Mika 020 (Patreon)

“Good evening, Young Master Tegro. I am Yan Starr, and I greet you.”

“I return the greetings, Elder Yan. I am Alte Tegro.” 

“Your fellow seems to wish to cause us trouble,” Elder Yan said.

“Trouble? What trouble would that be?” Alte looked to the thug. “Didn’t I request you to bring back the fine plate?” He was certain that the thug hadn’t bothered the Elder Alchemist, he wasn’t that stupid.

“That’s the problem, Young Master. I was returning when this child ran into me around a corner. I couldn’t feel his presence since he was so weak.”

Alte looked down at Mika. “No wonder,” he said. “Seems like he’s a cripple. What misfortune. Since it’s like that, we’ll accept whatever compensation the Elder seems to be appropriate for his guild to produce.” Alte waved his hand casually, as though that was the end of the matter.

Elder Yan was surprised. This Alte Tegro didn’t have the Elder Alchemist in his sight. “Oh?” Elder Yan cracked his neck. Mika looked up at him, wondering what he was up to. “You ask for compensation, and yet you won’t ask my disciple his side of the story?” 

“This seems to be a minor matter. I assumed you came to use to compensate us in order to deal with the issue.” Alte raised his brows. “Is this not the case?”

“My disciple stated that he did not run into your fellow, and so he was not the reason why the plate had fallen. So what need need have we to compensate you?”

“A fine plate such as that?” Alte asked. “You don’t possibly think that my fellow would have dropped it of his own accord, do you? Do you believe we Tegros are so poor in judging our own talent?”

“I wonder. This Iron fellow was tripped over by a crippled Copper? Would you say that your walls would fall if I were to press my finger against it? I would laugh if I heard such a statement. It is a jest most humorous.”

“Please show this Elder some leniency,” Expert Baex said. “He is but from a town guild. They are not quite as rich as our city guilds, and they are giving children the title of Alchemist. With such a display, wouldn’t you allow him some face?” Expert Baex smiled.

Mika inhaled sharply through his nose and then looked up at the Elder, curious as to how he’d deal with such a statement. The woman had butt in to add fuel to the fire. Mika placed a hand over his heart, raising two knuckles this time. “This one swears on his name he had not bumped into the respected older brother. Perhaps he tripped in a rush?”

“Your name? And who are you, boy?” Alte asked, tilting his head back to look down at the cripple.

“Mika Blackhand.”

“Blackhand?” Alte said. “From the nearby town?” Mika nodded his head in response. “Hah! A no name family from a no name town? You swear on your name in front of we Tegros?”

Mika’s forehead throbbed, but Elder Yan stepped forward. “To think the Young Master of the Tegro family was still wet behind his ears at his age. Bring me your Elder, so I may ask him how the boy remains a brat!”

“Watch what you say, Elder Yan,” Alte warned. “You are far from the capital here. You and your son have no sway in our city. We Tegros are a proud family with a great lineage. What can a branch family do against us?” 

The Elder raised his pressure against the figures ahead of him, and though Alte was bothered by it, he remained resolute. “I see!” Elder Yan clenched his fists, snarling at the boy. “My family and my guild are not in your sight? This Elder will not forget this slight!”

“What is the meaning of this?” A man in his late fifties appeared. He was Tempered Steel First, the strongest one around.  

“Father, I apologise for the inconvenience caused. It seems as though there was a minor issue, but this Elder Yan wishes for it to spiral into a major issue.”

“Elder Starr, what is the matter?”

“I see you are good at twisting the situation, Young Master Tegro.” Elder Yan narrowed his eyes. “Your fellow claimed that my disciple had done something he had not. Your son has caused me great shame to my apprentice, who is of a family my guild works closely with, and great shame to my family and my guild!”

The man looked to his son and sighed. “This Patriarch sees that this issue is getting out of hand. Since the truth of the matter is muddied, would you be willing to overlook it for this one?”

“Overlook the matter?” Elder Yan asked. The only thing which was muddied was his face. “Your family has caused me a great shame and you ask this Elder to overlook the matter? I, Yan Starr, will not forget this slight! Come, disciple. Let us leave these kittens to their play. We don’t have time to waste in the presence of such a family.”

“Yes, Elder.” Mika followed the retreating Elder Yan, who was fuming.

“Why you! How dare you speak to our Patrirach in such a way!” The guards stepped forward, though the Auction Hall guards stepped in their path to cut them off from Yan.

“Let them go,” Patriarch Tegro said. “We have no need to speak with such an unruly fellow nor his cripple.”

Since the Tegro family already had a relationship with the Alchemists in this city, there was no reason for them to be so courteous to Elder Yan. 

That was their mistake.

“To think they would be so rude to you, esteemed Elder,” the Steel guard said. 

“I would have forgiven a young brat, but even his father spurned me.” The Elder looked down at Mika, seeing that the boy had quite a sour look on his face. It seemed Mika was already plotting something.

They eventually returned, and Tara quickly met them as they entered. She noticed the sour mood. “It appears that it didn’t go well?”

“Forgive this Elder for being so rude,” Elder Yan said. “There was no resolution to be had, and I am still stung by the rudeness of the Tegros.”

“The Tegro family? How troublesome. Would the Elder wish to retire for the night? We can clear a room for you to sleep. It would be no less than a fine inn room you may stay at.” She smiled, trying to curry his favour.

“Thank you for your kindness, but we have already settled our affairs elsewhere. The guards you sent had provided us with a comfortable atmosphere, allow this Elder to repay the kindness you have done for us.” The Elder revealed a Steelforge pill for the guard, and a potion for the Mistress.

“We can’t possibly accept such a gift,” Tara said, surprised he had so easily pulled out such items.

“Your guard assisted us in the matter and we at Star Alchemy repay our debts.”

“If you must insist,” Tara replied, nodding her head to the guard. “We will accept your kindness.”

“Elder, if I may,” Mika said, looking up to the man for permission. Elder Yan nodded, wondering where he was going to go. “Dearest sister, we know that the auction deadline for items is soon passing, but the Elder had a few items which are almost finished being refined. Elder was unable to refine them completely, but he can certainly refine them by the morning. Would sister be willing to add such items?” Mika looked up at him expectantly.

“If it’s greater than the item that we received previously, then I won’t deny the Elder.” Her eyes turned to gold coins.

“These items are something similar to the item from previous from what this little brother has seen.”

Tara’s eyes continued to rain gold. “If that’s the case, then I will create a special auction, a fourth phase. How many will Elder have ready?”

“…” 

“Hmph! When it comes to my great Elder Yan, no doubt there will be three!”

“Three?” Elder Yan and Tara replied together.

“Though, with the shame the Tegro family has given him…” Mika closed his eyes, and then opened one, looking at the Young Mistress of the Auction House to see if she was able to pick up the hint.

“Shall I make a private, closed auction for the other main families?”

Elder Yan’s ears perked up and he stood a little straighter. “Ah, right. Yes, this Elder will remember niece’s kindness. Invite the other families, save for the Tegros.” He nodded, brushing his beard.

“Please, Elder, if you have anything else you need, call for me and I will appear swiftly.” The gold coins in her eyes multiplied. She looked to the guard, who nodded at her.

“Ah, it would be a shame if the Tegros were allowed to bid on the perfect potion as well, isn’t that right, Elder?” Mika said, smiling innocently.

“Right, right. My disciple certainly raises a good point.”

“Then I’ll place that item on the fourth phase, would that please good Elder uncle?”

“Since my niece is being so accommodating, I must accept.”

It seemed they wouldn’t be able to use the money gained from the potions right away. The Elder caught onto his and then rubbed his beard. “Is niece willing to give this uncle some time to pay for items, in case I spend too much money at the auction? Or perhaps, would kind niece be willing to take pills and potions at ten percent below market price?”

“Of course, if that’s what uncle wishes for. However, we’ll take them at market price. It is this Auction Hall’s policy.”

“If that’s the case, then this uncle will accept. Thank you, dear niece, I will be able to sleep with a smile on my face.”

They said their goodbyes and left the auction house. The auction mistress turned to the guard. "Let the auction house know that those from the Starr Guild from the town are not to be offended. Even if it is a Page, offer your assistance and escort them if needed." 

"Of course auction mistress."

"That elder is quite the man, and that boy isn't half bad either…" She could already count the coins that they would make together. She noted that the little boy had said more than his position allowed, but he was also a true Alchemist at his age. “I want to know everything about that boy.” She glanced at a guard, who bowed her head and disappeared.

‘Perhaps I shouldn’t have made such a bet with the boy…’ She lit up a cigarette. ‘Or perhaps I should have made it easier?’ The gold coins were clouding her mind.