As they settled into their seats, Eunice spotted a familiar face. "That's Mage Aldington—let's go say hello." Tina stayed behind, joining other bodyguards in a corner—most mages attended alone, but a few merchants brought guards.
"Aldington! What a surprise to see you here," Eunice greeted the mage, who had a scruffy beard and tired eyes. Mages rarely bothered with grooming, and years of exposure to potions often left them looking haggard.
Aldington turned, his eyes lighting up at the sight of Eunice and Serena—attractive women were a rarity at mage gatherings. "You are…?" He recognized her face but couldn't place her.
"Eunice, from Valoka Guild," she reminded him. "You bought jewelry from us for your companion once."
"Ah, right!" Aldington said, gesturing for them to sit. He leaned toward his fellow mage and whispered, "I have no idea who she is, but it's polite to pretend. Saves awkwardness."
Eunice introduced Serena, then explained their presence. "Orlando crafted a special rune pen and asked us to auction it. It's not a quill—newly designed, called a fountain pen. A student of his invented it; he published a paper in Wizard Monthly."
"A fountain pen?" Aldington raised an eyebrow. "Orlando must favor this student. Most rune pens use feather shafts—what makes this one special?"
"Orlando says it's smoother to write with, easier to inscribe runes on, and more comfortable to hold," Eunice said.
Before they could talk further, a white-bearded elder stepped onto a small stage, leaning on a staff that might have been a wand. He tapped it once, and a sharp "dong" echoed through the hall, silencing all conversation.
"Welcome," he said, his voice firm. "I'm Fergus, guildmaster and on-duty mage. Most of you know the rules: we accept gold or rare magic materials. If you lack funds, you can negotiate with the seller for material trades, or even sell items on the spot to raise money. This auction is first and foremost a chance for mages in Monfilbo to connect and exchange ideas."
He paused, his tone hardening. "But a word of warning: no grudges over lost bids. No underhanded tactics. The Mage Council's authority exceeds any noble or guild. Now, let's begin."
Fergus stepped down, and a man in a crumpled white robe took his place. His eyes slanted upward, and his face seemed perpetually amused, even when expressionless. "Greetings! I'm Eddie, your auctioneer. Don't get your hopes up—there's nothing exciting here."
His playful tone shocked Serena. Auctioneers usually praised items to drive up prices, but Eddie sounded like he was mocking the goods.
"First item!" He glanced around, pretending to search for the tray, then snatched it from an apprentice's hands. He lifted the cloth, revealing a piece of parchment. "A paper! Or rather, an ancient runic manuscript—supposedly a potion recipe. Unfortunately… I can't read a word of it."
He didn't look embarrassed. "Our 'expert'—aka the guildmaster—examined it. He thinks it might relate to Wisdom Potions, but he can't read it either. The parchment is 3,000 years old, from before the church's fall. The runes are contemporary to the parchment—no forgeries."
He covered half the manuscript with a rune plate. "Feel free to inspect it—no touching. But let's be honest: most of you won't understand it either. If it were easy to decode, it wouldn't be here. Or maybe it's useless—even worse."
Gasps erupted as mages surged forward to examine the manuscript. Wisdom Potions were the holy grail for mages—anything boosting intelligence was priceless.
"Hey, be gentle!" Eddie stumbled back, laughing. "Remember, curiosity doesn't equal ability. Bid only if you're willing to waste time decoding it."
Serena leaned toward Eunice, confused. "Will anyone buy this? He's trashing it!"
Aldington chuckled. "Mages trust their own judgment, not auctioneers. If they believe the manuscript is valuable, they'll bid fiercely. If not, no amount of praise will change their minds. Eddie's just entertaining us—auctioneers here are more for show than salesmanship."
As mages crowded around the manuscript, Serena watched, fascinated. This was nothing like the noble auctions she knew—no fancy displays, no elaborate sales pitches, just raw curiosity and mutual respect. For the first time, she understood why Eunice was so determined to break into the mage market. It wasn't just about profit—it was about joining a world of knowledge and innovation.
And at the center of it all was Leon's fountain pen—a simple invention that might just bridge the gap between nobles and mages, between Valoka Guild and a brighter future.