Morin lit the blue-green sky and cast its dazzling golden light down as a cool shallow breeze blew over the seedlings viewing a large circular white stone platform. These seedlings of many different appearances stood around and whispered gossip about the event they were about to witness.

“Have you heard what was on the list this month?” A young woman with short bobbed blonde hair, dark skin, and a thin short dress stood close to the stage. Her blue eyes never left the platform, her large hand fan constantly moving in wide hand movements as she spoke, “Well, I heard that a new barbarian child is going to be here.” her tongue moved slowly across her lips, and her blue eyes shimmered in mad excitement.

“Oh really, would the Guardians let one of their own be held like this, locked in a cage like a wild beast,” said a man with a bald head and pale white skin that glistened in Morin’s light. His green eyes glanced around him, locking on different faces as his gaze passed them.

“Does it matter?” said the woman with a small shrug as she looked at the empty stage, “It would not be the first time that one of them would have been sent onto a similar stage.” a small smile stretched across her lips, her eyes still shimmered in madness.

“I guess it would not matter much; it would just depend on who it was on that stage,” said the man.

“Quiet, dear, it’s starting.” the woman shrieked in excitement.

“May the Light of Morin be with you on this day,” a man with long black hair tied and thrown over his shoulder walked onto the stage; his black suit and accessories starkly contrasted his white mask. The mask gave an unsettling feeling, not having any holes for eyes, noses, or mouths, nothing but a small black droplet painted directly in the center of the mask.

“What a beautiful day.” The man spoke as he made his way to the center of the circular stage.

The crowd watched as cages covered in rags and other items in chests and boxes made their way onto the stage behind the man.

With a clap of his hands, the rags were pulled off, revealing beasts and other seedlings inside the cages.

“As you can see, we have many excellent products on display today; some are immediately available, others are a tease for next month's auction. So join me as we select the first item for auction. Here we have three options.”

Another man in similar attire stepped in front of the first cage, “This is a seedling from the Blaze Race born from fire essence and children of the Goddess of Blaze. I am sure that all of you must know that the Blaze Race is one of the best controllers of flame essence of any intensity, whether it be ash, ember, blaze, etcetera. As for what this particular one is capable of, he was an advanced warrior of the race; in other words, one of the best fighters. Also, they assisted the Smith Race in their forging processes, so expect excellent control over their essence.”

“Next item for this round is another seedling from the Blaze Race, the assumed spouse of the first. The same information applies to this Blaze Race member as well. The only additional information is that it is assumed that this member is the next in line to lead the village it is a part of.”

“Lastly, We have a Swayerk, a three-star beast from the forest near the Nurture Race; the dark green fur on their bodies makes them excellent nocturnal hunters and doubles for hiding during the day in the densest part of the forest that they tend to reside in. Their long forepaws are used to pull fruits from high places for the young that have not developed a taste for meat yet, and their short back legs with paws that extend both forward and backward make an excellent base for their long and heavy frame when walking bipedally. And lastly, their long thick, bushy tail is used as its main defense to fend off those that would hunt them.”

The original announcer clapped his hands again, “Well, just like always, the highest of these will be sold today while the others will be available next month, so let us begin the month's auction.”

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Time passed slowly as more and more seedlings and items were dragged onto the stage before the main holder walked onto the stage. A man in a gray suit with a pure white mask with no holes walked onto the stage, his hands waving at the seedlings below the stage.

“Good evening,” He said with grandiose movements, “There is still one last item for all of your viewing pleasure… but this item is extraordinary; I am sure that after seeing this item, you will understand what I mean…”

“TCH! Go up, boy!”

“A savage child from a distant land, one of the barbarians that threaten our land, a child of Feyrish,” Screamed the man in the gray suit.

A boy with nothing but a black chain hung from his neck slowly and clumsy made his way to the center of the platform, his icy blue hair stuck to his face and neck matted from all the dirt and grim, blisters and sores covered most of his malnourished body, his violet eyes seem void of life.

“Hurry up, boy!” Screamed a man behind the boy before the man kicked him, and the sound of breaking bones echoed throughout the platform, immediately the Seedlings watching gasps.

“Master Carter, it’s time to wake up.”

A small grumble echoed from the sheets of the bed as a boy with messy and shaggy icy blue hair crawled out from under the sheets; his tired eyes drowsily glanced around the room before his head fell back to the soft pillow below it.

The maid with long braided brown hair and brown eyes in a long green dress walked into the room after a short knock on the door; this maid was the one charged with the care for this poor child as long as he stayed in the castle of Falling Leaves. She watched as the child grumbled about his disrupted sleep. She sighed a little, planning to leave the room and let the child rest longer.

Suddenly a young woman with bright red hair braided tightly to the side of her head and green eyes lit with impatient excitement suddenly barged into the room behind the maid.

“Oh no, you don’t!” a scream echoed from behind the maid standing in the doorway, “The last of your guardians is set to arrive within the next few days to discuss… Are you listening?”

A small no squeaked out from under the covers.

“Every morning!” she dashed over only to be caught by the maid, “Siro, let me go!”

“Madam Nesha, I think it would be better to let the young master sleep; he seems quite exhausted.” the maid Siro said with her usual wide smile.

“Siro, he is always exhausted! He needs to get up and at least eat something!” Nesha screamed, still trying to escape the arms of the maid Siro.

“I will not deny that, Madam Nesha, but that is not for you to decide; now, why do you not leave him to me and return to your family to eat.” the maid Siro said, trying to drag the still struggling Nesha out of the room.

Nesha thinking about eating with her family, gave an annoyed glance at the maid before finally breaking free and turning to leave the room, “I think I will just eat in my room… have someone bring up whatever is left over for Carter and me.”

With a smile, Siro watched Nesha leave, “Oh, I am so sure her mother will love to hear about this,” she whispered.

Suddenly running steps echoed in the hall again, “I have decided that maybe it would be a good decision to eat with my family,” Nesha said, her face tinted red.

“Oh, of course, madam,”

“D-Do you mind escorting me, Siro,” The red on Nesha’s face grew brighter after speaking.

“Of course, princess, It would be my honor,” the maid Siro said but immediately covered her mouth, noticing her mistake.

Nesha glanced at Siro, “I am not a princess any longer, Siro,”