The sound of music and laughter fades more and more as Theo and Sarah move away from the party, searching for Lorien through the long corridors of the castle. The farther they go, the fewer people they see around, and still no sign of the peculiar white-haired boy.
"Hey!" Theo approaches a guy in one of the corridors. "Have you seen a white-haired boy passing through here?" Theo asks, and the man looks at him with a confused expression. "Uh… about this tall… and long hair…" Theo tries to describe Lorien, but Sarah goes straight to the point. "He looks like a girl."
"Ah!" When Sarah says that, the man tries to hold back a mischievous laugh, especially when he sees Theo's stern look. "I think I know who it is; he was with a group one or two hours ago, I guess… Something like that; he went that way with a guy from Vaelthorn."
The man points toward a side corridor, and Theo nods to him in thanks before heading in that direction. Sarah takes his hand and starts leading the way. "I think I know where they went." She leads Theo through a few more corridors while trying to identify the place based on the books she read.
After a few minutes, the pair reaches another corridor, this one very luxurious and filled with paintings and statues of former students and legends of the Academy who all share the same thing, the symbol of Vaelthorn House on their clothes and equipment: a thin blade wrapped in roses full of thorns.
In the middle of the corridor, there is also a large luxurious door with the Vaelthorn blade and two young men around it, both wearing elegant green clothes. When Theo and Sarah approach, the pair looks at them with curious expressions, and she whispers to him. "Don't bother, I'll deal with them."
Theo lets Sarah take the lead, and they approach the pair with her smiling kindly. "Is this the Vaelthorn reception hall?" Sarah asks excitedly, and both men at the door look at her with the same expression as most people, impressed by her beauty.
"Good evening, My Lady," one of the men smiles and makes a slight bow to Sarah, but the other looks at the golden bracelet on her arm. They also have specific jewelry, both rings on their index fingers, but unlike Theo's ring, theirs are thinner, one silver and the other crystal blue, both with a thin line of thorns engraved in green.
"Who are you and what do you want here?" the second guard asks in a suspicious tone, and his partner taps his shoulder. "Hey! Don't be so rude, don't you know who they are?" When the first guard asks, the second makes a confused expression. "Who??"
The first guard looks back at Sarah and Theo. "You are them, right? I mean, the mysterious couple that caused the biggest commotion in the aptitude tests and then destroyed the Hargraves in the night festival games?" As soon as he asks, Sarah smiles proudly, holding Theo's hand. "How did you recognize us?"
Sarah's smile makes that man's eyes shine, but when he sees her holding Theo's hand, his eyes also fill with envy. "Ah, they said you are the most beautiful newcomer since Princess Eleonor and your…" He glances at Theo and receives a stern look, making him quickly focus back on Sarah. "And your partner was very tall and had red or reddish-black hair…"
"Yep, looks like it's really us." Sarah laughs and winks at Theo before looking back at the excited guard. "So, is this really the Vaelthorn reception hall? Is young Lord Renvaris inside?" As soon as Sarah mentions that name, both guards show surprised expressions, especially the second guard, who seems more skeptical.
"You know Master Renvaris?" the second guard asks, and Sarah nods. "Yes, I know Victor, and he also knows who I am. Now, are you going to let us in, or do you prefer to explain to him why you turned me away?" Sarah speaks in a clear tone of threat, making both guards show concerned expressions and then start whispering to each other.
While the guards are focused on each other, Theo leans closer to Sarah and also whispers to her. "Another old friend of yours?" His tone is neutral, but Sarah still gives him a teasing smile. "What do you think?" She says in a cold tone and her eyes shine in a way Theo has seen a few times before, especially when they faced members of the Dalemmar and Hargrave families.
Theo laughs and then looks back at the guards, who compose themselves and now look at Sarah with a mixture of fear and respect. "Lady…" the second guard begins to speak in a curious tone, and the other interrupts him. "Lady Malveryn, right?" He asks, and Sarah nods, then he smiles. "I'm very sorry, Lady Malveryn, but Master Renvaris is not here right now."
"Oh?" Sarah makes a fake sad expression, and the guard quickly tries to smile. "But any friend of his is more than welcome. You and your boyfriend have free passage and if you have any urgent matter to deal with, I can take you directly to Lady Caelis."
"Lady Caelis?" Sarah asks, and Theo remembers that Lorien's cousin, who came to get him, mentioned an older sister, probably that Lady Caelis. The guard quickly nods. "Yeah, Lady Aveline Caelis is the one in charge in Master Renvaris's absence."
Sarah glances at Theo, and both share the same look of understanding, then she smiles at the guard. "Alright, take us to her." As soon as she asks, the guard politely opens the door for Sarah and Theo, and both can see several people inside the luxurious room with more rooms in all directions.
"This way," the guard leads Sarah and Theo through the Vaelthorn nobles, who seem to be having their own private party with music, drinks, and fine food. Most of them seem to be veterans welcoming new members into the group, and all of them cast curious looks at the pair.
Under the judging looks and all kinds of comments, Theo and Sarah follow the guard to a side room where there are only a few people and stop in front of a door. As the guard approaches the door to knock, he hears raised voices inside, making his expression concerned.
"I think it's better-" the guard turns with a sorry expression, but then everyone hears the voices inside the room, first a deep male voice. "You arrogant brat! I'll teach you to respect your older sister!" The man shouts in a threatening tone, then another voice appears, this one thin and a bit feminine. "Let me go, you piece of trash!"
As soon as Theo recognizes that voice, his expression turns dark, and the guard notices it. "That's none of our business—" The man tries to block Theo's path as he charges toward the door like a snorting bull, but before the guard can do anything, he hears Sarah's voice.
"Venthar!" Sarah shouts a word in an ancient language with her right hand extended toward the guard, and a wave of wind bursts from her palm, throwing the man violently against the wall. He crashes into a painting and falls to the ground, stunned.
The others in the room are startled and look in that direction, seeing Theo advancing toward the door and kicking it open with force, making an even louder noise. BAM! The door handle breaks, and it slams against the wall, startling those inside the other room as well.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" A man exclaims furiously as he looks toward the door. That man is Lorien's cousin, Edrin, who is currently gripping the delicate white-haired boy by the shoulder roughly. There is also a young woman in the room wearing a beautiful blue and white dress, but Theo completely ignores her and focuses on Lorien, who first looks surprised and then smiles when he sees Theo. "Big Brother?"
Edrin becomes even more irritated when he recognizes Theo. "How did you get in h-" As he starts speaking, Theo quickly walks toward Edrin with a clearly hostile posture and throws a punch at him with high strength and speed.
*Whoosh* Edrin stops talking when he notices Theo's intent and releases Lorien immediately, catching Theo's fist with more speed and precision. The move surprises Theo, and Edrin's eyes shine cruelly. "YOU BASTAR-" Edrin prepares to block Theo's left punch, but Theo acts faster, using his head to strike his opponent.
*BAM!* Edrin is caught off guard by that blow, and when their foreheads collide, he is thrown to the ground with an intense pain that seems to explode inside his skull. "AARGH!!!" Edrin screams in pain while Theo remains standing firm.
Both Edrin and the woman in the room are shocked by Theo's strength, but her expression seems more impressed and even admiring, just like Lorien's, who smiles even more at Theo. He, on the other hand, keeps that dark look fixed on Edrin on the floor.
"If you touch him again, I'll rip your arm off and shove it up your ass," Theo speaks in a calm tone, making a chill run down Edrin's spine. Still dizzy, he tries to stand up, but Theo punches his face, throwing him to the ground again with a loud sound. "Did you hear me out?"