Tigra had just given me an invite to her 16th birthday party in two weeks, only problem was I had no clue what a masquerade ball was. I stared at the invitation, it did not say much about it, just the date and what it was for.

I looked up at Brendan. “What is a masquerade ball?”

“You’ll have to wear a mask, dummy,” said Brendan. “And I know for a fact you don’t know how to dance?”

“Mask? Dance?” I nodded my head.

“You have no idea do you,” sighed Brendan, beginning to shake his head.

“It is a celebration with dancing, food and music, which is usually held by the upper classes such as nobility or royalty,” explained Diluc.

“Why the heck would she want one of those?” I gave Brendan a weird look as if he knew the answer. “It isn’t her style.”

“Isn’t it obvious master.” Larana sat on my shoulder. “With a mask no one would know it was you.”

“But my scent, I can’t really be using that technique in a building, it’ll just circle back round,” I mentioned.

“You have been working on something for that remember,” responded Larana with a sigh.

“She’ll most probably have you dance with her.” I heard Diluc again.

“Aw.” Larana got all excited. “Maybe even walk out onto a silent balcony and kiss you.” I felt my heart skip a beat as I pictured it, even though I knew they were trying to tease me.

“Alex, I’ve always found you to be handsome, strong, powerful, kiss me.”

“Alex,” called Brendan, snapping me out of my little daydream. “Still where are you going to learn?”

“He should just ask his mum,” answered Diluc for me.

“Good idea,” agreed Larana. “Your mums an amazing dancer.”

“Really…mum…” I was surprised. I couldn’t picture mum dancing, only cooking in the bakery.

“Remember she used to spend a lot of time with Queen Daz in her younger years,” smiled Larana. I nodded remembering the memory we had shared, finding out what happened in the cavern.

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“Alright.” I felt a strange excitement come over me, something to do with mum, she’d love it. I looked at the invitation. “It’s in two weeks, better get started.”

“I’m sure you’ll pick it up really quick,” commented Brendan.”

“We’ll see.”

We headed back home where we found Athena and mum baking a cake, they had just finished decorating it.

“You are a natural Athena,” encouraged mum. She’s been like a second mum to Brendan and Athena. I guess they were more like my siblings now, rather than just friends.

“Really,” smiled Athena as we came in. “You’re back.” She dashed over. “How’d it go?”

“They haven’t decided yet,” I answered.

“They don’t think he’s ready,” replied Brendan. “I suspect Dumah had something to do with that.”

“Alex.” Athena was sad for me.

“Like it matters,” I grinned. “Thanks to my team, we kicked his butt and I even stuck to the rules, mind.” I found myself a little annoyed at my talisman spirits. “Have you ever tried fighting someone while restricting the own flow of your power to prevent a talisman from using theirs?”

“No.” Athena gave me a weird look.

“You weren’t helping you know!” I shouted as they all appeared with their heads low. “I know you guys wanted to help, protect as it is in our contract but that was a fight I had to face alone.”

“Sorry master,” apologised Larana sat on Raziel’s head.

“Our apologies,” said Raziel. “You have no idea how strong the will to protect our master is, the same for every talisman.”

“If you didn’t fight so pathetically, they wouldn’t have wanted to help,” snarled Arata.

“I was managing perfectly fine, thank you,” I snapped, getting in his face. “You were the only one who didn’t try to help.”

“Like I’d help you, bad enough you using my power,” spat Arata.

“Now, now boys.” Mum came over, gently stroking Arata under his chin as if he was just a big kitty cat. “Arata, you need to be less hard on him, he still has much to learn, and you can help him.” Arata snorted. “Alex, remember to be patient.”

“Whatever.” We looked away from each other.

“Alex wants to ask you something,” smiled Larana.

“Really.” Her complete attention was on me. “What is it, Alex.”

“Um…” I didn’t know where to start, so I let my invitation speak for me. I handed it over to her.

“Oh.” Mum read it over. “Your first ball.”

“I was wondering if you could teach me how to dance.” I’d said it.

“Of course.” She stared fondly at the paper. “Your father and I always went to the ones Daz would set up, how we would dance for hours.” She let out a sigh, it was obvious she was still missing dad.

“He’ll be back soon,” I said. “Even if I have to go find him.”

Mum’s smile returned. “I’m sure you will.” She put her hand on my shoulders. “We’ll start tomorrow.”

“Right,” I nodded.

We all enjoyed the cake mum and Athena had made; it was really tasty. We had a good laugh as I explained our victory to her, how I had picked the perfect team. Dumah’s face at defeat, she was so proud of me.