The news spread fast.
It was not loud or dramatic. It spread quickly.
Someone said, "A rare pill is being sold today."
People did not know where it came from.
It was supposed to be very good.
At first people thought it was a rumor going around the academy market.
Then the details came out.
It was refined to a level.
The Aether balance was perfect.
There were no impurities in it.
That's when people stopped moving.
They stopped talking.
They started paying attention.
In the academys central exchange hall people were getting ready for the sale.
There was a platform in the center surrounded by seats that went up like stairs. Students, teachers and some important academy members had gathered, talking quietly but clearly excited.
This was not normal.
Not for first year students.
Not for the academy.
Riven leaned back in his seat arms crossed, looking unimpressed.
"If I came here just to watch rich people fight over medicine I will be disappointed."
Mira sat beside him eyes shining with curiosity. "No this is exciting! What if its something "
Riven said, "It's just a pill."
Mira said, "It's a pill."
Riven said, "That doesn't make it better."
Tarin sat quietly looking at the crowd. "Look around. Many people showed up for this to be ordinary."
Lyra nodded slightly. "Even second year students are here."
Her eyes moved carefully.
Kael sat silently among them.
He was watching.
Not the stage.
The people.
Because the way people reacted told him more than the item itself.
Then a voice cut through the hall.
"Welcome."
The person selling the pill stepped forward calm and in control.
"We have gathered today for an item " he continued. "An item that has already caused a lot of excitement within the academy."
He paused for a moment.
Just enough to build tension.
"It was made by someone we don't know."
The murmurs got louder instantly.
"No one knows who made it?"
"Who would hide something like this?"
"Someone who's very confident."
Kael remained still.
Unseen.
Unnoticed.
The person selling the pill said, "Before we begin we have invited a people to look at the item."
That was when a young man walked forward.
He was calm. Had sharp eyes.
The moment he appeared the atmosphere changed.
"That's Arion Vale."
"Hes one of the alchemy students."
"He's already very good at it."
Riven leaned toward Tarin. "Let me guess. He's a genius."
Tarin nodded. "Yes."
Riven sighed. "Of Course he is."
Arion stepped onto the platform looking at the vial presented before him.
He was not excited.
He was not curious.
He was just evaluating it.
He picked it up.
He looked at it.
Then his expression changed.
Slightly.
"…This is interesting."
The entire hall went silent.
Arion rarely reacted.
When he did it meant something.
The person selling the pill asked, "What do you think?"
Arion did not answer immediately.
He looked at the pill again.
Carefully this time.
Then he said, "This is not something a beginner could make."
Whispers exploded.
"Is it real?"
"Then who made it?"
Arion continued.
"The Aether flow is perfectly balanced. The structure is stable and very good."
He paused.
"Even I would not guarantee this level consistently."
There was silence.
Then chaos.
Riven sat up straight. "Okay now I'm interested."
Mira grabbed his arm. "He said even he can't do it!"
Tarins eyes narrowed slightly. "This just became important."
Lyra did not speak.
Her eyes moved toward Kael.
Kael did not react.
Not outwardly.
Internally he thought, "So this is the standard."
The person selling the pill smiled faintly.
"Then we begin."
He raised his hand.
"Starting bid. Ten Aether Stones."
The bidding started.
The numbers jumped instantly.
Riven blinked. "Wait, what?"
Mira leaned forward. "It just started!"
The bidding continued.
Riven laughed in disbelief. "It's a pill!"
Mira grabbed her head. "Why is it so expensive?"
The bidding kept going.
Kael sat still.
Watching.
He thought, "Is it worth that much?"
He had used low-quality materials.
Basic techniques.
Yet this happened.
Riven leaned closer. "If I ever meet the person who made this I will ask for a discount."
Mira nodded seriously. "We become friends with them."
Riven smirked. "Or you marry him."
Mira froze. "What?"
Kael looked away.
He thought, "That won't be necessary."
Lyra heard that. Smiled slightly.
The bidding continued.
Until it reached three hundred fifty.
The hall fell silent again.
That was the bid so far.
No one spoke.
Until Arion said, "Three hundred fifty."
His voice was calm and certain.
This time no one countered.
The person selling the pill raised his hand.
"Three hundred fifty twice sold."
The deal was done.
The hall erupted again.
"Three hundred fifty?"
"That's insane!"
"For a pill?"
Riven leaned back slowly. "I'm in the profession."
Mira nodded. "We all are."
Tarin was thinking.
Lyra was watching Kael.
Because his reaction was wrong.
Not shocked.
Not impressed.
Just quiet.
Lyra said softly "You're not surprised."
Kael glanced at her.
He thought, "Should I be?"
Lyras eyes narrowed slightly.
She thought, "You tell me."
Meanwhile on the platform Arion held the vial.
He was studying it again.
He murmured, "Anonymous."
Then a faint smile formed.
He thought, "Interesting."
He turned and walked away.
His mind was already moving.
"Whoever made this I will find you."
Above the auction hall in a chamber two figures observed everything.
"Three hundred fifty Aether Stones " one said.
"For an appearance."
The other nodded slowly.
"This is not a coincidence."
A pause.
Then "Find the creator."
below the crowd slowly began to disperse.
Excitement lingered.
Rumors spread faster, than ever.
"A hidden master, a genius, someone "
In the middle of it all Kael walked away.
Quietly.
Unnoticed.
Now the academy was no longer calm.
Because something had appeared.
Something unknown.
Everyone was looking for it.
Even if they didn't realize they had already seen him.
The Hidden Artisan had taken his step.
The world had responded.