"I king Welf of Dargon would like to give thanks to all those who came today, as well as the Searigan king from overseas for all coming to this event!" The dwarven king was up to the human king's shoulders in height with thickly tanned dark orange skin and a brown prominent braided beard and wide set of eyes in his round face, wearing a bright orange Royal gown with the insignia of hammer and swords crossing.
"Many thanks, king Welf, for the introduction. I, king Midas of Searig know just how much we all wish for this auction to start so I shan't speak much!" He had black long hair with a prominent jawline wearing a blue cape with the insignia of a dragon eating a snake on the back of it.
"It is my honor to be invited to this event by the king of Dargon himself and shall look for a way to repay his eternal kindness!" The two kings then shook hands and quickly headed across the room heading towards a staircase leading to the opposite end of the glass room I'm in.
"That's an excellent way to play it passive-aggressive, isn't it Tory?"
The female dwarf looked at me with a mischievous grin "I have no clue what you are talking about little demon." It was obvious that this auction was some cover for whatever business the two kings were doing before, they also made it obvious to other kingdoms that they're in a good relationship so none of them are likely to do anything stupid to either country.
The black doors then swung open being held by two knights as the two kings followed by their queens in elegant dresses wearing magnificent jewelry talked to each other as mopey kids not talking to each other slowly entered but seemed ecstatic when they spotted me while the two kings had concern in their eyes.
"guild master Halter you didn't tell me there'd be another person using this room. Could you tell me who he is?" Torren then quickly walked over to the dwarven king and I stood up once more bowing in respect "my apologies my liege it seems the courier didn't arrive yesterday."
She then gestured to me with her hand extravagantly "this is the high gold rank adventurer, a demon called Incursik. He recently killed a dragon wyrm hybrid whose body has brought us a small fortune of materials." The group of royals stared at me questioning if it really was me since I'm a child. Their kids however looked on at me full of amazement.
King Midas then stepped forward pulling out a green slab "I don't mean to be rude sir demon but could you perhaps give us a display of your abilities?"
I glanced at Torren who gave me the thumbs up and sighed, I really just wanted to be lazy. I convulsed a purple bolt of lightning in my hand which then shot off into two different streams maneuvering in the air in between the royals until they struck the four knights guarding them covering their armor in purple veins. I then puppeteered them marching inside guarding the bar then, at last, releasing them from my grip pulling the electrical energy out of them turning them into snowflakes.
The group of royals then applauded my little performance and king Midas's wife stepped forward "I must say that was an excellent display of your aspect. I'd heard how you can paralyze someone with it but to think you could use it to control someone as well, marvelous." She was a beauty with vibrant gold-colored hair, if I'm not careful I could get sucked into her charms.
"You overestimate me, your highness. I can simply move them like chess pieces. Nothing more."
"Might I ask, Incursik, just how old are you?"
Is this your way of trying to figure out who I am lady? You haven't even introduced yourself yet. "I'll be turning twelve this year. And I apologize for my rudeness but I'm not well versed so would the kind madam tell me her name?"
She hid a chuckle lifting up her palm. "My name is Cruella, my husband's name is Ethan my son's and daughter's names are Kai, Sophie, and Georgia."
The dwarven royals along with king Midas and Torren then headed to the other side of the room discussing something as the witch forced me into saying hello to her children who approached me "Incursik. A pleasure to meet you all." Cruella seemed perturbed with my suddenly relaxed way of speaking but her kids seemed to be happy about it.
The only son Kai had black short hair with energetic blue eyes looking on at me full of amazement "I'm Kai Midas. I'm the only son of the Searig royal family at 10 years of age. It's nice to finally talk to someone who's not obsessed with clothes." The group of women woman glared at him but he didn't mind it, I could tell he was way too used to it, "I'm so sorry for your loss."
He sniggered at my remark as the eldest with dark oak brown hair wearing a blue blazer with a sheathed short sword then looked down at me gathering mana into her fists.
She tried to slug me with a left hook but I stopped it releasing a slight heavy killing intent making her think I slashed her neck freezing her, Lupra then pounced forward with a loud bite heavily growling at her waking up from her seat making all but Cruella back off. "Easy girl. It was just a greeting, wasn't it Miss Sophie?" She looked at me almost looking complimented.
"How is it that you know who I am yet not my mother?"
"How could I not know you? The 15-year-old genius. Your a battle mage prodigy who won the Searig national tournament five times in a row until you finally got banned by your own father. I've thought of having a spar with you a few times." She laughed softly as I stroked Lupra calming her down shrinking her size down.
"I'm assuming the young lady hiding behind you is Georgia?" Kai tried to reach to stroke Lupra but was unable to as she then jumped back down to sleep alongside Thorn. Sophie then moved aside revealing an auburn brown colored haired girl "h-hello I'm Georgia I'll be turning 9 this year." She's kinda adorable in all fairness but since I'm an adult inside, her mother is more to my tastes. I don't want to be a pedophile after all.
I then took a sip of my apple juice through my mask "if you have anything you wish to ask me don't be afraid. But the auction is close to starting and I don't want to miss it."
Their mother figuring out my intention tried pushing them away from me "yes, I perfectly understand, we'll take our leave." The three resisted though and moved to seats near my own sitting next to me. She didn't seem upset by this but actually rather happy. "Okay children, make sure to have fun with your friend~." What are you scheming witch?
I sat down on the arm of my chair rather close to Kai and mulled through the menu of auction items. He kept looking at me periodically alongside Sophie who had Georgie sitting atop her lap, they both wanted to say something but were waiting for me to start a conversation. I stayed silent though as I had no intention of getting close to them.
Then Kai bravely spoke up after a few minutes of silence "um Incursik are you really only 12 years old?" I looked at him complacently then at his mother who was talking with the dwarven queen and Torren at the bar. "No, I'm actually younger."
Kai kept pestering me for the next few minutes asking random questions until his father came over, taking him and Sophie away leaving shy little Georgia alone with me. "You not gonna say anything to her demon?"
Surprised by Thorn's voice I looked down at him in his cat-like form looking up at me atop Lupra's mane, no need to mingle with someone I doubt I'll talk to ever again after all this. Plus we're only here to get stuff to help you out.
He then jumped up onto the opposite armrest closer to Georgia "got a point. But picture it from her perspective. Her, a little girl that seems to hold no value in the family outshined by a prodigy older sister and an older brother whose going to be the next king."
Thorn had a point. She really must be very lonely with no one to talk to truly. I was annoyed by his point but picked Thorn up and moved my chair closer towards Georgia, as close as possible. "You like cats or dogs?"
She looked up at me through her light brown hair confused unknowing how to answer "dogs?" I picked up a sleeping Lupra and placed her on her velvet chairs armrest, I then sat down roughly with Thorn staring through the glass pane on top of my head "she won't hurt you so long as I'm here, so play with her as much as you want."
Georgia smiled widely thankful for me talking to her and started slowly and gently stroking Lupra's fur who didn't realize it wasn't me until I told her.
"Ladies and gentlemen to start off this auction I would like to thank madam Halter for hosting the venue for this afternoon!" An elf woman wearing a revealing orange and brown dress spoke signaling the start, "finally." There was short applause and then the first item was revealed.
"The first item today is a platinum grade elixir called Gallo's jump! It's capable of advancing one's mana circuits size by three years of effort crammed into three weeks! The bidding shall begin at one million numa!" I showed no interest in this item surprising Georgia slightly.
"Aren't you going to bid Mr. Incursik? I imagine such an item would be of great use to you." I turned around to see, king Midas and king Welf looking down at me in their Royal robes.
"My cultivation methods only weaken if I use an elixir so I'm afraid it's of no use to me my lords."
King Welf then spoke "oh? I've never heard of a method that would regress a person's circuitry if they took an elixir. Could you perhaps tell us?" Same as the queen, you both want something from me but refuse to give even a hint of what it is "I'm afraid I can't. I'm under oath from my now dead master to never reveal the method I practice."
Understanding my cold shoulder to them the two grumbled slightly. "Our condolences. We shall no longer pry."
The two then left returning to their group "how did you do that?" I turned to Georgia who was looking at me in amazement "do what?"
"Th-That. You managed to make them leave in a few short sentences."
I smirked slightly and laid further back in my chair "I simply made conversation impossible by telling a lie."
Her look turned to horror "You mean your masters not dead?"
"No. She's dead. It's just that there's no oath binding me." I spoke with a smile that seemed to amuse the girl as the elixir got bought by one of the people below. "Say. Can you tell me why you've approached me but the two dwarf princes refuse to talk to me?"
She then glanced past me looking at Torren drinking at the bar alone, she then leaned in to whisper "I heard that they both have a crush on miss Halter."
This surprised me "Isn't she, their aunt?"
"From a very distant bloodline relation, yes, but that was generations ago."
I then smiled evilly alongside Thorn scaring the little princess, "I wonder how I can use this in the future."