It was late at night, you held on tight♪

From an empty seat, a flash of light♪

♪

It will take a while to make you smile♪

Somewhere in these eyes, I’m on your side♪

Dreamy vocals wafts around the ballroom accompanied by an organ that plays in a way which makes me feel like floating, the distorted melody is assisted by washed out guitar strums and soothing drumbeats,

It make everything feel so,

So void,

Yet,

It feels good.

Fall back into place♪

“I see everything is coming together nicely,” Mayor Ozymandias says walking up to us,

“You must be the queen I presume,” he respectfully gestures to Zinnia,

“Yes…….”

……

“The music is truly entrancing,” I lean over to Lyra,

“What,

I thought you were looking out for the Hunters, not enjoying music, Kage,”

“I am, I was just saying,”

“I don’t think they’ve arrived yet, nor do I feel like they will try anything tonight” Apollo inputs…….

……

The Bellwethers’ Ball, an event that happens twice a year in which all the leaders and other members of their respective faction, if allowed, could attend.

The even was held in the mayors’ ‘mansion’ most likely due to it being a pseudo fortress, that way any fight or altercation that could potentially occur would be properly contained in here,

I walk through the ballroom observing the many guests from all sections of Sweepstakes’ diverse community, only instead of opposing factions arguing or battling, they laugh, share drinks and socialize with one another, however despite this no members of the Mayoral Mafia is present tonight….

“It’s funny how right after this, everyone is going to go back to being against each other,” Pinoki points out,

“I think this shows that though it may be a constant competition for the most influence in the city, the animosity isn’t carried over into their personal lives, its healthy competition,” Apollo affirms,

{“Tell that to the hunters”}Claude’s voice scoffs through our earpieces,

{“By the way, Karina’s magic is really amazing,

How can we even hear each other like this?”}

“Just shut up and stick to your job Claude,” Karina orders,

{“Yeah, yeah, I’ll make sure to tell you if I see any hunters moving suspiciously when they arrive, that way you can get Zinnia out safe, quickly, if need be”}

“Good, now I will be by the alcohol if anyone needs me,” Karina sighs strutting off,

(This going to be a long night)

……..

……..

“Well, actually Kage isn’t from Soterra,” Zinnia still talking to mayor when I walk up,

“Huh?

What about me?”

“I was asking the queen if everyone from your group was from Soterra but apparently you are not?”

“That is correct,”

“Then how did you end up there?”

“Life,”

Ozy gives me a puzzled look but doesn’t press on it more,

……

“Hey! Don’t think because you are friends with someone important, means you can go wherever you like!” Giichi’s loud voice bellows as us,

“I was the one who allowed you to come aren’t I?

Stop loafing around and help your master out of this insufferable conversation!”

………

“You could have brought more presentable members with you Giichi,” a quite lavish looking old, woman sat next to him smirks,

“My people are well mannered as well,” the woman thoroughly inspects us with visually, as Pinoki Lyra and I move to Giichi’s side

“Shut up, you old bat,” Giichi retorts,

“You only brought your best members to show off,”

……..

“Pleasure to meet you,” Pinoki greets the woman graciously,

“I am Pinoki of the adventures guild,”

“They might have manners after all,” the old lady says slightly impressed,

“You can call me, Miss Pesadora the leader of the Service group,”

{“Kage,”}Claude calls,

{“Ask Giichi sir if that is his girlfriend, to piss him off,”

“No, are you trying to get me into a fight with the boss?”

“Possibly, I’m not here so he won’t know it’s me”

“……

Not happening.”}

“Who are you talking to?” A voice breathes down by neck causing me to jump,

…

“What the—"

I turn to face a man dressed in a half white half black suit, his brown beady eyes examine me suspiciously as he walks circles around me, a grey ‘cape’ drags behind him,

“Leave Kage alone Dexter,” Giichi huffs

“This one seems strange Giichi,”

“You are one to talk, going around dressed like that, preaching about order this and order that,”

“Order must be maintained, if our mayor won’t keep it, I will,

Nothing strange about that,”

…..

“I’ll be watching you,” the mysterious man strides away

….

“That man Dexter, I can’t make heads or tails of him,” Ms. Pesadora sighs

“Kage, is it?

You for a man, have a very, how to say, appealing face,

How would you like to join me in service group instead?

Nothing good, can come from being involved in dangerous adventures,”

“Can you not try to poach my members, right in front my face, you’re almost as bad Ginobelucci,” Giichi barks

“It was merely an offer,”

“The offer does sound flattering, but I will have to decline, however my friend here, Lyra,

might take you up, she is a bit shy though,” I say wrapping may arm around the girl

(Aw aw aw!)

Lyra digs her finger into my rib

“He doesn’t mean me” she lies,

“My name is Karina, Lyra is over that girl drinking from the bottle of wine,”

……

……

“Huh?

Why is everyone watching me?”

“You there, Lyra is it,” Ms. Pesadora calls,

….

Karina looks around confusedly,

“I haven’t drunk too much, have I?”

………

With everyone’s attention on Karina, I quietly slip away, making my way through semi-crowded ballroom back over to where Zinnia is,

Apollo is standing there with her still, so are Tori and Trevor, Ozymandias is busy introducing her to a tall, large roughneck-looking, bald man,

….

“I am Marshall, the leader of the Construction Company, for the right price we would be willing to help Soterra with any repairs she is lacking,” the big man says

“I will gladly consider that offer,” Zinnia smiles,

….

{“They’re here,”}Claude’s voice alerts,

Though he doesn’t need too…

The doors swing open, and a strangely warm air fills the room, as Ginobelucci struts in followed by a group of semi-familiar faces,

I spy the matching swirl-insignia lockets, that swing from each of their necks,

(The hunters)

….

“Ahh. Mr. mayor,” Ginobelucci instantly notices us from across the room,

…….

“You have to excuse our tardiness; this is only but my first ball

But whom might these new faces be?”

“It’s alright, Mr. Bellucci, these are the queen, and king of Soterra by the way,” Ozy gestures to Zinnia and Apollo,

“King and Queen, you say,” he glances at Zinnia before then resting his eyes on Apollo,

“Ha!” a voice, from behind him scoffs,

“I remember this lot,

We beat them up a while back,

Don’t tell me they were important people?”

(I remember this guy, the one who humiliated us when we first arrived)

“Marisha said they were also part of the adventurer’s guild now,” another hunter speaks up,

(Adrik and Marisha were those two fire users, I don’t see them anywhere here)

“That’s unfortunate,” Ginobelucci sounding genuinely disappointed,

“I would have liked to recruit—"

“OI OI OI!” Giichi pushing his way through the group to confront their leader,

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m only introducing myself boss,”

“Don’t call me that, you know where you stand with me,”

“Am I missing something?” Zinnia asks,

“It’s just common faction animosity,” Ozymandias reassures.,

(I don’t think that’s what it is)

“Hardly it is!” Giichi spats,

“Don’t think you can come here trying to entice my members to your side,

Or even worse...

If you have a problem, with me let it remain so, only with me.”

“But I don’t boss,

As a matter of fact, I never really wanted to take your place or your members,

I merely wanted to get you away from home….” Ginobelucci sings

(Somethings off)

“Zinnia maybe you should go outside and get some air,” Apollo gesturing Tori to the girl,

(He feels the same)

…Ch

I tug Trevor’s sleeve,

“I might be overreacting here, but I want you to take Zinnia out of the city for the now,

If nothing happens return in the morning,

But if you see anything and I mean anything, go back home,” …. Trevor looks at me confusedly but doesn’t question it, instead nodding.

……..

I watch nervously as they exit the ballroom,

“Why so alarmed,” Ginobelucci noticing my tense movements,

“I am not going to harm your queen”

(Not taking any chances)

…..

“Has anyone seen Lord Buck!” Someone interrupts the conversations, asking around loudly,

“He was supposed to be here by now, the leader of the merchant alliance!”

……

“Rest in peace to that man,” Ginobelucci sighs,

“If only he could have lived to see what this city and soon the ring will become,”

(Wait, is he insinuating?)

“What do you mean by that?” Giichi demands

…………….

{“You need to get out of there,

All of you!”} I hear Claude’s voice warning frantically,

“What is it, Claude?

Is something wrong?

{“No time to question it, get out now!”}

“Claude?”

His voice goes silent.