Colors and sounds burst through the open window, and Perry blinked several times to adjust his eyes and actually see everything going on outside the carriage.

The street outside was a mess of life and movement that made his head spin. He could see what looked like people drifting by on golden discs that hummed with what, to him, sounded like electricity, their robes and fancy dresses trailing behind them. 

Some clothing seemed to shift and change in the sunlight. He also saw what looked like elaborate tattoos that moved and danced across people's skins and created patterns that were snakes one second, then plants the next, then lines that looked like words he couldn't make out. Some people wore dresses or robes with different colored sashes, deep crimson with gold threading for some, midnight blue with silver for others.

The streets were also filled with people wearing ordinary-looking clothes, all who paused to bow their heads as the people on the floating discs passed overhead. Street vendors called out their products, the scents of unfamiliar spices and foods mixing with the sound of laughter, music, and conversation. And the underlying scent of trash that seemed to permeate every city where humans congregated in. 

The different smells made Pery's stomach grumble and revolt all at the same time. He tried to remember when was the last time he ate, but came up empty. 

"Fortuitous timing," Master Rennin said, gesturing to the decorations that adorned every building. Banners in blue and gold danced in the breeze, and strings of lights weaved between the buildings like miniature fireworks. Perry tries to find some kind of wire or anything that connected the lights, but they were moving all on their own. "The First Prince's birthday celebration brings all the prominent families to the capital. Clan leaders, warlords, nobles. They are all gathering right now to lick the King's boot."

The carriage came to a smooth stop in what appeared to be a designated area for arriving guests. With a flourish of his sleeves, Master Rennin exited the carriage and Perry was forced to follow. Several people did double-takes at Master Rennin's appearance. An older man with a thick beard, his robes adorned with shifting patterns of autumn leaves in perpetual fall, approached them with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"How interesting that the winds have blown such an... unusual leaf back to our garden," the man said, his tone dripping with barely concealed disdain even as he smiled. Perry couldn't say he blamed him. 

Master Rennin's expression tightened almost imperceptibly. Before he could respond, a younger woman joined their group, the fabric of her dress rippling like the surface of a lake with each movement as painted orange and pink fish swam lazily from side to side.

"Master Rennin," she said, her voice honey-sweet but her eyes sharp. "How goes life in the far frontier? We so rarely get news from such distant places."

Perry couldn't help but feel a small surge of satisfaction at seeing Master Rennin squirm and be forced to respond with polite smiles and words when what he probably wanted to do was spit at them. Perry would probably be snickering if he hadn't been, you know, robbed of his bodily autonomy.

"And who is this? One of your devoted assistants?" the man with the thick beard asked. 

Master Rennin smiled widely and waved the question away. "He is indeed one of my pupils. But he has taken a vow of silence."

Trumpets suddenly pierced the air, breaking up their conversation. A chorus of voices announced that the birthday feast would begin shortly, and the crowd began moving toward what Perry assumed was the Palace.

Perry's jaw would have dropped if he had any control over it. The Palace rose in front of them like something from a dream – or maybe a fever vision. Multiple towers seemed to float independently of their bases, connected by bridges of pure light. The main structure sprawled across several levels, each one bigger than the last, with gardens that somehow defied gravity by growing sideways and upside down. Statues that might have been marble or might have been frozen light lined the walkways, occasionally changing poses when Perry wasn't looking directly at them. Because that wasn't creepy at all. 

And as if that wasn't enough, people danced through the air, supported by nothing but streams of golden magic that flowed from medallions hanging from their necks. The people walking alongside them all wore fancy robes and jewelry and headresses that looked heavy and made out of solid gold, silver, and precious stones.

A woman stepped forward as they all congregated in front of the Palace. 

"Welcome, esteemed guests. I'm the Royal Master of Ceremonies and my staff and I will guide you so we may all rejoice in the joyous celebration!" The woman who introduced herself wore a simple dress that shimmered lightly as she gesticulated to her assistants. 

One by one, men and women wearing what looked like an impeccable blue and silver uniform approached all the important people gathered there and guided everyone to their designated places with practiced efficiency, their movements as choreographed as the dancers floating around.

Perry thought nothing else could surprise him, but then they made their way inside the Palace and the dining hall took his breath away. Three massive tables ran the length of the room on either side of a central aisle covered in a blue and silver carpet. Orbs that emitted a soft, golden light hovered just above the tables, casting everything and everyone in a warm glow. 

Perry noticed that the people dressed more exuberantly and wearing fancier jewelry took their seats along the center aisle, closest to the raised dais that he assumed was reserved for the royal family. Or that he at least assumed was reserved for them.

Master Rennin was directed to the far end of the third table, almost against the wall and as far from the dais as possible. Perry could practically feel the resentment radiating from him as he clutched his glass, but the man remained silent, his back straight and eyes sharp as he scanned the room. As his 'pupil', Perry was required to stand behind him. At least it gave him a chance to observe the crowd gathered in the dining hall.

The interactions strangely reminded him of some of his customers at Lucky Fries. He watched as a young noble with a silver sash pointedly turned his back on someone wearing bronze, while a woman whose tattoos formed elaborate peacock feathers managed to snub three different people with nothing more than the angle of her fan and a subtle eye roll.

He mentally cataloged everything, trying to commit as much as he could to memory so he could analyze it later. Assuming he would have a later because he couldn't even begin to guess why Master Rennin had brought him there. At least he'd be able to catch a glimpse of the real prince and maybe figure out why people kept mistaking Perry for the man.

A fanfare of trumpets broke out, and everyone rose to their feet. Perry silently cursed as the standing crowd blocked his view. People Perry assumed belonged to the royal family made their way to the dais, walking between the tables and taking their seats with practiced grace. The King and Queen's chairs, that were almost an identical match, were placed side by side at the center, while the prince's smaller chair sat slightly behind them.

Only after the royal family was seated did everyone else return to their own seats. Perry strained his eyes as much as he could to try and catch a glimpse of the prince's features, but the distance and the positioning of the chairs made it impossible to get more than a glimpse of brown hair and shiny boots.

The King rose, his voice carrying clearly as he thanked everyone for attending the celebration of his son's twentieth summer. Glasses raised in toast, some more enthusiastically than others, but all paying the appropriate respect to their prince. 

Or, at least, as far as Perry could tell. It wasn't as if he had any experience on the matter. 

Before the King could continue, Master Rennin rose to his feet, raising his own glass. His voice carried through the dining hall as he spoke.

"A toast! A toast, indeed." He paused dramatically and waited until the people closer to him turned to glare at him. "A toast to the blessing of bloodlines and truth." He lowered his voice and half-turned his face to glance at Perry. "Follow," he muttered, then he moved away from his seat, and Perry went obediently behind him. "A toast to our beloved prince." Master Rennin unhurriedly made his way toward the center of the hall, approaching the dais. "For what could be more important than family, than blood?"

And then, finally, Perry saw the prince's face clearly for the first time.

He barely registered Master Rennin's words about washing away lies before cold water splashed across his face. The spell controlling his body and making him follow the older man around vanished, and Perry coughed and spluttered, frantically wiping at his face with his sleeves.

The King's voice boomed through the hall. "Master Rennin, what do you mean by this disruption of my son's celebration?" He slammed one fist against the table, making the dishes and cups clatter. Something made out of glass shattered close by. 

"Remove this farce from this hall!" 

"Why is he even here? I did not know he could be invited to these events after everything."

"That is true. I heard he was sent to that run-down temple as a punishment. So why is he even here?"

"My sincerest apologies, Your Majesty," Master Rennin said, his voice dripping with false contrition. "I simply thought it unfair to celebrate one son while relegating the other to obscurity."

Perry stopped rubbing his face and lowered his sleeves to find every eye in the hall fixed on him. But he could focus only on the prince – on his own face, pale with shock, staring back at him from the dais.