Emily stood in the centre of an elegant room, its walls decorated with beautiful wallpaper patterns and exquisite paintings. Dresses and fabrics hung on the racks around her, making the room feel lively with the many castle servants walking around. She found herself standing on top of a small stool, surrounded by a bustling group of seamstresses. They darted around her, measuring, scribbling notes, and holding up various fabrics against her frame.
Her eyes, however, remained focused on the large mirror in front of her. Her reflection stared back blankly, overwhelmed by the busy environment. Emily caught sight of Trevon approaching her from behind through the mirror, his stance straight and confident.
"How's the fitting going?" Trevon asked, his voice measured and calm.
Emily sighed, unable to hide her frustration. "Can't I just wear one of the dresses I've already worn in the castle? They're fancy enough."
Trevon shook his head, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "No," he said simply, his tone firm but gentle. "You need to look your best."
Emily exhaled slowly, her gaze shifting to one of the drawings a seamstress held up. The design was extravagant and beautiful but she couldn't help but frown. How on earth was she supposed to sneak around the castle in something so bulky? Emily's mind ran with such thoughts.
Soon, the lead seamstress bowed before Emily and Trevon, signalling her departure as the other seamstresses followed behind her. The room, once filled with activity, now felt quiet and spacious.
"How's the lesson going?" Trevon asked, leading Emily out of the room and into the castle's bustling hallways, where servants hurried by and guards stood watch.
"It was alright," Emily replied, though her voice sounded distant, her attention shifting to the lively hallway. Her eyes scanned the servants, the guards, and the grand décor around her, trying to take it all in.
Trevon noticed her distracted demeanour. "I haven't had the chance to talk to you much because of all the preparations for the ball," he added, trying to draw her back into the conversation.
"Where is the ball being held?" Emily asked, her focus now sharpening on Trevon.
"You can come with me and check it out," he said, offering a warm smile.
Curious to see the layout, Emily nodded and followed him through the halls. They passed through various doors and sections of the castle Emily hadn't seen before, and her gaze became more intentional, noting every corner, every turn, every door. She mentally mapped the castle as they walked.
"Where are the private quarters, by the way?" Emily asked, her tone casual, trying to mask the real intention behind the question.
Trevon glanced at her, noticing how her eyes scanned the surroundings. Keeping his expression neutral, he answered, "Down the hall, there. There's a staircase that leads to the upper floor—the last level of the castle."
Emily's gaze followed the direction he pointed to. Down the hall, guards were stationed in a strict, straight formation, their presence indicating the importance of the area.
'Just need to memorize this place... and the path to the ballroom,' she thought, trying to commit every detail to memory as they continued walking.
✨🌙✨
Finally, Emily and Trevon arrived at the grand ballroom. Emily's eyes widened in awe and delight as she took in the sheer size and nobility of the space.
The room was huge, large enough to accommodate thousands. Above her, an enormous chandelier hung from the ceiling, its white crystal casting radiant beams of light that bounced the marble floors. Tables were scattered throughout which was draped in luxurious fabrics of white and gold, their designs detailed.
At the far end, an elegant throne reserved for the King stood on a raised platform. Two grand staircases surrounded the throne, leading to an upper floor with a white balcony, adorned with golden tassels that shimmered in the soft lighting.
The castle staff bustled around, completely absorbed in their tasks, ensuring everything was perfect for the upcoming event.
Emily let out a soft sigh of admiration. "It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "Ballrooms are always so... so grand."
"It is," Trevon agreed, nodding. "Many important figures will be here."
He paused for a moment before adding, "Individuals who helped build these islands."
Emily smiled at his words, her eyes softening as she allowed herself a rare moment of appreciation for the beauty and history of the space.
"Like how you're going to help expand it," Trevon said with a warm smile, but the moment he spoke those words, Emily's smile faltered. Her expression shifted, her gaze sharp now, and a scoff escaped her lips, bitter and unrestrained.
"Expand?" Emily repeated, baffled. "You mean lead a genocide?"
Trevon sighed deeply, clearly regretting bringing up the subject. He steadied himself, trying to maintain calm. "They did try to kill people like us before," he replied softly as if attempting to keep the conversation civil, though it was clear it was a sore topic for both.
Emily's eyes darkened, her voice cracking as she spoke, her emotions raw. "I have loved ones who are non-magic users. And I'm sure many other magic users do too. You must understand the feeling of losing someone dear."
Trevon remained silent, his gaze dropping to the floor as Emily's words hung heavily in the air. She watched as the confident facade he usually carried began to waver.
"Casper was taken from me," Emily said, her voice barely above a whisper, but the pain in it was unmistakable. "And now my mom... Elijah and his family... I don't even know if they have powers like me. How many people do we have to lose before this stops?"
Trevon flinched at her words, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to compose himself. His mind drifts to the friends he has lost.
Emily's voice grew louder, filled with anger and defiance. "This plan is reckless and cruel. If you think I'm the only one who disagrees, why don't you tell the rest of our people? I doubt Hecate would stand for this."
Trevon's frustration flared as he snapped, "You mean the same Hecate who left us to fend for ourselves? She abandoned us!"
But as he said the words, something in him faltered. He saw the disbelief in Emily's eyes, the sorrow mingled with her anger, and for the first time, his own certainty began to shake. He could feel the tightness in his chest, the weight of his words suddenly feeling heavier than they had before.
"How can you be so sure of that?" Emily asked quietly, her voice cutting through his defences. "No book mentions anything about her abandoning us."
Trevon hesitated, his hands clenched by his sides as he searched for an answer. "Books..." he muttered, his tone less certain than before. "Most of our history was burned, erased. The few books that remain don't tell the whole truth."
"But what if we're the ones who don't know the truth?" Emily pressed, her gaze locking onto his. "I can't speak for Hecate, but does that justify killing people and continuing an endless war?"
Her words hit him harder than he expected. Trevon opened his mouth to argue, but the conviction he usually felt was slipping away. He couldn't deny the growing doubt inside him. Everything he had believed; they did caused pain to him but it is fair to destroy the lives of the innocent; those unaware of the ongoing war and history.
Emily could see it in his eyes, the way his stance softened, the way his gaze flickered with uncertainty.
"This might sound lame," Emily began, her voice gentle as she offered a small, encouraging smile, "but I really appreciate you helping me throughout my stay here. I'm comfortable with you, and I know you have a good heart."
Trevon's eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, something in his expression softened. There was a flicker of something—an emotion that wasn't there before. His usual composed demeanour wavered slightly, revealing a glimpse of vulnerability.
"Thank you," he said quietly, his voice carrying a note of genuine warmth. His gaze lingered on Emily a bit longer than necessary, and he offered a small, almost subtle smile.
"It's nice to see you two here."
Emily and Trevon turned at the sound of the voice. King Ronan approached them with effortless grace, his black cloak trailing behind him. His smile was warm and charming as he stopped in front of Trevon.
Emily's gaze unconsciously dropped to his gloved hand, her mind drifting to the image of his darkened hands beneath them.
"Emily was curious to see the ballroom," Trevon spoke up, pulling Emily from her thoughts.
Ronan's smile broadened, his gaze settling on her. "I see. And what do you think of it?" he asked, his voice smooth.
Emily hesitated, as she avoided his eyes, focusing on the embroidery design on her light blue dress. "It's fine," she replied softly.
Ronan's smile lingered, though there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Just fine?" he echoed with a low chuckle. "I was hoping for a more exciting review. You always seem to have... a lot to say," he added, his gaze fixed on her, the words hanging in the air like a challenge.
Emily's awkward smile faltered, her discomfort palpable. Sensing her unease, Trevon smoothly intervened, stepping forward slightly. "Is there something you need?" he asked.
Ronan didn't immediately answer, his gaze still fixed on Emily. "No," he finally said, his voice calm but purposeful. "Though this ball is important, I trust you still practise your powers?" His tone was measured.
"Yes, I am," Emily answered honestly.
"Good," Ronan replied with a curt nod. "During the ball, refrain from discussing the plan. We simply need our allies to know that we have a Northerner with a powerful aura on our side, one that can communicate with the Goddess. That's all they need to know for now."
"I understand," Emily responded, her voice quiet.
Ronan nodded at her response, before he turned away, the end of his cloak trailing behind him. Trevon and Emily stood in silence, watching as the King disappeared into the crowd.
Once Ronan was out of sight, Trevon glanced sideways at Emily. "Would you like to go to the courtyard?" he asked, his tone measured, his eyes lingering on her as if searching for a reaction.
"Anywhere's better than here," Emily replied, her gaze fixed on the floor. Her mind filled with thoughts of finally escaping.