CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 323 - BONDED BY DESIGN

Inside the birdcage-like enclosure stood... someone. At first glance, she looked like a young girl, perhaps nineteen years old. With long green hair that shimmered faintly under the light and she also has pointed ears. Yet her hands were tightly chained, even though she was already locked inside the cage.

The host stepped forward, his voice brimming with excitement as the spotlight focused on the cage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, what you see before you is not just any being, this is a Fae! The Fae are an ancient race renowned for their incredible longevity, capable of living for centuries while retaining the youthful appearance of human teenagers. And yes, you heard that right, Fae never ages beyond the form you see before you tonight!"

He gestured toward the chained girl in the cage. "The Fae possess an extraordinary affinity for magic, intricately tied to the roots of ancient sorcery itself. Whoever wins this bid will not just gain a companion, but a living vessel of pure arcane energy, a force that could elevate any team to greatness! Now, let’s begin. The bidding starts at twenty million UGD!"

"Fae?" Atlas murmured softly.

Ember exhaled sharply, kicking the table in front of her in frustration. "That bastard," she muttered. "This isn’t the first time I’ve seen slavery. It’s not uncommon these days. But seeing it paraded like this in an auction... is so frustrating."

"Fae aren’t a race normally found in our world," Atlas said quietly.

"Yes," Luna replied. "This Fae must have come from another realm. I can’t imagine how whoever’s selling her managed to capture one."

Atlas turned toward Edrik. "What’s the main motivation for someone to acquire a Fae, Edrik?"

Edrik bowed slightly before answering. "The Fae possess incredibly strong bloodlines, my lord. To be straightforward, most seek them for breeding purposes. Their offspring carry blessings and enhanced affinity inherited from their Fae parent."

"It’s not like inter-racial unions are unheard of," Ember added bitterly. "But this girl is clearly enslaved... forced to do something completely against her will."

The host, oblivious to the tension, raised his voice again, his tone filled with excitement. "Twenty-five million! Twenty-six! Twenty-seven! The bids keep coming, ladies and gentlemen. Don’t miss your chance at this rare and extraordinary being! Who’s next?!"

Edrik continued. "In several worlds that I’m familiar with," he began, drawing everyone’s attention, "the Fae were originally grown to be bound to humans through a kind of... bonding."

Atlas frowned, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean," Edrik continued, "based on ancient history, the Fae can only unlock their full potential through a bond with a human, and yes, specifically with humans. That bond awakens special abilities within the Fae and grants a mirrored blessing to the human partner as well. It’s almost like a curse placed upon their race."

"Does that apply to most Fae, Edrik?" Atlas asked.

"As far as I know, yes, my lord. That origin is common among many worlds, though some realms have slightly different versions. Still, the truth remains. The value of a Fae goes far beyond simple magical ability. Whether or not the bidders here understand that is another matter entirely."

Ember leaned forward. "Is the bond you’re talking about something like marriage, Edrik?"

"Not marriage exactly," Edrik replied, shaking his head. "It’s much deeper. The Fae essentially offers their soul to the human they bond with. It’s a spiritual and magical union that ties their very essence together."

"But humans live far shorter lives than Fae," Luna said softly.

"That’s the curse they must bear," Edrik explained. "The bond can only be made once. When the human they are bound to dies, the Fae can never form that bond again. Their power returns to what it was before bonding. Sealed within them. It’s as if their very being remember the one they chose, and from that moment on, no one else can take that place."

Ember looked uneasy. "So how do we even know if this Fae can still bond with someone or not?"

"Only the Fae themselves can reveal that," Edrik replied. "But judging from how the host described her, he doesn’t seem aware of this detail. Or maybe he does, and only a few people here truly understand what they’re bidding for."

Atlas fell silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "Is that... the same as the Sacred Bond I share with Lyrassa?"

Edrik bowed slightly. "No, my lord. The Fae’s bond is more of a curse than a sacred pact. Once it’s formed, the Fae must obey every command of their human partner. In the worst sense, it becomes little more than enslavement."

Atlas let out a quiet breath. "I never realized the Fae suffered something like that... It’s tragic. For such an ancient and rare race to bear a curse that turns their gift into a chain. What must have happened to them in the past for their bloodline to carry such a burden?"

They kept watching as the auction grew even more intense. The host’s voice thundered across the hall.

"Thirty million! Thirty-five! Forty-five million. This is madness! Is the insanity going to continue? Forty-nine! Fifty million!"

"The price just keeps going up," Atlas murmured under his breath.

"That’s probably because some of them plan to do something awful to that poor Fae," Ember said bitterly. "Having a Fae partner who looks like a teenage girl... only those filthy lords with disgusting desires would spend that much money just for that reason."

She turned to Atlas, noticing the faint crease between his brows. He looked back at her, confused. "What?"

"No," she said quickly.

"I know what you’re thinking," Atlas replied dryly. "You think I’m one of those people, don’t you?"

Ember laughed softly. "Why would you jump to that conclusion, Atlas? Of course you’re not that low. But hey, if Luna lent you some money, would you consider bidding for her?"

"Yes, Atlas," Luna said without hesitation. "I still have fifty million in reserve. You can use it if you want to bid. I’m certain that Fae girl would have a much better life under your care."

Atlas blinked, his tone turning flat. "You just spent the last few minutes mocking the people bidding for her, and now you’re suggesting I do the same?"

"So you’re not interested in her?" Ember asked teasingly.

Atlas sighed. "You might want to rephrase your choice of words, Ember."

At that moment, Edrik spoke again. "I can explain the Fae bonding in more detail if needed, my lord. I actually agree with Lady Luna’s point. The bond itself isn’t inherently wrong, it’s meant to be a mutual connection that benefits both sides. The problem begins when one exploits the other. And in this case, it’s almost always the Fae who suffer. In the worlds I’ve studied, humans often hunt them down, and the Fae have no choice but to submit. It’s as if their very existence was designed to find the one human they must give their only bonding opportunity to, and spend their eternity with that decision."

Atlas turned to him, narrowing his eyes slightly. "You sound oddly invested in this, Edrik. Don’t tell me you’ve bonded with a Fae in your past life."

"I never had that chance, my lord," Edrik replied evenly.

"And if you did get that chance?" Atlas pressed.

Edrik bowed slightly, his expression unreadable. "I would do whatever it takes if it meant bringing something good to the people under my care, my lord."

Atlas sighed quietly, realizing how skillfully Edrik had dodged the question. The man had always been quick with clever words. Especially when it came to strange suggestions like the one that had led Atlas to form the Sacred Bond with Lyrassa in the past. Still, beneath his calm tone, Edrik’s principles ran far deeper than most would expect.

"So," Luna said as she leaned closer, "will you accept my offer, Atlas?"