As the next morning arrives, we make our way back to the Enchantment Guild, eager to witness the day’s auction event. The moment we step through the doors of the auction house, we’re met with an unexpected reception.
“Master Asteria!” Mathew is already there, standing at the front door waiting for us. “I must deeply apologize for my behavior yesterday,” he says, bowing. “Please, come this way.”
Sophia looks a bit confused by the sudden change in treatment.
“It’s fine, Mathew,” I simply nod and respond, trying to ease his apparent discomfort as we follow him inside.
This time, Mathew escorts us not to the bustling main floor but to a secluded private room. It’s a cozy, intimate space, with a small couch offering a comfortable place to sit. Staff members quietly enter, bringing tea and an assortment of snacks.
Once settled, I turn to Mathew. “So, you’ve appraised the items, then?”
“Yes, they are excellent!” Mathew exclaims. “The Master Enchanter who appraised them was so shocked we had to re-appraise them three times.. The enchantments are perfect. The Arcanum symbols are impeccably written and uniformly arranged. And on top of that, three enchantments on each and every item? Even our Grandmasters would find it hard to achieve something like that! I’m sorry, it was my fault that I misjudged those items based on their appearance.”
“There’s no need to apologize,” I reassure him. “It’s not your fault at all. After all, they are just beginner weapons that I purchased at the guild yesterday morning, like you said.”
“WHAT?” Mathew gasps in surprise but quickly composes himself. “I’m sorry! I know that they are beginner items. You already told me that. But… did you enchant all these in just a single day?
“Yes,” I confirm.
“You’re truly remarkable, Master Asteria,” he says in awe. “And please forgive my question, but why did you choose to enchant those particular items? Why not something of higher quality?”
“Well, I just wanted to practice a little bit,” I reply with a laugh. “I was curious to see how much I could improve those beginner weapons, haha.”
“Oh, I see…” Mathew nods.
“Anyway, when is the auction scheduled to start? Shouldn’t we be heading to the auction hall about now?” I inquire.
“Ahh, about that,” Mathew hesitates slightly, “someone has already bought all your weapons for two thousand gold coins.”
Sophia instantly chokes on her tea upon hearing this, her eyes wide with disbelief. I struggle to contain my laughter at her astonished expression.
“But if you’re not satisfied with that price,” Mathew quickly adds, “we can still proceed with the auction tomorrow.”
“No, there’s no need,” I say. “Two thousand gold is already more than enough. Besides, the buyer has made additional requests, haven't they? Is that why you wanted this private conversation?”
“Ah, yes, you're quite perceptive,” Mathew admits. He then proceeds to give us the details.
Apparently, the buyer is someone of very high status who wants to meet me in person. As Sophia said, even with perfect enchantments, the market price of those items based on mere value alone barely covers the two gold auction fee. However, the buyer's interest lies not in the items themselves, but in me. In the entire Valeria kingdom, there are only five known Grandmaster Enchanters, all held in the highest regard. Thus, possessing another Grandmaster title has understandably piqued their interest. The two thousand gold offer is a testament to the respect and desire they have to recruit me, and I would say that it’s quite a generous gesture for a meeting.
Well, I'm not actually a Grandmaster Enchanter. My rank is just Apprentice. However, they simply assumed I'm a Grandmaster due to that impressive feat.
“Then, when can we meet the buyer?” I ask, intrigued.
“They are here right now,” Mathew replies. “If you’d like, I can take you to their room immediately.”
“Alright,” I say, placing my tea cup down.
Rising from our seats, we follow Mathew as he leads us through the Enchantment Guild, heading towards its upper levels. As we ascend, the character of each floor unfolds before us.
The Enchantment Guild has four floors. The first floor is the market, bustling with eager enchanters and noisy traders. The second floor houses the main auction hall. The third floor is more subdued, dedicated to private consultations and intricate enchantment services, frequented by more experienced enchanters.
But the moment we enter the fourth floor, the atmosphere shifts dramatically. The ambiance is more exquisite and serene. The clamor and hustle of the lower floors give way to a quiet elegance. Fewer people walk these halls, wearing outfits of aristocrats, moving with grace.
Here, everything screams luxury. The walls are adorned with velvet drapes, the floor is carpeted with intricate designs. Enchanted items are displayed like treasures in glass cases. These aren't just tools; they're masterpieces. I turn my UV sight on and the whole room literally glows with legendary grade Arcanum writings. There are even Arcanum words that I’ve never seen before. I quickly advise Sophia not to use her Enchantment Sight on these items; the sheer power could be overwhelming.
We soon arrive at the room where our buyers await.
Mathew gently knocks on the mahogany door. “Milady, Master Asteria is here,” he announces.
A woman's voice from inside beckons us to enter.
But the very moment my foot crosses the threshold, a sudden grip tightens on my arm. It's Sophia, her hand clenching my sleeve. I pivot to face her, only to find her eyes wide, her skin ghostly pale.
“Master Asteria,” greets a woman in a red, dramatic gothic dress, her hair cascades down like a waterfall of pristine snow, framing a face of ethereal beauty. “It is a profound pleasure to meet you,” she dips into an elegant bow, “I am Ariella. Ariella Harrow, daughter of Archduke Eldric Harrow.”
At the mention of that name, I too momentarily freeze.
Ariella Harrow...
Daughter of Archduke Eldric Harrow...
There’s a shiver running down my spine right now. No wonder Sophia is reacting like this.
As the next morning arrives, we make our way back to the Enchantment Guild, eager to witness the day’s auction event. The moment we step through the doors of the auction house, we’re met with an unexpected reception.
“Master Asteria!” Mathew is already there, standing at the front door waiting for us. “I must deeply apologize for my behavior yesterday,” he says, bowing. “Please, come this way.”
Sophia looks a bit confused by the sudden change in treatment.
“It’s fine, Mathew,” I simply nod and respond, trying to ease his apparent discomfort as we follow him inside.
This time, Mathew escorts us not to the bustling main floor but to a secluded private room. It’s a cozy, intimate space, with a small couch offering a comfortable place to sit. Staff members quietly enter, bringing tea and an assortment of snacks.
Once settled, I turn to Mathew. “So, you’ve appraised the items, then?”
“Yes, they are excellent!” Mathew exclaims. “The Master Enchanter who appraised them was so shocked we had to re-appraise them three times.. The enchantments are perfect. The Arcanum symbols are impeccably written and uniformly arranged. And on top of that, three enchantments on each and every item? Even our Grandmasters would find it hard to achieve something like that! I’m sorry, it was my fault that I misjudged those items based on their appearance.”
“There’s no need to apologize,” I reassure him. “It’s not your fault at all. After all, they are just beginner weapons that I purchased at the guild yesterday morning, like you said.”
“WHAT?” Mathew gasps in surprise but quickly composes himself. “I’m sorry! I know that they are beginner items. You already told me that. But… did you enchant all these in just a single day?
“Yes,” I confirm.
“You’re truly remarkable, Master Asteria,” he says in awe. “And please forgive my question, but why did you choose to enchant those particular items? Why not something of higher quality?”
“Well, I just wanted to practice a little bit,” I reply with a laugh. “I was curious to see how much I could improve those beginner weapons, haha.”
“Oh, I see…” Mathew nods.
“Anyway, when is the auction scheduled to start? Shouldn’t we be heading to the auction hall about now?” I inquire.
“Ahh, about that,” Mathew hesitates slightly, “someone has already bought all your weapons for two thousand gold coins.”
Sophia instantly chokes on her tea upon hearing this, her eyes wide with disbelief. I struggle to contain my laughter at her astonished expression.
“But if you’re not satisfied with that price,” Mathew quickly adds, “we can still proceed with the auction tomorrow.”
“No, there’s no need,” I say. “Two thousand gold is already more than enough. Besides, the buyer has made additional requests, haven't they? Is that why you wanted this private conversation?”
“Ah, yes, you're quite perceptive,” Mathew admits. He then proceeds to give us the details.
Apparently, the buyer is someone of very high status who wants to meet me in person. As Sophia said, even with perfect enchantments, the market price of those items based on mere value alone barely covers the two gold auction fee. However, the buyer's interest lies not in the items themselves, but in me. In the entire Valeria kingdom, there are only five known Grandmaster Enchanters, all held in the highest regard. Thus, possessing another Grandmaster title has understandably piqued their interest. The two thousand gold offer is a testament to the respect and desire they have to recruit me, and I would say that it’s quite a generous gesture for a meeting.
Well, I'm not actually a Grandmaster Enchanter. My rank is just Apprentice. However, they simply assumed I'm a Grandmaster due to that impressive feat.
“Then, when can we meet the buyer?” I ask, intrigued.
“They are here right now,” Mathew replies. “If you’d like, I can take you to their room immediately.”
“Alright,” I say, placing my tea cup down.
Rising from our seats, we follow Mathew as he leads us through the Enchantment Guild, heading towards its upper levels. As we ascend, the character of each floor unfolds before us.
The Enchantment Guild has four floors. The first floor is the market, bustling with eager enchanters and noisy traders. The second floor houses the main auction hall. The third floor is more subdued, dedicated to private consultations and intricate enchantment services, frequented by more experienced enchanters.
But the moment we enter the fourth floor, the atmosphere shifts dramatically. The ambiance is more exquisite and serene. The clamor and hustle of the lower floors give way to a quiet elegance. Fewer people walk these halls, wearing outfits of aristocrats, moving with grace.
Here, everything screams luxury. The walls are adorned with velvet drapes, the floor is carpeted with intricate designs. Enchanted items are displayed like treasures in glass cases. These aren't just tools; they're masterpieces. I turn my UV sight on and the whole room literally glows with legendary grade Arcanum writings. There are even Arcanum words that I’ve never seen before. I quickly advise Sophia not to use her Enchantment Sight on these items; the sheer power could be overwhelming.
We soon arrive at the room where our buyers await.
Mathew gently knocks on the mahogany door. “Milady, Master Asteria is here,” he announces.
A woman's voice from inside beckons us to enter.
But the very moment my foot crosses the threshold, a sudden grip tightens on my arm. It's Sophia, her hand clenching my sleeve. I pivot to face her, only to find her eyes wide, her skin ghostly pale.
“Master Asteria,” greets a woman in a red, dramatic gothic dress, her hair cascades down like a waterfall of pristine snow, framing a face of ethereal beauty. “It is a profound pleasure to meet you,” she dips into an elegant bow, “I am Ariella. Ariella Harrow, daughter of Archduke Eldric Harrow.”
At the mention of that name, I too momentarily freeze.
Ariella Harrow...
Daughter of Archduke Eldric Harrow...
There’s a shiver running down my spine right now. No wonder Sophia is reacting like this.
