Chapter 754: Dancing Spells (1/2)

“When did anyone decide this would be such an important event?” Ilea asked. She looked around the townhall of Morhill, everything remodeled to be a ballroom. At the moment however, there were rows of chairs set up with a main stage at the end of the near thirty meter long hall. People dressed in well cut suits and lavish dresses occupied the seats, magical lighting set up to dim the back and focus all the attention on the stage, a single painting of a dark winged fighter atop the partially visible head of a Trakorov on display for everyone to see.

Ilea stood at the very back, near one of the large windows overlooking the town below. The evening light still illuminated most of the buildings in the distance.

Claire smiled. “Well, word spread and a few confirming stories… including your own presence at the gallery did lead credence to Cless’ little gallery. I don’t really understand why Violence would get involved in this but here we are. Who could expect a Fae taking from a heavily enchanted vault in my office.”

“I expected you to be at least a little annoyed,” Ilea said, looking at the girl in question, dressed in a long black dress and standing near the wall of the room, both nervous and proud. William and a Shadow stood next to her.

Claire sighed. “I wouldn’t have denied her if she had asked. I mean look at her,” she said with a smile. “Plus the Fae did leave out some of the more problematic works. He is smarter than he lets on.”

“The thing literally talks in one word sentences because it would melt our brains if he would talk normally,” Ilea reminded her friend. “Suppose a few more stories about me won’t matter much. It does feel a little strange… to have depictions of myself hung on the walls of some random noble in the Plains.”

“The subjects depicted will get a commission. As does the city. And Cless of course won’t be able to spend all her gold as she wants, not until I decide she’s old enough. Or if she can argue about whatever she wants. She already mentioned ponies,” Claire said.

“I don’t see the issue with ponies,” Ilea said.

People started raising small plates with numbers written on them. The auction had begun.

“The issue is that she shouldn’t be too spoiled. She likes the attention. It’s on us to keep her grounded. Her Classes are quite remarkable and she will grow up to become a powerful divination mage at the very least,” Claire said.

Ilea touched her arm lightly. “Come on. She’s already taking Classes with the Shadowguard and Sentinels. They won’t let her turn into a twat.” Ilea glanced at the people entering the hall, more to join both the auction and the latter ball and festivities. Catering had already been prepared, the staff of the Golden Drake present with the cooks having relocated into a spacious back hall added by a group of architects, earth mages, and enchanters. Drinks and some starters were already being served. Light music was played by a group of musicians standing on a small stage at the right side of the room, all but the main stage remaining in dim light.

Alyris and her entourage walked by, a few of them giving the pair near the window a look or nod. Malkorn whispered something to the Empress before he walked over, bowing to Ilea and Claire.

“Apologies for the interruption. May I have a word?” he asked. His claws twitched ever so slightly, the lizardman still a little tense, his sharp teeth grinding slightly.

“Of course,” Ilea said and smiled. “Do you want another bout?”

He looked up. “Against you? No. I was looking for the Curse mage, I believe you two are acquainted?”

“We are. I haven’t seen him though,” Ilea said, glancing around the hall to check for Kyrian. Probably still with Aliana.

“He will be here for the ball,” Claire assured.

“How do you know?” Ilea sent.

“Trian and Kyrian know they are supposed to be here for the ball,” she said, her neutral expression not changing in the slightest.

Fear resistance reached the third tier. Or maybe Divination magic resistance? Both probably, Ilea thought, looking at the woman.

“What?” Claire asked.

“Oh, nothing at all,” Ilea answered with a smile.

“Thank you, Head Administrator. A pleasant evening to the two of you,” the massive lizardman warrior said before he returned to the Empress, the group receiving chairs from a few attendants.

Ilea did notice Syrithis turning her head in her direction, her arms crossed as she remained standing.

The monsters below Karth are far easier to read. And deal with.

The auction progressed with more people streaming into the hall as the sunlight moved over the valley, magical street lights soon turned on in the streets below the town hall.

Ilea was glad when the last painting had been sold, the hall brightening a little as the music picked up. Some of Cless’ creations sold for several hundred gold, the event of course turning into some kind of dick measuring contest between the various rulers and nobles in the Plains. They may not have a Meadow but they certainly had funds.

Alyris herself bought a painting depicting Ilea fighting a group of Rose Knights, her half elven companion not particularly amused at that fact.

At least she understood now why the wind healer had an issue with being here.

Ilea smiled at her when the chairs were being removed, the groups splitting up with some attendants wrapping up the paintings to be delivered at a latter time.

“Why does that Empress’ Guard look like she’s going to rip you to shreds?” Claire asked.

Ilea waved at the half elf. “I assume because I might soon be hanging from her bedroom wall.”

Claire nearly choked on her drink, turning away before she masked her smile with coughing.

“You’re responsible for this!” Syrithis said, establishing a telepathic connection.

“I am irresistible, what can I say,” Ilea said. “I’m open to an invitation,” she added with a wink.

Syrithis froze in her tracks, magic surging around her for a moment with a few guests nearby making distance. She shook her head. “You’re insufferable!” She shouted into her mind and walked out of the hall at a brisk pace, the red dress she wore nearly flying over the ground.

Alyris walked past right after, following the half elf outside. She glanced over to the tow women with sparkling silver eyes, her look lingering on Ilea for a little longer than necessary.

Claire made wide eyes. “No. No you didn’t!”

“Not yet,” Ilea mused.

“Don’t sleep with the Empress of Lys!” Claire said. She considered and downed her wine. “I mean… the more I think about it. It could be politically beneficial.” She tapped her glass. “If you’re so eager… I could make a few more suggestions,” she said and looked around the room with a different look in her eyes.

“You’re losing yourself,” Ilea said and spun, her armor replaced by a flowing black dress made entirely of ash. Her shoulders were bare, the misty material moving through the air with a dangerous lightness. She extended her ash covered hand to the woman in front of her.

Claire refocused on the woman in front of her, herself wearing a somewhat conservative blue dress. She tapped the side of her waist when a few runes lit up, the bottom part of her chosen attire flowing out, revealing more than a little of her left leg.

“Daring,” Ilea commented as her friend put a hand into hers.

“Lilith, I assure you, it’s merely a necessity to dance,” she said. “Perhaps this one time, I won’t turn this into a lesson.”

“How very gracious of you, godqueen of Ravenhall,” Ilea replied, leading the woman onto the extensive hall where a few pairs were already moving in tandem to the slow music.