"Humph. What do you know?" Snorted Adam, crossing his arms over his ethereal chest. Then, he smirked, a playful smile stretching across his lips. "I bought it for when you grow old. What a shame for someone to lose his hair," he added, shaking his head with a mockingly downcast expression.
He gazed at the boy's face as it gradually distorted into a worried grimace and as he raised his hand to cover his hair.
Then, feeling good after winning the auction, he shoved the nail further, causing Julius to tremble.
"Did you know? If you push your body too hard, you're more likely to go bald."
"Stop lying!" Julius yelled, his voice quivering with terror at the thought of losing his hair.
Upon seeing the expected result, everyone burst into laughter at Julius' expanses. With so many magical items, potions, and materials at their disposal, how could they go bald if they invested enough coins?
A few seconds later, Adam's features softened. "Don't worry. If you really go bald, I'll give you the material," he said, a radiant smile tugging at his lips. "In the meantime, I'll keep it for my craft. It's the most important piece I'm missing."
After all, he would be too ashamed to walk around in a hairless puppet. This high-quality material came at the right moment, solving the problem. The boy wasn't wrong, though. He had used all his savings for it. But did he care? 'It's not like I have anything else to buy, and I won't find another tier-four material, anyway.'
"You spent fifty-two thousand gold for that?!" Julius exclaimed, his brow creasing into a frown. He understood more than clearly what his brother hinted at, and he didn't like that. Yet, Adam's answer made him facepalm again.
"Yeah! All for the style points!"
However, a soft smile soon stretched his lips. Not many things could brighten his brother's days. If squandering his own money to buy out of price hair made him happy, then he had nothing to argue about.
After a few minutes of banters, the chamber's door creaked open, revealing the auctioneer. Behind him, the floating table filled with Follicora hairs and two guards.
The man adjusted his glasses and offered a bright smile. Then, he congratulated them for their successful bidding before asking for the forty thousand gold coins to complete the property transfer.
Julius reluctantly handed Adam's heavy pouch to the man, imagining the amount of tier-three beast cores he could have purchased with it before shaking his head. 'It's not my money in the first place,' he thought, resolving to become financially independent. Unbeknownst to him, his resolve mirrored his big brother's, showcasing the profound influence Adam had on him as a mentor, friend, and...
Then, the auctioneer retrieved an elegant leather bag from a guard, poured the hair inside, and handed it to Julius. "Thank you for your compliance with our rules," he said, his tone warm and appreciative. "I sincerely hope to see you compete again in our Petal auction hall."
After bidding goodbye, the group retraced their steps to the college before separating. They each shared their eagerness to discover Adam's puppet once done, even asking if he required some specific items to help him.
However, the ghost believed he had everything he needed. Actually, he didn't. After a moment of thought, he realised his style score would be too low just with the hair. Thus, he asked for a blue and green gem and a set of dark and red clothes. After all, he couldn't walk around naked, either!
With everything sorted, he closed his eyes, planning to spend the next twelve days in the dream place. He wouldn't need to leave since Julius could sleep with the materials in hand to transfer them to him, allowing him to focus on his task wholeheartedly.
Seated on his bed, Adam opened his eyes in his familiar apartment. His lips stretched into a grin as he gazed at the Runebark's block gifted by Selene and the drake's bone he got from the Beast Emperor. Ever since he saw them, he knew he would use them today.
Unfortunately, the earlier auction didn't offer tier-four minerals, forcing him to abandon his hidden weapons plan.
However, with the high mana conductivity of the wood and the bone's extreme density, he believed he could craft something formidable.
Without wasting time, he rose from his bed and outstretched his right hand toward the wood. Sky blue mana, reflecting his perfect affinity, twirled at his fingertips. With a gentle order, the energy phased through the wood, scanning its interior.
A shiver ran down his spine as the feedback he received was entirely different from what he had been used to in the past. The sensation was so different, as if... 'As if my fingers were touching it. No, it's even more precise,' he thought, raising his brow in interest as a realisation struck him. His mana affinity's usage wasn't solely limited to combat!
Curious to discover the extent of his newfound powers in crafting, he closed his eyes to focus on the nature element. Soon, he felt the block's faint yet stubborn traces of vitality.
A peaceful image flooded his mind, revealing a verdant landscape stretching as far as the eye could see. In its center rose a towering tree, reaching several hundred meters into the sky. Its lush canopy cast refreshing shadows over the boundless plains, filling him with a sensation of serenity.
A moment later, he woke up from his trance, a relaxed smile gracing his lips unbeknownst to him. "You once were a king among trees," he muttered softly, his voice filled with admiration. "Your wood deserves to be turned into the king of puppets. Nothing less."
As his voice lingered, he felt the embers of the wood's vitality shake for a split second. He didn't know if his imagination played a trick on his mind, but he felt as if the block accepted to collaborate with him, acknowledging his ambition.
With a shake of his head, he chased that bizarre idea away, refocusing on his task. Yet, a mystical murmur whispered in his ears. Not words. Emotions.
"Cut here?" he asked, seeking to confirm his understanding with a frown.
'Am I going crazy?' He wondered, failing to comprehend the abnormal situation.