Scarlet seats adorned with gold embroidery filled the auditorium. The various hybrids and humans in the hall formed a veritable kaleidoscope of figures. The mixing of perfumes and colognes created a scent so pungent everyone in the room could practically taste it. The dull droning of overlapping conversations was only occasionally broken by the clinking of glasses and faux laughs.

Any updates Ace? Galina asked. The second half is about to start.

Nothing yet, Ace said. I’ve been around the whole theater and still don’t hear a thing.

Should’ve sent more people out to look, Riven said.

Everyone agreed my [Pact] skill was the best shot we had at finding Elric. It’s better to keep everyone in the theater to keep a handle on the situation. If everyone was running around, somebody on guard duty would see one of us.

Does anyone know who's running the auction? Halvor asked.

Probably some criminal organization, Cili said. There are so many different types of people here, you can’t really tell.

Actually, there are three main groups if you pay attention, Kai said. First, you’ve got the skull masks, which based on their mannerisms, I’d guess are pirates. Then you’ve got the organization that Xavier was part of that Cili, Riven, and Galina spied on. The ones with super-advanced artifacts are probably from Chapter 4.

Hang on, is it only those three groups? Ace asked.

I mean there are smaller groups, but those are the only big ones, Kai said.

Halvor, would the lab have access to their own connector to this location? Ace asked.

I doubt so.

If you’ve got an idea, spit it out, Draxl said.

In the lobby, each painting had an infusion behind it that acted as a connector, Ace said.

Yeah, what’s your point? Riven asked

How many paintings were there? Ace asked.

Four, Cili said.

Right, but there are only three groups. If we assume each painting has a connector to a specific place that means one is connected to this barn, one is connected to some pirate place, and one to somewhere in Chapter 4, because those are the demographics. So where the fuck does the last one go to? Ace questioned.

It was definitely active when we got here, Riven recalled.

I’ve walked the perimeter of the theater, to the point I’m right around the corner from the lobby. Even if Elric’s dead, my [Pact] skill should’ve found his spirit.

So what if he’s not here? Galina said.

Exactly.

Wait, so you think they’re using one of the connections on the painting to keep Elric in holding? Halvor asked.

Maybe, Ace said. Is it that crazy?

It’s really not, Riven admitted.

Hang on, how do you know which is the one they’re using for storage? Draxl asked. If you go through the wrong connector you could be completely stranded. Of course, that’s assuming you don’t end up stranded wherever Elric is being held, but right now that’s a leap of faith we have to take.

I don’t know. Riven, is there any way to tell? Ace asked.

Not without me being there and a whole lot of time we don’t have.

Wait, when Osiris helped me leave, I went through the connector behind the painting with druids on it. It kinda looked like the clearing where the barn was. It’s not exactly the same, but maybe the paintings somewhat resemble the place they connect to, Kai suggested.

Does anyone remember what the paintings were? Ace asked.

No fucking clue, Cili said. I don’t think anyone does.

I’ll just look at them when I get the chance. Ace leaned around a corner, peering into the lobby. Two men stood guarding the row of double doors along the wall that led into the theater. Of course there are guards.

They rotate position when an item is sold, correct? Galina asked.

Yeah, Ace said. Why do you ask?

Good news, that chance might happen very soon, Galina said. The second half just started.

The curtains parted. All murmurs fell silent as everyone’s focus shifted to the stage.

Waltzing out onto the stage, waving to the crowd, was a skeleton. Their bones were erratically gilded as if a carriage had driven by a molten puddle of gold and splashed it onto them. The skeleton wore a black and gold suit and top hat.

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

The skeleton’s gloved hand waved to the crowd; the other carried a katana nestled in its sheath. Their v-neck was deep enough to expose an infusion carved into their sternum that lit up as they began to speak, amplifying their voice.

“Apologies for the delay, but your wonderful host Midas has been dying to get this auction back underway. Oh, wait, I’m already dead. Hahaha!

“But I should still be careful because if there’s anything that could kill someone twice, it’d be our next item.”

Midas lifted the katana in the air, above his head, and slowly pulled it out of its sheath. As the blade was drawn a curtain of shadow formed in front of Midas. Darkness draped beneath the blade. Its silver shine mirrored a solitary full moon in the dead of night.

“That’s why they needed the money,” Draxl murmured to himself.

“A powerful artifact wielded by many swordsmen, including the legendary Moonlit Shadow of the Sun himself. A blade capable of cutting even light itself! The bidding for [Nocturne] begins at 10,000 gold!”

Kai instantly turned to look at Draxl from across the theater, whose eyes stared in disbelief, unblinking at the blade. Draxl isn’t [Nocturne]—

Yeah, it’s Robin’s weapon, Draxl said, his gaze remaining fixated on the blade.

“11,000!”

“We have 11.000,” Midas called out..”Can we get 11,500?”

“11,500!”

“12,000!”

“12,000 gold from the gentleman in the back! Can we get 12,500?”

“12,500!”

“50,000!”

“My gods! 50,000 gold! Could you please stand up for us?” Midas asked.

From amongst the crowd, a woman in a black and silver tailcoat suit with a skull painted on her face stood up.

“What’s your name?” Midas asked.

“Queen.”

“Love the look,” Midas said.

Queen smirked. “Skulls are quite fashionable.”

“Well, you may have just earned yourself quite the weapon. 50,000 gold. Going once. Going twice.”

“51,000!”

The voice snapped Draxl out of his fixation. He recognized it instantly. His gaze turned to a burn-scarred black hand that stuck up from out of the crowd.

“Stop right there Queen, because there’s a king in this theater. 51,000 gold! Do I hear 52,000?”

“55,000!” Queen called out.

“55,000 gold. Do I hear 56?”

“60,000!” Zeke shouted.

“I do not hear 56, but I do hear 60. Can we get 61?” Midas asked.

“62,500!” Queen shouted

“My heart is beating out of my chest with excitement! Oh wait, I don’t have a heart! Can I get—”

“70,000!” Zeke shouted.

“75,000!” Queen fired back.

“It’s just non-stop! 75,000 gold! Do I hear 76?”

“76,000!” Zeke shouted.

“Oh, we wanna go slow now? Too bad!” Queen said. “90,0—”

“100,000 gold!”

Queen’s head whipped around to Zeke. She started daggers into him; if Queenwas a snake, venom would have been dripping from her eyes.

“100,000 gold! Going once! Going twice!”

Queen scoffed and sat back down in her seat.

“Sold!”

Zeke walked down to the stage. The audience’s attempts to hide their murmurs were so poor that Zeke couldn’t hear his own footsteps.

Hey, Draxl, I’d keep an eye on Zeke, Kai said. I know pirates, and they hate losing what they want, but that Queen doesn’t look very upset. She looks hungry.

Kai’s eyes narrowed. “And vaguely familiar,” he whispered to himself.

Zeke arrived on stage and reached his hand to accept the weapon. “The money isn’t here, obviously, but I’m hoping that I can take it now.”

The infusion on Midas’ sternum dimmed as his voice shifted from booming to a whisper. “Oh, payment won’t be an issue.” Midas slipped off his glove, revealing a golden skeletal hand—unlike the rest of Midas which had splotches of gold, this hand was completely coated in it.

“Just shake my hand, and the deal will be done. But before you do, may I make you an offer?”

“What?” Zeke asked.

“You are a fallen angel, yes? A few feathers could knock quite a bit off the price, and a whole wing would do wonders.”

“What would an eye get me?”

If Midas still had a face, it would be smiling. “This blade, anything in your dreams, and everything in your nightmares.”

“I’ll stick to gold.” Zeke grasped Midas’ hand.

“[Liquidate],” Midas said. For a fraction of a second, Zeke’s blood went cold.

“All done!” Midas pulled his hand away and slipped his glove back on.

Ace, an item just sold, Draxl said.

The two guards at the door started to march down the hall opposite Ace. From behind him, he heard faint footsteps pushing him into action.

Going now!

Ace darted into the lobby the moment the guards turned a corner. Okay, the paintings are a bunch of druids in a grove, people camping on top of a whale at sea, a massive tower going into the clouds, and a dragon sleeping in a cave.

Druids are the barn, we know that, Cili said.

The whale is probably the pirates, Kai said.

Okay, so is it the dragon or the tower? Ace asked

The tower sounds like the capital of Chapter 4, Riven said.

How would you know? Ace asked.

Because I wanted to go as a kid. It's the artifact capital of the world, Riven said.

Ace could hear footsteps growing louder and louder. Alright, going with the dragon. He pulled the painting off the wall.

Wait! Halvor stopped Ace before he left. What about [Link]? Will it work if you go to another plane?

No, we’ll lose all connection, Galina said. When you return it should reestablish the connection.

The footsteps were now accompanied by a quiet conversation.

I need to go now! If you don’t hear back from me after two items sell, have Riven sneak out and check in on me.

Why me? Riven asked.

Because you understand connectors the most and have the best shot at coming back, Ace said. Alright, I have to go now! Talk to you all soon.

Ace placed his hand upon the spiderweb infusion hidden behind the painting. The infusion lit up and engulfed his body in light, then in a flash, Ace vanished entirely from the theater.