It was late September. In the banquet room of one of the largest mansions in Evermoon City a big celebration was taking place. Here, hundreds of ladies decked in beautiful gowns and expensive jewellery and men is stylish suits mingled and tacked about the recent fashion show or stock fluctuation.
Near them, on the nearby balcony, stood a man. He had short black hair styled in a typical corporatist fashion as well as a vivid pair of green eyes, a sharp and angular face and perfectly proportioned body. The only flaw in what could otherwise be called a perfect visage was the very tired and apathetic look in his eyes. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties, with an air of elegance and confidence only the rich and powerful could have. As he gazed silently in the distance, an equally handsome blonde man neared him, each arm wrapped around a world shaking beauty.
"Vincent darling, did you really finish one of those god awful S class missions that the sheikh gives to his followers. I heard that they are nearly impossible." said the woman on the left while slightly pushing her well endowed chest closer to the male.
"Why, did you really doubt him? I always believed Vince is one of the strongest players in the Arab Area." slyly replied the man on the blonde's left, batting his eyelashes in a way he knew drove men crazy and tilting his head so that the man in the middle could have a better view.
"Of corse I know that! It's just that it is an incredibly impressive feat and it left me stunned!" huffed the lady, without forgetting to squeeze the man's arm tighter.
"Okey okey. don't fight!" laughed the blonde, Vincent. Walking around with two beauties obviously put him in a really good mood. "If you have enough energy to fight, then I can think of a few more activities we can explore which I personally think should be more ... entertaining. ". While saying so, he lowered his head and, with a wolfish grin, suggestively bit the ear of one of the beauties.
Soon, a melodious laughter rang, and Vincent, having finished coxing his new friends, lifted his head with a satisfied smile on his face. No sooner did he straightened his body though, his gaze landed on the lonely figure sipping from his glass of wine and his previous languid and roguish atmosphere disappeared instantly.
"Excuse me for a moment please." he said in a completely serious manner, which stunned his previous two companions, as he neared his best friend.
As soon as he arrived, he crossed his arms on his chest, leaned back on the railing and said, with a barely suppressed anger. "Are you out of your mind. How can you even entertain the notion? Did the overtime finally got to your head?"
The man in front of him though stirred the glass of wine in front of him and, with a tired sight, opened his mouth.
"There is nothing I can do and you know it. The difference in lifetime expectancy is simply too great"
"And whose fault is that! If you didn't help the blighter in the first place you wouldn't be in this state at all. Not to mention, you know it too, what the prat's been doing. If he had just stayed put you could have had at least another 30 years or so." replayed Vincent, getting angrier and angrier the more he spoke.
"Leo, please, get it together! This has gone on long enough. You have indulged that thankless muppet too long. He's obviously too carefree if he has the time to sabotage you."
"Watch your words!"
"Is this all you have to say!"
At this point in time Vincent's face was starting to get red and he spoke through gritted teeth. "He is really angry this time", thought Elliot with more indulgence and fondness that he even showed his little brother. No that he realised it. As such, while slightly softening his voice, he replayed to the obviously worried sick best friend with a placating tone.
"I'm tired Vince. Even if he stops playing tricks, that would not change. If I'm lucky I might have little over 10 years left even with the game's help. I feel that it might be better to just spend it worry free in the real world. Who knows, maybe I'll finally find myself a hobby."
With just this, Vincent's anger immediately disappeared, like it it has been a mirage all along. Not even looking in his direction, he mumbled, only loud enough for the man next to him to hear.
"Fine! But if you think you are getting rid of me, think again! You own me enough meals and vacations for two lifetimes."
"Sure. Anything you want"
"Then live, you annoying sod" thought Vincent, though he knew better than actually say it out loud.
Having finished, the two of them stood there, in a comfortable silence, each with his own thought. This break didn't last long though as a servant slowly approached Elliot and whispered something in his ear.
"The show is starting", whispered the man to his companion.
With methodical movements, Eliot straightened his back, made sure his suit jacket is perfectly arranged, took the glass of champagne the waiter handled to him, and made his way to the middle of the ballroom, where a middle aged man already stood together with a young man, barely out of his teenage years.
The young man can be considered quite tall among his pears. He had average build and seemed to be enthusiastic , friendly and out-going, although an arrogant and superior glint in his eyes could be perceived when one was paying attention. Although he had the same black hair as his brother, his features were less striking and his pale blue eyes made him seem very friendly. The middle aged man next to him seemed like an aged version of his older son, with the same sharp expression but much less apathy in his blue eyes.
After joining the two, Elliot was met with the indifferent gaze of his father, not that he was expecting something else. Well, to be fair, there was also his rather curt question.
"Where have you been?"
"Balcony"
And his equally curt answer.
After starring at his eldest son for another second or two, he turned his attention to the rest of the audience and slightly hit his champagne glass with his teaspoon. Immediately, all the guest's attention focused on him.
"As you all know, we are here today to congratulate my youngest son, Daren Novak, for officially becoming the guild master of the number one guild in the Medieval Area of Mundus . He has made me incredibly proud. As confirmed by the Global Health and Life Expectancy Institute, as of right now, his life expectancy is a staggering 200 years, with the possibility of increasing it even further." As he finished saying this, low murmurs of amazement were heard all around him. Even Vincent, hidden in a corner of the room, sucked in a breath at this. "That being said, I have faith that with him taking care of us, the future of the Novak Corporation can be nothing but bright. Cheers!"
After the Chairman finished his speech, men and women alike took a glance at the young man smiling shyly next to the tall, slightly older man. It appears that Chairman Novak intends to overlook the eldest son in the inheritance succession. Pity, what a pity. Though with his lifespan being what it is...
As they thought that, everyone started drinking their champagne to congratulate the young man. After finishing his glass, Elliot placed it on the tray of the nearby waiter and looked in the direction of his little brother, only to see him looking at him with an overexcited expression. "What has got him so exited all of a sudden? It's not like he didn't know this is going to happen." Thought Elliot with confusion. Despite his slightly mixed feeling and their past grievances though, like any good older brother, he slowly opened his mouth to congratulate him.
"Congratulations for this excellent result, Daren! Although it has been a challenging experience, you did a very good..."
As he neared the end of his planed speech, he suddenly felt that the room started spinning and an uncontrollable coughing fit was racking up his body. Removing the hand he used to cover his mouth he noticed that it was bloody. "I guess I was poisoned, huh." he thought distractedly as he was collapsing.
While on the ground he was a bit too weak to notice the scared movements of the other guests or the panicked look on Vincent's face as he hurriedly made his way to his barely breathing body. Despite that, he had a perfect view of his brother's fear stricken looks and his mutterings of "This wasn't supposed to happen. They were supposed to have him make a fool of himself".
"It appears that Vincent was right ... I may have indulged him a bit too much.", thought Elliot as everything finally turned dark.