In the capital city of Monfilbo, Valoka Merchant Guild's guildmaster's office, Serena leaned against her mother Eunice, eyes bright with curiosity. "Mom, did Orlando agree? What happened when you met him?"
Since returning from Linden Pine Valley, Serena had been obsessed with the fountain pen. Her failed negotiation with Leon had sparked a stubborn desire to see the project through—either out of pride or genuine belief in the pen's potential.
Eunice smiled, drawing out the suspense until Serena shook her arm impatiently. "Here's his answer." She pulled a fountain pen from her pouch and handed it to Serena.
The pen was unassuming—wooden shaft, non-absorbent metal tip (Serena didn't recognize the material), and a long nib wrapped around half the tip. Intricate runes were etched into the nib, filled with white metal, and a tiny, pure ruby glinted at its center. "What does this mean? He agreed?" Serena asked, confused by the pen's plain appearance.
"Yes," Eunice confirmed. "Orlando crafted this rune pen himself. It's inscribed with powerful fire-affinity runes—boosts the potency of fire scrolls and reduces failure rates."
"Is that impressive?" Serena asked, unfamiliar with rune pens' value. To her, it looked too simple for a mage's craft.
"I'm not certain, but Orlando recommended we auction it at a private mage gathering," Eunice said. "It's not a public auction—invitation only, for mages or those with deep mage connections. He says it's the best way to test the pen's worth."
Serena sat up straight. "An auction? I haven't heard of any upcoming events."
"Not a regular one at the capital's auction house," Eunice explained. "It's an internal mage auction, hosted by the Mage Guild. Most attendees are mages or merchants with mage ties, invited personally. Like us."
She paused, her business sense kicking in. "We should bring gold, not goods. Our luxury jewelry appeals to nobles, not mages—they care more about experiment materials and potions. If we can secure a steady supply of knight-grade potions here, we could resell them to nobles or use them to strengthen alliances."
Knight potions were far more in demand than mage tools—knights outnumbered mages, and they lacked the ability to craft their own potions. Most high-quality potions were monopolized by large guilds with noble or imperial backing. This auction was a rare chance to break into the closed mage market.
A few days later, as dusk fell, Eunice, Serena, and Tina climbed into an ornate carriage. Tina, a silent knight who'd grown up in the guild, rode alongside on horseback—his combat skills and Eunice's equipment made him a match for most knights. "To the Mage Guild," Eunice told the driver.
"Is the auction at the guild?" Serena asked.
Eunice nodded. "Where else? The Mage Guild is neutral ground—perfect for mages to gather."
The Mage Guild was quiet on most days, staffed by a handful of full mages and apprentices. Only one mage was on duty at a time; the rest were busy with research or tasks. Its main roles: facilitating mage communication, selling mage journals, delivering urgent messages via rune circles, and posting quests for rare materials or monster hunts.
In Monfilbo, the guild kept a low profile, avoiding imperial politics. Guilds existed only in the capital and large cities—smaller towns like Wickham lacked enough mages to justify one. Despite its small staff, no one dared cause trouble there: the guild's rune circles, laid by purple-robed mages (and rumored to have legendary mage oversight), ensured safety. Attacking the guild was an insult to all mages, who would unite to punish the offender.
When they arrived, Eunice presented their invitation, and they were led to a basement hall. Though underground, it was bright as day, lit by countless magic lamps. Other attendees had already arrived, chatting in small groups—most were mages, with a few merchants like themselves.
"Look how many people are here!" Serena whispered. "All these magic lamps are so extravagant."
The hall was arranged like a banquet, with tables seating four or five people. Attendees showed their true faces—no cloaks or hidden identities. In the Mage Guild, theft was unthinkable; anyone foolish enough to steal would face the guild's wrath before leaving the building.
"That's Kilmer, vice guildmaster of Monfilbo Merchant Guild," Eunice said, nodding at a man in a fine robe. "They have close ties to many mages. And that woman on the left is Sarah, guildmaster of Acorn Guild's capital branch—she's known for her shrewdness."
The two guilds' representatives sat in separate areas, a silent truce. "Should we introduce ourselves?" Serena asked.
Eunice shook her head. "They're too busy networking with mages. Let's find a seat—we're here to observe and bid, not make small talk."