Chapter 1325 (2/2)

“And now its about time.” The lights were rising in the ballroom to signal the end of the performance. Stagehands hopped up and swiftly began disassembling the impromptu platform that had been used for the concert. Conversations slowly began to start once more as a swarm of service staff came out with additional flutes of champagne. “With this vantage point, I bet we will have the best-”

Le trailed off abruptly and blinked over Alta’s shoulder. Alta, still unsure how she felt about the strange impulse to redeem herself, let Le’s gaze guide her own. She twisted around.

Hurrying up the stairs with an easel under one arm and a canvas in the other was none other than the woman who had just rocked the room with her music. Her long, voluminous black hair trailed after her like a cascading river of ink and her forehead was still damp with sweat from exertion. For whatever reason, the woman was in quite a hurry, so as she rushed forward, it was only when she was a few meters away that she spotted the duo.

And because she had been making a beeline for their location, she skidded to a halt, somehow managing to make the whole routine look graceful even with murderously thin stilettos.

“Ah…” The woman said weakly. Then she blinked and smiled awkwardly. “I didn’t mean to bother you… I was just going to paint what… what might happen next…”

“Wonderful! I can certainly appreciate a woman with an eye for perspective. It’s definitely going to be centered around the platform with the challenges right? So this spot gives the best vantage in the ballroom.” Le stepped to the side and smiled warmly. “You are Reina, correct? It was a breathtaking performance. And you are welcome to join us for this protagonist viewing. I’m Le and this is Alta Bounty.”

“Pleasure to meet you both,” Reina said with a small smile. She immediately began setting up her easel and canvas and then produced several stools on which she placed palettes with various paints. Only when she had finished did the woman turn to Le. “You are… Le? From Zone 7? I’m really sorry about what you’ve been going through. Has it been… manageable?”

Le grimaced. “Fortunately, no one with any real ability to rise within the System cares that we are women. So the attempts have been… inept. But unfortunately, they’ve only been becoming bolder…”

“I’m really sorry to hear that,” Reina reached out and touched Le’s shoulder. Then she turned to Alta and asked. “Are you… also from Zone 7?”

“No, I’m…” Alta paused. She licked her lips before trying out a new perspective on herself. “I’m just a defeated villain that is redeeming herself by following Randidly-”

“Aha! I knew it!” Le positively beamed at Alta. “I suspected it to be so, but I’m so happy you confirmed it yourself! What kind of villain were you? How early in Randidly’s journey was it? Were you the sort of villain that Randidly himself created through carelessness?!?”

Alta smiled weakly and tried to decide how to respond. Raina chuckled and began professionally mixing her paints.

*****

Isabella Cortez was just about to be drawn into another deep discussion with Obyrn Myyr when she felt a light touch at her elbow. She twisted around and found the manufactured smile that Mrs. Hamilton only used when something important was about to happen. Instantly, Isabella adopted a similar expression.

“If you will excuse me,” Isabella said to Obyrn Myyr, who nodded solemnly and turned away to other matters. Then Isabella let Mrs. Hamilton guide her across the room toward the area where the stage was still being disassembled.

“Why are we going over here?” Isabella asked curiously as Mrs. Hamilton led them up off of the glowstone tiles and toward the efficient workers. At this point, the stage had almost entirely been taken to pieces and hauled off. So there was plenty of space, but still...

There was a part of her that wished Mrs. Hamilton would treat her more like an adult, but a more practical portion of Isabella was aware that Mrs. Hamilton was almost preternaturally disposed to sense the shifts in circumstances in any situation. It was that very Skill that she had leveraged to make Donnyton the political power that it now was, even after Randidly had cut his ties with them.

“I have a feeling that soon people will be driven off of the ballroom floor,” Mrs. Hamilton said quietly. She turned and calmly surveyed the area. “And we should get a good spot for what is going to come next.”

“And what comes next?” Isabella asked. But immediately after she had spoken those words, a strange silence began to spread across the ballroom. It was transferred one person to person, spinning them around and making them look toward the back of the ballroom. Because a figure appeared there, wrapped in sharp-edged grey armor and holding a huge lance with three undulating spearheads.

His hair was black and wild. His eyes were emerald. His feet were bare. He wore a heavy expression as he glanced around the room.

Randidly Ghosthound had come dressed for battle.