Chapter 36: Auction
'The Empire truly has many powerful families.' Raven nodded inwardly, the carriage rocking slightly beneath him, shadows of passing trees flickering across the interior. He realized just how impossible his goal would seem to anyone else.
'At least, I need 100 or even 200 years to create a strong force to face an ancient family. But my opponent isn't an ancient family but the Royal Family. It is a true powerhouse capable of ruling all these twelve ancient families.'
[There is the Wizard Alliance, too. Please don't take them lightly.] Zera's voice echoed in his mind, sharp and unwavering, and Raven fell silent, letting the words settle like a cold weight.
The carriage moved on, the rhythmic clatter of wheels against stone streets filling the gaps of thought. Raven stayed quiet for several minutes, organizing his plans, calculating time, and imagining futures that had yet to unfold.
He took out three books from the inventory and handed them to Selene.
"These are three spell books that relate to Dream-related abilities. Try constructing them in your mind once we settle in an Inn."
"Aren't they the books you were writing earlier, My Lord?" Selene's voice carried skepticism as she reached for them. She opened the first book and froze at the third page, eyes scanning the detailed spell model and the strange rune language.
"Oh? Dream Walk? With this spell, my consciousness can enter a separate world called 'Woolgatherer World,' huh?" Her brow furrowed as she examined the pages.
"I never heard of such a spell from the Academy. And I find it hard to believe there is a different world based on dreams." The hesitation in her voice didn't hide the curiosity that lingered.
'Can I trust this book? Even if I face a backlash, I will only be in bad shape for a month or two before recovering. It's worth a try.' Nodding silently, she continued to read.
Meanwhile, Raven and the others made stops at different destinations, gathering information, booking accommodations, and moving through the city as if shadows themselves guided them.
After some research, they chose a high-class Inn on Aurora Street: four rooms in 'Glory Wine.' Selene didn't object this time, her attention fully absorbed by the books. Raven ensured she had isolation on the second floor.
Raven moved to the special guest room reserved for nobles. He sank onto the double bed, feeling the weight of the world settle like a chill along his spine.
'Although I took the remaining 6540 gold coins from the Royal Bank before departure, I don't think it should be enough to participate in the auction.'
[True, a Rank-1 Magical Beast's corpse should cost over 3000 gold coins. If it's a rare beast, its value might skyrocket to 6000 or even 8000.]
Raven opened his inventory, counting aloud in a low murmur.
'7690 Gold coins, hybrid elemental crystal, one Night Vision potion, 2 Feral Eye crystals, Trollsbane Glands, Dreamvenom Tri-cobra's poison gland, two 60 cm long venomous fangs, and finally, six eyes of the cobra.' The thought of selling them lingered, but the city's pulse seemed too urgent to wait for the capital.
A soft knock at the door interrupted him. Jacob entered, bowing slightly in the opulent room.
"Do you need any help, My Lord?"
"I need information about the list of materials auctioned on the 15th. Is it possible?" Raven asked, tossing the reddish badge-like emblem toward him.
"Yes, My Lord. I can use this to register a seat in the Seven Calls auction and get the list. All other items' names would be disclosed except for the special five items."
Jacob secured the badge in his pocket. Raven pulled out each item he intended to sell, speaking of their names and values with meticulous precision.
"This life-affinity hybrid elemental crystal should fetch over 3,000 gold coins. If the offer is below 2,700, don't sell it. Each Feral Eye crystal is worth around 500 gold coins; the Trollsbane gland should go for about 1,200, and the poison gland should sell for no less than 750. These two venomous fangs are easily worth over 300 gold coins, and each of these six cobra eyes should be valued at 200 gold coins apiece."
Jacob stared, disbelief etched into his features.
"H-How did you get your hands on these items?"
"My teacher's other disciple is an alchemist. He gave me these materials when I visited him a week ago." Raven smiled faintly, the edges of the room dimming slightly under the fading light from the windows, and handed the items to Jacob.
"Once you sell these items, put this vial for auction," he said, producing a small vial of greyish-black liquid. "It's called the 'Night Vision' potion."
Jacob accepted it, cautiously, and placed it separately.
"Then, I'll be leaving, My Lord." He exited, footsteps echoing softly down the corridor.
[What is your plan?] Zera asked.
'Nothing much. I wonder if I can learn the Easica language you told me about. As long as I learn that language, I can easily understand the runology experience from those memory books, right?'
[Hmm, you can learn that. But it will only delay your progress in basic Runology. Still, you will become an Apprentice Rune Wizard in under three months.]
Raven considered this briefly, letting the weight of time press against him. Then, he whispered,
"I should create the Elemental Circlet Technique."
He entered the memory library. Rows of shelves loomed, thick with dust and silent expectation.
"Which elemental circlet technique is suitable for me?" he murmured, scanning the tomes.
"You've to check them yourself one by one." The voice echoed, ethereal, and a young woman with pointed ears appeared behind him like a shadow in the dim light.
Raven gathered the Elemental Circlet Techniques. Two hundred and seven of them. He flipped through 'Imaginary Rings of Elements,' the pages rustling faintly, and frowned.
"This technique will allow me only to gather four elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind." He tossed the book aside, eyes scanning the next titles:
"Runic Cascade of Spectral Pyres: Fire, Water, Darkness, Soul, Life."
"Abyssal Bloom: Poison, Darkness, Earth, Chaos, Life, Fire."
"Tempus Surge of Twilight Flame: Fire, Time, Wind, Darkness, Light, Space."
"Dawn of Fortune Serpent Flame: Ice, Water, Fire, Poison, Luck, Time."
…He separated the books, element by element.
"Currently, I've Ice affinity, Life affinity. And I must need a technique with poison, time, Luck, and blood affinity."
Four books fit his needs:
"Fortune Blood Lightning: Ice, Life, Time, Luck, Lightning, Blood, Water, and Dream."
"Twelve Petals Elemental Circlets: Space, Time, Destiny, Luck, Life, Death, Ice, Fire, Earth, Wind, Blood, and Poison."
"Blood Moon Circlets: Ice, Soul, Darkness, Time, Luck, Life, Water, Death, Blood, and Poison."
"Arcanum Circlets of Destiny: Ice, Poison, Life, Luck, Darkness, Blood, Time, Lightning, and Light."
[Choose the Arcanum Circlets of Destiny.] Zera said, appearing at his side.
"What about other techniques?" he asked.
"Before that, tell me the types of affinity potions you learned from the Basic Alchemy." Zera's question cut the stillness sharply.
Raven recited, furrowing slightly,
"Affinity potions are divided into basic Elemental Affinity and Special Elemental Affinity potions. Basic: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, Darkness. Special: Ice, Poison, Lightning, Life, Death, Shadow, Blood, Space, Metal, Illusion, Time."
"What are the Unique Affinities?"
"They are Luck, Fate, Dream, Soul, Music, Trickery, Wisdom, Void, Chaos, Sword, Spear, etc. Unlike Basic and Special, it is almost impossible to make potions for them."
"Now you understand?"
"But Arcanum Circlets of Destiny also has Luck affinity, right?"
"Yes. But you can increase your luck by absorbing Runeth's memories or robbing the luck power from others using the devouring ability. It might work."
Raven nodded, unease curling faintly in his chest.
"But won't too many affinities hinder my growth?"
"If you are a Wizard, you can excel in a single element. But Warlocks rely on bloodline origin and weapon skill. More diverse abilities increase survival against Wizards and other foes. But know this—Wizards aren't the only powers. Gods, Demons, Devils, World Devourers, Void Lifeforms… a normal Warlock wouldn't last a second against them."
'Oh?' Raven murmured, the room's shadows deepening.
He sat cross-legged on the floor, opening the Arcanum Circlets of Destiny. Hours passed as he memorized the First Circlet Array.
"But to create an Array, I must enter the 'Mind Space.' It connects my consciousness, body, and the Sea of Consciousness."
Exiting the library, he sat on the bed, eyes closed, chanting in runic syllables. A tugging sensation pulled at him, and the dark of the Mind Space swallowed him instantly.
Stars hovered ahead—green, blood-red, purplish, golden, eerie dark—each a hexagon suspended in shadow.
'They are the spell models.'
"Oh, this is the Mind Space, huh?" He drew a thin line in the void; it appeared bright white. Imagination and reality blurred.
A seven-meter circle, over two thousand runes, ten segmented sections, a hexagonal core formed entirely of runes. The connection hummed, alive, resonating with the distant stars above. Three hours later, the First Array glowed green, shooting light toward one star, which descended and merged into the array.
Raven felt a deep resonance within, a life-energy chill, filling the hexagonal structure. He didn't know the limit of energy storage, only that it would suffice for casting bloodline spells multiple times.
Hours drifted by before a soft knock echoed against the wooden door. Raven stirred, opening one eye.
"The door is open. Come in."
"Yes, My Lord."
Jacob stepped through, carrying a Gladstone bag that creaked under its weight. He reached Raven, offering the bag first, then a folded paper and a ticket with Raven's name inked in sharp letters.
"I put the vial for auction and registered two seats for us, My Lord. As for the other items, I sold all the materials for reasonable prices."
Raven unlatched the bag. Two large leather pouches waited inside. One spilled with platinum coins, cool and heavy in his hands. The other sagged under gold coins, five kilograms of clinking metal.
"70 Platinum coins, huh?" He weighed the pouch, then turned to the gold. "How many gold coins are there?"
"340 gold coins, My Lord. In total, all those items sold for 7340 gold coins."
Raven plucked a coin and flicked it toward Jacob. The sharp metallic ring echoed faintly in the room.
"Not bad."
He slid the pouches and bag into the inventory, fingers lingering on the leather before closing it.
"Inform me two hours before the auction begins. Until then, I'll be staying indoors."
"Yes, My Lord." Jacob bowed and left, footsteps soft on the polished floor.
Raven unfolded the paper. Lines of items spread out in neat ink: Phantom Compass, Basilisk Fangs, Thunderbird Feather… Rank-2 Flame Wyvern's Horn, Rank-1 Ice Wyrm's Elemental Crystal…
His eyes paused at the mention of the Ice Wyrm's corpse.
'Subspecies of Wyvern, residents of icy mountains.'
[Ice Wyrm is part of the Dragon species, so you might gain useful abilities.] Zera's voice cut through his thoughts.
Others caught his attention—corpses of magical beasts, none recommended, affinities common or unsuitable. He rolled the paper and stored it in a drawer, entering the Memory Library.
Inside the memory library, he memorized everything about the second circlet. Then he entered the Mind Space. The dark void embraced him, punctuated by hexagonal stars hovering silently.
He chose the next section. The Poison Elemental Circlet. Hexagons took shape, runes spread like a web beneath his fingers. When completed, the circlet exhaled dense purplish energy, a dark pulse toward the void sky, drawing the poison touch spell model into its center.
Raven's hands hovered. Luck. The third circlet.
"Hmm, unlike other elements, it's impossible to gather luck from the mana in the atmosphere," he murmured. The book's instructions flitted through his memory: help others, become renowned, or steal luck from them.
[Taking people's good luck can backfire, lad. My owner always did that.]
"I must understand the power of luck, then. How does luck exist? Isn't everything that happens just a matter of probability?" he whispered inwardly.
[No. For example, a wealthy noble lady strolled on the street while carrying a pouch full of gold coins. As she was humming and sightseeing the street stalls and people, she didn't see a gold coin slip away and fall on the ground. Behind her, a carriage came and rode on the coin, covering it with a layer of sand. After that, there were lots of people who walked on the same path, but none managed to find it due to the sand covering it. But when a wind blows just as the beggar closes, he saw the coin glittering due to the morning sun. That's what luck is. Multiple events lead to a fateful change in one's life. If that is not called Luck, what is?]
'True. My luck spell indeed defies common sense.' Raven muttered.
[Magic itself defies common sense. Luck can turn disaster into fortune. Use it wisely; it becomes a trump card.]
Raven traced golden runes through the void. Circles, words, intricate patterns. Two hours later, the third circlet absorbed the golden spell model into the array.
Pain lanced across his temples. A sharp, almost physical shove. The Mind Space vanished.
"What happened?" he gasped, blinking into the darkening room.
[You overused your spirit power. Rest until morning.] Zera advised.
He rose, eyes adjusting to the twilight creeping through the windows. The day had surrendered to evening. Raven's stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten. Downstairs, he found Jacob and Stephine waiting, the aroma of fried chicken drawing him forward.
"Did Selene come out of her room?" he asked, tearing a wing from the plate.
"No, My Lord. She left a note saying two spell models were successfully constructed. She'll come out before evening."
"Good." He handed Stephine a few coins. "Buy salted beef, bacon, smoked meat. We'll cook in the railway kitchen. I won't touch their dry bread and boiled vegetables."
"But it'll spoil in a few hours, My Lord." Stephine's smile was polite, strained.
Raven waved, already moving toward the corridor.
Morning arrived with sharp clarity. At 8:30 A.M., a knock came. Raven wore a black double-breasted coat, a white vest, polished shoes, a top hat low on his head, and a monocle in place. Jacob followed, bowler hat snug. Stephine wore her simple housemaid dress.
"Did Selene come out?" Raven asked again.
"Not yet, My Lord."
'Well, she will be okay on her own.' Raven muttered.
He handed coins to Stephine. "While we attend the auction, buy food for our travel."
They descended quietly. The carriage carried them to Moon Street. The Seven Calls auction house loomed, polished marble pillars, arched windows reflecting the sun. Guards with golden seven-pointed stars scanned the street.
"They put Radiant Knights as gatekeepers?" Raven muttered, frown tightening.
"Second Son of Lucus Thornevale oversees this auction. Overbearing pressure. I'd bet he's above Expert Rank." Jacob replied.
The carriage stopped. Raven stepped down, opening the door first. They approached the entrance silently.
Inside, the foyer smelled of polished wood and faint incense. A tall man with slicked-back hair greeted them with a deep bow.
"Welcome to the Seven Calls auction house, gentlemen. How may I help you?"
"We are here to participate in the auction." Raven produced the tickets and the badge.
"Reserved seats are ready," the man said, motioning toward a side entrance. Velvet drapes, paintings, and golden chandeliers guided their steps.
The auction hall opened. Elevated stage, podium, semi-circle of seats, VIP balconies above.
"F12 and F13, Sir," the man said.
Guests arrived in waves. Noble attire, merchant coats, Knights' armor, and Wizards' robes filled the room.
10:30 A.M.
The portly auctioneer ascended the podium, handlebar mustache twitching.
"Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen!" His voice boomed, silencing murmurs. "Rare, powerful, mysterious items from the Agith Ruins await. Let us begin."
The first item appeared—a black compass with a faint glow. Velvet cushion, all eyes fixed.
"Our first item is a Phantom Compass. Does not point north, but deeper into the woods. Past attempts ended in failure… starting bid, 500 gold coins."
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Raven leaned back, touching his monocle.