Chapter Seventy-Five: A Dragon’s Kin
1647 Words
I apologised profusely to the knights, even though most of the fault lay with Finor.
I mean, who the hell would grab someone’s wrist like that?
The knights explained that it was a good thing I healed him in the elevator; the auction halls were made with stones that block mana.
Technically, most places like palace ballrooms, hospitals, theatres and museums were built with stones that absorb mana; this prevents mana fights from breaking out. However, they are ineffective against someone like me, who has a surplus amount of mana.
For that reason, there is a second type of protective stone called mana blockers.
They distort the mana flow inside the bodies of those around its vicinity.
Due to its high expenses, the stones commonly lined palace bedrooms, council rooms, courts, and high-end areas.
The more mana one has, the more they feel the effects of the stone.
So, in light of that, the servers granted the patrons a wristband with ki balancing crystals. All to relieve the discomfort.
The paddle I was given was thirty-nine (39), the box seat I was ushered to had two seats.
Perhaps meant for Finor, but he went away with the guards to God knows where.
“So dramatic.”
I said aloud as I twirled the paddle I had been granted, then plopped my oddly constantly tired body on the seat.
The champagne next to me that I could painfully not partake in was dated imperial year 342.
I gestured to one of the help.
“How may I serve you.”
“Pack the champagne with the products I purchase.”
“Understood.”
As soon as the man left, Finor walked into the segmented room in a different mask and attire.
“You have got to be kidding me. I thought for sure you went home, you know, on account of the big boo-boo.”
“Shut up.”
He grumbled the plopped himself on the opposite chair.
‘I probably shouldn’t downsize it; had I released thorns with a neurotoxin or ones that feed on blood, I’d be back in the ballroom.’
‘For God sakes, fourteen months left…right?’
“So, where the hell has the champagne gone?”
“I had it packed. My associates like booze.”
“Couldn’t wait to see if I wanted some?”
“Oh right, did I not mention the side effects of my healing is that you can’t drink?”
“How convenient.”
“Right?”
I smiled.
“Fine.”
He responded with a sigh.
‘Weird…’
Finor placed his paddle, number (45), on the end table where the champagne had sat, then relaxed into his chair.
“Tell me the truth, Countess.”
He spoke with such sincerity that I ceased playing with my paddle.
“Why did you leave the academy?”
The hall’s lights dimmed, and a spotlight was turned to the stage.
“Welcome, lovely patron for the imperial year 576 annual auction!”
Cheers erupted, but Finor’s gaze did not leave mine even within the chaos.
“Wow, I thought you’d ask how I know your plans for tomorrow for the nth time.”
I tried to lighten the intense mood by distracting him.
“Call it a guess, but I reasoned that you know me, and know Regina, so you simply made a deduction, one so brilliantly done that I cannot even trace your thought pattern. That, or I need to fire somebody.”
He answered.
“Those are the only two deductions I made. Am I correct?”
“You should trust your gut more.”
“My gut tells me you know too much, that you are too dangerous to keep alive or as an enemy.”
I chuckled.
“What a nosy gut.”
“Indeed.”
I sighed, then relaxed deeper into the red couch.
The auction had already begun. They started off with primarily small, basic, straightforward trinkets that either boost or heal mana inflicted damage.
“There was nothing to learn in the academy.”
I crossed my legs then quickly uncrossed them.
“Don’t do that.”
“What? Diminish the academy?”
“No…well yes, but I mean, cross your legs. Keep both your feet on the ground. It’s good for circulation. Or at least that’s what my mother always told me when she was pregnant with my brother. Though I suppose I should say siblings now.”
I turned my gaze to the stage.
His change in mood was off-putting.
Mere seconds ago, he grabbed me for not answering his question fast enough; now this?
The next item was an oceanic blue bracelet.
“Now, my lovely patrons! This is a gem product. It has a protective charm that links two teleportation-wise. If there is any danger and one of the gems is broken, it teleports the linked partner to the crime scene. But I warn you, be ready to fight!”
The announcer said.
“We’ll start the bidding at fifteen thousand!”
The auction currency, as a rule, is gold.
“You should get that for Regina.”
“The day I take your advice….”
He muttered.
“What…? It’s a cute gift!”
“Perhaps if we were children, can you imagine if I were to gift that to an engaged woman, who is not a family member?”
“She could wear it as an ankle bracelet, plus she does not really have to tell others that it is from you.”
He gave me a sceptical look.
So I raised my paddle.
“Fifty thousand!”
“Fifty thousand from 39! Can we get a higher bid, maybe fifty…fifty-five thousand from bidder 126.”
“One hundred and fifty.”
Finor chirped from beside me.
“We have one hundred and fifty thousand from number 45. Do I hear an even higher bid?”
“I thought you didn’t want it?”
“I don’t.”
His turquoise gaze held my own.
‘Lord, but you are too easy to read.’
The majority of the auction went on smoothly, I ‘bought’ as many females as I could, hoping that I could, if only a little, help them re-write their stories, but only, unfortunately, managed to find only seventeen mana equipped people.”
Three elves, Finor, outbid me for the others, four dwarves, skilled in craftsmanship, three orcs, one witch and six humans. The rest were swords and a book on Nymphs, though it was announced as the ‘myths of nymphs’, so…roulette?
I was just about done. I even had my paddle down, perhaps why Finor thought it the perfect time to proceed with his question.
“What do you mean there was nothing to learn in the academy?”
“Who is the Empress of Cursix?”
“That’s easy, Empress Azalea Cursix.”
“Who is the emperor?”
“A concubine’s child. We were told to disregard it in case the Empress chooses a man more suited to the crown.”
Finor answered.
“Have you ever imagined any other outcome?”
“To what, their ending? I guess, they could truly be in love, but I don’t know if there is another way to keep the throne.”
“Think about it as we are. Think about another way for the concubine to garner the throne.”
“Well, unless a coup is done, there is no possi-,”
He paused, then turned his gaze to me.
“Do you know something?”
“No..”
‘well, yes, but who needs spoilers on the future.’
“No, I don’t know anything. I want you to notice that the teachers and the elders were the only ones correct within the academy. They did not let you speculate your own thoughts; they just tell you what to think. Sure, it's not bad when you are nobility, and they tell you how lucky and marvellous you are, but on the commoner side, they teach hopelessness.”
“What do you care? You are not a commoner?”
‘This…idiot’
“You can only suppress someone for so lo-”
My spine tingled in a way only familiar to prey when faced head to head with a predator.
“Are you okay?”
“I- I don’t know.”
I rubbed the back of my neck uncomfortably, then turned my gaze to the stage where a blue-haired boy inside a cage was presented.
The air in the room grew cold at his presence.
Despite there being mana blockers, his energy was still vibrant.
‘I want him.’
“Now, ladies and gentlemen, the main event. A young and budding Loch Ness Monster.”
The room was filled with loud murmurs.
‘A polymorph that should go for-…two billion?’
“Now I warn you, this is the third time this beast has been handed to us. Only a few can handle it! It has killed seven of its masters, so I ask that you bid with caution; we care for our patrons.”
“Now, that said, the bidding starts at one billion-,”
“Four billion.”
A deep voice bid, even before the auctioneer had finalised.
“Four billion from bidder 27! Can we get a higher bid?”
It wasn’t the amount that jolted me, but the deepness of the person's voice almost resemb-
‘Rheyes…’
As soon as I made the connection, the child inside me kicked.
The bidding was still counting. In fact, bidder 27 had been about to utter the next astounding number only…the second the child inside me kicked, his gaze turned to mine.
It was almost as though he felt it.
Suddenly, a line, a passage that kept me awake on too many nights, came into view mentally.
‘A dragon always recognises its kin.’
‘Ah…fuck!’
- Writer
