Mina raised her eyebrows, yet smirked as he placed her flask back where it had come from. Her skin tingled in anticipation of the touch of his finger, but it never came. It was almost maddening, but the only thing that showed it was Minaâs exhale of her held breath. âThere are a few wonders in there that Iâm sure youâd love to explore.â She hadnât been expecting to feel the thrill she was currently feeling when she initiated this flirtatious engagement. It was refreshing as it didnât happen too often.
She felt her breath catch once again as his arm wrapped around her waist. The warmth of his breath on her neck sent a wave of heat through her core as she found herself grinning wickedly. âIâm not sure if you could handle me sampling such delights.â She responded as he was still near, trailing a hand down his chestâŚhis stomachâŚlower and lowerâŚthen she pulled her hand away. âI do wonder, though, if Iâll enjoy your delights or the wine more?â She tapped her lip with a finger, as if contemplating the question.
It was at this point that her attention was grabbed by something behind Munir. A servant approached the two and offered them the bowl with the paper slips. Mina took one and glanced at it. âUnfortunately I have to join this dance as I promised my uncle I would. Good way to strengthen political ties, you see.â She said with a sigh, glancing to where people were gathering for the dance. She then looked back to Munir and grinned once more. âFind me after and perhaps I can give you a personal tour of whatever youâd like to see. Until then, itâs been quite a pleasureâŚâ She leaned in close to him now. â...master.â With that she turned and sauntered away from him, hips swaying.
Verrick sighed as he moved to his own corner when a servant suddenly came up to him and offered him a bowl. After a moment's hesitation he grabbed a slip of paper and looked at his number. Glancing up afterward and noticing two younger prince's of Casonia being conveniently handed their own slips of paper. Narrowing his eyes and scoffing in disgust he tossed the paper over his shoulder and grumbled something about sniveling royal brats⌠or something of the sort. Clearing his throat he straightened his shoulders and went to find the unlucky soul who picked his number.
He lined up at the front of the room, a fair scowl/smile upon his face as he tried to put on his âgoodâ face again. Placing his hands behind his back he took a deep breath and let it out, resisting the urge to suddenly throw the two nobles who got too close to him as they lined up. He glanced over to see Princess Beatrice lined up in front of Auguste, and the two nobles beside him gave him a weird look when they heard a low growl coming from him. âWhat was that?â One of them asked. Verrick quickly said, âJust clearing my throat.â without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Thea had made it to the drink table and was sipping on a glass of wine as she did her best to calm her earlier irritation. She almost snapped at the person who tapped on her shoulder, but quickly discovered it was merely a servant with a bowl full of papers. So it was time for the dances, lovely. She quickly downed the glass of wine and grabbed a slip, looking at the number. She took a deep breath, sending a prayer up to whoever would hear her that she didnât have to dance with some pompous ass. She then moved to the front of the room as her number was called, stepping past those who had already lined up, ready to meet her dance partner only to meet the eyes of Verrick and her eyes widened. âOhâŚâ Was all she could think of to say in that moment.
Verrick blinked when she said âOhâ before saying. âI do realize Iâm no Prince charming. But âOHâ is kinda a slap to the face.â He said with a hint of his usual sarcastic humor. He then reached back and scratched the back of his head. âI do know how to danceâŚI thinkâŚif that is what youâre worried about.â He dropped his hand to his side before offering his right hand to her.
Thea felt heat brighten her cheeks as she realized how sheâd sounded and shook her head, trying to clear it some while also trying to indicate thatâs not what she meant. âNo, thatâs notâŚit wasnât an âohâ as if Iâm disappointed, believe me Iâm far from disappointed. It was an âohâ as in, âoh Iâm not dancing with an arrogant assâ.â She said, letting out a small laugh as she took his hand. âAnd I couldnât care less if you know how to dance or not, youâre rescuing me from âPrince Charmingâ currently and for that Iâm quite grateful.â
âAh⌠Yes, Dancing with just an assâs is better I do believe. Much simpler..â He said with a clear amusement in his voice. He led Thea towards the dance floor and said softly as they moved so others wouldnât hear them. âI wouldnât exactly call him âcharmingâ. An immature brat is more fitting.â He Looked at Thea. With no one around he felt more comfortable to be free with what he said, it was clear from what he saw as well, that she was not at all pleased with her fiance. He came to a stop and turned towards and wrapped his other hand behind her back.
âFar more simple indeed.â Thea felt herself relaxing some now, the irritation of earlier fading completely now. âHe tries to be charming, but sometimes I feel as if he sees me as a doll to play with. The sooner he realizes I am anything but that, the better I think.â She let out a sigh as she placed her other hand on his shoulder, falling into position for the waltz. âEnough about my betrothed, though. Tell me how youâve been? Anything exciting happened lately? Any more nobles thrown out windows?â She wore a smile now, ready to hear any exciting stories he had to tell.
Verrick had a small genuine smile of his own. The thought of her father flying out the window was still satisfying. He looked up as if to recall anything before leading Thea into the beginning of the waltz quite smoothly. âActually yes, but not a noble. He said with a smile. "There was a young lad from the city so infatuated with trying to see the princess he managed to climb both walls and her tower. He almost made it as well without me seeing. Honestly I was quite impressed. If it wasnât for the bath chambers he was attempting to climb into I might have let him see the princess for a moment.â
He smirked, âSo I let him believe he saw her for a few moments. Only fair to give him a tiny bit of hope after all that hard work. Only to crush his spirits when a half naked man stood up from the bath to toss him back out the window.â Verrick had caught sight of the man climbing her tower and while she had been bathing he managed to get to her first and inform her of the pending perv. Just enough time for him to replace her.. WhileâŚunorthodoxâŚVerrick had to find his fun somewhere.
Thea listened with intrigue to his story, but then let out a giggle at the end. "Oh my, the shock on that man's face was probably priceless." The man certainly sounded like he deserved what he got and Thea only wished she could have watched it all happen. "Though if I saw a half naked you before being tossed out a window, I don't think I'd be too terribly mad." She gave him a playful smile as she mindlessly followed the steps of the dance.
Verrick nodded, the Seer confusion,disgust, realization, utter terror was worth the sprint up the up the tower, getting the princess out while trying to communicate with the princess and her maids to get her out and the rush to jump in the bath while ripping off his clothes was worth it.
Thea mentioned if she saw him and half naked he was at a loss for words for a moment, Not expecting that from her. But he looked at her and said quite seriously. âI can quite assure you Lady Thea. There is no possible chance of that ever happening. He looked away for a moment before adding. âI would never toss a beautiful lady out a window.â
"So seeing you half naked is still on the table?" Thea smirked at him, pausing for a brief second and then giggling. "I'm merely teasing you Verrick. It is comforting to know you wouldn't toss me out a window though, even if I may deserve it at times." There was still a smile on her face, but her eyes betrayed her as she knew most everyone disapproved of her recent actions.
âContinued teasing will change my mindâŚâ he said jokingly, before looking directly into her eyes. âLet me be very clear. his sense of sarcasticness gone. His gruff voice was as serious as it could be. â For what you went through, it is understandable for you to change while you deal with it. While I donât approve of how you handle it at times,you do not deserve it..â
Thea's face fell and she found herself looking down as silence fell for a moment. She trembled slightly as she took a shaky breath. "I'm unsure of how else to deal with it. Without drinking myself into oblivion I can't sleep. I have nightmares." She said barely above a whisper. "Will it ever get easier?" She looked back up to him, a pleading look in her eyes.
Verrick sighed and didnât say anything for a few moments as he thought of the best answer. Fact was he couldnât really tell her how to deal with the issue, as it never happened to him. He then looked at her then said softly. âIt will be something that will stay with you for a long time. But as I said then, and now you must not feel guilty, It wasnât your fault at all. Nor it ever will be.â He paused again, looking at the others dancing around them. âIf it will help, blame me for not being there when you needed it.â
Thea slowly shook her head. "I could never blame you, Verrick. You were there when I needed it the most and I'll forever be grateful to you." She forced a smile onto her face. "I'm sorry, I'm being rather dull. I'll be okay in time, I promise you that." The music began to slow and instead of parting from her partner and curtsying as other women did, she threw her arms around him in a hug. "Thank you for everything, Verrick." She said softly to him and let him go, but not before kissing him on his cheek. "Now, are you going to ask your princess for a dance or am I going to have to do it for you?" She smirked at him, crossing her arms over her chest.
Verrick grunted as she said she would be ok, he felt like he didnât say the right thing to get through to her. Personally he did feel responsible for not being able to help her. He clearly missed something back there, if he only knewâŚ
He was pulled from his thoughts when she suddenly threw her arms around him, as well as giving him a kiss on the cheek. This was enough to make any man reddenâŚeven a tiny bit. But what made him freeze was her next statement. âW- What do you mean? I cannot ask the Princess..â He sighed as he scratched the back of his head. Giving up on feeble attempts to hide the truth of his feelings⌠Apparently she was far more observant than he gave her credit for. âThere is no way she would want to dance with me. I annoy her to no end, and it wouldnât be âproperâ for a common man such as me to even think about that.â
Thea stared at him, unimpressed with his excuses. "You just danced with a future princess of Varian, you can dance with THE Princess of Varian. It's a dance, not a proposal. It's to provide fun." She said with a small laugh as she moved to link her arm with his before pulling at him to follow her. "Come on, even if you don't ask I should still return you to her and then I have a prince to find that I'm probably obligated to share a dance with." She sighed, clearly not thrilled with the idea, but still trying to fulfill her promise to Felix.
Verrick sighed when she brought up that she will be a princess herself soon. It annoyed him that she was rightâŚon both points she brought up. Depending on how the night went, he would want to make sure she enjoyed at least one dance. Even if it was with a grumpy woodsman.
He felt a sudden tug on his arm and was dragged off by Thea after she linked their arms together. He was resistant at first but gave in after a second or two. He glanced down at her as they walked as she mentioned having to have a dance with Felix. âWell, just know if he ruins your night. Iâm sure thereâs a pond around here somewhere.â He said with a chuckle.
The monkey and the fairy had traveled the entire day and even into the night with only a brief stop to rest. Faye was rather anxious about getting to Roshmi and also didnât want to spend too much time in the jungle, not wanting to run into something dangerous. While she had full confidence in Wumongâs fighting ability, she had very little confidence in her own. Sure sheâd begun taking lessons from Wumong, but her abilities were still very lacking. She had a feeling sheâd only be in the way if they were to fight something. So every time Wumong would ask if she needed any rest she would push herself and tell him she was fine. Heâd had to force her to stop and rest for a while, to which sheâd tried to protest but he was having none of it. So rest they did and thankfully nothing had happened while they did so.
They had made it to Roshmi in the early hours of the morning and this was when theyâd discovered what had transpired in Roshmi the day before. Entering the city was much more of a hassle than she remembered it to be, dark elves standing at the gates and questioning all who wished to enter. When it was their turn it took everything in Faye to keep her anger in check and tears from spilling onto her cheeks. Wumong had to speak with them instead as Faye knew she would only cause suspicion if she tried to speak. She wasnât even sure if she hadnât already caused suspicion by constantly trying not to look at the dark elves. Thankfully after a few minutes they were let into the city and, while Faye wanted to look for Bastian immediately, Wumong convinced her to find a place to stay first and then they could continue their mission afterwards.
That is what led them to the tavern they were now in. Faye had first gone up to their room to rest for a bit while she left Wumong to his own devices. After a bit she found him again and they were now sitting at a table finishing up a meal. Faye had overheard lots of gossip, mostly about what was happening within Roshmi. Apparently there had been lots of dark elves gathering up anyone who spoke out against the Twins and many bodies were on display in the major courtyards. The thought of this made her ill and she fought off many dark memories from surfacing. The dark elves had caused so much pain, Faye just wanted it all to stop. âIt seems like this city has been through a lot lately. It scares me to be here for too long. I do hope we can find Bastian and hopefully Helio quickly.â She said softly as she glanced up at Wumong, obvious fear in her eyes. Whether it was from the fear of the state of Roshmi or the prospect of seeing Helio was hard to determine, however. âDid you hear any interesting information while I was resting by chance?â She went on to ask curiously.
Wumong looked towards Faye. He could see the fear in her tone and eyes. âSettle down my dear, I have heard some things around the city I may be able to find our little pup.â Wumong had found out that Bastian was frequenting this tavern or so he had heard. âEverything will come to us in time darling, you need not fret or worry.â He gave a comforting smile to the young fairy.
Faye took a deep breath, trying to calm herself more and then gave Wumong a small smile. âOkay, Iâll try to keep myself a bit more calm. Iâm sorry.â After a minute she began looking around the tavern, watching for Bastian. Sheâd met him a few times, but she worried she wouldnât immediately recognize him.
As if on cue, the door swung open and was pushed against the wall by a claw. Yellow, predatory eyes searched the room as the dark-haired canine took in his surroundings. A low growl emitted from his throat to ward off a glare he received. He had a lean muscular build and a scar across his face. It was easy to tell from his long claws that he could tear the skin off oneâs face if he so wanted. Not many looked over as they were used to his loud entrances.
Bastianâs gaze caught on the fairy and monkey demi-human seated and his stoic expression suddenly brightened. âOh hi!â He exclaimed and began to eagerly make his way over, only to trip over the leg of a stool and fall into the table of other patrons. They gasped in indignation but he collected himself without even looking their way as he continued his journey to the table of his old friends, âAha! Here I am!â He flashed a grin that could make the elderly faint as he put his fists to his waist. The wolf demihuman was in a long, dramatic coat and had spiked boots, âWhat are you two rascals doing here, huh? But wow am I happy to see you !â His tail was subtly wagging behind him.
Faye watched the scene with wide eyes, gasping as Bastian tripped and fell. She was concerned heâd injured himself, but he was quick to jump right back up. âBastian, um, are you okay? That looked like it may have hurt a littleâŚâ She said softly to him once he got to their table. Bastian had nodded eagerly in reply to her question, still smiling. He stared at her for a moment as he debated on hugging her and decided against it, thinking that it would invade her personal space.
Wumong took his staff and gave Bastian a small smack on the top of his head. âYou shouldnât go stumbling around causing issues with the other guests.â Wumong laughed, âWe were looking for you so we could get into contact with Helio so we could learn more about this resistance.â Wumong said to him his tone taking a more serious turn.
Bastian winced and whimpered, âMonkey! That hurt! Why have you done this?â After a moment of rubbing his head he snapped his fingers his way with a chuckle, âSike. Iâm fine. Gotcha!â He seated himself down and transferred his excited energy into tapping the table as he spoke, âWell Helio is not involved with the resistance anymore. As far as I know, heâs off in Port Vanarosa with a bunch of degenerates⌠But.â He leaned in to speak softer, giving them a wink, âI happen to be.â
âBastian,â Faye began as she reached out and gently took his hand that was tapping the table. âYou know as well as I do that before everything happened with Helio he did wonders in the resistance. They killed his brother, if heâs truly back to the good Helio we knew before then why isnât he doing anything about this? Why is he hiding out in Port Vanarosa? I just need to talk to him, to get answers and to see if I can sway him into joining this fight. Do you have any way of getting in contact with him? She pleaded with him as she trembled slightly.
Bastian squeezed her hand and then put his other hand over both of them as well, âI do know. Heâs⌠just⌠Well⌠Heâs probably not taking it well.âHe told her, his tone saddening. âEven the people in Roshmi kinda run screaming for the hills whenever they see him. He got real depressed and left. Now Iâm sure the guilt is eating him alive for leaving after what happened to his br-â He broke off, his expression breaking as everything dawned on him. âIâm so sorry⌠Are you okay? Well of course youâre not-!â He pulled her into a tight hug.
Faye welcomed the hug, but it also broke her a small bit as she let out a small sob while burying her face in his chest. "I feel like I'm in a nightmare, but I can't wake up." Her words were little more than a whisper as she tried desperately to keep from breaking down completely. It was at this moment that she realized Helio must be feeling the same, if not worse and for an instant she wondered if they could help each other out of this nightmare. Perhaps that was the real reason she sought out Helio. Did she need someone that understood this hell she lived in?
Bastian had hugged her tighter when he heard the sob and gave her pets on the head. When he was sad, he liked pets. He was silent as he let her vent.
She finally pulled herself away from Bastian, looking up at him with a new determination. "I want to help him, Bastian. Help me bring him home?"
Wumong watched the two converse. It hurt his heart to know Helio was somewhere, perhaps in as much pain as Faye but alone in it. âWe will bring him back. Do not worry yourself too much, my dear Faye.Itâs not good for your health to stress.â Wumong placed a hand on her shoulder and looked towards Bastian. âDo you still have a way to contact him?â
Bastian tapped his transmission bracelet, âYup. Iâll give him a call right now.â He took it off his wrist and put it on Fayeâs to use, holding down the correct button to contact Helio. However, as he was doing so, the door was suddenly kicked down to the bar with a loud thud.
âThere he is! Over there with the monkey and the fairy!â
Dark elves as well as a few Roshmi demihuman guards began pouring into the bar. A dark elf with his hair in a ponytail came forward, obviously leading, âGet both him and his accomplices.âHe ordered. âArrest them.â
Bastian jumped to his feet and growled. This was his fault. He should have relocated their conversation elsewhere. He took only a moment to collect his thoughts as the foes were coming toward them quite slowly. He looked down at Faye and smiled at her,âSorry.. This is my mess. Go ahead and call Helio.â He unleashed his claws and threw himself at the oncoming enemies, starting to slash away at them like a parent animal protecting its cubs.
Wumong grabbed his staff, and immediately right after Bastian, jumped at the dark elves enlarging the staff while in the air. He slammed it down on one of the elves' shoulders before kicking another one in the chest. âYou really think you can win? You should have minded your own business.â Wumong continued repeatedly beating the oncoming dark elves with his staff, using many techniques as the size of his staff changed with each movement.
Faye's eyes widened in fear as the dark elves came in, but Bastian had already initiated the call. She quickly stood, backing away from the fighting that ensued. What should I do? What should I do?! Just then the call was answered and she stared at the recipient. "HelioâŚ" She breathed, but then her head whipped to the side as she noticed someone coming towards her. She quickly looked back to the transmission, eyes wild. "Help!" She yelled and then let out a scream as a hand wrapped over her mouth and the transmission ended.
Saiya studied Nahir for a moment, trying to decipher what was going through her head. Whatever it was, Saiya had a feeling she retreated to a dark place for a moment and her heart ached for her friend. The Kadir family had been through so much, far more than many would ever truly know and Saiya feared there was only more darkness in the future. She wanted to protect them, all of them, the ones that took her in. They chose her as their family and she would watch over them to the best of her abilities.
The warmth of a hand in hers pulled Saiya out of her thoughts and she smiled up at Nahir. âYou need not worry about me, Iâm doing just fine.â She gave her hand a squeeze of her own before Nahir let go. âAnd thank you for the compliment, but I am quite plain compared to you and your sisters. You had many admiring eyes upon you and Iâm positive youâve already won the hearts of many here.â She nudged her playfully, smile still in place as she finally took a sip of wine. She didnât often drink the liquid, but when at events like this she would allow herself a glass or two. She much preferred to keep her wits about her, however.
She glanced back out at the crowd of people briefly, watching as Amir left the group he was once in. She also took note of servants now going around passing out pieces of paper and found it quite curious. Nahir instructed her not to worry about either herself or her siblings and Saiya merely nodded, but she didnât voice the fact that she would always keep an eye on all of them no matter what. âThere are a few here that I find intriguing, but I wouldnât say theyâve caught my eye as that redhead has caught Munirâs eye.â She said with a small laugh, but her eye flicked to the white haired man sheâd seen with the Varian princess and then to the nobleman who had used the âGolden Tongueâ when greeting the Sultan. âAnd what about you? Any of these intriguing Northernerâs catch your attention?â As she asked this, a servant approached them with one of the bowls and urged them to take a paper. Saiya complied and soon her question was answered as numbers were being called for random pairings of dances.
The night set in on the desert and the hot air quickly became cold. It was now late evening as the group had stopped to make camp. Unfortunately for Jomari, there would be no relief from the sand any time soon. A reptile scurried by as Mikazuki exited the tent she and Rosaria were to share, one of three they had with them. A fire crackled upon some logs. It was a relief to not have the sun beating down on them any longer, however, it was fairly surprising just how cold it was getting. She had retrieved her scarf from the tent, now wrapping it around her arms as she sat down next to Rosaria.
Rosaria sat in the sand, bow drawn and arrows attached. She shivered and took the palm warmers out and offered them to Mika. âThe desert is a contradiction. Super hot in the day, then cold at night. Who would have thought?â
âThank you. Yeah, I certainly would have never guessed it would get this cold. Quite a bizarre thing.â Mika replied, giving her friend a smile as she utilized the palm warmers. The two had insisted on taking the first watch, claiming they wished to catch up as they did so. Jomari, Kuroi, Uzul, and NuallĂĄn had all been asleep for the past hour or two. âI feel like I havenât really gotten to sit and see how youâve been since all this happened. How are you holding up, my dear friend?â
âYou are welcome.â She paused and then nodded. An exhausted sigh left her and rubbed her face, finally letting her guard down. âIâm well but Iâm tired. It took a lot out of me to summon the six humans. I couldnât have done it without my family or friends though. I feel bad for bringing them into this insane worldâŚ. I just hope Iâm doing the right thing. I love them all and will do anything to protect them, even the defiant and sassy Jomari. Heâs a delight isnât he?â She paused, amusement in her voice, and then added, âHow are you holding up? Itâs been rough for you too. I canât imagine being in your shoes.â
Mika nodded, having a feeling she was far more exhausted than sheâd let on to the others. She couldnât blame her, the power she exerted was one very few had the capability of wielding. âYour strength and power is truly amazing Rosaria. Weâll protect these humans to the best of our abilities, even the delightful Jomari.â She chuckled, but her face fell some as she let her own guard drop some as well. âHonestly Iâm scared and hurting more than I want to admit. I knew my father was a coward, but never would I have expected this to happen. Suddenly Iâve gone from a meek, forgotten princess to the heir of a kingdom overnight. I wasnât prepared for thisâŚgot any advice?â
Rosaria wrapped an arm around her friend and pulled her into a fierce side hug. She remained silent as she spoke. She nodded finally but didnât let go. â Itâs a shame he was a coward because the demihumans deserved better. The whole city does, in fact - including you. I will give you advice: take it day by day, and if thatâs too hard, then hour by hour. Nobody should expect you to turn into a ruler overnight. We didn't build Roshmi in a day so neither will you be built in a day. I know you can do it though. I believe in you. Youâre one of the strongest people I know.â Mika let out a shaky breath as Rosaria spoke, but found her words quite comforting.
Unfortunately, due to the heartfelt conversation between the two, neither of them caught onto the shadowy figures silently approaching. The sand completely muffled the footsteps and the dark clothing kept them shrouded. Mikazuki watched a large hand clasp over Rosariaâs mouth suddenly and almost gasped, only for a hand to cover hers as well. She could just barely make out the figure behind Rosaria when everything went black.
Rosaria had then crumpled like a cookie in milk onto her side. Her bow slipped over her lap and onto the sand, emanating a loud thud. Her eyes slid shut instantaneously when a cloth covered her face.
When Mikazukiâs eyes opened a few moments later, she found herself over the shoulder of a large man, her wrists bound. All she could do was scream for help.
All that was left behind when the four men came back outside their tents were footsteps in the sand going in opposing directions.
Time: Early Evening Location: Caesonia Ballroom Interactions: @Mole Prince Felix @Helo Leo @Aerandir Verrick @Inertia Prince Auguste Mentions: @Rodiak Nahir
âYes, very thrilling Leo. However, next time you decide you wanna dance with death like that when Iâm around can you include me in it? Iâd rather die with you than watch you die.â Thea said with a sigh to her brother, doing her best to keep her composure and not yell. She did manage, however, to give him a small smile in order to indicate that she was alright now. That smile quickly turned into a grimace as Leo went on to greet Prince Felix and kindly reminding her that she was to eventually marry this man. She found her gaze trailing over to the wine table as she longed for another drink now, especially as it seemed Felix grip tightened on her. It took every fiber of her being to keep from shoving him away from her. Could she find some way to justify another drink after her promise?
Her attention was pulled back to what was happening in front of her as one of the Alidasht princesses introduced herself. Seeing Nahir up close, Thea found herself entranced by the womanâs beauty. She couldnât admire her for long, however, as Felix nudged her once again into a bow and irritation ran through her once more. This time she couldnât hold back the small glare she gave him, but still she kept her mouth shut. She swore she could taste blood as she bit the inside of her lip in order to keep herself in check.
Thankfully Verrick pulled her attention and helped to create a bit of a distraction from her internal thoughts. Did he justâŚcompliment me? She thought to herself briefly, taken a bit aback by the kind words, but then she found herself smiling as she saw an opportunity. âThank you Verrick, your compliment has brightened my night.â She responded before he left, then found herself briefly glancing at Felix, wondering what his reaction would be. She did take note of him loosening his grip on the hilt of his sword once Verrick was gone and it only caused her to grin even wider.
It was the approach of Prince Auguste and she knew the greeting that was coming that pushed Thea over the edge. Before he could nudge her into another bow, Thea yanked herself away from Felix. âI am aware of when it is customary to bow, my Prince! No need for a constant reminder as I am not an imbecile!â She snapped at him, letting out a huff of irritation. She straightened herself, looked to Prince Auguste, and dipped into a perfect curtsy all on her own.
âIt is a pleasure to see you again, Prince Auguste. I do hope you can forgive my outburst. While my mood has been soured, I assure you it is not from you or the early event of the evening.â She stood straight once more, forcing a small smile on her face before glancing around the group. âNow if youâll excuse me, I need to find the powder room.â She spun around and made her leave, though she wasnât truly heading for the powder room. Instead she made her way to one of the wine tables as she now desperately needed a glass.
âItâs that exact thinking thatâll end up causing more problems!â Raven suddenly whirled on Bowyn, fury in her eyes. When heâd started talking sheâd felt ice creep into her veins, but now it was replaced by fire. âYou speak of genocide and thatâŚwell, that is evil. So whoâs the real one here letting evil creep into them, hmm? Whatâs your plan after you wipe them out? What happens when Avalia ends up not exactly like you think it would be without the Dark Elves? What happens when itâs not any brighter? Gonna blame it on another race? Maybe itâs the Light Elves since itâs obvious you arenât a huge fan of them either and their obviously not innocent in all this.â She hadnât taken notice of anything else happening around them, instead she was hyper focused on Bowyn. A soft breeze started to swirl around the group, but Raven had yet to notice that either.
âYou are adding to the darkness of this world with how you think, Bowyn. I understand youâve probably been through some dark things as have a lot of people, but that does not give an excuse for genocide.â She now glanced between Bowyn and Annya. âSo if genocide is either of your goals in this war then I will have absolutely NO part of it. Send me home now if thatâs even a thought.â She stood up, now focusing on Annya. âIâm going down to cool off in the water. Donât worry, Iâll stay in sight.â The last sentence had a hint of sarcasm to it, born purely out of her mood. She began walking towards the water now, still not having noticed the newcomer or when Rue collapsed.
Meanwhile Eris had just watched things unfold in silence, finding some amusement in Ravenâs outburst and small display of magic. Truly, she was impressed that the girlâs magic didnât explode more in her anger. Even angry, Raven was still trying to keep her magic under control. She glanced up at Inori now, having noted him before heâd even come over, yet said nothing about it. âWell that was all awfully exciting, was it not? Iâll accept your invitation for drinks. That sounds-â She was cut off as Rue collapsed and she looked at the young fairy in some alarm. She quickly moved to the girls side and knelt down, assessing her for a moment. âRue, dear, can you hear me?â That was when all hell broke loose.
Above them all a broadcast appeared showing a demon, a human, and dark elves. Pride was this demon's name and prideful they were it seemed. Eris watched as the demon pulled the human apart in a horrific display, but her attention was quickly caught by a horrified scream. Raven, not far from the group, had paused to see what was happening. As the human began being pulled apart, she felt terrified and ill as she let out a scream. She dropped to her knees, closed her eyes, and covered her ears almost in a panic. âI wanna go home! I wanna go home1â She started sobbing as she rocked back and forth, but that wasnât all that happened. Her magic broke loose as wind began to swirl around her rapidly. Swiftly a tornado had formed, kicking sand up everywhere and rising higher into the sky. In the center of it was Raven, not realizing she was now being lifted off the ground, as she remained in a state of panic.
Time: Early Evening Location: Caesonia Ballroom Attire: Outfit Interactions: @Rodiak Nahir Mentions: @Omni5876 Amir @13org Mayet @Potter Layla
Nestled within the dancers of the Alidasht party was a young woman who had been with the Kadir family for the past ten years. While technically a servant of the family, thanks to Esrin, Hafiz, and some of the Kadir children, Saiya was treated more like a family member. She wasnât blood, however, so she wasnât allowed to walk within formation with the others. She had been offered to enter behind all of them, but she instead chose to join the dancers as dancing was one of the few things that actually brought her joy. So when the chaos struck, she was one of the last to realize what was happening.
She ended up silently slinking back behind the Alidasht party and blending into the crowd a bit, quietly waiting for it all to end as she knew there wasnât much she could currently do. Things ended up calming and the Alidasht party dispersed with the guards taking point at different areas within the ballroom. Three of her six brothers were a part of those guards here within the ballroom and she could feel their eyes on her occasionally. Over the years sheâd kept a relationship with them, but in truth sheâd grown much closer to the Kadir family than to them. While they were treated with respect, she knew some of them resented her for the position she was in. Not quite a noble, but treated far better than any of the servants, they envied her. Still she felt caged, unable to truly be her own person.
She was about to retreat into the shadows of the ballroom, merely to observe the festivities, when she spotted Grand Vizier Hafiz coming straight for her. She steeled herself for whatever the man was about to ask of her, knowing she wasnât going to get off easy tonight. âDearest Saiya, you donât need to stand off to the side with the other servants. You are like my daughter, you should mingle and have fun. Engage in conversation, take the chance to get to know these northern kingdoms.â He gave her what others may perceive as a kind and even loving smile, but Saiya could read between the lines of his words. Gather information, listen to conversations, and make sure no one here meant any harm to the Kadir family. Learn what she could about these people, uncover secrets that could be used against them. Of course thatâs what heâd want, he always wanted to know everything about everyone.
She understood, now, why he had her dress in a far fancier dress than the other dancers. She was to play an Alidasht noble tonight. âAs you wish, Your Excelency.â She said softly to him as she dipped down into a bow before silently walking out into the crowd. If she was to mingle then she was going to take the chance to speak with those she already knew and make sure they were okay. Amir seemed to be occupied with the woman who pleaded for her father, Munir was engaged with a lovely redheaded woman, and Mayet was speaking to a prince. She could go speak to Layla, but the chances of her being venomous to her were rather high, especially after the fiasco. Nahir seemed to be unoccupied and a small smile formed on Saiyaâs face as she headed towards the woman.
Her and Nahir had almost always been incredibly close, but they really bonded after Esrin had passed. Nahir treated Saiya as if she were another one of her sisters and Saiya greatly appreciated it. So she had no hesitations in approaching her and making sure she was doing alright after everything. The woman was at the wine table and Saiya placed herself beside her. âWell itâs been quite the eventful night, hasnât it?â She gave Nahir a smile, but her eyes showed her concern. Saiya took a glass of wine for herself, if only to appear like everyone else as she wasnât fond of the stuff. She swirled the liquid for a moment, watching it before looking back to her friend. âAre you doing alright?â There was genuine concern apparent in her voice.
As Sultan Raif approached King and Queen Danrose, he noted that there were two new young men with them that werenât there before. He could only assume these were the other two princes of Caesonia, had they arrived late? It had seemed like they were potentially being scolded for something as he approached, but he said nothing of the sort. He merely gave them all a charming smile as Callum and Auguste introduced themselves to him. âAnd upon both of you, may there be peace. Truly I am honored to be here as are my children.â He said as he gave a small bow before glancing up to King Edin and his wife.
âKing Edin, I do hope that the rest of this season goes by smoothly. My children are still learning your customs, I do hope you can forgive them for anyâŚmissteps they may take.â It was the the best apology he could give for the earlier drama and any other drama that may occur while his children stayed for the season. Truth be told, Sultan Raif was actually looking forward to some peace and quiet away from his children. He couldnât wait until his week of stay here was over and he could return to Genasea.
He then glanced over to his daughter, Mayet, and Prince Wulfric as he grinned a little before looking back to Edin and Alibeth. âAnd who knows, perhaps by the end of this season we may be related?â He said, a little playfully, though he had a feeling this king would not be too fond of that idea. âNow if youâll excuse me, Iâm going to go enjoy this wonderful feast you have prepared.â With that he left for one of the food tables.
Thankfully things seemed to simmer down as it seemed everyone interjecting annoyed the Sultan to the point he gave up on wanting Lorenzo dead. There was a small part of Mina that had hoped that would be the case, though it had been quite the risk. Worst case scenario was a war starting over this, but something had told her that the Sultan wasnât that delicate. It seemed no one would lose their head tonight.
As people began to disperse, Mina caught sight of the Alidasht Shehzade now approaching her and a small smirk found its way to her lips. She internally winced at the curtsy, but kept her mouth shut as to not potentially bruise another Alidasht ego. She dipped into a curtsy of her own as she went on to introduce herself. âIt is quite the pleasure to meet you, Munir. I am Lady Mina Blackwood, but perhaps youâll call me Mistress tonight.â As she said the last bit she looked up at him playfully through her lashes. If he wanted to play a game then she would oblige.
He went on to offer up the contents of his flask and she accepted saying, âSounds delightful, however, letâs make a trade.â With that, she reached between her breasts to produce a small flask of her own. Within her own flask there wasnât wine, but instead the best of Kolonivkaâs vodka. If he liked a stinging bite then she would give him a stinging bite. She went on to place the flask in his hand and, as she let go, trailed her finger along the back of his hand. She took a sip of what he offered, licking her lip as she finished and then nodded in approval. âDefinitely much better than what they offer here.â She complimented.
âSo, ignoring the fiasco that just occurred, how have you been enjoying our little area of the world?â