Rolling back into the center of the stage as the curtains rose, Grand Sigy blew kisses and greeted the crowd.

“I cannot wait to show you all the treasures we have brought you here today. And I think it is time to say thank you to one of our greatest sponsors, the Slayer Organisation. Slayers are well known throughout Lantern, the Dreamscape, and the Mortal Plane. It is thanks to these brave souls that we have as many rare and wonderful items to auction. Over eighty percent of our inventory is sourced through this organization. But it doesn’t just help us. This partnership has been making slayers wealthy for thousands of years—no need to find a buyer for the treasures you just found on a distant shardworld. Through our support, you can avoid all that work. Our auction is known for fast turnaround and good prices. Whether you do or have considered working for the Slayers, our establishment remains the first choice for wise Slayers. And the same can be said for independent contractors or adventurers. We can guarantee the best coin for your effort with fair commissions and professional staff when you sell through us.”

“You said the reavers sell here,” Abe tilted toward Nia.

“They do. They might not mention it out of fear of insulting a dream creature or maybe even one of those ever-living priests, but they certainly do sell for the reavers as well. The dreamer presence in Lantern is stronger than the undead, though. Also, Ebonkeep and Bonehall both have auction houses that put this little backwater to shame.”

“And you didn’t want to go there because?”

“And risk you? Not a chance,” Miss Nia smiled. “You’re far too precious to risk one of those ancient monsters sniffing out. You’ll have to wait until you’re stronger to visit a place like that.”

“Now, with no further adieu,” Grand Sigy said, and on cue, the fish girls flooded back onto the stage with a new chest. “Void Emeralds,” he cheered, the chest opening to display emeralds that seemed to steel the viewer's attention, sending them drifting off into a well of endless green.

Bids quickly carried the precious gems to half a million ducats, and the next chest was called for.

Abe’s eyes widened as they brought the next item out, but it wasn’t the same chest as they had been bringing out so far. It was a stunning young woman with flowing red locks and spattering freckles across her cheeks.

“This young las is Pyra, an adolescent dragon in her human form. Daughter of a wayward dragon that terrorized the Dreamscape for centuries, she has now come into our care after a brave squad of slayers managed to put an end to her mother’s rampage. Bidding starts at 100K. Any takers?”

Paddles shot up immediately.

“They sell people here as well?”

“She’s a dragon, but yes. They will sell everything and anything that will attract a prize in ducats high enough for their masters to care about.”

“1.2 million, going once…. Going twice,” Grand Sigy pointed out to the bidder. “Going twice, he waved his hand. “It’s not often you get a chance to buy an actual dragon. And whilst she might not be much now, once fully grown and trained, she would be considered an A-rank dream monster. Again, don’t let this chance pass you by. Do I have 1.3?”

A paddle rose from a balcony across the room, and then another, and Grand Sigy continued the count as the bids pushed the price higher.

“She’s worth a lot.”

“She’s powerful, or at least has the potential to become powerful. Still, you need to be powerful enough to tame a creature like that. She’s more likely to cause trouble if you ask me,” Miss Nia waved dismissively.

“Going twice to the bidder in purple robes for 2.8 million. Again, do not let yourself miss out on a rare chance like this. If you have even the slightest interest, I implore you to take this seriously and place a bid,” he waited a moment before continuing. “Going twice. Can I hear 2.9? Anybody? This is your final chance to own a dragon,” he pointed the hammer across the crowd one last time for dramatic effect. “And sold to the bidder in purple robes!”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“Wow, 2.9 million.”

“It’s really not that much for an A-rank minion if you can control her. We are restricted by my small barony right now, but if we can manage to claim more land and take my late father’s council seat, that will all change. And when it does, a few million ducats won’t seem like much at all.”

As the girl left the stage, the fish ladies brought out another chest.

Sigy rode a circle around the center of the stage before continuing, “I’m sure some of you will be excited about our next item, a cursed shard of shade steel.”

The chest lid was pulled back to reveal a perfectly black length of metal.

“Shade steel is valuable enough on its own, but this piece, in particular, is something special. It was at the heart of the siege for Ebonkeep. The great mercenary captain Rux, an infamous wraith and significant force in the vampire civil war, once used this shard of steel as a sword. During the battle, a powerful curse was reflected on his poor soul, disintegrating him. But within the vortex of that corrupted magic, it created this artifact. Our appraiser believes that this has the potential to make an extremely powerful weapon. Shall we open the bid at 800k?”

Miss Nia immediately raised her paddle, and the bidding war began.

More paddles were rising across the room, and Grand Sigy became a mumbled mess of words as he spat out a new bid every second.

Abe’s eyes shot around the room as the price cleared 2 million and continued up.

“2.3, 2.4, 2.4, 2.5, 2.5 to the Baronness,” he shouted, sounding out of breath but never slowing. “2.6 to the Arch-lich, 2.65 to the Baroness.”

The lich’s proxy shook his head.

“I’ve got our lovely Baroness at 2.65 million. Can I get 2.7?” He pointed through the crowd. “2.65 going once. 2.65 going twice. A cursed piece of metal like this doesn’t just come along all the time. This might be your only chance to ever touch such a marvelous piece of metal. Don’t miss your chance. Now, can I get 2.7 million?” he held his breath a moment before continuing. “2.65 going twice.”

Silence followed.

“And sold to the lovely Baroness for 2.65 million ducats.”

Abe jerked his head toward Miss Nia, “What about your treasury?”

“It will require a loan. But something tells me you’re worth it. I hope you don’t let me down,” she chuckled, turning her half-lidded gaze on Abe.

He swallowed, “Of course I won’t, it’s ju-”

“Shh,” she raised a finger. “You need not say another word. Just live up to your potential, and you will have paid the debt to me several times.”

Abe nodded.

“Oh, look,” Nia said as the next chest was unveiled. “A voodoo doll. In the hands of the right person, they are invaluable. This should be fun to watch.”

It was. The bids quickly rose to 4.7 million before the item was finally sold to a dream creature called Yggles.

Several more impressive items were brought over the next couple of hours, their final price tags ranging from 220k to 19 million.

The final two ultra-rare items they sold were a set of golden bones covered in runes and a tethering vehicle.

The bones were said to be able to hold the shards of one's soul, and by binding oneself to it, you could not only be present in multiple domains at the same time but also tether your very life to them. This meant that a would-be assassin would need to destroy every bone to kill you. The drawback, of course, was that it also split your power between the bones. Nonetheless, it sold for 14 million ducats.

The tethering vehicle, which was the most valuable item and sold for 19 million, was a giant Astral Vale sailing vessel. To Abe, it looked like some kind of spaceship, though the images provided were a little hard to detail from the balcony. Its edges were rounded and smooth, with dials, antenne, and laser-like canons pointing out across its metallic surface.

Miss Nia explained that few fought within the Astral Vale itself, and most battles took place within domains, shardworlds, and the five realms. They were not unheard of, and trips across the Vale could be quite dangerous, depending on where you were traveling. And the giant spaceship-looking vessel was a spoil of war, captured from a hyper-intelligent dreamer species known for their engineering.

Compared to the spaceship, the submarine was a floating tin can, and it wouldn’t stand much chance if caught in a battle.

Abe’s thoughts filtered back to the shade steel. He knew Kearn had been given treasures to aid his evolution, but based on the prices he saw at the auction, he doubted they could have cost as much as the metal. And if his estimations were correct, then she really did believe he would evolve past her current general.

His gaze turned to her. He tried to read her, but it was impossible. He wasn’t sure if it was because she was hard to read or related to their blood bond and his servitude.

“You think too much,” she said, turning to catch his gaze. “You’re already on the right path; you just need to keep following it.”

Abe nodded, fighting the urge to look away as he stared back into her eyes, partially shrouded by long, dark lashes.

This time, he took her arm without prompting and led his Mistress back to the tavern. Her confidence in him further fueled the fires of desire within.

Power, wealth, and, most of all, status now crept into his hunger. He was more determined than ever to rise and place Nia at his side, and something told him that she wanted the same.

He tightened his arm as they walked, a smile creasing across his lips. She resisted for a moment but gave in. She was allowing Abe to take the lead.

There was no mistaking it: She wanted him to lead. At his current stage, overpowering Abe would be nothing to her, but she chose not to.