"Well, should we go see what this play is about?" Freya said as she stood, taking along with her the glass and the bottle of wine.
"You should probably go easy on the wine," Alex remarked as he straightened.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about me, it's not like I will be drunk from just a bottle of wine," Freya chuckled. "And if that happened, well, you will be there to accompany me home."
"Oh, and aren't you worried that I could take advantage of you?" Alex inquired with a teasing smile.
"I'm certain you wouldn't," Freya replied, her lips curling into a confident smile. "And even if that happened, well, so be it," she said, winking at him.
Alex almost choked on his spit when he heard Freya's words. 'And she says that bottle isn't enough to get her drunk,' Alex shook his head. It was clear to him that the matriarch was slightly drunk even now.
Freya walked up to him and wrapped her arm around his as if it were the most natural thing to do while the bottle of wine was still clutched in her other hand.
"Let's go now, I don't want to miss the start," she beckoned as she pulled on his arm.
Alex barely had time to put back his smoke mask when Freya flung the door open.
Contrary to Alex's expectation, though, the instant she walked through the door, her slight excitement seemed to die down, and her usual composed and cold demeanor surfaced once again. Even the way her arm was clung around Alex's was repositioned in a way that seemed to suggest the two weren't that close, and having their arms linked was just a form of formal courtesy dictated by the occasion.
'The dichotomy between how she acts in private and in public is striking,' Alex thought to himself. 'Maybe I should act more like her,' he mused. The leader of Arcane needed to inspire respect—or, in some cases, fear. For that purpose, it wouldn't be wise to be overly friendly with everyone. 'Still, I don't think treating everyone with cold detachment like Freya is the right approach either, he concluded.'
"Lady Freya, Sir Arcanor," a butler waiting for them outside bowed deeply as they exited their previous chamber. "Your usual box has been prepared, Lady Freya, but if you wish, we can arrange for another to better suit your guest."
"No need," Freya replied with a dismissive wave of her hand, "the usual one will suffice."
"As you wish," the butler nodded, bowing respectfully. "If you would follow me, I will guide you to your box."
The two nodded and followed the butler through winding hallways for several minutes. Eventually, they stopped in front of a door situated on the highest floor of the building. Despite the immense corridor, it was the only door on the floor, signaling that this chamber was meant for exclusivity.
"Before I take my leave," the butler asked, bowing once more, "is there anything else you require?"
"No," Freya replied coolly, "but make sure of one thing: we are not to be disturbed under any circumstances."
"It will be as the Lady commands," the butler said with a final nod before bowing deeply and retreating, leaving Alex and Freya alone in the silent corridor.
"Shall we?" Freya asked, her previous warmth returning in the form of a faint smile as she gestured toward the door.
She opened the door, and they stepped into the box. The space was grand yet remarkably unadorned. There wasn't a single piece of decoration to be found, making the chamber feel almost austere. The only features of note were the enormous glass pane opposite the door and a luxurious couch positioned perfectly to face it.
When they approached the glass, Alex took in the full view of the theater. The grand stage was brightly lit, capturing everyone's attention, while rows of seats stretched out below, filled with spectators. By observing their attire and behavior, Alex could tell that the closest seats to the stage were occupied by commoners—wealthy merchants or influential figures who could afford the privilege of sitting so close to the performance.
Meanwhile, surrounding the theater, in private boxes slightly above these rows, Alex deduced that the nobles and elites sat, their elevated positions giving them a clear view of the performance while emphasizing their higher status. As Alex's gaze shifted, he noticed that Freya's box was positioned at the very top, higher than all the others, which made it clear that her status surpassed even that of the other nobles.
"The view is quite spectacular, isn't it?" Freya remarked as she settled into the center of the plush couch.
"Yeah, you're right," Alex agreed after a moment of silence. "Is it safe for me to remove my mask here?"
"Of course," Freya assured him. "This box is as secure as it gets. No one can spy on us here. The glass is enchanted; it allows us to see and hear everything happening outside, but those on the other side can neither see nor hear us."
"In that case," Alex said, his smoke mask vanishing as he made himself comfortable on the couch.
Freya's eyes flickered with surprise for a brief moment when Alex sat directly beside her. Amused, Alex asked, "Should I move away?"
"Of course not," Freya replied with a soft laugh, her confidence returning. "Stay exactly where you are."
Alex was about to make a teasing remark when the lights in the theater dimmed. A peaceful melody began to fill the air, silencing the chatter of the audience below. Slowly, the noise gave way entirely to the serene tune, drawing all attention to the stage as the play was about to begin.
Recognizing the sound he was hearing as coming from a piano, Alex thought back to his earlier meeting with his cousin Talia.
"Say, can you find me the location of someone staying here in Drisidd?" he asked Freya.
She raised an eyebrow and nodded. "As long as that person is still here, I can certainly find them," she replied confidently. "Whose address do you want to obtain?"
Alex wasn't concerned about Freya doing anything that would harm him or a member of his family, so he didn't hesitate for a moment.
"My cousin Talia. She's staying here in Drisidd, probably for the auction," Alex revealed.
"Oh, Lady Talia is here in Drisidd?" Freya asked, her brow arched in surprise.
"You know her?" Alex responded, surprised to find that his well-endowed cousin was well-known enough that even an Earl would know about her.
"Yes, she's one of the best pianists of this generation," Freya replied with a reminiscent smile. "I actually contacted her to play at Maya's coming-of-age party last year. She was a very respectful and lovely woman," she added, offering a compliment.
Alex had to catch himself from scoffing when Freya mentioned that Talia was respectful and polite. What was polite about that foul-mouthed woman?
Just as he wanted to reply, the song in the theater suddenly changed its tone. From a soft and captivating melody, it shifted abruptly to something dark and heavy. The shift was jarring, as the melody now echoed a sense of violence, reminiscent of battle—a cruel, devastating tune that sent a chill down everyone spine.
It was at that moment that the curtains parted, revealing the stage, and what greeted the audience was a scene of such violence that several people gasped in shock. Many women instinctively covered their eyes, turning away from the gruesome spectacle. It wasn't just the women; there were also men, some looking horrified, others disgusted, turning their heads in disbelief.
The reason for such a reaction was the chilling sight that appeared before them the instant the curtains were fully drawn.
Several corpses littered the ground, some male, some female, all sharing one horrifying trait: deep, deliberate blade marks etched across their bodies. These wounds were not made to kill instantly but to prolong their agony as they slowly bled out. The precision of these strikes revealed the sadistic cruelty of the killers and this sent chills down the back of those witnessing the scene.
Around the fallen bodies, burning straw houses illuminated the dark night, sending long plumes of smoke spiraling into the sky. The fires raged, consuming the homes and sending ashes into the air, adding to the chaos of the scene.
Cries of pain and desperation filled the air as men and women scrambled to escape their attackers, only to be caught and killed in turn. Rivers of blood flowed across the ground, mixing with the ashes as more lives were taken in the frenzy.
Amidst this chaos, a ring of manic laughter echoed, as several figures danced in a frenzy, hacking and slashing at the fleeing humans. Their faces twisted into grotesque grins, the thrill of the hunt visible in their eyes. They were predators, enjoying the carnage as they hunted their prey with ruthless glee.
The creatures causing this terror were far from human. Towering over two meters tall, their muscular bodies were covered in green skin, their ears sharp and their teeth razor-like, protruding from their powerful jaws. Each of them wielded a massive battle axe, using it to strike and torment their victims with terrifying skill.
Though they walked on two legs and shared a humanoid form, they were nothing like humans. With their brutal features and violent tendencies, they were born for war, for bloodshed, and for destruction. The gap between them and humans was vast, and there was no mistaking their true nature.
These bloodthirsty hunters were orcs, and their savage nature was unmistakable in every brutal motion they made.
"Whoa, this looks pretty realistic," Alex whistled in amazement as he watched the carnage unfold. He was unfazed by the agonizing cries or the blood splattering across the stage—it was all part of the performance to him.
But the same could not be said for Freya and the others in the audience. Shocked gasps echoed through the air with each new display of brutality. Some couldn't bear to watch and covered their ears to block out the sounds of pain.
'I'm not sure if this play is meant to shock, or if it's trying to make some deeper point,' Alex mused. 'But if that was the goal, then they've certainly succeeded.' He smirked. 'In any case, this play is turning out to be far more exciting than I expected.'