Time continued flowing once more.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!" Tyler collapsed onto the floor, pressing both his hands over an invisible wound over his chest, screaming in agony. He had long since let go of my collar and Artemis, and Jasper was staring at him with shock as though he was a maniac.
"Tyler, welcome back to reality," I whispered into his ear.
The screaming momentarily stopped. He looked down at his chest—there was no wound. There was no blood. He then looked up and saw my face. His face instantly changed into horror as he pointed at me, unable to speak.
"Yo—you, you——" He stuttered as he scrambled backwards, trying to widen the gap between us. "Shhh, Tyler," I whispered into his mind through Stella's telepathy skill. "What happened in that domain stays in the domain, unless…" I let his thoughts finish my sentence.
"Ye—yes, sir!" He fumbled over his words before sitting on the sofa, beads of cold sweat trickling down his forehead. Jasper and Artemis raised an eyebrow but pressed no further.
"Well, let's start, shall we?" I crossed my legs, sitting on the sofa opposite Tyler. "There is no doubt we all need this money, but are we up for the job? Are we willing to put our lives on the line for this high salary?" I asked. "Well, I certainly am, after all, without this money I can't survive either way," I stated my answer.
"My answer is the same," Artemis took a seat next to me. "Without this job, I'm afraid I'd have no thrill in life, let alone money." She smiled at me as if expecting a compliment and twirled her fingers around my small braid. I paid no heed to her.
"Jasper?" I asked. His brows furrowed as though he were deep in thought.
"Yes, I agree with Artemis that without this job I'd have no thrill in life…but…" He paused and scratched his chin. "I think I should confess this since we'll be working together for the next couple of years, and since Alistair has already trusted us with his secret." The room grew quiet, and the light grew dim. The atmosphere was tense as we braced ourselves for his secret. "I have another element," He said slowly. "I'm not sure if it's even an element," He chuckled. "But…" His eyes turned dead serious. "My second element is blood."
Gasps erupted across the room. Artemis's jaw dropped, and Tyler trembled in fear as if afraid that he might be another god haunting him. I remained unfazed. I had long since sensed his two elements when we first met, though he hid them quite well.
"I personally suspect my biological father was…, but there are no…" His voice trailed off. We looked at him pressing for more answers, but he looked away and murmured, "It's a long story." 'Now we know someone here has daddy issues. Just look at the way he said 'my biological father'. Not dad, not Father, but 'my biological father'.'I mimicked him in my mind.
We all looked at Tyler now, awaiting his answer. The choices were simple: stay or don't stay. No one was pressuring him to stay.
I looked at him, and somehow, he trembled as if he could see my serene eyes behind this blindfold of mine. I tapped my fingers on the table impatiently. How long is he going to take to give us his answer? There are only three more minutes till 08.00 a.m.!
I got up from my seat, wanting to go to the toilet. But Tyler must have thought that I was growing impatient and was going to punish him for being so slow, because he immediately jumped out of his seat and blurted out, "I'll stay! I need this job!"
"Alright, eight o'clock sharp," Matron walked into the room. "So? What are your answers?" She asked. "The life of an assassin might be tough, but—" She started listing a bunch of benefits of taking up this job.
"Excuse me, but we all decided to stay. We need this job." I cut in.
She froze and slowly turned her head towards us. "Yo–you…what?!" She took a step back, adjusting her glasses, completely losing her composure. When her microscopic brain finally processed our answers, she spoke, "Well, you guys are the first ones to all agree on this. Some quit even before they start. No wonder the Elite Circle chose the four of you." The Elite Circle must have meant the higher-ups of The Black Eclipse. "Now then," She clapped her hands. "Let's start on your first day of this job!"
And the day began with dealing cards, handing out drinks, and entertaining guests, absolutely nothing to do with missions and assassins.
"Your 'undercover job' is a host or hostess so that no one will suspect you. Master the art of changing personalities for each character you are, and we will allow you to move on." Matron had said. 'But this…' I thought as I looked at the sea of people at the casino. '...is far from what I had expected.' I sighed. Though we are collaborating with this sea of people, we're still expected to blend in with the staff. Since our valued guests know who we really are, we were told to give them our codenamed such that they can give us back feedback.
"Great…" I sighed, rolling up the sleeves of my new casino uniform. I wore a crisp white, long-sleeved, collared shirt beneath a fitted black vest, a long black tie neatly tucked inside my vest, and a pair of tailored black trousers to complete the look. "Time to go right out of my comfort zone to get better pay." I adjusted my tie slightly. "Let's get this over and done with," I regrouped with Jasper, Artemis, and Tyler. As the four of us walked briskly together, Artemis on my right, Jasper, and Tyler on my left, I shuffled my deck of cards. The three of them wore masquerade masks to obscure their faces like all the guests, except for me, of course. I got a blindfold. "Understood, Sir!" they said before we parted for our designated tables.
Alright, time to put the card tricks Boss Kurogane taught me to use. I split my deck of cards into three decks and moved them around my thumb like spinning a pen. I walked towards table 012. "Yosh, time to get to work,"
"Hello, valued guests of The Gilded Eclipse," I strided over, a daunting smile plastered on my face. "I am Finality, you may call me Ace." The guests looked at me with excitement. "Let's begin a game of Black Jack, shall we?" I stopped shuffling and dealt the cards. "Guests, please…" I placed the chip tray on the table. "...place your bets!"
On the table furthest away from me, Artemis also began her introduction, "Hello, valued guests of The Gilded Eclipse." She gave a sweet but chilling smile. "I am Judgement, you may call me Art." The guests looked at her, taking small notes. She took off her crown, lifted her elegant black dress and took a slight bow. "Let's begin a game of roulette, shall we?" She placed the chip tray on the table. "Please place your bets," She laughed.
Then, near the bar, Jasper had a white towel draped over his left hand as he served mocktails. "Hello, Ladies, I am Destruction. You may call me Jas, or Jasper." He gave them a charming smile, pouring a little more alcohol into the men's drinks. The girls giggled as they whispered to one another."Have a great day," He smiled before returning to the bar.
Lastly, Tyler shuffled the cards on the poker table. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Deception, call me Tyler." He took off his tall black hat and took a bow. "Now them," He dealt out the cards. "Let the game of Poker begin!" He laughed.
As we each entertained our guests, each challenge became harder, such as…there was a really annoying guy who kept arguing with me about why he should get his chip back. Judging from his eyes, I could tell that he was genuinely angry and did not want to piss me off purposely. The other guests glued their eyes on me, anticipating my next move. I kept my cool and explained the rules three more times, really nicely, before he finally sat down. But I was internally losing my cool and was eternally screaming, "WHY?!!! WHY DOES HE NOT UNDERSTAND THE FUCKING RULES THAT I HAD REPEATED OVER A HUNDRED FUCKING TIMES!!! AAAAAHHHHH!!!!"
From the corner of my eye, I could also see Artemis being tested as she got 'harassed' by older men. Although…unlike me, she didn't give a crap about what others thought and 'cleansed' them with her so-called 'holy light' element, as she likes to call it, until security had to drag them out themselves. Her spectators were laughing so much that they were clutching their stomachs and rolling on the floor, giggling and laughing like maniacs. While the people on her table were trembling in fear, cold sweat trickling down their foreheads, Artemis gave them a chilling smile.
Tyler was also in the same situation as me. Though he did not handle it as well as I did. The whole ordeal ended thirty minutes later, while the other guests were bored to death, slumping on the table while the others talked in hushed tones.
Jasper, on the other hand,... was not even being tested at this point. He smiled so charmingly that ladies and gentlemen alike fell for his charm, all trying to approach him and strike up small conversations. Sigh, how is this even a challenge? The scent of blood on him surely made him alluring, but…I did not expect this at all. He was laughing while taking sips of mocktails himself.
"Break!" Matron announced from the front desk. I glanced at my watch. It was already 6.00 p.m. The guests would be having their dinner now.
"Bye for now," I smiled, waving to the guests at my table, leaving a strong impression on them. The ladies squealed in delight as they waved back. Weirdos.
I walked towards the stage. Jasper, Artemis, and Tyler appeared beside me. "It's dinner," I said coolly, back to my usual self. "We have to hold the auction now."
"We need to go backstage now, right?" Artemis asked.
"Yes,"
I paused and then asked, "Jasper, do you need to serve the food?"
Jasper smiled lightly, "No," He shook his head. "The staff will handle it. We need to focus on the auction now." He then looked at me and said, "Matron said that we need to pull out each item 'magically' such that each item will leave a lasting impression on their minds."
"I see," I mentally took note.
"How many are there?" I asked Tyler.
Tyler's fingers lingered on the edge of his notebook before he spoke again, as if even he felt the weight of what was about to begin. "Ninety-seven items," he repeated quietly. "Artefacts, information shards, relics, sealed contracts… and a few pieces that defy categorisation entirely." His eyes lifted, sharp and focused. "The first is designated Gold Masquerade."
I stepped forward, the stage lights dimming as if the room itself had bent to my will. Velvet curtains sealed shut behind us, cutting off the dining hall, leaving only anticipation behind. Every eye was fixed on the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen," my voice carried without effort, calm and precise, "thank you for your patience. Welcome to the annual Gilded Eclipse Auction!"
A thunderous applause followed with enthusiasm.
My words alone spread through the hall like a slow infection. Conversations didn't stop outright—they thinned, softened, warped into whispers layered with curiosity and greed. The soft clink of cutlery faded as diners abandoned the pretence of dinner, chairs shifting as bodies leaned forward in unison. From the stage, I could feel it clearly now: attention condensing, expectations sharpening, the collective understanding that this was no longer an evening of polite indulgence but the opening move of something far more dangerous.
I stepped into the centre of the stage, and the lights obeyed without command, dimming everywhere except where I stood. The curtains slid shut behind us, cutting off the exits visually if not physically, and in that enclosed space, the air itself seemed to grow heavier. This was intentional. Auctions weren't about selling objects—they were about controlling desire, pacing hunger, and reminding everyone present who held authority over the room.
"I see that all of you are here for one reason, I presume?" I paused, glancing at the sea of people, making eye contact with every one of them. "To collect valuable and powerful items that are one of a kind!" I threw my arms in the air.
Excited screams and shouts of agreement rippled through the air.
"Now," I looked at Matrton, signalling her. "Let's welcome our first item of the day,"
I raised my hand.
Magic answered immediately, drawn not by effort but by expectation. Golden motes appeared one by one, then in torrents, spiralling above my palm as if pulled from the very air. They folded inward, compressing, reshaping, until metal flowed like molten sunlight, smooth and seamless. A mask took form, elegant and refined, its surface etched with filigree so intricate it seemed almost alive. Two deep crimson gemstones settled into place where eyes should have been, glowing faintly as though aware of the hundreds of gazes now locked onto them.
A collective breath was drawn.
"This," I said, my voice steady and unhurried, carried effortlessly across the hall, "is Gold Masquerade."
I let the mask rotate slowly, deliberately, revealing its inner rim where faint runes pulsed in measured rhythm. Power, but restrained. Sophistication, not excess. The kind of artefact meant for those who already understood the cost of using it.
Jasper stepped forward then, his tone smooth, almost conversational, as if discussing a luxury rather than a weapon. He spoke of aura suppression—complete, flawless, undetectable. Of identities erased so thoroughly that even divination would falter. Artemis followed, her words colder, sharper, explaining how the mask dampened emotional output, turning fear into a distant echo, hesitation into background noise. Negotiations, assassinations, infiltrations—she didn't name them outright, but everyone understood.
By the time she finished, the room had changed.
This wasn't admiration anymore. It was a calculation.
I waited. Let the silence stretch. Let the desire mature into impatience.
"Starting bid," I said finally. "Five thousand gold."
The response was instant and violent. Hands shot up. Voices overlapped. Numbers surged past the opening bid as if it had never existed, pride and ambition driving them higher with each call. Tyler's voice cut through the chaos, precise and relentless, tracking each offer as the crowd pressed forward mentally, some already imagining the mask in their possession, others realising too late that they were being priced out.
I watched them all—who flinched at higher numbers, who hesitated just a second too long, who smiled when they thought no one was looking.
"Six thousand!"
"Seven!"
"Ten thousand!"
The hall heated up fast. Faces leaned forward. Eyes gleamed. This wasn't just an auction—it was a contest of pride.
Tyler called out bids rapidly, his voice steady despite the pace. Numbers climbed higher and higher until finally—
"Twenty-eight thousand gold!"
When the final bid rang out, absurdly high, silence crashed back down like a blade.
I scanned the room once.
"Going once."
No movement.
"Going twice."
A pause, thick and suffocating.
"Sold."
The gavel struck, sharp and final. Applause followed, mingled with frustration and quiet resentment, and as the mask dissolved into light and vanished backstage, I allowed myself a slow breath.
Ninety-six items remained.
I lifted my hand again, magic already gathering, and this time the anticipation in the hall was no longer subtle.
They weren't here to watch anymore.
They were here to fight.
~~~~~~~~~~
As the final gavel struck, the bell rang two times. I glanced at my watch. It was 02.00 a.m. Our shift was over.
"And with that," The lighting dimmed as the crowd turned to us. "As all good things need to come to an end, the annual Gilded Eclipse Auction comes to an end," I announced. Hushed whispers and disappointment rang through the air. The four of us held each other's hands, walking backwards towards the backstage, "And," Jasper started. "We thank you once again," Artemis continued. "For coming," Tyler added on. "To the annual Gilded Eclipse auction!" I ended as we bowed deeply.
A thunderous round of applause echoed in the room as the audience gave us a standing ovation.
"Good night," We all smiled for the last time as smoke snaked around the stage slowly. One by one, we gave one last pose as we fell into the cushions below the stage, disappearing from our audience's line of sight.
"Whooo!" The audience cheered as they gave us another round of applause.
"Great job, the four of you," Matron came up to us ten minutes later. "Because all of you handled those situations so well, The Elite Circle has agreed to start your first mission from the day after tomorrow onwards. Especially you, Alistair, or should I call you Ace?" She looked at me.
"Ace will do," I replied.
"I observed that you went way out of your comfort zone to give those fake smiles to everyone," She smiled, genuinely.
"The day after tomorrow?" Artemis asked.
"Yes," Matron replied. "I'm sure you'd need to catch up on as much sleep as possible. Your first mission will be a tough one. Tell your loved ones that you'd be out for two days."
We all nodded.
"Then, you're dismissed." She said before turning around and waving goodbye.
"Now," Jasper looked at us eagerly. "Let's go for supper!!!"