"Hey, Vapooliar, care for a dance?" one of my fellows asked as I sat at a table. A straight, unamused expression on my face.
"No, thank you." I told him, much to his brief disappointment before he snatched someone else up. Yet, as it all went on, I did grow curious. This was my first ever party. Back when I was a Valkinvar, we never did this kind of thing.
Ever since I became a member, it was always war. But, maybe now was the time that I learned to stop acting like one? Yet, I felt a peculiar uncertainty fill me as I watched it all. Would people think less of me because I had no idea how to dance?
I mean, I did not really think much of what others thought of me to begin with. But, it felt different here. Maybe it was because of how many were here? I did not know...
"I see you are still here, perhaps I can take your hand to the dance floor?" a contradictory voice said to me. I felt like I should know it...?
"Very we-" I started to say as I might as well use this as a means to get involved. Yet, when I stood up to face them, I came face-to-face with someone I could never forget.
"Yes, I know, quite ghastly, aren't I?" the tired-looking man asked me before he gently brushed at his perfect emerald hair. It was him... The one who defeated me during the battle outside of Giant's Victory...
"U-Uh..." I struggled to get out as fear started to fill me. I had no weapon or armour. Yet, this man, was fully decked out with a ceremonial sword and set of armour made for the Union's royal family... Something I only knew because we Valkinvar had seized one set a long time ago. Before the war became a stalemate.
"It's fine, no need to be nervous. Come, we can find my younger brother while we are at it." he tells me with a smooth voice that quivered with discomfort. And, as much as being near him terrified me, I could not muster the will to leave.
"Look! Look! Vapooliar is dancing with the Chosen-Heir of Jherikra!" I heard someone excitedly whisper before we suddenly became the centre of attention.
"I apologize, I try not to let my family's history influence the world around me." he jokes as his armour clanks as he teaches me to dance. Its finely polished steel and jewelled exterior shining ever so brightly under all the lights.
"R-Right." I gulp as he uses his weight of presence to gently slide us through the crowds. Then, he spun me around into a seat effortlessly before he then placed his free hands on a younger man.
"Eugh." they let out as they tinkered with something under the watchful eye of a...
"Valkinvar..." I let out in disbelief as I stared at the armoured man. Someone who would've been my protector on the path to becoming a Maiden of Waionr once I died in battle. But, why was he here!? Why was he so casual around Union royalty!?
WHY WASN'T HE TRYING TO KILL THEM OR CAPTURE THEM!?
"Oh, you are familiar with this armour?" he asks me as my fear-filled eyes catch sight of his own as they widen slightly. Did he remember me...? The weapon he carried was that of a Valkinvar from the Ordoar Imdavarce. The same one that I was sworn into...
"Galanmarck, despite your attempts to sand it all away, you still have the clear outline of it." the tinkering young man comments.
"Ah, forgive me, hearing my brother's Personal Guard of Royalty name spoken reminds me. We haven't been introduced yet, have we?"
"I-It's fine..." I start to say before he comes over and keeps me still with a light grip.
"Please, it would be rude if I didn't. I'm Chosen Heir Under the Mighty Jhrartur. And this here is the armyless War Prince, and, my younger brother, Lathmetahlarn."
"Still bitter about that appointment?" Lathmetahlarn jokes as he smiles up at his older brother.
"Of course." he remarks with a smirk before he sits down next to me.
"Great, now I can repay that bitterness with my own." the younger brother then moves onto complaining.
The man who enabled my fall from grace then shook his head, "You built a room using freshly developed technology during Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding's Inter-House Talent Display. This party is for those who fought in it and those who were key to the event happening to begin with!"
"I don't want to be here."
"Yes, well, suck it up. Next time don't make such a genius design and build it all on your own for a tournament second only to the Tournament of Talent in fame."
"Which room did you build?" I decide to ask, hoping that showing some interest would throw off my fear. Or, maybe it was too late. This arm wrapped around me was practically a chain in an invisible cell!
"The one you fought in against those Oddity House students." Lathmetahlarn answers as he puts down whatever it was he was tinkering with to look me in the eye.
"Y-Yes...?" I ask him nervously as if he knew that, then he most certainly knew.
"I still don't know your name."
"V-Vapooliar..." I say quietly while keeping my fearful gaze locked on the battle-ready Valkinvar in front of me. There was no denying it, he at the very least knew who I was.
"Cute name, one destined to go out of fashion should this war end."
"There is no should, little brother." Jhrartur corrects before he lets go of me.
"I-I'm sorry, but, I think I hear someone calling me." I lie in hopes it would at least let me get out of here.
"Apologies, don't let us keep you." Jhrartur says to me before I race out the chair with surprising restraint. I could only feel the urge to fly away in the hopes I would never be found. Yet, that would just reveal what I was!
"She's Valkinvar, Chosen-Heir, is it wise to let her go?" I heard the traitor say as I moved into the crowd with desperate, held-back strength. Yet, hearing that made me stop and a cold sweat drenched me.
"No, it is fine, I believe I broke her resolve just fine back when I broke their lines at the ancient gatehouse."