“She is a character, huh?” Yubik asked. I merely nodded as we began to eat our food. She was completely right; the lamb was amazing. Lamb chops were my absolute favorite food. Actually, anything made in Ascentia was my favorite food, because everything was always the best food here. It might have just been the atmosphere, but something about this place made me so very happy. Happy to eat delicious food, meet wonderful people, and spend time with Yubik.

In the middle of dinner, a fork was being tapped against a glass at the other end of the table. A tall man appearing to be some kind of war veteran was standing in what looked like blankets wrapped around armor. It all gleamed with light, which made sense as he was Argoncin, God of Light. His voice wasn’t too loud or too soft, but I could tell it could reach both extremes. “Welcome to tonight’s dinner, gods, goddesses, immortals and mortals alike, in celebration of one mortal’s triumph over a god.”

I shot a look at Yubik and mouthed, “You didn’t tell me.” He just smirked back at me.

Argoncin continued as he gestured with his glass towards me, prompting me to stand. “Mortal, Lady Emmeline Ann Everlock, leader of Aylryssandia in the living world defeated Descentian God of Rot, Morak Serihn in sword-to-sword combat.” I liked how he termed me as 'Mortal' first, which told me how he really thought of me.

I received a standing ovation, which was odd to me. This must have just been a little show for the gods and goddesses because it wasn’t even that remarkable of a fight. I don’t think Morak Serihn used all of his power against me and that’s why I was able to win, but why flaunt it here in Ascentia? Was it just so these people could brag and gloat over a victory, like some sort of game between them?

Argoncin went on, “So, many friends and guests, I welcome you to join me in a toast to this mortal, and to enjoy yourself after dinner once the music, and the dancing, begins. To the mortal mage, Everlock!” Him and everyone else raised their glasses to me and only me.

Yubik, after taking a long drink from his cup, said, “I did not mention this was for you? My apologies, Dark Ruler.” His smile said otherwise.

“I don’t suppose there are any other surprises tonight?”

“Maybe, if you are up for it.” I couldn’t tell how he meant that to sound, but I sensed a hint of something exciting in his voice. The dinner continued as normal with light conversation. Across from me was an Angel and an Elf, both immortals. They were kind, but seemed more intrigued by the conversation between each other rather than the one with Yubik and I. I wondered where Iyo was at. Surely, he was enjoying himself here, probably excited to learn that this was all for me, too. Maybe he met a friend, someone who could get him here again and again, like myself. However, I was first brought here with negative connotations. That was the first time I ever met Yubik and Judican.

It was many years ago right before I repressed the darkness that I made cover the world. Angelic guardians came down from the heavens above to escort me from my throne into Ascentia, where I had to wait for hours until I had a small encounter with Argoncin and his sons. Yubik said almost nothing to me while Judican gave speeches on how what I did was a catastrophe. Argoncin was in the middle; he kept his words short and, at the very end of the discussion, politely asked me to cease my actions. I remember his words as if he just told me them.

“For centuries, gods and goddesses have tried to minimize their interactions with the living world. It only brings upon wars, you know how it is. Well, if you persist, Everlock, you can expect Ascentian intervention. When that happens, Descentian deities will react with their own interaction. If you have grown fond at all of this world or your life, you will let the sun shine again.” His words were a threat disguised as a warning. I’ve almost never seen or met with Descentian gods or goddesses, so I couldn’t tell for sure if Argoncin’s words held any value or truth. I didn’t want conflict, especially with Ascentia, so I chose to comply.

Oh, a new person sat down in Yhanna’s old spot. I eyed him a bit, seeing that he was or at least appearing to be a North Elf, the reddish-skinned ones. His voice was quick, concise, and to the point. “Good evening, Lady. I don’t suppose you’ve yet heard of me?”

I felt Yubik’s touch against my side and he spoke first, “Emily, this is Iklenoru. He is the Descentian Prince of Blood.” That explains the skin.

Iklenoru slammed a glance at him. “My, you are clever. Get around often, Prince, I know.” He looked back to me, “Lady, you-“

Yubik interrupted, “She has a name, Prince.” He bit at the last word, making tension grow.

The Elf gave a wicked grin to him and then made it disappear as he laid his prying eyes back on me. “Lady Everlock, on behalf of many, many, many gods and goddesses that could not make it to tonight’s dinner, I want to congratulate you on your latest victory. You have made quite the audience, and we look forward to your next move.” He stood up, not giving me a word. “Beautiful dress. Fight well in it?” he asked as he laid a napkin on the empty plate in front of his chair. With that, he turned and strutted off with an eerily snappy stride.

This time, I spoke first. “That was odd.”

“Very odd.”

“Descentian Prince?”

“One of the many.”

“I don’t like him.”

“Many don’t.” I could feel Yubik’s eyes on me as he explained, “Iklenoru has been around for as long as I can remember. He’s never been charming, but he has a way… a way of getting under your skin.”

“Like blood.” I promised myself that wasn’t a joke.

“Exactly.” He didn’t seem to get the unintentional joke. “He manipulates others, but not like that. That, he was being his normal self, which is probably for the better.”

“Do you think I’m in trouble?”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t tell you, Emily. Descentia works completely opposite how Ascentia does. I wish I could tell you how every prince or god or goddess thought and acted, but that’s just impossible. Here, I’ll tell you what, I’ll go and see what I can do about this.” He got up without letting me respond and went to go talk to one of the angels on the side of the room. They nodded, spoke to him a bit, and then left the dining room with him.

I was left alone again. I ate a bit more of my food and just waited for the night to continue. Unfortunately, that wasn’t exactly what I really wanted as Argoncin progressed the end of dinner into the beginning of the ball, a dance. Lovely music began to play and the table was sunk into the ground and replaced by a painted floor, displaying the symbol of Ascentia, a sphere of gold surrounded by silver squiggles to form a sort of sun. People paired up and began their slow, melodic movements on the floor with their escorts, friends, or lovers. I was alone, though, but not to my surprise, not for long.

A rather ravishing angel came up to me, his broad wings folded and decorated in various pieces of jewelry. He was shaven, which looked very alluring to me, and he had short, styled blonde hair. His voice was nothing but angelic, which should have been a given. “Good evening, Lady Everlock.” He held out his hand and asked, “May I have this dance?”

I was hesitant, but placed my hand in his and nodded. He led me near the middle of the floor and led me in a standard sedately dance around each other, moving back and forth in slow, fluid movements. He knew what he was doing; I didn’t, but I managed to keep up.

“My apologies,” he began. “I don’t believe I’ve introduced myself. Why, everyone here knows you, yet most couldn’t pick me from a crowd on any given day of the week.”

“I can’t see how, you managed to catch my eye.” I secretly scolded myself for flirting, but it was difficult not to. This man was as dreamy as this odd, immaculate world.

“How kind. Well, the name is Sanya, Sanya Rilyviinir.” That’s an odd name for a man.

“Hm, that’s an odd name for someone like yourself, don’t you think?” Just after I asked the question, his skin molded and flipped to show a woman’s face. Shapeshifter, of course, what else am I going to deal with tonight?

As quickly as she changed her skin, she changed it back to be… he. “You may call me Mulin, though, it’s what the other guests I’ve spoken to tonight know me as.”

I put on a snarky look. “And if I don’t wish to call you that?”

“Oooh, I wouldn’t be like that, missy.” She had something or someone over me, I could just feel it. “See, I am looking for a friend. Someone who is kind, honest, and willing to make something very special for me.” Whoops, I was wrong. “This something is an item that is- well, will be very near and dear to my heart.”

“Mm, and what can this item do, if I may ask?” I hoped Yubik would come back soon.

“This particular item has particular traits that let a particular person fall in love with a particular someone else.”

“Quite particular,” I said, unsure if that was even a proper use of the word. “Even if I did know how to make such an item, why would I help you?”

“Something tells me you’re going to like me as a friend, Emily.” Sh- No, he pulled me close by the waist in a sudden movement. “Something that I’m sure you know well as a gut feeling.”

I stepped back into my place apart from him and asked, “How so certain?”

“I have other friends, Lady. Some you may have upset in the recent past.” I was right! She did have something over me. Wait, that’s not a good thing.

“So Descentia sent you?”

“No one sent me but myself, and you can consider that a promise. I don’t give those out often.”

“I suppose I have to trust you, then.”

“That’s smart,” he smiled. “So, when is the best time to come by your, hm, humble abode?”

“I guess anytime that works for you.” I was at a bit of an impasse. I didn’t know this person and didn’t know who they knew, but I wasn’t about to try getting tangled into something I didn’t want anything to do with. Then again, that’s exactly what I was doing right now. Both choices were bad choices.

“Wonderful.” He peered to the left for a moment, then looked back. “Your lover has returned. I’ll keep in touch.”

“He’s not-“ I began, but the man- or woman- disappeared. I tried to track where they had gone, but it was like they weren’t there to begin with. Of course, I’m dealing with some kind of angel or demon, possibly neither, that thinks they can help me. I wasn’t sure how many more new people I could deal with meeting tonight.

Yubik reached me. “I admire that, how you are confident enough to dance on your own.” He held out his hand, which I promptly took.

“That wasn’t it, but I would love to have this dance,” I replied. I wasn’t going to tell him about Sanya; I don’t need him knowing I could possibly be helping a Descentian princess. “What did you find out?”

“I found out nothing more than was already established. Iklemoru was on the guest list representing Descentia as a whole.”

“What, no other god or goddess down there wants to meet me?” I joked.

“I wouldn’t doubt that many of them want to meet you.” He was an excellent dancer, which still didn’t mean that I was any good. He took control and twirled me around, almost making me lose balance. At one point, I almost slipped and he caught me, holding an arm around my back.

“Wow,” I mustered.

“Wow yourself,” he replied, almost right above me. His eyes were looking right into mine, sending me into a state of bliss for the rest of the ball.