After a short break—during which mages chatted and merchants networked—Eddie returned to the stage. "Time for the second half! I've got good news for clumsy mages: no more snapping quills mid-spell, no more coddling enchanted feathers, no more sharpening every five minutes!"
Eunice and Serena exchanged glances—this had to be their fountain pen.
Eddie pulled the pen from a velvet pouch. "Our opening item: a brand-new fountain pen—named by its inventor. 'Fountain' because it's sturdy, unbreakable! Crafted and enchanted by Mage Orlando himself."
He held it up, showing off its runes. "The shaft has a Focus Rune to keep you concentrated while writing. The nib has a Mana Regulation Rune for precise magic control. And a Fire Affinity Rune—scrolls copied with this pen pack more firepower than any feather quill!"
He gestured to a table of paper and ink—regular parchment, magic paper, beast hide, and flame-infused ink. "Come inspect! But fair warning: it's so simple, you could make one yourself. No need to buy!"
Despite their grumbling, the mages swarmed the stage. "Clever design—the metal nib leaves far more room for runes!" one exclaimed. "The runes can be linked to craft more powerful scrolls!" another cried out. "Let's test it—inscribe a Fire Rune with the flame ink!"
Chaos erupted as mages jostled to try the pen. Eddie herded them off, laughing. "Bidding starts at 300 gold!"
Eunice exhaled—300 gold matched the Blaze Bird feather, a fair price for Orlando's craftsmanship. Enchanting a feather quill cost 200-300 gold, and monster feathers lacked the pen's rune space.
"500 gold!" a mage shouted, shocking the hall.
Bidding accelerated—mages weren't just after the pen's utility, but Orlando's reputation. His enchantments were renowned for precision.
Aldington, who'd inspected the pen, turned to Serena. "What makes it better than quills?"
Serena leaned in, eager to promote their product. "The nib has mithril particles—virtually unbreakable. Feathers need sharpening mid-write, but this one lasts forever. No more interrupting your train of thought!"
Mages perked up—constant sharpening was a common annoyance. "600 gold! That's my limit!" a tired mage called.
Eunice squeezed Serena's hand, her eyes bright. The pen's success meant their partnership with Leon could thrive.
"630 gold!" another mage offered, hesitating.
Eddie raised his hammer. "Last call—any higher?"
"700 gold!" a voice boomed from the back. "That's my final bid!"
Eddie slammed the hammer down. "Sold! No more delays—we've got more items to auction!"
Serena spun around, trying to spot the winner. Eunice pulled her back, grinning. "It doesn't matter who bought it. What matters is mages want this pen. Our business is going to soar."
Aldington nodded, impressed. "Orlando's endorsement helped, but the pen's design speaks for itself. Unbreakable, rune-friendly, smooth-writing—you've got a hit."
As the auction continued, Serena stared at the stage, her mind racing. Leon's simple invention had captured mages' attention, bridging the gap between nobles and spellcasters. For Valoka Guild, this was more than a profitable sale—it was a ticket into the exclusive mage market.
And for Leon, thousands of miles away in Linden Pine Valley, this was proof his Earth-inspired ideas could thrive in Etho. The fountain pen wasn't just a tool—it was a bridge between two worlds, a testament to curiosity, innovation, and the power of seeing things differently.