As Ayo stood before the full-length ice mirror in the common room–courtesy of Ade–she couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at the sight of her companions, all decked out in their Ball attires. The gown she wore shimmered like moonlight on water, its silver and blue fabric hugging her frame in all the right places before cascading down in a waterfall of silk and lace. Intricate patterns of stars and moons adorned the gown, each piece sewed to perfection and like everyone else’s, it was covered in the feathers of their individual dragons. A single white rose was worked into her hair and she reached up to adjust it as she turned this way and that.

Wole, ever the picture of elegance, stood beside her in a tailored suit that complemented Ayo's gown perfectly. The deep blue fabric brought out the richness of his grey skin tone, accentuating his strong shoulders and chiselled jawline. He had also done something with his hair and now it cascaded down in thick, kinky waves to his shoulders. His eyes sparkled with admiration as he looked at Ayo, his smile warm and genuine.

Mairo, also resplendent in a flowing suit that seemed to shift colours like the desert sands at dusk, completed their trio. His brown and orange feathers were restrained mostly to the thick cape that sat smugly on his shoulders. The fabric whispered as he moved, the intricate embroidery catching the light in a mesmerising dance of hues. His braided hair was adorned with delicate beads that shimmered like starlight, and was now even longer, reaching all the way past his butt. It all seemed to enhance the intensity of his orange eyes as they surveyed their reflection with quiet approval.

The trio exchanged glances, their eyes speaking volumes and again, that urge to kiss them both began to stir within Ayo’s chest.

“Alright people, let’s get a move on. You three can make googly eyes at each other later,” said Narai with a laugh. Ayo rolled her eyes as Wole let out a snort and turned to watch the approaching duo.

She was, naturally, with Luan and their outfits were equally as captivating as the rest of the group. Luan was dressed in a sleek beige tunic and trousers that exuded an air of calm sophistication along with a half cape infused with Alara’s feathers. His ensemble was accented with intricate patterns resembling ancient runes that seemed to shimmer with a faint golden light whenever he moved.

Narai, true to her nature, wore a gown that seemed to flow like liquid shadow around her lithe form. The fabric shifted in hues of dark purple while subtle hints of silver traced intricate designs reminiscent of ethereal constellations. Her hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of amethyst, adorned with delicate silver combs that sparkled with every movement she made. The single white rose on her dress seemed almost out of place against the dark backdrop but it worked.

And of course, perched delicately on the shoulders of all five of them were their dragons, their scaled forms glinting in the soft light of the chamber. It had taken a lot of words and promises and an offering of spiced Lukwata meat to get them to return to the original small size. Hakir had been particularly hard to convince. But now, all of them were coiled comfortably around their chosen companions’ necks, adding an air of mystique and enchantment to the already extraordinary group.

With a final adjustment to the white roses adorning their outfits, the five of them made their way towards the Ball venue, also within the sprawling compound. They were also joined by Amha and Ade who took a moment to gush at their clothing and praise Ayo’s handiwork. And then, suddenly, the doors to the venue loomed over them and it was time. Ayo took a deep breath, mentally steeling herself for the night ahead and as the herald started to proclaim their names, walked in, heads held high.

“May I present for the first time in three hundred years, a delegation from House Whiterose, led by the esteemed Elders Amhanosi Grace, Nuru Divine Mind and Adeniran Cold!”

A hush fell upon the gathering, like water thrown over a fire and as they made their way to the grand hall, whispers trailed in their wake like wisps of smoke. Everyone turned to stare at the group, stunned by the sight of them and Ayo was certain she caught more than a few gasps escaping the assembled nobles.

The ballroom itself was a vision of opulence and splendour, with crystal chandeliers casting prisms of light across the polished marble floor. Soft music floated through the air, piped in by several sets of floating flutes and string instruments and in a prominent corner of the hall loomed the marble bust of Grand Elder Rais, the founder of House Inkspire. They were the dominant house in An Layan, with House Lighteye serving as vassals and Ayo spotted a few of them staring at them with unabashed curiosity.

Other representatives from various Houses greeted them with nods of respect and smiles of intrigue, their own attire a reflection of their unique cultures and traditions. Some wore intricately embroidered robes in vibrant hues that seemed to shimmer with magic, while a particularly memorable group donned armour imbued with ancient glyphs that glowed softly in the dim light. House Ironfist, if Mairo's whispered explanation was to be believed.

Suddenly, a group of dignitaries from House Eboncrest approached them, their regal attire shimmering with intricate beadwork and fine embroidery. The leader, Lady Sefia, was quick to introduce herself and greeted them with a graceful bow. A cursory spiritual scan revealed a Sign aura.

"It is an honour to welcome such dignified people as House Whiterose to the Harvest Trials," Lady Sefia said, her voice smoother than butter. Her gaze lingered on Ayo, then the others, before finally settling on the dragons curled around their necks. Ayo read assessment in those eyes, along with a mix of curiosity and something darker that she couldn't quite place.

What are you planning, woman? She wondered.

Ayo inclined her head in return, a polite smile gracing her lips as she met Lady Sefia's gaze. "Thank you for your warm welcome, Lady Sefia. It is a pleasure to be here and participate in the grand event that is the Harvest Trials."

Wole and Mairo flanked Ayo, their expressions neutral but their eyes sharp as they observed the members of House Eboncrest. The tension in the air was palpable, and in a few moments grew so thick you could cut through it with a knife.

Lady Sefia's smile widened, revealing a set of perfectly manicured teeth. "The Trials are a time of celebration and competition, where alliances are forged and rivalries tested," she said, her tone honeyed yet laced with a subtle challenge. “You'll understand then, why we are so excited to meet you. It has been so long since anyone has seen a Whiterose, and there have been so many stories about you lot… it's hard to sort out fact from fiction. Truth from mere exaggerations.”

Is it now? Ayo's grip on her composure tightened. So that's how you want to play this.

"Indeed, the Harvest Trials are a testament to the strength and unity of our Houses,” she replied with a graceful nod, “And as for the rumours, well, that can hardly be helped. It has always been an unfortunate tendency for the weak to make up stories about their betters.”

Strangely, the tension in the air seemed to ease slightly at Ayo's sugary response, and she caught a faint expression of respect flickering across Lady Sefia's features before they settled back into a mask of polite interest. The other members of House Eboncrest exchanged glances but remained silent.

"You're absolutely right, my dear... I apologize, I didn't quite catch your name. You see, while there are plenty of legends surrounding the others in this room, you have none." Lady Sefia's grin became wolfish as she stepped forward and hooked her arm through Ayo's.

"Don't worry, I won't steal her away for too long," she called back to the others as she began to drag Ayo away. "But I simply must hear how she came to join your House! My traditional sources have been disappointingly unhelpful on this matter."

Zuberi bristled, letting out an angered his and Mairo, Wole and Narai started forward, expressions thunderous. But a shake of the head dissuaded them from acting and after a beat they moved off, making a beeline for the groups they'd preplanned. Ayo turned to Lady Sefira with a smile and hoped that none of her annoyance was showing on her face.

“I'll naturally be delighted to go with you. But I had also hoped to meet with some other people tonight. You wouldn't mind escorting me, surely?”

Ayo began walking before Sefira could get out a word and was gratified to feel the woman almost immediately stumble and fall. A passing noblewoman gasped from behind her fan and hastened forward to help but Ayo pretended not to have seen and hailed down a nervous-looking group of House Emberheart cultivators.

As the evening progressed, Ayo and the rest of the House Whiterose mingled with the crowd, their striking appearance and confident demeanour drawing curious glances and whispered conversations from the other attendees. Ayo had lost Lady Sefira not long into the night–strangely enough, mysterious, invisible threads just kept catching her foot and sending her into fruit bowls and furniture, finally culminating in a spectacular crash into the masterpiece of a five-tier cake and a tearful, hurried exit –and was now speaking to an unaffiliated cultivator while surreptitiously watching the others.

Narai, her purple locks wild and free, had caught the eye of a group of young cultivators from House Redwood. Their delegation had been massive and had been led by Lady Saada and the Inner Disciples Folarin, Diallo and Iman. The latter’s disdainful gazes bore into her, but she met their hostility with a mischievous grin and instead blew them a kiss. One of the Redwoods moved forward, as if he meant to attack, but a glance from Folarin stilled him. That one watched Narai with a smile that Ayo didn't like but, almost immediately, both parties lost interest when parties from other Houses descended upon them. Ashfall for the Redwoods and a group of scholars from House Silvermoon for Narai.

Luan, ever the calm and collected one, was thankfully engaged in a less heated debate with a group of Elders from House Sunfire, his beige eyes gleaming with intelligence as he effortlessly countered their arguments and presented his own insightful perspectives on cultivation techniques and arcane lore.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Meanwhile, Wole's easy laughter resonated through the hall as he regaled a group of warriors from House Ironclad with tales of battle and camaraderie. They kept glancing at the stiff and stoic House Ironfist and giggling some more and Ayo had to fight down a surge of exasperated fondness. Trust Wole to turn a potential House civil war into an opportunity to make jokes.

Her gaze next fell on Mairo, who, flanked by Elders Amha and Ade, was engaged in a hushed conversation with a group of old cultivators who bore the weathered marks of time on their faces. Curious, she drew closer.

"It has been a long time since we last gathered under the banner of House Whiterose," one of the old cultivators spoke, his voice tinged with a blend of reverence and melancholy. "But our allegiance remains steadfast. We must be careful and precise in our actions, but know that House Inkspire stands evermore with the Whiterose."

Ade nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on the old cultivators with solemn respect. "Your words bring us some much-needed solace. You have no idea how relieving it is to hear that.”

“The other Houses may have turned tail at the first sign of the storm changing, but House Inkspire is not so easily swayed,” barked the other Elder. “It was war, yes, but the Red Queen went too far. And we're not the only ones that have questioned her actions. Who's to say she won't one day turn such a curse on one of us?”

Ayo nodded and let out a relieved smile, pleased with the direction things were going, then grinned even more when she saw an opportunity to approach Seph of House Truearth and Lilah of House Shadowthorn. They weren't Great Houses, having just managed to advance their Patriarchs to Icon last year, but among the lesser Houses, the two were very influential. With a confident stride, she made her way through the crowd, her silver hair shimmering like starlight. As she neared their group, Seph's steely gaze locked onto her, a hint of scepticism clouding his expression.

Ayo met Seph's piercing gaze with a steady, unwavering look of her own and took a moment to size up the two figures before her. Lilah, with her flowing hair as dark as obsidian, observed Ayo with a blend of intrigue and caution.

"It is an honour to finally make your acquaintances, Lord Seph, Lady Lilah," Ayo began. "Mairo and the others have told me a lot about your two Houses."

Seph's gaze did not waver as he studied Ayo intently. "Rumours swirl like dust devils in the wind about your origins, Starborn," he said coolly, his words cutting through the murmurs of the surrounding crowd. "Tell me, is it true?"

And there it was. The crux of everyone's interest in her. Lady Sefira had been unforgivably shameless about it but that didn't mean she was the only one. House Lighteye had pretty much proclaimed that they knew and in some way, she appreciated Seph’s bluntness. There weren't a lot of things she was happy she shared with her father, but having little patience for whining, simpering leeches was one of them.

Ayo met Seph's piercing gaze head-on, allowing her smile to fade away with deliberate slowness. "Yes, it is true," she answered simply, her voice dripping with a dangerous calmness. "I am Starborn. And what of it?"

The air around them crackled with tension as Lilah spoke up. "It matters because your origins could hold the key to our survival," she said uneasily. "But it also means you have the potential to cause great harm. Which is it?”

“I can’t answer that, not in a way that’ll satisfy you. I guess it is up to you to decide which version of me I will be."

For what felt like an eternity, they stared at each other in silence, weighing their options. And just when Ayo thought she had lost them, Seph's steely facade softened ever so slightly.

"I suppose we have made our decision," he said brusquely, his gaze never leaving hers. "You are not what I expected, Starborn."

"Likewise," Ayo retorted confidently. "And please, call me by my name - Ayo. Starborn may be a title, but it is not who I am."

Seph inclined his head. “As you wish, Ayo," he acknowledged. His tone was still guarded but there was a new hint of respect underlying it. "But tell me, what kind of world do you come from?"

At this Lilah leaned forward, her curiosity evident. "Yes, do share. Is it filled with advanced technology? Powerful magic beyond anything we've seen here?"

A thoughtful expression crossed over Ayo's face as she mulled it. "It is… different. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. Technology and magic coexist, sometimes, but not always peacefully. There are wars, struggles for power, just like here.”

"And you, Starborn–I mean, Ayo–how did you end up here?"

She gave a shrug. “It's a long story and not one I'm comfortable sharing in such a crowded setting. Perhaps another time, under less… official circumstances?"

"Intriguing. Perhaps we could arrange a private meeting, away from the prying eyes and gossiping ears of the nobility,” said Lilah, a wry smile touching her lips.

Ayo considered this, gauging their sincerity. "I wouldn't be opposed to discussing the possibility, depending on what you seek to gain from such a meeting.”

Seph also shrugged. “Considering we’re just heirs and not the leaders of our Houses, we wouldn't be expecting much. It'd mostly be posturing and us trying to figure out the best way to milk the other out of all that they're worth.”

“That's good to hear,” said Ayo smiling and was surprised to find it genuine. The night hadn't begun with the most auspicious start but things were going really well. The atmosphere was beginning to shift towards one of tentative cooperation and burgeoning trust, at least on their side of the room and even though an unsettling number of cultivators had been speaking with the Redwoods, more than enough of them had worn sceptical looks for Ayo to feel confident in their efforts.

A low rumble echoed through the grand hall, interrupting all conversation and causing heads to turn in surprise. The torches flickered erratically, casting dancing shadows on the walls as a figure materialised out of thin air at the far end of the hall. It was tall and imposing, clad in shimmering silver armour that seemed to shift and change with each step it took. Ayo's heart quickened as she recognised the being that had interrupted their delicate negotiations. She had seen such armour before

A Fragment.

Whispers rippled through the crowd like a sudden gust of wind, fear and awe intertwining in hushed tones and Ayo felt a shiver run down her spine as the Fragment’s sharp eyes swept across the hall, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Its gaze lingered a bit too long on Ayo and she was suddenly seized with the sense that this one was a bit too interested in her.

"Greetings, citizens," it began in a tone like thunder. Its voice was unlike any Ayo had ever heard, layered and multifaceted. "I am the Ordinator, the Fragment tasked with overseeing these Harvest Trials."

The Ordinator's presence seemed to bend the very air around it, a palpable aura of power and authority radiating from its towering form. Ayo couldn't help but feel a wave of unease wash over her as she stood in its imposing shadow. The being's words reverberated through the hall, each syllable resonating with an otherworldly weight that seemed to press down on the gathered crowd.

"I have observed your proceedings with interest," the Ordinator continued, its gaze sweeping over the assembled Houses with an intensity that made even the most hardened cultivators shift uneasily. "However, I find myself... dissatisfied with the current state of affairs. As you humans insist on these Harvest Trials," the Ordinator continued, its voice cold and indifferent, "I have and shall continue to indulge in these foolish games. But know this - I find them to be a tedious waste of my time."

"This Trial, however, will be different," it declared. “I and my fellow Fragments have neither the time nor patience to deal with the protracted Trial. We have more important things to deal with than minding the lot of you. So I will be streamlining things a bit.”

The Ordinator raised a hand, and with a flick of its fingers, a surge of energy crackled through the air, coalescing into a swirling vortex of shimmering light.

The portal expanded, revealing a lush forest clearing beyond, bathed in dappled moonlight filtering through the canopy of ancient trees. In the centre stood a solitary white Tower, its spires reaching towards the heavens like fingers seeking to touch the divine.

The Ordinator's voice cut through the tense atmosphere. "Things have changed," it declared, commanding everyone's attention. "Your petty disputes over territory will no longer be tolerated. Instead, for the first time, you shall be allowed to enter and explore a Tower.”

A murmur of confusion, fear, and excitement rippled through the crowd.

"Within the Tower, there are abundant resources to be found - knowledge, artefacts, power... all of which can strengthen your Houses and yourselves. But these boons come at a cost. You will be tested. Battles will be fought, strategies will be devised, and alliances will be made and broken - because let's face it, you're humans."

The Ordinator paused, letting the implications sink in before delivering the final blow.

"Death within the Tower will hold no finality, not until the last week. So, until then, feel free to engage as you will. Push yourselves to the limit. Each victory earns your House points. At the end of six months, the House with the most points shall emerge victorious..."

A hush fell over the room as everyone held their breath for what came next.

"...And the leaders of the losing Houses will be forcefully Ascended, banished forever from Vestige."

The room descended into chaos and Ayo felt a cold dread settle in her stomach. The stakes had been raised unimaginably high. This was no longer about territory or personal advancement; this was a fight for survival.

The Ordinator's final pronouncement hung in the air, a chilling, tangible threat. "The trials begin now by the way."

More chaos erupted. The grand hall transformed into a battlefield of words. Great Houses began to shout for allies, while minor Houses scrambled, caught in the crossfire. Ayo's ears rang with the cacophony of desperate negotiations, whispered promises, and outright threats and felt a wave of exhaustion and panic wash over her.

Then, a familiar voice cut through the turmoil. "Ayo!"

Her team emerged from the chaos – Elder Amha, her face a mask of resolute determination, as well as Mairo and the other inner disciples, already analyzing the situation with calculating eyes. They even had Tolu and the other Redwood defectors trailing after them, looking nervous but determined. And behind them, a wave of cultivators were surging forward. Familiar faces flashed by – members of House Suncrest primarily— and joining them were Lilah and Seph, their eyes filled with a newfound seriousness.

"It seems events have conspired to ensure we will not have that conversation," Seph stated grimly. "We do not like having our hand forced but… House Whiterose will have our support. For now, our interests align."

Ayo could only nod in gratitude and as their allies rallied around them, a strange sense of calm washed over her. However, a new voice shattered that peace, cutting through the remaining confusion with absolute authority. It was the Ordinator.

"Silence!" it commanded.

The cacophony subsided, and all eyes turned to the swirling figure. As the Ordinator spoke, a shift occurred in the very air. Each cultivator felt a prickle on their skin, followed by a ripple of awareness. Words and symbols etched themselves upon their vision, reforming the familiar status page with a new section:

[Harvest Trials] [Participating House: Whiterose] [Alliances: House Suncrest, House Shadowthorn, House Trueearth, House Eboncrest, House Inkspire, House Stormrider] [Trial Points: 0]

A shockwave passed through the room as everyone studied their screens and more than a few stared in surprise. House Eboncrest, only just recently embarrassed, had sided with Whiterose? Ayo locked eyes with Lady Sefira and the woman gave her a stiff and painful-looking nod.

Across the room, the delegations of Houses Inkspire and Stormrider bristled with undeniable power. Opposite them, the Redwood and Ashfall cultivators sneered, their alliance clear. Three Great Houses stood opposed to two. It was an uneven fight, yet whispers rippled throughout the hall. House Whiterose may have the greater number of allied Great Houses, but the Redwoods had the highest number of minor Houses and cultivators period. As uneven as it looked, this would not be an easy fight to win.

The Ordinator didn’t seem to care. It merely faded away, leaving only its booming voice echoing in the aftermath. "And so it begins..."