Ahead of them, Zyver had already launched into an animated ramble to Heriot about historical charmers who'd carried the Celestial Charm, while Herox walked beside their parents, quietly discussing what precautions the palace should take now that word of the awakening would inevitably spread.
"With such an extraordinary result, I believe it's finally time we took you to somewhere enjoyable, Zai." Empress Hernia said, glancing back over her shoulder with a small, hopeful smile.
"Where did you have in mind, Mother?" Zaiveil asked, curious despite the exhaustion beginning to settle into her limbs.
"The Crestville Auction House, It's been such a long time since our family attended together, and given everything you've been through these past few days, I think looking at treasures might take away some bad energy." Hernia said, her eyes brightening.
"An auction?" Zaiveil repeated, unfamiliar with the concept beyond vague references from her brothers' earlier conversations.
"Oh, you're going to love it, there are rare artifacts, treasures, sometimes even ancient relics no one's had been seen in centuries. Little sis, we absolutely have to take you." Zyver said, having apparently overheard despite his ongoing lecture to Heriot.
"I supposd i could look forward in to it then." Zaiveil said, a small, genuine smile finding its way onto her face despite the whirlwind of revelations still settling over her.
Emperor Zyron chuckled softly at the sight, some of the earlier tension finally easing from his shoulders. "Then it's decided. Once the initial commotion surrounding tonight's news has settled, we'll take our daughter to the auction house properly, as a whole family."
As they continued through the palace's quiet halls, golden lantern light flickering warmly against the stone walls, Zaiveil allowed herself, for the first time since stepping onto that platform hours ago, to simply exist without worrying about others calculation.
Whatever the Celestial Charm will meant in her future, whatever attention it might draw from other kingdoms and sects across Creignmeia, tonight she was just simply Zaiveil, surrounded by a family who loved her regardless of what rank, said legend, or even a legacy.
And for now, that was more than enough.
The Crestville Auction House rose at the edge of Charmer's Town like something plucked straight from a fever dream of wealth and wonder, its spires wrapped in shimmering enchantments that shifted colors depending on the angle of the sun.
Even from the carriage, Zaiveil could see crowds gathering near its grand entrance, merchants and nobles alike eager for the day's bidding to begin.
"You need to brace yourself, Little Sis. The Crestville Auction House isn't like anything you've seen before, trust me." Zyver warned, practically bouncing in his seat despite being older that Zai, far too dignified for such behavior and his status.
"I've attended plenty of high society events in Gaia, I doubt this will be so different." Zaiveil said, recalling the Crosanta family's various galas and underground trade meetings with a faint, private grimace.
"Little sis, I'd bet you've never seen anyone bid an entire kingdom's worth of gold on a single glowing rock before." Heriot said dryly from across the carriage,
"A glowing rock?" Zaiveil asks wonderingly.
"You'll understand once we're inside," Zyrcus said, amusement threading through his usually quiet tone.
Unfortunately, their parents had to stay behind for an important palace matters, leaving the outing to Zaiveil and her four brothers, much to Zyver's undisguised delight.
"It's just us today!" he'd said that morning, practically glowing with excitement.
Now, stepping out of the carriage and into the auction house's grand entrance hall, Zaiveil began to understand exactly what her brothers meant.
The main hall stretched impossibly high, its domed ceiling embedded with softly glowing crystal fragments that mimicked a starlit sky.
Rows of velvet-cushioned seating curved around a raised central stage, where an elegantly dressed auctioneer stood beside a velvet-draped pedestal, already gesturing animatedly toward the gathering crowd.
"Welcome, honored guests to today's Crestville Grand Auction, where treasures beyond your wildest imaginings await new homes!" the auctioneer's voice carried easily through the hall, amplified by some charm Zaiveil couldn't quite identify.
"Come on," Zyver said, tugging lightly at her sleeve, practically dragging her toward one of the private viewing boxes reserved for their family.
They settled into the elevated box overlooking the stage, a perfect vantage point that also, Zaiveil noted with quiet approval, offered several viable exits should anything go wrong.
Her old habits, it seemed it hadn't entirely faded, even here.
"The Crestville Grand Auction will begin now!"
"First item of the day,"
" A rare Frostbind Core, harvested from the heart of the Rimefang Summit. Perfect for ice charmers seeking to enhance their affinity!" the auctioneer announced, gesturing toward an assistant carrying a small glass case containing a shimmering blue stone
Herox straightened slightly in his seat, his composed expression flickering with visible interest.
"You should bid on that, Big Brother." Heriot said, nudging his elder brother with a smirk. "Might finally let you catch up to my rank."
"I'm two ranks above you, Heriot."
"For now, Big Brother. I'll surpass you soon."
The bidding began swiftly, numbers climbing rapidly as several nobles across the hall raised their paddles in quick succession.
Herox waited, watching carefully, before finally raising his own paddle at precisely the right moment, securing the item with a final, decisive bid that silenced the competing bidders entirely.
"Three Thousands golds" Herox said
"Three Thousands golds, going once!"
"going twice!"
"Sold, to the Hyeleux Royalty box!" the auctioneer declared, and Herox settled back into his seat with quiet, restrained satisfaction while Zyver applauded enthusiastically beside him.
"See?" Zyver said, turning excitedly toward Zaiveil. "This is the fun part. Wait until they bring out the alchemy ingredients. I've been saving up specifically for the rare brewing components."
Zaiveil watched the proceedings with quiet fascination, the strange spectacle of wealth and excitement entirely unlike anything from her old life. The Crosantas had valued discretion above all else, wealth quietly hoarded rather than publicly flaunted.
This open, boisterous celebration of treasures felt foreign to her and yet it's oddly refreshing.
"What do you think?" Zyrcus asked quietly, seated beside her as the next item was carried onto the stage.
"It's really different, and it's Interesting too." Zaiveil said
"Wait until something truly rare comes up, The whole room would change instantly." He added
The auction continued, and the siblings waited for something that would caught their eyes and interest.