"Hmmm," I groaned.
"Quit your sulking," Art sighed, holding his glass up to the chandelier. Pink light refracted through the surface and onto his face. With a smile, he took a sip and let out a satisfied chirp. "That's the good stuff."
"Should you even be drinking? Aren't you underage?" I asked, looking up at my bubbly older brother.
He ignored me and, with a grin, took another swig.
'Brilliant'
An arm wrapped around my shoulder and pulled me close. "Liaaaaaasss," Elijah smirked. His breath reeked of the same wine my brother drank.
I pushed him off me, sending the teen stumbling back slightly.
"Heeeeyyyy, no need for that!" he slurred, wobbling towards Art.
My brother caught him and wrapped his arm under his friend's shoulder.
"You should be more like your brother!" he sighed, swaying slightly.
I looked to my brother, who looked to me in kind.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Art shouted, jerking away from a pursed-lipped Elijah, after he kissed his cheek.
"Elijah," Art warned through a laugh, shoving the boy's face away with his palm. "Personal space."
"But I love youuu…" Elijah whined dramatically, the words dragging together as he nearly folded sideways.
"You've known me for like six months."
"And it's been the best six months of my life."
"Gods above," I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose.
I leaned back against the pillar we stood near as royals and nobles weaved with and against each other.
'Is that… no way'
Curtis fell to a knee before a stunned redhead.
"What the hell is he doing!" I murmured, slack-jawed.
"What's happening?" Art asked quietly.
My eyes lifted toward him. Elijah hung limply off his shoulder whilst mumbling something incomprehensible.
"No idea."
Claire took his hand and pulled him to his feet.
"Whatever it was, it seems to have gone well," Art smiled, patting my back.
'I guess I'll ask him later-'
"Elijah, you bastard! Get back here!" Art shouted.
The black-haired teen laughed as he ran off with my brother's glass of wine. Not wasting another moment, he shot off after his friend.
The pair disappeared into the crowd, their shouts growing distant. The orchestra that I had subconsciously ignored up until now grew noticeably louder as the two red-haired teens began to dance some kind of waltz across the hardwood.
I instinctively reached for my shoulder, which ached faintly at the memory of Claire's rapier sliding through it.
I rubbed at the spot unconsciously before pushing off the pillar. A servant passed nearby carrying a tray of drinks. Without thinking much of it, I grabbed one of the crystal glasses from the silver platter.
Dark red liquid sloshed lazily inside as I raised it for inspection.
'People actually enjoy this stuff?'
The glass felt oddly delicate in my hand as I wandered through the ballroom.
Nobles laughed around me as students retold their heroics of the tournament with exaggerated gestures. I couldn't help but snicker. All their hard work, all the years they had trained, fought and studied would account for them becoming little more than a household knight or personal mage to some fat cat.
"Hey, you're that Leywin boy, right?" a man in his mid-forties asked, smiling down at me.
I slowed slightly as the noble approached. His pale hair was kept and styled, with it slicked back behind both ears. His dark blue suit strained around his stomach, while several jewelled rings glittered across his fingers beneath the chandelier's high light.
"Yes, I am, sir?" I replied with a slight bow.
'Maybe I can scam a gold off him or something?'
"The healing fire deviant!" he exclaimed loudly, drawing the attention of several nearby nobles. "That was some performance out there!"
'Performance? Ahh, it's gonna be one of those nights, huh?'
"Thank you," I answered with a strained smile. My grip tightened around the stem of the crystal glass.
"What are your plans for after you graduate?" another man asked as he stepped closer. His hair was dark, almost navy in colour, as faint grey strands plumed around his balding head.
"I'm technically not a student yet-" I took an apprehensive step back, bumping into another man.
He ignored me. "A talent like yours would fetch quite the price."
"Is that so-"
"I'm sure several houses would kill for a mage capable of regrowing limbs," a woman laughed into her fan.
"Would they now-"
"Say, kid, my granddaughter is about your age-"
"Back off, Wykes, I was here first," the balding man said to the fat man who was somehow related to that hunk of a lance.
"Quiet, Ravenpor!" he spat back, "He's a commoner, he should be honoured that-"
An arm yanked me back between two of the gathered men as the nobles began to encircle me.
I was pulled through the crowd until the cold of night encompassed me. Stumbling to a stop, I finally looked up and saw her.
"Kat? What are you-"
She didn't say anything and just stared at me with those brilliant twin chestnut orbs of hers. Her hair had been braided and fell over her left shoulder, coming to join with a white ribbon in stunning contrast to the elegance of her raven hair. Her dress was darker than the others she'd worn to previous parties I'd attended alongside her. This time, it was a deep navy rather than her usual icy blue, making her pale skin glisten like untouched snow.
She reached towards me, pressing her palm to my shoulder. "Does it hurt?"
"What?"
"Does it hurt?" she repeated, gripping and scrumpling my shirt.
"N-no…"
She didn't look at me. Her eyes remain fixed on me, but she doesn't look at me.
The noise of the orchestra, of dancing, of the party is distant behind us. Muffled by her closeness, by my heartbeat drumming in my ears.
"Kat?" I repeat softly, tilting my head as I smile at her.
Her body twitched as she finally acknowledged me. Lifting her head to meet me, tears ran down her cheeks.
"She mutilated you," Kat whispered.
Moonlight caught the tears running down her cheeks as her hand trembled against my shoulder. Her fingers pressed harder into the fabric, creasing it. She pulled herself closer to me, pressing herself into my chest and torso.
Hesitantly, I ran a hand along the back of her head as she dampened my shirt.
"I'm fine, Kat," I murmured as I continued to stroke her hair.
"But she-"
"I'm fine, Kat," I repeated softly as I smiled down at her.
She looked up at me from her embrace. Light caught her glistening eyes as she continued to hitch ragged breaths.
"But didn't it hurt? How can you stand here and act like you're okay?"
I brushed away a stray tear from her cheek.
"Because pain is only temporary, if it means I can get strong enough to protect my friends, my family…" I smiled down at her, "You."
"I don't want you to get hurt because of me," she said, staring at me with her soft eyes.
I exhaled a heavy breath. "I'm sorry, Kat, but that's not possible. I'm going to get hurt; everyone does sooner or later, but I want to get strong enough so that it won't kill me."
Her brows pulled together as she stared up at me.
My hand continued to glide slowly along the back of her head. Silken strands slipped between my fingers.
She lowered her gaze again.
"Come study at Xyrus Academy with me."
"Huh?"
"Help me get stronger…" I hesitated slightly before the words left me quieter than intended. "Please?"
"Okay," she said, not wasting a beat. She pulled away from me with a hitch as she wiped away the last of her tears.
She was radiant beneath the faint moonlight.
"I-" I shook my head and took a moment to compose myself, letting out a shallow breath. "Thank you, Kathyln," I smiled.
Before I could even react, she pressed her soft lips to my cheek.
'Wha-'
She smiled up at me with a tilt of her head and brushed past me, returning to the party behind us.
My fingers slowly rose to touch the spot.
'What… was that?'
'Why did she do that?'
I meandered forward towards the stone railing that stood tall at the balcony's edge. I leaned against it, letting my upper half hang over its edge.
"She's emotional, Lias," I muttered to myself
"She is a girl after all…"
"Not because she's a girl, but it's Kat, Lias, she isn't emotional, well, she is emotional, but not like that… was she Scared? Scared for me? But why would she do that…"
A groan escaped me as I flopped around onto my back. The night's air was cool to my warm face. I pressed both hands together as I covered my mouth and let out a deep breath.
"Why did she agree so readily?"
"…Wait"
"No…"
"No, no, no," I whispered, shaking my head. "Don't be stupid."
"But she…" my hand returned to the fading warmth of her kiss.
I settled against the railing as I looked out at the heavens above me.
"This is so stupid… Why am I acting like this?"
"Because you're nine."
The voice caused me to jump out of my skin.
"T-Tess?"
She stood 2 meters away from me. Her arms folded neatly beneath her chest as she leaned against the same rail I did. Faint traces of moonlight reflected off her long, gunmetal hair that flowed loosely down her open back. A rich, evergreen dress that matched her eyes wrapped her form as she stared at me menacingly.
"W-what are you doing out here? How long have you been out here?"
"Well before you or Princess Kathyln got here," she said, smirking at me.
"W-what's with that look?"
"Nothing," she smiled, swirling the champagne flute in her hand. She sipped the glass slowly before looking back at me. "You're both adorable."
"Zip it"
She swirled her glass as she looked back towards the party happening behind us. Curtis socialised, swaying with the music's rhythm as he charmed nobleman's daughters. The kings of all three species drank together at the bar, laughing away. People danced with each other, weaving in pairs. Arthur danced with our sister.
My eyes snapped back to Tess. She smiled faintly as he twirled Ellie.
'Ohhh'
I shuffled closer to her.
"So why've you been avoiding my brother?"
She ignored me.
"I know you liiiikeee hiiiimmm," I cooed, poking at her cheek.
"I love him," she said curtly.
"Oh…"I slipped slightly from the rail.
"I looovvee him," she groaned before crying. "I love him so much, Lias," she wailed, "I wish I could tell him, but I can't."
She clung to me, gripping my shirt with both hands just below my shoulders.
"A-and why can't you?" I asked, taking a step away from her.
"Because I just can't!" she protested before releasing me.
She slumped to the floor. Sitting on her knees, she ran a finger across the stone.
"I wish I could be so open like you and Kathyln…"
"What's tha-"
"She's so cute as well, isn't she, uhhh," she groaned, "But I was cute her age too, right?" she asked, looking up to me hopefully with her damp emerald orbs.
"Yeahhh…" I nodded hesitantly. "The cutest girl in the entire world," I said, forcing a smile at the intoxicated teen.
A smile beamed on her face as she scratched her cheek.
"You're a good boy, you know, Lias," she said with a wobble.
"Thanks, I gue-"
"It's a shame I couldn't beat you up in front of Art like Claire did, though," she mumbled.
I pinched my nose and let out an exhale.
"I do too, then that way, Art could've come to rescue you after I pummelled you."
"Art huh huh…" she laughed, smiling away in her own world.
'Fucking hell…'
"Come on, don't sit on the floor…" I said, dragging her to her feet.
She stumbled forward, but I caught her, letting her lean against me.
"Easy,"
She leaned her head against my shoulder as we walked towards the vibrancy indoors.
"Oh, Lias, I forgot," she said lazily.
"Forgot what?"
"There's something I wanted to ask you to do for me…"
---
"Looking sharp, Lias," Tess smiled, slapping my back.
"Do I need to wear the cape? It makes me look stupid," I groaned as I tugged my shirt straight.
"You look stupid anyway, but it makes you look regal," she said, not breaking pace, "You agree, right, Lily?"
The brown-haired girl walked before me and tied my white half cape. "Come on now, Lias, you're not a baby anymore," she said, looping the golden string. "There, perfect!" she beamed, tapping my shoulders.
"What exactly is his role again, president?" Clive grumbled.
"He's the director's representative."
"But does it need to be a commoner?" he said, glaring at me.
"He is a student directly under the director's supervision; he is by far the most qualified candidate," she answered matter-of-factly.
"But Princess Kathyln is also so why couldn't sh-"
"Because I said so, and the princess has only just started attending, so she needs more of the director's attention than Lias. Now, are you done with questioning my authority?"
"Yes, princess, sorry, princess," he mumbled.
'Sucker'
"Good!" she smiled before looking all 5 of us over.
With an exhale, I followed the procession of white and Blue as they strode out under the high stage lights.