Night struck quicker than Lass imagined it, as he was waiting with his invitation at hand outside the palace. As it turned out, these formal wears had no protection in combat and were quite hard to move in, something which he heavily disliked. He had gotten used to the lifestyle of weapons, combat readiness and recently, constant alert. But at the very least, he was not wearing something super flashy that draws all the attention. He definitely hated that even more. He was eagerly waiting for Ikarisa as well as being curious to see what she and Anya would make out of the tailor's pack they got, let alone the less-than-desirable timeframe they had to do it. And his curiosity was soon to be satiated. Ikarisa appeared in front of him wearing a gorgeous dress made of just two simple colors of blue and red. Still, the dress did not fail to radiate uniqueness, as its size, curving fabric and the reflection of nightlife's light on the silk made it truly, one of a kind. It seemed that it was really meant to be put only on her, which was something he admired for how right it just fit, and how beautiful the result came to be. It was just...perfect. And Ikarisa herself was yet worried about how he would appreciate it. Despite all of those thoughts, she was still being accompanied by the one and only smug demi-human merchant, who was quick to be caught in the crossfire of their looks, her too wearing her formals for the occasion.

"Hmm...don't you think you should be the one picking your date up from my house?", Anya said with a smug.

"It's not a date. I like to think of it as a...' professional information meeting'.", Lass struggled to come back.

"Yes, a party with a bunch of rich people and then you two. Saying 'right out of a book' would be much better, don't you think? Oh, and, keyword. 'Think'."

"If you're in the mood to start a fight this specific night, mutt, then you can bet your a-"

Before the situation could escalate again Ikarisa got in the way, stopping an obvious argument these two were about to commit to.

"Hey-hey both of you, stop! Lass, let's not ruin this beautiful night now, ok? Anya, thanks a ton for your help with the dress and preparations, we'll meet up tomorrow alright?"

"Actually, I'm invited myself. Hence the suit.", Anya chuckled, showing off her suit.

"Wait, shouldn't you be wearing a dress? I mean it is what people expect to see you in, right?", Lass said, reflecting on their conversation.

"Yes, yes it is.", she sighed, "And really I hope I don't end up ruining the night for everyone with what I'm about to do...", Anya anxiously said, grabbing and rubbing her tail.

Lass calmly took Anya to the side nodding at Ikarisa behind him, making space so that they could talk in private.

"Right. What's the deal, mutt?"

"Alright, I know you're worried, but relax. I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm scared myself. Not for what I'm about to do. I've made up my mind about that. What worries me is the part that comes after..."

"I may have a clue but...are you sure? Right place, right time and all that?", Lass tried to support her.

"You can really see through me that easily, huh, big guy?", she clenched her fist, "You two do your own thing, ok? As much as you might hate for me to say this, you are irrelevant to this situation. I'll do it, all on me."

"Not my fault mutt. You're just easy to read. But I'll hand it over to you for having the courage to do such a thing. It takes a lot to pop out of your comfort zone. Hopefully, others inside will pipe down fast after this."

"Lass...thank you. It took you literally a week to-", Lass stopped her words of gratitude.

"Don't mention it. I didn't do a thing. It's all on you...you did it. Had I needed to hold your hand to walk you through something like this, believe me, I'd have asked for your thanks long, long ago.", he sarcastically said.

"Modest as always." Anya chuckled, "Really though...did I do it on my own?"

"'To break chains you need strength. To break riddles you need to mind. To break free you need a heart'. Some words I remembered recently. Philosophical bullshit that actually matches your situation, crazy, right? And no, if you ask me, the only thing I can say I own is strength and mind. Those are not enough and with a missing heart."

"Well...maybe you don't have a heart.", she smiled as she looked at Ikarisa, "Because you've already given it to someone. Not just for love-talking, by the way. At least this time. But even then, there are still remnants with lots to give."

"My heart is still inside me, and I want it to stay there. Now stop turning it on me. Focus, deep breaths and ready yourself. If you need me and Risa, just call out, ok?"

"Alright, I'll be sure to do so."

With that, Anya steadily got up and took the lead, walking into the ongoing party within the palace with Lass and Ikarisa following behind her. The party seemed to have begun, taking the form of an almost stereotypical high-class party you would see in movies. People in formals were left and right some conversing while others were dancing to a relaxing, classical music tone. The circular bar at the centre was serving all sorts of exquisite drinks while the guests consuming them laughed at each other's snarky comments and jokes, sometimes with true joy and other times with awkward, polite laughter. The electricity-run chandeliers above were illuminating the mixed white colored marble floor and vivid, spotless red carpet below, spanning from the entrance of the main hall, all the way down to a pair of huge, royal purple doors. Servers and butlers were scattered around, giving people food, and drinks and enduring both words of kindness and harshness from all types of guests. Four balcony areas with silky smooth white curtains were opened on both the right and the left, giving a subtle, calming night breeze through the open lobby area. Lass and Ikarisa seemed to briefly pause to take in the luxury before them, while Anya on the other hand seemed to casually walk towards the bar and grab herself a drink. She seemed to be doing it more as a statement, rather than her constant urge for alcohol consumption, enduring looks from passersby and acquainted faces alike, surprised to see a familiar face in such unorthodox scenarios.

She thanked the barman as he took her to drink, "There's a million female C.E.O.s, a million more supermodels with risqué fashion-wares, but all of you jackasses really like to eye that one person, huh? Don't I feel special? Morons are stuck a hundred years in the past, only when it comes to me.", she whispered very lowly, wanting to completely hide those words to avoid verbal conflict and took a sip.

Ikarisa tried to step in to help her, "Huh, Anya? Aren't you-", her words were stopped by Lass's hand.

"This is her moment Risa. Let her have it.", he smirked.

"Are sure it will be 'her moment' for that much longer? These people are looking at her in a...bad way."

"She survived me a couple of days ago. I think she will do just fine.", Lass reassured her.

"Well...if you say so. Oh, I almost forgot to ask.", she backed away slowly, blushing softly as she vocalized her question, "So, Lass. How do I look?"

"I'd say you and Anya managed to strike gold for the amount of time you had to work with. Don't let that comment go into your head, however. I'm sure given enough time, you could obviously do better.", he tried to hide the full extent of his praise.

"I'm glad! Anya had to bring Sonia and another girl that was her friend in to help us. Sonia stayed with us throughout the process, but the other girl left to run another store like Anya said. Something about, 'making a weapon and essentials supply run to another city' and going to the other shop to check the 'special product'."

"Merchant talk I suppose. Still, quite good results."

"Thanks! I hope I can make the most out of tonight to cherish this with you. I know will talk me down if I say 'date' but...hey, we kind of earned this, right? I mean, literally, we-I mean you, fought for it."

"Let's keep it at 'we'. Every person at the top is supported by a thousand below him. And for once...", he really thought of it, "Screw it. Call it a date. Don't get your hopes high on romanticism, mind you. More of a one-time party date."

Ikarisa chuckled, "Fine by me! I'll make the most of it regardless!"

Going further in, it wasn't long before they were both recognized and approached by a bunch of people, all with their phones and devices at hand, eagerly looming above them. It seemed as if their attention span rapidly shifted as soon as they caught a glimpse of them. They began to awkwardly approach and cling to the two, taking pictures and asking both of them to pose alongside them, as well as asking a bunch of general questions while taking videos.

"Mr Lass, can you please tell me who taught you all those moves as the rising star?!", a man asked while taking a video.

"Miss Ikarisa, there's been several leaks saying something about you being a god. Is that actually true?", a woman asked Ikarisa.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Over here please, cuties! I just have to upload the two star-crossed lovers on my Semori!, you two are a pair!", another woman took pictures.

Ikarisa teared up as she tightly squeezed around Lass, "Please! S-Stop it, I beg of you! L-Lass, I-I don't like it here!", she said as she covered her face, being surprised and completely overtaken by the other's moves.

Something about the goddess's reaction and the way she held in her tears instead of letting out from sheer shock, resonated within Lass. She looked paralyzed, afraid and reliving memories and moments she wished never to do so again, let alone having them cross her mind. She was living in her nightmare.

"You bastards.", Lass whispered as he prepared to defend her with force.

Anya saw them from a distance and put her drink down, starting to walk towards them at a rapid pace.

"Don't bother, I got it.", a voice from behind Anya sighed.

Just then, Anya paused from a distance and backed away, almost as if she was making space. Magi came from behind and moved towards Lass and Ikarisa, wearing her suit similar to Anya's, formal and with her presence emitting powerful authority.

"Piss off", she shoved the first man away. "Choke.", she smacked the second man, "Get out. All of you who took your cameras out. Or I will arrest you for photographing and taking videos without consent, yada, yada, you know what you did. Resist or say one word over by order and I will add 'resisting authorities' into the mix, and we will see how that plays out.", she grabbed one of the phones in her hand, "Got it?", she crushed it in her hand.

Within the next few seconds, a small patrol of guards stepped in and swiftly removed the presence of all the perpetrators from the area, the acts of which had left the tiny goddess in fright and tears and the other guests in awe. Magi took control of the situation and calmed everyone down, eventually managing to make them return to their partying. Lass was left with Ikarisa crying and sobbing, while Anya seemed to have disappeared along with Magi, letting them both catch their breath.

"I-I'm sorry for crying again. I don't want to ruin the night, I swear.", she said as she tried to wipe her tears away.

Just then, Magi reappeared before them, calmly approaching Ikarisa while she was being comforted by Lass's presence, him unable to do anything but stand by her side, being at a loss for words.

"Take it easy, Risa. I know you don't trust me, but come with me for a second, ok?", Magi calmed Ikarisa down.

"I should be the one being sorry. I didn't expect that we would already be-", Lass's words were cut off by Magi.

"You did the right thing. One step out of line and these assholes would have typed down half-assed truths about you two for the public to see. And you don't want to know how you, fist-fighting the 'innocent bystanders', would stand on Semori! Trust me, I did that. Had to upload a shitty, scripted apology on BetterVid right after.”, Magi scoffed.

”I’d like to see them try.”, Lass angrily said.

”Yeah, believe me, they will. It’s an endless cycle of who gets it worse to make some dumbass story to boost the ratings instead of saying anything of relevance. Hence why most just don’t watch them at all, so they just have to rile up the drama more. But I, on the other hand, am more 'authorized' to do such things. Trust me on that, I'm talking entirely out of personal experience."

"Such as?", Lass folded his arms.

"Let's just say that me and Anya drank a little too much one night. Surprisingly, her father was only pissed about the drinking part, not the other."

"Other what?"

"I, uh...never mind that! It ain't your business anyway, kid!", Magi blushed as she hid the story from them.

"Fine. Just let me...", he tried to approach Ikarisa.

"Don't worry, I'll pick her up quickly. Give me a few minutes to have a word with her and I'll be back with you.", she looked at Ikarisa with a worried face.

Lass paused briefly, thinking of what to say before finally answering, "Right. I'll be waiting. God...I need some air.", he put his trust in Magi for once.

"Over there. Take a breather, kid.", Magi suggested as she pointed to the balcony.

"Got it.", he nodded.

Lass then calmly made his way to the sizeable empty balcony to catch his breath. Despite the circumstances, he somehow knew that at that point, Magi was the only one who'd set Ikarisa straight.

"These fancy dresses, giant lights, publicity, and glamour really it isn't my thing. Neither is it yours, huh, Risa? At least we have one thing in common.", his words were stopped by the screams coming his way, "Hmm? The hell?", he quickly hid behind the pillar-looking structure, realizing the voices were beside him on the other balcony.

He only needed but a few words to realize who it was and why they were screaming.

"I'm telling you to back off already!", Anya screamed.

"You are going to tell me what?! May I remind you who you are? What you are?! My daughter showing up in the arena like a brute and now showing up in a suit no less?!", Gado screamed back.

"Are you shitting me? Where the hell do you see a daughter, exactly?! Hell, all I've ever felt like was an investment, and I don't know why! What do I have special that others didn't?! You always treated me so differently, the others absolutely despise me and for what?! For enduring all I had to go through with you! Thank god Misha didn't, that way it feels like I at least have some family this way!"

"You have no right to be and act this way! Not after all I've done. You are smarter than the others, something they can't accept. You are right for this legacy."

"After what you've done?! There you go, treating me like your property again! Did I ask for all this?! Did I?!"

"What do you mean you never asked for it?! Your sisters and you were raised with nothing missing from your life. You especially! Nothing sort of perfection and you're trying to ruin everything!"

"Yeah, a bunch of spoiled jackasses, having damn never near worked to have a single thing they can actually call their own! Except for me...you specifically chose me out of everyone, not to work, but to make my life a living hell and they did much of the same! I still don't understand it and I can't live in that house like that anymore!"

"You call having absolutely everything a living hell? How is that for a 'spoiled jackass'?"

"I do dammit, I do!", she said in a tough manner, not showing tears or sorrow, "I don't care about this, I never did! Not the money, not the fame, no nothing! As far as I can remember anymore, I've only ever been miserable! I never had a life of my own...one I wanted. I'm being the one dumb moron that you picked out of the entire family to capitalize and make your own personal slave to take over once your miserable existence comes to an end! I couldn't take how everyone was acting and I sure as hell can't"

"Anya, no one else had the sheer brilliance you do now. You have proven worthy in every aspect, so listen-", Gado was interrupted by Anya/

"No, shut up! Just shut the hell up!", Anya's voice cracked, "I can't, I just can't anymore! I don't want this! You're just crushing down what you want me to be all the time! I don't want to be like this! Maria, Sarah, Wendy, pick any of them, they'd love this! But why me?! You know that I'd never fit in this!"

"Honey listen. You're emotionally distressed right now. Let's go home first and-", Gado's words were rudely cut by Anya.

"No, I'm done taking on your half-baked crap all the time. I'm leaving.", she toughened up.

"What? You can't just walk out!"

"Oh, yeah? Watch me."

"And where exactly are you going to go? What are you going to do?"

"Lass will be leaving alongside Ikarisa tomorrow, probably heading for Delpha. I'll follow him if he lets me tag along...otherwise, I'm heading god knows where."

"What kind of moronic plan is that? You're placing a life's worth of preparation and funds into going off with a group of strangers or walking into the unknown?! Never mind the fact that your actual family will be worried and they will ask a million questions. That guy you're hanging out with, I've seen him and I don't like him at all. He reminds me of a very...bad influence. I don't know who he is exactly just yet, but I'll find out, you be sure about that."

"In a week, I felt more love and support coming out from those two 'strangers', than what I felt from you ever since I was born."

"Oh please, for crying out loud, he had you half-dead pinned on the ground the other day! Do you want to hear me for once? Don't trust him. He will do you far more harm than we ever would back home."

"Did you see the look on his face? He realized his mistake right then and there. He broke his character, hugged me, picked me up, and rushed me for treatment. Something you never did, even now when confronted by it. Let alone anything of the ladder half."

"You mean to tell me that raising you was a mistake? Do you not remember all those times that we played together, we dined and we laughed? You can't tell me those weren't the times? Do you really think that'd be fake? The memory of all of us together?"

"Can't help but feel like I was one."

"Anya!", Gado's tone changed, raising an angry voice.

"I'm leaving with them both and that's final."

"You are a bunch of kids that because you think you've got power, you think you can abuse it? You have no idea how war is actually played, how to change everything without lifting-gah!", his words were cut short by Anya's fist meeting his face.

"Say that again you bastard. Just try to play us all down? Stop thinking that because we don't have your age and experience we don't have a voice! If I'm to screw or be screwed, it's my business, not yours. So cut the shit, because it's my life."

Gado recovered and fixed his tie, lighting up a large cigarette, "If you want to live your life, don't put yourself in harm's way and fight.", he quoted.

"If you want to make a difference, fight for a better existence.", Anya made her own quote.

"So that's it...you're just neglecting your life and family and pact and just walking away?", Gado said as he recovered from the punch.

"When was I ever part of this family? I'm just the weight you drag around to stack all your problems onto so that you can live happily ever after...even my sisters. I honestly hate you. All of you aside from Misha, who didn't get a chance to choose yet."

"Just put yourself in our shoes! What do you think your sisters would say? What do you think your-"

"Don't you even dare.", Anya tried to stop his words.

Gado put his cigarette aside and pressed on, "What do you think your mother would say?!"

At that moment something inside Anya snapped. But it wasn't quite normal. Compared to how she usually would snap under sheer pressure, looking back at the lack of her choices, at that point, all hesitation faded away as clarity started to take over. And the words she craved to say came out as naturally as taking a breath.

"Hmm...let me think. My sisters...had I confronted them the same way I'm doing right now, they would probably support me all the way and then send me on my merry way...but-", she was interrupted.

"But what?", Gado eagerly asked.

"I'm pretty sure I know precisely what mom would also say, had she been here. So I can tell you something myself since I'm here."

"Which is?! Come on! Say it!", Gado provoked her.

"You weren't worth it in the first place.", she scoffed, turning around and walking away.

At that moment, the silence was all that filled the upper floor. Gado knew he could not stop his daughter, yet he could also not say another word. He for once had a taste of true defeat...which he did not take to heart. His eyes were filled with anger as they were faced with Anya's back, her heading inside and closing the doors behind her, cutting him off completely and putting a barrier between them. He had but finally realized that is the biggest mistake in his life, and how it had caught up to him that night. All while beside him, though hidden on the balcony next to them, an unnatural pleasure had taken over Lass. Not for the weight of the situation, but the result of it. He was happy for once. He was happy about Anya.

"Well played mutt. Well played. Checkmate indeed.", he smirked.

He didn't waste any more moments and left quickly, before he could be spotted by an awe-struck Gado, simply twisting and smoking his cigarette while looking directly inside the building with utmost hostility, his eyes locked on Anya. Walking inside, Lass was immediately greeted with a happy-looking Ikarisa as well as a happy-looking Magi, something which he thought he would never be able to see.