Chapter 3: The Auction Block
Bound and helpless, Linian was thrust into a grim auction house. The atmosphere reeked of desperation and despair, filled with the cries of the unfortunate souls destined to be sold. As he was paraded before a jeering crowd, he felt the humiliation wash over him like a tidal wave.
"Look at this one," the auctioneer bellowed, gesturing to Linian. "A high elf, bound and ready for sale! Who will give me a good price for this broken toy?"
The crowd erupted into laughter and jeers, and Linian's heart raced. He was no longer a prodigy; he was nothing more than a commodity, stripped of his dignity. His pleas fell on deaf ears as the bidding began, each offer twisting the knife of shame deeper into his heart.