Jess sat bolt upright in a tall back pearl and copper chair before a Noxflare rimmed mirror as her mother’s servant Haggath teased out her long red curls. She flinched each time the pick tugged at a rat in her bed hair. Haggath tisk tisked to herself as she slapped red blush on Jessalyn’s cheeks and fluttered about.

Through the mirror Jess eyed her pillow soft bed piled high with stuffed animals and fluffy bedding. The silk curtains draped from the canopy around the bedframe begging to be drawn closed around her, promising to grant her three more wonderful hours of blissful sleep.

Her mom buzzed around the room behind her and Haggath listing off demands for Jess and the servant. Jess afforded a break as her mother and the servant set out her dress and jewelry. Jess wandered from the room and looked down from her balcony.

The spires of the radiant court towers scratched the aurora-tinged sky, jagged green needles filled with all classes bustling with duties. From her balcony Jess could see the entire cityscape below, from the slums to the forgotten zones, to the mid-tier districts bustling with industry. The Bastion rose high in the distance calling near and far to the most ambitious and bold. A beacon of hope and escape.

“Jessalyn.” Her mother cut the air as a whip. “Come try on your dress and stop leaning on that balcony like a common street girl.”

Jess straightened, as she smoothed on her delicate gown. It was a masterpiece of Radiant fashion, woven from silks so fine it shimmered like spun light. The neckline was studded with chips of Noxflare crystals that glimmered faintly. Her mother had commissioned the dress for the Bastion’s opening banquet, a statement of their station. Jess had little say in the matter-appearances mattered more than anything else in court. Her mother assured her that their family stood at the pinnacle of their peers.

“Apologies, Mother.” Jess replied, forcing a polite tone. She turned from the balcony once again wondering how long she had been standing on the balcony this time. She hadn’t even realized she had wandered out there again.

“I’ve gone to great lengths,” Her mother droned on, but Jess was no longer listening. She found it in her best interest to nod and smile when her mother adopted that tone but to not actually listen to the repugnant things her mother could say. It was as if Jess didn’t exist as a person exactly, more a piece on a board.

The bedroom door sprang open, and a gorgeous brunette spun in with her arms held out wide. She looked dazzling in her form fitting green dress that flare out from her legs and cut off at the knees. Green glowing flare ran from the center of her chest down her stomach and around her hip. Her tall black boots strapped high to her knees with a dozen golden buckles.

Jess nearly pounced on her friend. “Talia.”

Talia strode into the room brimming with confidence. “Haggatha you look radiant.” She raised a brow at the portly maid and purred. Haggatha blushed and shot a glance at Jessalyn’s mother. “Jess, you,” she stopped her spin into the room and looked Jess up and down, “look ready to provide your family name with a worthy heir.” She raised both brows at Jess and bit back a foolish grin. Both girls pretended not to notice the fuming glare burning from Jess’ furious mother.

Jess bowed and pulled up on the sides of her long dress in a curtsey. “To the banquet with the both of us to snare a steer worth our legacy.” She could hear her mother’s teeth grinding. Nothing could steal the rampant words from the woman’s mouth like the presence of Jess’ lifelong friend.

Talia held out her elbow and Jess slipped a gloved hand through her arm. They both stole away from the room before Haggatha and mother could recover. “You look like you are headed to your own execution,” Talia murmured with a smirk as they turned into the hall. Her amber eyes flicked up to Jess playfully.

“You look as if you are ready to progenate.” Jess shot back with a laugh.

Talia touched a manicured nail to her lip as if considering a deep thought. “Do you suppose this is the night?” She knit her brows together.

“Do you take nothing serious?”

“I’m headed to the Bastion Banquet.” Talia rolled her eyes. They both knew she was only showing her face there in loyalty to Jess.

“Not all of us can shirk responsibilities quite so deftly as you.”

Talia let out a mock gasp, pressing a hand to her chest. “Jessalyn, you are implying I’m irresponsible? I’ll have you know I’ve been incredibly productive today.”

“Yeah how?” Jess challenged.

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“I bought not one but two new crystal pins today and scandalized five merchants with my haggling skills.”

“Impressive,” Jess deadpanned. “You are well on your way to being mother.”

Talia leaned forward, her expression softening. “Come on Jess. One day you are going to have to stop letting your mother dictate your every move. The Bastion is your chance to break free, isn’t it? You’ve been dreaming of this for years.”

Jess paused, glancing out the window to the glowing city lights below. “It’s not that simple.”

“It never is,” Talia said with a shrug, “but that’s why you’ve got me. To make things delightfully complicated.”

Jess shrugged and couldn’t help but laugh. “Delightfully complicated indeed.”

The two girls exited the manor and descended the ivory steps. At the base of the steps, in the driveway that circled the fountain sat a motor carriage, exhaust burping plumes of glowing Noxflare. Their driver held the door open, and the girls giggled as they climbed inside. They plopped in warm plush seats. Soon the carriage lurched forward.

They passed estates filled with workers busy tending crops and maintaining the manors. Dims in ragged clothes repaired leaking roofs and cleaned out stables. Soon they were on the rural highway. Here the homes grew closer together but were still large enough to grow a family legacy. These were the homes of the Glints. They had far fewer servants and were more reluctant to call the lower classes Dimmers. Jess watched out the window and wondered how it would feel to be so close to either climbing up the ladder or falling down toward the forgotten.

They climbed the ramp onto the interstate and rose high above the stacked apartments and dark alleyways of the Dims. Very little Noxflare illuminated the streets down there. Plenty of places for the dark pleasures of the lesser classes. The inner-city gloom loomed on and on like a sea below them and the girls had to turn from the depressing sight to a hand of cards to pass the time.

When Aedris rose up past the gloom the Bastion stood highest of all. Towering glowing crystal towers spiraling toward the Aurora setting in the horizon. Soon the green glow will pierce the blackness of night, a shining sword defying the strangling night.

The Bastion’s gates loomed ahead, a masterpiece of crystalline architecture glowing faintly with Noxflare light. Students gathered in clusters, their laughter and conversations echoing through the open courtyard. Jess climbed from the motorcar at the edge of the crowd and some of her peers fawned over her.

Talia smirked and pinched the back of Jessalyn’s arm. “Your worshipers are here.” She winked. “Do you think he will be here?” Her eyes scanned the students.

“Who?” Jess asked, nodding humbly to the flattery of the girls they passed.

Talia nodded toward a commotion at the far end of the courtyard. A group of young Radiants parted like water for a tall figure to stride through. His every step was purposeful, his presence commanding.

“Draevin Solvar.” Talia said, her tone dripping with disdain. “The councilor’s golden boy.”

Jess groaned and followed her gaze, her stomach tightening. Draevin was everything she had been taught to admire-confident, poised, and impeccably dressed. But there was an edge to him, a coldness in his golden eyes that set her on edge.

Draevin stopped near the center of the courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as if assessing them. When his eyes landed on Jess, he smiled a slow, deliberate curve of his lips that felt more like a challenge than a greeting.

He crossed his Noxflare lined gloves behind his back and clacked his white polished leather shoes as he strutted toward them. His broad chest pried the buttons of his overcoat testing their limits. His dark hair slicked back smooth without a single hair out of place.

“Jessalyn Vale,” he said, his voice smooth and cultured. “I was hoping we would cross paths.”

Talia bristled beside her, but Jess kept her expression neutral. “Draevin Solvar.” She repeated his full name back with a hint of sarcasm. “I didn’t think you knew who I was.”

He pulled his gloved hands from behind his back and tugged his overcoat down brushing off unseen lint. “Oh, I make a point to know everyone worth noting,” Draevin replied, his smile widening. “And you, Jessalyn, are worth quite a bit.” His eyes roved over her then flashed back up to her face.

Jess resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere with me.”

Draevin chuckled, the sound low and rich. “Oh, I’m not trying to flatter you. I’m simply stating a fact. The Vale family has always been a cornerstone of Radiant society. I’m sure you’ll live up to the legacy.”

Talia stepped forward her amber eyes blazing. “Jess doesn’t need your approval, Solvar. Why don’t you go find someone else to harass?”

Draevin’s eyes flicked to Talia expression cool. “Ah, Talia, didn’t see you were there.” His eyes lock with hers for a long moment then he smiles. “Always so fiery. It’s almost endearing.”

Before Talia could retort, a loud chime rang through the courtyard, signaling the start of the opening ceremony. Draevin inclined his head toward Jess, his smile unwavering.

“I’ll see you inside, Jessalyn. And don’t worry-I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other this year.

As he walked away Jess exhaled slowly, tension she hadn’t realised she had been holding draining away from her shoulders.

Talia muttered under her breath, “I hate that guy.”

Jess glared at his back for a long while. She would have to keep an eye out for him, the pit of her stomach warned her so.