Getting into a bidding war with Morgan Le Fay was not on my bingo card, but here we are.
I wasn't annoyed.
Nope.
Perfectly calm.
"Four Thousand." I replied with a serene and calm voice.
I wasn't going to rise to her most obvious provocations.
"Five Thousand."
"Ten thousand!" I responded immediately.
I think the Elephant man nearly fell over. He most certainly wasn't expecting to make out with a literal fortune for a random 'oddity' he seemingly found by chance. I wouldn't be surprised if he's had it for a while and never found a buying, having no idea of its actual worth.
But god, her smug face made it worse.
Sure, I had more than enough gold, enough that I could fill this entire train car up and barely even notice.
But it was the principle!
"Fifteen Million Pounds." A well-dressed woman in red to the side raised her hand.
I pursed my lips because that was more than the ten thousand gold coins were worth. By my rough estimate, the gold coins were around 12-13 million, maybe a bit closer to 14 million. Based on the size, I'm sure most people could estimate it too, well most people here. They weren't exactly a normal bunch. Magi often handle hundreds of millions of pounds worth of materials or trades casually after all.
"Twenty million!" A man raised his hand enthusiastically, middle eastern by first glance.
"Twenty-five!"
"Thirty!"
Several more people joined in.
I felt my eye twitch.
Morgan looked my way and still had that insufferably smug expression on her face.
It wasn't just to outbid me, she did it on purpose to make people think it was something ridiculously valuable that they had to get their hands on.
They didn't even know what they were bidding on.
I felt a hand squeeze mine and i glanced up at Venelena who just gave me a warm smile. "There's no need to get upset." She said gently. "If you react, that's exactly what she wants."
I forced a smile. "Happy thoughts."
"Yes, happy thoughts. Think of something pleasant. For instance, think about how after this is over, you're going to find out how long your Grandmother can go without breathing."
I….was about to respond to that until realization set in.
And just like that, all my annoyance just disappeared.
It was a good thing she didn't say it loud enough for Waver to hear, that would have been rather awkward.
"You're very good." Salem shot Venelana a glance.
"Why thank you." Venelana still had a pleasant casual smile.
I can honestly say, I've never seen an Elephant headed man sweat bullets before, but here we are as well. Obviously, it seemed to be from excitement if nothing else. Maybe he was questioning if he really wanted to get rid of his object now?
Ugh, it just irked me even more.
It's weird, I'm usually calmer than this. That's not to do I don't get annoyed, I think everyone knows I have a temper if it's forced out. And I would freely admit I can be very petty when my annoyance is pushed past a certain threshold as well.
However, if this were a different time or place, I think at most, I would just roll my eyes at their antics.
But, for some reason, she has a unique way to just get under my skin in a manner I'm not accustomed to.
I wonder if this is how other people feel when I intentionally rile them up?
The bid jumped several times as more people started raising their hands. The earlier unease, like no one wanted to bid against me at first, that all but disappeared in the face of profits.
That, and my whole spiel about not throwing my weight around and accepting a loss as is, that probably already made the rounds.
And I am many things, but I am not someone who lightly goes back on my words.
"One-Hundred Million." A final bid was raised, a gentleman who looked like he stepped out of Victorian London.
I liked his hat.
That one seemed to silence most of the train car, like they were no longer willing to wager so much on something they didn't know about.
Especially when this wasn't even close to the main event, as it were.
I held my hand out, and a loud thump reverberated through the train car. "A Dragon Bone." I stated, and once more every was staring at me.
Even Morgan looked surprised at my offer.
Go ahead, I dare you to up the bid again.
The Elephant man took out a handkerchief and dabbed his forehead. "A-are there any other bids, if not I believe Lord Schweinorg will be the winner." His mouth sounded rather dry as he spoke.
Funny enough, Dragon Bones do have a sort of price to them. They were extraordinarily rare and expensive, but they weren't impossible to find. Especially in the Tomb of Albion under the Clock Tower. There are tons of people who live down there and 'mine' for treasures, so to speak.
The direct connection between the Human World and the Reverse Side make it so phantasmal species, rare ingredients, and otherwise extinct species do occasional pop up. Dragon Bones every once in awhile also surface.
Though, this one was a rather large rib bone. Based on what I know, the price of this thing would go for anywhere from three-hundred million to about five-hundred million.
Of course, when it comes to the 'trading' component of an 'auction' like this, the necessity of items can make them more valuable to the one doing the auctioning.
No one raised their hand or shouted out another bid. Even Morgan kept her mouth shut, and I was wondering if she even had the amounts of money on her that she was throwing around.
She lives on the Reverse Side, does she even value gold?
Well, maybe she lives somewhere and has a treasury that's been collecting dust, who knows.
"Ahem, I believe this is yours, Lord Schweinorg." The Elephant Man approached me, offering the item with both hands, slightly trembling, like he was worried it was going to suddenly disappear.
"Thank you." I accepted gracefully, and gestured for him to take the Dragon Bone.
The Elephant Man hefted it up, his eyes darting around. Quite a few people shot him envious looks, and many of them were not too friendly.
He did perhaps the smartest thing and quickly left the compartment and presumably back to his room.
The Auctioneer took this opportunity to stand up and speak again. "A reminder to our guests. The Train offers an anonymous drop off service if you're willing to pay the fee. That is, a back door exit, so to speak." She smiled politely as she revealed this then retook her position off to the side as not to hold up the center stage.
I would be surprised if they didn't have a method to stealthily sneak people on or off the train at their discretion.
I rolled the stone in my hands, and I felt the faint phantom of something weighty.
{A rare item, a Lingam Stone that has been personally touched by the god it's a symbol of.} My Zanpakutō spoke up.
That certainly piqued my interest. A symbol touched by a Divine Spirit for whom the symbol is connected to? That gives it quite a bit of extra oomph.
{It will be beneficial to your purpose of reviving what's inside the spear due to the Authority of the God Shiva. You can simply feed it to the spear after we're done here.}
Musū Tengai already mentioned how he talks to the spear sometimes, so I wasn't surprised about that.
How much does it help exactly?
{If you want me to give you an estimate when it's a very vague concept. If the process of reviving what's inside the spear is displayed as a status bar, and it had to reach 100% to be complete, this stone would increase it by .01%}
I had the sudden urge to throw the stone out the window. However, cooler minds did prevail. I wasn't oblivious to the fact that even a tiny number like that was pretty significant, all things considered.
"If no one is going to go, I'll take my turn." Venelana got up, smoothing out her dress as she walked to the front.
The eyes trailed on her as she took her place front and center.
I noticed that Olga perked up a bit, looking more serious than before.
"Hello everyone." Venelana said, taking out a custom bottle of wine. "I have this bottle of wine to auction today. I have a hobby of making my own spirits, and this is one of my creations. It's made used twelve different types of Magical Plants."
There were people who looked interested despite the lack of fervor from a moment ago.
Now that I think about it, most Magi do partake in Alcohol in some capacity. Even if someone didn't, it's the type of thing that's a very good gift or addition to trade to sway someone who's on the fence.
"It has a charming sweet and fruity taste on the first sip, but it quickly turns warm and spicy as it hits your stomach without overpowering the initial taste. A single glass leaves you completely full, as if you just ate a large, satisfying meal. It has the effects of invigorating your body, with all that entails behind closed doors." She gave everyone a wink. "It also revitalizes your skin, giving you a nice glossy tone, and it will clear any congestion or sinuses as a side effect as well, as minor as that is."
The funny thing is, this isn't even close to the most absurd she's created. And I'm not even counting my own Peach Wine. She has a habit of making some really strange – albeit wonderful – creations.
And they're almost always very good.
One woman raised her hand. "Five-Hundred Thousand Pounds."
It wasn't a bad offer at all. Heck, that might even be extremely generous for what went into it to make. But that was only if that's all there was to it.
"Apologies, but I wasn't finished." Venelana politely rejected her bid. "I forgot to mention it's last and most profound effect. In the terms you're familiar with, it will increase the rate at which you regenerate your Mana by about ten times while the effect persists. I wouldn't suggest drinking more than one cup a day, but a single cup lasts anywhere from two hours to four hours."
There was a beat of silence before suddenly everyone exploded.
"Ten Million!"
"Twenty Million!"
"Fifty Million!"
One of a Magi's most limiting factors is their internal supplies of Mana – or Od, if you want to be more specific about vernacular. However, the term Mana is often slotted into any term associated with Magical Energy. It's fairly easy to know what someone's talking about most of the time.
For two hours, having ten times your generated amount of Magical Energy, that would be significant when it came to certain research, rituals, or spell casting.
Most people couldn't make use of a Dragon Bone, but almost everyone could make use of this.
"Two-Hundred Million."
The bid came out after her reveal then several people started shouting all together. I'm fairly sure I heard someone reaching up to four-hundred million.
Venelana clapped her hands, loudly, enough that it stopped the shouting that started as everyone paused to look at her again.
"I would like to add, that I don't care for money. What I'm looking for is any rare ingredients or the like that I could use to make more spirits." She explained to everyone.
And rather quickly, the train went quiet again. It's not exactly something that most Magi have stores of.
There weren't any immediate bites.
I don't think Venelana would be particularly upset if no one had anything to trade, it was a difficult request to fulfill in this circumstance.
Oh well.
"I have something." Morgan spoke up, surprising me, and Venelana from the looks of it. She held out a vial, it looked like water inside. She gently released it and it floated across the room and Venelana caught it.
Venelana uncorked it, smelling it slightly before corking it again. "Hmm, it's a good ingredient, but it's still lacking."
"Trying to trade your bath water?" I asked, not particularly loud, but knowing she could hear me. Coincidentally Waver heard me and snorted, clearly holding back a laugh.
However, Morgan sent me a glare, clearly having heard me from that side of the room. I wouldn't be surprised if she set up some spells to do so.
She didn't say anything, but I sort of mentally stumbled when I saw what she took out.
It was a still-beating heart.
Just from looks alone, I'd say it was human?
"....I don't particularly feel enthused about utilizing a human heart." Even Venelana sort of took her offer rather dryly.
Morgan scoffed disdainfully. "I wasn't offering the Heart itself. It belongs to the one responsible for the commotion the previous day. If you don't care about finding where they're hiding, then so be it. I only paid a small price to obtain it from someone else anyways."
I felt my eye twitch.
There were a great many questions that needed to be ask, like how she has this person's heart.
But I'm more annoyed that she could have simply found them all this time and didn't. Hell, he was also attacked, yet she treated it as if it were unimportant. I would have bet money beforehand that something like this would have aroused her anger.
Did she just not care?
Venelana tilted her head. "Do you want my wine that much?"
Morgan rolled her eyes. "Compared to whatever trash would be showed off otherwise, it's beyond what I would have expected. I simply appreciate a good wine."
"Very well, I accept."
Morgan grasped with her hand and the wine body shot to her from across the room. She caught it without much fanfare and produced a wine glass from thin air.
Under many watchful eyes, she uncaringly poured herself a bit, twirling it in her glass before taking a sip.
She seemed to savor it for a moment before putting her glass down.
"If you are selling anything similar, I'll purchase them." She said simply, acknowledging Venelana's skill despite the antagonistic attitude we had towards her.
Venelana was good at what she did.
"The Heart." Venelana pointed out.
Morgan rolled her eyes and reached into her sleeve and pulled out a dagger. She unceremoniously stabbed it before chanting something in a language I didn't recognize as a devil. I think it was Fae? But I wasn't one hundred percent sure.
The blood that seeped out of the heart turned into a mist and began to float away.
It passed by the passengers seated as they all adjusted themselves to watch it curiously.
"Well, off you go." Morgan made a shooing motion, particularly at me. Rather smugly at that.
Bitch.
I shot up from my seat and Waver didn't even need to be told to follow. I gave one look at Salem, and she silently acknowledged what I wanted, staying behind to keep an eye on Morgan and everyone else.
The bloody mist went right through the door as I opened it and we chased it down the hallway. The Auction becoming a faint whisper at this point by how much distance we covered in the train.
"That's my compartment." Waver's eyes widened as the mist took a ninety degree turn and went into one of the nondescript train compartments.
Very quickly, we heard a painful cry, followed by several startled shouts as Waver all but kicked the door down and we rushed inside.
Gray and Yvette were inside, along with Caules who was clutching his heart as his face was contorted in pain.
"Mr. Waver, Caules is hurt!" Gray quickly exclaimed, wanting to rush to his side.
However, Waver and I immediately knew what was wrong.
And 'Caules' looked up, seeing our gazes, and a flash of realization dawned on him.
"Turn around, my Heart." He flared his Magical Energy and chanted, before disappearing from the spot he was standing.
"Oh no you don't!" In response, I pressed against the spot he was just standing, an aurora of colors burst out as my hand disappeared into it, and I pulled back. The silhouette of 'Caules' becoming visible again and I yanked him back through space. "So you're the one responsible, huh?" I held him up. "Teleportation isn't an easy trick, you're obviously not Caules, so who exactly are you?"
Our eyes met, and his flashed an iridescent color, and I felt something hit me.
Mystic Eyes, powerful ones.
I felt something strange push against my normal defenses.
{Don't mind it, I will handle it.} My Zanpakutō spoke, and as he did, my vision went dark.
[Line Break]
Musū Tengai POV
How strange.
A man, with bright red hair separated into several braids. He was on the taller side, and red eyes.
He seemed surprised to be here.
I reached out my hand and pulled the proverbial curtain to the side to let him enter my 'room'.
"Welcome." I greeted him and he became startled, jumping back as if ready for a battle.
"Who are you, where am I?" He demanded, his eyes darting around, taking in the sights of Wilhelm's house. At least, the one he keeps in his mind and heart that manifests in his inner world.
"Where are you? Should you not know? You are the one who used your Mystic Eyes on Wilhelm. Though, I suspect, this is not a normal occurrence for you." It was not normal for me either.
Truthfully, I could have prevented his appearance here entirely, but I admit I was curious. I've never had someone knock on my door so rudely before.
Was the true appearance of the culprit then?
I held my hand out, producing two cups of tea, one for each of us. "Would you like to join me?"
He didn't move.
I didn't think he would, but it was proper manners to offer.
"I believe I have enough clues to piece together what happened, if you wouldn't mind me rambling. I believe your Mystic Eyes to be of the highest rank, either Jewel or Rainbow. And if I had to make an educated guess, I believe your eyes allow you to take control of another person's eyes, particularly utilizing their Mystic Eyes as well. It would explain the 'death's and 'attacks' from earlier. You used Karabo, utilizing his Mystic Eyes to assassinate Miss. Trisha. You were aware of Miss Trisha's own Mystic Eyes, the ability to peek into the future, through your own eye's ability, thus saw her as a possible thorn in whatever plans you held. How close am I?"
He didn't display much emotion on his face, but I believe I hit the nail on the head.
"Who are you?" He asked again.
"Where I'm from, it's polite to introduce yourself first before asking someone for their name."
It took a moment, but he opened his mouth again. "You can call me Doctor Heartless."
"Ah, on account of you missing your heart?" I asked, amused, and there was a flash of surprise on his face about me knowing that. Yes, he wouldn't know what happened a few moments prior. "My name is Musū Tengai, I am Wilhelm's Zanpakutō spirit. Though, I suppose that would not have much meaning to you. It's sufficient to know that I am the spirit of a weapon he holds, one nurtured by his soul. Thus, welcome to Wilhelm's soul."
Doctor Heartless looked around briefly still confused, it seems. "This is impossible, my Eyes…."
"They allow you to steal sight, or take control of it in some way, yes?"
He frowned slightly. "I suppose that hiding it is pointless."
"Have you never heard the phrase 'The Eyes are the window to the soul'?" I aksed him.
"Poetic but without merit." He responded.
"Is it?" I countered. "Mystic Eyes are directly connected to the soul. How else do they manifest in the first place? Why does it take extreme measures to remove them or to implant them? Like Magic Circuits, they are an extension."
He seemingly could not argue with my logical explanation.
"You presumably attempted to steal Wilhelm's vision out of desperation to escape. I suspect you've never used your Eyes on someone with a pronounced Inner World like this. Thus, this is a first for both of us."
How curious, I wonder if there would be a similar effect if someone contained a Reality Marble?
"Now that I've answered your question, would you be so kind as to answer mine? I am curious as to how you lost your heart, yet still remain alive without any negative side effects."
He didn't respond immediately, I believe he was contemplating if he should answer or not based on any 'information' that might be valuable to me. Or perhaps he's considering if it's worth engaging in conversation to stall for time as he tries to think of a means of 'escape'.
"In my youth, I had my heart stolen by a Faerie." He responded expressionlessly.
"Ah, that makes sense." I now understand why Morgan Le Fay had his Heart now.
It would be easy for her to find the one who 'stole' it, even if she didn't do it herself', and acquire it after the fact.
And it made sense how he was still alive. The Fair Folk's ways are mysterious, living without a heart would be child's play for them.
"I have one more question. I can understand your attempt at miss Trisha's life. Her Mystic Eyes would be a foil to your plans and reveal you. I can also understand your attempt at the life of the other Servant on board the train, as that may also reveal your identity due to your previous Servant as well. But why did you try to kill the Burial Agent?"
He frowned slightly again. Several beats passed before he responded. "I am not too familiar with the ways of Church Executors. And I have heard the rumors regarding Burial Agents. I believed it was an opportunity to remove any potential thorns."
I nodded again, having already suspected as much. "Yet, you left Wilhelm alone knowing he's a Magician."
"....it's well known that only fools willingly bring about the ire of a Magician."
"Yet, here you are." I gestured. "And what happened to the young man you're impersonating?"
"I simply drugged him in his room; he should be waking within a day or two." Doctor Heartless replied.
That is good news at least. I'm sure Wilhelm would be upset if anything happened to the boy even if he did not care much. He often latches onto things like that; he would blame himself in the end and carry that guilt even if he never spoke of it.
"I did not anticipate my actions to invoke his wrath." He stated calmly. "I merely removed an unimportant woman from an unimportant clan with miniscule political relevance."
"Unfortunately, that did not go as planned." I stood up and summoned the sword to my hand.
He took a step back defensively. "I have no desire to stand against a Magician; I have not harmed him in any ways. I merely wished to escape. If you allow me to leave, I will no longer bother him."
I shook my head. "If you had managed to hurt him, it would be a lesser sin than hurting someone he cares about. My wielder demands your death, so it shall be."
Doctor Heartless let out a sigh. "Then you leave me with no choice, I do not wish to make an enemy out of a Magician, but I will do what I must." He closed his eyes briefly before opening them, and they lit up with an array of colors. "If I entered by accident, then by controlling your vision, I believe I can –"
Blood spilled from his mouth as he looked down and saw my blade stabbing him through the chest.
"H-how –" He coughed up more blood.
"Apologies, but you were unable to affect me with your eyes."
"....my eyes….could even affect….Divine Spirits." He gasped. "You…."
"Reflections are curious things, Doctor. They look back at you, but they're never really there." I pulled my blade free as his body fell to the ground, unmoving.
I waved my hand, sending back the remains of his consciousness that snuck inside, back towards his body as his true death set in. I killed the parts of him that entered, and now, what remained would follow suit.
Thus is the price of his sins.
[Line Break]
A/N
Yes, Wilhelm could have stopped what happened, or mainly his Zanpakuto could from his end. A strange combination of factors that allowed Doctor Heartless to essentially knock on the door of his inner world, and his Zanpakuto spirit was curious enough to let him inside as it was such a strange set of circumstances.
If you want to read 10 chapters ahead or support me, visit my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / astoryforone
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Got a PHO coming up in a few chapters, and a Kunou chapter should be on the horizon too. Likewise, a Spooder chapter should be coming not long as well.