Cece hated this boy. He wasn’t rude, but followed her around any party like a lost duckling.

“Cece!” He cried upon seeing her. Timothy, she wished she was capable of forgetting his name, was the son of a wealthy merchants. His parents had tried a number of times to propose lopsided business deals, all of which she rejected. Unfortunately they had moved to getting their son to try and seduce her. “What happened!?” He said loudly, upon seeing her eye.

“It’s truly nothing, just something from when I was younger resurging.” She said at a similar volume. If he was going to point it out to everyone, she may as well make her excuse know to everyone at the same time.

“Oh my, how dreadful. Have you seen a doctor? You know I could introduce you to my physician.”

“That won’t be necessary.” She replied curtly. Timothy and his family were under the impression that Cece was a helpless heiress, a logical assumption at first, but anyone who dug into her would know a few things about her. Mainly that she had no servants and no debts, which should be enough to understand that she was fairly independent and not blowing her money away. She understood at first when they had proposed she sign her fortune over to them as an investment. They saw a tragic little girl, and offered a predatory deal, it wasn’t right, but it made sense from a business perspective. What she didn’t understand was why they were still barking up her tree.

“But, surely something co-”

“Oh, sorry Timothy, I just saw someone, I need to speak with immediately.”

Cece was about to make a gamble as she rushed towards Kimberly Osmi. She knew little about the girl, she was a few years older than her and she had similar tastes in poorly written romance novels. Nonetheless she charged straight ahead towards the girl. She was wearing a white dress that contrasted elegantly with her dark skin, and she was covered in platinum jewelry.

“Kimberly!” Cece cried. “Did you read the latest novel in the Frost Prince series?”

Kimberly Osmi was not an expressive or emotive person, but a variety of expressions graced her face. Confusion at being approached by someone she did not know well, concern over who else cared little enough for their reputation to be publicly seen talking about such a trashy book, and then recognition as she saw Cece’s hangar-on and the pieces clicked into place.

“Cecelia, it’s good to see you. Yes it was quite…exciting.” She said in a slight monotone.

“Wasn’t it just, oh I truly didn’t expect the stepmother to stoop so low.”

“Love drives people to do regrettable things. Oh, Timothy, apologies Cecilia and I have some catching up to do, I’m sure you understand.”

“Oh- of course, I’ll leave you two to it! Let’s talk later Cece!”

“Of course, Timothy!” Cece returned.

Once he was out of earshot, Cece turned to her savior. “Kimberly Osmi, I owe you my life.”

The normally unexpressive woman began to laugh. “It was no problem Cecilia, I know how he likes to follow you. How have you been? Besides being pursued of course.”

“I’ve been well, nothing to complain about, thank you for asking. And you? How have you been?”

“Oh, busy as usual. We have an eclipse coming up next week, so it’s been a lot of preparation.” She replied grimly.

Every element was influenced by a heavenly body, in some way, shape, or form. Generally the magic of said element is stronger when the influence of that planet can be felt. Gold magic is stronger in the day, silver at night. Platinum however was influence by both the moon and the sun, for an effect that drastically increases its strength during eclipses meaning that the Osmis prepare for months to imbue as many items with their space magic as possible. Their hard work, and the vast amount of spatially enhanced storages they produce have made them not only one of the wealthiest families in Astraev, but one of the wealthiest in the world.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Oh my, well I hope the party has helped take the edge off a bit. That’s why I’m here myself.”

“It’s helped a great deal luckily. Have thing been busy for you as well.”

“Oh nothing compared to the diligent Osmis, just a few too many appointments and meetings.”

“We all have our own burdens to bear.”

“That we do. Oh look here comes one now.”

Cece used every ounce of her mental fortitude to stifle her anger, as Sienna Solastria walked through the door. She was a short girl a few years younger than Cece, and she had wavy honey-blonde hair that reached down to her lower back. It was far dingier than Cece’s platinum blonde, but Cece was enrage nonetheless by the fact that hers was natural. The attendant that welcomed Cece in was following after her in a panic, and flagging Allison down. Upon seeing Cece, Sienna’s already furrowed brow intensified, and her outrage became apparent.

“This is why I wasn’t invited!? Because you all needed the Silva street rat at your party!?”

Allison opened her mouth to respond, but Cece couldn’t help herself.

“Better than a piece of golden slag that can’t stop herself from showing up uninvited. I’m a mundane and even I have better mage etiquette.” She smiled bitterly.

“You think you’re above me? We should have put you in the ground with the rest of your family.”

“Ladies, ladies, let’s calm down.” Allison interrupted before Cece could pull out her revolver. “Miss Solastria, I apologize, but you are being rude and I need you to leave.”

“Oh and she gets to stay of course, why value the family that yours has had business with for centuries.”

“My parties are not under the jurisdiction of any family, including the Bismotti, I simply invite those who I think can have fun without ruining the mood, which you have failed to do, so I will have to ask you to leave.”

Sienna looked like she was going to scream, but instead just harumphed, and turned her heel.

“Very well, we’ll see how you stand against a family that will soon have four elementals.” She said as she stomped out of the room.

That got people’s attention. Becoming an elemental was the peak of magehood, to become something greater than a human being. Immortal, unageing, fonts of power, they were often the heads of families. Most major families had one, some two, and Solastria was well known for having three. It was difficult to hold onto that many, when people lived forever and their brains were made out of solid gold, they got a touch eccentric. It depended on the element of course, but it was already notable to have three, to have four was something that would make Solastria even more powerful.

Cece approached Allison once Sienna had left.

“Thank you Ali, did you want me to leave as well?” It would be undignified to not stand her ground and stay, but at the end of the day Cece wanted to maintain whatever meager relationship they had, and she felt the night had already been ruined.

“Heavens no, I would actually prefer you to stay if you could, I’ll get a bad reputation if I’m known for sending my guests away when they get harassed.”

“Then I’ll stay.” She grinned. “I hope this won’t cause any issues with Solastria.”

“Oh no whatever will Bismotti do if Solastria stopped working with us, why they might find another bismuth family to do business with.” She feigned, a hand to her forehead dramatically. “Oh wait, there aren’t any!” She laughed.

“Perks of being a rare element.” Cece laughed with her.

“Truly! Plus I doubt Solastria cares about one of their many daughters being socially slighted. Everyone already knows about her tantrums.” Allison replied. Sienna Solastria was well known for having outbursts when she thought someone wasn’t being preferential to her.

The rest of the night was blessedly uneventful, even Timothy didn’t bother her too much. Although she got a plethora of sympathy conversations she wouldn’t have minded not having. Not that most of them would do anything since not everyone was as free from that family’s influence as the Bismottis. Still, she had had a good time, especially talking to Allison more. It was an entertaining spectacle to watch her magic at work, what she lacked in strength, she made up for in skill. Cece had to suppress her smile as she watched the girl alternate from being drunk out of her mind to stone cold sober when she spoke to someone, alternating states as she saw fit. Cece doubted even her enhanced mind could keep up with the mental whiplash.

Once the party had ended, a bit before midnight, Cece bid adieu to the other guest, and her hostess as well, and got into her car before the carriages were ready to leave. Although cars were starting to catch on in mage society, many preferred the extravagance of a carriage for a party like this. Unless of course their magic presented a more extravagant form of getting from place to place, she wouldn’t be surprised if Kimberly had simply teleported to the party. Nevertheless, she drove off of the estate before the carriages could get in her way.

As she drove back towards her apartment, she took a deep breath of the cold air, and met her own eye in the rear view mirror. She had had her fun, it was time to get to business. Solastria was trying to make a fourth elemental, and that, Cece could not allow.