"Unwritten skills," the voice announced, resonating through the grand hall like a ripple in a calm lake.
The ambient noise of conversations and murmurings ceased instantly, replaced by an electric silence.
Everyone who had been talking stopped, the unexpected announcement catching them off guard.
The tension in the room grew palpable as the gravity of the situation began to sink in—these newly introduced skills had the potential to change the course of their lives, for better or worse.
Anna's eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the words, while beside her, Marquis shifted uneasily.
She glanced at him and saw the same uncertainty reflected in his eyes, though masked beneath his usual bravado.
"You're being dramatic," Anna remarked, her tone laced with an edge of irritation as she turned toward Marquis.
She could sense his anxiety, though he was doing a good job of hiding it from the others.
"How am I so?" Marquis retorted, his voice rising a notch, betraying his nerves. He continued, "Most people here are going to get trash unwritten skills, and their slots are already limited. It's like rolling dice with your life."
Anna rolled her eyes. "Still, that doesn't mean it's life or death, Marquis.
If I could get any skill—" She paused, her mind racing with possibilities, then continued, "like your attachment skill, for example.
I'm pretty sure I could use it well, even though it doesn't complement my own."
Marquis shook his head, his frustration mounting. "Still, learning two skills that don't synergize well is incredibly hard.
Not everyone is like you, Anna. You think it's easy because you're a natural. But look at Alain." He paused, his blood boiling as he remembered the laziness of their companion.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to cool down.
"Alain wouldn't even use that unwritten skill just because he's lazy!"
From across the room, Alain's voice cut through the tension.
"I heard that. And could y'all keep it down?" His tone was annoyed, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice as he noted how everyone was hearing their yelling, even the heads at the far end of the hall, who were now watching them with interest.
Henri, observing the heated exchange from a distance, chuckled softly. "Our children are really fond of each other," he said, his voice tinged with humor.
"Fond? Marquis looks ready to rip someone's throat out," Alphonse replied, almost flabbergasted at how quickly Anna was getting under Marquis' skin.
He couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them.
"And Alain's an exception!" Anna continued, her voice rising as she turned back to Marquis.
"He won't use it because he thinks his attachment skill is good enough—not that I know what it is, but his overall attitude points to that. Plus, you aren't talking about the range of unwritten skills. Who's to say someone won't get a skill that's miles different from their attachment skill?" Her words came out in a rush, her frustration with Marquis' narrow-mindedness bubbling to the surface.
"Why are you using me as an example?" Alain said in disbelief, his voice tinged with a mix of irritation and resignation.
He turned to Itami, who was seated beside him. "I'm waiting for Ryuji," he said coldly, his gaze unwavering as he stared at Ryuji's slumped body. The atmosphere around him seemed to darken as he brooded, his thoughts far away from the commotion.
"Just get him out of your head," Alain said, the tone of their conversation growing serious.
His red eyes seemed to glow brighter, applying pressure on Itami with a silent intensity that made the other boy shift uncomfortably. Alain's gaze was piercing, almost as if he could see through Itami's very soul.
Leonardo, who had been watching the exchange with growing interest, leaned closer to Elara.
"Wow, they're really going at it," he observed, his voice low so as not to attract attention.
Anna and Marquis were still caught up in their, in the grand scheme of things, meatless argument, but to him, it seemed like something deeper was at play.
Elara giggled softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Even though this is technically their first time meeting," she remarked, clearly enjoying the drama unfolding before them.
"Anna and Marquis, sitting in a tree—" Elara tried to tease, her voice taking on a sing-song tone, but she was cut off by both of them simultaneously.
"Shut it, will you?" Marquis snapped, his eyes flashing with irritation.
"Elara!" Anna added, her voice sharp with exasperation.
"That was mean," Elara sighed, her playful mood dampened by their curt responses. She turned away, her gaze drifting to the grand windows of the hall, where the last light of day was beginning to fade.
The room seemed to grow darker, the shadows lengthening as the night crept in.
"Elara," Leonardo began, his voice hesitant. He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then continued, "how do you get better?"
"What?" She replied, her voice tinged with confusion as she turned to look at him.
"No, I mean... you were sad earlier, then—" He struggled to find the right words, unsure of how to express his concern.
"Ah, Dad was there," Elara interrupted, a soft smile playing on her lips as she thought of her father.
"Figures," Leonardo said flatly, though there was an edge of warmth in his tone. He could tell that Elara's father was a source of strength for her, someone who could lift her spirits even in the darkest of times.
Elara giggled, then continued, "Dad means everything to me, you know. Mom too!" Her voice was filled with affection, and it was clear that her family was the cornerstone of her world.
"Ronald..." Leonardo muttered, a tear escaping his eye as memories of his own family flooded his mind.
He quickly wiped it away, trying to keep his emotions in check. "I can't believe I miss that bloke," he said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he remembered the good times.
"Family?" Elara asked, her voice softening as she recognized the sadness in his eyes.
"Yeah," Leonardo replied, his voice barely above a whisper. The weight of his loss hung heavily in the air between them.
Elara smiled sympathetically, her heart going out to him. She understood all too well the pain of missing someone you loved.
As she glanced back at Anna and Marquis, she noticed that their voices had grown louder, their argument intensifying.
"Do not underestimate me, you prick!" Anna shouted, her frustration boiling over. She waved her hand in a familiar gesture, one that sent a ripple of Rasvian energy through the air, reminiscent of what she had done to Frederick on the train.
The force of it sent Marquis crashing to the floor, face flat against the cold stone.
"Anna... let go!" Marquis muttered, his voice muffled against the floor as he struggled to regain his composure.
"Not until you apologize," Anna insisted, her voice steely as she took a step back, keeping her distance while maintaining control.
"No!" Marquis muttered again, his pride refusing to let him give in so easily.
"Anna," a new voice cut through the tension, drawing everyone's attention. An heir stepped forward, her presence commanding the room.
She wore a fitted gown with intricate geometric patterns inspired by the Ming Dynasty, paired with a tall, elegant headdress adorned with jade and pearl. Her attire radiated authority, a sharp contrast to the chaos around her.
"Oh..." Anna paused, recognizing the girl immediately. The air in the room seemed to shift, the weight of her authority palpable.
"Just stop it," the girl said, her voice calm yet firm, carrying a weight that made it clear she was not to be ignored.
"No, he did it on purpose. He's a nosejob!" Anna exclaimed, her frustration boiling over once more.
"Marquis won't say sorr—" the girl began, only to be interrupted by Marquis.
"I'm sorry," Marquis finally admitted, his voice quiet but sincere. The shock of his admission hung in the air, leaving both girls momentarily speechless.
"I was about to go on a monologue about how big of a prick you are," the girl said, her tone lightening as she processed his unexpected apology.
"Well, I'm sorry. Now, let me go," Marquis replied, a hint of exasperation creeping into his voice as he dusted himself off.
"Fine," Anna relented, releasing her hold on him and stepping back.
"That was something. I didn't expect Marquis to apologize," the girl said, her tone still tinged with disbelief as she watched Marquis slowly rise to his feet.
"Who are you again?" Marquis asked, his voice flat as he turned to face her.
"Who is she?" Leonardo asked, noting her sense of superiority, which was incredibly surprising for an heir—the kind of power you would expect only from a head.
"That's Mei-Ling," Elara said, her voice tinged with a mix of respect and familiarity.
"Or you could call her my best friend," Elara added, only for Anna to tersely reply, "Our best friend."
"Sure, sure," Elara conceded with a roll of her eyes, though her smile remained.
"Oh, okay!" Leonardo said, his mood lifting as he walked over to Mei-Ling with a cheery demeanor. "I'm Leonardo," he said, trying to sound as professional as possible.
"I'm—" Mei-Ling started, then stopped herself. "You already know it," she finished with a smirk.
"Well, yeah," Leonardo replied, slightly embarrassed but smiling nonetheless.
"Why pick him as your guide?" Mei-Ling asked Anna and Elara, her tone curious as she gestured toward Leonardo.
"He was cute," Elara said with a mischievous grin, gesturing at his height.
"He's interesting, plus his height," Anna added with a laugh, joining in on the teasing.
"Why'd you accept being their guide, knowing this?" Mei-Ling asked, turning her sharp gaze to Leonardo.
"Why are you questioning him?" Marquis tried to interject, but Leonardo quickly responded, cutting him off.
"I had time," Leonardo replied, his voice steady.
"You have time?" Mei-Ling repeated, her tone laced with skepticism.
"Had," Leonardo corrected, his voice softening.
"Funny, the quest has no official ending date, you know," Mei-Ling remarked, her eyes narrowing as she studied him more closely.
"That's where it gets complicated," Leonardo admitted, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
"You can just leave, you know?" Mei-Ling said, her tone suddenly taking on a more serious note.
As she spoke, her guide suddenly appeared beside her. He was tall and muscular, with a fierce look that made him seem like a guardian from another era.
His golden lion's mane headdress and sharp, claw-like gauntlets gave him the appearance of a human-lion hybrid, a figure both awe-inspiring and intimidating.
Elara shifted uncomfortably at those words, her smile fading.
"That's enough," Marquis said, stepping forward protectively, his eyes locked on Mei-Ling's guide.
"Unwritten skills ready for distribution," the voice that filled the hall announced, cutting through the tension like a knife.
"Finally," Anna said, her voice filled with a mix of relief and anticipation as the moment they had all been waiting for finally arrived.