A sense of foreboding began to creep up in Aleph’s chest as he stepped inside the great hall. Most of the invited individuals were already there, mingling with one another as they waited for the honored guests to arrive. He looked around the place, trying to search for someone he would be able to talk to for the evening.

Perhaps he was only looking for a certain person, his eyes wandering as he failed to see him anywhere. He was about to exit the great hall when Lord Alloy fell in step with him. Aleph took a step back and bowed to his mother’s brother.

“The land remains prosperous, don’t you think, my boy?” Alloy looked over to Aleph with a smile that was so akin to his mother’s that Aleph wondered how he could almost forget her face.

“Father is wise, and so his kingdom thrives.”

“Yes,” agreed Alloy. “He is wise enough to have people helping him. Don’t be too harsh on yourself, lad. You have us,” Alloy clapped his nephew’s shoulder. “If Ines were to see the man you have become, she would have wept with joy. You are our greatest pride, Aleph, and you shall remain an Acero no matter what happens.”

“Uncle?” Aleph frowned. “Is there something I should know about?”

“Nothing, nothing,” brushed off Alloy. “Jade has been… busy, especially with Acero’s connections with other houses. Friction in the court is always healthy as it fosters discussion and growth, the same way friction sharpens a blade, but too much pressure may cause unnecessary damage. Making hard decisions will always be a matter for a king, but a decision cannot be dealt with if you refuse to look at all your cards.”

“Pardon?”

Alloy only smiled, “You should talk to your man. If you aim to unravel the right path, a Prevoir’s sight might be the answer you need. Novus is a knowledgeable king and thus has no need for a seer, and yet the Grand Oracle remains to… double-check things for him.”

“I see,” replied Aleph. “Then I must visit Drac Castell soon.”

“You can come home with me after these affairs are over, hmm?” Alloy assured the crown prince.

King Novus, with his wife on his arm, followed by Prince Arden, walked into the great hall, taking all the attention of everyone in the room. Aleph noticed that the Incantan prince was by Arden’s heels as well.

They went over to the long table specifically meant for members of the royal family. A servant dutifully poured red wine on their personal chalices. Aleph and Alloy followed suit and took their place at the table.

The most powerful man in the realm raised his chalice and then smiled at his subjects, “Tonight we celebrate. My brother, your Prince Arden, as well as Lord Aloysius Acero, have safely returned to us after an arduous journey to the Westernlands. Long live the Erstellen crown!” 

“Long live the Erstellen crown!” The crowd cheered in return, including Aleph and Alloy. The king then turned to his brother as he and his wife sat down, “Arden, any words?”

Prince Arden bowed and turned to the crow, “The Western Expansion has been a success, yet as I am grateful to bring prosperity to the crown, the campaign continues on. We must not let our incessant victories dampen our sight of the future, but victories remain victories, and must be celebrated! To Chrysopoeia!”

“To Chrysopoeia!” The crowd roared.

“In order to honor this triumph,” continued Arden. “I must request my beloved nephew, your Prince Indak, to grace us with his elegance and glory through a performance.”

Indak entered the dance floor with his quarterstaff held loosely in his hand, looking down at his bare feet. He was dressed in the red and oranges that the Hariqs were known for. He even wore his golden circlet, making him look like fire embodied. He walked languidly, almost sensually, onto the center of the dance floor. Every single person in the room turned to look at him as he stopped. With perfect grace, he lifted his chin up and moved.

He twirled the staff once around his arms and the tips of the staff lit up with his flames. The musical band started playing, the beat of the drums and the notes of the violin building up into a crescendo as he slowly twirled the staff around his body. He moved quite fluidly like he was a part of the flame. Now and then, the music paused and Indak twisted around, making an exaggerated motion of blowing at the tip of his staff before the flames formed into figures, familiar sigils of the royal family. 

The prince jumped and flipped around, landing on a knee with elegant accuracy. He tapped the end of the staff on the marble floor and looked to the side. Aleph followed Indak’s gaze and found the man he had been looking for all evening. The young Lord Prevoir grinned before he threw another quarterstaff that was easily caught by Indak. 

The music picked up again once he caught it as he moved through his fire dance. His masterful control of the staff, as he twirled and used them in his dance, was quite mesmerizing, but Aleph still found his eyes straying to where Khres had watched with a knowing grin when he handed the second staff to Indak. 

Did Khres know about Indak when Aleph hadn’t? His heart ached at this distance that seemed to be between him and those he loved. Perhaps, he should spend more time with his siblings. 

Indak ended his dance with a quick twirl of one quarterstaff, the fast blur of the flames around the tips of the staff eventually coalescing into the Erstellen Ouroboros. When Indak thrust the second staff through the circle formed by the snake, the Hariq phoenix flew from the flames at the tip of it, disappearing before it reached the audience at the front row of the performance. 

Indak was smiling even as he breathed heavily. The flames on his staff were extinguished, and he tucked both under one arm. In the sudden silence after the last note of the music, applause echoed around the ballroom. With a flourish of his free hand, Indak gave their guests a bow. 

“Impressive, isn’t he, Alloy?” Arden remarked as they watched Indak leave the ballroom to change from his performance outfit. Aleph looked around the audience as they cheered for his brother, and found that only one person stayed quiet. It was Prince Rafa of Incanta. Perhaps a dance offered to honor the Erstellen triumph over his home was not something that agreed with him.

“However did you convince Indak, uncle?” Likha asked.

“Trade secret, dear,” Arden said with a chuckle. “But isn’t it great that I did? Quite the performance, I’d say. Exciting, now that’s how dance should be!” 

“Of course, you’d like a dance that looked quite like a battle,” Alloy said, shaking his head despite the fond smile on his face. “Though, it could be good to learn how to integrate such movements into combat.” 

“Indak does so, it’s why he has gotten competent with a sword,” Likha commented. “You’re quite distracted, Aleph. Were you so awed by our brother’s performance?” 

Aleph jerked in surprise at the comment that was suddenly directed at him. He had been focused on the dance floor, still scanning for the familiar blue hair in the crowd. It seemed as if Khres had disappeared as soon as Indak’s performance ended. Aleph looked down at his hands.

“Aleph?”

“It was wonderful, sister,” he said. “I do not feel well. I shall greet some guests before I retire for the night.” 

A wise king does not hesitate, and his battles are carefully chosen. Clenching his hands into fists, he stood up and left the royal table. He might be the next in line, but he was not king yet. And Khres is not a battle to be chosen and fought for, he has been the love of his life for the longest time. They could not just part.

Not like this, at least.

Khres found himself talking to a group of representatives from House Caduceus. One of them was called Minister Malleus, who worked closely with the family, as he had told Khres about a dozen times already. He was accompanied by his attendants who crowded the young Prevoir quite effectively.

“As I was saying, Lord Prevoir, we have chosen not to hurry this matter. Our lord has been waiting for the right time to speak with the right people regarding our aim,” said the minister. “We hope you can lend us more of your time to discuss this affair.”

Khres hummed as he took another piece of the hors d'oeuvres carried around by the palace attendants. House Caduceus was terribly slow, he noted, as the minister began to sweat and trip over his words. Though he must admit that an alliance with this house will surely prove its uses in the long run, especially if the tension in court were to escalate.

Their loyalty and their capacity to take an honest stand, on the other hand, might not hold when the worst comes dawning upon them all. Khres smiled at his companions, making the female attendants blush profusely. He turned to the Caducean courtier, “Minister Malleus, House Prevoir has been in service of the realm for a long time. We ought to give as much as we can, yet a misguided treatment of visions as a contingency plan may cause untoward consequences.”

“A vision is all but a small window to the future, my lord, and the future is made and remade every second of every day. Best not to anticipate an uncertain storm when holes and cracks persist in one’s own home. If you can excuse me,” Khres gave them one last smile before walking away.

He looked around, trying to find a corner where people would not be able to bother him for the evening, yet fate deprived him of silence as someone approached him not even a minute alone, “Lord Khres, may I speak with you?”

Khres looked back to reveal his next conversation partner and did not expect this answer. He immediately bowed low, “Your majesty, I did not expect you. I am honored to speak with you, of course.”

King Novus inclined his head and gestured for them to step out of the hall, leaving the festivities behind. They walked around the garden for a few minutes, until the king stopped over a tall wall of trumpet-shaped blossoms.

“These flowers are poisonous, yet they bloom only at night,” said the king. “Beautiful to look at, aren’t they?”

Khres looked over the pinkish white flowers at the height of their bloom, “They do, for a time, for an evening like this. Tomorrow, who knows what may happen to them? Who knows what kind of intention they will be used for, come morning light?”

The king nodded, “You are quick to catch on, exactly as your grandmother relayed to me.”

Khres whipped his head to the king, his curls bouncing about him. “The Grand Oracle told you things about me.”

“She did,” affirmed King Novus. “You are her prized grandson and protegee, the heir to House Prevoir. You might know how to utilize yourself as needed, but you remain unaware that people watch you more than you think. My family, for example.”

“Your majesty, I…”

King Novus held up his hand, “No need, Lord Khres. I came to you not as your king, but as my children’s father. They have come to see you as someone dear to them, especially my firstborn.”

“I know he worries,” Khres could not help but smile. “Sometimes, I wonder if I can be good enough to stay by his side.”

“My son has keen eyes. He would not have you if he sees nothing in you. As do I,” the king reached out to take one flower, stem, and all. He offered it to Khres, “A flower for a flower. May its bloom last longer than the dawn, may it live with the freedom to choose its own purpose."

Khres took the flower and looked down at it, “And if it were to be used as intended? An unfortunate inescapable destiny?"

“Destiny,” spoke the king. “Stable as the tides. Static as the phases of the moon.”

“Motionless as the Earth,” Khres finds himself speaking. He shook his head, “I do apologize. I might have spoken out of turn.”

The king only smiled, “My son… finds you priceless. Have faith in him.”

Khres watched the king walk away before looking down at the flower in his gloved hand, as poisonous and fragile as his visions. “My purpose, huh?” He sighed and crushed the flower in his hand, letting the broken petals on the ground. “It doesn’t matter at all.”