Eventually, my door opens a crack and I hear Yhannason’s voice. “Emily, are you decent?”

“As decent as ever,” I say back, lying on the bed with a growling stomach.

She walks in with a garment bag and hangs it up on the closet door. “Why haven’t you eaten yet? Don’t tell me you were waiting for me.”

I sit up and cross my legs. “Mhm, I thought it would be nice to have our... dinner-lunch together while we talked about today.”

“Right,” she sits down on the edge of the bed. “About today...”

“I know, I know. I went a bit extreme...”

“That’s not it, Emily. When you’re out there, no one sees you as representing myself. You unofficially represent the Void, and that’s it. I didn’t enjoy watching, but I wanted to ask: Were you enjoying that?”

I shamefully nod. “It was invigorating. For a long time, if I ever ended someone’s life, it’s quick. Doing that, it felt great. I felt alive out there.”

“So, you understand that we are opposites, Emily.”

“Though, you still want me?”

She nods. “I still want you representing me. Like I said, everyone will know that I am not a fan of these games Argoncin is running. I just don’t want you being pulled under the wing of someone who wants to enforce your... Uhm, behavior.”

“I understand. I’ll tone it down for you, Yhanna.”

She gives me a smile, then stands to grab the food from the counter. “I don’t know about you, but I’d like to eat.”

I return the smile. “Me, too.” Thankfully, at least one of my friendships are going well.

After eating, I find myself being nosy with her garment bag. “What’s in here?” I ask.

“You can open it and find out,” she says, then turns to watch.

I unzip the front of the bag, then half gasp, half sigh. “You’re kidding me.”

She repositions herself and stands. “Please, Emily?”

“Is he going to be there?” She nods slowly, then I say, “Fine, one more event. What’s this one, a ball? Modern party?”

“Just a little ceremony for the Creuzetz competitors. Turns out, he was an advocate for you.”

“Advocate? How do you mean?”

“Well, I did some digging after Argoncin mentioned winnings, and I found out there were some bets between deities as to who was going to win. The records showed that he bet almost 1,900 on you.”

I gasp. “What? That’s a lot of money! Why would he- No, he wouldn’t.”

“He did. I don’t know, maybe he knew it was you at the masquerade, Emily. You must have made quite the impression.”

I look back to the dress in the bag. It is a dark blue with the top of the chest being mostly translucent, but there are shoulders on it. “So many outfits. I’m sad that I can’t be here as a guest anymore.”

“Don’t be; it is so much better when the world stops reading your mind.”

“I understand, because now, I can actually enjoy everything here. When is the ceremony?”

“Just a few hours from now. Do you need to go shower?”

I look down at my blood-stained arms. “I probably should.” While Yhanna goes out to the balcony to make a few calls, I go into the washroom to get myself presentable for the get-together. I’m actually feeling giddy about it, so much so that I almost slip on the hard floor. When brushing my hair, I look at myself in the mirror. I’ve gotten used to the change, but I can’t help but think I would look better without the corruption. By focusing and straining my mind, I focus on the transformation spell I used before to appear like a Void creature. To my delight, I see my black veins recede to my eye and the blue color return around my pupil. There, much better.

I notice something off about my skin, then pull my towel down a few inches to see that on the surface above my heart, my flesh is turning black. A trade-off, maybe, for not letting it show on my face. This, I can deal with knowing is there. I pull my towel up and continue freshening up, then come back out to grab the dress. After easily slipping into it (I guess Yhanna just has my size memorized), I go to the sliding door to the balcony and see her standing with one hand on the railing and the other to her ear. What is she doing? I step out and hear her talking to someone else, though no one is there.

“I don’t care what she is like or what she does in there, she is representing me and no one else... We’ve had this discussion already, I’m not going to give in... No means no, Death... I don’t care what her father said to you, and if he has any grievances, he can speak to me.” I quietly shut the door and wait on the bed, because I don’t want to eavesdrop anymore than I already did. I wait for a bit watching the television, then Yhanna comes back in with a sigh of relief. “Good, it fits.”

“What’s wrong?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “Nothing, don’t worry about it. Are you ready?” She’s wearing a silky, peach-colored dress with flowers and beads all over the torso.

“Ready.” We go to the door and she uses her magic to make it so as soon as we walk through, we enter a large foyer. People are already mingling and going into the next room, so I guess we aren’t too early this time.

“Emily, before we go in,” she says, stopping me. “I want you to stay by me as well as you can, understand?”

“Yes, Goddess, I understand.” I guess she is worried about other deities trying to take me from her. I know she’s being protective because she doesn’t want me getting manipulated, but I also have a feeling that me representing her is just so she doesn’t have to worry about finding someone else to do it. Little would be worse than the Goddess of Love running around asking for people to kill other people for her.

“Victor, Emily Ann Everlock!” I’m introduced by the greeter to everyone in the ballroom when we enter. “Represented Goddess, Yhannason!” Our hail is followed by a round of applause by the crowd, consisting of many people that I do not know, though I’m sure Yhanna knows plenty of them.

“I have no clue who these people are,” she whispers to me. Great, that makes two of us, then. We are ushered to our seats and sat down by angel waiters. It looks like the seats have been planned as I see a little nameplate in front of my chair with my name on it. Next to mine is Yhannason’s and next to hers is him: Arkaden, God Prince of Blades. Maybe here, I will get to see what kind of person he really is. Actually, what if Escelatia is going to be here? Will she remember me? Will either of them remember my voice?

After ordering drinks, white wine for Yhanna and water for myself, angels begin sitting more and more people. I am quickly greeted by the person on my right. “Ev’ning, Lady Everlock.”

I already memorized their name and title, so I quickly squeeze their hand before saying, “Good evening, Jynne, Goddess of The Isles.” She resides in a place far off in the western region of Mercelon, right near the coast in a place simply known as ‘The Isles.’ I haven’t heard too much about her, but I’m sure I’ll get to know her tonight. In our circular table, two seats are left empty until a man comes to take one of them.

“Apologies for my tardiness, everyone,” he says while taking out a handkerchief. “I couldn’t help but admire the artwork out front.”

“You’re fond of art as well,” Yhanna says. “Emily tends too spend much of her time at galleries.”

“Huh?” I look up, noticing they are talking about me. “Oh, right.” She isn’t wrong; I don’t love art, but I find it interesting to fill my days with, though it’s hardly that important to me.

“Well,” the man begins, “what style is your favorite- Lady Everlock, is it?”

I nod. “Emily is fine. I, uh, like portraits? I’m not sure I prefer a specific style.”

He nods in response. “Duly noted, Miss Emily.”

Jynne, after asking a waiter for a drink I’ve never heard of before, speaks up. “Is it ‘Miss’? I was sure I read something about a cert’n person of int’rest, Emily.”

After shaking my head, I respond, “No, no one of the sort. I’ve read the news as well, though it seems to be littered with exaggerations and misunderstandings.” With a moment of silence, I begin noticing their features. Jynne has a round face with light blue skin and light green, white-rimmed eyes. Her hair is straightened and gray, though it doesn’t seem too off putting. She is very skinny, so much so that if her dress wasn’t likely padded, I would catch sight of her ribs.

“Such is the media,” the man says. He is a tall, thin man with a coat over a loose shirt. His skin is pale like mine, though it has more of a bluish tint like Jynne’s. His posture is straight and proper, much like his behavior and way of speaking. It seems like he is trying to test us with what he says, maybe trying to get a reaction to play off of.

“I am familiar with some of the writers, Lady Emily,” Someone says to me before sitting down. Arkaden. “However, I’m sure you are as well.”

“I’m well aware of one, yes.”

“Then, you shouldn’t have any issues?”

“I suppose,” I say, though I’m unsure of what to properly respond with.

“Tell me, Emily, why wouldn’t you use a weapon more suited to take down your enemies?”

“I suit myself to dismantle my enemy’s intentions... Anyways, perhaps it is not so important right now.” Shoot, I’m giving too much information to this man. I still don’t fully trust him by any means.

“I’m curious as well, Emily,” Yhanna adds, “How were you able to take them down with no effort?”

“She’s efficient,” Jynne saves me. “I watched and saw how she bided her time until it was necessary to enter the fight.”

“Very clever, no doubt.” Arkaden shifts a hand, though his face seems to stay the same. “Do worry about others knowing your strategy. I’m sure, with all parties present, you can’t lie all of your cards on the table at once.”

Eyes shift to the man across from me, then he waves it off. “I may be a competitor, but I will stay clear of your path, Miss Emily.” Of course, by ‘competitors’ being guests here, it means all others in the future as well. If that is so, who is the last chair at our table for?

I lean over until the plate comes into view. Eres, God of Thunder. “Do not worry, Lady Everlock, he will not be attending tonight.” I straighten myself out again and Arkaden continues, “He sends his deepest regards and hopes to meet you at a later date.”

I nod, “Sure thing.”

“Emily, where did you learn of Void Magic?” Jynne asks. I guess she isn’t too familiar with my upbringing, huh? “From my understanding, your mother was not capable of it and your father...?”

“Her father is of the Void,” Yhanna says, giving it away. Jynne looks on in astonishment, clearly not having a clue of who I actually am.

“You may remember her as the Void Beast of the South,” Arkaden says, keeping his voice low. “The one slain in the Battle of Archimede.”

“That was you? I was not aware,” Jynne confirms. “Yet, you’re still so spritely!”

I nod. “My mother was a resourceful woman.”

“What does it feel like, Emily, to be born of the Unholy?” Arkaden eggs me on.

“Like a parasite that remains unsated. Sometimes, like a pest that asks questions relentlessly.”

Yhanna looks at me for a moment, then says to them, “What she means to say is that it is difficult to resist such urges, but she manages.” I feel a silent stab from her eyes for being rude to Arkaden. Fine, I’ll play nice... for now.

“Miss Emily,” the man, after seeming to not have paid attention over the last few moments, says “Perhaps you would be interested in training to help your preparations for later Creuzetz matches?”

“Training? With who?”

“Oh, Lady, there are many kinds of people capable of being a threat,” Arkaden butts in, challenging my capabilities. “What magics do you have knowledge of?”

“Enough magic to be a significantly greater threat. You know what? Yes, I would like to participate in training,” I say to the man. For the first time, I notice his nameplate: Rixinteroix Veren, God Prince of Magic. Magic?! No way.

To be continued.