Published at 6th of August 2026 7:02 am

Chapter 167: The auction of implied dreams

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The auction house is, even in a new life full of spectacle, eye-catching. Its like theyre trying to convince you that youre travelling to another world, a dream world, in which you will find wares not available in waking life but may be carried back for the right price.

The Hierarch says he has some other appointment afterwards, so we drive in separate carriages through a series of white marble archways. The first is pristine, but each subsequent one is covered by increasing quantities of shimmering ivory. The flowers are all of vibrant, not quite right colours. Blue roses and the sort. Mutations that can be found in the wild but are very rare and therefore expensive. Thus, having every flower being of an alternate hue has a disquieting effect.

I cant help but chuckle. They only have three types of flowers in the whole entry path a consequence of selecting only flowers known for one colour so that you can subvert the expectation. After all, theres only so many species with common mutants breeds.

All the servants continue the dream theme by wearing black and silver, tailed and tailored uniforms with sort of gilded heron or crane half masks. Similarly, the guards (and there are many) all wear fox masks of the same colour scheme. Most are equipped with short (not much taller than they are) polearms with wide, sharp blades for cutting and thrusting. In addition to these, there are a number equipped with crossbows standing watch on various high walkways. I can see the glint of enchanting symbols on them, but they dont seem to be the same model I use. Probably much cheaper and therefore weaker.

Mundanes arent the only security present, though, as I spot three squires and one knight meandering the well maintained gardens surrounding the multi story house of commerce. They wear wyvern masks. There is probably at least one mage employed for security too, but I dont spot them. It probably would have been a well paying job to get if I wasnt attending as a guest.

The carriages are stopped by one of the squires, who politely directs us to the entrance upon confirming the Hierarchs presence in the carriage. A bit sloppy. Squires might be able to pierce most illusions, but anyone willing to impersonate the Hierarch would have to be an excellent caster. Anyone willing to try to rob this place in general, for that matter. I would have put a knight on that duty. Perhaps they dont have as many employed as I assumed.

Well, there is a knight at the front door who seems to recognize Johnathan personally, so there is that. Still, a sequence of knights would have been better. Regardless, they greet us politely and lead us and our servants to our viewing box.

Bringing servants is a bit absurd. No one is allowed to leave the bidding area unaccompanied once the auction starts, so any errands I might have Marcus run will have to be done with one of the auction servants who could have just done it themselves. Still, this is a function for counts and better, and it wouldnt do to be seen as lesser, or even as the hierarchs servant, so I do have Marcus tag along with me.

There are thirty-six private viewing boxes, with an area below for those of lower rank. Normally, the lower area would likely be filled with rows of somewhat padded chairs, but today its sporadically covered by round tables with very plush chairs. Still, its rather crowded down there, though Im sure most are servants that the various counts have brought.

Theres a bit of a pre-auction social where the Hierarch goes back out of the box to mingle with various people in a designated ornate hall. Seeing no reason to pass up an opportunity to make such high ranked connections, I follow him and do likewise.

Its frustrating. If I were willing to use the fact that the Empress gave me a surprise present, then I could easily make any number of contacts. However, I agree with Allan that itd be too risky. That I could easily trap myself and lose social standing when its found out that I have no idea why she gave me it and have no secret connections that they can use.

So, every time its brought up, I politely turn the conversation away, and every time I do, everyone completely loses interest in me. Well, usually not completely, but here, among so many esteemed peers, the disregard is total.

The one pleasant thing about the attempted mingling is that I spot Denton accompanying his father (presumably, we dont talk). There is a most satisfying look of distaste as he spots me and no doubt wonders how I got into such an exclusive event. The look when he realizes Im in one of the private boxes is almost enough to make me lose control and laugh.

I dont have to spend too long with such frustrating company, though, as the auction starts about a half hour after we arrive. Unfortunately, this only adds to my frustration.

There is a balance to maintain in the order in which items appear. On one hand, you want to have the main event last so that nobody leaves early once its been bought. However, they also dont want to keep so many powerful people waiting, which incentivises them to put it near the beginning Or at least thats my analysis of why they placed it in the middle of the event.

Youre not seriously trying for the Ocean Stone, are you? The Hierarch remarks amusedly after I ignore several of his suggestions for offerings.

I shrug in reply. I have the coin to try, and there hasnt been anything that compelling.

There were, unfortunately, a few items I wouldnt have minded getting if I wasnt conserving coin, both for his offering scheme and my own interest. The most interesting thing was a box that supposedly alters the flow of time, though only in a completely useless way the auctioneers assessment, not mine. It would doubtlessly be fascinating to own, but if the experts who are selling it say its useless, then Im going to believe them. Still, temporal effects are rare and complex, so it goes for more than fifteen large gold, likely to an enchanter who wants to study it.

The next most interesting item goes for much cheaper, but it isnt much more useful. A bundle of staves thats someones attempt to get around the vitality loss problem from magically grown food. Their solution is just to limit the effect to be much, much slower, but over a vast area. Unfortunately, it seems the maximum increase that has no vitality loss whatsoever is only a few percent faster than normal not even enough to get another harvest in most years.

If I didnt know better, I would think the Eye was toying with us.

Still, its a fascinating object in one of my fields of interest, and I might have bought it just to experiment or possibly offer. But they go for just a little bit more than Im willing to pay (three large when theyre done, which would have been more if I came in), and theyre designed for wide area growth, which is more than Im able to experiment with at the moment. I do note down the name of the enchanter, though, to maybe follow up on.

Well, he smiles, far too smoothly. Good luck with that. I dont think any of the next few items will be good offerings, and theres something I need to attend to. If someone comes, you may tell them to find me at Marquis Verihals box.

I nod impassively, hardly noting him leaving. A few rounds later, the auctioneer (a figure in some sort of stag mask with golden antlers) brings out the item that Im here for.

It does have an ocean colour, in a certain light, no doubt (both for it and the ocean). A light green, emerald even, with a faint translucent quality as if a wave catching the sunlight behind it. Or roughly, anyways. At least, Ive seen rougher analogies. One thing for certain, though, is that its not paint that gives the hue, but a property of the alchemical alloy. Of course, most magic armour lack paint, since the repairing function would prevent any rust orother decay and, of course, it would get in the way of displaying the enchanting symbols to ones peers.

It really is a stunning piece, even from here (I do have the bird gods boon, so its still a good view). Function aside, the aesthetics alone might qualify it as a worthy gift for a lover. Besides the colour, the shape has a sort of wavy quality to it, though its not too overt as to be tacky. An elegant suit to provide protection while maintaining mobility. I have to force myself to break my gaze away. My resolution is redoubled; I will get Terry that armour.

The bidding starts at twenty large gold and goes up from there at intervals of a medium as the host sounds out each new price in a calm and dignified, nearly droning, voice, almost as if hes trying to lull the bidders to sleep (perhaps with the goal of suddenly waking them up to start another flurry of bids as they realize theyve nearly missed their goals). My lords, we have multiple bidders at twenty-five large and three medium. If it would please you, do we have twenty-five and four? Aw, yes, we have multiple again. It is painfully slow, with each new called out number resulting in a flurry of paddles raised as if one giant collective but dignified fan. Perhaps the host likes the breeze?

Its not until someone shouts out (well, not shouts, but much the same for this crowd) an increase of a half large gold do I see the goal. Theyre trying to bore the crowd into bidding more at once. Im not certain if inciting impatience is the strategy I would choose, but I suppose there might not be many left open once the indignity of excitement is removed as an option.

The price does rapidly pick up from there, as the host increases the minimum increase. About half of them are still in it after thirty large, a quarter at thirty-five. I really dont want to have to go into debt to get this thing, and it is starting to be worrying. I know I dont have anywhere close to the most coin here today. In fact, Im likely not even in the top half, or even half of that. My only hope is that everyone else has a price that they think its worth. They cant go over that because they have other stuff to use their coin on. Responsibilities. I dont. I simply need to give it to Terry, because anything less might not be enough to keep him alive.

Thankfully, theres only a handful of bidders left when it gets to thirty-nine. Perhaps I might have a chance, though of course the remaining bidders are very well dressed. I think I heard the Hierarch call one of them a duke. Who knows how deep her pockets are.

Still, Im hopeful. Im confident I can make five large a week if I really try. Lets say three gambling, two from other sources. The final price just needs to be below sixty, and I should be able to raise the funds. Easily, even. Exciting to try. Maybe seven a week wouldn't be pushing it Ten?

The lights snuff out.

No, not out. In the corner of my eye, as I was distracted by my figures, I saw but didnt register multiple black streaks shoot from the side and into the centre of the room, the stage and private boxes. Where they hit expands the same sort of inky blackness Similce used to escape from me. Several footsteps rush from multiple directions. Then, everyone, with approximately the same delay, comprehends whats going on and begins to shout.

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