Riseth joined him on the balcony, her gaze sweeping over the array of booths and the warped space before settling on the presenter below. They were in the process of auctioning off a hunting bow that utilized a mixture of Arcane and Force magic.

  While Alistair could certainly make use of such a weapon, he had neither the training nor the interest in using a bow. If it came to ranged combat, he’d sooner pick up a rifle or revolver, as his Kinetics affinity would mesh well with them. However, his magic affinity was more than sufficient to render such tools unnecessary.

  Beyond that, finding a firearm capable of withstanding the sheer force and energy he channeled at his grade was nearly impossible. Even his poleaxes, despite being carefully crafted, frequently broke under the strain. He still carried a spare, though, as Denodia was in the process of crafting a weapon that would, hopefully, be able to withstand his strength and grow with him.

  “How’s the progress on my weapon?” Alistair asked casually, settling onto a couch near the balcony to observe the small bidding war below.

  Riseth joined him, her gaze fixed on the auction below as the bidding became unexpectedly intense among several individuals seated in the stands beneath the booths.

  Denodia sank onto the synthetic couch beside him, settling in with a relaxed air. “Your weapon is currently soaking in a highly charged Kinetic formula,” she said. “Either it grows accustomed to it, or the bones and metals break, and I have to start from scratch. But I have high hopes this treatment will turn out well. I put a lot of effort into molding and reinforcing it.”

  “Wait, are you risking some of our dragon bones breaking?” Alistair asked, his tone tinged with concern.

  Denodia waved him off with a casual flick of her hand. “The chances are really low,” she replied. “I did the best I could. All we can do now is wait—it’s a necessary process to attune the weapon. If it breaks, it breaks, and I learn something new in the process.”

  Alistair eyed Denodia suspiciously for a moment but decided to let it go, choosing to trust her expertise.

  Shifting his attention back to the auction floor, he watched as the bow was sold for an eye-watering 1.2 million USC to an individual wearing a mask seated in a booth on the opposite side of the chamber.

  In Alistair’s honest opinion, the bow wasn’t worth that much. He was confident Denodia could craft something just as good, if not better, for far less using the materials and personnel available within their clan.

  The next few lots barely held their interest. Much like the bow, they were items their clan could craft without much trouble.

  Unlike the bow, however, none of these items fetched such exorbitant prices. Instead, the more commonly used weapons and pieces of gear sold for far more modest sums, typically a few hundred thousand USC, which was still a lot for individuals without a faction or business backing them.

  Alistair sat up a little straighter as the auctioneer brought up the next lot, one he had marked as particularly interesting.

  “Honored guests, the next lot is something truly special!” the auctioneer declared, his voice magically amplified to carry across the grand chamber.

  What caught Alistair’s eye wasn’t just the announcement but the auctioneer himself. Instead of a Tok’eall, it was a tall, lanky demon wearing a dark blue, elegantly tailored suit that complemented his pale golden skin. Some kind of demon of greed or fortune, Alistair mused.

  He watched as a staff was carefully brought out on a satin-lined pillow. It resembled a thin tree, its delicate leaves still intact, though its surface was covered in intricate runes. The core appeared to have been crystallized through some advanced treatment method.

  What caught his attention most, however, was the emotions radiating from the staff—a mixture of worry and trepidation that seemed almost tangible.

  Denodia stared at the staff intently while Riseth let out a quiet gasp. “That staff is intelligent—some kind of fey, I think,” she murmured.

  The demon auctioneer gestured toward the staff with an air of reverence. “This is an Elder Tree Staff, recovered during one of the many retaliatory raids. Efforts were made to reunite it with its previous owner, but we discovered she had been killed, the staff taken by a raiding faction associated with the Blackmarket Syndicate.”

  He let the words hang for a moment, a note of distaste evident in his tone.

  “This won’t be a conventional lot, as the weapon in question is intelligent,” the demon auctioneer explained, straightening his suit as he approached the staff. With a fluid motion, he let it levitate in his open hands, the runes shimmering faintly. “This staff will only be sold to an individual it approves of, preferably requiring a strong affinity for Nature, Fey, and a suitable personality. As noted in the listing, remote bidding is not permitted for this lot.”

  A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd as participants began to discuss the announcement. While Alistair had known in-person bidding was required, the additional criteria for the staff’s approval had not been listed, much to the apparent frustration of several attendees.

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  “The staff possesses strong affinities for Nature, Growth, Healing, and Gravity,” the auctioneer continued, his voice calm but commanding. “It is capable of casting its own spells and empowering its wielder through a variety of magical effects. Moreover, it can regenerate its own mana, making it an exceptionally powerful weapon.”

  He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before concluding, “Bidding will start at 5 million USC. If the winner of the final bid is rejected by the staff, the second-highest bidder will be considered, and so on.”

  And just like that, chaos erupted as rapid-fire bids were called out, the price of the staff climbing rapidly toward 10 million USC. Alistair joined in occasionally, tossing in bids, though he didn’t hold high hopes of receiving the approval of the Elder Tree Staff.

  His doubts were confirmed when Denodia placed a hand on his arm, shaking her head. “It’s best if either that elven faction or the druid in the upper row wins,” she said, her tone calm but firm. “You’re just driving up the price at this point.”

  “That just means less competition for the items we truly want,” Riseth chimed in, a sly smile playing on her lips. But as Denodia turned a disapproving stare her way, Riseth raised her hands defensively. “Alright, alright, bad idea,” she said, a touch of amusement in her voice.

  “Yes, because any more could create bad blood and lead them to drive up the prices on the things we actually want,” Denodia said, her tone relaxed yet firm. “Let’s not start that kind of trend—it makes it harder to predict the outcomes.”

  "Probably a good call," Riseth replied thoughtfully.

  They watched as the price climbed to 20 million USC, forcing the druid to tap out, a grimace marring his face. In the end, the elven faction, the Thalassian Sylphguard, claimed the lot.

  It took three candidates before the staff finally meshed well enough with one of the elves for the bid to be accepted, much to the druid’s evident dismay.

  As soon as the transaction was complete, the auctioneer returned to the podium in a flash, announcing the next series of lots. None of them, however, caught Alistair’s attention. He knew the next lot of interest would be a Brimstone Spear—a weapon that would align perfectly with Simon’s fighting style and affinities.

  Growing slightly bored, Alistair probed his connection to the Beshin Clan through his Akashic Link, checking to see if they had already arrived on Citar. When the connection clicked into place, a small smile spread across his face.

  “Hey, Kujo, I see you’ve arrived on Citar. Care to join me and Riseth in the auction house?” Alistair asked.

  Kujo’s voice came through, tinged with mild amusement. “We just got here and are barely figuring out our accommodations, but sure. There are a few things I’d like to discuss in person. Are the two of you alone?”

  “No,” Alistair replied. “We’ve got one of our clan leaders with us. She’s trustworthy, but if necessary, I can ask her to step out for a bit.”

  “I trust your judgment, Alistair. We’ll be over soon,” Kujo responded.

  Turning to Riseth and Denodia, Alistair said, “I just contacted Kujo. He and Nomura, and maybe a few others, will be joining us shortly. They want to discuss something with us.”

  Riseth tilted her head, intrigued. “Do you think it’s about the auction or potential raids?”

  Alistair glanced at Denodia expectantly, but she waved him off. “I’m trying to limit myself to more crucial events,” she said. “I’d burn out if I tried to keep track of everything. There are so many possible scenarios in this city that tapping into every little thing would fry my mind in no time.” She paused briefly before adding, “I could loosen my restrictions, but if I do, I might be of limited use during the more important auctions.”

  “Oh, never mind then!” Alistair said quickly, his tone reassuring. He hadn’t known the exact limitations of her abilities, but it made sense. Too much input would overwhelm her, and keeping things focused was clearly the right call.

  It didn’t take long for Kujo and Nomura to arrive. Their presence was announced by a pleasant chime, followed by a tablet forming out of nanotech in front of Alistair and Riseth, requesting confirmation for entry. They quickly approved, rising to greet their guests.

  After exchanging pleasantries and catching up briefly, Nomura’s attention shifted to Denodia. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” she said, her gaze steady as she extended her arm for a clasp.

  Denodia accepted the gesture with practiced ease. “You may call me Denodia,” she replied, her tone friendly yet measured.

  “Any interesting lots going on?” Nomura inquired.

  Alistair sat back down, joined by the others. “Not yet. There’s a Brimstone Spear we’re planning to get for Simon,” he replied casually.

  “Oh, Simon, eh?” Kujo said with a wide grin. “I fought beside him. He’s got some serious potential once he gets the hang of his linked concepts.”

  Alistair nodded. Simon’s core concept of Rock had initially left him mildly disappointed—until Sotarr’s revelations about linked concepts had completely changed his perspective. Simon hadn’t realized that volcanic powers fell under his domain, only brushing the surface with Obsidian and Pressure during the Trials. Both were linked concepts, but neither was strictly necessary to unlock Lava or Volcano, which he’d recently begun to explore.

  Their last spar had been a showcase of Simon’s progress. He’d used an improved movement technique that allowed him to treat stone, rock, or compatible earthen surfaces as if they didn’t exist. His Tremor sense and other magical senses provided near-perfect awareness, letting him attack from the safety of the underground.

  It had taken Alistair significant effort to force Simon out of his element. He was certain the challenge would only grow as Simon learned to extend his control over the environment beyond his immediate surroundings.

  "Speaking of Simon, is he already bonded?" Kujo inquired, aptly ignoring the exasperated look from his wife. "Nikki has inquired about him—there might be an opportunity to further tie our clans."

  “Uuh,” Alistair stammered, caught off guard. He instinctively glanced at Denodia, a move that immediately caught the Oni pair’s attention.

  “Oh? Are Denodia and Simon bonded?” Nomura asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

  “I am not,” Denodia replied smoothly, her tone light. “But Simon has been mingling with some of my people.”

  Kujo shrugged. “A powerful warrior has the right to bond with multiple wives. It shouldn’t be an issue—Nikki isn’t the jealous type.”

  “I believe that’s something they should figure out for themselves without any meddling or pressure from us,” Riseth said, her tone firm but diplomatic.

  “Besides, most cultures within our clan practice monogamy,” Alistair added casually.

  Kujo nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right. I wouldn’t want it any other way myself.” He shot his wife a toothy grin, his arm wrapping affectionately around her shoulders.

  Riseth smiled back, leaning slightly into Alistair as he draped his arm over her shoulders. “We feel much the same,” she said warmly.

  Denodia pouted playfully. “Shame, that,” she quipped, eliciting a deep belly laugh from Kujo.