To Jem’s great delight, he had actually obtained a dart board and a picture of Haywood's face. It had taken speaking to Aoife to get it, but after he’d explained what it was he wanted, she’d rushed to fulfil his request. It had been incredibly satisfying to set it up in front of Haywood’s office.

It took a few days of throwing darts while reading to obtain [Parallel Thoughts] and subsequently merge it with [Accelerate Thoughts] into [Thought Management]. When he was done with that Haywood made him relearn [Meditate] and learn [Attention Regulation]. Jem wasn’t really sure how he felt about a skill that affected his mental state, but he found that if he left one of the threads unregulated that it didn’t feel quite as disconcerting.

After he’d finished obtaining the attention skills that everyone but him seemed to think he needed his time was spent with a mixture of tutors, instructors and other staff whos duty it was to prepare him for the upcoming ball. It crept up on him like a hailstorm on a tin roof. Every single one of the staff seemed intent on drilling into him just how important it was that he made a good impression. As not only was this an important event. But it was also his debut to wider society.

Jem had already seen some members of the court, that sort of thing was unavoidable if you were busy turning a picture of Haywood into a pincussion. The people who’d seen him doing it apparently considered it a perfectly reasonable thing to do and according to Aoife his actions had spawned a trend. But this was a serious occasion whereby he’d be expected to perform as a member of the Empress’ family.

According to his dance instructor as a member of said important family, he was woefully inadequate.

Jem slid forward into the third step of the Saphrain.

“Better, but you didn’t tighten your core.” The words were accompanied by a solid ball of Kol to the gut. In response Jem’s diaphragm spasmed and his body refused to listen as he tried to suck in a breath. Winded Jem stumbled back cursing Karim for not having come home sooner. At least Karim let Jem get healed while he attacked.

Lady Ayo’s training had already caused [Damage Smamage] to activate once, raising his Toughness from 6 to 7. Though she had admittedly allowed him to get that treated immediately. Fatal wounds would probably impede his ability to dance with proper form.

“Begin again.” Jem slid easily into the first step, Ayo had modified the dance a little to account for his slight frame and his unique leg situation. He transitioned to the second step as the creak of the far door echoed around the room. He turned to look at the same time as Ayo, a few of her locs spilling over her shoulder.

Jem briefly saw a grinning Nessa in the doorway before his view was replaced by the vaulted ceiling high above.

“I didn’t tell you to stop,” said Ayo, her cold tone drawing a snort from Nessa.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to stop the fun, I need to talk to Jem before the ball later. Will his dancing be sufficient? Or should we create a reason for his absence?”

“My pupil will be better than most there, certainly the best dancer from your family.”

“I thought you said I was hopeless,” Jem called up from the floor.

“You are, but you are still better than most of those fools.”

Jem slumped back onto the floor and a bead of sweat rolled into his mouth. Ayo was merciless.

Ayo’s sharp footfalls drew closer until she loomed over Jem. “We will be continuing to practice again tomorrow. You may be better than most of them, but you should not aim for better. You should strive to be the best.”

Lady Ayo strode away, through the closest door.

“She likes you,” said Nessa.

Jem sat up. “If that’s how she acts when she likes someone, I don’t want to know how she treats someone she doesn’t like.”

Nessa grinned as she examined her fingernails in a display of faux nonchalance. “I imagine she would quickly leave the room through the farthest room from the offender.

Jem slumped down again. “Maybe I should make her hate me.”

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Nessa chuckled. “I think you’d be better off if you were empress at the time.”

Nessa strode over. “Alright up.” She grabbed Jem’s hand and hauled him to his hooves. He was still having trouble standing up. He couldn’t wait to get some levels and for his strength attribute to increase so he could just throw himself up.

“So why doesn’t she like you?”

“Something about ‘not treating the artform with the grace and decorum a ruler should exhibit.’”

“And she said that because you?”

“Filled Karim’s dancing shoes with glitter just before one of her lessons.”

Jem grinned. Just how hard would it be to convince Ayo that Nessa was filling his shoes with glitter? If it happened a few times… maybe he could escape.

“You’re developing a scheming face.”

“Huh?” Jem blinked.

“Grandad has one too.”

“I do not have a scheming face.”

“Oh really, what were you thinking about just now then?”

“About the ball?”

Nessa grinned. “Your lying needs work too.”

“What?”

“A woman must keep her secrets. Talking of the ball, are you ready?”

Jem looked down at his shirt, the one clinging to him, drenched in sweat. He offered Nessa a sardonic smile. “Clearly.”

Faster than his eyes could track Nessa lifted her arm and flicked him on the nose. “I obviously didn’t mean right this second Jem. I meant in general.”

“Ow.” Jem covered his face. “I think so, mostly. I’m a bit nervous, to be honest. It’s just a bit different to what I’m used to. And there’s so so many names and faces to remember.”

“You should do your best to remember them all, but focus on the important ones first.”

“Actually I was wondering, on the day I arrived there were two people in the room with us, other than the family. Who were they?”

“My and Karim’s adventuring team. The one casting the ritual with me, was the high priestess and the one with the knives was her girlfriend. Hadiza and Florence. You’ll probably meet them again but it’s unlikely that they’ll be there tonight.”

“Ahh okay, was there a reason you came to find me?”

“Not especially, I’m dodging a meeting on crop management, we’ve already come to a decision but one of the advisors wanted to hash it out again. I’m not wasting my time on a pointless meeting it’ll set a precedent. Remember this Jem, if you give people an inch they’ll take a mile. Set healthy boundaries. Anyway you need to get ready. I’ll see you later.”

—

Jem, Haywood, Aoife and Nessa were waiting in the throne room. The ball had just started and Karim still hadn’t arrived.

“We’ll give him 5 minutes, but he still hasn’t arrived back at the castle so it’s unlikely he’ll make it. Anyone got anything to talk about before we go in?”

“Just that we should remind Jem to refuse any duels, skill contests and that he should avoid any drugs. I would say drink too, but we know Jem can’t actually get drunk,” said Haywood, turning to Jem. “I don’t envy you having to do this evening sober, but who know’s maybe you’ll find someone to dance with. You are the most eligible bachelor in the empire right now.”

“I don’t know about that.”

Nessa’s face lit up with an incandescent grin. “Oh but Jem Asterion, don’t you thi…”

*Ding* You have been named Jem Asterion by Empress Nessa Asterion, the dominant power in your area.

“Nessa you can’t just change my name without asking.”

“Oh but I just did Jem Asterion, most eligibleist bachelor in the empire.”

“You can’t just spring it on me now, just before an event like this."

"Sure I can, don’t you prefer to know in advance of the announcement.”

“What she isn’t telling you Jem is that this means she gets to relax tonight while every single scheming noble in that room tries to make a good first impression. That or humiliate you. You are the fresh meat and Nessa has just put you in the fire pit.”

Nessa turned around looking at the clock on the wall. “Oh would you look at that, it seems it’s time for us to go in.”

Nessa led them out into a long carpeted corridor. Jem self-consciously fiddled with his horn ornaments, they had been specially commissioned for him but his horns were the wrong shape and he wasn’t able to wear the dangling chains like everyone else. Their jewelry glittered like spiderwebs wrought in silver, he felt like his were dull in comparison.

Little metallic flower spirals which curled around his horns.

They exited out onto a raised dais and a hush fell over the room.

The chamberlain addressed the room. “It is my honour to announce the arrival of her imperial highness Empress Nessa Asterion; accompanied by Prince Jem Asterion, Princess Aoife Asterion and Chief librarian Haywood.”

Jem resisted the urge to snort at Haywood’s introduction. Wait? Prince?