Helios was surprised. He thought he shouldn't be, but he was. The night was a mess. Scratch that, the whole day was a mess. The castle's steward should be bald by now. Throughout the entire day, the protocol was flung down the cesspit by these kids like they owned the place. They went to see Astro before him. They turned a military trial into a spectacle. They wrecked the dinner party. And now the ballroom.

He doublechecked his head, the crown was still there. And yet he was not even a little angry. In fact, he was so elated by the endearing scene that everything was fine.

'After all, didn't we do the same thing in our time?' He asked himself. He glanced at his former party member and the archmage was also with an amused look.

He could see the outraged nobles expecting these two youngsters to disrobe and go at it right there. The eyes glancing at him expecting him to take action. But he could only smile.

'The boy is true to his name. Burning fire that consumes anything in his path'. Helios thought. Aidan was not giving any signs of letting go of the squirrel-kin anytime soon.

'Let them have their moment'. The King declared in his mind.

The boy saved his daughter from certain death. Even in a coma,  he was sure he was pivotal to their recovery, even though he had no idea how. They brought the Crown Princess of Gohar with them and for some reason, his daughter and she became as close as twin sisters. They unraveled and exposed a conspiracy to assassinate a royal. Probably a whole court faction will go take a walk on the gallows.

What was some kissing compared to all these accomplishments? 'At least these hollow countesses and baronesses would get a glimpse of what true love was'.

Helios lashed out a burst of hearty laughter. The tension in the ballroom was dispelled if not entirely just enough.

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It was the cue for Sora to come into her senses and get a bit away from Aidan. They found themselves alone in the middle of the room.

Aidan and Sora saluted the smiling King and left the floor, blushing.

When they reached the tables, he got a kick on the shin.

"You know, I bet half the ladies in this room climaxed for the first time ever watching you two make out." Cythrel pouted.

"And why kick me? Is this my fault?" Aidan asked.

She kicked him again. 'These elves are pretty fast when they want,' Aidan thought.

"I assume you don't want to have the next dance with me then." He concluded. Cythrel lifted her foot again. "Right, right. Lady Cythrel, would you grant me the pleasure of this next dance?" He bowed.

"I thought you'd never ask, milord." She batted her eyelids.

"You two have fun, I'm going outside to get some air." Sora excused herself. She needed time to think, to cope with this new development.

Aidan took Cythrel to the dance floor. Dawn came downstairs to have a dance with Astromelicus.

"Three princesses in a row, I think this is my luckiest day," Joked the archmage. "But it seems someone is even luckier tonight."

Dawn curtsied and took the headmaster's hand. "You remember you are dancing with a guy, right?"

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"I wonder that. From what I heard, you are three-fourths girl." He nodded at Pearl.

"That's intrigue from my detractors." Dawn found Pearl and returned the tongue gesture from before. The other princess just winked back. She was dancing with a duke, Helios' cousin second removed.

"Tomorrow, be at my office the earliest you can. I did some research and we have to talk."

"No business tonight. Just have fun, old man."

"I'm out of coffee. I can't have fun."

"Junkie." She teased. The archmage let out just a little of his mana. It sent shivers in everyone around. "I got it. I got it. I'm going there to get it in four days after I give Pearl her next healing session."

Elsewhere in the ballroom, someone was still pouting.

"Can you stop provoking the archmage and focus on me? For crying out loud. Look at me at least!"

"Of course." He locked eyes with her and kept dancing.

"Just my luck. The ladykiller goes after every other girl in the party but me." She sulked, faking bitterness.

"No comments."

She cursed in elvish. After a while, she asked. "Can you stop treating me like a child?"

"If you don't want to be treated like a child, don't behave like one."

She pouted and didn't answer. After a few more steps and turns, Aidan asked.

"Cythrel, what do you want? What do you really want?"

"You."

"Am I a thing to be gained or bought?"

"No. I guess you are a person after all." She stopped a bit to think. "I know! Can I talk to Sora?" There was a 'right now' at the end of that question.

"What about the dance?"

"We can dance again anytime we want, can't we?"

"I guess we can. Come with me. Let's go find Sora outside."

They left the ballroom in the middle of the song. Outside there was a small garden with some seating for guests to catch some air. It was illuminated by magical lights and had a few people chilling out or gossiping. It was easy to find Sora, her squirrel tail topping over her head.

"Sora," Aidan called.

She turned around and saw Cythrel with him.

"What is wrong? Did the dance end?"

"No. Cythrel suddenly wanted to talk to you so we came here to find you."

"Well, here I am. What is it?"

Cythrel let go of Aidan's hand and walked next to Sora. She turned around and shooed the young man.

"Now be a gentleman and go fetch us something to drink, without poison if you can."

Aidan walked a little into the venue before finding a waiter with some drinks. He took three and returned.

"It is settled then, Sora."

"I am not sure yet, but yes. You can have it your way, Cythrel."

Aidan stopped. His danger sense triggered.

"What did you agree to?"

"Girl's secret," Cythrel answered with her trademark mischievous smile.

"What happened the 'he's three-fourths girl' thing?"

The elf showed her tongue. "Only when it's convenient for us. Right now you are the one-fourth boy that can't hear our secrets. Boo."

 Sora laughed. "Don't worry. I just made a deal with Cythrel for your own good. Come, let's return. It is almost time for you to dance with the host of the party."

"Yeah. Time to dance with yourself, milord. I'm looking forward to it."

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The fourth song was about to begin and Astromelicus handed over the princess to Aidan.

"Your Highness."

"Milord."

He looked at those eyes and saw his own through hers. He took her waist and felt the support of his hand over the dress. She gave him her hand and felt the silk exterior of the glove.

The music started and the couple of the night, hero and princess whirled. Their moves in perfect synchrony. One would take over the other without even looking as if they knew where the other would be. Absolute trust.

It felt like something painfully rehearsed. Everyone could sense that. That harmony. Sora felt a pang on her heart. It was like those two were made for each other. She felt an unmeasurable distance between her lifelong companion and herself. Telling herself they were the same person was hard. Her eyes still saw them as a male and female having the time of their lives. The only thing between her and despair was the memory of the kiss.

The space between those two young dancers felt like nothing. They merged in that dance floor, a single entity.

Aidan dove into the torrent of feelings both bodies were feeding his brain. Both hearts racing. He synchronized their breathing.

And he remembered he was enjoying Lumina's body without her. They missed a step.

The pain, the anxiety of the incoming separation hit him. It was a stab on both hearts. He felt envy. He felt greed. He felt the princess skin squeezed beneath the dress as his own.

Even though he saw it coming, he still descended into that dark place of his mind.

They kept dancing. After repeating the same dance moves several times that night, the steps were second nature.

But the naive selflessness was gone.

"I won't vanish." She uttered her resolve under her breath.

"I won't lose her." He decided.

How could he give up on his other half? After expanding his horizons this much, after feeling the world through his new reality, how could he come back to seeing in black and white again? Willingly give up all color?

The dance ended.