Never in my dreams had I imagined what I was seeing right now. A place so dazzlingly beautiful with such unimaginable decorations and people was not something I had thought I would ever encounter. This hall was literally larger than a football field with smooth-white coloured walls and a ceiling which was supported by arching pillars in the corners. The ceiling even had some designs of blooming flowers, drawn so neatly and vividly that those flowers and leaves felt like they were fluttering with winds, or maybe they were actually, by some spell or anything, I guess. In the centre, was a grand chandelier with tiny blue and red crystals, peeling together to form a music which felt like a light piano note but far more soothing. Maybe, this was magical too.
Coming downwards, in the centre of the hall stood a long table made of polished jetwood. There were no less than a hundred seats in all, most of which were occupied. There were long windows with coloured glass keeping some paintings alive in themselves, like those you would in an ancient church. Talking about the people here, I never saw many young people here. Most of them looked older than thirty and keeping in mind they were all elves, they most probably will be around a thousand or two thousand years old. On the very end of the table sat a lady, dressed in a gorgeous green gown. Her smile seemed bright even from our distance while over her forehead she wore a crown of crystal and flowers. Her features seemed oddly similar to Lia. Was this lady her mom? Then she must be....the Clan Lady!
Suddenly, the lady announced the beginning of the feast, confirming my doubt. Then with her announcement, the chandelier above us began chiming with a louder orchestra music. Then I noticed something even more peculiar. The flower vase kept in front of me, holding some beautiful purple flowers, started showing some movement. The thin vines from the plant creeped out like snakes and rolled themselves around the silver plates and forks on the table and then...they...started serving the guest. Were these magical too?? Is there anything here that isn't magical??
When one of the vines came near my plate, I touched it and it curled back like a touch-me-not plant. It would creep near my plate again only to curl back on my contact. I found this kind of cute? This vine was actually acting like a cute cat.
While I was immersed in my admiration for all this, I noticed Zeo staring at me. Honestly, I feel Zeo is acting weird today. From the morning I am seeing so many mood swings of him that I can't remember. First he was shuttering like an idiot in the morning, then he kissed me out of the blue just to make me comfortable, then he was regretting his action and finally he seemed awfully frustrated while we were coming here. Is something bothering him? Is it related to me?
Actually, he is not the only weird guy here. Adrian was acting strangely too but then I don't know him enough to say that this isn't his normal way of attitude.
Shifting my gaze in thoughts, one thing caught my attention. Something very important !! There in the centre of the table was a pizza. Do they really have pizza here too? Or is it something that just looks like it? Only one way to know it. I have to taste it. Although there isn't much space in my stomach, a small pizza won't do me bad, would it??
"Zeo?" I whispered slowly, over the sounds of the crowd.
"Hmm?" He asked, turning towards me.
I pointed at the plate holding my treasure.
"Can you pass me that?" I requested, shyly.
"Do you like it?" He inquired, smirking.
"Probably.."
He extended his arms to reach the plate but as soon as he got hold of it, another hand seized it too. It was Adrian.
In the next moment both their eyes met and I am certain that if they could injure each other by glares, both of them would be dead corpses now. What is with these two? Do they both have a bad impression of each other??
"Your highness, Elliot wants to have this. Can you please be kind enough to choose something else?" Zeo requested him in a formal way but I still sensed something dark under the surface.
"It's fine. Let me pass this to him." He replied smiling and pulled the plate towards himself. This smile of his, it felt different than his usual smiles.
"You don't need to take pains for him, your highness. Let me do it." Zeo replied, still smiling as he pulled the plate towards himself.
"I told you it's fine. Let me do it." Adrian snapped back.And like that, my so-called pizza ended up being a rope in their tug of war. We all know how a tug of war ends. Finally, the plate slipped off Adrian's hands and the plate was pulled back in a jerk towards Zeo. He did not fall but the plate did, echoing a clinking sound through the hall. All those piercing eyes turned in our direction.
"Is everything alright, young lord?" The Clan Lady asked.
"Oh ! Ye-s, lady Synthia. My plate just slipped off my hands." Zeo explained.
"You should try to be more careful, young lord. If you can't hold a plate tightly, I doubt how your dad holds his clan." One of the older men seated on the table said.. With that comment, a wave of amusement travelled through the hall. I felt annoyed. A plate can be compared to a clan...what kind of analogy is that?? And what right do they have to say his father is not a good clan leader??
"Well , if holding a plate could decide how a person can rule a clan, then your clan must be looked after by cooks and maids, right?" I replied at the top of my voice which echoed throughout the hall, silencing every grin...For about a minute or two, there was no voice in the hall. I could only hear my breaths.
"What did you say, kid?" One of the men said, angrily.
"Did you just offend our clan?" Another voice suggested.
[Elemental Magic: Flower Style- Vine grip]
I heard a third man utter those words. And suddenly, the plant vine which was timidly serving us a moment ago turned into a strong cord and snaked itself around my neck, squeezing it tightly and choking me till no more words or breaths could escape me !!