Auction House (2)

One by one, the auctioneer described the qualities of each slave, and one by one, voices rang out in response. The bids climbed rapidly, each challenger more eager than the last.

"Ten large silver coins!" barked a male voice.

"Eleven large silver coins!" countered a feminine voice.

"Fifteen large silver coins!" the same male voice bellowed again.

A brief silence followed before the sharp crack of the auctioneer's gavel struck down. "Sold!"

Each slave was treated as nothing more than merchandise, their worth dictated by the highest bidder. One after another, they were bought at ridiculously high prices, their fates sealed by wealth and power.

Light shifted his gaze from the stage to his captain, lowering his voice. "What happens to all these slaves?"

Call it naivety or ignorance, but he wanted to know what would become of them.

Captain Sangiff answered, his voice quiet but firm. "Many things, kid. Some will serve their masters until the end of their days, others will suffer mistreatment beyond imagination. It's cruel, but there are only two ways to become a slave in this city."

"You take out so much debt you can't repay it, or you are born one." captain Sangiff explained

Light's fists clenched as his voice trembled. "How is being born a slave fair?"

"No one said this world was fair, kid. Now hush, we shouldn't be talking too much here."

With that, a few more auctions passed until it was time for the final human slave to be presented.

A small girl was led onto the stage. She was no taller than his own sister.

The ragged tunic draped over her frail frame barely fit her, its tattered fabric hanging off her shoulders. Her short, red hair was unkempt and uneven, as if crudely cut with a dull blade. Strands clung to her dirt-streaked face, the vibrancy of its color dulled by neglect. Her ruby-colored eyes—striking yet devoid of light—stared ahead, hollow and distant. 

She was blind.

Her face was gaunt, her cheekbones sharp beneath pale, sickly skin. Shadows lingered beneath her eyes, her lips cracked from thirst. Every bone in her frail body was visible beneath her thin skin, her arms and legs mere twigs, robbed of the chance to grow strong. Malnourishment had stunted her, leaving her small and weak, a mere wisp of a person barely clinging to existence.

She did not flinch at the murmurs around her, nor did she react to the chains weighing down her wrists and ankles. The world had long since lost meaning for her. There was no anger, no sorrow—just a hollow indifference, as if she had abandoned hope itself.

And yet, there was something unsettling about the way she stood—quiet and unmoving. It was not a submission. It was a stillness too deep for a child. As though she was waiting.

A burning sensation surged in Light's chest.

No.

His soul.

It was as if a missing piece of himself stood before him.

The murmurs died down, and the auctioneer cleared his throat before continuing. "A child, born into slavery. Blind and weak, but with enough patience, she could become a great housemaid. Starting bid: one large copper coin."

A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd. Even with such a low starting price, it seemed too high for this girl.

But Light knew something different. No—he saw it.

A familiar translucent box appeared before him; the first time it had manifested since the auction began.

[Name: ??? ???]

[Blessing: Warfare]

[Brilliance: Mediocre]

[Title: ???]

He closed his eyes, suppressing his mana as he thought deeply. 

I'm not sure why this little girl has a blessing, but it seems no one else is aware. And I also can't shake this feeling in my chest...

Opening his eyes with newfound determination, he turned to Captain Sangiff. "Captain, you told me to find good allies, right?"

The older man raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his gaze remaining fixed on the girl.

"Good," Light said. "I think I found the perfect candidate."

The bidding had only reached four large copper coins and was about to close. It seemed no one wanted a blind girl.

No one but him.

"Six large copper coins!" Light called out, disguising his voice to sound deeper.

A hush fell over the auction house.

"Six large copper coins, going once!" the auctioneer announced.

Silence.

"Going twice!"

More silence.

"Aaaand... sold!" the auctioneer pounded his gavel, signaling the end of the bid.

Relief washed over Light as he collapsed into his chair. He had bet everything on this bid. He had nothing more to offer.

A cloaked figure approached, collecting his payment. Five large copper coins and ten small ones exchanged hands, and in return, he received a small ticket.

The money he had worked to collect was gone in an instant. 

'I'm not entirely sure what I just did, I might be going crazy' Light pondered as he turned his attention to the words on the small ticket.

{Slave Number 23}

The remainder of the auction was a blur. He had to wait until the end to retrieve the small girl.

***

An hour later, the auction finally concluded.

Following Captain Sangiff, Light entered the backstage area, waiting in line until his turn came. 

When it was his turn, a cloaked figure gestured toward a plain wooden door.

Entering Inside, he noticed a short, rotund man that was seated in a cushioned chair, a cigar in one hand and a parchment scroll in the other. Next to him stood the red-haired girl, draped in a red cloak instead of her tattered slave garb. She remained as still as she had on the auction stage.

The man gestured to the seat across from him. "Greetings, dear customer. First, let me inform you that you must not speak here. Nod for yes. Shake your head for no. Understood?"

Taking a seat Light nodded.

The man grinned. "Good. This parchment is the slave contract." He raised it slightly. "To finalize ownership, all you need to do is offer a single drop of blood. Understood?"

Another nod.

"Excellent." The man handed him a small knife and extended the contract.

Light pricked his finger without hesitation, letting a single drop of crimson fall onto the parchment.

The moment it landed, he felt it—a non-tangible connection, an invisible tether linking him to the blind girl.

It felt wrong.

No one should have this kind of control over another person.

"The transaction is complete," the man declared. "If you wish to transfer ownership, another must do the same as you just did. If you wish to grant your slave freedom, they must offer their own blood in return. With that, my job here is done."

Taking a puff of his cigar, he glanced at Light one final time. "I will now leave. Please remove your cloak and mask. The girl may keep hers. The exit is that way." pointing at the back of the small room he had just entered.

With that, the man disappeared, leaving Light alone with the red-haired, red-eyed, blind girl.

She remained still, waiting.

Light clenched his fist.

This girl... this moment... It was only the beginning.