revealing Lady Isolde in her alternate guise. Her eyes gleamed with determination as she unleashed a wave of magic that dispersed the astral demons.
Alina, Elijah, and Rowan found themselves under the protective shield of Lady Isolde's magic. She cast a piercing gaze at each of them, ensuring their safety.
Elijah, recognizing her from our earlier encounter, hesitated but acknowledged her assistance, "You're... Lady Isolde?"
Meanwhile, I followed Regulus through the Astral Realm.
Nyx appeared next to me, her body flickering with astral energy, trapped in the space world that my pendant held. She glared at me, her voice a harsh whisper, "Finally, I can move freely."
I looked at her skeptically, "I never stopped your movements. The place you are living now is smaller than your realm. That's it."
She widened her eyes, "That's the point."
Nyx and I continued our conversation. Suddenly, a dark portal materialized, and Regulus emerged with a sinister grin.
"Well, well, Magnus," Regulus sneered, his eyes glowing with malevolence. "I must admit, I didn't expect you to follow me into the Astral Realm. But now, you've walked right into my hands."
I tensed, realizing the gravity of the situation. Nyx remained wary, conscious of Regulus's strength, even though she was free yet still under my control. He extended his hand, and a dark energy enveloped me, binding me in chains.
Regulus chuckled, "You thought you could challenge me? The Astral Realm is my domain, Magnus. Your little tricks won't save you here."