54: Auctioning!

Stepping into the Starlight Auction House, Val removed his hat, holding it casually in one hand. He cast his gaze about, taking in the grandeur of the interior.

The auction house was nothing short of an architectural masterpiece, reflecting an aesthetic blend of design and maintenance. High ceilings were embellished with a series of dazzling chandeliers, their crystal prisms casting a warm, captivating glow. The large, ornate windows decorated the walls, permitting the gentle midday sun rays to pierce through and blanket the spacious hall in a soft, golden wash.

Various paintings, elegantly selected, adorned the walls of the auction house. However, Val was never a connoisseur of art and hence spared them a brief, disinterested glance.

Central to the auction house stood a grand counter, made of polished mahogany, behind which was stationed a woman whose elegance seemed to echo the opulence of the surroundings.