"Well, that was weird," Enya said coldly, shrugging as if nothing had just happened. Her eyes drifted back to the table, trying to reclaim her usual confidence.
But then she noticed someone sitting at the edge of the gathering.
"Leonis, right?"
Her voice was curious on the surface, but there was calculation underneath. She knew exactly who he was. They had met plenty of times before, but of course she had to pretend otherwise. Playing oblivious was her way of testing people.
Leonis, the son of Marquis Lewis, sat with an air of effortless detachment. His posture was relaxed, one arm resting along the back of the chair, his gaze fixed somewhere off in the distance. His expression hadn't shifted once during the earlier commotion.
"Yeah," he replied flatly, not even sparing her a glance.
Enya's eye twitched. That kind of cold brush-off was not something she was used to. It irritated her more than she cared to admit.
"Well… I've noticed that you haven't talked to anyone yet," she said, her tone stiffening, the edge of annoyance creeping in.
Leonis finally looked at her. He had semi-long black hair that fell around his sharp face in neat, dark strands. His brown eyes, gleaming under the chandelier's warm light, met hers with a bored glint.
"Oh, I haven't. Yeah," he said, his tone airy and uncaring, like someone who had nothing to prove to anyone in the room. It wasn't laziness, just complete disinterest.
Enya's irritation deepened. The apathy in his voice rubbed her raw.
"Why are you talking like that? You know you're supposed to socialize with us, and you don't come off as a loser like Elyas. So I assumed you were the quiet but handsome type."
Marina turned her head toward Enya, then looked at Leonis.
"You better not get involved with her, Leonis. She's just a snake," she said plainly. There wasn't a hint of humor in her voice. She said it like it was an objective fact.
Enya snapped her head toward Marina, already preparing to bite back, but before she could even speak, Leonis beat her to it.
"I don't really care. I wasn't even planning to talk to her," he said, his voice calm and dismissive. "But since I am, why not talk about something actually interesting...?"
He leaned back, his eyes sweeping the group at the table like he was deciding who was worth his time.
"Like what?" Dorian asked. There was familiarity in his voice. He knew Leonis and was willing to humor him.
"Well… like how Enya or Elyas got captured," Leonis said with a half-smile, his tone somewhere between amused and genuinely curious.
Enya froze. Her face twisted into a scowl. Marina let out a giggle. Dorian smirked faintly.
"What do you mean by that?!" Enya barked.
Leonis gave her a sideways glance, smirking just slightly.
"I didn't mean it as an insult, shithead. I just think it's relevant," he said coolly. "This so-called ball is nothing more than a strategy meeting with music. And I bet both you and Elyas will be called on soon to share your experience."
"Indeed," said Bramric, his deep voice booming. His arms were crossed, his large frame looking almost too massive for the chair he was in.
"I was thinking the same thing," Marina added, her voice quieter now, more serious.
Dorian nodded along.
"Me too."
Sylvaine spoke for the first time since the ball began. "It makes sense," she said, her tone thoughtful.
Enya looked at them one by one, and the fury in her eyes dimmed. It was replaced by a flicker of realization, and then something she hated showing, uncertainty. Shame crawled up her spine.
"A-ahem! Well, if it's that… then I guess I can share…"
She trailed off, losing momentum just as the door opened again. Sylvia returned and silently made her way to her seat.
Enya's gaze narrowed as Sylvia sat down. The girl's expression was clouded, darkened by something unsaid. Her return felt heavy, like the air around her had shifted.
Enya scoffed.
"So did your little boyfriend start crying again, like the little baby he is?" she said mockingly, her voice dripping with venom. She didn't see Elyas as anything more than a pathetic joke.
Sylvia looked at her. Her jaw was tight, her eyes flaring with anger, but she reined it in. After a breath, her voice came out cold and restrained.
"That's none of your business…"
The words sounded strange even to Sylvia, as if she were repeating something foreign.
"Huh?!" Enya shot back, blinking in disbelief.
"None of your business. That's what he said,"
Sylvia added, her face locked in that stunned look. She seemed frozen in the memory, like she still hadn't processed what had happened.
Everyone at the table turned to her. The shock in the air was palpable.
"Are you talking about Elyas…? The same Elyas who wets himself at the thought of having to ride Betharia?!" Enya asked, her voice harsh, almost incredulous.
Sylvia met her gaze. Her expression was calm now, too calm.
"Yes, Enya. I'm talking about that same Elyas."
Leonis leaned forward slightly, stroking his chin.
"I remember noticing his Aether being circulated in a strange pattern. I thought it was odd for someone like him to be training his Aether in the middle of a ball," he said thoughtfully.
"Well… we all know he went through a really traumatic situation. Honestly, it would be more suspicious if he didn't change." Bramric said, folding his arms again.
"That's true," Dorian added. "I noticed him making weird expressions from time to time, especially before he screamed."
Before anyone could say more, the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Claude had returned.
He looked like a storm had passed through him. His hair was ruffled, his collar slightly askew, and his face wore the remnants of a scowl that had never quite left. He didn't meet anyone's gaze as he walked to the table. He moved mechanically, pulled out his chair, and sat down.
He didn't speak.
Enya opened her mouth, ready to say something sharp, but then she saw Sylvia staring at her, giving her a silent but unmistakable warning.
Enya rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Leonis.
Claude wasn't paying attention anyway. He wasn't even really present in the room. The conversation faded to background noise as something else took all of his focus.
In front of him, visible only to his eyes, the Soul Mirror pulsed softly.
[Ethereal Essence: 30/1000]
Achievements:
[Slain Humans: 3] [+15 Ethereal Essence]
[Slain Aetheris Humans: 1] [+15 Ethereal Essence]
He read the words again. Then again. The numbers didn't lie. They stared back at him like a quiet accusation. Or maybe a reward.
It was hard to tell.
All Claude knew was that this was just the beginning. Whatever path he had chosen, there was no turning back now.