The hall stretched like a cathedral, its soaring ceiling lost in shadow, supported by a forest of stone columns carved with twisting vines and ancient runes. Flickering braziers lined the walls, casting trembling golden light that danced across the magically whitened marble which in the flickering candlelight appeared like the serpentine form of the Northern Lights. The air was thick with the smell of fresh flowers despite the raging blizzard roaring behind the tall crystal windows.
"Wow." Sofia saw Aoife stop at the threshold as the door opened by itself.
"They really went all out on the opening party. It reminds me of the time when I came of age and was sent to Athedale for the ceremony, albeit not as magical." She said tapping her younger companion to move as more nobles funnelled to the ancient hall.
"Did you like it Lady Sofia?" The human with reddish hair neatly tied into a bun asked her eyes level with the golden-haired noble in a sea-green dress.
"Ehhh, I was honoured that the high pontiff read out my talent but after that... I don''t like crowds much."
"I liked them, it is easier to blend in with a crowd."
"Ahh, don''t be like that. It should be a sin to hide such a nice face as yours." Sofia poked her fellow in an attempt to lighten up the mood making the dull coloured amethysts to half close in an annoyed frown.
"My Lord Father hadn''t sent me here to seduce someone. He would have been disappointed if I returned with a ring on my finger."
"I didn''t mean it like that but as you touched upon it. What will you do after finishing your study here, the war will not last forever after all." Sofia mused finding an empty spot to stand in without brushing shoulders with other students.
"That would depend on what the mages will tell my parents about my performance. If I do good, I may perhaps be sent to battle the enemies of humanity alongside the paladins of Wind Rose. Or be married to someone my House chooses."
"You''re not the heir are you, Aoife? Then you are probably going to be able to choose someone or at least your parents will look for someone compatible with you." Sofia said as a servant dressed in fine fur concealing his neck approached offering a sweet bubbly drink in a glass with an absurdly thin neck.
"Lady Sofia, could we not talk about my future?" The redhead whispered waving off the server.
"Ahh, sorry. I guess I''m trying not to think about the tournament."
"It''s fine but I feel odd, I don''t even know what is going to happen to me in a year while you Lady Sofia have everything figured out."
"What do you mean, Aoife?" Sofia stopped twirling her golden locks around her fingers.
"I mean, you''ve already made nearly every choice a noblewoman spends her life preparing for," the woman said and Sofia felt old at the strange way the young woman was looking up at her. "You and Lord Vilkas seem-"
"High Stars, Aoife from where did you get the idea that I and Vilkas are a pair?" The clear liquid in the glass foamed up as Sofia jerked her hand. "That is so nonsensical, I wouldn''t even met him if Lady Siri hadn''t stolen his notebook." Her voice broke and she saw few people glance at her frustrated state.
"Ermmm," Aoife''s eyes turned into big round balls ready for plucking as she stared at Sofia. "As you say."
"What does that supposed to mean?"
"Hello, ladies," A sole masculine voice which Sofia didn''t want to hear right now made her muscles stiff like stone. "Lady Sofia are you not hot in this dress your entire skin is red."
"No." She replied the clear crystal of her glass pressed tightly against her lips.
"Is the subject still injured? I was sure that I healed you," Lady Siri''s voice grew closer as she jogged to Sofia''s side, her tall boots echoing sharply against the stone floor like a sort of warning system. "Hmmm, this might show on your results."
"Greetings Lady Siri." The two nobles flanking the flat-chested frontier woman gave the high noble a bow as she approached them.
"Lady Siri I feel fine, I was just shocked by a story Miss Aoife told me." Sofia tried to explain as the cryomancer grabbed her hand and pressed it against her cheek before transferring the Junkier''s hand to the top of her head.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"What was the story?" Vilkas question sunk a dagger into Sofia''s heart.
"..." Aoife felt everyone''s eyes on her especially a pair of sea-green eyes which threatened and begged her from above Siri''s shoulder.
"Wah is that?" A child-like voice squeaked beside them as a server presented Siri with a tall yet thin crystal glass of white cream topped with a slice of citrus and garnished with mint leaves.
"This is an Everlasting Syllabub, a sweet frothed cream which invokes the taste of the sun-lit southern coast. My Master told me that it should be to your liking." In a flat voice, it responded as it gifted the high noble a silver spoon.
"''Ank u." With a spoon rattling between her teeth, the northerner excitedly nodded her head.
"Lady Siri." Unnoticed until now, the tall maid of the Blackworm tapped her ward on the shoulder, causing the high noble to raise her head with a white creamy spot on her nose which was quickly cleaned up by the elf.
"It''s so hard Iris, it''s so delicious and fluffy."
"You mean sweet and fluffy. I swear it''s going to taste better if you slow down, Siri." The elf shot back and to the amazement of the nobles around the cryomancer, she listed appearing as noble as one would paint a saint.
"Are we not getting this Syllabub?" Vilkas smirked at the speed and haste the pale woman guarded her sweet treasure. "I see some of the servers carry it but something smells about this."
"Dummy, look at the students getting these, all high rollers." Sofia chimed in before sipping on the sweet sparkling wine.
Her words rang true as their eyes roved over the grand hall, seeking the distinctive shape and pristine white colour of the coveted Syllabub. The pattern was undeniable, those receiving the delicate treat were not chosen at random. Any astute noble would notice the unspoken exclusivity an invisible line separating the recipients of the dessert from the rest. Their positions, visibly close to a high noble, granted them an unspoken advantage, one that did not go unnoticed by the others.
Glances of envy flitted their way from those who moved among the mingling groups, their expressions betraying a quiet longing to be included in such circles.
For a moment everyone seemed to look at each other with knowing looks, apart from Siri who looked as innocent and oblivious to their thoughts as a saint. Despite the Blackworm''s apparent naivety none would try to abuse it, knowing the incredible cunning hidden behind the absent-minded smile.
Their circle filled with conversation to pass the time as quickly the glamour and awe of the party disappeared behind the veil of acclimation. Occasionally a person from the Blackworm''s lessons would join in and the high noble who seemed to simply enjoy the noise of so many people would nod along raising no complaints as the circle grew.
A bell into the ball, an elderly man wearing a long silken cape which dragged behind him emerged on top of the stairs. The Oriri mage had to wait as the room quietened down as the native nobles definitely continued to speak gradually letting silence fill the hall.
A high member of the Geni''i, Sandlor spoke congratulating everyone present before going on a long tangent about the honour these old venerable walls had witnessed and the glory they had yet to see. As their station demanded the nobles despite hearing such speeches throughout their lives kept face while the commoners quickly began to fit untrained to ignore the sensation of blood filling up their legs from long periods of stillness.
"But tonight, let the weight of tomorrow remain distant. This is a night for joy, for unity, and for the bonds that strengthen us. Celebrate with your families and companions, for such moments are fleeting. Tomorrow, the trials will begin but tonight, let this hall echo with laughter and light." With a slight bow, he stepped back, his figure framed by the flickering braziers, as the hall broke into polite applause and large doors, easily able to fit an ogre through opened connecting this hall to another.
People much older than those around them began to slowly enter the room, their heads stretched like those of swans as they tried to look for their children.
"I don''t think many of our parents will be showing," Vilkas commented, and most of the people in the circle, albeit not all, nodded along. Their parents had sent them to the safety of the east coast of Vitas while the war between the two superpowers raged on, consuming lands and lives in its wake.
"I miss them." A woman related to the Duke of Sargos who Sofia had seen briefly the day before commented creating a long pause between the group.
"Lady dar Blackworm?" A tall mountain of a man approached the group, his muscles barely contained in the red and black garments of the House he served. An ugly but old scar from a claw ripped through his lip before ending at his right ear, which was slightly misshapen as if the wound had never fully healed. His sharp eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the group before settling on Lady Siri. He stood with the quiet authority of someone used to carrying out difficult tasks without question.
Sofia noticed that the man paused as he met Lady Siri''s gaze as if he had seen a ghost but she felt like others missed it. Her eyes resembled the clear water of the marsh surrounding her home and travelled to the elven maid who too seemed to have slipped as she stared at the colours of the man''s jacket.
"I shall inform your mother of your presence." With these words, the butler disappeared into the other hall leaving Lady Siri with the curious gazes of the southerners.
"Iris?" Lady Siri turned to her maid and the elf looked to be in deep thought.
Suddenly Sofia alongside others held Blackworm''s single word to scrutiny as the possibility of this show of neutrality everyone assumed Siri''s visit to Oriripol was began to crumble. Few people even took a step back at the possibility of Lady Siri having a troubled relationship with her mother presented itself.
The noble with the hero''s blood scoffed at the humans who like snakes mingled with them before backing away, betraying Siri for the mere hint of their effort gaining them a brief displeasured glance from an acting high noble of Firmusa.
In her brief time with Lady Siri, Sofia had begun to see her differently. The pale, almost deathly girl was her friend rather than a bag of gifts from the System or even a powerful noble to exploit the naivety of. Siri was a woman just like her, who laughed, sang, and enjoyed making friends with whoever saw past her rather cold exterior.
She didn''t know if her mother would approve, or if her father and brothers would curse her for it. But she would like to think that, if they all could stand beside her, they would smile knowing that she, Junker, the blood of a hero running through her veins, would stand by Siri no matter what. For Siri had become more than just a noble with power she was a friend, and that mattered more than some metropolitan politics.
A woman dressed impeccably in black, followed by the tall man from before, entered the hall, stealing the attention of the people they passed by. When the woman with a familiar pale complexion in her late thirties or forties found the group, her gaze made Sofia shiver. But with her fist clenched, she stepped one step closer to Siri.
"I''m with you, Lady Siri," the Junker whispered into the Blackworm''s ear, causing the woman to cock her head to the side.
"Siri!" A shout easily mistaken for a squeal of a teenager emerged from the Blackworm matron. "I missed you so much, ma-daughter. My daughter." The woman flung her arms outward and embraced the stiff-looking mage, going on her knees to do so. "I missed you so much, Karol constantly complained about me as I couldn''t sit still in the carriage."
Sofia’s shoulders, which had gone stiff as if preparing for battle, dropped as the loving scene disarmed her. To show such outward affection was bordering on scandalous if not for the fact that it was between mother and daughter.
"Are you jealous?" Vilkas, who stood next to the blonde, nudged her with his elbow before whispering.
"No," the frontier woman answered without looking back, her eyes fixated on the scene as Lady Blackworm continued to shamelessly adore her child, up until Iris stepped between the two, sparing the young scion further embarrassment. "...I do wonder how it feels like though." She replied and felt the weight of an arm gently support her back.