[34.2] A Night of "Debauchery"

Before we could say anything else, a man appeared on the stage in a cloud of smoke wearing a true showmanship outfit. A mask covering half of his face was worn as he shouted, "Welcome ladies and gentlemen to our auction tonight! We have many new treasures and wares tonight that will leave you wanting more! So sit back and enjoy the show!"

I watched in amazement as an assortment of items was brought out. They were all clearly hundreds of years old and something you would never be able to buy in a shop or on the street.

Felix leaned towards me, "If you see anything you'd like, feel free to bid on it. My family is quite rich so there's nothing we can't buy."

"That sounds lovely, but I can't have you spend so much money on me."

Felix laughed, "It's not my money."

I smiled under my mask, "Good point."

The man lifted a blanket on the stage, revealing a book in a glass case. He motioned towards it, "This book is one of the last remaining manuals on summoning souls."

I sat up in my seat attentively.

"Only half of it has been decoded so it's possible it holds more secrets than we currently know." He continued, "Buyer be warned, this book is illegal for its topic on necromancy."

Felix leaned over to me, "Do you want it?"

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

Of course I want it!

Maybe it would help me figure out how I got here.

But…

I made a promise.

I shook my head, "I don't want it."

"Are you sure? I will keep it a secret that you bought it."

I nodded firmly as if trying to convince myself, "I'm sure."

"If you say so."

He leaned back but didn't make any attempt to participate. After the book was sold, I watched it leave the stage with regret, "Who do you think wrote that book?"

Felix shrugged, "Nobody knows. The language they write in has been gone for centuries. There is probably no one alive that can translate it."

I nodded in understanding and watched as new items were brought out. He pulled over another item and pulled back the blanket. Underneath the blanket was a cage with a small kitten inside. The small creature was shaking in fear as it stared at the crowd with soft blue eyes.

I sat up on the edge of my seat.

The man spoke, "This isn't any average little creature. It's a northern white tiger cub with the unique ability to cure curses. All you need to do is boil it into medicine, drink it, and you'll be cured. This tonic will certainly be worth a lot of money."

I gasped, "What did he just say!?"

The man on the stage continued, "Shall we start the bidding?"

Much to my horror, many people were bidding. I grit my teeth in anger, "These people better not actually want to eat that poor kitten."

Felix spoke up beside me, "Do you want me to bid on it for you?"

I looked at him with eyes of anticipation, "Do you really think you can?"

He held up his bid number with an oddly confident aura, "I can win anything here."

As soon as Felix joined the bidding war, it was clear to all he was going to win. While every other person was sweating as the bid grew higher, Felix kept raising his number without once losing the calm smile he had on behind his mask.

As soon as he won, he grinned at me triumphantly, "I told you."

I looked at him in disbelief, "Just how much money does your family have?"

"Too much." He straightened his back proudly, "The Newman family was one of the first established families in the kingdom. We have enough money to own the Capital."

The cloaked man brought out another item, "This is our final and most exclusive item of the evening. It's truly an exotic item that you will never see in your life ever again~"

I clicked my tongue, "The poor tiger wasn't exotic enough?"

With a wave of his wand, the blanket covering the item flew off.

An ice sculpture of a dragon sat at the center of the stage.

Whispers rang out in the room as people judged the simplicity of the final item. It wasn't anything big or anything unique. Although it was still impressive craftsmanship, it wasn't anything worthy of being the star of the show.

The man smirked behind his mask, "I know what you all are thinking. You all think this item is just a simple sculpture. What if I were to tell you that's not the case?"

He paused for dramatic effect, allowing more people to talk amongst themselves.

His voice boomed throughout the room, "This sculpture was made by the Great Fairy herself!"

Sudden gasps rang across the crowd.

He nodded, "That's right. They say the Great Fairy rode on dragons that were larger than houses! Since her love for these mythical beasts was so strong, she created a sculpture to honor them. Not only is this sculpture nearly a thousand years old, but it's also incapable of melting. It is the Great Fairy's best creation: everlasting ice. We will start bidding for this priceless treasure at 10,000 gold coins!"

I glanced over at Felix to see him gripping the arms of his chairs until his knuckles turned white. My eyes trailed up to his mask, but I couldn't tell what expression he was making.

But I could tell something was wrong.

I whispered, "Felix?"

He flinched, then relaxed his body. He turned to me and whispered reassuringly, "I just really want that sculpture."

I looked back at the stage in confusion.

Does Felix like ice sculptures?

I do have to admit it's pretty cool.

But is it really interesting enough to cause this much commotion?

Once the bidding started, I noticed Felix wasn't making any attempt to bid.

I raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you going to try to buy it?"

He drummed his fingers against the arm of the chair and hummed, "An item like that is priceless. Spending my money on it would be an insult."

I pinched my eyebrows together in confusion.

In the end, an older man won it. Although the mask and cloak held his identity, the man didn't seem to care if anyone figured out that he was a rich merchant.

The man on the stage spoke, "That concludes this month's auction. Come around next month for new and exotic wares!"

Felix stood up and motioned to me, "Come. Let's go grab that tiger."

I nodded and followed him and the worker to the office where we exchanged payment for the tiger. Since we didn't want to stay in such a place any longer, we left the building, walking through the slums and to the nicer section of town to change.

Felix and I took off our masks and cloaks when we were safely hidden. He glanced at me, "Reika. My father is holding a charity banquet for those affected by the famine in the West. You should come."

I clicked my tongue, "Eh. Charity isn't really my thing."

He smirked, "Prince Cyrus is invited too… And the last I heard, he wasn't taking anyone as a date. Can you imagine what people would say if they found out he was going alone?"

My eyes lit up in understanding, "It would only be right for me to offer to go with him."

He nodded happily, "I'm sure he would be able to forgive you once he sees how much you care for him."

I smiled softly, "Thanks, Felix."

Although…

My eyes observed him carefully, "Why are you trying to help us make up? I thought you were interested in me."

"Oh, I'm not giving up." A mischievous smile crossed his face, "I never give up."

I watched him walk away, "Oi! Aren't you going back to the Academy?"

He shook his head in a carefree manner, "I can't! I have to run an errand."

I tilted my head in confusion and watched as he walked away.

He's been acting weird ever since he saw that ice sculpture.

Maybe he got enchanted or something.

I let out a sigh and shrugged, "It's none of my business."

I turned around and walked away.

As I walked, I lifted up the blanket and smiled reassuringly at the trembling tiger cub, "Don't worry, little baby. I'm not going to let anyone boil you alive."