The red moonlight cast an ominous hue over Theodor's slums, the sky veiled in shifting clouds. Wrapped in dark cloaks and wearing the stolen merchant masks, Arriel, Lira, and Kell walked through the quiet stone corridor toward the auction building's concealed entrance.
Two guards flanked the doorway — dressed sharply, their armor glinting with enchantment runes. One extended a gloved hand without a word.
Kell stepped forward and presented the stolen invitation. A glowing orb hovered over the paper for a second before fading with a soft chime.
"Verified. Proceed," the guard said, stepping aside.
The door opened, revealing the world inside — low-burning chandeliers casting golden light on velvet carpets, cushioned benches arranged in arcs around a modest stage framed by black curtains. Nobles and masked merchants already filled most of the seats, speaking in hushed voices. The air was heavy with perfume and tension.
The trio took their assigned seats in the middle row, careful not to draw attention. Arriel subtly activated the orb embedded in his ring — it pulsed once, then began silently recording both sight and sound.
"There," Kell whispered, gesturing upward.
At a private booth above the crowd, a masked man reclined behind a curtain of gauze. The glint of a gold ring with a griffin insignia flashed as he raised a goblet. Standing beside him was a broad-shouldered man in a black coat, wearing a visible status bracelet — glowing 34.
"Bodyguard," Lira murmured. "He's a Hero."
The auctioneer stepped onto the stage and began to speak, his voice magically amplified. The room quieted instantly.
"Tonight, fine bloodlines, rare treasures, and unblemished bodies — for the truly discerning buyer."
A shiver went down Arriel's spine.
As the first elf girl was led out — blindfolded, shackled — Arriel tightened his grip on the seat. Lira's fingers trembled beside him.
"I need to get closer," Lira whispered, getting up.
Arriel and Kell subtly turned their heads as Lira approached the side aisle. She walked slowly, eyes sweeping the room as though searching for a washroom sign. As she neared the private booth, the bodyguard stepped forward, eyes sharp.
Lira blinked up at him and smiled. "I'm sorry, I'm lost. Powder room?"
"Behind you. Left door," the man said flatly.
While she bowed and turned, she discreetly touched her ring to the floor — casting two spells. One embedded a listening charm onto the guard's coat; the other marked him with a tracking spell using a barely visible rune that clung beneath his collar.
Lira returned to her seat with grace, sweat trailing down her back.
"What'd you get?" Kell whispered.
She closed her eyes. "His name is Bardos. The merchant is called Iskiel. They're talking about selling off a fresh batch of 'merchandise' tomorrow. Probably more elf girls."
Arriel's expression darkened. He wanted to stand and scream — but he didn't.
On the stage, a new girl was brought out. She looked barely twelve.
Arriel's jaw clenched as he tilted his hand slightly. The ring orb shifted angles, capturing the expressions of the bidders and the final price shouted from the booth above.
A few more girls followed. Some cried, others stood still like dolls. All were sold.
Finally, the auctioneer announced the end of the night's bidding. Guests began to leave quietly.
Arriel, Lira, and Kell slipped out with the crowd, hoods raised. Lira tugged her bracelet — the tracking spell was moving west.
They followed at a distance, through narrow alleyways and darkened roads. The trail was steady, predictable.
They passed through the merchant district, past shuttered stores and statues worn by time, until the magic led them to a high, iron-gated estate. Beyond the gates loomed a tall mansion with tall columns and a golden roof.
Shimmering runes lined the wall — magical barriers protecting it from teleportation or magical intrusion.
Lira knelt and inscribed a faint rune at the base of a streetlamp. "I've marked it," she whispered. "We can find it again."
They climbed a nearby building and observed from the rooftop.
Iskiel entered the mansion, trailed by Bardos and two new guards.
Lira looked at Arriel and Kell. "He's got protections. We'll need more than stealth next time."
Arriel's voice was quiet. "We've got proof now. Names. Faces. And we know where he sleeps."
Kell stared at the golden roof. "And if he's connected to the other royals in Theodor… this is bigger than we thought."
The wind whispered across the rooftops. Below them, the light in Iskiel's window went dark.
From a nearby alley, unnoticed by the trio, a shadow stepped back from the light and melted into the dark — a figure with a hidden face and eyes that had been watching them all along.