Droplets of water kissed the earth, tending to the grass, blooming the trees, and nourishing withering plants. In a small village, humans resided. Though the ground seemed muddy and watered down, life in every passing footstep persisted. Despite the rain, a large burly man stood upon a raised wooden platform.
"What beautiful weather it is, the village of Tewmark!" he roared, smiling eagerly with traces of gold in his teeth.
A group of weary travelers, villagers, and nobles perked their ears, their wandering eyes fixed on the man who spoke proudly despite the rain.
"My precious, valuable customers, I have come here to present to you that with a soaking wet droplet comes a bounty that you and I seek, as we are all lost souls looking for something useful in this kingdom!" His smile turned to a grin as he touched his prized ring and looked over the crowd with a keen eye.
Before he could speak another word, children, men, and women appeared on the wooden stage, walking so frail while thick black chains were embedded to their wrists and feet. On their ragged clothes, a hanging wooden, chained, squared necklace showed a number for each one of them.
"It is my deepest humble honor to present to you the finest slaves that can satisfy and boost your most shattering, sweet desires and growth in your own properties! Or as some will say, a new joy to fulfill! Now, as I am always so generous for my loyal customers and proven to provide the best services I can offer with this lot, I offer each of you the power to discipline a slave with this!" He clapped his brazen hands, and a skewering smell of burning skin filled the air.
A loud screech was heard; tears were shed. The slaves began to tremble on the wooden platform, screaming in agony as the chains seared with cruel heat, the air thick with their cries. Before the crowd, their eyes pleaded in shock, their forms writhing like a beast struggling before dying in the hands of a hunter.
The crowd murmured. Some were left in shock, and some were smiling through their agony and pain, thinking the man did wonders—a miracle beyond their eyes.
"Now, that's enough noise for an intermission," he said, and he clapped back again. The chains turned back to normal, cold, heavy black chains.
"What you just saw is the power of this ring!" He then showed the ring he wore to the crowd.
"This is the product of a fairy's pure magic tampered with a witch's dark magic! Not only will you get a valuable slave, but you'll also have the power of two magical creatures to discipline the arrogant with this beautiful, enchanted ring! Now, my esteemed loyal customers of Tewmark, we will start the bid at 5 silver coins and 34 bronze!"
The sound of cheering voices surfaced from the crowd, eager to bid, looking ecstatic for the first time out of their own shells.
"I bid 5 silver coins and 50 bronze for number 5, that dirty small looking brat of a weasel child!" yelled a lady decorated with beautiful garments.
"No! I will bid 6 silver coins and 10 spoonfuls of bronze for the same rat that you cannot even afford to feed!" chuckled another grown man who was dressed in an eccentric clothing from the outskirts.
The lady cast a disgusted look at the traveler. and grab her own pouch with the sounds of a bounty that was worth buying someone's life out of the gutter.
"I bid 8 silver coins and 36 bronze for that pesky child and I will assure you, mister dimwit that I can afford to feed the dirt much as well I can afford it!" she roared across the room.
The crowd laid cheers and laughter as the traveler showed annoyance and a grimming face for he cannot fathom such a defeat towards a noble woman.
"Going once? Going twice?" the auctioneer clarified to announce.
"Get it on with it, will you! I need some women to satisfy me this instant!" yelled another man from the crowd.
"Sold to the fair lady! Congratulations, madame. You have bought yourself a valuable product worthy of an artifact," he yelled.
The bidding raged on. The ravening crowd cheered and fought, hurling bids over one another for children, women, and men. On the platform, the slaves stood traumatized and lifeless, their vacant eyes watching as their lives were bought and sold.
After the auction, the artifacts, the rings were given to the ones who purchased slaves. Money was received, while the auctioneer rested in a private inn. Gold, silver, bronze coins were clinking as he counts the money that they earned.
"I knew it that the customers will love the artifacts. Thanks to those pesky witches, we earned a great deal in the market to sell those wretched slaves."
A loud sound was heard through the door. It opened and revealed two men in armor. Seeing them the auctioneer stopped counting the coins and fix his posture to greet them.
"Gentlemen, to what I owe this honorable visit?" asked the auctioneer.
"The Grandmaster wants to deliver a message. He wants a cut of your profits in the business." uttered one of the men.
"Oh, is that the time of the day? I see," he gets up and opened one of the cabinets showing a large wooden chest. "This is the cut. Please do tell your master that I am in pleasure to doing business with him."
The armored men nod and approach the cabinet to grab and carry the wooden chest out the room.
"Stay safe in your travels, sires," the auctioneer bid farewell as they walk out of the room, closing the door of the inn.
He then revealed a big sigh the moment the door was closed. He continued to sit back from a wooden chair and murmured, "I thought I was going to die today. Good thing I stash the money in a chest earlier. Tch, there's nothing good doing business with someone from a political movement especially when you have no choice but to comply."