During the three weeks of preparation, much transpired within the group.

Tokei was deeply regretting her life decisions, especially the ones that had somehow led her to masquerading as a maid in an unfamiliar aristocratic world. She spent her days perfecting her servant duties under Emilia’s sharp eye, often muttering about her misfortune.

Elysia, on the other hand, found herself fervently wishing she was an only child. Alain’s constant interference in her life grated on her nerves, his biting comments and dismissive demeanor making her long for peace that seemed perpetually out of reach.

Nanik spent countless nights strategizing, his mind often wandered to how he would get the ever-growing group back to Trizen after the mission was completed. The complexities of their situation seemed to multiply with every passing day.

Otome, ever the tinkerer, had already begun sketching out blueprints for new gadgets she could create with the payout Nanik had promised. The promise of funding had sparked her creativity, and she often disappeared for hours, returning with ink-stained fingers and a gleam in her eye.

Farthington, in stark contrast, fully immersed himself in the culture of Arden for fun. Whether it was sampling the local cuisine, learning their customs, or even attempting to mimic their accent, he dove headfirst into understanding the nuances of the region, much to the amusement and occasional exasperation of the others.

Jason, however, had his hands full dodging Victoria’s relentless inquiries about his feelings for Otome. Her probing questions left him flustered, and he often resorted to abrupt topic changes or sudden disappearances whenever she cornered him.

Meanwhile, Huranti dedicated himself to mastering the use of a dagger. The weapon was new to him, but he was committed to becoming proficient, knowing it could mean the difference between survival and failure.

Amid the whirlwind of activity, the group continued to prepare, each member driven by their own motivations and challenges, all while the looming banquet grew closer with each passing day.

Then, finally, it was time, the day of the Royal Banquet had arrived.

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Maids and butlers rushed about the Luminastra Manor, their footsteps brisk as they carried out the final preparations for the ball. In Elysia’s chambers, she sat poised, enduring the flurry of hands arranging her hair, securing her jewelry, and adjusting the intricate folds of her gown.

Finally, the head maid stepped back and gave an approving nod. “You’re ready, my lady.”

Elysia waved them all away, her tone clipped but polite. “Thank you. That will be all for now. Tokei, Emilia, please stay.”

Once the room cleared, Tokei flopped dramatically onto a nearby chaise, her expression a mixture of exhaustion and despair. “Elysia, when will my suffering end?” she sniffled. “Being a maid is like going into a battlefield! How do you manage this, Emilia?”

Emilia, standing composed by the door, raised an eyebrow. “Well, as long as the pay is good…”

“Whis is everyone around me so materialistic? The powers of capitalism truly astound me.”

Elysia interjected, her voice firm yet amused. “Ahem. If you recall, today is the day of the royal banquet. You don’t need to worry about being a maid after this.”

“Ah, yes, you’re right,” Tokei muttered, sitting up and adjusting her posture. “It seems I’ve gotten a bit soft and emotional recently. That’s not really like me.”

Elysia offered a small, encouraging smile. “Don’t say that. The way you’re acting now is much more like the person you’re meant to be. When I first met you, you seemed so lifeless, like you were but a mere machine. But now, your inner personality is starting to shine through. It suits you.”

Tokei blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sincerity in Elysia’s words. She gave a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of her neck. “You really think so? Well, I guess I’ll try to keep that in mind.”

Emilia opened a door leading to the servants passage in and out of the room, smirking slightly. “Good. Now I’m going to go home for the day now that my duties have been fulfilled.” Disappearing with those final words.

Elysia turned to Tokei, and was about say something as she was abruptly interrupted.

The heavy double doors of the chamber creaked open, and the atmosphere immediately shifted. In walked Lord Carik Luminastra, his sharp, chiseled features were cold and unyielding. His ashen hair, streaked with silver, was meticulously combed back, and his piercing gaze swept the room.

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“Elysia,” he began, his voice low and clipped. “Are you ready? The banquet begins soon, and you cannot afford even the smallest misstep.”

“Yes, Father,” Elysia replied, standing straighter. Her tone was even, but there was an edge of restraint to it. “I’ve made all the necessary preparations.”

Lord Carik stepped closer, his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes scanning her appearance critically. “You look presentable enough,” he remarked, his words more mechanical than complimentary. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment longer, as though appraising a finely crafted statue.

Without warning, he reached out and adjusted the brooch at her collar. The movement was slow, deliberate, and oddly meticulous, as if he were handling a fragile artifact rather than interacting with his daughter. “There,” he murmured, stepping back. “Remember, Elysia, this evening is not about you. It is about ensuring this family’s position remains unassailable. You are the Luminastra heir’s sister, and you will act as such.”

Elysia’s fingers twitched at her sides, but her expression remained neutral. “Of course, Father.”

Satisfied—or at least as much as a man like him could be—Lord Carik turned toward the door. As he moved, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. “One more thing,” he added, his voice soft yet cutting. “If you embarrass this family tonight, there will be consequences.”

Without waiting for a response, he exited the room, leaving an oppressive silence in his wake.

Elysia exhaled slowly, her shoulders dropping slightly as the tension in the room dissipated. She glanced at the door, her lips pressing into a thin line.

“I see why you’d want to get out of here,” Tokei remarked, her tone sympathetic. “Is he like this all the time?”

“Indeed.”

“I can’t imagine having a father like him,” Tokei said, shaking her head. “Nanik was pretty patient with me when I woke up with my memories gone. He showed me how the world worked…”

Elysia tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. “Come again? You lost your memories too?”

“What do you mean too?”

Elysia hesitated for a moment before replying, “I wasn’t trying to hide it, but I’ve also lost most of my memories. There are large gaps in my past I can’t recall.”

Tokei froze, her eyes narrowing in thought. “Hold on, Elysia. There’s something I need to check.” She stepped closer, her violet eyes glinting faintly as she focused on Elysia.

Elysia stiffened under the scrutiny. “What are you—”

Tokei’s expression shifted to one of shock, her body trembling slightly. “Y-your code… It’s orange.”

“Code? Orange? What are you talking about?”

Tokei took a deep breath. “I don’t usually talk about this, but I have a…unique ability. To simplify it, I can basicaly see the true essence of things—the underlying data of reality. People, objects, everything is made up of something I call ‘code.’ Most people have blue code. It’s normal. But anomalies—individuals that are not in a natural state of being—have orange code.”

Elysia blinked, trying to process what she’d heard. “So you’re saying I’m…an anomaly?”

Tokei nodded slowly. “That’s what it looks like. And you’re not the only one. Farthington and Kaelith—he’s another member of Shadow Phoenix you haven’t met yet—they’re anomalies too. Farthington’s been with us for a while, and Kaelith is a little more generaic. They both have orange code like you.”

Elysia frowned, still trying to wrap her mind around it. “But I don’t feel extraordinary. I’ve never done anything unusual.”

“You might not realize it, since anomalies don’t know what makes them different.” Tokei hesitated, then added, “And…you’re not the only one I know of who’s lost their memories. Otome—my twin sister—also lost hers.”

Elysia’s eyes widened. “Otome? But she’s so…confident. It’s hard to imagine her struggling like that.”

“Victoria told me in secret,” Tokei admitted, lowering her voice. “Apparently, Otome doesn’t like to talk about it. But she’s an anomaly too. She has orange code, just like you.”

Elysia crossed her arms, her gaze dropping to the floor. “So what does this mean? That I’m destined for something? That I’m cursed?”

“It doesn’t mean anything yet,” Tokei replied firmly, her violet eyes narrowing in thought. Her long purple hair swayed as she shifted her weight, deep in contemplation. “But it’s something we need to figure out. Once I get back to Tekuno, I’ll question Kaelith and Farthington about the state of their memories as well. Nanik is the one who told me about anomalies, so I believe he knows much more about them than he lets on. Running into so many anomalies would be highly unlikely—it’s like a one-in-a-trillion case scenario.”

Elysia tilted her head, her silver hair catching the faint light in the room. “So does that mean you suspect Nanik of purposely looking for these ‘anomalies’ while not telling you anything about them or why he’s looking for them?”

“Yeah,” Tokei admitted, frustration seeping into her tone as she crossed her arms. Her violet eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “That’s what I think is the most likely scenario. Nanik hasn’t mentioned it, but after meeting you and Otome, I feel as though I might be an anomaly as well. If that’s the case, then maybe there’s a connection between all of us. That’s what I want to find out.”

Elysia’s brows furrowed, her expression troubled. “It’s unsettling to think about. Does this mean there’s something—or someone—behind it all?”

Tokei nodded, her gaze firm. “That’s exactly what I intend to uncover. But for now, we need to focus on the banquet. Let’s take things one step at a time.”

“You’re right.” Elysia straightened her posture, summoning her composure. She offered Tokei a faint smile, “Let’s not keep them waiting.”