“Don’t be ridiculous.” I threw the glove back to Dustin after yanking it out of Ron’s hand. “There’s no honor in fighting someone over a few words, much less an untrained fighter.”

“He should’ve thought of that before he dared sully my name!” Dustin yelled, and we soon became the center of attention as everyone present was dying for some drama to spice up the party. Duels that often led to death or left someone maimed were a perfect fit. “Besides, who permitted you to speak? Did those tree huggers you clung to delude you into thinking you’re someone important now? Because you can use magic?”

His remark threw me off guard as not many knew I stayed in Thysa, let alone that I was Elwyn’s student, meaning someone who served under us spilled secrets, and my guess was either the maid or my uncle, with whom I had issues recently. While it wasn’t a major concern, as the secrets I intended to keep remained as such, the fact that an idiot like him could learn anything about me was troubling. Even more so when I realized we’d be attending the Academy together if we both passed the entrance exam.

“Alex, it’s fine. I’ll fight.” Ron took a step forward, but I immediately stopped him, grabbing his shoulder and stepping in between the two.

“Don’t be absurd,” I said, looking back at Dustin. “And you. . . If you’re so opinionated, then why not fight me? Magic. No Magic. Doesn’t matter to me.”

“You can’t ask me to hide behind you,” Ron said, pushing away my hand while staring motionlessly ahead.

“Let them fight!” yelled a man from the crowd I’d never seen before.

It was shocking how lightly everyone took what was unfolding before them, so much so that even the band didn’t stop playing.

Shaking my head in disbelief, I sensed Dustin approach.

“Step aside, Bastard,” he commanded as his alcoholic breath reached my nose.

Staring back at him, dead in the eye, I said calmly, “Make me.”

Dustin was quick to react, grabbing me by the v-shaped collar, which I intentionally allowed to make any potential retaliation justifiable if I so chose. But a problem suddenly arose as everything around me went dead silent, and everyone in view became blurred other than Dustin himself.

Confusion struck the moment I heard my beating heart rage, followed by unexplained anxiety and a sudden cold sweeping through me. My chest tightened, and breathing became difficult, reminding me of the panic attack I suffered in Sylphena’s office. It soon became clear to me while looking at Dustin that what I felt was fear. But why? I asked myself.

Dustin’s smug smile quickly turned grim as I grabbed his wrist, and our eyes locked. It was only then that I realized that although subtle, he dared cast a spell on me that required no chant but perhaps needed physical contact. Breaking free of his control was easy enough, and by the look in his eyes, he must’ve been quite surprised. However, it didn’t end there as now, while staring him dead in the eye, muffled whispers crept into the back of my mind, yelling at me incoherently in a language I had never heard before.

Though the spell broke, Dustin remained the only thing I could see or hear as an overwhelming hunger to make him suffer woke within me. Draining Touch begged to be cast.

“Stop!” Eliot yelled, putting his hands on us and pushing us apart. “What’s going on here?”

Eliot’s voice snapped me back to reality, silencing the whispers and returning the murmur surrounding us. Music again reached my ears as I looked toward Eliot, who demanded an answer.

“Don’t look at me. He’s the one at fault. Ron.” Dustin pointed his finger at Ron, desperately clinging to what little confidence he had left after witnessing true bloodlust. “He insulted me, so I challenged him to a fair duel, but then that bastard brother of yours got involved and decided to step between us.”

Though I listened, I still couldn’t move; for if I did, I felt I’d regret it.

“What?” Eliot sternly asked.

“You heard me, Kallis.” Dustin stood his ground. “Ron was the one who insulted my intelligence and now faces a challenge. Put that bastard of yours on a leash if you’re going to have him walk among us, Kallis.”

I’ll admit, he was brave to say such words to Eliot, making me wonder if the rumors about our relationship were at fault.

“Duels during formal gatherings were banned six years ago unless a member of the Royal Family sanctioned it. Have you forgotten?” Eliot walked into Dustin’s face, dwarfing him with presence and size. “Mention my brother disrespectfully again, and I’ll drag you before the King himself, but it’ll be me who you’ll be facing in a duel.”

Ron’s hand suddenly touched my shoulder, making me twitch.

“You okay?” he asked quietly, a look of worry drawn all over his face.

“Whatever,” Dustin scoffed, taking a step back while looking at us. “Listen carefully, you two! I’ll let this go for now, but mark my words, today, you’ve made an enemy. One you’ll regret making.”

After that, we let him leave without saying a word.

“Alex,” Eliot hastily turned, grabbing my shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yeah. . .” I mumbled, averting my gaze. “Sorry about that.”

“Save it. You’re a Kallis. Don’t apologize unless you’re at fault. Otherwise, who’ll trust our word.” He sighed in relief, seeing I was alright.

“Man. . . What a dick, huh? Sorry about that.” Ron spoke up, awkwardly chuckling to himself.

Seeing as the drama died down, so did everyone’s attention. Soon the news would spread like wildfire as not everyone present was aware of what happened, especially those outside the main hall. Honestly, I wondered how twisted the truth would get, but at the end of the day, with my reputation, that hardly mattered.

“Rose–” I yelled, quickly turning toward her.

“Relax. I’m fine,” she reassured me with a smile.

“I’m–” I still struggled to speak as my mind was a mess. “Sorry, I need a moment.”

“Take your time,” Rose said, turning to Eliot. “By the way, where’s Penelope?”

“She’s with her peers, discussing something about alchemy,” Eliot explained, glancing at Ron. “And you are?”

“A friend,” I interrupted. “He’s a. . . friend.”

“That–” Eliot sighed. “I can tell.”

“I should probably introduce myself.” Ron extended his hand for a handshake. “Name’s Ron. I mean, Ronald. Ronald Arden.”

“Eliot Kallis,” he said, accepting the handshake.

“Wine–” I interrupted, holding my head. “I could use a cup of wine.”

“You sure you okay?” Rose asked, poking my shoulder.

“Yeah,” I mumbled again, peeking at her between my fingers before lowering my hand.

“I’m more thinking a bottle after this. And something tells me I’ll need to go look for it myself.” Ron cracked a smile while looking around. “I’ll be right back.”

He ran off before I had the chance to suggest going instead, believing I needed space from the suffocating crowd.

“What an odd guy,” Eliot said.

“He’s kind of sweet,” Rose added before her eyes flicked toward me.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Rose, would you mind staying with Eliot for a bit? I–”

“Go.” She smiled, noticing I paused. “I’ll be fine.”

“Going out for some fresh air?” Eliot asked.

“Yeah. . . could you–” I nodded subtly toward Rose. “I just need a moment alone.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, and I soon left.

Escaping the crowd gave me time to think about the whispers lurking inside my head. They had appeared not once but twice to my knowledge, writhing to the back of my mind the moment I felt agitated, encouraging me to resort to violence. Had I indulged in that hunger, Dustin would have laid on the ground a withered corpse, and I would have sat in a dungeon.

The longer I thought, the more questions I had. It could have been Fane or maybe even Amon, the mage who helped me break free from Tartarus. Lastly, I couldn’t rule out madness caused by trauma, as there was no difference between the fear I felt when Dustin cast his spell and the helplessness I felt back in Sylphena’s office. Except back then, I didn’t fight back the fear.

While the truth remained a mystery, and I was able to draw my own conclusions, my focus shifted toward looking for the balcony. I wasn’t going to figure it out while at a party, and despite my efforts to distance myself, quite a few lords and ladies were giving me the side eye in the courtyard.

Much to my surprise, after returning to the main hall and finding the stairs that led upward, I spotted Prince Damien seemingly doing the same. He looked wary, striking my curiosity the moment he stepped outside, so I had to follow.

“Prince Damien?” Hearing Penelope’s surprised voice made my heart skip as the last thing I wanted was for her to be stuck alone with him.

While I couldn’t catch a glimpse of the outside without risking exposure, I did lean back against the edge of the door, crossing my arms and focusing on Mana Sense to peek. They were alone, much like I was in the long yet narrow hallway.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, but considering Eliot mentioned she was with her peers talking about alchemy, I wished to ask her the same.

“Am I disturbing you?” Prince Damien asked with a rather soft-spoken voice.

“Oh– No, no. I was just–” She paused. “. . .Catching my breath? Talking to strangers takes a lot out of me.”

“Do I count as a stranger?” he asked, taking a few steps closer, standing beside her near the stone railing.

“Your Highness– Even if we didn’t know each other, I’d spare the time.”

“If that is the case, then you don’t mind if I steal some? I feel as if we should talk, Penelope.” He stopped talking, taking a deep breath. “And please– Call me Damien.”

She paused long enough for me to consider stepping in but spoke up just before I did. “Yes. I think we should, Damien.”

“I assume you already know what I wish to say.” He chuckled in a humble kind of way, remaining soft-spoken the entire time. “Look– Penelope. I’ll be blunt. When I first laid my eyes on you, you blew me away. And I’m not talking about something as flimsy as finding you attractive. No– I’m talking about your presence as a whole. That sharp intellect, gleaming in your eyes, and the kind heart hidden behind a distant gaze. Everything about you was just so mesmerizing that it made me act like a bumbling fool. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel guilty after I approached while you mourned your brother’s death. Not because I did but because of how I did. Deep down, I knew your brother was still alive, and I wanted to be that person to reassure you, but I stumbled upon words and got flustered, saying something I shouldn’t. And while I can’t take back what I’ve said and done, I still ask you, Penelope. Would you give me a chance to try and win you over? That’s it. That’s all I ask– a chance.”

Silence followed.

“Hey, Alex,” said Ron from across the hall, carrying a bottle of red wine. “What–”

I hushed him before he said anything else, gesturing for him to approach sneakily.

He did, whispering, “What are we doing?” the moment he got close.

“I take it your silence means no,” Prince Damien said, breaking the silence.

“Is that–” Ron had yet another question, so I covered his mouth, hushing him again.

“Your Highness– I mean, Damien.” Penelope sighed. “I’m truly honored that you took an interest in me, but I can’t give you what you ask. Sorry that it took so long for me to say it.”

“I see,” he said quietly as a sigh escaped him. “May I at least know why?”

“That’s–” She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “Truthfully, I’m not ready yet for such a commitment, with the Academy and all. But also, after Alexander disappeared, I understood how painful it was to lose someone close, and it made me value the time I have with those around me. I wouldn’t want to steal that away from you when I already have someone else in my heart. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“So you’re saying someone already stole your heart, huh?” He sighed in defeat, leaning against the railing with his elbows.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “When you first approached, I was confused and didn’t know how to handle the situation.”

“You were mourning someone’s death on your coming of age,” he reminded her. “I wouldn’t expect you to act normally.”

“Yeah. . .” Penelope whispered, moving her hand back while gazing at the moon.

Ron was dying to ask questions, looking like a bard that stumbled upon a gold mine.

“Have you told him?” Prince Damien asked.

“I haven’t.” Penelope looked back at him. “It’s not something I could easily do without my father’s permission, and with the Academy, it’s probably for the best.”

Prince Damien pushed himself up, taking a deep breath and stretching his arms out before exhaling and letting his shoulders drop.

“Well. If you ask me, you shouldn’t keep him waiting, or someone else might steal him away.” He turned back to the door. “Listen to someone with experience.”

He scoffed, walking away.

There wasn’t enough time to hide or run, allowing our eyes to meet as he entered the hallway. Ron looked ready with excuses, but Prince Damien simply left in silence.

“Awkward. . .” Ron mumbled.

“You can come out now,” Penelope said, looking toward the door.

“So you knew.” Stepping out, I pulled Ron with me.

“Had a solid guess.” Penelope sighed, sitting atop the railing. “Figured you’d show up if I arrived before you.”

“Should I leave, or. . .” Ron asked.

“Eliot told me what happened, so I came looking for you. Figured you’d be here,” Penelope explained.

“Guess not.” Ron sighed.

“You alright?” I asked, noticing her eyes wandering toward the ground.

“It was my first time rejecting someone.”

“And a Prince no less–” Ron said before losing his breath as I bumped him with my elbow. “Sorry. . .”

“You must be Ron,” Penelope said. “You’re just as he described you.”

“He talked about me?” Ron asked, turning to look at me.

“Mentioned.” I corrected him.

“Still something.” Ron shrugged. “Anyway– The name is Ronald. Ronald Arden, but please call me Ron.”

“She already did.” I looked at him.

“Arden? Wait, I thought–” Penelope paused, furrowing her brows.

“Alex, you didn’t mention your sister was so beautiful. Too bad her heart’s already taken.”

“Really?” I sighed while staring at him. “Well. . . Since you already brought it up,” I turned back to Penelope, “I didn’t know you were interested in someone. Is it a secret, or?. . .”

Penelope tended not to socialize and never looked interested in anyone, so I was a bit surprised when I heard she had someone she liked.

“It was just something I made up on the spot. Thought it’d be easier to make him give up,” she explained before glancing at Ron. “I’m glad he didn’t ask for a name, or I wouldn’t know what to say.”

“Well, at least it worked out, right?” Ron asked.

“Yeah, but what about you guys?” Penelope sighed, standing back up. “I knew your reputation was bad, but to think someone would challenge you to a duel.”

“Me?” I pointed in confusion. “Ron was the one who got hit by a glove.”

“Then–” Penelope’s attention shifted to Ron.

“Eh. He’ll get over it,” Ron argued.

“Dustin? No way,” I scoffed. “But why did you go that far? Didn’t you say you knew about my reputation?”

“He was ridiculing a friend,” he said confidently. “And I refuse to sit back and listen.”

“But you could’ve gotten yourself killed.”

“How do you know if we hadn’t fought yet?” he asked, hitting me with such confidence that I almost believed he could do it.

“Do you know how to fight?” I was skeptical.

“No, but I could get lucky.” He chuckled. “For real, though. I’m not much when you take a good look at me, but I do have my word. And if I’m not willing to stand by it, then who does that make me? Especially if I’m defending a friend.”

I respected his answer, despite hating the fact that he unnecessarily put himself in danger for my sake.

“There you are. . .” Eliot said, standing by the door with Rose. “Don’t you think we waited long enough?”

“I found a bottle!” Ron happily announced.

“Penelope, you okay?” Rose was quick to notice Penelope’s absentminded gaze.

“Did something happen?” Eliot asked.

“She rejected Prince Damien,” I said.

Eliot’s gaze suddenly turned stern, immediately turning to Ron. “Open it.”

“You got it, boss.”

Ron made us laugh, smoothly popping the bottle open. We ended up spending the rest of the night talking about everything that came to mind, getting drunk on the balcony; after Ron stole a few more bottles from the kitchen.

Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.