The sun was approaching it's zenith as it bathed the Starlight Bidder's Hall in a warm light.
A crowd had formed in front of the grand auction house, a gathering of cultivators from various guilds and sects. Some engaged in pleasant conversation, their voices a mix of excitement and anticipation. Others stood aloof, their expressions unreadable as they observed the scene with indifference. The air buzzed with the energy of so many powerful and varied individuals in one place.
Silas, still going by his persona as Senior Ji, stood out among the crowd. Perched on his shoulder was Nyx, who surveyed the crowd with a slight measure of boredom. Silas engaged in idle chatter with Arim, the Rhysling Alchemist Guildmaster, who appeared outwardly quite energetic.
"Honored Senior, have you heard about the batch of Arianic Catalysts from the Rodam Alchemists that will be on sale?" Arim asked, his voice steady but his eyes darting around nervously.
Silas nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I did. Overpriced and underwhelming as usual…"
Their conversation was interrupted by a lively greeting from Zinnia, disguised as Selen.
"Guildmaster Arim! Senior Ji!" she called out cheerfully. "What a delightful morning for an auction!" a cheeky wink followed her greeting.
Arim's face lit up with relief at her arrival. "Master Selen," he greeted her warmly before turning to Silas. "It's good to see that you and Senior Ji have settled your misunderstandings."
Zinnia flashed a flirty smile at Silas, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, we've come to an understanding," she said playfully.
Silas met her gaze with an inscrutable expression, his eyes revealing nothing of his thoughts. "Indeed," he replied smoothly.
Before the conversation could continue further, an employee of the Starlight Bidders’ Hall approached Arim and whispered something urgently into his ear. Arim's expression shifted from relaxed to concerned in an instant.
"Excuse me," he said hastily to Silas and Zinnia. "As one of the patrons of the hall, I must attend to a little matter that has popped up about who is going to host the auction."
With that, Arim hurried away, leaving Silas and Zinnia standing together amidst the bustling crowd.
Zinnia leaned closer to Silas, her voice low yet perky. "Soo, think you will get lucky inside the auction today~?"
Silas chuckled briefly before responding in a measured tone. "Oh we shall see I suppose, my luck has not failed me yet when it comes to making a deal."
Nyx ruffled his feathers and let out a soft caw as if agreeing with Silas.
The two stood in silence for a moment, observing the varied cultivators around them.
For now, patience was key.
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Kell stood among his followers, a small group of disciples from the Rumbling Earth Sect. His green eyes sparkled with excitement as he spoke, his voice youthful and enthusiastic.
"I've heard that today's auction will feature some awesome rare weapons!" Kell said, his hands gesturing animatedly. "I can't wait to see what treasures we might get!"
His followers nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring his anticipation. One of them, a tall young man with a serious demeanor, spoke up.
"Young Master, it's good to see you so lively."
Another disciple, a petite woman with a gentle smile, added, "Yes, Young Master. We wish you the best of luck in today's auction. May you find something truly remarkable."
Kell's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you all. Having you by my side means a lot to me!"
As they continued their conversation, the atmosphere remained light and pleasant. Kell's followers were genuinely pleased to see their young master enjoying himself outside the confines of their sect's compound.
Suddenly, a playful smack landed on Kell's back, causing him to turn around in surprise. Standing behind him was the Young Mistress of the Heavenly Flame Sect, dressed in a fiery red silken dress that tantalized the eyes of anyone with the guts to look at her.
"Emma!" Kell exclaimed cheerfully. "What brings you here?"
Emma's eyes were filled with joy as she crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly. "I could ask you the same thing, Kell. It's not every day I see the Young Master of the Rumbling Earth Sect out and about like this."
Kell blushed slightly and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, I thought I'd give myself a break and have some fun."
Emma chuckled softly. "It's good to see you out here, Kell. I thought I'd give you some face by accompanying you today."
Before Kell could respond, a commotion drew their attention. The crowd's focus shifted towards the entrance of the auction house where a Priest of Probitas stood towering over two individuals—a staff member based on the uniform and a man who was dressed in clothes. Both were on their knees, clutching their injured hands.
The Priest's mace was bloodied, and his voice rang out with righteous fury as he berated the two men.
"You dare attempt bribery in the presence of Probitas?!" he thundered. "Justice will be served for your dishonesty!!!"
The crowd murmured among themselves as they watched the scene unfold. Kell's expression turned serious as he observed the priest's actions.
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Emma leaned closer to Kell and whispered, "Looks like things are getting interesting."
Kell nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the priest and the two men on their knees. The calm atmosphere from moments ago had been replaced by tension and curiosity as everyone waited to see what would happen next.
The priest's mace gleamed ominously as he raised it high, his voice booming with self-righteous fury.
Silas moved swiftly, his black robes flowing around him like shadows. He reached the Priest just as the mace began its deadly descent. With a firm grip, he caught the priest's wrist mid-swing. The force of his intervention sent a ripple through the crowd.
The Priest of Probitas turned, eyes blazing with anger. "You dare!" he spat, almost choking on his rage.
Silas met his gaze with a soft smile and bowed his head slightly. "Why attack these men, honorable Priest?" His voice was calm, almost soothing.
The man in finer clothes saw his chance and spoke up, desperation coloring his words. "This Priest is a nutjob! He accused me of bribing this staff member when I was just gifting him for helping put out a fire that struck my hat shop the other day. I'm not even participating in the auction!"
The Priest's face quickly turned bright red, embarrassment replacing his earlier fury. He gnawed at his teeth, struggling to find words.
Silas released his grip on the priest's wrist and nodded thoughtfully. "I see. It is good to see your enthusiasm from yesterday remains intact," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "However, overzealousness is never a good thing!"
Recognition dawned in the priest's eyes as he finally took in Silas's face. His shoulders slumped, and he lowered his head reluctantly. "I have shamed myself," he admitted.
As they conversed, a commanding voice cut through the tension like a blade. "What is going on here?"
All heads turned towards the entrance of the Starlight Bidders’ Hall. There stood the Magistrate of Rhysling, armed with a saber at his side. His rotund frame did nothing to diminish the authority that radiated from him.
Silas stepped back slightly, allowing the Magistrate to take in the scene fully. The crowd parted to give him space as he approached, each step echoing with purpose.
"What is this commotion about?" he demanded.
The Priest of Probitas swallowed hard before speaking. "I... I believed these men were guilty of bribery," he stammered.
Lachlan's gaze hardened as he looked at the two men still kneeling on the ground. "Is this true?" he asked them directly.
The man in finer clothes shook his head vigorously. "No, Lord Magistrate! I was merely showing gratitude for assistance rendered."
Lachlan considered this for a moment before nodding slowly. "Very well," he said finally. "Rise."
The two men scrambled to their feet, relief evident on their faces.
Lachlan turned back to Silas and gave a small nod of approval. "Thank you for intervening," he said quietly.
Silas inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment but remained silent.
With order restored, Lachlan addressed the crowd that had gathered around them. "There will be some changes to the auction this time to ensure the safety of all bidders!" he spoke firmly.
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A loud cough broke through the murmurs of the crowd. Heads turned towards the entrance of the auction house where Arim stood, his face flushed from exertion. The Alchemist's Guild leader cleared his throat again, ensuring he had everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Arim began, his voice carrying a practiced authority. "For those who may not know me, I am Arim, leader of Rhysling's Alchemist's Guild."
A ripple of recognition passed through the crowd. Some nodded in acknowledgment while others whispered among themselves. Silas watched Arim closely, noting the slight tremor in his hands and the way his eyes darted nervously.
Arim continued, "I want to extend my gratitude to our esteemed Lord Magistrate for his willingness to address you all today." He paused, turning towards Lachlan with a respectful nod. "However, I believe it would be more appropriate for me to address our guests and explain the changes to today's auction."
Lachlan chuckled warmly. He nodded graciously at Arim. "Of course, Guildmaster Arim," he said with a smile. "I apologize for my haste!"
Although, after he finished speaking he felt as if a strong wind had just hit his toupee strangely enough... The Magistrate adjusted himself almost imperceptibly before stepping back to allow Arim to take center stage.
Arim took a deep breath and began outlining the new rules for the auction. "Today, our Lord Magistrate will act as your auctioneer!" he announced. "Those who wish to bid on items must immediately pick up their chosen item and pay the seller under the watchful eye of our honored Priest of Probitas."
The Priest of Probitas nodded solemnly at this mention, his earlier fervor seemingly not lost to him.
Arim continued listing off changes and additional rules designed to ensure fairness and transparency in today's proceedings. As he spoke, Silas felt Lachlan's presence beside him.
The Magistrate approached with a smile that looked genuine. He cupped his hands towards Silas in a gesture of respect that drew gasps from some onlookers, including Kell and other cultivators who had witnessed Silas's earlier intervention.
"Senior Ji," Lachlan began, but Silas raised a hand to stop him.
"The past is the past," Silas said calmly. "What little I had done has already been forgotten by me and should be by you as well, Lord Magistrate."
Lachlan sighed deeply, bowing his head slightly. "You have truly humbled me," he admitted.
Silas nodded once in acknowledgment but said nothing further. His gaze shifted back to Arim, who was wrapping up his announcements with an air of finality.
Kell watched from a distance with wide eyes, clearly astonished by what he had just witnessed—the deference shown by one of Rhysling's most powerful figures towards this enigmatic man…
As Arim concluded his speech and invited everyone inside for the auction to begin, Silas remained where he was for a moment longer. He could feel the weight of many eyes upon him—some curious, some wary—but none dared approach or question him directly.
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Silas settled into his VIP seat in the gallery, the plush cushion beneath him quite pleasant. He leaned back, allowing himself a moment of comfort as he surveyed the scene below. The Starlight Bidders' Hall was abuzz with activity, a symphony of murmurs and rustling fabric as attendees found their places.
Nyx, ever the diligent, slinked around people's shadows, taking in every detail of the room's layout and the people within.
A servant approached with a drink, bowing slightly before placing it on the small table beside Silas. He nodded in acknowledgment, lifting the glass to his lips and savoring the rich flavor. His gaze drifted down to the first rows where the sellers were seated. Among them, he spotted Zinnia. She sat with an air of eagerness. Although… "This is going to hurt…" she was likely thinking.
Behind the sellers, loose cultivators and wealthy mortals filled the seats. Servants moved among them, offering refreshments and snippets of information. Silas's eyes flicked over their faces.
In the other galleries, he saw several Sects native to the Empire. Their robes were distinctive, each one an homage to their unique traditions and power structures. Silas dismissed them from his mind; they were not his concern today.
Kell's voice carried over from his own gallery seat, animated as he spoke to his subordinates and Emma about the man who had stood up against the priest earlier. "That guy was incredible!" Kell said with enthusiasm that made Emma smile.
Silas raised an eyebrow at Kell's admiration but quickly refocused on Zinnia. She shifted in her seat, clearly uncomfortable despite her best efforts to appear composed.
Nyx nestled into someone's shadow below, ready to spring into action if needed. The crow's thoughts mirrored Silas's own: "The fun is about to start."
Arim took center stage once more, his presence commanding attention as he addressed the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "the auction is about to begin. I must remind you that only those bidding should make any sound during this time."
With that announcement made, Arim stepped aside and left the stage to Magistrate Lachlan.
Silas took another sip of his drink and thought to himself: "Showtime…"