The invitation arrived on a crisp morning, its parchment sealed with golden wax bearing the crest of Astrion City’s Adventurer’s Guild. Kaito turned it over in his hands, reading the elegant script aloud.

“By decree of Guildmaster Varon, all B-rank and above adventurers are cordially invited to the Grand Adventurer’s Ball, a night of camaraderie and celebration in honor of this year’s greatest achievements.”

Liora scoffed, arms crossed. “A party? What a waste of time.”

Seren, seated across the table, smirked. “I take it you’re not one for formal events.”

Liora’s ears flicked in irritation. “Dancing around in stiff clothes while nobles prance about? No thanks.”

Kaito rubbed his temple. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a choice. This isn’t just a ball—it’s a political move. Elderhaven is growing, and attending means we get recognition.”

Elara, who had been quietly reading the invitation, tilted her head. “I’ve never been to one of these before. Are they… fun?”

Seren’s smirk softened. “That depends on who you ask.”

The Grand Hall of Astrion

Two days later, they arrived in Astrion City, where the Guild Hall had been transformed into an opulent ballroom. Chandeliers draped with crystal hung from the ceiling, reflecting golden light across the marble floor. Tables overflowed with lavish delicacies, and finely dressed guests swirled across the dance floor to the tune of a string quartet.

Kaito adjusted the high collar of his dark navy coat. “Remind me why I agreed to this?”

“Because you’re our leader, and leaders make appearances,” Seren said, brushing nonexistent dust off her elegant midnight-blue gown. The dress shimmered like a starlit sky, complementing her silver hair.

Liora, grumbling the entire way in, wore a crimson outfit adorned with tribal patterns, its slits allowing for movement—clearly her own compromise between formality and function.

Elara, however, seemed to glow in a flowing green dress decorated with delicate embroidery of vines and flowers. She fidgeted slightly. “Is this really okay? I feel… exposed.”

“You look beautiful,” Kaito said before he could stop himself. The way her face turned as red as Liora’s outfit was worth the awkward moment.

They hadn’t even fully stepped into the ballroom before a sneering voice called out.

Clashing Egos

“Well, well, if it isn’t the ‘village adventurer.’”

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Kaito turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered man swirling a goblet of wine, his red cape denoting his rank as an A-rank adventurer. His sharp golden eyes glinted with condescension.

“Dain,” Seren muttered, recognizing him immediately. “Fire mage. Arrogant. Annoying.”

Dain took a deliberate sip of his wine before smirking. “I keep hearing rumors about this little Elderhaven place. A ‘miraculous village,’ they call it. How cute. But you’re still just a B-rank nobody.”

Kaito remained impassive. “And?”

Dain’s smirk widened. “And I’m saying it’s amusing that the guild is entertaining small-time adventurers in places meant for the real elites.”

Seren’s eyes flashed. Without breaking eye contact, she flicked her fingers, and Dain’s goblet of wine froze solid. A second later, the frozen wine expanded, cracking the glass in his hand.

Dain hissed, shaking the shards from his fingers. “Tch.”

Liora stepped closer, a slow grin spreading across her face. “Apologize.”

Dain scoffed. “For what? Speaking the truth?”

Liora’s voice dropped an octave, her beastkin fangs showing. “Apologize. Now.”

Something primal in her stance made Dain’s smirk falter. His fingers twitched as if weighing whether to escalate the situation. Before he could, a voice rang out from the crowd.

“Enough.”

A tall woman in an elegant crimson dress stepped forward, her presence commanding. Guildmaster Varon.

“Dain,” she said smoothly, though her sharp gaze left no room for argument. “You’ve made your point. Now, unless you want to discuss rank evaluations formally, I suggest you enjoy the evening peacefully.”

Dain clicked his tongue but turned on his heel, stalking away. Kaito exhaled, tension still thrumming in his chest.

Seren chuckled, leaning toward him. “I’d say that went well.”

A Dance Among Stars

The ball continued, though Kaito was certain that more than a few eyes had turned toward them after the scene with Dain. Regardless, he wasn’t going to let it ruin the evening.

One by one, he found himself dragged onto the dance floor.

Elara was first. She was nervous, hesitant. “I don’t know how to dance,” she admitted.

“Neither do I,” Kaito confessed, taking her hand. It was a slow, uncertain waltz, with more than a few missteps. She giggled when she accidentally stepped on his foot, and the sound was enough to make his mild discomfort worth it.

Next was Seren. Unlike Elara, she was graceful, leading him through an intricate series of steps. “You’re not bad,” she admitted.

“Because you’re doing all the work,” he pointed out.

She smirked but didn’t deny it.

Finally, Liora yanked him onto the dance floor. “Enough of this human twirling nonsense! I’ll show you a real dance.”

To his horror, she began a tribal dance—wild, fast-paced, and utterly embarrassing in a formal ballroom. Liora, of course, didn’t care, but Kaito could feel the eyes on them. He sighed in surrender and did his best to follow along, much to the amusement of everyone watching.

The night stretched on, filled with conversation, music, and fleeting moments of laughter.

A Moment of Quiet

Later, as the festivities began winding down, Kaito stepped out onto one of the balcony terraces, taking a moment to breathe in the cool night air. The city lights stretched before him, a contrast to the quiet tranquility of Elderhaven.

Footsteps approached. Seren leaned against the railing beside him. “You’re thinking about the village.”

He sighed. “It’s hard not to.”

She studied him for a moment before looking at the sky. “The ball was a success. Elderhaven is on the map now.”

“Which means more eyes on us.”

She nodded. “It won’t all be good attention. But we’ll be ready.”

A comfortable silence settled between them before she unexpectedly reached out and adjusted his slightly ruffled collar. “You did well tonight.”

Kaito blinked at the rare moment of tenderness. Before he could react, she smirked and walked off, her usual confidence back in place.

As he watched her disappear into the ballroom, he found himself smiling.

Whatever challenges lay ahead, he knew one thing for certain.

They weren’t facing them alone.