"Oh, don't be like that, Emily of Leonore. Make merry, drink a little...have some fun. We only have a week before things get messy after all," Arthur said as he grabbed a glass of champagne.
"And we are going to a party instead of preparing."
"I have to agree with Arthur on this. Live life like it's your last," Rachel insisted as she also grabbed a glass and downed it swiftly. Her eyes widened as she saw a table with cheesecake. "Oh, my PRIME... they have my favorite food!"
"Bleh," Emily said as she watched Rachel rush over to the table and grab a whole cheesecake.
"How could you not like cheesecake, Emily of Leonore? Cheesecake and wine are Leonore's specialities," Arthur replied as he grabbed a knife and cut himself a slice. "Are you really going to eat that whole cheesecake?" Arthur asked as he glanced at Rachel.
"You judging me?"Rachel replied with a raised eyebrow.
"Absolutely not. In fact, I wish Emily had the same enthusiasm you do for Leonore cuisine."
Emily raised her eyebrow as Arthur looked at her. Goosebumps popped up on her arms and neck. A sudden sense of deja vu crawled up her back and down her arms as she opened her mouth to respond, but paused, then rubbed her neck. She blinked rapidly, then looked around before her emerald eyes stopped on Rachel.
"Why are you staring at me like that, Emily of Leonore?" Rachel asked as she took a bite of cheesecake. A smile stretched from ear to ear as her eyes lit up like Christmas trees. "This is exquisite...you should try some."
Emily blinked as she scratched her hair. "Sorry... didn't mean to stare. Just what's that word when you feel you've done something before?" She asked.
"You mean déjà vu?" Arthur replied as he took a sip of champagne.
"Yeah... though I don't know why. I have never been here before."
"A Sage once told me that déjà vu is just another version of ourselves doing the same thing in another universe," Rachel explained. "Maybe there is another Emily out there who loves cheesecake."
Emily rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Doubt it … now waffles I could get behind," she replied as she took a bite. "Okay... that's actually pretty freaking good!"
Rachel laughed as Emily's eyes widened, and a smile formed on her face as she took another bite. "Good to know your taste buds work, or the other Emily's taste buds work at least."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Rachel smirked, then took another bite.
"Well, when you two finish arguing over food preferences, come find me in the villa. My associates and I will chat up the fellow chosen before tonight's performance," Arthur explained as he sipped his champagne.
"Where specifically?" Rachel asked.
"The ballroom, that's where everyone is congregating for Sarah's performance."
"Ugh, can't you just tell us now?" Emily groaned as she finished her cheesecake.
"Emily of Leonore, chosen by the ENGINE for her all-encompassing anti-socialness," Rachel laughed.
Emily rolled her eyes and stuck up her middle finger at Rachel.
Arthur smiled as he finished his champagne. "Some things are better shown than explained, Emily of Leonore," he said, and then started walking towards the manor.
"Waffles?" Rachel asked as she grabbed two glasses of champagne from a butler tray.
"Yeah, what about it?" Emily replied as she accepted the glass from Rachel.
"Why?"
"Because I fucking love waffles?"
"Why?"
"Stop asking me why," Emily grumbled as she sipped her champagne. "Bleh," she muttered, then stared at the glass with a sour frown.
Rachel chuckled and shook her head. "That's some of the finest champagne money can buy, and you just said bleh."
"It's basically fizzy water."
"And waffles are just pancakes."
"What, no!? They are nowhere near the same!"
Rachel sipped her champagne and laughed. "Same ingredients, too."
Emily forced a thin-lipped smile on her face after she opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Rachel shrugged, then gestured towards the manor. "I am just saying. Anyway, we should probably see what this 'olive branch' entails," she said.
Emily glanced up at the golden chandelier hanging overhead as she followed Rachel. Her eyes glimmered with wonder as she stared at the intricate craftsmanship, as the lights cast delicate shadows across the marble floors. Acrylic paintings aligned the walls as butlers handed drinks to patrons. Rhythmic Baroque music filled the air as nobles danced in the ballroom.
"Surprised to see you here, kid," Elijah said as Rachel and Emily walked over towards him.
"I could say the same thing to you," Emily replied as she watched Elijah pull out his pack of cigarettes.
"Shiyu thought it would be beneficial since a lot of other chosen would be here," Elijah explained as he lit his cigarette, then gestured towards Shiyu, who was speaking with Sarah.
Emily scanned the ballroom. Nobles of all shapes and sizes mingled in imitation masks of all colors that dotted the crowd. Guests who had been chosen clustered in groups. She watched their body language and the frequent whispering as they sipped wine and champagne.
Emily groaned as she made eye contact with Sarah.
"Oh, if it isn't the musical prodigy herself," Sarah said as she waved at Emily. "Are you performing later tonight?" She asked as she walked over with Shiyu.
"Absolutely not," Emily replied.
"Why not... we could do a duet? We would be the talk of the party."
"I'll pass," Emily replied as she crossed her arms.
Elijah chuckled and shook his head.
"Don't be coy; we both know you're not afraid of the stage. Or are you afraid I am better than you, hmmm?"
"Is that a challenge?" Rachel replied with a raised eyebrow.
"I am glad you asked that, Rachel of Augustine," Arthur interjected as he walked over and stood next to Sarah.
"Where is our other friend, by chance, Arthur?" Sarah asked.
"Other friend?" Emily asked with a raised eyebrow.
"My other associate... ah, there he is," Arthur explained, then turned to his right as Amos stood next to him with his hands in his pockets.
"Greetings, think we all met before," Amos introduced as he glanced at everyone before his eyes fixated on Rachel. "I knew this day would come. How's your brother?"
"An asshole as usual, but yes, we both knew we would be chosen. Doesn't help you wrote the curriculum on how to win."
Amos smiled and shrugged. "And now we get to compete against one another to be PRIME... or maybe not?"
"Maybe?" Elijah said, with a raised eyebrow.
"I will let Arthur explain," Amos replied.
"What's this about?" Emily asked as she looked up at Arthur.
"Alliances are forming amongst the other chosen. I am forming my own and would like all of you to be a part of it," Arthur explained as he glanced around at everyone. "Sarah and Amos have already partnered up with me, but some of the other alliances are reaching double digits... strength in numbers, so to speak."
"I will go wherever Emily of Leonore goes," Shiyu replied. "However, nobody knows what awaits us during the pilgrimage."
Emily rolled her eyes.
"You are right; however, there's nothing wrong with being prepared for any scenario," Arthur replied as he grabbed a glass of champagne from a butler.
"Going into the pilgrimage solo is a surefire way to get yourself killed early," Amos replied. "History is full of brave individuals who tried to survive alone. The one who ends up winning was always linked to a coalition."
"But only one can be PRIME, though," Elijah interjected as he lit another cigarette. "We would eventually be backstabbing one another."
"The alliance is indeed temporary, but the idea is not to die right at the starting line in some group competition scenario."
"Hopefully it does not have to come down to that... but yes, even I see the reasoning for teaming up," Sarah replied.
"And historically, everybody forms alliances during the week before the pilgrimage. Nobody knows what trials the ENGINE will throw at the chosen, so the logical conclusion is to form alliances," Amos said as he grabbed two glasses of champagne and then handed one to Emily.
Emily glanced at the glass, swirling the fizzy water as Amos's statement lingered in her mind. "I don't see the point when you know your teammates would stab you while you sleep, eventually."
"We all are thinking survival, Emily of Leonore... the very last thing I would want to do is that. Ally with us, and we can work the kinks out along the way."
Sarah sighed as she looked at Emily. "Arthur, your way isn't working, and I be damned to keep this political when our lives are on the line," she said as she grabbed her violin nearby.
"They haven't said no... and what are you doing?" Arthur grumbled as he watched her walk back over.
"I challenge you, Emily of Leonore," Sarah declared as she clutched her violin.
Emily raised an eyebrow as Sarah strummed an intricate tune. "Compete for what?"
"Are you not familiar with your own cultural traditions? I am challenging you to a musical improvisation duel since you don't want to perform a duet with me."
"Umm, why?"
"Because I will not die because of a number situation. Duel me in musical combat, Emily of Leonore. If I win, you all join our alliance."
"She accepts!" Rachel interjected.
"Now hold on just a moment there," Elijah said as he coughed.
"There's nothing to talk about. Challenging her is like challenging us, and I have faith Emily will win."
Emily's eyes widened. "But...I..."
"Well... are you going to throw Rachel under the bus, or are you going to accept my challenge?" Sarah asked as she glanced at Emily with a smirk.
Emily groaned and rolled her eyes as she noticed people beginning to look over in her direction.
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to do, Emily of Leonore," Shiyu said.
Emily sighed as she glanced at Shiyu, then at Sarah. "Fine, but somewhere else."
"Oh no, performing on stage is the only way to do it. The people are the judges, now stop being a coward," Sarah yelled as the crowd cheered as she strummed a tune.
Emily glanced down at the ground, avoiding eye contact as she heard the cheers as nobles congregated towards the stage at the back end of the ballroom. Her hands got clammy as her heart thumped in her chest. She then felt Rachel grab her shoulder.
"We will get waffles when you kick her ass," Rachel said with a smirk on her face.
Emily blinked rapidly, and then her eyes narrowed like a hawk's. She scanned the ballroom and then the instruments on the stage.
"Any instrument?" Emily asked Sarah.
Sarah nodded and smiled.
"Rules?"
"Four rounds of one-minute performances. The orchestra plays us a rhythm, and the people decide who played the best solo over the melody. How does that sound?" Sarah asked as she slowly started making her way towards the stage. "I will even go first if that helps?"
"Alright, but you asked for this," Emily accepted and shrugged. She started to walk towards the stage, eyes fixated on the cello sitting near a harpsichord.