The great hall of Elysium Academy was transformed. Chandeliers of crystal and elemental flame hung from the vaulted ceilings, casting rainbows of light across the marble floor. Banners of the six families draped the walls—silver moons, golden suns, emerald vines, crimson flames, sapphire waves, and white-streaked winds—all converging in a circle around the central crest of the Academy: the eclipse.
Thaddeus Moon stood at the entrance, katana at his hip, shadows curling faintly around his boots. He had been to gatherings before—noble dinners, family feasts, even political councils—but this was different. This was Elysium. Here, every glance was calculated, every smile measured, and every word spoken was both conversation and weapon.
Aurora leaned close, her silver hair gleaming in the lamplight. "Remember—tonight is not about fighting. It's about impressions. Allies and rivals will reveal themselves with subtler blades than steel."
Thaddeus exhaled slowly. "Then let them reveal themselves. Shadows see what others hide."
The banquet tables were laden with delicacies: roasted game glazed with honey, fruits shimmering faintly with elemental enchantments, crystalline goblets of sparkling wine. Students and heirs mingled, laughter and murmurs filling the air. Professors observed from a raised platform, their expressions carefully neutral.
The heirs of the families drew attention like magnets. Evan Solgard stood surrounded by a cluster of admirers, his golden aura so palpable it seemed the room itself bent toward him. Emily sat nearby, her composure as radiant as her brother's pride, her eyes flicking toward Thaddeus more than once.
Selene Stormhaven occupied a quieter corner, speaking with Serenity Clearwater in low tones. Jacob Rosewood laughed heartily with Blaise Emberhart, their contrasting elements sparking literal and metaphorical tension as their banter filled the space.
Thaddeus moved deliberately, his presence calm, shadows trailing faintly but unmistakably. Conversations hushed as he passed, whispers chasing his steps. He ignored them, silver eyes scanning the room with quiet calculation.
The first challenge of the evening came not from Evan, but from Blaise Emberhart. The fire heir strode toward Thaddeus with a goblet in hand, sparks almost literally dancing in his wake.
"Moon!" Blaise grinned, though his grin carried sharpness. "That was quite the display today—shadows wrapping around the core like a snake choking prey. Effective, I suppose. But tell me, can shadows warm anyone? Or do they only consume?"
Laughter rippled faintly from nearby nobles. Blaise's eyes gleamed with mischief.
Thaddeus met his gaze evenly. "Shadows consume, yes. But they also protect. Fire burns—whether friend or foe. Tell me, Emberhart… how many allies have your flames scorched?"
The laughter turned, sharper now, some directed at Blaise. The fire heir's grin faltered, though only slightly. "Careful, Moon," he said lightly. "Even shadows can be burned away."
"Perhaps," Thaddeus replied, shadows curling around his boots. "But tell me—what happens when fire burns too hot? It extinguishes itself."
Blaise's eyes narrowed, but before he could retort, Serenity Clearwater appeared, placing a gentle hand on Blaise's arm. "Enough. This is a banquet, not a battlefield."
Her gaze turned to Thaddeus, calm but piercing. "Control is admirable. But so is restraint."
Thaddeus inclined his head. "Restraint is control, Lady Clearwater. And control… is everything."
Later, as music swelled and students mingled, Thaddeus found himself near Selene Stormhaven. She studied him silently for a moment before speaking.
"You lead with precision," she said. "But you carry yourself like one who trusts shadows more than people."
Thaddeus considered her words. "Shadows do not betray. People often do."
Her lips quirked faintly. "Perhaps. But arrows fly truer with wind at their back. Even shadows need currents to guide them."
There was no malice in her tone, only observation. Thaddeus inclined his head. "Perhaps one day, then, we will test whether wind strengthens shadow—or scatters it."
Selene's eyes glinted. "I look forward to it."
The evening reached its peak when the professors called for silence. Professor Calvane rose, his cloak shimmering with elemental glyphs.
"This banquet is not merely celebration," he said. "It is tradition. The six families gather here not as rulers, but as students. Remember this: Elysium does not bend to crowns or bloodlines. It bends only to mastery. You are heirs, yes—but here, you are challengers, each tested equally."
His gaze swept the hall, lingering on Thaddeus and Evan. "Let this night remind you—alliances will be forged, rivalries sharpened, and destinies revealed. But power without wisdom will fail you. Choose carefully who stands at your side."
After the banquet, Thaddeus stood on the balcony overlooking the moonlit courtyard. The music and laughter faded behind him, replaced by quiet. Aurora joined him, silver hair shimmering.
"You spoke well tonight," she said softly. "But you also made enemies."
Thaddeus' lips curved faintly. "Enemies remind me to sharpen my blade."
"And allies?"
"Necessary. For now."
Aurora's gaze softened. "You cannot walk this path alone, Thad. Even shadows need the moon to shine."
He looked out at the horizon, where the academy towers glowed faintly with elemental energy. His thoughts lingered on Evan's burning challenge, Emily's calculating gaze, Selene's sharp words, Serenity's calm presence, and Blaise's reckless fire.
"Perhaps," he said quietly. "But the moonlight belongs to me. And shadows… always answer when I call."
The night deepened, and with it, the threads of alliances and rivalries wove tighter. The banquet had ended, but the true games of Elysium had only begun.