High above the festive scene at the palace, a twelve-year-old boy peered down at the swirling revelry from a tall window. The sight of joyful merriment piqued his interest, compelling him to rush to his father's office.

"Father! May I please be permitted to...?"

His plea was interrupted as his father, the emperor, lifted a hand, halting his words. Eyeing his son, the emperor arched an eyebrow and spoke in a languid drawl, "You truly wish to partake in such... festivities?"

He referred to the bonfire evening as if it were a distasteful, lowly event.

Adonis, accustomed to his father's superior air and blunt manner, eagerly bobbed his head in affirmation. The emperor glanced back at the architectural plans splayed out before him on his desk and flicked his hand dismissively as if swatting an irritating insect. "As long as you remain inconspicuous and unrecognised, I hold no objections."

His son's face lit up with joy, and he promptly bolted from the room, darting across the palace to his own quarters. Not wanting to squander precious time changing his attire, he quickly opted for a simple disguise - a black hooded cloak. He flung it over his shoulders, adjusted the hood to conceal his face, and hastily exited the palace. His destination was on the opposite side of the bustling capital.

Upon reaching the vast open land where the bonfire evening was in full swing, he momentarily hesitated, watching the spectacle from the periphery. The sight of everyone enjoying the celebrations ignited a wide smile on his concealed face. Just as he was about to immerse himself in the swirling crowd of dancers, a lean figure bumped into him.

Adonis looked up at the person he had collided with and froze. Recognition flickered in his eyes as he identified her as one of the trainees his father had berated on their recent return to the capital. He was about to stammer an apology when the girl leaned in closer, a sinister smirk playing on her lips.

"Well, what do we have here?" She cast a cursory glance towards the palace before locking eyes with the boy in front of her. "I'm rather surprised the emperor permitted you to partake in such... lowly festivities."

Her mocking tone flew over Adonis' head as he stared at her, momentarily flabbergasted. A quick glance around reassured him that no one had overheard their exchange. Swiftly, he grasped her arm and pulled her towards a nearby building that lurked in the shadows. Spotting a narrow alleyway nestled between two buildings, he manoeuvred her into the dim passage before releasing her.

"How do you know who I am?" he demanded, attempting to read the girl's expression, but finding it inscrutably blank. "I was never formally introduced to any of the trainees."

Adara, the girl in question, was taken aback by the unexpected encounter with the emperor's son. She momentarily forgot that she was supposed to feign ignorance of his identity. She couldn't possibly admit to him that she and her friends had been covertly observing him and the other elite citizens. Keeping her face impassive, she decided to play it cool.

Maintaining her inscrutable facade, Adara met Adonis' question with a dismissive scoff, "Who else could you be? You're clearly not one of us trainees."

Adonis studied her for a moment, scrutinising her features under the dim light. He found himself blushing when she shot him a reproving glare for his silence. Clearing his throat, he retorted, "What makes you so certain I'm not a trainee? I could have arrived just earlier today."

Adonis watched as Adara nonchalantly leaned against the wall, crossing her arms in front of her. "Firstly, it's your choice of words," she began, her tone implying the obviousness of her statement. "Then there's your attire. No trainee would be donned in such refined clothing or a cloak."

Taken aback by her observations, Adonis tried a different angle, "I could be the offspring of an advisor, you know?"

Adara rolled her eyes, her patience clearly thinning, "Oh, cut the pretence already."

His eyes widened at her firm retort. Adonis shifted his gaze, his eyes landing on the ebullient scene of the trainees dancing and laughing, a sigh escaping him.

Observing his silence, Adara finally said, "I'm not going to announce to everyone that you're here, if that's what you're concerned about."

Adonis' head whipped back towards her in surprise, "Really?"

Adara shrugged nonchalantly as she pushed off the wall, her tall frame towering over him by at least twenty centimetres. "It's not my business. You clearly had your reasons to come here, who am I to interfere?" She responded indifferently.

Adonis blinked at her in surprise, before breathing out, "Thank you. However, I never got your name."

An immediate glare was his answer. "That's because I never gave it."

Adonis lifted his hands in surrender. "Considering you're aware of my identity, I believe it's only fair I know yours."

"Why?" Adara countered, her gaze drawn towards the brilliant fire in the distance. The emperor's son let out a sigh, "It's not a significant matter. I don't plan on getting you hanged or anything."

The glare he received in response was blazing. "If you dare try to have me hanged, my comrades won't hesitate to take your life in your sleep," she warned.

Adonis, now somewhat attuned to the girl's fiery temperament, merely grinned, "Of course."

As Adara began to distance herself from him, Adonis quickly fell into step beside her. "The name's Adara, in case you were still wondering."

"Adara," Adonis repeated softly, his voice reverent, "A name denoting strength, beauty, and power. Fitting."

Adara ignored his comment, stopping abruptly and pointing into the distance. "If you wish to remain undetected, I suggest you head in that direction. It's shrouded in considerably more shadows than the rest of the area."

Adonis shot Adara a grateful glance and said, "Thank you."

Adara merely rolled her eyes in response, her gaze already drifting back towards her friends, who were lost in the rhythm of the songs being sung. Adonis watched as Adara receded into the distance, a new interest stirring within him.

"If anything good emerged from tonight..." Adonis murmured to himself, his eyes still following Adara. Shaking off his reverie, he glanced in the direction she had suggested and discreetly slipped away into the shadowy embrace.

© Crimson B