The rest of the day was devoted to celebration.

Nerluce supposed that was to be expected. Itoroh was always like that: games of war and celebration. Nerluce, who was crowned champion of the event, was the heart of the celebration, though no small amount of praise was showered on Aristide and Coam and the other opponent who Nerluce had beaten in the semi-finals.

After having their wounds patched - where both Nerluce and Aristide received a tongue lashing from the elderly doctor about how it was a competitive match and there was no need to inflict the injuries they had on one another - they went to one of the many banquet halls. Once again, Nerluce and Aristide sat side by side but neither said a word to the other, opting to eat in silence instead. The day's celebrations concluded with them making their way to the ballroom.

The orchestra hummed low and rich music. People danced in the center and made deals on the sides. Many nobles had come just to watch and recruit young and talented Magickians. None came to Nerluce to recruit but many came just to speak with him. To congratulate him on his victory. To thank him for his service. To just be in his presence for a few moments.

A couple of women asked Nerluce to dance and, of course, he obliged. He was by no means an excellent dancer but he didn't miss any steps either. He kept up with the conversation, smiled the whole time, and tried not to wince whenever their hand brushed up against one of Nerluce's recently bandaged wounds.

Dancing didn't seem as fun as he remembered it being.

Eventually, Coam dragged him to the dance floor. Nerluce whined and pretended to put up a fight but in reality, he was glad to have an excuse to stop dancing with strangers and just be in the comfort and safety of his sister.

"You look miserable," Coam said.

"Probably because I am miserable," Nerluce retorted. "Move your hand. Aristide cut me there and if you keep touching it will reopen the wound."

Coam scoffed but did move her hand. "I don't like that. It feels awkward," she grumbled.

"Would you rather I bleed through my robes and cause a scene?" Nerluce asked, raising a brow.

"Damn, it seems you discovered my plan," Coam said.

They exchanged a smile, delighted by the use of profanity while the Empress was in the same room, sitting on a throne and observing the dancing.

"I cannot believe I was beaten by him," Coam said.

"Once he summoned Suru-Suru, you lost," Nerluce said. "I told you he could. I don't know why you didn't listen to me."

Coam huffed. "Yes, yes, Nerluce is always right." She rolled her eyes. "I know that's when I lost too. I know you said he could but... it was a bit different seeing for myself. It was a shock." She looked down. "I think I will start studying a second type of Magick. Both you and Aristide and that little boy who technically tied with me for third all know a second type. It would serve me well to know a second type too."

"I'm certain any master in Itoroh would teach you," Nerluce said. "The only problem is when you'd be able to find the time."

"I know," Coam said, shaking her head.

"Do you know your secondary Affinity?" Nerluce asked.

"Yes, air," Coam said. "I've spoken with several masters about learning it before. I've been able to subconsciously use it before, apparently, but I think I'd like to be able to consciously use it so I can crush all you kids."

"Do you have a master in mind, already?" Nerluce asked.

"Yes," Coam said. "She's already agreed to help me, in fact. She's planning on making frequent trips to the border and writing when she cannot be there to help me train personally."

Nerluce rose a brow, interested. "Who?"

"Her Highness, Princess Yume."

"You asked- you asked a princess to teach you?" Nerluce asked, eyes wide.

Sometimes his sister's audacity scared even him.

She chuckled and shook her head. "No, no. I was simply dancing with the princess earlier." Nerluce had seen that. Two women dancing together was nothing unusual but when one was the princess of Itoroh and the other was Nerluce's sister, he had noticed. "I mentioned that I wanted to master my second Affinity and come back to win in her honor next time. And... it just so happens she has an Air Affinity and then... one thing led to another..."

"Coam you can't court the Princess of Itoroh!" Nerluce hissed.

"I am not courting her!" Coam snapped back. "She just proposed that she be my master. Nothing more, I swear."

Nerluce did not believe her in the slightest.

"I don't even know if she likes women," Coam continued. "I shouldn't assume. Plenty of women only like one gender."

"Like you?" Nerluce asked.

Coam glared. "If anything I was thinking that she might be a good match for you."

"You shouldn't assume she likes men, either," Nerluce said. "Why are you obsessed with me becoming royalty?"

"I am not obsessed. I just think that you might like her, is all," Coam said. "I know that you aren't ready to begin courting right now and I know your heart still belongs to someone else." Nerluce's face flushed and he looked away. A pity that Aristide was in the direction he glanced to escape Coam. He was dancing with Jurine. Together, they were a truly beautiful pair. "I just think that perhaps Princess Yume might help you start to get over those feelings. She truly is... lovely."

She probably was. She seemed nice from what little they'd spoken and she was pretty too. She was certainly someone that Nerluce could see himself falling in love with. But...

"You like her," Nerluce said.

And his heart was dancing with a beautiful woman.

Coam flushed and mumbled something incoherent as she pulled apart from Nerluce. The song was ending anyway. Most people would trade partners. Coam would never cause a scene. "I hate you," she grumbled. "How many times do I have to tell you nothing will come of it?"

"At least once more," Nerluce said with a bow.

Coam scoffed and turned away, looking as though she wanted to find a new partner for the change in the song, not like she was running from her younger brother's taunts. Nerluce smiled and skimmed the room for a new partner himself. However, his eyes couldn't help but linger on Aristide and Jurine and he couldn't help the pang in his chest.

Aristide was saying something. Jurine laughed and responded. They spoke to one another so easily. The same easy conversation used to flow between Nerluce and Aristide but now there was just a dry riverbed littered with bones and attempts on one another's lives. Not that Nerluce wanted to kill Aristide.

Gods, never.

But looking at Aristide, dressed in pale robes that contrasted against his dark skin and curls dancing with Jurine, who wore even lovelier robes than she had this morning, was a lot like looking at a hero and heroine from one of Nerluce's stories, destined to fall in love. They truly were beautiful together. Beautiful people in beautiful robes.

Nerluce hated them both a bit for it. The song was fully over and they were still clinging to one another and talking. The pain in Nerluce's chest grew stronger. He started moving before he really knew what he was planning to do.

"The song has finished," Nerluce said. "Care for a dance?"

Aristide lifted his chin, clearly annoyed at having been interrupted. If he was the hero and Jurine the heroine, then that made Nerluce the villain in this story, wearing dark red robes and a smirk as he split the couple up before feelings could begin to fester.

It was for the best. This ache in his chest wouldn't do anyone any good.

"What do you want, Nerluce?" Aristide asked.

"I wasn't talking to you, Angel," Nerluce said. He had been looking at Aristide, though. Gods, he couldn't tear his eyes from him. "Jurine, would you care for a dance. I was... quite rude to you earlier. I wish to apologize."

"Oh, of... of course," Jurine said, letting go of Aristide. "We can finish our conversation later, Aristide."

"Yes," Aristide said.

Nerluce led Jurine away. The next song was starting and for a moment it looked like Aristide would have to stand awkwardly along the wall without a partner for it. Only then a beautiful young girl came over and Aristide took her hand and began to dance with her in Jurine's absence. Why was it that nothing bad could ever be allowed to happen to Aristide, even something as minor as not having a partner for one dance?

"If you wanted to dance with him, you should have asked him," Jurine said.

Nerluce flushed, realizing that he had been staring at Aristide since he'd been staring ever since he led Jurine away.

"Why would I want to dance with him?" Nerluce asked, trying to force himself into believing it. "Especially when I could dance with someone as beautiful as you."

Jurine huffed, unbelieving his lie.

"It's true," Nerluce protested.

"I am certain," Jurine said. "Did you really want to apologize for this morning? Or were you just saying that too?"

"I do," Nerluce said. "It was... unfair to you that I walked off."

Jurine sighed and shook her head. "No. You shouldn't be apologizing. Well you should because it was unfair but I'm also sorry," Jurine said. "I regret saying what I did too. You're better than ever. Congratulations on your win today."

"Thank you," Nerluce said. He glanced at Aristide again. They were relatively close. "I knew that I would win, of course."

"Of course." Jurine rolled her eyes.

"Are you saying that you doubted me?" Nerluce asked. "I'm hurt, Jurine."

Jurine chuckled and shook her head. "Never for a moment, Nerluce. I always knew that you would win. Especially at the end when you looked like you were about to pass out."

Nerluce laughed. He didn't like how Jurine had noticed how close the match had been. He wondered who else had noticed it too. No one he'd spoken to had mentioned it but that might've just been courtesy. For just a moment, Nerluce frowned. And then he realized it and he smiled again. "I was always going to win. Itoroh has always beaten Tilica, after all."

Jurine frowned and Aristide - who was intentionally in earshot - glared. Nerluce smiled at him, as arrogant as he could manage.

When they pulled away, Jurine glanced back at Aristide. "Why did you say that?" she asked.

"To see what he'd do," Nerluce said. "I half thought we might see a rematch to the fight."

"You know that you were lucky to win this time," Jurine said, her eyes darting between Nerluce and Aristide. "You shouldn't provoke him. Or anyone at Ethera. Eko... Eko told me some things and I'm worried for you, Nerluce."

Nerluce shrugged. "What can they do?"

"Kill you, Nerluce," Jurine hissed, her voice low. "Hunt you to the ends of Ecekasuri. They could make you into what they made the Wolf Woman."

"I'd like to see them try," Nerluce said. "I beat Aristide. He knows it. And since you seem oh so observant about our little fight, I'd like to ask you a very important question."

"I don't want to answer it," Jurine said.

"Was Aristide not trying to kill me?" Nerluce asked anyway.

Jurine clenched her jaw, distress filling her every feature. "I don't want to answer that question, Nerluce. Do not make me answer that question." She shook her head. "I don't want to think about something that awful."

"I'll answer it for you then," Nerluce said, leaning closer. "He was. But I beat him. He can't kill me."

"Not today but what if-"

"I beat him today and I will beat him tomorrow," Nerluce said. "I will keep beating them. No matter who Ethera sends, I will beat them. So I'll ask you again, Jurine. What can Ethera do to me?"

Jurine shook her head. "I don't want to find out."

"You're good to me, Jurine," Nerluce said.

The song was coming to an end and so was Nerluce's interest in this conversation. He knew if it kept on for much longer, he would end up just upset with her again and that was the last thing he wanted. Unintentionally this time, Nerluce found that he and Jurine were dancing near Aristide and his own beautiful partner.

They were in earshot. They weren't speaking, or at least Aristide wasn't. His gaze was locked on Nerluce and Nerluce once more found he could not look away from Aristide or quell the nightmare of feelings in his chest.

"We should get married," Nerluce said, still looking at Aristide.

Jurine's eyes bulged.

But... Nerluce didn't really care. He didn't care about much anymore. Nerluce just found that the pain in his chest was somewhat alleviated. The song had ended by this point and Nerluce bowed to Jurine, just as manners dictated he ought to do at the end of the song. And then he walked away from her, not waiting to hear her response.

The proposal wasn't meant for her, anyway.