The week passed rather quickly for Elfric.
He even started believing that his old life was back; everything had been as peaceful as it was before.
He decided to take that leap of faith and change his future – and probably the future of everyone else if he actually managed to get what he sought.
During these days, he took the opportunity to get accustomed to the new powers that resided within him. It felt overwhelming at first, but the more he used it the more it became like a sixth sense to him. He felt his body building.
Gaining muscles that weren't there before.
'It's because your body is trying to contain what it has inside,' said Orathan to him as he explained everything in detail.
His body was a vessel; the more he trained, the more it would be able to withstand the powers.
He made sure to warn him against going beyond his capabilities.
If he uses too much, it was going to overflow and he was going to explode…literally.
Elfric shrugged off the thought of exploding.
Picturing himself exploding wasn't the best of thoughts as he dressed up in the tuxedo that Chris prepared for him. He felt weird as he put on the white shirt on his pale upper body.
He fought the urge to stuff himself in one of his hoodies. He felt exposed with no hood to hide his face.
"Out of all the colors out there, you chose a white Tux, Chris?" Elfric said, half-wondering half-angry.
Chris was getting ready behind Elfric. The two of them had agreed to meet in a room in the hotel where the ball was going to take place.
This is the cleanest Elfric has been. He felt that his skin was glowing. Using Noble's bath supplies did indeed make a difference, he thought.
"You don't have an eye for clothing, do you?" said Chris. "This is going to fit you more than a regular black suit." He finished as he turned sideways, fixing his tie, watching his friend do the last two buttons of his shirt.
Christopher nodded proudly at his choice of clothes. He just had a feeling that Elfric was going to be able to pull this kind of suit better than anyone.
'You sure that nothing will go wrong in all this mess?' Orathan asked again.
Elfric was fixing his own tie, which went with the white of the suit, doing it with a little too much attention than was needed.
It felt suffocating, honestly. He figured that he wasn't the kind to wear such fancy clothing often.
This was a one-time thing anyway, he thought as he convinced himself to hang on before finally processing Orathan's question.
"I only have to brush by him," said Elfric under his breath. "If he knows me, then there is no way that he wouldn't recognize me."
If he thought about this…this might be the only time that Elfric was thankful for the way he pops out of the crowd.
Especially today.
He had the when-you-see-you-will-know look.
'You're gambling your life on your bi-colored eyes and snow-white hair?' Orathan stated.
"If you have any other options, I'm all ears," said Elfric, knowing that there weren't. Before Orathan could protest any further, Chris called out from the far end of the room.
"Come on, we are late!" said Chris.
Elfric wore the blazer of his suit. He gave himself one last look in the mirror.
He couldn't recognize his reflection; he looked so out of place.
He heard Chris whistle as he leaned on the door's frame.
"You are going to break hearts today, my friend," said Chris.
Elfric chuckles before he joins him at the door.
"Well, we will see about that," said Elfric.
~~~~
The ballroom was stinking of Nobles with their expensive perfumes.
Though Elfric had no right to protest about it, since for the night he was one of them.
He looked around as he saw them crowd into groups, each of them probably discussing how to fill their already filled bank accounts. He appreciated Christopher's presence next to him, adding to his sense of familiarity.
Being in a place where he didn't know anything wasn't the best of situations.
He wanted at least one person who didn't eye him from head to toe. Elfric felt the glare's skin him layer by layer at an agonizingly slow pace.
Women were looking at him with a lustful look in their eyes.
He could hear them talking among themselves.
Who is he?
Which family does he belong to?
Where has such a noble been hiding?
They were shamelessly talking with their eyes glued to him.
Elfric was brought back to reality as Chris held out his hand with a glass of champagne.
"We are not yet of age," said Elfric with his brow raised.
"So what? No one asks here if you are of age or not," said Chris. "Here, you are a Noble and you do whatever you like."
Elfric figured from the tone of his voice that Chris was being sarcastic. He wasn't very fond of the way things were going on around here, but there wasn't anything to do either.
Elfric took the glass anyway.
Allowing himself a moment to be treated like royalty and honestly…
He never felt sicker.
A few hours ago, he was in the slums of London, and now…the duality of this world got him sick to the bones.
Now, he has got to focus on his purpose here; he wasn't here to have a simple glass of champagne that costs more than his house.
He looked around, waiting to see his target, Shaw Gotham. But he was yet to be seen.
He fought the urge to ask Chris; he was already suspicious that he was here in the first place. Chris always asked him if he wanted to come with him, and Elfric always snorted in disgust.
"I'll probably suffocate from all the Nobles around me," Elfric always said.
The commotion that happened at the door of the hall made him snap out of it. He eyed in anticipation.
And there he was. The man who got the most attention in the last week as his tower crumbled to the ground.
Shaw Gotham.