•••

“This youth is powerful. He’s able to influence everyone’s moods and emotions so easily. Although with his visage, he looks innocent, there’s a calculative mind within,” Hanzo, Prince of the Trinity Empire, inwardly thought.

“Friend Astrallis, if even the Crown Prince is not offended how can we be?” A smooth voice soon entered the ears of Astrallis.

Astrallis turned to the voice, and Bataar’s words crossed his mind, “An oddity will be where other oddities are.”

A seven-foot fatty sat beside him.

“Juju Binks, I expected to see you here,” Astrallis nonchalantly replied. But inwardly he was startled, as he didn’t notice the presence of the tall Fatty.

There were many others like Astrallis who was surprised. They all didn’t notice the Fatty.

Even with the fatty’s thick skin being called what he said on a whim caused him to go red.

“Brother Juju Binks... I can’t keep calling you that. What’s your real name?”

“Oh, haha. You may call me Rex,” the Fatty, now knighted Rex shamelessly replied.

“You seem to have had quite the growth spurt since I last saw you,” Astrallis asked with raised brows.

“Yes. Although, I’m not entirely sure why,” Rex said with evident worry.

“You shouldn’t be worried; it seems to be only beneficial,” Astrallis replied with a shine in his eyes.

Astrallis’ words caused Rex visage to become serious for a moment as he looked intensely at the handsome youth next to him.

“You can tell, can’t you?” Rex sent a mental message to Astrallis.

“Partially. I can see the gains that your transformation has granted your body and bloodline. But, I still have no idea about your eyes,” Astrallis replied.

Astrallis’ words were an only part truth, as the one who knew about Rex’s constitution and bloodline was Bataar who had yet to inform Astrallis of its origin or speciality.

“Anyway. Enough of this. We can talk about this after the party.” Astrallis dismissed the bombardment of questions that was sure to follow.

Astrallis was quite relieved. His primary goal for the gathering was to form a relationship with the mysterious fatty before him, and now that his bait was released it was sure to catch.

After that Astrallis exchanged some pleasantries with the surrounding youths, the majority of the women congregated around him. Causing one too many red-eyed teenagers to stare venomously at Astrallis.

Astrallis just ignored those gazes, people with such mindsets would not amount to much in the future. No matter their talent or background.

•••

The Crown Prince noticing that the atmosphere was starting to become lively, indicated towards the band at the centre of the pavilions to increase the tempo of the music.

The music began to change to that of a gliding waltz, ethereal and refined.

“My dear guests, the dance floor is open to you all. I hope to be able to see some of your graceful movements soon.” Algard, the Crown Prince, encouraged the party-goers.

The gathered youths all became excited, they all originate from high backgrounds. Thus they were educated in the Four Arts to some extent. Which consist of the Art of Calligraphy, Art of Dance, Art of MInd and Art of Painting.

The Art of Dance is not just for beauty and grace; it also allows one to see the realm in which one’s mobility has reached. If one’s Art of Dance had reached a certain level, apparitions and dream-like scenes would appear beneath their feet.

In the Central Realm, the Art of Dance is even more relished than the Astral Realm, with gigantic dance competitions spreading across the land.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

There is a saying in the Central Realm, “If one cannot dance, they cannot walk the Way.”

“As the host, I will go first. Anyone care to join me?“The Crown Prince asked, a smile on his fair visage.

A girl quicker than the rest flashed before the Crown Prince, she sent a cold look towards the rest of the women who attempted. She had cyan hair which seemed to scintillate with ice; a cold aura emanated from her.

The other girls sighed in disappointment when they noticed her.

“That’s Svensenia, the Princess of the Everglades Empire. It’s public knowledge that she’s been courting Crown Prince Algard for a couple of years already. Her Art of Dance is praised region over.”

“Indeed. We are going to see a brilliant scene.”

Algard smiled towards Svensenia as he took her hand, they walked across the lake towards the stage. Music changed that to that of a three count, the count of a Waltz.

Looks of expectation appeared on the faces of everyone watching. The elegance of Waltz if performed efficiently was a spectacle to the eyes, at the same time the man would be taking the lead so the result of the dance would rely intensely on the man’s guidance and technique.

Algard pulled his partner close to his body, their faces almost touching. Svensenia’s misty breath slowly spread across his face, “Svensenia, it seems you have advanced in your Ice Phoenix Codex.”

“Do not worry my Prince. It does not inundate my movements.

“I would never expect it to.”

The Crown Prince took hold of his partner's waist, while she placed her hand on his shoulder. While their other hands held to their side.

Algard began to lead the duo across the stage, their movements slow but graceful. A flurry of techniques followed.

•••

“Oh, surprising. Although Algard is not known for his martial prowess, his action is refined and elegant.” Astrallis stared with interested at the duo. “If he keeps moving as he is his Art of Dance is sure to invoke a beautiful scene.”

Many spectators let out gasps of shock when they saw apparitions begin to appear around the dancing duo. A Sun dragon and Ice Phoenix were entwined together moving in unison above the pair. Brilliant colours radiated off of the beasts and fell onto the dancers. Their movements became faster and more frenetic.

“Let’s see how much energy they can handle. When the light of the apparitions is shone upon Art of Dance practitioners, it increases the speed of their dancing. Eventually, it will reach the point where the increased speed will impede on their movements, and the light will vanish. But, the longer the light shines upon them, the more significant their comprehension of movement will be,” Bataar said as he appeared on Astrallis’ shoulder.

“Indeed. The further one goes in the dance the further they will comprehend. It’s unfortunate that one cannot forever dance to improve their comprehensions. Each time one dances one need to exceed one’s past dance, and only then will one’s understanding of movement increase.” Astrallis replied in understanding.

Gradually more apparitions began to appear in the sky, each time the speed of the duos dancing increased a new pair of beasts would appear. Finally, five pairs of phoenixes and dragons moved frantically above the couple.

Gasps of appreciation and astonishment rang throughout the pavilion.

“Impressive, for these two to reach this level, their comprehension of movement must be improving steadily.”

“The Crown Prince Algard and Princess Svensenia are also very cohesive. One is a dragon, and the other is a phoenix, since time immemorial these two beasts have been partners and friends. They have formed a balance like that of Yin and Yang.”

“Indeed. For one to improve in one’s Art of Dance one must form a symbiotic connection with their partner. For this to happen, they must be like Yin and Yang.”

The dancing duo finally came to a standstill, their breathing rapid and turbulent. But if one looked carefully, they would see that their breath was in unison.

The Phoenixes and Dragons flew down and entered the duo. The spiritual apparitions then amalgamated with the soul-beings inside their consciousness and improved their comprehensions.

“The Grand Way sure is remarkable. Through the Art of Dance, something divined by heaven, we can increase our abilities,” Algard said woefully as he gazed into the eyes of his partner, “I accept.”

An endearing red appeared on Princess Svensenia’s cold face, her visage akin to a glacier gradually broke.

“Haha! My brother, it seems the new Empress of Seven Dawns Imperial Kingdom is before everyone.” Venzion, the Martial Way Prince, loudly proclaimed to everyone.

The looks everyone sent towards Svensenia became a hint more respectful. A future Empress, of a Tier-1 empire, was not a person one would want to slight.

The now engaged couple moved back to the pavilion under the cacophony of congratulations. Princesses Eversnow and Evergreen went to meet their new sister, a cause for celebration.

Astrallis smiled upon seeing this scene. His mind couldn’t help but wander and think of two figures, one with the lotus pink hair and the other with flaming orange.

“It’s only been five months or so, and I’m already missing them. But, I’m sure what I have isn’t the same as the Crown Prince and Princess Svensenia. Those girls only see me as a friend anyway,” Astrallis shook his head.

Bataar gazed in amusement at Astrallis. “He still is only a child. I forget how old he is with the way he acts, and his calculations.”

A look of concern slowly spread across his feline face, “What age is he now? Close to eleven? I fear this tenderness that he holds may not last.”

“Who will win, the Buddha or Devil? Maybe a miracle of Yin and Yang may happen?”

“This child’s entire life is a miracle, but why do I feel it will not be for long?”

•••