Legacy of the Dark Sage

Potions and Pills sold in auctions were a common occurrence. One of the reasons for this and their high demand was how most alchemists hoarded their finished concoctions for auctions and only sold up to good quality potions out to the masses.

The world of alchemy was a stage for power dynamics. Rogue alchemists, some of whom were hired by clans lacking their own alchemists, found themselves in a delicate position. Some demanded so much that the clans resorted to threats and suppression, while even those who asked for reasonable compensation were not immune to implication.

That was Reynard's situation until Lady Estrid found him and took him in.

Almost five hundred years had passed since then, and now Reynard has finally become a full-fledged member of the Crepuscule Family. He even earned the opportunity to receive a baptism that allowed him to become a tailed fox.

Reynard also studied under Lady Estrid's guidance for some time and became an Emperor Alchemist. With his advancement in Alchemy, Lady Estrid promoted him to the new Vice Head of the Auction House.

As for the previous vice head, he was temporarily removed from the Auction House management because Lady Estrid also wanted to teach him Alchemy.

In any case, the Crespuscule Family's plan to increase their Alchemists had been underway for some time now, and thus far, they had achieved the results they wanted.

Lady Estrid wanted complete domination in Alchemy, and the result of the Crepuscule plan had been producing positive results. They also managed to convince rogue alchemists to join their clan, and they were now contributing to the clan with everything they had.

Lady Estrid was satisfied with how the Higher Realm's Alchemy business was going, especially now that her clan had all the talented alchemists in her clan.

At least, that was what they believed until a few days later when the report for the items going to be auctioned in the open house arrived from the outer city.

Reynard, the first to see the list, could not believe his eyes when he saw the names of the potions and pills about to be auctioned. He doubted their authenticity, so he announced that he would personally check their quality and value.

He also wanted to meet the alchemist who made them and discover why they missed someone like him. Because, as far as they knew, the person who submitted the items did not belong to any clan. He might be a member of a small tribe that could have been forgotten because they lived in a remote plane.

Whatever the reason, the alchemist who gave him those potions and pills might be someone from his tribe or a rogue one who requested them to represent them in today's auction.

While it was possible that the alchemist might be part of a large clan and that they only hired the person who submitted the potions and pills, Reynard was convinced that this possibility was unlikely.

This was because everyone wanted to be on good terms with the Crepuscule Clan, and they would never pass off the chance to acquaint their alchemist with the most powerful Alchemist in the Higher Realm— Lady Estrid.

Considering all these, Reynard wanted to learn who was the alchemist who wished to avoid the scrutiny of the Crepuscule Clan.

"In case you are wondering," Reynard started as he approached the table. He picked up the first potion bottle close to him and examined its contents. "I am a full-fledged Emperor Alchemist capable enough to assess the items..."

Reynard's voice trailed off as his expression distorted slightly. His brow furrowed as he raised his hand and held the bottle toward the light.

"How...? This is impossible..."

Marigold noticed the change in Reynard's confident demeanor and approached him cautiously, "S-Sir Reynard...?"

Reynard did not respond to her. He might not have heard her call because he was too focused on the bottle in his hand.

Turning the bottle counter-clockwise before pausing for a few seconds to turn it clockwise, Reynard continued to examine the potion in his hand.

"Sir Reynard?" Marigold called once more. But like earlier, he did not respond.

Seeing Reynard's reaction, cold sweat trickled down Leif's back. She furtively sent a look at Kyran's direction, who ignored it to her chagrin.

Alta was also watching Reynard nervously. She tried some of Kyran's potions and admitted they were good quality. However, she had not seen him concoct the potions himself. Thus, she could not honestly say if the potion's quality was because of his skills as an alchemist, because of the ingredients, or the concocting techniques he used.

But seeing Reynard's expression, Alta wondered if Kyran also had talent in Alchemy.

Wait.

Cyneah was also an Alchemist. And as far as Alta knew, Cyneah's innate magic had the highest affinity to Alchemy, making Earth magic the second and the Fire third.

Maybe the potions Kyran listed on the auction were created by Cyneah? But would he reveal a potion or pill created that had traces of Soul magic?

The answer was no.

Alta knew how much Kyran prioritized protecting Cyneah's identity and safety. He would never leave a trace that could expose her.

Then, did that mean he concocted the potions and pills?

The repeating flow of the question on her head made Alta slightly dizzy. She decided to stop mulling it over and just observe the situation— all the while keeping an eye on Kyran.

Reynard took a different bottle without putting down the first one. He started shaking the second bottle and comparing the two to the light. He did that for the other bottles, pausing at times, then mumbling to himself before moving to another one.

"Hm..."

Finally, after fifteen minutes, he stopped checking the potions completely before looking toward the small transparent boxes where the pills were carefully placed. He hesitated for a moment before resolving to pick up one of the boxes.

Reynard did not open the box. Just the faint golden glow and even the medicinal scent that managed to leak out from the box confirmed the pill's quality. The latter, he knew, did not leak out because the box was not properly sealed. The pill's quality was so high that the box could not wholly contain its medicinal scent.

Anyhow, Reynard would not open the box to assess the pill because if he did, there was a high chance that the quality of the pill would be compromised after the exposure. As an alchemist, he would not recommend taking out a pill unless someone had to ingest it.

"All of these items are too rare to put value in them," Reynard finally gave his verdict after assessing the potions and that one pill. He looked at the young man beside Marigold and gave a faint smile.

"Sir Null," he started. His demeanor seemed to have changed from his overly confident one when he entered to a more humbled air. "Rather than putting up these items in auction, would you sell them to our clan?"

Hearing Reynard's suggestion almost shook Alta, Leif, and Mira's straight faces. However, they still managed to contain themselves and waited for Kyran to respond.

Kyran sighed inwardly at Reynard's suggestion. The latter's offer was one of the promising scenarios that Kyran could wish for. He would not need to meet Estrid directly to negotiate with the Crepuscule Clan. In the first place, Kyran wanted to create a certain level of connection with the Crepuscule. He admitted wanting to meet Estrid, but after Aillos's warning, he had second thoughts.

This was because he sensed Estrid's connection with The Emperor was suspicious. He also wondered how much of the truth about the Crepuscule Clan and Estrid he heard from Leif was true. Even now, he still wondered why Estrid allowed everything to happen in her clan's outer city.

"You don't have to give us your answer right away," Reynard continued when Kyran did not answer. "But, if you consider it, we will put a generous amount for them—."

"What are your offers?" Kyran asked Reynard before he could finish what he was saying.

"Pardon?"

"I may consider trading them if your offers piqued my interest."

"Trade? Not sell them?"

"We are not short on money."

'Liar.'

Cyneah, Alta, Leif, and Mira thought at the same time because they knew how much money Kyran needed at the moment. He did not want to ask for the Dragon Clan's assistance in constructing the Blade Dancer Clan's new stronghold. He also wanted to be the one to supply for this family and people's needs— not the Dragon Clan.

Reynard raised his brows, surprised at Kyran's response to his question. If the latter was not short on money, he belonged to a relatively good clan, not just a tribe. But based on the magic energy Kyran and the female mages with them possessed... Reynard could not guess which clan they belonged to.

"Hm..." he eyed Kyran once more before saying, "Is there anything in particular you need at the moment? I will arrange it so that we can provide them."

Kyran smiled faintly and replied, "I'm not also short on items."

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