Sol awoke from the violent shaking of his cage, the people that knocked him out hawked their newest products; a young child, a scrawny old lady, and Sol, an average-build, healthy young man. The crowd watched eagerly as the slave auction is set for only once a week, and the Dracorns clinked in a rhythmic tune deep within their pockets and purses as eager listeners gathered around. Some of the silver weights are flicked up into the air, shimmering a glint of light, revealing the face of the coins with a dragon head embossed onto its surface.
The crowd started to hush, there was silence as soon as the taller of the two tradesmen who was named Gus, reached the stage, rousing the crowd in the process. And between commerce and curiosity, they awaited the pitch.
"Well, well, folks! Gather 'round and feast your eyes! We got ourselves a bunch of real gems to show ya today. Don't let their plain looks fool ya, 'cause once you hear their tales, yer hearts will be hooked, and yer wallets will be beggin' for a piece of the action."
The second tradesman, who was named Ross, rushed up to the stage, joining his fellow comrade, he nodded in agreement while his eyes scanned the crowd.
"Damn right, partner! What we got here are some truly one-of-a-kind folks. Let me introduce 'em to ya, one by one. Get ready to be blown away!"
Sol looked around the crowds, peering through the gaps of those rusty iron bars. He sees a crowd in front of him, dressed in rugged clothing and several others clad in richly adorned attire that bespoke their status and exuded an air of authority and shrewdness. Their finely tailored garments, deliberately chosen for this occasion, emphasized their wealth and power.
Whispers rippled through the crowd as they eagerly awaited the unveiling of the captives. Some were genuinely intrigued, while others remained skeptical of the slave traders' claims.
Ignoring the murmurs, the taller trader Gus, raised his voice while capturing everyone's attention.
"Now, feast yer eyes on this here young'un!" he declared, pointing towards the child in their custody. "Just a kid, ya see, but packed with more potential than ya can imagine. Teach 'em right, and they'll be a force to reckon with!"
The townsfolk gasped and exchanged curious glances. The innocence radiating from the child's face struck a chord within their hearts, leaving them wondering about the hidden talents that lay dormant within such a small frame.
Ross leaned in closer and countered his comrade's announcement, his tone rough but filled with an undercurrent of excitement.
"But wait folks, don't miss out on this scrawny ol' lady!" he announced. "Sure, she may look frail, but don't let appearances deceive ya. She's got more wisdom and stories than ya can shake a stick at."
As the words left his lips, a murmur of discontent began to ripple through the crowd. Some townsfolk exchanged disapproving glances, while others outright booed and jeered at the mention of the old lady.
"We ain't got no time for some wrinkled relic! Give us something worthwhile!" One of the townsfolk declared.
"Yeah, what's she gonna do? Tell us bedtime stories?" Another continued.
Sol attempted to break one of the locks with his weight, he added pressure on his legs and pushed as hard as he can before they finished pitching for the old woman. She was bought by a gang of hooded figures, suspicious in a way but many paid no attention to them as they disappeared in the shadows of the alleyways.
Abandoning his futile attempts to break free from the unyielding metal enclosure, he cast a glance at the crowd, their smirks made him feel unease.
'How the hell did I end up in this situation?'
Gus approached Sol's cage with a devilish grin. He knew he was going to get a better bargain for him.
"And now, my friends, let me introduce ya to this young man. Look at 'em, strong and full of life! With the right push, this one can achieve damn near anything!"
Sol threw a questionable glance at the man.
'These guys really suck at their jobs...who'd want to buy me anyways?'
The townsfolk whispered and discussed in awe, even elder ladies were raising eyebrows.
"What kinda feats could this strapping young lad pull off if given a fair shot?" One of them said.
"Oh, crap." Sol muttered, as he slowly starts realizing that perhaps this isn't all a dream. He could actually be bought here.
"Let me tell ya folks, there's more to him than meets the eye! Picture this, my friends. Just last night, right here on these very streets, we found this young'un appearing out of thin air as if he had just conjured himself into existence!"
One of the townsfolk emerged from the crowd, astonished by the news. Though he wasn't the only one with raised eyebrows.
"No way! Are ya pullin' our legs?" One of the townsfolk said.
Gus reasserted his stance and puffed.
"I kid you not! My friend Ross and I here saw him…just came to be, right there, across the streets. A feat that can only be explained by one thing – magic!"
"Magic?!"
Several of them muttered as the buzz between the crowds became louder.
The crowd, now intrigued by the prospect of witnessing such an extraordinary ability, began to shift their perspective. Their skepticism was replaced with a sense of wonder, their imaginations fueled by the promise of Sol's untapped powers.
Sol flinched at the idea of the elders buying him.
'Magic?' He thought to himself. 'I guess that explains how I got here...this must be related to that dragon I saw.'
"No way I'm letting myself be treated like some commodity. I got to find a way out of this mess, this is not what I signed up for." He muttered, then with a gulp spoke to the tradesmen. "Hey, I'll pay for myself...I got some coins in my pocket that you may be interested in. Completely foreign I assure you."
Perhaps it's a dumb move to tell someone who is selling you that you have valuables, but what did he have to lose at this point?
Gus didn't even respond, maybe he couldn't care less or simply didn't hear him over the crowd.
Sol's arms over-reached outside the bars, trying to grab Gus by the shoulders, but to no avail. His stretched-out arms revealed his scar, which caught the attention of an intriguing old man.
'Ah, an interesting mark indeed. There's more to this young man than meets the eye.' The old man thought.
The old man crept closer to the stage, and as he did the crowd split upon his entry. His navy-dyed garments were adorned with intricate golden trimmings that only a wizard of a higher stature could've worn.
The high wizard's piercing gaze fell upon Sol, his eyes lingering on the distinct scar that marred his right shoulder. Recognition flickered in his expression as if a memory had been triggered by the sight.
As the bidding grew more fervent, the high wizard approached a stranger standing nearby, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes.
He approached with a playful sparkle in his eyes and leaned in, delivering a witty comment in a theatrical manner.
"Well, well, it seems this young fellow here might not possess the typical wizardly aura now, am I right? Haha!" he joked to the stranger beside him.
However, the stranger's reaction wasn't what the high wizard had anticipated. Instead of laughter, the stranger's expression remained stoic, almost unaffected. Without uttering a word, they quietly distanced themselves from the high wizard, avoiding any further interaction.
The high wizard, momentarily taken aback, watched as the stranger swiftly retreated into the crowd. His attempt at a joke had fallen flat, leaving the high wizard to reflect on the impact of his words.
"Perhaps, it's the crowd…" he muttered, and gazed back to the intriguing fellow on the stand.
Meanwhile, the crowd continued to engage in a spirited bidding war, their voices filling the square;
"5 Silver Dracons for that young hunk!"
"8 Silver Dracons! Need him for my farm."
"15 Silver Dracons!"
Shouted the crowds, as it erupts into a frenzy of hungry customers. The high wizard, an air of mystique surrounding him, seemed to be planning for a bid as well, as he declared his price.
"7 Gold Dracons, for that young lad," the old man bidded.
His mighty words left people staggered and quit the bidding wars. They were left to spectate, as the wizard outbid everyone else from the game.
"Sold! Sold! To the old mystical man!" Cheered Gus and Ross, as they paraded on stage with their gleeful celebration of having met with the most amount they've ever received.
"Well shit..." sighed Sol. His sweat dripped over his forehead, unknowingly meeting his fate eventually once the traders transferred ownership to the bearded man.
As the bidding reached its climax, the high wizard's win was evident. He emerged as the victor, successfully acquiring ownership of Sol amidst a chorus of disappointed sighs from the crowd.
The high wizard, now the proud owner of Sol, approached him with an air of confidence, his navy robes billowing around them. The wizard approached him with a grin. The two were awkward at the moment.
"Well, well, it seems you're now under my magical custody. Don't worry, I promise not to turn you into a toad unless you deserve it!" The wizard chuckled.
Sol, still coming to terms with the sudden turn of events, offered a hesitant smile in response, unsure how to react to the high wizard's attempt at humor.
"Uh...thank you, I guess?" He said.
"What is your name young one?" The wizard asked.
"Well…My friends call me Sol." he replied hesitantly. His gaze was looking beyond the green shrubs where he could try to escape or just disappear.
But Sol knew nothing of the place, nor does he know where he was. Maybe, he just needed more sightseeing to grasp the landmark of the place.
"I am called Siegfried. You might have heard of me before." he smiled looking at Sol, but quickly saw that he was not in the mood.
Clearing his throat, Siegfried grabbed his walking stick and prepared for his stroll back, "Come now, Sol! There are many things we must discuss and many things to learn, oh! So exciting! And of course...well, hopefully, some better jokes along the way. Anywho, We'll make quite the magical duo!"
Sol stared at Siegfried's back as he walked further away, then to the open grassy area.
'There's no point in running, at least this guy doesn't seem terrible.' he sighed.
With a mix of feelings and curiosity swirling within, Sol took a deep breath then took a step forward, accepting his fate.