Unrepentant

The Magistrate of Rhysling, Lachlan, stood at the center of the stage, unrolling a scroll with flourish. The crowd's murmurs died down as he began to speak.

"Esteemed guests, we commence today's auction with an extraordinary item," Lachlan announced, his voice carrying through the hall. "I call forth Erian of Sekalan!"

A man in simple yet elegant robes rose from his seat, cupping his fists towards the Magistrate in a gesture of respect. He ascended the stage with brisk steps, his demeanor composed and confident. From within his large sleeve, Erian produced a small box, its surface adorned with intricate carvings.

"Honored attendees," Erian began, his voice steady and clear. "I present to you a Focus Gem crafted by the late Artifice Savant Imberalim of the Nation Hidden by Leaves."

A ripple of interest passed through the crowd. Silas leaned forward slightly, intrigued by the mention of Imberalim. The name was familiar.

"This Focus Gem," Erian continued, "is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and magical engineering. Any Artifice Engineer with this gem could create a defense system capable of deterring practitioners even at the third step!"

Erian's words rippled in the air as he finished his presentation. The Magistrate nodded appreciatively and took over.

"The authenticity of this item has been guaranteed by the Artificer's Guild," Lachlan declared. "The bidding will start at—"

As the auction got underway, the gallery where Kell sat with Emma was filled with whispers.

"What do you think of it?" Kell asked Emma, his tone curious.

Emma considered for a moment before replying, "Hmm… It's good, but while a Focus Gem is important, finding an Artificer willing to use a Savant's Gem would be costly…"

Kell looked surprised. "Oh, you know about stuff like this?"

Emma smiled slightly. "My mother has taught me much about the outside world. As Heiress, having my wits about me is essential!"

Kell chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "You've definitely put more time into your studies then me..."

His servants behind him exchanged wry smiles at their Young Master's humility.

"I try my best." Emma said with a wink that caused Kell to blush slightly.

While they were enjoying themselves… a fidgeting Priest of Probitas was standing at attention on the stage. The priest's thoughts seemed almost audible: ''Any who dare commit dishonest acts today will be struck down!'' He also mused about thanking the kindly Alchemist for yesterday's tonic—it had indeed made him feel much more energetic.

In the midst of these varied conversations and thoughts, Silas noticed Nyx moving stealthily among mingling shadows in the crowd below.

''Hmm,'' Nyx thought to himself, ''hopefully a good one shows themselves…''

The auction continued around them, each bid bringing the first sale closer to it's completion, until finally...

"Sold! To the esteemed Artificer Lyra from our very own Artificer's Guild!" the Magistrate's voice rang out with finality. "One hundred and ten thousand Reshal."

Lyra bowed gracefully towards the Magistrate, her movements dignified. She handed over the amount due to a staff member, all under the vigilant eyes of both the Priest and the Magistrate.

As she returned to her seat, happy faces greeted her, likely indicating this was a group purchase. Erian, though slightly displeased with the final price, stepped down graciously, cupping his fists to the Magistrate and then to the crowd. Several nods of approval acknowledged his manners.

The Magistrate then called forth the next presenter. "Opula of Rodam!"

A woman ascended the stage with an air of noticeable arrogance. Her posture was straight, her chin held high as she addressed the crowd.

"My family has decided to grace this auction with an item of our own make!" Opula announced, her voice dripping with condescension. "I present to you cultivators of the Empire these [Spirit Chains]."

Suddenly an outraged voice erupted from the crowd. "How dare you bring such an item into the Empire! Bitch of House Nilan! I known what these chains are for!'' he yells at the staring crowd, ''They bind living beings into horrible servitude!"

Opula's frown deepened as she turned towards the Priest. "Have I broken any rules by offering this item?"

The Priest's eye twitched before he responded. "No, you have not." He then turned his gaze towards the man who had interrupted. "However, you have! Discouraging a seller's item is not allowed!"

With a swift motion, he pulled out a paper charm that ignited in blue flame. The man who had spoken out felt his jaws clamp shut so strongly that he could feel his teeth breaking.

"You shall not be allowed to speak during the rest of this auction," declared the Priest.

The Magistrate sighed in exasperation, much to the discontentment of the crowd. Nonetheless, he continued the event saying, "The bidding for such a 'fine' item will start at ten thousand Reshal."

"I will make that offer!" Silas's voice cut through the murmurs of surprise that followed.

Zinnia kept her face neutral, but internally she wanted to cry out, ''Shit…''

Nyx, now among the first rows but still hidden within shadows, thought to himself, ''Certainly going to be useful.''

Kell looked puzzled and turned to Emma. "Why would a noble person like that want such a demonic item?"

Emma sighed and shook her head slightly. "You’re too naive…"

Arim was screaming internally, ''FUCK, FUCK, SHIT, SHIT, FUCK…'' His face however remained stoic despite his turmoil.

Even the Magistrate seemed confused as he looked at Senior Ji with curiosity. However, seeing no other bidders come forward, he called out once more.

"The second item's sale is closed!" he announced. "Senior Ji, please come down and claim your prize…"

Silas rose from his seat and walked down, the crowd watched him intently as he made his way towards the stage.

Senior Ji approached the Magistrate with a small smile. His eyes flicked briefly to Arim, who was already sweating bullets, figuratively speaking. Before Silas could say a word to the Magistrate, Arim interjected.

"Lord Magistrate!" Arim's voice wavered slightly, "I would like to pay the price on behalf of Senior Ji!"

Silas's expression shifted to one of feigned surprise. "Guildmaster, please! There's no need for that."

Arim gulped, his eyes darting nervously between Silas and the Magistrate. "Senior Ji… please grant me some face… I simply wish my esteemed friend to have a gift from me, with no ulterior motives!"

Silas's smile widened and his eyes became gentler when looking at Arim. "Well, my friend when you put it like that… I must accept!"

Arim bowed to Silas, however his thoughts were going into a completely different direction… ''I want to curl up onto my bed and hide… Why must I suffer as this monster's pawn… well besides Master Nathaniel… and the… maybe that too… hmm? Wait am I that bad? NO! It's his fault!''

The Magistrate nodded approvingly as he carried out the transaction. He thought to himself that it was a good thing their Alchemist's Guildmaster had such manners to cater for the goodwill of an esteemed hero…

The funds, given by Arim from his small storage pouch, were stored in a chest held by a staff member behind the Magistrate and shown to Opula.

Opula looked over the amount and nodded to the staff member who closed the chest. She then allowed Silas to inspect his purchase before it also went into a holding area until the end of the auction.

She looked at Silas and cocked her head, her sharp features scrutinizing him. "My… how is it that someone of so refined… taste… is here in this backwoods place?"

The Magistrate's eye twitched at the direct insult to his city, while Silas simply chuckled. "I am visiting a friend and having some fun in lovely Rhysling."

He observed the chains more closely, running his fingers along their intricate engravings. "Seems I have quite a bargain, may I know which Senior of your family crafted something so potent?"

Opula preened at the attention. "This is an item created by my grandfather! He wanted to see if the Empire could appreciate our masterworks… these [Spirit Chains] could enslave even a third-step expert into complete submission!" Her cheeks grew red as she licked her lips, about to launch into a rant perhaps about her families greatness… However…

Silas cut her off before she could start, he spoke loudly enough for the entire hall to hear in a very casual tone. "Yes I recall these chains are quite popular in Rodam, very appreciated for their many uses—from ensuring servants' loyalty to taming beasts—but most of all as a toy for various sexual acts that require a measure of… danger."

The hall fell silent as jaws dropped. The Magistrate and Arim both had their mouths wide open in shock at Silas's words. Opula's face turned crimson as she stammered.

"Such a thing is not to be said!" she protested but didn't deny, thereby confirming Silas's words…

He turned around and looked at the crowd, giving a little wink before heading back to his seat. The reactions were diverse; many attendees turned shades of red at the scandalous words, while others threw suggestive glances at Silas's retreating back.

In her seat, Zinnia felt goosebumps prickling her skin. ''He better not be planning to stick those chains on me,'' she thought uneasily.

Kell was laughing heartily at Emma, whose face was hidden behind her hands in embarrassment.

The man who had been punished by the priest earlier smirked to himself. ''Serves her right…''

Nyx, now nestled inside the shadow of the Priest of Probitas, laughed in his head. ''HAHAHA!''

The Priest's mind however finally caught up with the situation as black bile formed in his stomach. He gritted his teeth in anger but stayed silent, knowing that this comment was not a violation of the rules…

The auction continued with a series of less notable items—manuals, tools, artworks, and various materials—each sold to the highest bidder. Silas observed the proceedings carefully while feigning detachment, keeping track of the items of note and the amount of Reshal spent.

Finally, the moment arrived that Silas had been waiting for. The Magistrate's voice boomed across the hall, calling forth Selen of the Artificer's Guild.

Zinnia, disguised as Selen, made her way onto the stage with an air of confidence that belied her true feelings. She held up a small glass case containing the ''Bloodmoon Thorn'', its deep crimson spikes shining with a ruby red glow.

An excited cheer rippled through the crowd. The Magistrate even had to bellow for silence before Zinnia could begin her presentation.

"Ladies, gentlemen or whatever you like to be called!" she began, her voice clear and energetic, "I am sure many here are familiar with what I have in my hands here today—one of the rarest herbs on our entire continent! The Bloodmoon Thorn! An Alchemical reagent said to have one of the most potent essences of separation in existence!"

She moved gracefully across the stage, her gestures dramatic and engaging. "Legends say it can create such powerful concoctions that they can even separate souls from bodies! Just imagine the possibilities! A body decayed by time could be replaced with a fresh one! Divergent Qi streams could be fixed…"

The crowd hung on her every word as she continued to list out various uses for the Bloodmoon Thorn. Each claim seemed more fantastical than the last, and yet each was grounded in enough truth to keep even the most skeptical attendees intrigued.

Silas watched Zinnia's performance with a mixture of amusement and admiration. She definitely had a way of captivating an audience that was almost magical in itself. He noted how she played off their reactions, adjusting her tone and gestures to keep them at the edge of their seats.

When she finally finished her spiel, she handed the floor back to the Magistrate. He smiled broadly at the crowd, perhaps infected by their enthusiasm. "My honored guest has given many claims today…" he declared. "I am quite sure we all know the value of such an item… truly, we have been blessed to have it appear here! The bidding for such a rare item shall start at one hundred thousand Reshal!"

The room erupted into a frenzy of bids almost immediately. Voices from both the gallery and below clamored to be heard over one another.

"One hundred ten thousand!"

"One hundred twenty!"

"One hundred fifty thousand!"

Silas remained seated but kept his eyes on Zinnia as she stood at the edge of the stage, watching the bids climb higher and higher. Kell from the Rumbling Earth Sect leaned forward in his seat, clearly interested but not yet making a move.

"Two hundred thousand!" someone shouted from below.

The bidding war intensified as more voices joined in. The excitement in Starlight Bidders' Hall was palpable; even those who had no intention of bidding seemed caught up in it.

Silas leaned back slightly in his chair.

"Two hundred fifty thousand!" another voice rang out.

"Three hundred thousand!" came another bid from somewhere in the gallery.

The Magistrate's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he continued to oversee this high-stakes exchange. He felt an itch under his toupee but paid it no mind; his focus was entirely on managing this unprecedented auction event.

Silas watched as bids continued to climb higher and higher still…

"One million Reshal!" an old man bellowed, drawing every eye inside the room. His robe bore the insignia of the Alchemist's Guild, but it was the intricate embroidery on his back that marked him as a member of Lythoria's main branch.

Taking advantage of the momentary silence, the old man continued, "I hope the honored personages in attendance here today would show this old man some face..." His breathing was steady, but those with keen eyes noticed small pulsating turquoise veins on the back of his head—a clear sign of a second-step alchemist.

Kell nudged Emma excitedly. "Did you see that? A second-step Alchemist from the capital! This is incredible!"

Emma rolled her eyes at Kell's enthusiasm but couldn't help feeling a twinge of curiosity herself. The crowd murmured in awe and speculation until another voice rang out, sending a shockwave through the hall.

"Two million Reshal," Silas declared from his seat in the gallery.

The old man made a humph sound and countered immediately. "Three million."

He squinted towards Silas, trying to identify his challenger. "Who is the esteemed bidder from the gallery nearby?"

Silas leaned forward slightly, his voice carrying effortlessly through the hall. "This one's name is Ji! Don't worry though, I'm done. I simply did not want Ryker's lapdog getting such a steal. I mean… robbing a young lady for that price is such a shameful act..."

The old man's face turned crimson with rage. "Junior, you dare?!"

Before he could continue, the Priest boomed loudly from across the room. "Silence! Such shameful bickering shall not be allowed under the order of Probitas's faithful!" He raised his mace as a white glow began to form around him—a miracle, one of the Priest's magics beginning to form.

The old man grunted at the sight and sat down reluctantly...

Silas, however followed. "Five million Reshal." he called out lazily.

The old man shot up again, nearly apoplectic with fury. "Did you not just say you were done?! Six million!"

Silas shook his head slowly, his voice dripping with condescension. "My friend, if you so easily believe one's words you're liable to get tricked. Has your mother not taught you better?"

The old man sputtered in rage. "My mother—"

Silas cut him off mid sentence, and addressed the venue "I am afraid I cannot top our friend's offer of six million Reshal and his Mother..."

Laughter erupted from every corner of Starlight Bidders' Hall as the old man spat out blood in sheer fury. He lifted a trembling finger towards Silas and stammered, "You... you...!!!"

Silas sighed theatrically and shook his head sadly. "Ah, unfortunately my friend, you cannot sell me as you do your mother; I am not yours..."

The crowd roared with laughter once more while both the Priest and Magistrate Lachlan yelled for order.

Zinnia stood on stage, her mind racing as she watched Silas's antics unfold. ''What the fuck is he doing?! This price is even more then what her con had planned for!!!'' she thought incredulously.

Arim thought to himself worried, ''…He said he has no Reshal except what I gave him…AM I PAYING FOR THIS?!?!?''

Nyx, meanwhile nestled comfortably within the priest's shadow, he was amused thinking ''Oh this old schtick... well if it isn't broken...''

Silas yelled out ''Ten million! And whatever our friends mother is worth!''

The old man yelled out ''YOU ARE COURTING DEATH!!! TWELVE MILLION!!!''

Silas adds in using a detached tone ''So your mother is worth less then two million…''

The crowd laughed as an insane glare now donned the old Alchemist's face…