The music ended and the nobles stepped away from their dance partners with a slight bow. Some immediately paired up with a new partner, while others went to mingle with the other guests.
Gian left the dance floor and his eyes searched for Aurelia. He located her soon enough and began making his way to her when he passed by Stryg and paused. “Are you alright?” he asked, noticing Stryg’s pensive expression.
“...There’s just so many things happening all at once. I’m not sure leaving so soon is the best idea anymore,” Stryg admitted quietly.
Gian gave him a grandfatherly smile and placed his hand on Stryg’s shoulder. “Your life has been one of constant scrutiny and responsibility for the last few months. You seem to have forgotten one important thing.”
“And what’s that?”
“It’s not always about you. People will live their lives and the world will continue, whether you are in the realm or not. You don’t have to carry the world on your shoulders, my boy. You can relax. Others will rise to meet whatever problems arise in your absence.”
“And if they don’t?”
“Then I’ll deal with it,” Gian winked and pushed him to the dance floor. “It’s your party, try and enjoy it.”
Stryg gave a theatrical groan, then strode into the crowd of people, searching for a dance partner before the next song began. A noble lady noticed him and made her way to him with a hurried gait. It didn’t take long before a dozen others noticed Stryg and crowded around him, vying for the chance to dance with him.
Suddenly, Stryg felt as if this had been a bad idea. He raised his hands placatingly, “Actually, on second thought, I think I’ll—”
“May I have this dance?” asked a familiar voice.
Stryg turned and found Loh offering her hand to him. He sighed in relief and took her hand. “Gladly.”
The musical troupe began their next song as Stryg and Loh fell into their place amongst the others. He wasn’t familiar with the song, but he remembered well enough the steps to such tunes from the dancing instructor Loh and Elzri had hired for him.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve done this, huh?” Loh asked as she matched his rhythm.
“Yeah. Thanks for saving me back there.”
“I couldn’t let my precious apprentice get mobbed to death by a bunch of pampered nobles, now could I?”
“Heh. Guess not. …Hey, Loh?”
“Hm?”
“I’m sorry about what happened yesterday at the council meeting. I know you wanted me to be king to help fix the problems in Hollow Shade. You risked a lot for me and now I’m leaving.” Stryg missed a step as he spoke, but Loh caught him and they continued to dance without trouble.
“I can’t say I wasn’t surprised that you’re leaving, or even somewhat confused. I had hoped for a different outcome,” she said bittersweetly.
“I’m sorry for disappointing you.”
“Don’t be.” She looked him in the eye. “I still remember the boy I met on his first day at the academy. I can hardly recognize that boy anymore. I am proud of who you’ve become. I have always been proud of you. I will always be proud of you.”
His whole life, Stryg had been afraid of failure, of disappointing others. Yet here was Loh, a woman who had seen him for who he was on the first day they met. She had not judged him for being a goblin or for being an outsider. Despite all the problems the two of them had gone through, Loh had never treated him differently for who he was or for the failures he made along the way.
“Thank you.” He hugged her in the middle of the song without care for the people’s stares or whispers. “I’m going to miss you.”
She patted his back and glanced around somewhat abashedly. “The feeling is mutual.”
Stryg took a step back, grabbed her hand, and placed his other hand on her waist before resuming the dance to the tune of the music. “So, what are your plans? Are you really going to become the new headmistress of the academy for the new term?”
“Gods, no. Ismene will be taking over as headmistress.”
“Ismene?”
“Yeah. She said she wanted to honor my grandfather’s legacy. I’m all for it, really. I’m already busy enough handling the leadership of House Noir.”
“I know what you mean.” Leaving his responsibilities as lord of House Veres, even for a little while, was a welcome respite. “Are you still going to be teaching?”
“Only one class for now.” Loh hesitated, took a deep breath, and spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, “I’m thinking of taking on another apprentice.”
Stryg blinked in surprise. “Oh? Who?”
“I think you know her. Sandra. Of the Cinder Brood Tribe.”
Stryg turned his head and looked across the ballroom to where the Cinder Brood children and teenagers were sitting and eating. Sandra was there laughing at some joke Witt made or perhaps she was laughing at him, Stryg couldn’t tell. “I do. In fact, I sponsored her invitation to the academy.”
“The academy needs more goblins, we certainly need more mages. Too many died in the siege… Even though there are laws in place to protect her, she’ll still be targeted for simply being a goblin. She’ll need someone to look after her.”
“And that would be you?”
Loh couldn’t meet Stryg’s eyes. “Sandra shares the same colors as me. I could teach her what I know. Plus, no one will mess with her if they know she’s my apprentice.”
Stryg thought of his time at the academy and how much more difficult it would have been without Loh. “You’re right.”
“It’s just… I don’t know if I deserve another chance, but I’m going to try, for the girl’s sake.”
The song ended and Stryg and Loh didn’t move as the other dancers shifted all around them to find another partner. “I believe in you. Treat Sandra well. She’s been through a lot.”
Loh swallowed the lump in her throat. “I will. Thanks for believing in me, it means a lot coming from you.”
“I could say the same thing about you,” Stryg smiled but it cracked when he noticed Tauri staring at him from a distance. She quickly looked away and continued talking with a pair of noble ladies.
Loh noticed the interaction and nudged Stryg toward Tauri’s direction. “You should go talk to her. Trust me, I know what Tauri’s like, and it’s better if you confront her about your problems now rather than run from them. Gods only know how much I wish I had.”
“I think I’ll take your advice. Thank you for the dance, Master.” He gave her one more hug, “Goodbye, Loh.”
She leaned into the hug and closed her eyes. “Goodbye, Stryg.”
Lily quickly stepped in and took Loh’s hand for another dance as Stryg left to find Tauri. The latter hadn’t left; she was still speaking to her fellow noblewomen, laughing at their jokes, though the mirth did not reach her eyes.
“May I have a moment of your time?” Stryg asked.
The noblewomen turned and did a double-take when they noticed him. Before Tauri could even respond, the two women excused themselves and ran off.
“Stryg,” Tauri sighed. “Let’s not make a spectacle.”
“Please, just let me say this, and I’ll leave you be.”
After a doubtful pause, she nodded for him to continue.
Stryg exhaled slowly and met her gaze. “When I told the council I was leaving I didn’t understand how much it would change your life. It’s not an excuse, I know, but I just wanted you to understand, because I understand now what my actions meant. I’m sorry for not telling you about all of this beforehand. I should have.
“I love you, Tauri, and I would love it if you could give me another chance, but I understand that you need some space, temporarily… or permanently. Either way, I’ll support your decision.”
Tauri’s expression was strange, unprepared. He couldn’t quite make out what she was feeling. “Stryg… I—”
“You don’t have to give me an answer, not right now.” He took a step back. “I just wanted to let you know.” He turned on his heel and walked away.
~~~
Stryg found himself alone on the Katag’s balcony. The ballroom had grown too crowded and he needed a breath of fresh air, or so he told himself. In truth, he simply wanted to be alone.
The night sky was clear with not a single cloud in sight, only the moon and stars on a sea of midnight blue. Stryg thought of Maeve’s vision and wondered if his father knew anything about it or could at least make sense of it. He considered asking Lunae about the vision but he worried she might forbid him from leaving if he did.
“Stryg! I knew you were here,” Belle walked onto the balcony with a big grin on her face. She was in her ordinary battle leathers instead of a dress.
“Hello, Belle,” Stryg smiled wryly. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to make it.”
“I was busy looking for something.” She was clearly holding something behind her back, but he pretended not to notice.
“How did you know I was here?”
“Easy. I narrowed down your scent from all the others in the ballroom and tracked you down.”
That made sense, he supposed. With enough effort, he could probably do the same. “Well, you found me.”
“I’m going to miss you,” she blurted out while fidgeting from side to side. “It was nice having someone who understood what it meant to be like me.”
His expression softened and he was suddenly glad not to be alone. “I couldn’t agree more, cousin.”
“I got you something.” She pulled her arms back and revealed an ivory horn with gold inlay and a hundred small, intricate arcane sigils.
“What is it?” Stryg carefully grabbed the horn and examined it.
Belle brushed her bright scarlet curls aside and revealed an ivory-gold earring. “When you blow the horn, no matter what realm you may be in, I’ll hear it, and I’ll come find you.”
Stryg stared at the horn, stunned. “I’ve never heard of an artifact capable of reaching across realms like this. It must be invaluable. I don’t know what to say.”
Belle waved him away. “Don’t worry about it. I stole it from my mom’s treasure vault. Just promise me you’ll use it if you’re ever in trouble.”
“I promise. Thank you, this is an amazing gift.” He smiled warmly.
“You’re welcome. Oh! And don’t tell my mom about this, yeah?”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“There you are, Stryg. I’ve been looking all over for you,” Feli sashayed onto the balcony in her beautiful red dress with black accents in the colors of House Veres.
“Hi, Feli!” Belle waved at her. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thank you, Belle. I only wish I looked half as radiant as you,” Feli said.
“I like her, cousin,” Belle said.
“I like her, too,” Stryg said.
Feli slid an arm around Stryg’s waist. “I was hoping we could get a dance together before the night is over.”
“How could I refuse?” Stryg thanked Belle one more time before he allowed himself to be pulled away.
The next song was a quiet tune. Feli rested her head on his shoulder and the two swayed to the song in comfortable silence.
~~~
Callum found Kithina sitting alone on a stone bench in the gardens. The music and chatter of the ballroom drifted from the manor and harmonized with the gurgle of the garden’s fountain.
“Not hungry?” Callum asked.
Kithina barely looked up at his arrival. “...Not really.”
“Lucky for you, I didn’t bring any food.” He lifted up a pair of glasses and a wine bottle.
Kithina scoffed with a hint of a smirk and made some room on the bench. He sat next to her and poured her a glass.
She sipped and held the taste for a moment before swallowing. “It’s good.”
“I know. The Katags really don’t hold back on a celebration.”
“Mm.”
Callum glanced at her but didn’t say a word and simply drank with her.
“...I’m sorry for not being in there with everyone else,” Kithina said.
“Don’t be.” He didn’t blame her for avoiding the festivities. He knew what it was like to have lost one’s parents and siblings. Though arguably, he hadn’t been nearly as close to his family—save Elise—as Kithina had been with her own. Still, he understood not caring for ballrooms and parties right now.
“Thanks for checking in on me. You can go back now, I’ll be there in a little bit,” Kithina said in a quiet voice.
Callum shrugged. “Eh. There’s too many people in there. All of them keep asking me if I can introduce them to Stryg. I’d rather be out here where it’s quiet. Besides, I like the cool breeze.”
Kithina gave him the side eye. “Is that so? I thought you enjoyed the parties and brushing shoulders with noble snobs.”
“You’d be surprised how much one can change in a few months.”
“...Yeah. I guess so,” she mumbled.
Callum winced at his poor choice of words. “So, what do you plan to do? The war is won and you are now officially an adept mage.”
“I don’t know… I don’t know if I know much of anything anymore. Except that I don’t want to be in there.” She glanced at the manor behind them.
“Then let’s not be.” He poured her another drink and clinked their glasses together.
“So. What about you? Any plans?”
He downed his drink and exhaled in satisfaction. “Let’s see, after almost dying multiple times in the last few weeks, I’ve decided I need a break from all of this. Hollow Shade is going to become chaotic very soon thanks to our good ol’ friend, Stryg, and I’d rather not be here when it does.”
“Where will you go?”
He gave her a sly look. “I don’t know. I think I’ll travel the realm, see where the wind carries me.”
“You asshole.” She hit him on the arm. “You know that’s my dream.”
“Well, you could always join me.”
“Join you?” She laughed, but it quickly died out when she noticed he wasn’t laughing. “You’re serious?”
“Why not?”
“What do you mean ‘why not’?” She scoffed.
“What do you have to lose?”
She looked back at the manor. “...You don’t want me to travel with you. I’m miserable company right now.”
“Then let’s be miserable together, hm?”
Her lips curled ever so faintly. “I suppose you wouldn’t last long without someone watching over your back. A pampered noble who doesn’t even know how to start a fire.”
“Exactly. Whatever would I do without the help of a fiery redhead mage?” He nudged her shoulder.
“Probably get lost in the wilderness and die of starvation.”
“Are you saying I’m lost without you?” He placed a hand on his chest and gasped.
“I’m saying you’re a lost cause.”
“I’ll have you know, I possess the most important quality any traveler needs.”
“Oh, and what’s that?”
“Wine, obviously.” He raised the bottle and gave it a shake.
She laughed. “Give me that.”