A great cheer ran through the audience at Milana’s words. As Adion looked around, he could see that basically only the distinguished Soul mages who had come appeared somewhat indifferent. But the vast majority of guests were mages weaker than them. And all of those Soul mages also had the younger generation of their families with them.

“Yeah!” Prago shouted loudly from beside him, causing Adion to shake his head in amusement.

“I will introduce the first item for the night,” Milina said as an attendant carried out an object covered by a red cloth.

“What else but Merillian Soul Peaches could be worthy of starting the night,” Milana said with a smile as she revealed the five pieces of precious fruit.

Merillian Soul Peaches?

“Not even a Royal family can have enough of these legendary treasures,” Milana continued, “It is widely known as a precious fruit originating from the Merillian Kingdom on Quemer, but these specific fruits have been found on Shiora. I can guarantee that the effect is no less miraculous, however.

“Should a young mage eat one of these, their sense of aura and soul will take a tremendous leap forward, and for a peak Dirmaond mage looking for a chance at advancing to the Soul stages, this fruit is indispensable. We have a total of five Merillian Soul Peahces, and we will auction them off one at a time. The starting bid is set to 100 Vastro coins!”

“110 Vastro coins!” A young man on a balcony across Adion yelled out, only to be immediately overbid by someone in the stalls down below.

“Grandpa,” Adion said in a low voice, “It would be good if we could get one of these for Aiden and Ailera. Their aura control is too poor, and these fruits really do have an amazing effect.”

“I was already thinking the same thing,” His grandfather said with a smile, “But what about you? Aren’t you interested?”

“I have already eaten three,” Adion said, shaking his head, “It won’t have much of an effect on me anymore. And I think it would be pushing it too far to take three of them for our family in this auction.”

“You’re right,” His grandfather nodded, “I’ll make sure to get you something else.”

“Is Grandpa bidding for those for us?” Ailera asked Adion in a low voice as she heard their grandfather start bidding.

“He is,” Adion nodded, “With this, you won’t have as much of a problem keeping secrets in front of powerful mages.”

“That’s great,” Ailera said with a bright smile, “Maybe I can finally take that pill.”

“Maybe,” Adion reluctantly said. Ailera and Adion had both held up on taking the Fire Phoenix Wisdom Pill. There were simply too many eyes on them in the Academy, and someone would notice their control of fire eventually, no matter how well they hid it. And as they were right now, they wouldn’t be able to lie about it to their Diamond professors.

I’m glad both me and Sell had a chance to eat those peaches already. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been willing to let any of them go, and that would surely rouse some anger from the other guests here.

“1500!” Adion’s grandfather said in a loud but calm voice.

“Soul mage Remori, surely you jest,” An old man on a balcony two floors above to the side of them said, “A Merillian Soul Peach is not worth this much. Why don’t you let me take this one and you can bid on the others for a much lower price? 1550!”

“Haha,” Adion grandfather laughed, “I’m sorry, Soul mage Burmasi, I have grandchildren to look after. I’ll just be taking the first two, and then I’ll be happy to step away. 1600!”

“Taking the first two? How can there be anything so good?” The old man Burmasi scoffed and then raised the bid, “1700!”

“If you bid more than me, then naturally, I won’t say anything about it,” His grandfather said with a smile, “2000!”

“You’re crazy, Remori,” Burmasi said, displeased. “Whatever, I’ll let you have it. 2000 is far more than it’s worth.”

And with that, no one else took on Adion’s grandfather, and he won the first Merillian Soul Peach.

Adion’s siblings and friends jumped up in excitement when they heard Milana announcing their win.

“That’s how you should do it! Haha!” Prago laughed.

“I’m Impressed, Patriarch Remori,” Felicia said with a bright smile, “You were so fierce!”

“Haha, thank you, little Felicia,” His grandfather laughed, “But the only reason I could win this easily is probably because the most powerful powers here have their own means of getting their hands on these fruits from the Merillian Kingdom. At a price well below what I paid at that.”

That’s most likely right. But it would be worth it for Grandpa even if he had to pay double what he did. For our family, those Merillian Soul Peaches can’t easily be bought, so they are priceless in a way.

Adion’s grandfather won the next bidding war quite easily, and he only had to pay 1050 Vastro coins this time around.

“It was quite clever of your grandfather to announce that he was taking the first two and then he would step down,” Sell commented, “Everyone knew he would take them all the way up to 2000, so it’s no point to make an enemy with a Soul mage if you have no chance of winning. It’s better to wait for the other three.”

“It’s a privilege that comes from having more money than you can spend,” Adion said with a smile.

“How much do you think it will go for?” Sell asked, slightly excited.

“No idea,” Adion said, shaking his head.

—

“These people actually got so excited over something like a Merillian Soul Peach?” August said with a sneer on his face. “What’s going to be the final item for the evening? A Grand Focus Pill? We are just wasting our time here.”

“A Merillian Soul Peach is of value for us too, nephew,” Amelia said calmly. “Haven’t you had several of them yourself? It’s natural that someplace so far away from the Merillian Kingdom would place a high value on them.”

“And don’t forget that the Royal families haven’t made a move so far. This is likely a battle between the local Noble families,” High Cleric Revano added.

“I still don’t believe that anything here can possibly catch our eyes,” August said, shaking his head.

Amelia sighed. Did I really need to bring this troublesome son of yours here, brother?

“I wouldn’t so say,” Amelia said, trying to educate her nephew a little. “In terms of strength and history, Shiora is far far from reaching the powers of Quemer. But when it comes to treasures from the Age of Wonder, they can compete with us on equal grounds. If this Appos Auction House has dared to say this will be a historic auction in order to bring the influences from all over the continent here, then it will definitely be something noteworthy.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“I still don’t think-” August began contradicting her.

“August! Just shut up, and you’ll see at the end of the auction!” Amelia yelled.

“Yes, aunt,” August nodded, finally shrinking back and quieting down.

I lost my temper again. I shouldn’t flare up like that.

“Sorry, dear nephew,” Amelia sighed, “It’s been a long journey.”

“Haha,” Bishop Derman laughed, “A long journey or not, when have you ever not lost your temper? I’m sure August is used to it by now.”

“What did you say, old man?” Amelia looked toward the old bishop with angry eyes.

“Hahaha!” Bishop Derman laughed even louder, “Oh, it was right of me to come along on this journey. You have always been a blast, Amelia.”

So annoying. Am I the only adult here?

Amelia dropped the matter. She was prone to anger, but she was also quick to move on. She looked out over the gathered mages on the balconies around her. Her eyes drifted up to the Headmaster of Cyalis Academy.

To think even a Sage would appear. It seems like this auction won’t disappoint.

She shifted her gaze to the mages on the balconies down below. The same man that had just won the first Merillian Soul Peach won again.

Hm? He looks familiar.

“Has anyone caught your interest?” Bishop Derman walked up to Amelia and asked with a smirk. “Point him out to me. I’m sure that even if we fail tremendously on our mission, I would be rewarded handsomely by his majesty if I managed to get you married during this trip.”

“Don’t push it too far,” Amelia warned. She would likely have yelled some harsh words if not for her curiosity being pricked, “Look at that man over there. Don’t you think he seems familiar?”

“Hm?” Bishop Derman glanced over the railing to where Ameilia pointed. “I don’t think so.”

Am I just imagining things? Where have I seen him? He looks like…Impossible!

Amelia’s heart rate started beating violently. It had been a long time since she felt like this.

“I think I’ve also seen him somewhere, Bishop Amelia,” High Cleric Revano said from beside her.

“You have? Where?” Amelia asked nervously.

“I can’t remember,” High Cleric Revano shook his head.

Fool!

Amelia clenched her fists. She turned to one of the servants behind her in the booth. She was more and more certain of her suspicions.

“You. Do you how that Soul mage is?” Amelia asked as she pointed out the same man again.

“That should be Soul mage Arlen Remori, Bishop,” The servant said with a respectful voice.

“Remori? Are you sure?” Amelia asked, her throat slightly dry.

“Yes, Bishop,” The servant nodded.

“What do you know about him? Tell me everything,” Amelia urged. She had to make sure.

“I’m afraid I don’t know much,” The servant said with an awkward smile, “I only know that that black-haired youth over there is Adion Remori. He has caused a few stirs lately. He is only 17, yet is already a middle Silver mage. He has even become the disciple of the Headmaster of Cyalis.”

“Oh, there is such a thing,” Bishop Derman muttered, taking a closer look at the boy.

“What else? I want to know everything,” Amelia said, not caring much about the boy, even if he was talented.

“I’m afraid I’m not the right person to ask,” The servant said, “I can go ask around for the Bishop and try to collect some information.”

“Hurry,” Amelia said, waving the man away.

“Do you know that man? Arlen Remori?” Bishop Derman asked.

“No,” Amelia shook her head, “It was nothing. Forget about it.”

“Nothing?” Bishop Derman asked with a laugh, “Very well, I’ll look into it myself.”

Why do you have to get involved? Oh well, it’s not likely that he’ll discover something.

“Hm? Now that I take a closer look. He does seem familiar. His aura too…” Bishop Derman murmured.

Damn! Has he actually seen him before? That’s not good. I shouldn’t have brought his attention to him.

“I said forget about it,” Amelia said in a threatening tone.

Bishop Derman looked up to Amelia with an amused grin, “Little Amelia, just what is this about? You know I’m going to find out.”

“There is nothing to find out,” Amelia said.

“Well, I’ll just go over and take a look myself then. Just to make sure,” Bishop Derman said, turning around. “I’ve lived for a few centuries, so my memory isn’t what it has always been. A conversation with that Arlen might jog a few memories.”

Why does this fool always have to get involved?

“Alright, Bishop Derman,” Amelia said, holding out her hand to stop the old man from leaving. “If you won’t stop. I’ll just tell you.”

“Hm?” Bishop Derman turned around and looked at Amelia questioningly.

“The truth is…that I once fought that man in my youth. He defeated me, so I got a little excited.” Amelia said.

“Haha!” Bishop Derman laughed loudly. “Little Amelia, do you think you can lie to me? You might have reached a high degree in aura, but you are not even eighty years old yet. You are centuries away from lying to me.”

Amelia gritted her teeth in anger as Bishop Derman turned away to leave once again.

“Fine! Then I’m coming with you,” Amelia said in anger and hurried after the old man.

“Should we…” High Cleric Revano looked around at the others in the room awkwardly, “Should we stay here?”

“I don’t care!” Amelia yelled.

“I want to come too,” August said excitedly as he joined Amelia and Bishop Derman.

“Haaah,” High Cleric Revano sighed as he also joined them. “Cleric Jofelli, you are in charge. If anything of interest to the church turns up, you can bid at your own discretion.”

“Yes, High Cleric,” Cleric Jofelli said with a nod.

Amelia matched her steps to Bishop Derman as they exited their booth and entered the hallway. She threw the old man a displeased look.

“It’s been a long time since I saw you like this,” Bishop Derman said with an amused smile, “I haven’t been this curious in a good while, either. Isn’t this just a match made in heaven? Haha!”

Amelia ignored him. There was no way of convincing the old man to back down. Even if she was the daughter of the Emperor as well as a Soul mage, her status wasn’t above this old monster.

“Remori, Remori,” Bishop Derman mused, “No matter how much I think about it. It doesn’t ring a bell. But that man is a familiar face. I’m looking forward to getting to the bottom of this.”

How I wish I could beat that face. How was there ever a time when I found him endearing?

“Aunt Amelia,” August said as he ran after her, “Those elven girls were real beauties. Can you introduce me to them so they know my status? I want to make a good impression.”

Amelia abruptly stopped and turned to look at her nephew. She narrowed her eyes and said in a harsh voice, “If you make a fool of me in there, I’ll send you back to your father in 444 pieces.”

August paled at the threat and hurriedly lowered his head as he took a step back.

Amelia ignored her nephew and focused on the matter at hand. She was nervous, but she also couldn’t help but be excited.

Is this Arlen really who I think it is? If that’s the case, I can’t let that old man figure anything out.