Chapter 92 - The Last Bid

-- Zia - PoV --

A Slave auction? These fuckers! How could they do this? These disgusting humans! 

I never thought they stoop so low in their greed, everytime I open my eyes now, the image of the woman pleading and begging for crying pain flashes before my eyes.

Yet I am most disgusted with myself! I did nothing but watch her cry in pain and agony and the only thing I did there was just standing and clench my teeth in regret and daunted.

Melvi was barely keeping her sanity there, she was shaking in fear and crying close, burying her face in my chest and hiding her eyes from that horrendous scene.

But when I look at Rise even now, he is just standing there staring at the girl getting bid on like an object!  

Is he the same guy throwing his nomination off to save a dying friend? 

Since we came here I saw him do nothing but smile! 

My rage and scorn for him were increasing with every second I was spending with him.

###

"11000 Muras!"

"12000 Muras!"

"15000 Muras!"

"Are you crazy, you are spending 15000 on a girl like her?"

"Don't worry, it's not even half of the price of my coat! And she'll probably won't even last more than my coat!" 

###

These fuckers! They are drinking and eating cheerfully and that girl is sobbing on the stage like crazy! Why can't she speak-

Then I noticed a spell mark on her throat, gleaming in red color, 

'Isn't that-'

"So, you have noticed, they use puppet and self-destruct spells inscribed on the collar and just above a voice hinging spell, probably to avoid her ruining the fun of these guys when she cries and begs for help." Rise looked at me with a blank expression, his eyes were shallow or had nothing in them, empathy, mercy nothing there was nothing but just a hazy scarlet color.

While Melvi was just looking down behind the black veil. I don't even dare to look at her, she has been scared and nervous since we came here and her condition is getting worse and worse.

"Ahahah!"  Loud echoes of them laughing filled the room and the girl who was standing like a showpiece looked at them like she lost all her hope.

"15000 Muras one!

Two!

And sold! To Lord Caess, always been a diligent customer! Oye! Take her away and dress her nicely! She is going to be privileged by pleasing her new Lord!" That sick noble who ordered us before called for that man who escorted her earlier. 

He came marching on the stage and grabbed her chain and pulled her back behind the curtains and she didn't reside.

I don't know if she wanted to resist but couldn't or she just accepted her miserable fate.

"And next we have! A hunky knight who lost in the battle! Unfortunately, he has lost his right arm! But still, have enough strength to do your chores and much more! So don't hold back gentlemen and Ladieeesss!" The noble pointed at a man with a bandaged right amputated arm and not a single cloth on his body was thrown on the stage.

The knight, as soon as he was taken to the stage crouched on his knees, and bidding started again.

"10000 Muras,

12000 Muras!..." They started yelling again, 

The whole thing went like this, he was sold to a fat and ugly noblewoman, later another woman, a dwarf girl, a beastman, we're sold.

And all this time I heard nothing but laughter and cheers, I looked at Rise again, and he still had that blank expression.

After a while of gaieties and praises, that noble took the stage again, 

"And now for the moment every one of you was waiting for! Today's main temptation and for you a chance to win something you don't get to see every day! So let's bring it on the stage so you can have a good look at it!" The noble pointed at the curtain and all the audience gleamed and applauded in excitement.

And when that man pulled the chain yanking someone on the stage, its appearance even shook Rise.

He straightened his back and his eyes opened wide, not just him the audience also gasped in silence and was too surprised to talk.

I also wasn't able to believe my eyes. It was a girl with a collar, who probably was in a more miserable condition worse than the woman we saw begging for help, scar everywhere.

It was obvious that her wounds were treated by a healing spell but the number of scars on her body was much scarier, even though she was clean and had a sleeveless piece of cloth hanging on a skinny shoulder. If I wanted to I could even count her bones with much effort with just a single glance.

She only had her left arm which even had a few fingers missing, she went through hell! She had a blindfold on her eyes with a slashing scar coming down, and she was completely bald, and I know the reason why, 

Her obsidian black skin, grey hair…

She was a dark elf!

Suddenly the audience started yelling and chattering like crazy,

###

"Is she a real one! 

" I never saw one in my whole life, can't believe I am seeing a real one in front of my eyes!" The nobles started talking out loud, 

"I have seen one but like usually they were dead! Most of them didn't even have heads on them! Are you scamming us Diesswrin?" 

What did he say? Diesswrin? Is that him?

"My! Are you really doubting me? Have I ever lied to you all? I always showed and sold the best and real things to you, and now you are saying I am a scammer? You hurt me, Lord Vaisko!" He started laughing like crazy and the crowd joined his fun.

And I lost my sanity,

'I will kill them! I burn each of them alive!'

***

-- Aaris - PoV --

Suddenly Zia lost it and pulled out her sword, but I grabbed her wrist and covered her mouth, and pushed her to the wall.

She started struggling and panicking and bit my hand, she shoved her teeth deep until I started bleeding, her eyes changed color from blue to gleaming red.

'Just calm down! For a second! Please, Zia!' She looked at me with scorn in her eyes and stopped struggling, and glared at me with nothing but blood lust and hatred.

"What happened there?" Diesswrin yelled at us, 

'Nothing sir, I just stepped on my teammate's toes! I apologize for the interruption!' I laughed and pushed her back, 

"Hmpf!... Anyway, shall we begin our last auction? Since she is alive and still much of a use! 

We decided on 1,000,000 Muras for the starting bid!"

"So cheap! 1,050,000 Muras!"

"She is mine! 1,100,000 Muras!"

And the bidding started. They were yelling like crazy and raising the price without thinking, they looked like wolves crazed with starvation, growling at each other.

'Just fucking calm down for a second!' I grabbed her wrist and pulled her up. I was barely able to hold my anger but I tried to collect myself and hid every emotion behind a poker face.

Abruptly I looked at Melvi, she pulled her veil and I saw her face again, but I probably will never forget how much pain she was in that moment.

Her mouth was open with a stuck voice and tears and snot dripped down her face poorly, her eyes were stretched with veins popping out from them and she walked up to me and grabbed my coat.

"Ri...Ri...Rise! Ple...please...please, Sa...save her!" She started begging and pulling my coat in like a mindless child and Zia teared up in pity looking at her like this.

I just clenched my teeth in regret and rage and hugged her tightly rubbing her back, 

'It's ok! We'll save them! But please keep patience! We still haven't -'

"She saved me Rise! Please save her! If I won't do anything now, how will I face my sister? Please save her! I beg you, Rise, please save her!" Her knees lost strength and she completely leaned on me.

Zia looked was stunned and crawled to her, pulled Melvi from my arms, and held her gently with tears dropping down her cheeks, 

"Stay strong Melvi! I'll save her I promise! Stay strong! Look at me Melvi! Stop crying, I am here, don't worry!" Zia was caressing her gently, she tried to hold herself strong but her voice was breaking little by little. 

I wanted to comfort her too but turned my face away.

****

When Zia looked at Aaris ignoring Melvi, she went furious in rage, she dug her fingers in her own arm, to hold herself back, 

" 3,950,000 one!

Two,

And three! And today's show was won by none other than Lord Garogh! I knew that the only one who could pull this off is only you! 

So ladies and gentlemen today's auction comes to an end now!" Diesswrin jumped from the stage and grabbed a noble's hand. 

"That's it!" Zia screamed!