He’d only meant to provoke the greedy sorcerers into coming here so he could capture them and put an end to this ceaseless feud between Cassanova and their cult, but from the eyes of the heroic main character, this preparation seemed like Zhen Xue was carelessly offering the artifact to them on a silver platter. 

Tonight had meant to be fun. He wanted to even duel with the main character and embrace his role from the novel as a minor villain, but now those prospects seemed pointless. Nothing would matter if the world ends.

As that thought crossed his mind, a silver mask flashed in the corner of his vision. A man was moving unhurriedly through the swamp of fabric, towards the artifact presented near the front of the room. 

Probably a foreigner, judging by the fur coat and thick boots. Zhen Xue became uninterested, but something about those familiar yet distant movements made him reconsider. He spurred into action before he realized what he was doing. 

Hastening his pace, he moved through the crowd, bumping into shoulders as he carelessly pushed past them. Below his feet, the ballroom floor suddenly shook with an unseen force, raising reactions from the crowd. He tried to ignore the commotion until he couldn’t. 

A tremendous weight crashed into him, sending him and the person who ran into him both toppling backwards to the ground.

“Ugh…” He clenched teeth, pain rattling through his skull. 

The glint of a sword went over his head a second later, exactly where he was standing merely moments ago. Shit, he thought to himself, looking down at the young guard passed out against his chest. He checked his pulse to ensure he was fine, and when he found nothing evidently wrong with him, Zhen Xue sighed in relief. He looked towards the front of the room for that man with a silver mask. 

A large black lump of cloth laid discarded in front of the artifact. Abruptly, he noticed another lump fell beside himself causing him to flinch. 

The man with the silver mask hovered overhead, smiling down at him. His movements were almost playfully flirtatious, as though he didn’t knock two men out cold with the brunt end of his folded fan.

Not sensing hostility towards himself, Zhen Xue accepted his hand, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. He immediately took notice of the delicate hand that curled around his fingers, and how his cold, lingering touch seemed to clench his beating heart. 

Just who was this person?

The man offered a dazzling smile, as though that alone was enough of a response. His head dipped near his ear as he murmured, “Follow my lead.” With some gentle guidance, he gracefully swept him into a dance, one that was smoothly paced and didn’t falter behind others. 

Golden hair that would catch the warm light overhead. Sapphire eyes that observed his every movement. 

He was breathtaking, Zhen Xue thought to himself. His presence alone outshone all others in the room. 

It was fortunate he remembered how to dance, but instead of taking the lead, Zhen Xue pretended to fumble, letting the silver masked man guide him along instead. 

Whenever he was supposed to move his foot, there was a subtle shift of weight, allowing him to follow along with ease. A faint smile formed on his lips, deeply interested in who this person was.

Somehow, even through their silent exchange to coordinate their movements, nobody took notice. While distracted, he missed a step. Until now, his dance partner had been barely holding onto him, but now, he pulled him closer, nimble fingers holding onto his waist while the other tightened around his hand. They narrowly avoid a couple that almost crashed into them.

Zhen Xue felt inherently grateful to be spared the awkwardness, but his relief turned into annoyance when the person he was looking for arrived.

To his right, the Fire God’s piercing eyes were watching them spin around, observing with coldness. Apollo’s gaze was the richest shade of purple that ever existed and resembled the deepest layer of floors within an inferno. 

“About time you showed up,” Zhen Xue quipped his way. Even through the interruption, the silver masked man said nothing and continued to guide his movements.

“You have no faith in us,” Apollo observed without revealing judgment. “I expected as much.” Without waiting for a response, he entered their pace and pulled him into a separate dance. “But Zhen Xue,” he spoke again more urgently, reeling in his attention like a spindle of unwoven yarn. “Keep an open mind,” he advised softly. “We haven’t lost yet.” 

“Yeah,” Zhen Xue said dryly, not withholding his sarcasm. “You’re right. There is still time for that to happen.”

A group of civilians across the room were ensnaring the Ice God, Boreas, into conversation. Zhen Xue watched him sip on his glass of peach-colored wine a little too long before letting his frosty gaze drift to him for a moment.

He looked uncomfortable. 

Good, Zhen Xue thought to himself. Let him suffer. The artifact nearly got stolen because of him.

Apollo and he fell into sync with the other nobles, waltzing across the paintings that swirled along the marble floor. Zhen Xue’s feet moved with him, trying to keep his pace, but he easily overshadowed his steps, unlike with the silver masked man who patiently guided him. Speaking of which, where did that person go? 

Apollo spoke, interrupting his thoughts, “I’ve already consumed most of the mana,” he said, effortlessly twirling Zhen Xue around. “And Boreas is stabilizing the artifact. So, in other words,” he dipped him towards the floor where Zhen Xue spotted shadows moving in the crowd. “Just focus on our targets. The situation is becoming more dangerous.”

Electricity crackled through the air, sending the ballroom into a state of disarray. Without an explanation, Apollo left him alone to help contain the damage. With quick thinking, Zhen Xue side stepped through the chaos, easily dodging those that lost their balance. 

The chandelier lights flickered overhead, bringing sparks of magically infused electricity that rained down upon the crowd like falling stars.

Boreas chose this moment to move by his side and help. He kept the enemies at bay, freezing their shoes to the floor with his ice powers, along with ensuring Apollo was okay on his way towards the artifact.