“Jovae will never accept the task with his thoughts on the current situation.” Elder from the Court of the Beyond.

  The door swung open to somebody new as a crisp voice rang out, "Comon, it's time."

  Hugh knew what that meant by now as he got out of the bed he was sitting in and followed along. He had been there for over two weeks now as he grew accustomed to the distant sounds of people every so often. The girl who normally brought his food had filled him in on his situation over the last week.

  Given his situation, he was happy that she was friendly and even deigned to speak with him. As Hugh walked behind this new person, he noted that the man was not as willing to speak as Clair was. He still tried though, "Do I need to do anything when I am out there?"

  His clipped response said all he needed to know to stop talking, "No. Be quiet."

  They soon arrived at a opening where curtains were drawn closed. The man peeked through and Hugh could hear several people bidding in tandem but the numbers barely meant anything to Hugh until the final call.

  "1 gold, 35 silver, going once... going twice... sold!"

  A clamor amongst the crowd followed as only a moment later the curtains were opened by another man wearing the same outfit as the man Hugh followed. Right on the heels was a girl who wore a frown. Hugh met eyes with her and it seemed like she tried to smile, but all that came across was the sadness behind it. Hugh noted her eyes showed her real feeling on her situation. He couldn't help but say something, "Have hope in the next life."

  Hugh didn't know how horrible that sounded from the outside. Even though he was in the same situation, it was as though he had already consigned her to death as well. Still, the words echoed in her head as the man Hugh was following said, "Silent. No talking while on the floor."

  Somehow though, the girl locked eyes with him as if the tone in which had spoken got through his actual intention. Her eyes lost a little bit of the despair and to be replaced with determination.

  Hugh could only tell that she didn't seem as sad anymore as he was pulled forward through the curtains.

  The announcer went on, "Here we have another slave to be sold! Don't be fooled by his look though, as he was found and brought from a distant land... That is why..."

  The pause even made Hugh look at the speaker as he was curious about what was about to be said, just like those in the crowd.

  "... he had never been tested for talent and ability until recently..."

  Another pause took place and Hugh looked around to see rows upon rows of people filling the seats in a circle around him as he stood in the center now. The backs of the huge room seemed empty but it was still more people than Hugh had ever seen. The front row itself held more people than his entire village a few times over.

  As Hugh took in the spectacular size of the room and all the eyes focused on him the announcer continued.

  "And the result of that test has never been seen! Folks, what we have here is a boy about to enter adulthood. Only a little bit late to start cultivating but with a completely unique result! Of course, don't take my word for it. We'll run it again and maybe the more discerning can unravel the depths of what he can achieve for you and your group!"

  Hugh saw a familiar orb appear in the announcer’s hand as it was held out. Hugh knew what he needed to do as murmurs came from all directions.

  Reaching forward to touch it with his palm, he saw a blue energy seem to leak out from where the announcer was holding it as it shifted to white once it settled in the center of the orb. Hugh took a deep breath as he watched the energy shift toward his palm and enter him.

  Like last time, it gave him warmth as it passed from his hand and up through his arm to his shoulder. This time though, it was drawn to the center of his chest and stayed for a moment and he felt something new. There was a vague sense of the energy spreading thin until he couldn't feel it at all anymore.

  It had all been converted to his own. Hugh felt something, right at the end, but he wasn’t sure exactly what it was and he was distracted by everything around him to realize that the sense of being on the edge of improving had utterly disappeared. And then nothing.

  Murmurs grew as Hugh felt that the energy had merged with the little he had taken in.

  Soon the Announcer spoke in a low tone to him, "Boy, have you been practicing on your own?"

  Hugh lightly nodded as he got a bad feeling.

  The announcer’s voice suddenly rang in his mind, "That mistake will cost you, boy. Push whatever energy you have mustered into the orb and hope to the deities that it's a half-decent method."

  Hugh gulped as the murmurs increased in volume even more.

  What method, he thought to himself. He had just been breathing, focused breathing, but just breathing the whole time.

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  He wasn't exactly sure how to manipulate his energy in such a way yet, but he tried to do the opposite of what he had felt.

  Closing his eyes, he slowed his breathing down to match his meditation method as he attempted to feel the energies surrounding him.

  Once he had the slightest sense, he felt inward and did the only thing he could think of. Taking that feeling of energy in his chest from earlier, he tried to bring it together.

  There just wasn't enough there but he kept trying anyway and he heard the announcer’s voice in his mind, "Push the energy into the orb."

  Hugh felt like he didn't have enough. He didn't want to do it yet. Especially with how little it seemed to be. He knew that he had to.

  Changing his will to bring the energy in his body to move to his outreached palm, he felt the subtle shift as it moved faster than what he wanted.

  It shot from the center of his chest to his shoulder, through his arm, hand, and left darting through his palm with such force that Hugh felt like he tore a muscle.

  At the instant the energy left through his palm, he, and everybody in the auditorium heard a thunderous crack. The orb left from Hughs’s light touch, splitting into a hundred thousand pieces. A brilliant flash accompanied the sound as each speck of the orb glimmered to create a rainbow effect like falling rain as each speck began to radiate a different color.

  Just as the moment began, all the brilliance seemed to be sucked back in. The light emitted rested on the edge of a thousand minuscule ravenous whirlpools. Churning wildly until all that remained of the shards as they hit the ground were specks of black so dark, stars against the night sky would be their only contrast. As quick as that sight registered, the pieces seemed to dissipate into nothingness.

  A pregnant silence held the surroundings still as Hugh felt as though the energy he pushed through his hand had returned. It was different though, like the smell of the ocean instead of a river.

  Fortunately, the announcer had things not go his way before. Even though he, himself didn’t clearly see what exactly happened despite it being right in front of him, he still attempted to smooth it over, “There it is. For those that didn’t catch it, young Hugh here had his first attempt at using the blessed energies with his one-of-a-kind inheritance. And we, The Glittering Gallery, were just lucky enough to schedule him for auction just before he unlocked it! …I know, I know… all he did was blow up the orb by releasing all of his energy, but… to those that missed what actually happened to the orb so quickly, all I have to say is ask your elders. Young Hugh here was completely a mortal only a couple of weeks ago! And, all of our staff can attest to him not receiving anything but basic bread, water, and oats. Oh! And a couple of apples.”

  The announcer finished the last statement with a wide smile, and it did get a couple of chuckles from the crowd.

  The announcer finished his pitch and began, “Now, for those of you that have a more discerning eye, and the backing to purchase this boy with a special inheritance. Make his luck, your luck. Now is the time… But one more thing…”

  A silence fell once again as those talking to each other put a pause in their conversation to hear another catch to the slave.

  “We do not know what his inheritance is nor anything about it. Before he unlocked it, the testing orb’s energy made his eyes glow the same color as the orb once he was done. Appraiser Falk described it as a pearlescent silver, as thick as the clouds. The energy swirled around inside the orb chaotically by strings of black lightning supercharging it all. Dare I say that, this boy may be your key to growing further if done right…”

  The crowd seemed lost in thought as he carried on once more.

  “Now. I’ve told you about his prospects, with just a little embellishment on Appraiser Falk’s description. We will begin the bid at 10 silver, with increments no less than 5 silver!”

  Hugh just looked around as there were quite a few people that yelled out and the auction quickly shot past 50 silver. Furrowing his brow, he remembered that the girl from before was bought at 1 gold and 35 silver. He didn’t know if he thought he should be more or less than her. Then again, he had no idea if she had good talent, or what either.

  Like a play put on just for him, Hugh watched as the bids climbed to 1 gold and he was surprised that it hadn’t yet slowed down much.

  1 gold 20 silver.

  1 gold 60 silver.

  2 gold 30 silver.

  Finally, at 2 gold and 50 silver, there was a short pause and the announcer said, “Going once!”

  Hugh was surprised at the amount until a voice rang out over the crowd.

  It seemed authoritative, yet curious as there was no hint of malice in the tone nor inflection, “Hugh, was it? Do you know what the name of your inheritance is?”

  Hugh looked up and around but did not see anybody who seemed like they were speaking to him, then the voice rang in his head next, “Just say your answer out loud and I will hear it.”

  Hugh wondered if he should state the name he knew or be vague with it. He did know that it was a seed specifically as well. Deciding to go with that, Hugh spoke, “I only know it’s referred to as a seed.”

  The answer was heard by almost everyone there and to everyone, his words only brought confusion. Yet, the voice rang out, “I think that term is a good reflection of what the youth are. I’ll take a gamble today, five gold.”

  Hugh was shocked at the difference as he had no idea who had just willingly stated they would pay 5 gold for him. In his village, they only ever dealt in copper so it was a little hard to grasp how much that was.

  However, that was not the end as another voice rung out that Hugh could not locate. This one was a woman, and there was a certain steel to it.

  “I’ve wondered how long it would take before you started bidding. I don’t think you could afford to pay for the boys’ true talent. Six gold.”

  Hugh was baffled by the statement as he mostly took things at face value. He wondered if the lady that spoke up knew what the orb meant. Maybe she could tell him.

  Then the first voice rang out, seemingly a little tired as even the sigh before the words were heard, “I know you want me to spend my money. There’s no point, I’ll forgo the elixir at this auction. 6 gold 5 silver.”

  In her box, the woman thought to herself, she had no grievance, and if she stopped bidding now though, she knew that would reflect poorly on her standing after having contested the slave to begin with. Since she had last raised it 1 gold, she decided to say she was willing to accept and meet him halfway. With that thought, her voice rang out in an almost accusatory tone, though her amount showed her acceptance, “And how do I know you won’t go back on your word? 6 gold 50 silver.”

  Hugh was confused at the discussion mid-auction and had no idea of what other hidden meanings had just occurred. A short pause was truncated by the announcer called, “Going once!”

  In the other box, the man was neither happy nor sad and almost decided to not get the slave, but he had already shown his interest and he could not show weakness in such a publicly facing auction. He was only slightly happy that the other person agreed to acquiesce even though the cost was still raised, raising his annoyance a little. The man’s voice rang out again, “You can believe me or not, but if you raise the price again, then it will be you who must care for and teach the boy. 6 gold 55 silver.”

  There was nothing more spoken except the announcer calling out the final sale price as Hugh was whisked off stage, only to be immediately taken right back to his room.