“Behold, the Glasswing Owl - a rare, mutated spirit beast Currently at 1-star rank, it is a newborn spirit suitable for early-stage bond formation. Given the recent conclusion of the annual Spirit Awakening Ceremony, this spirit beast offers an ideal opportunity for young aspirants seeking their first companion.”

  The audience wowed at the appearance of the bird. Some of the children present in the auction house clamored and asked their parents to bid for the owl.

  Aston’s eyes remained fixed on the Glasswing Owl. There was something about its stillness and the quiet dignity in its stance that called to him. The shimmer of its feathers, the faint hum of spiritual energy that rippled subtly from the cage was attracting Aston.

  Aston thought inwardly.

  Nova… Can I? I mean, Gray is already bound to me. Can I even form a second contract?

  [Analyzing…]

  [Contracting capacity is tied to one’s spiritual power. For most recently awakened spirit professionals, one bond is typical. Two, if their spiritual roots are above average or nurtured early. However, Gray’s potential alone already stretches what most novice-ranked individuals could manage. But the host’s spiritual power is denser, purer, and cleaner - benefiting from the host’s Gold potential. During the host’s contract with Gray, the host has not overloaded the contracting capacity yet.]

  Aston’s eyes gleamed with joy.

  So can I contract another one?

  [Affirmative. But it will not be effortless. A second contract at the current host’s level will be more mentally taxing, especially if the beast has a relatively higher rank and potential. The Glasswing Owl is currently young and has not yet developed to its full potential.]

  Aston’s gaze dropped briefly to Gray. The little kitten blinked once, then turned to look at the owl too. He looked back at the bird. The way its pale blue eyes met his for a flicker of a second.

  Aston asked Nova for an analysis on the Glasswing Owl.

  —

  [Spirit Beast: Glasswing Owl]

  [Type: Avian]

  [Attribute: Ice]

  [Genus: Bubo]

  [Rank: 1-star]

  [Potential: 7-star]

  [Description: A sleek avian spirit with translucent wings that shimmer and reflect light, granting it near-invisibility in flight. The way it flies generates almost no sound, masking its presence from its prey.]

  [Skills:]

  [Icy Gale: Unleashes a powerful gust of freezing wind from its wings, striking opponents with sharp shards of ice. The attack not only damages but also slows down enemies, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up strikes.

  [Next skill will be unlocked at 3-star]

  [Passive Skills:]

  [Eternal Vigilance: The owl family possesses an innate, heightened awareness of their surroundings. Enhances vision, hearing, and reaction speed.]

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  [Innate Skills:]

  [Glass Cloak: The spirit beast envelops itself in a shimmering, translucent layer of ice and light, turning its body into a near-invisible mirage. Not only does it provides exceptional stealth, allowing it to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, but also deflects incoming attacks with its crystalline surface, reducing damage taken.]

  [Next skill will be unlocked at 5-star]

  —

  The auction continued while he was conversing with Nova, the price climbing to the current 8 dragon gold and 75 gold. Aston shouted his bid. “Ten dragon gold!”

  “Ten dragon gold!” Mistress Candy echoed, her voice sweeping across the auction hall like a bell.

  “Ten point five,” a calm voice called from the side - an elderly woman in lavender clothes.

  “Eleven!” came another from the front row - a scholarly man with long white robes and an emblem of the Azure Wing Academy pinned to his chest.

  Aston narrowed his eyes. The competition had gotten serious.

  “Eleven point five,” the woman countered again, her voice smooth but her gaze sharpening.

  “Thirteen!” a new bidder shouted. A boy only slightly older than Aston was draped in extravagant clothes, clearly from one of the noble families. His voice was proud and entitled.

  Aston straightened in his seat. He took in a breath, then raised his paddle again. “Fourteen dragon gold.”

  Murmurs echoed through the crowd now. It was rare to see someone so young, and clearly not a VIP, pushing the price this high.

  “Fifteen.”

  “Sixteen!”

  “Seventeen point five!”

  The numbers climbed. The owl remained quiet in its cage, its head slightly tilted, as if watching them all with cool detachment.

  “Eighteen.”

  “Eighteen point five!” the noble boy again, sounding mildly annoyed.

  Aston’s lips tightened. He looked once more at the ow, as he lifted his paddle again.

  “Twenty.”

  Gasps filled the air. It's relatively rare for an item to cost this much, especially when it is tagged as a bronze star item.

  The noble boy’s face twitched.

  “Twenty one!” he barked, frustration creeping into his voice.

  “Twenty three!” Aston replied evenly, without hesitation.

  A pause. All eyes turned to the boy.

  His mouth opened and closed. His father who was seated beside him gave a small shake of his head. They leaned back, silent.

  Mistress Candy waited a beat longer, and when no further bid came, she raised her arm.

  “Twenty three dragon gold. Going once... Going twice…”

  A faint chime.

  “Sold.” The screen shifted as Aston saw his paddle number in the winning bid.

  A ripple of applause filled the room. Aston let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. On his lap, Gray gave a soft, approving meow.

  Mistress Candy smiled faintly. “Congratulations to our winning bidder. Attendants will proceed with the verification and transportation process shortly.”

  The auction moved forward, but to Aston, the rest of the room felt distant now. He gazed one last time at the owl as the cage was once again covered by the cloth, being led away from the stage.

  Several more items came and went on the stage.

  Mistress Candy continued with her flawless rhythm, each announcement weaving seamlessly into the next.

  “Next. Bronze Star Lot #12, Essence Coating Ink. A talisman ink infused with mild fire and wind affinities, ideal for medium-grade talisman crafting.”

  Bidding resumed, though it was more subdued compared to the excitement over the spirit beast. The ink sold quickly to a pair of twin alchemists seated near the center rows.

  Next was a box of spirit-gathering soil, harvested from a thunder-blessed valley.

  Then came a pair of low-grade relic bangles with weak warding charms. One was snatched up by a young spirit tamer, the other by a middle-aged woman who appeared to be shopping on behalf of her family.

  Aston only half-registered the details. He sat still, his thoughts occasionally drifting back to the Glasswing Owl.