The red aura leaking out of his body dwarfed Shin's presence completely. If we were the same level... I should conceal myself more. The mask may be enchanted, but I doubt he'd have trouble recognizing my presence if I get any closer.
All I have to do is breathe. Remember that endless void. Remember that emptiness every time you close your eyes. I stopped walking abruptly. Fay stopped behind me, she opened her mouth seemingly wanting to ask something but closed it the moment the aura leaking out of my own body vanished.
Well, not vanish per se. Condense is a better word. A few millimetres thick surrounding my skin. I'm not exactly trained in this... I can't exactly just make it disappear or stay inside of me.
I looked at my own hand.
If you squint, you can still see my black aura. I didn't conceal it the first time I saw redhead... he might figure out that I'm wearing a mask if he realizes the aura's colour is familiar.
"How did you..." Fay stared with pure curiosity
Just gotta give in to the feeling of emptiness and make your presence smaller and smaller. Makes you really want to just... disappea-
"Pure talent friend! I just figured it out somehow," I brushed it off and started walking again. Everyone in the line is still looking at us... I bet they're thinking 'you think you can just cut the damn line?'
I bet they're assuming that we think we're so important, just walking into the ball without respecting everyone in the line.
No, I won't even bet it. I know it.
Knowing it makes me feel even more embarrassed.
"You are not permitted to enter without an invitation, the rules are absolute," Felix continued to hold Shin down.
"Actually Pheli! He's with me." Alfie picked Shin up and threw him back to us. I dodge his body, but Fay caught it. Thought she didn't like him that much...
"Why did you dodge?!" Shin shouted at me.
"Well if I caught you, you'd ask why I caught you!" I shouted before realizing we were making a scene.
Alfie gave Felix the invitation and gesture for us to just get inside. Let's hope the food's worth the itchy dress and the commotion...
I walked behind all of them, making sure we didn't drop any of the expensive accessories.
"So you're Crimson," Just a single line from Felix made me pause completely. How did he... when did he... why is he telling me this?
"H-How..." I muttered underneath my breath.
"No body's aura is THAT concentrated. I was warned of your arrival. I've heard stories of you. Cold, selfish, devoted to one person. Ignis correct? Keep walking casually," My steps became heavier and slower. Does he know I'm the one who broke into the palace? He seems so... scary compared to before. Besides...
Nobody WALKS casually when they tell themself to and where the hell did you hear that was devoted to that bastard? Who the hell warned him anyway- oh... Grail is here.
Felix leaned over and quietly asked, "Tell me, why is the second in command here with Lord Grail's doll?"
Does he still think I'm the second in command? Is that why he hasn't done anything rash yet? The more important thing is he recognized Fay...
"Why do you care?"
"Don't play with me."
"Why not just make a ruckus about this? Humans always hated demons anyways, my presence here can be a reason for war. A reason no matter how small can be exaggerated," In truth, I couldn't care less if there's a war between the 2 sides I'm no longer a part of.
"I've seen you before. I don't know when or where, but I have. That shade of black you emit... it looks so artificial,"
He doesn't remember! My luck! That whole thing could've gotten me into trouble. If he's hostile against me, he could've totally arrested me again and I'll have an even harder time escaping! Although... what does he mean by artificial?
"Too bad I'm not an artificial demon, mister, too bad I'm not human neither," I tried to lose him in the crowd, but he seized my arm before I could do so.
"We're not done yet. You're dangerous. I cannot allow you to go unsupervised,"
Too bad I have no intentions to burn this place down to the ground huh? I didn't want to be here anyway... I can just leave.
"What do you think you're doing?" Alfie looked at Felix with an uncomfortably wide smile.
"Lady Alfie, you don't understand. She's a demo-"
"She's with me. So just let it go," Alfie broke his grasp on my hand and dragged me away.
"Wait! You cannot just-" Suddenly, all three of us paused. There was a strange feeling in the air. Strangely familiar. The feeling of... inevitable doom.
I...
K-Know this... feeling.
I've felt this before. My chest started to tighten. My hands began to shake. I was having the same reaction as I did in the prison, but now I'm more controlled. The fear behind this feeling is something I don't understand. I won't allow myself to be scared of something I don't even know.
"What is that?" Felix immediately pinned the blame on me with his glare.
"I... It wasn't..."
"She didn't do it," Alfie muttered. Her eyes were completely widened, but I couldn't read her expression at all. She was surprised, but I can't tell in what way. Her expression wasn't sad. It wasn't fear. Somehow... deep in her eyes... it...
Even looked happy.