“I wonder where you had a chance to find a so fresh Idrilich mushroom nearby? It is rumored you need to find them up in the mountains where the lightnings hit harder...” asked the auctioneer,
“Well, I have been indeed very lucky, but this one dear officer...I found it near the river, would you believe it?” asked Riuluk with a fake smile,
The auctioneer made an indifferent face, then laughed...
“Ahahahah, you are a very funny fellow. Now, back to business. Ok, so we know how much of a reserve you need...fine. Radi, Runebath, please help the clients sit”, said the officer to the two dwarf stewards behind him.
From the stairs, some different folk gathered, waiting in line to be seated by the stewards. The stewards were very efficient and very kind. They were making fancy bows to the clients and showing their seats with precision and elegance.
The first to enter was a sleepy, very old dwarf, dressed in expensive clothes but clearly from another era. The second one was an Amber Elf with his wife, both dressed in white with amber gems and white cloaks. The third to enter was a Dwarf of the Gems, dressed like they are used to, full of awakened gems shining more than gold, depending on the line of the light on him. Then there were a couple of men, probably adventurers or rangers. Three Cloud dwarves, probably from a Sphere company. There was also a rich, beautiful woman, who knows why she is alone and no man or servant is protecting her...
Then entered two Cloud Dwarven soldiers, probably from the army. Another man with his face covered by a black hood, and behind him, very strangely, four knights in armor with a stemma: a white Pegasus on a blue sky. Behind these four, a Knight in full armor, splendid like a pure mountain lake. A little boy with a trumpet came forward before the soldiers and played...
“Tu tu ruuuuuu...tu tu turuuuuuuu...” sang the trumpet,
“Hail to the Knight of the Pegasus house, Aeln of the Colt Family!” shouted the boy,
The knight walked inside the cloister with his soldiers, the Cloud Guardian walked towards them, demanding the swords from the soldiers, but none to the Knight. By law, no weapons are allowed in the auction. If you are a noble, you may have a guard with you only for defensive purposes, but you may not carry weapons. But the Knights of the Tolmeca Kingdom are another deal. These Knights are often in the first line during battles; they are also nobles of the Tolmeca Kingdom. Each one of them is very experienced in war; they cannot have a better guardian than their own weapon, which most of the time is so special or magical that no one is allowed to confiscate them, since they are Tolmeca’s national treasure.
The house of the Pegasus is probably one of the most important and famous ones renown. Not only because of its beautiful lands with lakes. But mostly because Aeln is very beautiful and handsome. He is one of the favorites Knights of the King of Tolmeca and one of his closest friends. It was rumored that the first Knight of the Pegasus was actually flying with a Pegasus, but these are probably just myths since Pegasus do not exist in this world, or if they have existed, they must have disappeared. You can often see Pegasus in children’s books, talking about the great-great-great-great-great-great and so on grandpa of Aeln, fighting against dark forces a thousand years ago. The Colt family knows only one thing about him: on his tomb, there is written “Fraencis Colt, lancer of the Sky Mountains”. Nobody knows what these Sky mountains refer to, but Aeln often looks at Fraencis's tomb; somehow, he still feels a gentle breeze in his eyes when he looks at it.
About the Idrilich mushroom instead? Well, this probably might be more complicated. Magical mushrooms grow from time to time almost anywhere in this world. Some are really rare, some others are very common. Magical mushrooms can be used in so many different things. If you cook them, you can actually create special dishes. If you eat them fresh, they can also have a special taste or change you in some way. Some mushrooms only give a bit of a different spice to the plate: like a fiery taste or a lightning freshness. Some others can change the color of your face or hand, or even worse!
If you boil them, you can create a special potion that will give power to utensils, armors or weapons. All of this depends on the type of mushroom, of course. If you wash with a low-quality mushroom potion, like a Brunifeld Mushroom, the armor can probably taste like soup if you try to lick it. If you wash with a medium-quality mushroom potion, like an Arbifrer Mushroom, the armor will deflect up to ten arrows without damaging the armor at all. If you wash an armor with an Idrilich Mushroom? You can make a high-quality mushroom potion, which will give the armor the ability to release Lightning in the face of the surrounding enemies.
That is why an Idrilich Mushroom is a great deal, you can easily improve a weapon, armor, or even a dish.
I also did not mention to you the worst way to use magical mushrooms: sniffing them. If you sniff the mushrooms, their spores will immediately get to your brain and give you a different type of illusion. Some magical mushrooms are considered a light drug and can be used by anyone for fun. As an example, the so-called “love mushroom” makes you feel you are in love with someone, and you will laugh hard because you will not know with whom you are in love, despite the fact that you feel you are in love with someone. Many people with depression are prescribed by doctors with love mushrooms therapy. Some mushrooms are even used to play by kids, as the “monster voice mushroom,” which, by sniffing it, you will change your voice into a terrible, low, dark monster voice...ahahah!
I hope I have given you enough information about the magical mushrooms. Ah...I almost forgot!
There are still some mushrooms called mythical or legendary mushrooms. Those mushrooms are documented in books, but are so rare that someone would probably only find them once every 100 years. Some of them give the person or the creature eating it great strength, while others speed. Some seem to grant the ability to fly, and others to bond with a magical creature. You can find everything you want to know in the ‘Book of Mushrooms' by Lethian Nemaband.’
“Hey, hey, hooooooo...” said the officer, “Now that you are all seated, I can show you this very fresh Idrilich mushroom!”
He took the beautiful mushroom out of the box. Some rumors among the clients...
“We want to be fast, because we have another auction in 20 minutes. No shouting, no jumping, no hesitation. From now on, I am the only speaker. With your right hand, you add the full price again; with your left hand, you add half the price again. Cutting off your head gesture means you drop out of the auction. Both hands up: you double the price to twice the full price. Understood?” said the officer.
All the clients were looking at the auction table and the officer. Aeln took off his helmet.
He was indeed one of the most handsome man even Riuluk ever saw in his life, and he loves nice, good-looking dwarf ladies full of curves!
Aeln had long, black hair that was almost shiny, even though it was black. His eyes? Green like the wood elves' forests. Even if he looked 25, he was probably almost 37. He had a very serious and mysterious personality. He was a man who knew his allegiance and his responsibilities to his fiefdom. He had no time for trivialities. He was a man of duty and honor.
“For Lord Kloud! Lord of skies and clouds, lord of wind and air, lord above us and around us. Bless this property to its future sire", prayed the officer,
“We start from a price of 50 gold cloud coins! Who is going for 60?” asked the officer. The amber elf immediately raised his right hand...
“60 white cloud, 60 grey cloud...” said the officer. The dwarf of the gems raised both hands up!
“Fair enough! 80 white cloud, 80 white cloud...80 grey cloud...”
The Rangers raised their right hands.
“90 white cloud, 90 white cloud...grey cloud...”
The rich woman raised her left hand...
“95 white cloud, 95 grey cloud...95...”
The cloud dwarves raised their right hand...
“100!...100 white cloud, 100 white cloud...”
Aeln raised both hands up...
“110 white cloud, 110 grey cloud...”
The dwarf of the gems raised his left hand...
“115 white cloud...115...”
Aeln raised his right hand...
“120 white cloud...120 white cloud...120 grey cloud...”
The rangers raised both hands up...
“130 white cloud! 130 grey cloud...130 rainy cloud...”
The rich woman raised her left hand...
“135 white cloud...”
The dwarf of the gems raised both hands...
“145 white cloud! 145 white cloud...hundredfort...”
The amber elf raised his left hand...
“150! 150 white cloud...”
The rangers made the cutting off gesture...Aeln raised both hands...
“160! 160 white cloud...160 grey cloud...”
The dwarves of the clouds made the cutting-off gesture, as did the rich women; the dwarf of the gems raised his left hand...
“165 white cloud! 165 grey cloud, 165 rainy cloud...”
Aeln raised both his hands up...
“175! 175 white cloud, 175 grey cloud...175 rainy cloud...anyone?” asked the officer, looking at the last customers...
The dwarf of the gems made the cutting-off gesture as the amber elf.
“175 rainy cloud, 175 Lightning Cloud! Well done to Aeln Colt! The Idrilich mushroom is yours...”
Some sitting folk made some deluded sound, then all applauded the Knight.
Aeln stood up and went to pay for the mushroom. Slowly, everybody left the auction; only Riuluk watched the Knight pay off and leave, again armed with his soldiers.
“Hey! Knight of the Pegasus...what will you do with my mushroom?” asked Riuluk, not considering his tone,
Aeln turned his face to Riuluk.
“I will create a bow, dear Cloud Dwarf, a bow that can defeat even a dragon...if I manage to kill him, you will be invited to dinner at my castle, but be sure to bring some Azure beer with you, or I will not let you enter! I have your name on the selling documents!”
Aeln laughed, Riuluk smiled.
What a magnificent day!
Riuluk went back to the officer, took his share of the money, while the officer congratulated him on the sale. He called a flying taxi back to his tavern. Paid off the debt and got his brooch back. Poured some water on Baka and Burin, still as plants in his backpack. And stayed awake till late, getting drunk with the bartender, retelling him on and on of his guts to speak with the Knight of the Pegasus House.
