Blade Over Magic

The Auction

’So this is the place, huh?’ Xander looked up with slightly narrowed eyes. His face obscured by a plain black mask and his figure covered in a hood, his sword nowhere to be seen.

In front of him was a bustling building that lit up the night like a beacon. And compared to the usually unadorned structured within Avoma, this place was decorated quite extravagantly. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

’Not super surprising. It is an auction house, after all.’ He hummed.

The Avoma Auction House. This was the place Samuel had invited him to.

"Ah, I knew you would arrive." A voice made Xander turn, and he saw a short individual who was similarly disguised. Their mask being black and white.

Samuel.

"An auction of all things... What are you playing at?" Xander asked, but Samuel didn’t answer. He just imagined that same polite smile behind the mask before the boy stepped in front of him and gestured for him to follow.

The two of them soon reached the entrance where there were several other people in line, and there was a guard who was scanning what looked like invitations before letting them in.

"Hey, I don’t have an invitation like that." Xander leaned down and whispered.

"Worry not. You can bring plus ones, and you happen to be mine." Samuel explained calmly, and Xander just shrugged before straightening.

Soon enough, it was their turn, and sure enough, Samuel took out an invitation, cited Xander as his plus one, and both of them were let in.

Once they entered, Samuel led them to what seemed like the main area, and both of them were handed small signs with numbers on them. Xander getting number 24 and Samuel getting number 25.

’It’s quite large. Spatial expansion magic is most likely being used here.’ Xander noted when he took in the large space used for the Auction Hall. It had the whole 9 yards. A tiered seating arrangement with luxurious chairs, extravagant chandeliers, warm lighting, a large stage, and so on.

The duo sat near the 23 people who had already arrived before them and simply waited. As they did so, Xander kept looking around.

’It’s almost strange. It’s like I’m not even in Avoma anymore.’ Gone was the serious and efficient atmosphere of the school. Now, he felt like he’d walked into a scene for nobility.

It really was a stark change, and he wondered if the school was the one that owned it or if it was another independent entity they allowed to establish the Auction House.

Time passed, and soon, quite a lot of people had entered the hall.

’Judging by their statures, most of them are either seniors or staff. Interesting.’ Now Xander’s interest was truly piqued. If there was one thing Xander had learned while in this place, it was that pragmatism was best. And the seniors and staff embodied this best.

So seeing so many come to an extravagant place like this.

’Alright, Samuel. Let’s see what this is all about.’ Xander leaned in his chair just as the last person sat, and the lights dimmed. Not enough to leave one in darkness, but rather, just enough. And the stage, a spotlight focused on it.

There, a man stood wearing expensive attire behind a table. A gavel sat in his hand, and he seemed to be an older man with a sharp appearance and welcoming smile

The Auctioneer.

"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. Tonight we have gathered again for another wonderful auction. I will be your host and auctioneer. So without wasting any more of our precious time, how about we bring the first item?" His tone was polite but curt, and Xander was reminded that this was indeed Avoma.

’Straight to the point as always.’ He smiled behind his mask.

Soon, two attendants wheeled something onto the stage that was covered in a cloth.

Xander tried to use his senses to peer past the cloth, but to his surprise, he was rebuffed.

"Our first item is quite a special one indeed. After changing hands several times, it eventually ended up here." He gestured to the covered item, and the cloth was removed to reveal a weapon.

It was a beautiful longbow that looked as thought it had been grown directly from the ground. Green mana pathways ran through its surface like circuits, and the strings was made of a thin, almost transparent material that Xander had to strain his eyes to see.

"This longbow is of Elven origin. While the craftsman remained anonymous despite our efforts, we can assure you that the quality of the weapon is top notch." He then went on to explain the intricacies of the weapon, its advantages and disadvantages, and even a brief demonstration on how it worked, though nothing was ever actually fired.

’It’s a wonderful weapon. No doubt.’ Xander conceded in his heart. While he was a swordsman, he had dabbled in all sorts of weapons back on earth, bows included. And this bow was certainly of immaculate quality. And unlike fantasy media on earth which portrayed bows to be cool but actually useless, this one certainly looked cool and practical. However...

’This world... really dislikes cold weapons, huh?’ He clicked his tongue inwardly as the auctioneer dropped the starting bid, and almost no one went for the bow.

Because, at the end of the day, bows were under the same camp as swords and other weapons.

It was used primarily for channeling.

’Tch. How lame. I can picture a professional archer who uses my form of channeling being an utter nightmare on the battlefield... Wait!’ A wild idea suddenly sparked in his brain.

"... going once, going twice..." Before the auctioneer could say sold, Xander quickly raised his sign, much to the surprise of the auctioneer and virtually everyone in the Auction Hall.

He felt Samuel’s curious gaze on him, but he ignored all of that.

"Oh, well, the gentleman over there has presented a last second bid. Anyone else?" The Auctioneer said, sounding slightly surprised but still professional.

No one spoke, and after confirming two more times, he nodded.

"Sold for 5,000 credits to number 24." He announced and struck the gavel on the table twice.

’Phew. That was close.’ He lowered his hand and leaned back into his chair, smiling behind his mask.

"May I ask why you’re suddenly interested in that bow?" Samuel seemed unable to hide his curiosity and asked.

"No." Xander replied without hesitation.

"Understood." He immediately backed off.

As for why Xander had made that seemingly impulsive decision. Well, it was simple, really.

Bows required three things to be used properly. Proper technique, the strength to draw, and aim.

All of those could be practiced. However... he just happened to have a teammate who not only lacked proper combat means, but also had incredible perception.

’Not me remembering to use my unique means to my advantage.’ He mocked himself half-heartedly.

After the bow was put away, the auctioneer presented the next item.

This time, it was a well-made staff with a blue crystal in the top.

In an ironic turn of events, most of the crowd became interested while Xander lost interest in the staff.

Truly, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Time passed swiftly, and while there were some particularly interesting items for sale, none of them truly interested Xander that much.

If there was one other thing he bought, though, it was a mysterious black egg

...

Literally, that was what the auctioneer introduced it as.

Anyway, the egg couldn’t be appraised to tell what sort of creature was inside, and it was pretty large, but that didn’t automatically mean whatever was inside was good, so most people avoided it.

Xander was also pretty skeptical. But he only bought it due to a gut feeling, the fact that the price was essentially nonexistent, and a pretty vague plan in the back of his mind.

So other than that and the bow, there hadn’t been anything particularly eye-catching.

’Was this what he was so certain about?’ Xander glanced at Samuel out of the corner of his eye. He had been so sure that Xander would find something super interesting. But so far, he wasn’t seeing it.

Until the next item appeared.

"Up next, we have a fairly special item. The seller went through a lot of effort to acquire it." The Auctioneer pulled the cloth from the table, and on it was a single small bottle with a burning red liquid inside.

Smiling, he spoke.

"What we have here, is Lesser Phoenix Blood."

Silence, then an uproar.

’Wait, what!’ Xander’s pupils constricted while several people in the hall also lost their composure. Even Samuel, who hadn’t bought anything till now, sat straighter.

"As you all know, Phoenixes are legendary creatures that are almost on the same tier as dragons. And like dragons, their bodies can be used for a myriad of effects. Whether it’s spell research, formation creation, medicinal purposes, body refining, and so on. Granted, this is only from a Lesser Phoenix, but it is still significant." The Auctioneer’s smile widened. And suddenly, Xander got the feeling that the ’Real’ auction was about to begin.

"The starting bid, is 100,000 Credits."