Allen turned around and his serious face immediately softened.
"Oh, around," answered Allen. Eerika was visiting him with a doubtful gaze.
“Was that… Mair?”
“Do you know her?”
“A little…” Eerika shook her head. “However, people from the Mimir Clan are always aloof of worldly affairs and like to stay out of anything. Especially, that woman; Mair –The blessed child of the Well. It was even already a miracle to see her participating in this kind of event…” –so what is she doing here…? Eerika added inwardly. Suspicions and doubt appeared inside her heart.
“From your tone, it seems like you’re not fond of her,” Allen smiled wryly.
Eerika snorted. “Although that woman was weak, nothing can bypass her eyes. Even the deepest secrets will be unraveled. Who would like such a woman…?” She then turned to Allen, her gaze softening. “Did she say anything to you?”
“No, she just came and gave me a drink, greetings probably.” Allen smiled faintly.
Eerika sighed. “Later, don’t involve yourself with that Clan. They are as annoying as Hel…”
Hel…? Allen’s eyebrows twitched but merely for a moment. They really didn’t like Hel that much… poor girl…
“Okay,” Allen nodded.
"Anyway, the dance is about to start soon." Grabbing his hand, Eerika walked over to the drinks table.
She seemed to be in a good mood for some reason.
"Wouldn't you like to dance?" She asked with an unusual coquettish smile that even startled and shocked those who were quite close the two of them.
Allen gave him a mildly surprised look as she extended her hand towards him. Then, he smiled wryly; "…No thank you. I've never been one for dances."
“Come on, we’re on a party. You need to experience it, even at least once~” Eerika smiled cheerfully like a normal young woman. While adjusting the circlet and the high feather, she picked up her mask and run towards the dance floor. “Let’s go,”
“… …” Allen sigh as he could only smile bitterly while being dragged by Eerika towards the center of the dance floor.
*** ***
For a while, Allen and Eerika danced in silence.
Allen actually didn’t want to dance. First, he doesn’t know how to dance as this will be the very first time he will do so. Only memories, he has. Experience, no.
Second, Allen never liked such formal event where he would be akin to an animal inside a zoo to be seen and watched by many people. Every movement and action was observed and monitored by so many people.
But eventually, at Eerika’s insistence, they were dancing right at the center of the dance hall.
Allen could only smile wryly as he danced quite clumsily along with Eerika’s lead. The music was dreamy and romantic. Peace and quiet that for some unknown reason, Allen fell into some kind of dream state as his mouth smiled beneath the heavenly fox mask, wishing if only this could go on forever.
What the heck is this…? Allen suddenly woke up, startled. Hypnosis…?
Allen’s power had still not recovered fully so he couldn’t be so sure but he was certain that this place, this celebration is not that simple. From the music…?
That’s right! Allen for some reason can feel that the music is not just an ordinary music!
However, no one minded it. It’s as if they were already used to it –or probably this was intentional, to make the event even more joyously! Gods…!!
In Allen’s heart, the music sounded clearer than before. His body moved naturally to the melody as if he already knew how to dance or he might have already danced like this before.
A fleeting memory he couldn't remember. His feet and Eerika’s moved in sync with the beat of the music up and down in the dance floor in beautiful steps as if it was choreographed.
They were dancing in the middle of the dance floor with grace. Their movements were as beautiful and elegant.
At this very moment, colorful lights covered the entire dance hall as if the people were inside a kaleidoscope, blanketed the entire place with myriads of colors, giving magic to everything.
As it gently flowed over the back of the people dancing like willows in the center of the hall, they began shifting from color to color.
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Even Allen’s silver hair turned from silver to crimson, from crimson to sapphire, from sapphire to emerald, from emerald to gold. The same thing occurred when the color dyed Eerika’s ballroom gown, causing the iridescent lavender and jade to shift to wine-red and sea-blue.
It was extremely magical that it would never be found and experience in the mortal world.
*** ***
Like a scene from the fairytales, the hall was filled with music.
Allen and Eerika were dancing with all the elegance one could imagine, their constantly changing hues in stark contrast with the beautiful myriads of colors around them.
Their feet gracefully slid across the ground, which imitated the night sky above and made it appear that they were waltzing among the stars.
If they were aware that others were watching them, they showed no signs of it.
“Who was that man…?”
“Hm? Are you talking about the one with the young lady of the Balder Family…?”
“He’s wearing a mask so I can’t see his face properly but from the appearance, he should be quite young,”
“Which clan do you think he came from…?” As the two danced merrily, gradually the attention slowly focused on them.
Although Allen’s new and mysterious identify was sufficient enough to attract attention but the greatest reason why many people visited them was none other than, Eerika who was currently smiling happily as she was enjoying the dance.
Her current appearance stark contrast with her usual character made many people turned their attention towards them. Why is the Stoic and cold young lady of the Balder Clan showing such expression like a normal girl…?
For someone to be capable of making the well –known stoic genius of the Balder clan show this kind of expression make many people curious and interested.
In a certain corner of the venue….
“Hm, it seems like your clan has found its son–in–law,” Teased a middle–aged woman.
“Well, I don’t know what that girl found in that boy. However, as for now, I will withhold my decision,” Elena smiled faintly while watching Allen and Eerika dance. A hidden glint flashed across her eyes. “There are still too many mysteries surrounding that youth. Putting my faith in him might prove… detrimental, for me, for my daughter... and for the clan…”
“You’re still too strict when it comes to this topic.” The middle–aged woman said as she looked at Elena.
“Sabella, I think you’re forgetting the fact that we are at war… at this very moment.” Elena’s eyes narrowed. “A small mistake might lead to an endless suffering…”
Sabella shrugs nonchalantly. “We should forget the war for tonight, you know. we should just enjoy ourselves," She added, smiling. "We are at a party after all."
“… ….”
Elena smiled faintly.
*** ***
Allen’s heart was at ease, the scene of the hall which was just a background filling his eyes.
The other pairs around them moved like flower petals –lost in the moment and music of the performers.
Allen and Eerika’s dance garnered tremendous attention as countless pairs of eyes stares at them with envious gazes.
There were some who were envious of Allen for dancing with Eerika, the well-known prodigy. On the other hand, there was a group of women yearning for him as they couldn't help but stare at his graceful movements with fervent eyes.
For the rest of the evening, although reluctant but as they say, when in Rome, do as what Romans do –Allen danced with others and in fact, danced with many beautiful Gods and Demi–Gods.
Then followed a succession of partners and to his amazement, he suddenly found out that he was one of the most sought-after guests at the ball.
What a much-unexpected development…
Allen smiled bitterly. However, even so, Allen can’t be truly happy with this outcome. Whether it was his imagination or not, ever since he had appeared, he can feel eyes staring at his every action.
Was it that girl… Mair?
But he wasn’t certain at all. It wasn’t only a single pair of eyes but several… it was a vague feeling but Allen would never doubt his instinct. Whether he was just sensitive or not…
“… …”
Allen was certain that his time here in this place was already ticking like a clock.
*** ***
The evening sped by.
The evening sped along and in no time it was already twelve at midnight and it was the time for the event to end as it was also the time for unmasking.
The music stopped. There was BGM of intensified music and rattled colors sweeping the hall. While laughing and chatting excitedly, people began to pull off their masks. In just a few moments, there were bursts of laughter and giggling.
“Did you enjoy the dance?” As Allen was sighing of relief and satisfaction for the new experience, Erika walked towards him with a faint gentle smile.
“Better than I had expected,” Allen smiled wryly. Feeling a little light–headed with the sweet nostalgic melodies.
“That’s better,” Eerika nodded. She grabbed Allen’s hand and squeezed lightly while keeping her warm smile.
“Sometimes, it’s also best to break away from the shackles of the world for a moment and enjoyed life, no matter what it was. Break away from the chains binding us and spread our wings with the surge of freedom.” She said, and there was a new gentleness in her voice.
Allen’s heart thump. Did she bring him here to relax? Was it because of the fact that he always stayed in his room and read…?
For his sake…?
“Let’s go, it has been a long night…” Eerika smile, for some reason, more beautiful than the usual, in Allen’s eyes. She let go and turned around but consciously or not, Allen expectedly stretched his hand and grabbed Eerika’s hand this time.
“… …” At this very moment, Allen finally had a difficult time thinking about how he will deal with her when the moment comes.
He won’t stop here for long. In fact, this was only a short stop.
But Eerika’s existence made him quite hesitant to do that. Why is she so good to him…?
Allen can’t think of any reason why she was acting like this.
Like him…? Fall in love with him…?
That is something extremely hard for Allen to believe. Gods are well –known for their fickleness.
Love?
Even the famous Goddesses of Love, can’t just love one person and instead would choose to love everyone…
That kind of sentiment, Allen had a hard time of believing.
If Eerika was like that… when he leaves, she will just easily forget him and move on…
Probably… thinking like that, Allen can’t help but had complicated feelings. Of course, he also wanted for her to love him only but that is yet another matter. Allen didn’t come here for love…
Although he was fickle but he also knows what his priorities are.
When he came into this world, he had already decided to prioritize his goal of defeating the demons and becoming stronger to contend against Virgil. That is his only goal in this world. Everything comes after that.
Allen stared at Eerika who was dragging him while smiling happily. What will she do, I wonder…?
When she learned that I was lying all this time…
*** ***