"I didn't know anyone else would be here." An unfamiliar voice echoed through the glass room, breaking the silence.
I turned around to see a woman with lustrous raven hair, clad in a pristine black and white gown, sitting in a corner. A puff of smoke passed through the smoking pipe she held in her delicate hand, a scent of lavender lingering in the air.
The lady glanced in our direction, a curious expression painted on her face.
"I like your face," she muttered, glancing at Zei as she put her smoke pipe down.
In a flicker of a moment, she vanished from my sight. I spun, only to find her standing in front of me, catching her off guard, "W-what?" Zei stammered, stumbling back half a step.
"The scars look quite deep. Did you fight a Nameless? Or perhaps a Profane Born?" Her hand brushed lightly against Zei's face.
"Could you please back off a little?" I urged stepping in between, her gaze settled on me for a moment before backing off.
"Pardon my manners, I'm not used to talking with people formally after all," She stretched her hand forward.
"I'm Veriana Zephyrion," her voice reflected confidence.
"I'm Rayne, and this is my partner, Zeilona."
"I'm Alina Greenheart, and this is Icarus Stormlight."
"It's an honor to meet someone from the esteemed Zephyrion family," Icarus said with a polite bow.
"The pleasure is mine," Veriana replied with a soft nod.
Icarus turned to me, "The Zephyrion family is renowned for their vast knowledge, they hold esoteric knowledge even the most prominent figures would struggle to procure. That includes forbidden runes and ancient relics." He added, "Lady Veriana is the heir to the Zephyrion family."
"So what brings you here?"
"We just wanted a tour of the Moonveil estate, the observatory seemed like an ideal place to explore."
"Well, I can't argue with that," she nodded.
"What about Lady Veriana?" Icarus muttered, "I assumed you would be with Lord Zephyrion."
"We did come together, but he had to excuse himself," Veriana answered. "I am not sure, but something is unfolding behind the scenes."
"You think something is going to happen."
"Who knows...whatever it is, we'll know soon enough."
Her gaze turned towards us, "I haven't seen you before. Who did you come here with?"
"We are Asher Vermillion's disciples."
Veriana paused for a few seconds, a surprised look painted on his face."The Scarlet Reaper Asher? You're his disciple?" she asked, bewildered.
"That's right," I nodded.
"Well…I certainly didn't expect that," she said. "Looks like the old order is indeed fading, the world is bringing change in the most unexpected ways."
Just then, the horns blew, echoing through the Moonveil estate, the sound reverberating through the glass walls and grand pillars.
"Looks like they are here," Icarus murmured.
Zei's POV
We descended into the main hall just in time. Kristen and Asher seemed to have returned as well, standing in the middle amidst the crowd, and an unexplainable expression flickered on their face. The gates opened, and a suffocating pressure swept through the entire room.
Two figures stepped inside, and with each step they took, they reflected authority and elegance.
The older man wore a black armour carved with intricate patterns and runes, the sword hanging around his waist seemed to bend reality itself according to its will, his face expressionless, a single deep scar running down his left eye.
Beside him, A woman walked, draped in a pristine white and golden robe, her presence felt heavier than the man's, her eyes seemingly containing an endless void.
No one dared to utter a single word in their presence, only the sound of their steps echoed through the grand hall.
The woman spoke up first, "I'm Rienne Willow, the General leading the Eleithiyan army." The woman announced, her voice calm and steady ."We apologize for the delay, an urgent matter came up that needed our immediate attention." Her tone softened, "The reason for this grandiose wall, as you have guessed, is to celebrate our Victory and reclaim a lost fragment of our history."
A ripple of anticipation coursed through the hall.
"The lost city Indrecia is now under Yggdrasil's grace once again."
"This ball also honors the lives of the fallen soldiers, the blood they shed is what made this expedition a triumph." She raised her glass, "To the fallen ones, may their souls rest peacefully within Yggdrasil."
"To the fallen ones." Several voices erupted, whispers and murmurs filling the room. The gentle hum of violins and piano echoed through the hall.
"I can't believe they actually succeeded," Veriana whispered,"Indrecia was a region which was lost to profanity during the war against Aeriths. To reclaim it is of great significance to the people of Eleithiya."
"But it did not come without a cost," I said quietly."Many must have perished for the sake of it."
"All victories eventually come at a cost, don't they?" Veriana replied, bringing the smoke pipe close to her lips, and the familiar scent of lavender hung in the air.
"Mind me asking a question?" she said after a pause.
"Sure"
"Your scars," she said softly, "How did you get them?"
"It was a Vilesworn," I whispered, the memory surfacing like a nightmare. "There was someone I couldn't afford to lose. I couldn't let anything happen to them." My fingers were trembling slightly. "We barely managed to survive that day, but not without a reminder carved in me. I can still feel how powerless and miserable I had been at that moment."
"You were not powerless," Veriana uttered simply.
"Anyone who dares to fight back against such creatures is not weak. You should be proud of your scars, not abhor or hate them."
A soft smile crept up my face. "Thank you."
Veriana inhaled, pausing for a moment, sensing the somber mood. "My mother died on the battlefield, you know." She murmured, "She was carrying me as an infant when a horde of Nameless attacked us, she protected me till her very last breath."
Silence stretched between the two for a few moments.
"...I'm sorry," I said quietly
"It's fine."
"Your mother must have truly cherished you," I said, "She protected you until her very last breath, without caring for her life."
"I guess you're right," Veriana murmured, though her face was expressionless, it hid a sadness beneath.
"Lady Veriana," A butler dressed in formal attire came up to her, "Lord Zephyrion is looking for you."
"I will be there shortly." She nodded.
"Looks like it's time for us to part. I truly enjoyed our conversation."
"Likewise," I nodded.
"If we cross paths at the academy, I would love to have a spar with the scarlet reaper's disciple."
"That would be an honour for me. I will try my best not to disappoint you," I chuckled.
"Farewell then." With that, she was gone, her silhouette fading into the crowd of people.
I glanced at Rayne's direction, standing amidst the crowd with Icarus, they seemed to be having a conversation.
"Rayne," I called out. His gaze fell onto me, and his expression brightened slightly.
Just then, Icarus seemed to have whispered something into his ear, which made him flinch, his face painted in a faint blush.
He stepped forward, extending a hand, "May I have your first dance, my lady?" He murmured in a gentle voice that made my heart skip a beat.
However, just then the mellow environment in the hall shifted, and a pressure enveloped the entire ball, which made it hard to breathe.
Something was wrong.
Rayne's Pov
Zei stood with Lady Veriana, having a conversation with her across the hall.
"Left all alone?" Icarus muttered from behind.
"Yeah…" I sighed, and I looked around
"Where is Alina? I thought she would be with you."
"Enjoying the delicacies of Eleithiya," He chuckled. "It's not every day she gets a chance like this after all." his eyes were tracing Alina's silhouette, who seemed to be enjoying herself, a warm smile flickering on his face.
"You must really adore her,"
"Isn't it the same for you?"
"...I suppose."
"Can I ask you something?" After a brief pause, he asked.
"What is it?"
"How did you confess your feelings to Miss Zeilona?"
"W-what are you talking about? We haven't–" I stammered, caught off guard by his question.
He scoffed, "C'mon, don't lie to me on my face, walking with your hands intertwined, the way your eyes look at her, like someone smitten in love. Not to mention the matching rings on your fingers. Who are you trying to fool?"
"T-that's" I tried to argue, but couldn't.
"Well, forget it, I simply wanted some advice for myself, but it seems like ii asked the wrong person."
"Is it about Alina?" I asked.
"Who else?" he exhaled, pausing for a moment, his face flushing in a faint red. "I want to make her happy, to be her happiness, but I don't know how to convey my feelings to her."
I paused, thinking about what I should say to him, since I don't have much experience in romance either.
"Then show her how much you cherish her, instead of words, put it into actions." I finally uttered.
"I don't know much about Alina, but I am sure she is also aware of your feelings, she is very perceptive after all."
"...I see."
"Be patient, take it slow one step at a time, and spend time with her so that she feels cherished."
He smiled faintly. You're wiser than you let on. No wonder you and Miss Zeilona care so deeply for each other.
"Again…"
"Rayne," Zei's voice reached me as I turned around.
"You should ask her for a dance, who knows, maybe she will be delighted and give you a kiss."
I flinched, but the idea was not wrong; it was a ball, after all.
I walked up to her, my hands sweating slightly, my ears slightly red. "May I have your first dance, my lady?" I managed to voice out.
Just then, the entire atmosphere of the ball shifted.