Chapter 144: Another card
There was a long couch on the balcony, which gave a great view of a massive aula below. Rows and rows of seats covered the ground, sloping up to give everyone a good view of the podium, which was still empty. Thousands of people were already sitting there, the front rows filled, while people were moving in from the entrances and finding spots. The sound didn't reach them, showing there was another sound muffling skill in effect. A massive crystal slab sat behind a raised speaking chair, and an empty card with the words 'please remain seated until we begin' was showing on it.
"We will start in roughly ten minutes, so if you have any questions, please ask them now," Driseog said.
Irwin thought for a bit, then nodded. "If I see a card I like, how do I buy it?"
"You will need to place a bid, and you can do so by simply speaking the amount you wish to place," Driseog said, tapping his foot on the ground. "The crystal entity embedded in the room will forward your request. If you end up winning the card, it will be brought here at the end of the day."
Irwin hummed as he leaned back, wondering if there was anything else he should know.
"How many soulshards can I spend?" he asked.
"From the current way things are going, I would say you have at least two hundred and fifty thousand credits already," Driseog said.
Irwin grinned, barely believing how many soulshards he had now. Not able to think of anything more to ask, he quietly waited for the Auction to begin.
When the room below was stuffed full with thousands of people, and the hazy balconies opposite them showed figures everywhere, a familiar, towering Viridian appeared from a door behind the podium. Irwin saw people below him stop their conversations and focus on the man, and although he didn't hear it, he guessed the room was growing quiet.
"Thank you all for coming here today," Lord Gebladir Urdwellan said, his voice booming throughout the massive room, and as it did, whatever muting skill was stopping the sounds from reaching Irwin stopped.
The voice echoed around, and soft whispers came from all throughout the room.
"Most of you already know me, but for some of our off-world guests, let me introduce myself. My name is Gelbadir Urdwellan, the current ruler of Scour. Today, we celebrate the first millennium of our habitation of this beautiful world by having an auction! It isn't the first, nor will it be the last, but it will be the biggest since we arrived!"