CHAPTER 36: ENTRANCE FORM ACQUIRED, CRIMSON TIDE REED UNVEILED

"In this envelope is contained ten Purity Academy Entrance Forms," she began.

"There is no accustomed starting price for the forms, but the audience will be given a member from the VIP table."

After Esme’s announcement, the silence that followed was deafening. For a moment, no one dared to move or breathe.

The next auction sale was more like a competition. The entire hundreds of nobles, merchants, mages, and commoners alike seemed to hang on her next words.

Even Muna, who had leaned back comfortably all through the previous sales, now sat forward, hands crossed across her chest. Her eyes beamed with anticipation and desperation.

Feeling like a one-time eagle, Esme’s lips curved slightly. "Since the Purity Academy Entrance Form has no accustomed starting price, the bidding price will be launched by someone from the VIP table."

"Hmm, now that’s some respect," a boy of no more than my age who sat at the end of the table with his mother said, looking up at the woman he seemed to have come with.

*Crap!* I cursed in my mind.

Finally, the honor to choose the bidding price was given to the red-haired man sitting beside me, since he was able to purchase five items from the auction.

He stood up and stared at me for a while before he began. "Well, since some commoners are also in need of the form, let’s give them some chance to boast."

The man said, and the hall erupted into laughter.

Although I was not a commoner in this world, this particular behavior of discrimination still hasn’t made sense. It was everywhere, even in a fantasy world.

"Let the starting price start from its cost price!" the red-haired man announced and sat back in his seat.

’I hate him!’ Linda raged.

’I like him, though. Since the price will start low, it won’t have to get so expensive.’

As the man sat completely, someone scoffed aloud from the crowd.

"1 Gold? That’s mockery!"

As per the rules, the owner of the male voice was immediately warned.

At the same time, a young voice shouted from the topmost section of the audience. "2 Gold!"

He had stirred up the motion.

"10 Gold!" Another followed sharply.

"30 Gold!"

The numbers began to climb, steady and unrelenting, as everybody struggled to mention their bid prices.

Within seconds, the bid had reached two hundred.

"500 Gold!" A voice, firm and rough-edged, called from the middle section of the audience. He sounded like a noble, confident.

I tried to steady my breath, watching the crows as the pieces surged beyond comprehension. I imagined what could have been the case if the price had started high.

"2,000!"

"3,000!"

"5,000!"

"10,000 Gold!"

"..."

After the last bid price was mentioned, silence fell over the hall. It had really climbed from 1 Gold to 10,000 Gold.

"10,000 Gold from seat thirty-five!" Esme announced, smiling faintly. "Do I hear fifteen?"

"15,000!"

"20,000 Gold!"

"25,000 Gold!"

The bid didn’t just rise, it soared. Voices overlapped each other.

"I told you. To acquire the Entrance Form is a battleground. Only a few out of many can survive it," the red-haired man noted.

I was still only able to nod at his words agreeably. I was facing the reality already.

By the time the price his fifty thousand, the commoners from the back stopped bidding. Most of them had come with all their life savings just to acquire the Entrance Form.

I shook my head at their inability. But noted that people were willing to spend their all and participate in a test that could cost their death.

Although becoming a Purifier had its specs. It was a one-way to building treasures and ultimate wealth, depending on what achievements you make.

"60,000 Gold!"

"70,000 Gold!"

"Really? Will the price just keep climbing in tens?" Muna complained.

"Just you wait, some mad men will soon raise it by hundreds of thousands," the red-haired man assured.

Then, as if he had predicted, the young boy who sat at the other end of the VIP table shot out.

"170,000 Gold!"

Heads turned. The boy was wearing an elegant purple robe embroidered with silver runes. His hair shimmered naturally with green, and even from here, I could sense the faint presence of a refined mage.

"That’s Darios Terravale, the immediate younger brother to the heiress of Earth Duchedom," the red-haired man muttered.

Linda tightened her lips and burped it. ’Of course. Those noble brats want to monopolize the forms.’

’Don’t blame nobles since you are one. And, don’t expect the prices to be any lower since everyone needs the form and won’t allow it in the hands of their fellow mages,’ I said to Muna.

The prices continued, almost looking unending, until it hit a price that hit like a solid rock.

"375,000 Gold!" the voice of an orange-haired girl, pitched and high, echoed from behind the hall.

Everywhere went silent immediately.

As supposed, the man who had turned my informant for the day lowered his head and blocked his mouth with his hand, then slowly said.

"That’s Meziko Von Pyrrath, a high mage of the Fire Duchedom. I heard that even as young as she is, she is revered among adult mages of the Duchedom. She’s so strong."

It surprised me to see that someone of that status was in the hall. Not only that, she was even sitting at the farthest back.

"375,000 Gold... going once... going?" Esme thundered, feeling the vibes of the Auction, although her voice betrayed how hard she tried to maintain her composure.

"450,000 Gold!" a voice shouted from the second VIP table, as if struggling with the young lady.

"Now it’s your chance," the red-haired man said, hitting his shoulder against mine. "That’s if you can afford it," he added.

"Of course I can," I said without knowing, closing my eyes to meditate on how confident I was.

"Weak. Are you sure you want to enter the Academy?" Muna mocked, scoffing at the same time.

"Big brother will be embarrassed if Little Lady enters the Academy before him," Vera noted.

"Okay," I said, breathing in, then out.

"451,000 Gold!" My voice rang out just like the others have been ringing out ever since.

"That’s the man," the man patted me on my shoulder.

My voice had rang out from the VIP table and stirred up a little battle once again.

The bid continued and was finally able to end at the voice of the boy who had earlier been identified as the young mage of the Earth Duchedom, from the Terravale family.

"550,000 Gold!" he had shouted so loud, rising from his seat with his hands raised like a champion.

The much I could end at was five hundred thousand Gold coins. And the boy had taken the lead by 50,000 coins.

I hoped that people would stop bidding, and my wish came true.

"550,000 Gold... going once... going twice... SOLD!" Esme clapped her hands loudly.

The hall exploded in applause and murmurs at the same time as the young boy sat back. His eyes flicked to me, a rare smile forming on his lips.

"Not bad, boy," the red-haired man said quietly. "You still made it to the top ten."

"Congratulations, Big Brother," Muna raised her thumbs to me.

Just like the other items, the forms would be collected after the final auction.

"Before we start the auction for the final item we have today, allow me to introduce the owner of this auction house, Lady Minxx!" Esme suddenly said, dumbfounding the people there.

It was the first time the owner of the Auction house would be making an appearance, so it left people to comment as much as they wanted.

A few moments later, an old lady appeared on the stage with a golden box in her hands.

"Thank you all for coming to my auction house today. Since the last item we have for today is a little bit special, I will be conducting the final auction." Lady Minxx spoke in a low voice, yet her voice echoed in every corner of the room.

I beamed with smile seeing how she had packaged the Mana plant. She had really kept to her words by doing so.

After making her introductory speech, she opened the wooden box and revealed the beautiful plant resting inside.

The people stood up to get clearer views once they saw the beams of green rays rising gradually from the plant inside.

"T-That is... that is a Mana Plant!"

Without the need for Lady Minxx to introduce the Mana Plant, the people already recognized what kind of treasure was contained in the golden box.

"It’s really a Mana Plant! A Crimson Tide Reed! Hahaha! I’m lucky to have attended this auction today!" the red-haired man roared into sudden laughter.

"Just a look is enough for me!"

"I’m privileged to see a magic item ranked equivalent to Ascendancy!"

"Even though I might not get it, I will tell the stories!"

"Is it for real? Isn’t that a Level 14 Crimson Tide Reed!"

"A highly rated swordsmanship mana plant."

The crowd went into an uproar after the appearance of the Crimson Tide Reed, as the last time something this precious appeared in public was centuries ago!

And it had disappeared on that same day, according to historical records.