Scams are like bad dates—you realize the mistake just as they're walking away with your wallet.
They continued their exploration, weaving through the crowd of attendees. Livius occasionally paused to exchange murmured words with fellow mages and collectors, his network of contacts proving invaluable in gathering information.
As they approached a particularly guarded section of the salon, Rolo's curiosity peaked. Behind reinforced glass were artifacts that seemed to pulse with their own inner light, their presence commanding respect from those around them.
Iris, who had been stealthily gathering intelligence, approached them with a subtle nod. She had managed to glean useful tidbits about upcoming bids and potential rival buyers without drawing undue attention to herself.
"Iris," Livius greeted her quietly. "Any valuable insights?"
Iris nodded, her eyes glinting with determination. "The earring is set to be auctioned. It's garnered a lot of interest."
Livius's brows furrowed slightly. "Any notable contenders?"
"Several," Iris replied cryptically. "We're not the only ones with an eye on it."
Rolo looked around. "What's our move?"
Livius assessed the competition and the security measures in place. "We bid strategically. Iris, you go to the podium and blend in with the workers. In case we lose, you collect the information of the highest bidder for the item."
"Yes, my lord."
Just then, a bell rang, signaling the start of the main event. Rolo and Livius followed the crowd out of the salon and into the grand auction hall. The room was circular, with balconies rising in tiers around the central stage. Each balcony was filled with figures, their identities hidden by their hoods but their importance clear from their positions.
Livius's attention was drawn to a group of hooded-veiled figures on one of the balconies above. Their identities concealed, they observed the proceedings below with a detached air of superiority. Livius noted their positions and exchanged nods with some, acknowledging their presence in the arcane hierarchy.
Rolo's eyes widened at the sight of the grand hall adorned with elaborate tapestries and shimmering chandeliers. The walls were lined with displays showcasing a dazzling array of magical artifacts, each guarded by an enchantment that hinted at its power.
Rolo couldn't help but notice the meticulous seating arrangement that reflected the hierarchy among the attendees. The most esteemed mages and collectors occupied the front rows, their status dignified by their proximity to the auction podium. Livius, unmistakable with his small stature yet commanding aura of magic, led Rolo to seats in the front row, a position that underscored his influence and authority.
They took their seats. From their vantage point, they could see the stage best.
Rolo observed the diverse crowd of mages and collectors. Each person exuded a distinct magical aura, a unique signature that marked their identity and abilities. Some mages cast curious glances at Rolo, intrigued by his presence among the elite. They sensed his lack of outward magical presence, a rarity among those of his stature, and this piqued their interest even further. As Rolo waited, he could clearly feel scrutinized by unseen eyes, the weight of expectations and unknown intentions hanging in the air.
Throughout the hall, murmurs of anticipation and excitement filled the air as attendees awaited the auction to commence. Rolo felt a mix of nerves and exhilaration, his mind racing with the possibilities that lay ahead. The atmosphere was thick with tension and anticipation. The attendees quieted, their attention focused on the stage where the artifacts would soon be presented.
The auctioneer, a tall and imposing figure with a commanding presence, stepped onto the stage. His voice echoed through the hall as he welcomed everyone and explained the rules. The artifacts would be presented one by one, and bids would be made not only with money but with magical services and favors as well.
Livius leaned in close to Rolo, his voice barely audible. "This is where it gets interesting. Pay attention to the bids. It will give us a sense of what we're up against."
Rolo nodded, his eyes fixed on the stage as the first artifact was brought out. It was an ornate dagger, its blade glowing with a faint, eerie light. The auctioneer began the bidding, and I listened intently as the offers came in. Each bid was more extravagant than the last, ranging from powerful enchantments to rare spell ingredients.
As the auction continued, various artifacts were presented. Livius bid on a few items, winning some intricate artifacts that caught his eye.
Livius looked at Rolo, contemplating for a moment. "Don't you want to buy anything?"
Rolo shrugged. He was always broke.
"You can choose something. It's on me," offered the mage.
Rolo looked at the Sorcerer Lord with wide eyes. "What?"
"Choose an artifact," repeated the Sorcerer Lord. "I'll buy it for you as an apology for my unwanted scrutiny."
"I'm okay..."
"Don't be shy," said Livius. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Rolo slowly nodded, his eyes scanning the items with renewed interest. His attention was drawn to a few peculiar items, things that seemed to be the most unpopular among the mages.
Rolo's gaze moved to the next artifact: an old, tarnished bronze compass with intricate engravings and an unusual gem in the center.
"What about that one?"
"The Ancient Compass," Livius explained reading from the paper in his hands. The script changed with every new item, describing them briefly. This was an artifact that had been distributed among the most important attendees.
"It doesn't point north; instead, it moves erratically and sometimes stops at seemingly random directions. Old garbage. Choose something else. Don't be modest, money is no problem for me."
"I'd like to have the compass," Rolo protested.
Livius looked at him as if he was crazy. "Why?"
"It could be a magical navigation tool that responds to a specific kind of magic or leads to hidden locations," Rolo replied determinedly.
"Or it could be a malfunctioning artifact not worth a dime."
Rolo shrugged. "Who knows? But I fancy that one, my Lord."
Livius sighed and won the compass with an insignificant bid as no one else wanted it.
"Pick another one," said Livius. "I'd feel ashamed if it caught wind that a lord of my standing tried to pacify you with some cheap junk like that."
Rolo nodded, satisfied as if he wanted things to go this way. Livius did not see his face so he could not anticipate his sorry fate.
Rolo chose a few more artifacts, each one unique and shrouded in mystery—but most of all, worthless in the eyes of the other mages.
His gaze fell upon a small, cracked mirror with an ornate silver frame, reflecting oddly distorted images. "And that one?"
"The Fragmented Mirror," Livius said, trying to hide his impatience. "Its reflections don't match reality, and doesn't make any sense. It's practically useless."
Rolo's eyes gleamed. "Or it might reveal hidden truths."
Livius sighed, shaking his head, and placed a low bid to acquire it.
Then, Rolo spotted a heavy, old-fashioned iron key covered in strange runes. "That key looks interesting."
"The Unfamiliar Key," Livius commented. "It feels warm to the touch and occasionally vibrates. No one knows what it opens, probably nothing."
"I fancy this key, too," Rolo mused.
Livius groaned but bought it anyway. Livius seemed about to have seizures after his third attempt to convince Rolo to choose something else—but true to his word, he purchased them all.
"And that book," Rolo pointed to an ancient, leather-bound tome with pages that seemed to change content every time it was opened.
"The Bound Tome," Livius identified. "The text is in an unknown language and the diagrams within shift when looked at. It's illegible. Useless."
"Or it might contain powerful spells or knowledge from a lost civilization," Rolo said, almost to himself.
Livius, exasperated, waved for the auctioneer to mark another sale in their favor.
Lastly, Rolo noticed a pair of worn, bone-like dice with symbols instead of numbers. "Those dice."
"The Pair of Dice," Livius muttered. "Rolling them produces strange effects, like changing the weather slightly or summoning brief, harmless illusions. They're whimsical at best."
"Or they could influence luck, fate, or probability in subtle ways," Rolo insisted.
Livius, stifling a sigh, signaled to purchase the dice.
After the auction, as they gathered their acquisitions, Livius looked at Rolo with a mixture of frustration and curiosity. "Why these?" he asked. "They're the ones no one wants!"
"That's exactly why," Rolo said, his eyes gleaming with contentment. "They can't figure them out and they don't want to take risks. But I think there's much potential in the unknown."
If you asked me, Rolo just wanted to acquire more artifacts and he knew that this was the only way he could get his hands on more than one. His main ambition must have been to study their magic, not to use them.
Before Livius could utter a word, the auctioneer announced the next item and the room fell silent. A glass case was brought out, inside of which was an extravagant earring. It glowed with a faint, otherworldly light, its power palpable even from a distance.
"The next item," the auctioneer proclaimed, "is not available for purchase with mere gold or jewels. It requires a trade of magic itself. The highest offer of magical service will win."
The room buzzed with excitement and tension. Rolo glanced at Livius, who nodded subtly.
Bids began to flow in, each more extravagant than the last. Spells of protection, healing, transformation, and destruction were offered, each one a testament to the bidder's power and influence.
Livius raised his hand. "I offer a binding spell of protection, strong enough to guard an entire city for ten years."
The crowd murmured in approval.
The auctioneer's eyes gleamed with interest. "An intriguing offer. But is it enough?"
Before Livius could respond, another voice called out from the highest balcony. "I offer my life's work, a collection of spells and enchantments gathered over a century."
The room fell silent, all eyes turning to the veiled figure who had made the offer. It was clear that this bid was unbeatable.
After the auction concluded, Rolo and Livius found themselves surrounded by mages eager to make acquaintance. This event, as Livius had mentioned, was as much about building connections as it was about acquiring artifacts.
The air was thick with the unique feel of various magical auras, each mage distinguished by the subtle differences in their energy.
Rolo found himself curiously observing the other mages. Though he could not see their faces, their magical presence spoke volumes. Some glanced at him, their curiosity evident. Despite his high status, none could sense any magic from him, making him a truly anonymous figure amidst the crowd. This only seemed to heighten their interest.
The hall buzzed with polite greetings and small talk, as mages approached Livius with polite curiosity.
"My Lord," one mage began, his voice smooth and respectful. "It's a pleasure to see you here. May I ask about your young companion?"
They greeted him warmly, acknowledging his status as the Sorcerer Lord, and then turned their attention to Rolo.
"Ah, is this your new apprentice, Livius?" another mage inquired, eyeing Rolo with interest.
Livius chuckled softly, a twinkle in his eyes. "Not quite," he replied, leaving the mages even more intrigued.
The mages nodded politely and engaged Rolo in conversation, peppering him with questions about his magical expertise and background. They exchanged pleasantries, but Rolo couldn't shake the feeling that their interest was more exploitive than genuine.
As the mages departed, several discreetly handed their cards to Rolo. He accepted them with a polite nod. Once they were alone again, Rolo immediately moved to tear them apart.
"Why?" Livius stopped him, looking amused.
"Why should I keep these?" Rolo asked, a hint of frustration in his voice. "They only gave them to me because I'm with you. They don't want to build connections with me; they just want to use me to get closer to you."
Livius looked at Rolo thoughtfully. "Connections in our world are often made for strategic reasons, Rolo. But that doesn't mean they can't evolve into something more genuine. Keep the cards. You never know when an unexpected ally might prove invaluable."
Rolo frowned, but Livius's words made sense. He reluctantly pocketed the cards, still feeling a bit resentful. "I suppose you're right. It's just... frustrating."
"I understand. But remember, your worth is not determined by others' intentions. It's determined by your own actions and choices."
"Now, let's see what other opportunities this evening holds," Livius added with a smile.
As they mingled, Rolo could hear snippets of conversations from the other mages. They were speculating about him, trying to understand why they couldn't sense any magic from him.
There were three reasons for this in their world. The first was that someone had no magical potential. The second was that they were highly skilled and able to conceal it. The third and most dangerous reason was that the mage was so out of their power league that they couldn't comprehend their magical prowess at all.
The mages present were debating which of these was true for Rolo. Some seemed to lean towards the first reason, given his young appearance. Others speculated he might be an incredibly skilled mage hiding his true power. A few, the most cautious considered the possibility that he was on a different level altogether, a mage whose power was beyond their comprehension.
This debate made Rolo even more intriguing to them, and he could feel their eyes on him, trying to discern the truth. He pursed his lips.
As the evening drew to a close, Livius turned to Rolo with a thoughtful expression.
"I would like to extend an invitation to you," he began. "Not to leave Shay's famiglia for good, but to spend a couple of years at my court. I collect the most unique mages from all over the world, and I believe you could benefit greatly from such an environment."
"I'll think about it," Rolo said, though his tone made it sound like a refusal.
Livius chuckled, seemingly unfazed. "Give me your phone."
Rolo paused, puzzled by the request. "My phone?"
"Yes, hurry up," Livius urged.
Rolo handed over his phone, watching as Livius swiftly entered a new contact. "I don't have a card to give," Livius said with a grin as he handed the phone back.
Rolo stared at the new contact, with a mix of emotions displayed on his face. He seemed annoyed by Livius's casual command but also intrigued by the gesture.
Livius smiled, a knowing look in his eyes. "Keep in touch, Rolo. There's much more to learn and explore."
Many mages would certainly have killed to get Livius' private number, but Rolo just stared at his phone, as if he didn't really know what to do with it.
"Thank you, my Lord," he muttered, pocketing the phone.