Next door to Fairylyl, on the neighboring planet of Ukiuq, a woman with a very tall and athletic physique, like that of a swimmer, received a text message on her device. She has a rich, chestnut-toned complexion, long silken black hair, and piercing deep blue eyes. She has a long, gray shark tail with several scars and bite marks on it, showing the fruits of many battles. She wore a tight-fitting black wetsuit, with a fish-themed blue and white trench coat over it, and a pair of tall white boots with black heels.

  As for the message sent to her…it took a little over four minutes to arrive from Valoria back on Fairylyl. And that's on the short end since Ukiuq happens to be close to Fairylyl now. Since the two planets orbit their star at differing speeds, it could even take almost a half-hour to receive a text message when they are the furthest away from each other. Light-speed communication? A thing of the past.

  The shark lady sat up from her seat and set out to visit the leader of the land. Surrounding her all the while was the ancient-looking yet deceptively technologically advanced frozen planet known as Ukiuq. The walls of the cave were adorned with torches, serving as a light source alongside the glowing crystals decking out the cave, and huge robotic appendages could be seen and heard working away at the landscape for minerals and oil.

  A good walk later and she stood before the door leading to the underground palace. Opening it, she looked up at the young woman standing before the throne — bright orange hair, fair skin, and light brown eyes, wearing a blue parka coat with nude-colored pants, and brown gloves and matching boots. The shark lady stood before her, and informed her:

  Kirsi, tanaqun iqsaq uris kutifal.

  (Kirsi, news (of) me some, you (at))

  "Kirsi, I have some news for you."

  Kirsi raised a brow, taking one step forward.

  Tanaqun kuti iqsaqun tuat uq, Delphina?

  (News (of) you (to) me, what there, Delphina?)

  "What is the news, Delphina?"

  Nun ani taqilukun sapiqun.

  (It my mission (relates to) (is) important (to))

  "It has to do with my mission."

  Amtaqiluk kutifal agyarikut?

  ((The) mission you (at) success?)

  "Did you complete the mission?"

  Delphina nodded.

  Nal, inufal taqilukin agyarikut.

  (Yes, I (at) mission (with) success)

  "Yes, I completed the mission."

  Kirsi nodded in response, an ever-so-soft smile on her face.

  Yu...kuti khasa qupuk?

  (So...you here why?)

  "So, what brings you here?"

  Delphina’s expression hardened.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  Tananun qanaq zazizuk Valoriafaluzun.

  (Something (of) there important, Valoria (in) (currently ongoing))

  "Something important is taking place in Valoria."

  Kirsi’s eyes narrowed as she gave a nod.

  Naltuk. Tuatun Valoriatuzun?

  (Yes (I understand). What (of) Valoria (is) (currently ongoing)?)

  "Understood. What is happening in Valoria?"

  Zazizukun auctiun Valoriafal.

  (Important (of) auction Valoria (in))

  "An important auction."

  Kirsi’s eyes widened at this, taking a brief moment to think about this supposed auction before asking:

  Kutikun mazhini invistigatiunun auctiunun uq?

  (You (to) is pleasant investigation (of) auction (at) there?)

  "Would you like to investigate the auction?"

  Nal, unium zazizuk uq vayuk.

  (Yes, item important there (is) present)

  "Yes, there's an important item there."

  Utki, tulu unium kutikun zazizuk?

  (And, that item (to) you (is) important?)

  "And is that item important to you?"

  Nal, unium minunun zazizuk. Auctiunun vililuk minunuchati.

  (Yes, item me (to) (is) important. Auction (to) quick I (will).)

  “Yes, the item is important to me. I will go there quickly.”

  Kirsi nodded once more, her expression resolute.

  Naltuk. Naniqirai, Delphina.

  (Yes (I understand). Safe (imperative), Delphina.)

  Understood. Be safe, Delphina.

  With a nod in response, Delphina went on her way to Valoria. This is something for the ages.

  …

  Delphina traveled to Valoria, excited about the potential this supposed auction could hold. Upon her arrival, she couldn't help but feel amazed by the grandeur of the city. The towering skyscrapers, the neon lights, the lively atmosphere, the smell of bread from Caffè e Dolci and other bakeries further down the strip, and all the advanced technology surrounding her…it was nothing like she ever saw before on the cold and barren Ukiuq. Her excitement only grew as she approached the venue where the auction was to take place…

  Delphina entered the building, marveling at the pristine interior and the opulent decorations. She felt somewhat out of her element, not used to being among such finery and sophistication, but she kept her calm demeanor and remained composed. As she waited for the auction to begin, she noticed several people passing her, eyeing her attire and eyeing her shark tail. She knew her appearance was a standout among the well-dressed crowd…

  However, she tried to keep her cool and brushed off any stares or whispers, not letting it dampen her mood.

  As the auction was being set up, Delphina took a seat, watching as various precious items were put on display. Some of these items seemed like they held some power or had magical properties, but nothing piqued her interest just yet…

  The auction was about to begin, the audience becoming more excited and the chatter around the room building in anticipation. Delphina took notice of the other bidders around her, all of whom were dressed in formal attire and looked confident.

  One in particular, a middle-aged man with a smug look on his face, caught her attention. He seemed to have his eyes on a specific item up for auction…

  The auctioneer tapped his microphone to capture the attention of the room, signalling the auction's commencement. The lights were dimmed low, adding an air of mystique to the atmosphere.

  "Buonasera, ladies and gentlemen," he boomed, "Thank you all for attending tonight's special event. We have a range of exceptional items for you to bid on tonight, each with their unique qualities. We will reveal our first item shortly...”

  The audience listened intently, their eyes fixed on the stage. Delphina's gaze was focused on the mysterious man, noticing his eyes glued to a particular object in the center of the stage, hidden behind a black cloth. She could tell this was the item he was most interested in. Little did they know, this item will cause more of a ruckus than anticipated…