Alaster walked down the steps with confidence, not because he was comfortable or had done something similar many times, but because he did not care. In a few days, he would be leaving Galmore, unlikely to ever return. Whatever happened tonight would not matter.
Alaster could blatantly insult the City Lord to his face or even attack him and be gone before they could apprehend him. Alaster intensely doubted that he would be able to do any significant damage in that short timeframe.
As this party was going on, Alaster’s second body, Fenrir, was already on its way to Lissura, riding a horse that Alaster had purchased for just that trip. He would sell the creature once he reached Lissura. Or perhaps he would just give it to some farm family. He had not decided.
It had taken Alaster a few hours to be able to ride the horse at any acceptable speed while still operating normally with his Prime Body.
Alaster reached the floor, expecting to be swarmed similar to Lunaria and Azemar. However, while he could see their curiosity and desire to do so, they seemed hesitant to approach. While Alaster was surprised, he was also happy.
With nothing happening, Alaster turned his attention to Fenrir as he rode the horse through the dense forest with an escort of Undead Knights, Summoned Minions, so Alaster had no issue unsummoning them once Fenrir got close enough to civilization.
His attention elsewhere, Lunaria was able to sneak up behind him as her Mana muddled his [Seeker Sight].
“Stop doing that!” Lunaria exclaimed, causing Alaster to jump slightly.
“Gah! No, you stop doing that. One of these days I’m going to attack whatever surprises me.”
Lunaria hopped back and took a mock fighting stance, “I’d like to see you try.”
Alaster sighed, “Stop doing what?”
“That bloodlust. No one wants to approach someone who looks like they want to kill them.”
Alaster leaned in and whispered in her ear, “To be fair, I do kinda.”
Lunaria slapped his shoulder as he stood back up, chuckling to himself.
“Oh come on then, if you aren’t going to socialize on your own, I am just going to make you!” She grabbed his sleeve and dragged him behind her. Alaster allowed it as he did like the suit and did not want her to rip it.
For the next hour, Lunaria dragged him from group to group, introducing him and prompting him through the conversations to speak. During which she somehow snuck a glass of wine into his hand.
She introduced him to her friends, her acquaintances, even a few of her less liked peers. He met Researchers, Enchanters, Officers, Merchants, and even a common soldier who had begun distinguishing himself on the wall in the past two years.
Alaster called on his teachings and politely chatted with them, somehow even getting one of the merchants to offer him a wagon and full team of oxen to pull it for only a third of its market price. He turned the portly man down on the offer though as he had no need for either. One of the advantages of being able to create one’s own Minions.
As Alaster was discussing the finer points of Onigarian fashion with an easily distracted young Lady, a topic he had no real knowledge or interest in, the Announcer pounded his staff three times.
The gentle music playing in the background stopped and everyone’s attention turned to the stairs.
“Esteemed guests, announcing the Lord of our beautiful city, Lord Resant. His gorgeous wife, Lady Tessa. And their handsome son, Sir James.”
The crowd bowed or curtsied, though Alaster, Azemar, and Lunaria were the only ones who did not. Alaster swore no allegiance to them, nor did he care. While Azemar, and in extension, his family, held a position separate from the entire hierarchy.
Regal music quietly filled ballroom as they began gracefully descending the stairs. The City Lord in between his son and wife, whose arm was through the Lord’s. They stopped a few steps from the bottom, with the son going down two more steps below his parents.
“Good evening friends!” The City Lord called out, “Tonight we celebrate two things. First, the finished education of our Elder’s first student, with the hope that it will not be his last!” He paused momentarily for the crowd to politely clap, briefly turning their attention to him.
“But we also celebrate my son’s official position as General of the West Wall. A position I have personally ensured he earned through his own capabilities and not through his name.” The clapping resumed, this time more enthusiastically.
While they clapped, Alaster studied the City Lord’s son, James. He suspected that the man was only a few years older than he was. He was roughly the same size, though perhaps slightly shorter and more lithe. Though the man was certainly larger than most, all in muscle as well.
He wore the City’s colors, white with gold accent, though his clothing was more reminiscent of gambeson, thick padded cloth, meant to be worn under armor, but durable enough to protect against the average cuts. The City Lord likely wanted to point out his son’s military position now.
But what truly caught Alaster’s attention was that he was staring intensely at him. Alaster looked closer. No, James was not looking at him, but at Lunaria.
The City Lord ended his speech with a humorous order to enjoy the party. It seemed as if the partygoers were merely waiting on the City Lord and his family, because now that they were here, the middle of the Ballroom was cleared of guests and the music turned from background music to the music one would dance to.
The cleared space was quickly filled with dancing couples. The dance was one that Azemar had taught him. It was stiff and made to show off how noble they were more than enjoyment. Alaster spotted a young lady dressed in a beautiful red flowing dress dancing with James.
Lunaria, who Alaster had suspected would attempt to drag him into a dance, instead steered him away to another group of people.
Alaster continued to put on the act of actually caring about any of the people Lunaria introduced him to, or their lives, which they insisted on bragging about. It was frustrating. How can they all care so much about their family’s history that has no actual impact in the present. Alaster did not care if their great-great-grand father killed an Wyvern by themselves. He only cared if they could, which none were capable of.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Of the hundred or so people he had talked to, only a handful were Experts, which was not surprising. Experts were a very small percentage of any population, even Galmore, where everyone was an experienced combatant.
A few songs played, with the dancing couples changing out a few times. It seemed as though while the dancing was not mandatory, every young person in the audience was expected to dance at least once. A few took it as a challenge and a way to show of their ability and danced multiple dances.
James for example, danced every dance. Each young lady walked away with a beaming smile and a faint blush.
After the last dance ended, Alaster spotted James motion for a servant. He quickly whispered something in the man’s ear and the servant left. He skirted the edge of the ballroom and reached the musicians on the far end. The servant said something to them, and they nodded.
They began to play once more, this time a slow and graceful tune.
James approached Lunaria, who sighed once she found that there was no escape, at least not without causing a scene.
The City Lord’s son stopped a few feet away and bowed deeply, extending his hand, “May I have the honor of this dance?”
Lunaria’s smile was strained as she placed her hand in his, “Of course.”
The middle of the dance floor cleared as James led Lunaria. They turned to face each other and as music changed slightly, they began to dance. It was well practiced and beautiful. Alaster spotted several young ladies look on with jealousy as they sighed at the sight, each wishing they were her.
It was a dance of beauty and dignity, meant to be slow in order to allow the two partners to converse in private, their words drowned out by the music while their actions were laid bare to the crowd. It was a dance where two Nobles could get to know each other without dirty rumors spreading.
A few moments after James and Lunaria began to dance, a few other couples joined in, staying to the edges. Even with Alaster’s Expert hearing, he could not hear what James and Lunaria were saying to each other, though he could see them talking.
Alaster watched them as he continued to politely converse with a businessman who owned eight different smithies in Galmore, supplying a sizeable percentage of the Military’s equipment. Alaster found it much easier to talk with this man than many of the others due to his casual interest in blacksmithing.
Ordinarily, it would have been rude to look somewhere else while talking to someone, but the businessman did not mind as he too, along with everyone else, was watching the dance. Alaster could not blame them, it was fascinating.
“What do your smithies make most of?” Alaster asked, watching as James slowly spun Lunaria.
“Spears mostly. Due to their length, it allows the guardsmen to attack their opponent while keeping a distance, but the long poles are prone to breaking. So, the wall sends back the spearheads, and we send them back on new poles. Though the most time-consuming part is repairing the guards’ armor.”
Alaster politely chuckled, “Yes, I personally understand that very well. I would spend large amounts of time in the wilderness as an Adept so I would have to repair my own armor. I even made use of wood when I ran out of material.”
The businessman laughed, “Wood is a good armor, though it is heavy for its defensibility. However, it is abundant.”
Alaster watched the dance along with everyone else, but he noticed something none of the audience did. Something he could only notice because he knew Lunaria so well. She was gradually growing more and more tense. Her movements becoming more stiff. Her smile becoming even more forced. And it only grew worse the more James talked.
‘Catherine.’ Alaster spoke into his Soul Domain.
‘Yes Master?’
‘Do any of the Death Knights know how to play instruments?’
‘Why yes, we all do. During the long marches on campaigns, it was practically the only way to entertain ourselves.’
‘And are you any good? Good enough to play in front of Nobility?’
Alaster sensed Catherine peek out of the Domain, using his own senses.
‘Yeah. We don’t know this song, but we know one that is similar enough.’
‘Good, and you know how to play those instruments?’
‘Yes, but we have our own.’
Alaster’s brow furrowed, ‘where did you get those?’
‘What? You thought we just sat around in your Soul doing nothing? When we were fighting against Lezrem we gathered the materials needed between battles, then John made them. He is quite handy, despite how brutish he is.’
‘Alright then. Here is what I want you to do.’
Alaster excused himself from the businessman and set down his glass, which he had barely sipped from, down on a table.
As the music gradually reached its climax, the room gradually grew darker. So gradual was it that only a handful of people even noticed.
The climax arrived, but instead of the violin solo everyone was expecting, silence reigned.
People looked around and those dancing awkwardly stopped. Without the distraction of music, more people noticed how dark the room had become. It was an unnatural darkness. The torches and Mage Lights still shone brightly, but their light seemed suppressed.
Fearing an attack, the City Lord’s guards moved in, taking James away from Lunaria, taking him back to his parents, and surrounding them, ready to protect against any attack. Many people reached for their weapons, but despite the tension, none panicked.
Lunaria was left confused in the center of the empty Ballroom. Azemar would have acted, but something about the darkness seemed familiar.
Within moments, the lone violin began to play, but it was not the same song. Light returned to the middle of the dance floor, leaving the rest of the room in darkness, and revealing Lunaria. Everyone’s attention turned to her. Alaster entered the ring of light and bowed before Lunaria, his hand extended.
Lunaria awkwardly took it, and as she did, a few more instruments joined, adding depth.
Taking the lead, Alaster led her into a very different dance than before. It was a dance they had both danced many times before while Alaster had been learning. Over time, he had figured out that it was Lunaria’s favorite.
It was not a dance of grace and nobility. It was a dance of beauty and passion. There was no room to talk, but it was unnecessary. Their movements said everything that needed to be said, even that which words could not express.
Lunaria loved this song because it told a story.
Two more violins joined, playing slightly different notes, while maintaining the same center melody. Together the three told of two lovers, pushed apart by a war. Two cellos gave the music a depth and base that kept the tension alive. Deep drums were introduced to tell of a ferocious battle, as the two violins fought desperately to be heard.
Flutes played the part of arrows and magic flying through the air while trumpets played as the two armies clashed. The climax finished with a long gong, followed by the quiet and desperate lone violin.
The dance followed the flow and tempo of the music, transforming the musical story into a visual one. As the music played, Lunaria relaxed, her forced smile becoming a real one as she enjoyed the dance.
Eventually the song came to an end, the drums quieting down to finally allow the violins and a single harp to be heard. As the song ended, Alaster and Lunaria were left in the middle of the dance floor with Alaster dipping Lunaria as she held his face with one hand.
The stunned audience erupted into applause as the darkness began to recede, allowing light to once again fill the ballroom. Unseen by all but the musicians, the sound barrier surrounding them dissolved and Twelve Death Knights vanished.
Alaster lifted Lunaria up but felt his heart stop when he felt her lips against his. The world seemed to disappear. The only ones that existed were Alaster and Lunaria in their moment.
Hidden away in the audience, Azemar raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk on his face.
‘Alain, my love, you were right once again.’
Time did not exist for either of them, nor did they want it to. They wanted it to last forever, but an angrily approaching figure interrupted them. Still holding each other, they vanished from where they stood, allowing the furious James to miss his punch and stumble.
Far from the Ballroom, far from the castle, far from the city. Atop a tall mountain overlooking the city. They was clear of the clouds that had recently deposited a light snow that reflected the pale moonlight, sparkling like gems. A lone Shadow Assassin stood motionless, snow piled on its hooded head and shoulders.
In an instant, the Undead vanished, replaced by the two individuals. One dressed in a black suit, the other a beautifully flowing white dress.