Gods had a distinctly obvious appearance. It wasn't just their skin, threaded with luminous, golden lines, but also their clothes, which were made of mana. Gods were the enemies of Spirits who could see mana, which was produced from magical principles. To Spirits, Gods were shining creatures, and that's what they called them: Shining Ones.

To begin with, seeing anything other than a Demon, or the occasional Halfling, was strange enough. But a God was on a wholly different level. Not to mention a Human. Ever since the Great Realm War, traveling between Realms had become nigh impossible. The ancient teleportation constructs stopped functioning, as if something was between them and their destination - the "Barrier" they called it.

It was still possible to cross Realms, but finding someone with the right knowledge and resources to accomplish it was just as difficult as walking from the Human Realm to the Demon Realm - which was possible, but smart creatures would never attempt it.

"What about your sword?" the God asked, as he walked behind the counter. His entourage assumed their guardian posts.

The pavilion was larger on the inside than the outside. This was generally the case with most structures in the enlightened, magical world. Even the Academy was a city on the inside, and merely a large structure on the outside.

Behind the God, countless items were displayed on racks. Ancient scriptures, medicinal items, boxes filled with miraculous pills and weapons the likes of which the world had not seen in hundreds, if not thousands of years.

"What about it?" Ain asked, approaching the counter. The goblins, and Senon, stood behind Ain. All of them stared in awe at the displayed items. Def had a particular, greedy, look in his beady, unlawful eyes.

"That is an Enlightened Object, isn't it? I can hear its spirit sing. Are you selling it?"

Ain smiled. "Your hearing is quite sharp. I had not heard Avarice's voice in ages."

"Avarice...?" the God repeated the name, a suspicious look in his eyes.

"I am not selling it," Ain said, tone like steel.

The God opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Ain interrupted. "Or the Goblins, or the Half."

The God licked his lips and forced a smile. "Then what are you here for? No offense, but you are a Human in the Demon Realm. I doubt you have the... means... to compete in today's auction."

"Is that so?" Ain asked, producing a scroll from his sleeve. "This is for sale," he said, throwing the scroll on the counter.

The God smacked his lips and picked up the scroll, only to pretend looking at it, already suspecting that it is a worthless piece of refuse. He glanced at the title, which was barely perceptible from Ain's side of the counter through the parchment with how the light diffused through it. Then the God's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.

"You are selling this?" the God asked, rolling up the scroll.

Ain nodded. "If the commission is right."

"Twenty perc-- no, fifteen percent," the God blurted out.

Ain shook his head.

"Ten percent."

Ain yawned.

"Master, there is different Auction House nearby."

"That Demon bastard's Auction House? Over my dead body," the God said angrily. "Ten percent, and you can choose whatever item you want from the display."

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Ain snorted. "It's all fake anyway."

"No it's not," the God glared at Ain. "See this sword? That is Unitas. Ever heard of the Raveners? They are looking for this sword."

"Really? It looks like a piece of shit to me," Ain said. "If the Raveners truly wanted it, they'd have it by now."

"As if they're not trying to steal it from me every weekend! Coming here with their silly Duke-level scriptures, claiming they are true ancient secrets." The God smiled and patted the scroll. "Now this is the real thing. Where did you get it?"

"I found it," Ain said.

"Found it where?" A pause. "You know what, I don't care."

"The commission..." Ain reminded the God.

"Right." The God pondered for a moment. "I have a pill that can cure that Taint. Someone's been playing with the Punishment Lightning. How did that happen anyway? You are just a Human."

Ain shrugged. "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, I guess."

Senon pointedly looked away from Ain.

The God smirked. "Really, this pill can fix your arm and face. You look so ugly, not even your mother would kiss you."

Def narrowed his eyes. "Silly God speak to Lord Ain of Syndicate Faction. If God not want to have organs sold on black market, God better show respect, or Def, trusted and loyal Repoman, do to God what debt do to lifestyle."

Troma smirked. "Def call it 'Operation Banana'."

"Operation Bankrupt," Def corrected.

"Same thing," Troma barked.

"Affhole!" the Living Word chirped aggressively.

"Goblin running finance can't even say 'Bankrupt'. We so screwed. Def miserable," Def said.

"We be fine. Def worry too much," Troma assured his friend.

The light in the God's eyes dimmed. The sudden jerk of his Adam's apple was an obvious indicator of his distress.

Ain's lips twitched into a miniscule, but genuine, smile.

"Five percent," Ain offered.

The God blinked, swallowed and was clearly about to accept, but then he scoffed. Perhaps remembering that at the core, he was a miser. "Ten percent and I owe you a favor."

Ain smirked. "They say a God's favor is a priceless treasure. Shall we shake on it?"

The God nodded and offered his hand. "Will you be staying to see how the Auction proceeds? It will begin shortly."

Ain took the God's hand and gave it a hard squeeze. "They also say to never let prized possessions out of your sight, when a God is around."

The God chuckled awkwardly. "They talk too much."

___

They were led to a secluded chamber by a pair of Demons. Refreshments were brought in a moment later, and then the group was left to their own devices.

"Master not feel bad about this?" Def asked.

"What do you mean?" Ain asked.

"Master say he come to protect peace, right?" the goblin asked.

"That's right," Ain said.

"Then why Master sell weapons? Not that Def not happy. Def proud of Master."

Ain smiled. "Certainly, a toothpick is a weapon in the right hands, but against an axe, it is just a toothpick."

Def tilted his head. "Def think Master use wrong analogy."

Troma nodded in agreement.

"Master give weapon because Master like Ironwood tree that cannot be cut with axe. But when Master die of age, God come with axe. Everyone else hold toothpick like idiot."

"I see," Ain said.

"So, if Master want to keep peace, Master must proliferate more weapon. But this not create peace, this prepare for war. Master words."

Ain shrugged. "We will burn that bridge when we cross it, my ugly little friend," Ain said. "Weapons will always proliferate, that is unavoidable."

Def frowned. He took offense to the 'little' part. Def was tall for a goblin.

"Either way, a Spirit taught me that Method. A God would not be able to use it effectively," Ain explained.

Just as Ain finished speaking, the light in the chamber dimmed.

"What happening? Troma scared of dark," Troma said, panic in his voice.

"Projection," Ain said. "Don't worry about it. Just close your eyes and count to ten."

Troma shut his eyes and covered them with his hands.

"Oh wow," Def whistled. "Troma, don't open eyes. Big Gru here."

"What the fak is gruel?" Troma hissed.

"If Troma not learn to speak properly, gruel the only thing Troma able to eat for the rest of miserable life. From a straw," Def growled.

A blinding light perforated the darkness and the group found itself in a large circular chamber, like the auditorium at the Academy, except they were no longer alone. Everyone had a mask, and lavish clothes. Even Ain's group had masks, but they wore the same clothes they came with.

There was easily over a hundred creatures there. Yes, creatures. There were intelligent monsters of all sorts, and even a teapot that has somehow managed to become enlightened and form a higher soul. In particular, the teapot was surrounded by pretty girls - divinities mostly, but also Fae and Spirits.

In fact, the presence of Spirits, Fae, Demons and other races surprised Ain. He expected this to be a Divinity-only Auction.

Def laughed. "Heh heh heh."

"Shut up," Ain said.

"Master mention something about God not able to use weapon. But what about Spirit?"

Ain licked his lips and glared at the section divided for the Spirits. It was packed full.