"Welcome, friends."
The voice carried easily through the hall.
Conversations gradually quieted as people turned toward the source. Near the center of the room, a young man stood on the wide staircase that led to the upper floor of Azurelake Manor.
Riven's eyes moved toward him immediately.
That must be him.
The heir of Azurelake Manor.
The young man stood with relaxed confidence, one hand resting lightly on the railing beside him. His robe was a deep blue trimmed with pale silver patterns that resembled waves, the fabric expensive but worn with a kind of practiced ease.
More importantly, the way he carried himself made it obvious.
He was a cultivator.
Not weak either.
"Azurelake Manor is honored by your presence tonight," the young man continued, his voice warm but steady. "It has been some time since so many of us gathered in one place."
A few nods and murmurs spread through the room.
"Please enjoy the food and wine prepared for you. The servants have worked hard to ensure everything is to your liking."
Several guests had already begun drifting toward the tables along the walls.
But the host wasn't finished.
"Later this evening," he continued, "for those interested, the training grounds behind the manor will be open. It would be a shame to gather so many young cultivators without giving everyone the chance to compare notes."
A few quiet chuckles moved through the hall.
Riven noticed several young masters exchanging glances.
Some even smiled faintly.
"Feel free to exchange techniques, test your progress, or simply enjoy the opportunity to learn from one another."
The host inclined his head slightly.
"For now, please enjoy the evening."
With that, the brief speech ended.
Conversation slowly resumed across the hall.
Riven frowned slightly.
Training grounds?
He leaned a little closer toward Leyla.
"…Is that normal?"
Leyla nodded as if the answer were obvious.
"Pretty much."
She glanced toward the staircase where the host had stood.
"Most of these banquets are just excuses."
"Excuses?" Riven asked.
Leyla lowered her voice slightly.
"To get the heirs to fight each other."
Riven blinked.
Leyla shrugged casually.
"They call it 'comparing notes' or 'exchanging techniques.'"
Her eyes drifted across the room, where several young masters were already speaking in slightly more animated tones.
"But really it's just a chance to show off."
She leaned a little closer and added quietly,
"Who's stronger. Who improved. Stuff like that."
Riven looked across the hall again.
Now that she had said it, the atmosphere made more sense.
Several of the young cultivators looked… excited.
Others were quietly observing the room.
Measuring.
Leyla folded her arms lightly.
"That's why I don't like these things much."
Riven glanced down at her.
"You've been to them before."
"A few," she admitted. "Not at this manor though. Besides. In the end they always get boring."
She nodded toward two young masters who were already arguing about something near the wine table.
"It always ends the same way."
Riven hummed quietly.
His gaze slowly moved across the hall again.
And that was when he noticed movement.
The girl from earlier.
She had started walking toward them again.
The black suit made her stand out immediately among the colorful dresses and robes worn by most of the other guests. The fitted jacket and dark trousers gave her a sharp, almost severe appearance.
She moved with calm certainty, her steps measured and direct.
And just like before—
Her eyes were locked on him.
Leyla noticed her too.
"…Oh."
Riven tilted his head slightly.
"So who is this?"
Leyla hesitated for a moment.
Then she leaned a little closer and lowered her voice.
"…That's your fiancée."
She didn't sound very nice.
Riven blinked.
For a brief second, his mind simply stopped.
My what?
He turned his head slowly toward Leyla, putting his thoughts into words.
"…My what?"
Leyla gave him a slightly puzzled look, as if the answer should have been obvious.
"Your fiancée," she repeated quietly. "Serin Valcourt."
Riven stared at her.
Inside his head, several thoughts collided violently.
Alric was a noble.
Of course.
Why wouldn't the identity come with something like that?
How exactly was he supposed to pretend to be Alric in front of his damn fiancée.
His gaze flicked briefly back toward the approaching girl.
She was already close.
Too close.
Riven leaned slightly toward Leyla again, keeping his expression neutral while whispering out of the corner of his mouth.
"…And you guys didn't tell me until now?"
Leyla shrugged faintly.
"I thought you knew."
Riven closed his eyes for half a second.
She studied his face for a moment before her expression softened slightly.
"Don't worry," she whispered.
Riven glanced at her again.
"…About what?"
Leyla tilted her head toward the approaching girl.
"They don't really get along."
Riven blinked.
"…What?"
Leyla shrugged again.
"They argue all the time. Father says the engagement was arranged for family reasons anyway."
She paused briefly before adding,
"She probably won't even notice if you act a little different."
That was not very reassuring.
But before Riven could respond, the girl in the black suit stopped in front of them.
Serin Valcourt looked at him for a moment.
Her eyes moved across his face slowly, studying him in silence.
Then she spoke.
"Later."
Her voice was calm.
"You and me."
A brief pause.
"We fight."
She didn't wait for a reply.
Serin turned immediately and walked past them, her back disappearing into the crowd again.
Leyla watched her go.
Riven remained standing there for a moment.
Processing.
Then he slowly looked back toward Leyla.
"…What kind of couple are those two supposed to be?"
Leyla watched Serin disappear into the crowd.
Then she looked back at Riven.
"A bad one." She paused for a second.
"I mean. How can she not see my brothers greatness?"
Riven was stunned for a second.
He'd almost forgotten how much this girl adored her brother.
"…Well."
But before he could say anything, a few girls around Leyla's age approached them from the side of the hall.
"Leyla!"
Leyla turned immediately.
"Oh!"
Two girls hurried toward her, both wearing bright dresses that shimmered under the lantern light.
Leyla brightened instantly.
The three of them immediately began talking over each other, excitement replacing any trace of formality.
Riven was shocked for a second.
Only now was he reminded, that Leyla was actually just a young girl.
One of her friends glanced at Riven briefly before whispering something to Leyla that made the group giggle.
Leyla waved casually toward him.
"We'll be over there!"
Then she ran off with them toward one side of the hall, leaving Riven alone.
Riven watched them disappear into the crowd.
…Alone again huh.
He rolled his shoulders slightly and turned his attention toward the banquet tables.
Servants had begun bringing out more dishes now that the host's speech was finished. Plates of sliced fruit, roasted meats, and small pastries were arranged neatly across the long tables.
Riven picked up a cup of wine but didn't drink.
He'd never drunk any alcohol before.
But he figured Alric and his circle probably did.
So he at least wanted to look like he cared for the drinks.
He leaned lightly against the edge of the table, watching the crowd.
At first his plan had been simple.
Avoid everyone who might know Alric well.
The fewer conversations he had, the lower the chance someone would notice something strange.
But now that he was already here…
That approach suddenly felt wasteful.
If he wanted to continue acting as Alric convincingly, he needed information.
Who he talked to.
Who he disliked.
Who he trusted.
The banquet might actually be the best place to gather that.
Besides.
His mind briefly flashed back to what the Knight's Order trio had said.
Alric had a treasure map.
And was acting weirdly.
If Riven knew more about him, he might be able to trick him into sharing the treasure or react better in case anything happened.
He glanced across the hall.
Leyla had already pointed out several people earlier.
That was where he would start.
His gaze settled on one of them.
The young man in the deep green robe near the wine table.
Young Master Eldwyn.
Riven pushed away from the table and walked over.
Eldwyn noticed him approaching almost immediately.
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Well."
The young man set down his cup.
"Look who showed up again."
Riven stopped beside him.
"Can't really hide forever can I?"
Eldwyn shrugged.
He studied him for a moment.
"You look… better."
Riven tilted his head slightly.
"Better than what?"
Eldwyn gave a small smile.
"Better than the last time I saw you."
Riven didn't answer immediately.
Eldwyn picked up his cup again.
"For a while I thought you were planning to disappear completely."
Eldwyn hummed thoughtfully.
"After the trouble you ran into."
He glanced at Riven's missing arm.
But Riven kept his expression neutral.
"I'm not that weak."
"True enough."
Eldwyn looked around a little.
"But I assume you aren't caught up yet?"
This is the chance to get some information.
"No. What did I miss?"
Eldwyn smiled and took a sip of wine.
"Nothing much. Since you showed up today."
Riven raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh?"
Eldwyn's smile widened faintly.