The ballroom stretched wide enough to swallow voices in its space.
A narrow runway cut straight through the center while the rest of the hall spread outward into polished marble and soft golden lights.
Above it all rose a vast circular dome of transparent glass, the night sky resting just beyond it. Stars shimmered faintly through the ceiling, and the moon hung high and clear below the entire ball.
Cwal stood near the edge of the hall, eyes tilted upward toward that moon.
Beside him, cupcakes were being swallowed left and right.
"You're not gonna eat, ghost?"
"Ghost?" Cwal blinked, taken aback.
"I always took pride in knowing every student from Class 1A, yet I cannot believe I missed one. So I mistook you for a ghost."
Cwal ended up chatting with Emma, who was happily demolishing another cupcake.
"You're close with Azalea, right? Who is her partner tonight?"
"Kenth," she replied casually.
Finster walked up to them.
"Nyahooo."
Behind him stood Tasora, her dress a mixture of white and gray.
Finster wore a green and black five-piece suit that matched her colors.
Emma's eyes widened.
"Whoa. Tasora, you look beautiful."
Tasora blinked, slightly thrown off.
"Really? I do not feel comfortable in clothes like this. It is hard to move as well."
She threw air punches that were strong enough to blow a small gust of wind.
"See?"
"We are not going to war, dummy," Finster said.
"Besides, isn't it nice to relax for a while?"
"I am always relaxed."
"Oh, give me a break will you? I meant relax with your friends, dummy."
"Is that so?" Tasora muttered.
Emma suddenly looked around.
"Anyway, speaking of friends, where is Matt?"
"For the last time, we are not friends."
"Yeah, sure, sure. You hang out with him, train him, joke with him, tease him, and you are not friends."
"Hah...For some reason, that guy dont wanna to be friends with me. I also do not know where he's been this past few days and have been skipping training with him, no thanks to you." Tasora said as she pointed repeatedly towards Finster's chest.
Finster laughed and raised his hand.
"Haha, students are supposed to act like students and not soldiers," he said while shrugging.
" By the way, Emma, what about Azalea?"
"Oh, I just explained it to Ghost over here that she will come with Kenth."
"Ghost?"
Finster looked at the spot beside Emma.
"This gu— huh?"
The space she was pointing to was empty.
Emma tilted her head.
"Where did he go?"
"Are you okay? Did you eat too many sweets that you are starting to hallucinate?" Finster said.
"Fatty..." Tasora murmured.
"HEY, I HEARD THAT! Who said that?!"
Suddenly, loud cheers and murmurs rose from the entrance.
Everyone turned.
Kenth had arrived.
He looked like he was sweating bullets, nervously fidgeting as he walked forward. Looping her arm through his was Azalea, smiling widely.
Both of them wore red.
Kenth was in a fitted crimson suit that looked slightly too stiff on him, his tie pulled tight as he fidgeted like he was heading to a trial.
Beside him, Azalea wore a flowing red dress that moved easily with every step.
The cloth shimmered faintly under the golden lights, soft and elegant, the sleeves trailing just enough to make her look almost theatrical beside Kenth's rigid posture.
She smiled like she was enjoying every second of it.
Emma leaned forward slightly over the railings.
"Whoa… seeing them side by side like this, Kenth sure is tall."
"Are you sure it is not because Azalea is just short?" Finster said.
In the distance, Azalea's smile instantly vanished.
Finster froze.
"Huh… how did she hear me from all the way here?"
"Is there something wrong, Azalea?" Kenth asked nervously.
"Oh, it is nothing," Azalea replied sweetly.
"I just saw Finster sneer at me. He must be cursing me in his mind."
Kenth laughed awkwardly.
"I am surprised you could tell from this far away."
"Well, he may only have joined us for a bit, but we have been through a lot," Azalea said calmly.
"Also, I am sorry."
"Huh? About what? Did I do something wrong?" Kenth said as he straightened his posture even more.
"I know you were pressured into being my partner by your mother. I already told my servant to write back to your house that they should allow you to choose whoever you like next time instead of using you as a political bargaining chip."
Kenth scratched the back of his head shyly.
"Is that so…"
Emma waved her hand, calling them over, and the two approached the group.
"You look beautiful, Azalea," Finster said.
"Save it, Finster. You're getting a beating tomorrow," Azalea replied flatly.
"What did I do? I just complimented you!"
"Greetings, heir of Drakemont," Emma said with a polite bow.
"Um, yes, likewise,"
Finster scratched the back of his head. "I still haven't paid you back for Capture the Point. Don't expect the same result next time."
Tasora simply gave him a small nod.
At that moment, Nagi approached energetically with Fanna beside her.
"Hello, guys! Congrats on passing prelims to all of us!"
"Yep, likewise," Emma replied.
Small talk drifted around the group after that.
Emma continued devouring sweets like the table had personally offended her, while Kenth kept fidgeting with his sleeves.
Being surrounded by people probably scared him more than being surrounded by magical beasts in battle.
Another commotion stopped Emma right before she swallowed another pastry.
At the entrance, Maku and Waffel had arrived side by side.
"Whoa! A literal prince and princess of two different kingdoms as ball partners!" Nagi exclaimed.
Maku joined the group while Waffel immediately went to speak with Azalea.
"How did you even convince Waffel of all people to be your partner?" Nagi asked.
"Well, I've always wanted a connection with the Popovich family in the future."
Maku covered a mischievous smile with his hand.
"Especially since I heard they made another breakthrough with their loom production."
"So business as usual, huh?"
"Indeed. Business as usual." Maku glanced around.
"Speaking of business, have you seen Solaris? I need to discuss a future meeting we both need to attend."
Nagi was listening while casually stealing a bite from one of Emma's pastries.
"I think she's not here yet. I think among all of us, it's only her and… Matt."
The pastry slipped from her hand and dropped to the floor.
"Hey! Don't waste food!" Emma shouted.
....
"Wait a minute… don't tell me."
At that moment, the loudest uproar yet erupted from the entrance.
At first, it sounded like cheers.
Then the murmurs started.
"Who is the ugly swine beside Her Highness?"
"Do you know that boy?"
"How dare he touch Princess Solaris?"
I tried loosening my tie, already feeling the stares drilling into my skull.
A sudden, sharp sting hit my shoulder.
Solaris was pinching me.
She looked back with a perfect smile that existed only on her lips. Her eyes held none of it.
"Fanna, am I dreaming? Can you slap me?" Nagi said in disbelief.
"I would never. Also, you are not dreaming." Fanna replied.
When I arrived at the group, I gave Nagi a wide grin.
"Told you you wouldn't believe it."
Solaris slipped her arm out of mine and briefly greeted a few nobles from her faction. The exchange lasted only a moment before she returned to stand with us.
"Not in the mood to mingle, Solaris?" Maku asked.
"Never have been."
A loud tapping sound echoed from the stage, drawing everyone's attention.
Eclair stood there, adjusting the microphone while wearing a dress so revealing that she looked like a whore in broad daylight.
"How repulsive. And that is supposed to be our headmaster?" Solaris muttered.
"Agreed. I am not into revealing type of girls," Finster added.
Eclair cleared her throat and unfolded a piece of paper.
"Once again, we celebrate Astraea Remembrance."
The hall quieted.
"This occasion exists to honor the founding ideals of the academy. Unity among nations, cooperation among factions, and the cultivation of those who will one day carry the burdens of this world."
She turned the paper slightly, scanning the next line.
"For the students present tonight, this is also a celebration of your success in passing the preliminary examinations. Consider it a brief moment of peace before the academy resumes trying to crush your spirits with future tests."
A few quiet chuckles spread through the crowd.
Eclair did not react.
"This ball also welcomes our distinguished guests from outside the academy. Connections formed tonight may shape alliances, opportunities, and partnerships in the years to come."
She lowered the paper.
"In other words, behave yourselves."
She turned her head toward the orchestra and nodded.
The orchestra immediately shifted, and the hall filled with elegant music as the dance portion began.
I extended my hand toward Solaris.
"Do not get angry if I step on you."
"Just follow my lead."
As we stepped onto the floor, I could feel Nagi's intense stare drilling into the back of my head.
The dance floor filled quickly.
Maku and Waffel moved with quiet elegance, their steps smooth and perfectly timed as they had practiced since childhood.
Nagi and Fanna danced normally, though Nagi kept stealing glances toward me every few seconds like she was still trying to process what she was seeing.
Nearby, Azalea and Kenth danced together.
The height difference between them made the whole thing look strange. Kenth's long arms and towering frame made it seem like he was puppeteering Azalea across the floor like a marionette.
Meanwhile, Solaris guided me through the steps with precise movements, correcting my position with small pulls of her hand.
As the music slowed toward its ending, the dancers shifted into their final pose.
Solaris began to release my hand.
I did not let go.
Instead, I lifted my gaze toward the transparent glass dome above us.
Right on cue.
"Cwal!" I screamed.
....
"crack....."
....
"CRASHHH!!!"
The dome shattered.
Glass exploded across the ceiling like a burst of frozen stars.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Screams erupted throughout the hall as teachers rushed forward to shield the students.
They did not make it in time.
The world twisted.
For a moment, there was nothing.
Then the ground beneath our feet changed.
Fine white sand.
The distant roar of waves.
Seagulls are crying overhead.
The grand ballroom was gone.
We were standing on a beach.