The guest house came alive as the hour of the celebration drew closer.
Servants moved quietly through the wide halls, adjusting lights, opening balconies, and laying out clothes that had been prepared in advance. The mountain air outside carried heat even at this height, the distant glow of lava rivers painting the sky in slow-moving reds and oranges.
Lyrate emerged first.
She wore a deep red dress that matched her hair perfectly, the fabric flowing, like it had been grown rather than stitched. Fine patterns traced the edges, subtle and alive, reacting faintly to her presence. She glanced down at herself once, then looked up with a satisfied nod.
Aurora followed soon after, dressed in layered shades of blue. The cloth shimmered like water under moonlight, shifting slightly as she moved. She spun once in place, clearly pleased, then grinned when she caught Lyrate watching.
"What?" Aurora said. "If I'm going to a demon celebration, I'm not underdressing."
