Volume 02 - Chapter 07: Helstea Auction (ii)

(A/n It's a short chapter. Reason is because I want Kiyotaka confrontation with the other reincarnate to be in separate chapter. I'll publish it after a few hours)

Cheers of crowds echoed as the announcer announced another item sold at the auction. One after another, items were sold in a rapid succession---each item more expensive than the prior.

In the VIP corner, the Royalty of the Kingdom of Sapin sat. The king--Blaine Glayder, talked to the head of the auction house--Vincent Helstea, as they discussed methods of payment for the World Lion that the King had purchased for his son--Curtis Glayder. The royal princess looked around, a certain uneasiness bubbling at the pit of her very being.

Just as Vincet shook hands with the king, a barbaric intent weighed down on his shoulders. Like a titanic mountain has been placed on his shoulders, he buckled to the ground. Being a non-mage, Vincet couldn't handle the pressure being exerted. Falling to the ground, he coughed and gagged, bile rising up in his throat.

The king stumbled and fell to one knee. His core trembled---so did his very soul. He tried to coat himself in a veil of mana, but it was of no use. The mana density of the pressure being exerted was too much for the king's weak core to handle. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he looked around frantically. His bloodshot eyes landed on his wife---Priscilla Glayder. She was faring much better than her husband. She was able to protect her children from the exposure to the vicious outburst of mana.

The foundations of the whole auction house shook, a single crevice running through the roof of the VIP room.

"PROTECT THE KING AND HIS FAMILY!" One of the soldiers--an Augmenter shouted, his voice sounding feeble despite his efforts to sound strong. Then just as the dread had spread in the whole Auction house, it vanished--not leaving a single trace behind.

"Arthur!" Alice's frantic voice brought everyone out of their horrified daze. Her arms coiled around Arthur's waist as she fell to her knees. Arthur placed a hand on the back of her head, patting it slightly. "Where were you, Arthur? Are you ok?"Alice asked, cupping Arthur's cheeks in her palms, her voice trembling at the prospect of losing her child...again.

Arthur gripped her arms and removed it from his cheeks, slipping his hands into hers, "I'm fine, mom. I just went out to grab some water", he replied, trying to smile at his mother. Alice smiled back and stood up, ruffling his hair. Arthur's azure eyes swept across the room and landed on Ellie who had her eyes shut and was holding Lilia's dress.

Walking over to her, he bent on a knee and placed a hand over her head, "Ellie. It's alright now", he said in a low, monotone voice. Her eyes opened as she caught sight of her brother. Her mood brightened up as she saw him. Stumbling, she walked over to him as Arthur held her from her hand. "Stay close to me, ok?" Arthur spoke, casting a sidelong gaze at the Human Royalty.

"Ok, bwoder", Ellie replied. Peeling his gaze away from the king, Arthur looked at Lilia, "How are you?"

"I-I am fine. Just a bit surprised. I never felt something like this. I thought non-mages weren't supposed to feel it", Lilia replied, looking at Arthur in hopes of a definitive answer. "Do you know what that was?"

"Who knows?" He shrugged. Clamour of armour clanging echoed as multiple figures walked inside. They were the twin horns and other security members of the Helstea Auction. Close to them were the other Royal guards, dressed in lustrous armours who were stationed outside the VIP room.

The King seemed to relax in the presence of his mages, however he soon caught onto something, "Where is Sebestian?", he asked.

The guards looked at eachother, confused and utterly speechless. Reynolds walked over to his family and took them into a corner, followed by the other members of the Twin Horns.

"My king... Sebestian... he died", one of the guards reported. His body quivered under the King's sharp gaze which widened a fraction of an inch.

"What do you mean by 'died'? He was a royal conjurer. How did he just 'die'?" The King roared, taking everyone's attention.

"T-there was an intruder. Sebestian fought him off but died in the process. The intruder's body was charred with flames. However, Sebestian had multiple cuts over his body and died due to blood loss", the guard ended his report.

Arthur looked at the guard with a satisfied look and pulled his sister close to him, hiding behind his parents. His sapphire eyes glistened in the dark of the shadow of his parents, brimming with satisfaction.

The king gripped the bridge of his nose and pressed it, "Fine. Don't let word of this get out. Sebestian's family will be rewarded for serving the Royal Family until he gave his life for his cause", the king announced in a loud voice.

It was a means for the direct declaration of an order... a Royal order—-to keep mouths shut about the events that unfolded right in front of their eyes.

As if everyone understood what he implied, everyone bowed to the King. "You all will be rewarded appropriately too", he said and stormed outside the door. The queen followed closely behind, towing her children with her.

The princess—-Kathyln Glayder's eyes locked with Arthur for a split second. Arthur followed her gaze until she was out of sight. A subtle curiosity took birth at the pit of his being, "Interesting", he muttered under his breath.

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// Arthur Leywin (Kiyotaka Ayanokouji) //

The door to my room bursted open as I saw mom and dad walk inside. They sat on either side of me. I looked at the alternative, figuring out what was wrong. The situation seemed like when parents make a collective effort to rebuke the child or correct them about something.

Much to my own surprise, instead of the expected castigation all I got was a collective side hug from both sides from my parents. Both placed their heads on my shoulders and tightened their grips around me.

Do they want me to console them? If so, then about what?

"Uhhh... Mom, Dad... are you both ok?" I asked, not sure what else I should do in this peculiar situation.

"Can we not just love our cute little son?" Mom said in a soft tone and placed a small, subtle kiss at my cheek. Dad laughed and looked at Alice and then at me, "Come on dear, we don't want to disturb Arthur too much. He must be tired", Reynolds said. Alice nodded and kissed me once again and stood up. Walking to the door she cast a worried glance behind.

I raised my hand and waved at her. She smiled back and turned off the artefact illuminating my room. The door closed and the narrow ray of light from outside the door from hallways vanished, leaving me in the dark of the room, dimly lit by the moonlight.

I closed my eyes and reached for the depths of my secondary core. A veil of mana in the form of ripples and waves permeated from it. Spreading it around me, I scanned the whole area. Mom and dad were in their room together. They were a safe distance away.

"About time I meet her", I muttered as I looked at the open window, soft brisk wind intruding through it.

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(A/n Well, we hit 100k on Webnovel... cheers? Thanks to all of you cute blokes for reading my story. A hearty thanks!)