PENELOPE KALLIS:

I was never ignorant that the world was cruel and unjust, but seeing it with my own eyes made me realize how much I underestimated us humans.

The sight of slaves being paraded around and treated as objects that had no value outside entertainment distracted me from my targets, the hundred or so nobles that wandered the auction halls while waiting for the main event to begin.

The female slaves had been stripped of all clothing apart from boots, gloves, and other minor accessories, forced to carry drinks and entertain the guests by any means. Some men took it upon themselves to sexually harass them as they pleased, groping their bodies or forcing them down on all fours as if they were dogs, but the worst part was that those were the lucky ones. Rich women’s vile laughter echoed as they enjoyed ridiculing the poor slaves by calling them obedient whores as if it were a choice.

Enslaved males were just as abused, serving as nothing more than targets for nobles to vent their sadistic needs. Those worth anything were going to be auctioned, while the rest were expendable goods they hoped would at least provide some entertainment. Age didn’t matter as their blood painted the floor, and their screams pleasured the guests’ rotten ears.

While I kept myself in check, appearing as if I was unaffected by their inhumanity, every part of my body burned with desire to destroy everything. When my father insisted on acting lessons, I’d never expected them to be used to hide distaste, and honestly, I was surprised by how calm Sir James stayed, making me wonder what horrors he saw during his ten years of service.

We walked around pretending as if everything was normal while I thought about my father’s warnings, thinking that maybe he wanted to prevent me from seeing the world for what it was. It was hard to believe that such an organization managed to go unnoticed, making me wonder if they were covered for by someone influential.

“How dare you?!” yelled an obese redhead woman with a short single-tail whip in hand. The target of her frustration was a young kid, likely three years younger than me. The boy looked at the ground with tears running down his cheeks as his bruised skin slowly tore. “Why must you remind me of him? You deserve punishment!”

Everyone snickered at the pathetic woman obsessed with beating a helpless slave, but their laughter only enraged her further as she found her pride wounded, pinning it all on the boy. I didn’t recognize her, but she must’ve been a nobleman’s wife by the looks of the expensive attire she wore.

Every time she lashed out at him, my heart ached, causing the mana within my core to flutter. I had no choice but to control my emotions, or the disguise I had fabricated would’ve faded. While many wore masks, I felt safe wandering around knowing that illusionary magic altered my appearance to an extent where even my father wouldn’t recognize me.

Despite the aid of magic, I still needed to act the part regardless of what I saw, and even though I couldn’t help the boy now, If I managed to succeed in my mission, then one day he and any other child they would’ve taken, would be free of such a fate. That was the price I had to pay for taking everything upon myself. Stopping the Shadow Syndicate was something I had to do, no matter what.

“Quite the sight, wouldn’t you agree?” asked a masked man wearing dark blue robes as he approached my flank. “Frankly speaking, it’s distasteful.”

“Why do you say that?” I answered calmly as our eyes met for the first time.

The middle-aged man didn’t know me, but his piercing blue eyes hiding behind a white demonic mask that covered his face from the nose up felt as soulless as the auction.

“Do you know why she’s hitting him?” he asked, turning to the fat redhead.

While soft-spoken, his voice came from the front of his throat, nearing the point where it sounded adenoidal.

“Care to enlighten me?” I asked, swallowing air.

“You’re not even going to guess?” He smirked, glancing back at me.

“I could sit here all night and play the fool, trying to speculate what a mad woman thinks, but why would I do that when I have a fine gentleman such as yourself to explain it for me.”

“I knew I was right to approach you.” He chuckled, looking over at Sir James who didn’t bat an eye toward him. “A lady I had never seen before, gracing us with a cold gaze that could make any man in this room squeal, joined by a bodyguard whose focus never wandered. He’s alert even as we speak, ready to defend you with his life. If only the people working here were half as determined. Does he happen to be a knight. . . or a slave you purchased?”

“Neither.” I looked at Sir James, tapping him on the shoulder. “An orphan boy that my family took off the streets.”

“Ah, such loyalty couldn’t be bought. I shouldn’t waste our time by attempting to coax you into selling him to me.”

I wasn’t sure if it was a way of coping with the place or my acting taking over, but my mind immediately thought about how funny Sir James’ expression would be had I said I was willing to negotiate a price.

“Indeed, it would be a wasted effort,” I said, looking back at the masked man that seemed too intrigued by us. “So, will you finally reveal the secret between the woman’s scorn to me?”

“Ah, apologies. Sometimes I’m known to drift from one topic to another. Now then.” He hummed. “The woman in question is the lord’s first wife, Lord Dravik that is. And well. . . he couldn’t handle being with her, so he married another, a younger and more virtuous woman.”

“Lord Darvik, the Lord of Krina?” I asked in disbelief. “What would the lord’s wife be doing here?”

Lord Darvik was given the city where the auction was held to govern as a reward for his military achievements. To think such a man could’ve been responsible for covering up organized crime.

“Why else but to purchase a few slaves to take back home? She’s even allowed to vent her frustration with her husband’s new wife.”

High-ranking nobles often had two or more wives, so her situation wasn’t abnormal. It was even more common among families with mages to strengthen a bloodline. It made me wonder what I’d do had I been in her shoes. Would I resent everyone, or would I get accustomed to it?

“But she mentioned him looking like someone, did she not?”

We watched as the lord’s first wife was stopped by the staff that told her to rest for the main event which was starting in a few minutes. She couldn’t resist the need to hit the boy one last time as he kneeled in pain, covered in blood.

“He resembles the Lord’s second son.”

“One that he had with his second wife?”

“Indeed.” He went quiet as the lord’s wife swung again, staring off in the distance. “Apologies, but I must take my leave now. The main event is about to start.”

He never asked for my name, nor I for his, but I had a feeling we’d meet again.

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“Do I hear twenty-five? Twenty-five? Twenty-five for the gentleman in the back! Do I hear twenty-six?” The auctioneer kept looking around the room. “Going once, twice. . . sold for twenty-five hundred gold pieces to the gentleman!”

Twenty minutes had passed since the bidding began, and already half a dozen slaves were auctioned off.

“I hope you’re ready for the next one as we have a rare one on our hands. Coming from the southern regions of Nuia, trained in gladiatorial combat, forced to fight monsters three times his size, feast your eyes on our half-orc warrior, Sadur-Khar!”

Orcs were vicious creatures that often formed tribes that traveled the continent, raiding helpless villages and sometimes even towns. They were one of the few races capable of reproducing with any other, with humans a close second. I had never seen a half-orc as orcs weren’t native to Nuia, but I heard stories about their orcish nature taking over, causing them to strive for violence. It wasn’t surprising that they put such a person to fight in the arena.

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Walking onto the stage was probably the shortest half-orc the world had ever seen, dare I say slightly shorter than me. It took away a bit from the claim that he fought something three times his size as it didn’t seem as impressive anymore. However, what took me by surprise was him wearing nothing but a thin rag covering his privates while chains bound his ankles and wrists. Sadur’Khar’s grey-skinned body was one many men envied and women desired, covered in tribal tattoos and battle scars that showed his combat experience.

Forming a mana core was impossible for an orc, so they often forged a contract with evil beings in exchange for magical power. However, because they were unable to have magic on their own, their natural physical capabilities surpass even some monsters. It was said that a single barehanded orc was capable of killing ten armed soldiers; meanwhile, half-orcs retained the orcish strength while being able to form cores, making them the perfect soldiers.

Despite his height, many women whispered about how vigorous half-orcs were, and gambling on what was underneath the rag was as appealing as the muscles he boasted. The men on the other hand were more intrigued by the idea of using him for fighting or bodyguard work and while slavery was abolished years ago by King Edward within Eleron, arena fighting still existed and was one of many attractions people enjoyed.

“Let’s start the bid-”

“Three thousand gold,” said a nobleman sitting in the front row.

“Do I hear four thousand? Four-thousand! Four and a half?. . .”

The bidding continued intensely, and the final price was settled by a noblewoman who decided to pay twenty-three thousand gold, an insane amount. The crowd took a bit to settle down after which the next slave was presented.

“Coming next to the stage is not one, but two slaves! Inseparable since birth, this pair of twins have proved to be quite unruly, but they are a worthy prize nonetheless. Give it up for Damon and Sheila!”

Walking onto the stage were twins that looked to be a bit older than Ellie. The thought of them being sold to anyone turned my stomach around. There was nothing particularly special about them at first glance, other than their beauty. They both had red hair and emerald eyes, a rare natural combination among humans. They appeared innocent as I could see the timid look in the girl’s eyes while her brother had a feisty glare that stared down at us.

Whispers started among the crowd as it seemed many weren’t interested in disobedient children, but a few were keen on training them.

“Let us start the bid at five hundred gold. A low price for two slaves, wouldn’t you agree?”

The auctioneer’s tone made it obvious they just wished to get rid of the troublemakers.

“Five hundred,” said a man in the front row that first bid on the half-orc.

“Five fifty,” said a woman sitting two seats to my right.

“Six hundred,” said the man.

“A thousand!” yelled an appalling-looking old man in his late fifties with a lecherous gaze set on both.

“Do I hear eleven hundred?”

The woman who sat close to me raised her hand.

“Fifteen hundred!” he yelled again without waiting for a count, causing many to lose interest.

I looked at the woman wondering if she was going to bid, but it didn’t seem like it.

“One. . . two-” the auctioneer began a count.

“Twenty-five hundred.” I raised my hand, taking Sir James by surprise.

“Twenty-five hundred for the lady in the middle. Do we have three thousand?”

The old man and I exchanged glances, and I could tell he wasn’t happy that I bid.

“Three thousand,” the old man said, glaring at me.

“Four thousand,” I countered immediately.

“What are you doing?” Sir James whispered.

“Relax,” I said, prepared to bid further if I had to. “They’ll be useful.”

Lord Gregor and I intended for me to purchase a slave for the sake of acquiring information, and two sounded better than one.

“Five thousand!”

“Six,” I said without hesitation.

“Do we have seven thousand?” The auctioneer looked at the old man who was already gritting his teeth.

“Se. . . Eight!” He looked hesitant as eight thousand was already a high bid.

“Ten thousand,” I said confidently as if it were but a joke, shredding all hope of him outbidding me.

“Ten thousand, going once. . . Going twice!” The auctioneer looked at the old man again that simply sighed in defeat. “Sold! To the lady in the middle.”

Truthfully, had he bid more I wouldn’t have had enough, and because of that, I raised as much as I could. I needed him to believe I was willing to invest more if need be.

Two hours passed since I bid, as I helplessly just wanted the auction to end. Watching so many innocents put up on sale had exhausted my spirit as I wanted to just collapse in my bed and forget everything I had seen tonight. However, our attention was stolen by the auctioneer getting ready to announce the final slave for the night.

“Ladies and gentlemen! For our grand finale, we have a very special offer. Valued at two hundred thousand gold as the initial bid, I’m honored to present a nameless slave that will not only enthrall you with her beauty but also magical talent. Boasting a sixth circle mana core and a unique healing gift, feast your eyes on one-of-a-kind half-fae succubus!”

Shoved to the stage was easily one of the most beautiful women I’d seen. Many ogled her perfect figure despite having a smaller chest which men typically preferred in Eleron, or so I’d heard. Her silvery braided hair, paired with big round scarlet eyes and two small black horns on her forehead, made her stand out on their own, but what most found appealing was her innocent and submissive posture.

“For safety, her magic is sealed. However, once an owner claims her with a mark, he or she may remove the seal. Now, many must wonder if it’s safe having a half succubus in your life, but as the owner of the mark, she will be unable to cause harm to you or anyone else unless you command otherwise. You’re safe to use her however you please. . . Now then, shall we begin the bidding?”

“Half a million!” yelled the man in the front row, doubling the value immediately.

To me it was shocking, but it appeared many expected no less.

“Seven hundred and fifty!” yell a new bidder that stayed quiet the entire night.

There was no room for me to even think of joining in. Even my father would struggle to pay that amount. However, many more joined in that had remained quiet until now.

“Two million!” said a young man with a weird accent, likely from the southern continent.

Three million. Four. Seven. Nine. There was no end to how much money they were willing to spend. Other than the royal family, no known figure in Eleron could afford such a costly slave. However, it wasn’t surprising that the price escalated as she was not only an otherworldly beauty but a sixth circle mage which on its own was worth the price.

“Thirty million,” said the masked man I talked to previously, shocking everyone in the crowd as he raised by ten.

I had no idea who he was, but even the Notish Emperor would bat an eye at such a price.

”Thirty million for the gentleman in the blue robes! Going once. Going twice-”

“Thirty-two million,” said a woman I had not noticed before.

She too wore a mask that covered her entire face, a logical decision for someone who didn’t fit among humans as her elven ears stayed visible.

“Thirty-five-”

“Thirty-eight.” She wasn’t willing to give him any breathing room.

The two looked at each other as the robed man crossed his arms with a devilish smirk.

“Fifty million,” he announced, wondering if she’d keep on bidding.

Everyone was quiet as the two looked at each other. Even the auctioneer gave up on counting.

“How much more do you think you’ll be able to bet?” said the elf with a serene voice. “Hundred million.”

The crowd gasped as only the wealthiest nobles had that kind of funds. There was a high chance the woman before us was a representative of an elven kingdom trying to buy off the half-fae.

“A lot,” the masked man said, turning to the auctioneer. “A hundred and twenty-five million gold.”

“Three hundred million gold,” said the woman as if financed by the Notish Emperor himself.

With the auctioneer lost for words, it was up to the masked man, who sighed in disbelief to tell her she had won.

“It seems I’ve met my match,” the masked man said, giving her a respectful bow.

“Right! Sold for three hundred million gold to the elven lady!”

It felt fictional watching the two bid for the girl. However, in the end I made the mistake of looking at her, as the meek smile on the half-fae’s face softened my cold expression for the first time. Sadly, there was nothing I could do to save her as the auction officially ended.

The room cleared out surprisingly quickly as everyone went to meet their newly purchased slaves. As for me, it was time to finally meet the twins.

Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.