A noble ball. It is a time-honored tradition among the Carrien Elite. They are held for all sorts of things, from birthdays to weddings, to the death of influential figures.
As the doors opened to the ball room everyone looked to see who had entered.
Standing there is a pair of young people.
The girl, she's wearing a plain white dress, yet the nobility cannot take their eyes off her, they're enamoured by her looks, her oceanic crystal's for eyes and the dazzling radiance of her sleek blonde hair.
The man, wearing baggy black pants and a tight crimson sash, a pair of twin sabers strapped tightly to his back. His body is laden with scars telling tales of his achievements and glory.
Apart, it would be easy to guess wrongly as to the identities of the two, but together... together the pair was unmistakable for those nobility in the room who had done their research.
The two walked in tandem to the center of the ballroom.
An air of ferocity and resolve followed them as they walked. But the nobility did not tremble nor sway. Each of those here have already been introduced into high society, and such a display is not uncommon for them.
The young man with sharp features and rogueish hair smiled gathering the attention of the women who had previously judged him to be a barbarian.
His smile made their eyes drip with morning dew.
"I, Agashi D. Drashi, am thankful for you're attendance at my wedding ball." He said shortly, 'Not really sure what else to say... Shion...?'
He nudged the young girl beside him and she glanced around the room one time before performing a courteous bow which did not degrade her status among them, but instead denoted her status as being above them, a tradition bow done by a superior to their lessers as a courtesy at balls.
"Shion D. Drashi, Lady of the house, I was the one who sent out the invites to this occasion whilst my husband was away." Shion spoke quickly and concisely.
Her gaze shifted up to his and she smiled. He looked down and caught her eye smiling back.
Everyone in the room felt envious, or disgusted, at this public display of love.
"The ball has just begun!" Nova suddenly took a step forward with three drinks in his hands passing two to Shion and Agashi he then raised his own and looked to the nobility who were now on their toes, "Let the ball recommence!"
The words of a legitimized prince and earl of territory are law unless the opposite has a higher status in the aristocracy or are of equal birth.
The only ones above an Earl is a count, Marquess, Duke, Grand Duke, and lastly the King or in this case the emperor.
As such, these barons of the surrounding lands and low standing aristocracy had to take his words as law.
Of course, there were count's here as well coming to attend from territories in Kendogan and Rekarsus as well as Lancard and Tensent in order to better get to know the one whose nickname had spread along with their achievements.
The 'Scarlet Demon', the lord of Durlivan. Risen from the common folk he defeated the prince in honorable combat and in return he spared his life and that of his men, even giving him a peerage in exchange for life long loyalty.
Instead of revolting, as all would expect of what is a foolish low born in their eyes, he instead racked up achievements quickly and is now marrying the ruined princess of Dra in what appears to be happy matrimony.
The shock of this kept them wondering of who this person may be that rumors tell such a detailed story of, and so even those above their social status came with or without an invite to pass judgment on the two personally.
Does his nickname as the 'Scarlet Demon' live up to his reputation?
Does her reputation as the 'Frigid Wind' live up to it's call in the noble ladies circles?
A couple who battles together on and off the battlefield. One who is so close that even death dare not separate them, many taking how many times Agashi has survived near death as the proof of it.
Singing and drunken laughter floated into the ballroom from outside the estate as the entire city was celebrating.
Fireworks of qi still exploded in the distance becoming grander and grander slowly filling up the sky.
Agashi took a cursory glance around the room eyeing everyone with an equally suspicious gaze.
He immediately found Tensent and Lancard's dedicated diplomats here and watching him with hawk-like eyes, though not filled with malice, but intrigue and something else he couldn't quite discern.
He noticed a group of what seems to be very high-class women gathered around looking between Shion and himself their eyes full of envy and malice, though one woman, in particular, stood silently in behind, her eyes not showing any emotion other than curiosity and perhaps a hint of ambition.
He swept his gaze about and found several men whose chests were lined with metals that he did not recognize, his qi subtly probing them and a discreet frown forming on his face, 'Their strength is too weak to have metals... those are fake or for show, or both.'
He felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Chief- Chief stop!" Suddenly the air in the room froze as a shadow towered over Agashi.
He looked over coldly to find a young, skinny man grabbing onto a thick set of hips attached to a powerful man more than a foot taller than himself.
Agashi smiled up at the man but said nothing.
The tall man smiled like a wild beast, his clothing could barely contain his raging qi, "I felt that. You were disappointed with them. Those little boys from Kendogan and Rekarsus, how's this? Still disappointed?"
His aura suddenly flooded the room causing the dresses to flip around due to the wind from the gathering qi storm.
Agashi's smile deepened and a primal projection appeared behind him in the form a massive scarlet wolf.
With a single breath it blew away the gathering qi storm and returned all to normal.
The man's face moved from arrogance to shock in the time it takes one to blink, though if one didn't look closely his eyes would never show it.
The room exploded with exclamations, "A barbarian has infiltrated the estate! Guards! Someone!"
"How could a barbarian chief show up here?! Have they no shame? Go back to the wastes where you belong! Scum."
"Calling Rekarsus and Kendogan weak? Insulting us will cost you the lives of your tribesmen. We will send out our armies to wipe out your whole race!"
"Ah! How could Baron Drashi allow such an uncouth man to come here?"
"How could he? Obviously, because he is one of them! Good heavens just look at the man! He has no shirt, no decorum, he knows no etiquette! And his wife... with that plain commoners dress! She must be suffering! A princess made to be shamed like this by a barbaric man!"
"The poor princess... what of the prince then who put him into his service? Is he... colluding with the wasteland tribes...?"
Dangerous accusations began to arise among the crowd. Accusations of treason against Carrien and of harboring enemies of Kendogan and Rekarsus.
Agashi gathered his qi back in his body.
Shion took a cold step out gathering their attention, "Are you suggesting that a legitimate royal of Carrien is treasonous? ...Kendogan and Rekarsus. I hear you are at war? I'm sure you know what happens when a Carrien royal is insulted? It is an insult to the entire empire, so think very carefully of what you say."
The Kendogan and Rekarsus nobles looked at each other with disgust, to begin with they didn't want to mix with one another as they were at war, but now, they were not only forced to despite complaints but also forced under the heel of a ruined princess using the name of Carrien Royalty to force them down?
Using war as a threat? Who does she think she is?
"You're just a fallen princess, threatening Rekarsus with war, who do you think you are?!" A lithe man stepped out and let his qi bellow out.
In response, a cold dagger appeared at his neck. One of the External Affair's agents under Alias had taken a step out of the shadows and planted himself behind this man who was now sweating.
Agashi glanced at the man from the corner of his eye and then to the other nobles who voiced complaints.
A brutal, nightmarish aura rushed them forcing them to the ground, he opened his mouth, "Showing disrespect to not only my lord, not only my empire but to my wife. Right in front of me? Tell me, why should I let you leave this place alive? Foreign Lords."
He put special emphasis on the words 'Foreign lords'. It set a line.
That line says, 'You are not of this empire, yet you dare to show disrespect? Do you think your empires will go to war in this time just because of a few dead counts?'
Crossing over it means adding a few more grudges to his ever growing list of people who would like nothing more than to see him dead, though to them, to them it means their lives.
Not a fair trade at all.
"I- I apologize." The man managed from between his teeth.
The room was abuzz once more.
"...making a count from Rekarsus apologize... he really is barbaric..."
"He stuck up for his wife... I wish my husband was like that..."
"You think he would really kill them...?"
Hushed whispers.
Agashi's smile vanished as he looked back up at the giant of a man who had yet to move.
This time when he looks in his eyes he doesn't see ferocity, but the eyes of a wise man, of a chief who had just seen what he intended to.
"Chief we-" The skinny young man pulled on his animal skin dress.
"We are leaving." The Chief said coldly, "Young Lord of Durlivan. I hope that you do not become like your predecessors for should that day ever come, we, the Wasteland Tribe, Makzata will not stay idle."
"Makzata?!" Trigo who had been peacefully drinking tea at the side with Alias and the others who already used to this sort of thing suddenly choked, "The tribe of warriors who ransack all around the border be it city or village, Makzata?!"
The Chief looked over with an arrogant and proud gaze, "I see we are famous even here."
The Chief smirked and began walking out but a ferocious aura forced him to a complete stop, "You crash my wedding ball which I put so much effort into, and expect me to let you leave?"
Shion, who had been mostly silent this entire time took her rapier off the ballroom wall where she had left it specifically because she was wary of someone trying something and didn't want to be left unarmed.
Akin to a ferocious she-wolf let out of her cage, Shion approached gathering the attention of all who were present.
Shion passed her glass to Agashi and flashed a gentle smile, "Hold my drink for me please, Shishi dear."
Agashi's eyes sharpened, "Kick his ass, I'll handle the rest in the meantime."
"Kick his ass...?!" Trigo stood up and came right next to Agashi whispering, "...if that man is who he claims as chief of Makzata... he will be very powerful. Strong enough to be a leader of a tribe who raids cities as a pass time."
Agashi didn't even look at the fight about to commence anymore and simply said a few words which shocked the crowd who were all intently watching, "She is strong."
In only three words, only three. words. He caused the room to stare in amazement, if not because of the implication of his words but because of the extreme trust he must have in her to look away when she is about to fight a man as renowned as the Makzata chief.
Many of the women watching became immensely jealous, though they didn't openly show it, their husbands would hear no end of the spectacle once they got home.