Hearing his name, Cassian froze for a moment.
His heart raced, betraying the calm facade he had carefully maintained.
Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself before turning toward the source of the voice.
There she stood.
A girl with flowing blue hair and striking blue eyes, her beauty almost ethereal.
Vivienne Lightspire Dane
The first [Heroine] of the game and the princess of the kingdom.
Cassian felt a pang in his chest as memories surfaced.... of how Cassian used to love her, how her mere presence brought him comfort even after his grim days with the organization.
Standing beside her was a tall boy with blonde hair and piercing red eyes, his features radiating charisma.
Theon Ironbrook Gale
The [Protagonist] of the game.
The one destined to claim everything: power, fame, and the admiration of countless women.
Theon waved at Cassian with a smile.
"Hey, Cassian! Good to see you," he said warmly.
Cassian raised a hand in return, his expression remaining neutral.
Theon walked closer, taking in the group.
"You're already here. I guess we're the late ones this time," he said with a chuckle.
Elisa smirked, folding her arms.
"Heh, of course you are. Took you long enough."
Vivienne kept her eyes on Cassian, her usual smile faded a bit as she took in his unhappy demeanor. For the first time ever, his expression was not filled with glee at her presence.
Before Vivienne could speak, the sound of laughter came from behind.
"You guys got here already?!"
Cassian turned to see a boy jumping onto Theon's back.
Felix Shadowglen Crane
With his purple hair and cyan eyes, Felix's roguish grin lit up the group.
He was the quintessential [Supporting Character]... loyal, playful, and always brimming with energy.
Felix glanced around, counting the group. His grin faltered.
"Wait, where is she? Don't tell me she's late again," he groaned, crossing his arms.
Cassian raised an eyebrow but stayed silent, the thought crossing his mind: Just because you're here before her doesn't mean you're on time, Felix.
Suddenly, a voice whispered near his ear.
"What are you thinking about?"
Cassian flinched, turning to see a familiar grin.
Helda Dawnthrown Voss
With her white hair, crimson eyes, and radiant smile, she exuded a playful confidence.
"Mou, Helda! You're always late!" Elisa pouted, crossing her arms.
Helda laughed and pulled Elisa into a hug.
"Sorry, sorry! Next time, I'll be early. Promise!"
Everyone exchanged amused looks, rolling their eyes in unison. They had heard this declaration far too many times.
Vivienne took a step forward, slipping her hand into Cassian's.
"Alright, enough chatting. Let's head inside," she said with a commanding yet gentle tone.
The group nodded, starting to move, but Cassian stopped in his tracks. He glanced at their entwined hands, his jaw tightening.
"Don't touch me," he said coldly, pulling his hand away.
"I'm not feeling well."
Vivienne froze, staring at him in disbelief. The shock on her face was almost palpable.
Cassian noted her reaction but didn't linger on it.
Before she could respond, Theon stepped in smoothly, intertwining his hand with hers.
"Come on, everyone! We don't want to miss anything, do we?" Theon said cheerfully, leading the group forward.
Cassian cast one last glance at Vivienne, noting her confused expression. 'Good,' he thought. 'The sooner she understands things are different, the better.'
-----------------
In the auction hall, rows of chairs filled the space as people patiently waited for the event to begin.
Some attendees were here to bid on beasts of their liking, their expressions filled with anticipation. Others were simply here for the entertainment, enjoying the thrill of watching the competition unfold.
In a VIP room overlooking the hall, six luxurious seats were arranged for Theon and his friends. From this vantage point, they could see the entire auction floor.
"When's it going to start? I'm dying of boredom here!" Helda groaned, shifting restlessly in her seat.
"Same here, same here!" Elisa chimed in with a bright smile, swinging her legs playfully.
The door to the room opened, and a young woman in staff attire entered with a polite bow.
"Pardon my intrusion, esteemed guests. I'd like to explain how bidding works for you."
Felix leaned forward, raising a hand. "Isn't it just shouting out how much we want to bid? Like the folks down there?"
The woman chuckled softly. "That's true for the guests in the main hall, sir. However, for you," she gestured to the small panels attached to each of their seats, "you'll use these panels. Simply enter the amount you wish to bid and submit it. The bid will then be announced in the hall anonymously."
Theon pointed to the blank input box displayed on the panel. "This is where we enter the amount?"
The woman nodded. "Yes, sir. Once you've decided on your bid, just confirm it. It's that simple."
"Got it. Thanks for the explanation," Theon said with a smile.
The woman bowed again. "Thank you for attending our auction. We hope you enjoy the event." She excused herself gracefully, leaving the room.
Moments later, a man in the same staff uniform stepped onto the raised platform in the center of the auction hall.
With an dramatic bow, he addressed the audience.
"Welcome, esteemed guests, to tonight's much-anticipated Beast Auction!"
"I am Trake, your humble host for the evening," he continued, his voice filled with theatrical flair.
Pausing for effect, he flashed a smile.
"Now, without further ado, let's begin the auction!"
Two young women emerged from behind the curtains, carefully sliding forward a cage draped with a red cloth.
"Our first beast up for auction is..." Trake announced, his voice booming across the hall. He paused dramatically, resting his hand on the cloth.
The room fell into an expectant silence.
With a flourish, Trake pulled the cloth away, revealing a small creature inside the cage. It was a baby rabbit with a single horn on its head, its fur a delicate shade of pink.
"...the Raehorn!" Trake declared with a grin.
A few gasps and murmurs rippled through the audience as they admired the creature.
"Now, I know what some of you are thinking," Trake continued, "this is a common beast. But look closer—this Raehorn isn't your average white! It's a rare light pink, a color that's almost never seen!"
The audience leaned forward for a better look, and the Raehorn's soft pink fur and innocent eyes drew collective coos of admiration, especially from the women present.
"The starting bid will be... 1,000 gold!" Trake announced.
A woman with sleek black hair raised her hand. "1,000 gold!"
Another woman with silvery gray hair followed. "1,500 gold!"
The bidding war began, with the majority of bids coming from women captivated by the Raehorn's cuteness.
Meanwhile, in the VIP room above, Cassian sat back with a smirk as he watched the scene unfold.
"Rare color or not, it's just a decorative pet," he thought. "No special abilities, no unique traits. It's useless in a fight."
Elisa, sitting beside him, was clearly enamored by the pink rabbit. She reached for the bidding panel, only for Cassian to interrupt her.
"What are you doing?" he asked sharply.
Elisa hesitated, her hand hovering over the panel. "I'm bidding. That bunny is so cute. I want it!"
Cassian's gaze hardened. His voice dropped to an icy tone. "You are not bidding on that piece of trash."
Elisa flinched at his words, her enthusiasm deflating instantly. Her lips trembled slightly as she formed a small pout, but her watery eyes betrayed her hurt.
"O...okay," she mumbled, withdrawing her hand.
The room fell into a brief silence as everyone in the VIP section took note of Cassian's bluntness but chose not to comment. After all, he wasn't wrong... the Raehorn was more of a novelty than a practical choice.
In the end, the gray-haired woman won the bid at 5,000 gold, clutching her prize with evident delight. Trake announced the sale with a satisfied grin, moving seamlessly to the next item on the list.