"100,000 is the final price." Said a man of immeasurable wealth.
The man's voice somehow sent chills down the people who heard it.
Though they were all experienced merchants, it was the first time they had come across someone so cold. Or perhaps, he was not cold but rather overwhelmingly authoritative. The kind of presence that only the emperor possessed.
The people who dared to cross with such a man tried negotiating the price but it was all in vain. And slowly, the hall that had been dead silent moments ago came alive.
"The item is broken! you must lower the price even further." One of the bidders screamed from the crowd.
The man just blankly looked at that person as he said "Right, Broken."
He stood up and walked towards the broken item, Isaiah.
His hands gently touched Isaiah's back, but somehow the gentle touch became magic as torn skin across Isaiah's back healed beneath his touch. The man just turned to people again as he said "Now the price is 150,000."
The people could only bite their lips as they all were scrambling to collect the huge sum.
"What is this all about?" Asked one of the merchant, he seemed new to the empire.
"It is an auction. You can buy any child and enter them into a banquet held by the great emperor and empress!" Someone said.
The merchant seemed even more confused "What banquet?"
The person just sighed and said "Every year the great emperor and empress hold several banquets for selecting one child who they will adopt. And that child will be the future emperor of this empire. But unfortunately, until now both of them have not selected any child."
The merchant seemed to be pretty amused by this situation. He pointed out at Isaiah as he said
"He is one of them?"
"Yes." The person answered. "But, until now we have not seen a child with such a manner and beauty. And right now, he is the child with the highest price ever recorded!"
"Isn't all this illegal?" Someone asked from the corner.
Everyone turned and stared at the person. One of them just sighed and said "All the children sold here are over 18. And this is not banned in the empire." while everyone else were whispering among themselves that how can these kind of people even end up in places like this.
The loudness of the place was interrupted by someone.
"how...how can you do this to me?" A tender yet strong voice echoed through the market.
Now everyone's eyes were on the item. Isaiah.
The man who was selling Isaiah just looked down on him as he sighed. Isaiah's eyes were covered but he could sense the cold stare which gave him chills.
"What?" His cold voice cut through the air.
By now, the crowd knew that the man is no ordinary person.