Chapter 25
CHAPTER
If there was any way to win my squad over, it was through their stomachs for sure.
The Aetherion had everything; meat, salads, potato, fish, rice, fruits and even brought out wine. It was like a feast, they presented us with whatever we asked for. Nate was already on his third plate, gobbling food down as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks.
Mey savored hers slowly, letting out small sighs of delight as she tasted something new she liked.
Ashley and Eve fought about what tasted best, the chicken or the fish, trying out different seasonings to see if their arguments changed.
Lionel seemed almost frozen in his chair, we had never seen this much food before, let alone been allowed to taste it freely like this.
I myself didn’t know where to start; everything looked good, but I didn’t have the same appetite as Nate, my nerves making me feel nauseous.
Malakai placed a plate in front of me, a few potatoes, a large piece of chicken and plenty of fresh salad.
“Eat,” he demanded, leaving no room to argue.
“I’m not a child,” I muttered, staring at the food, as an unsettling feeling spread through me. What if they had poisoned the food? My eyes darted up to the others, watching them wide-eyed.
“It’s not poisoned,” Malakai interrupted, as if hearing my thoughts.
I cut a piece of the chicken and looked at it. “You’re sure?”
He sighed, grabbed my chair and hauled it closer to him. Grabbing my hand holding the fork, he tilted it towards him and snatched the piece of chicken off of it.
“Hey!” I snapped.
He chewed it as he looked at me, and I waited, trying to read him.
“What would you have done if I died?” he asked once he swallowed, eyes glimmering all of a sudden.
“Scratch a nuisance from my list,” I snorted, as I began eating myself.
“Really?” he huffed unbothered, watching me. My hair fell forward as I tilted my head down to eat. His hand caught it before it fell into the food and brushed it back behind my ear, his fingers skimming along my cheek in the process.
My eyes darted to his, and it felt like they softened as soon as they met with mine.
I cleared my throat and felt my cheeks warming. “Thanks.”
I turned my eyes back to my food, not daring to look at anyone else.
“Nate, stop eating, you’ll get sick,” Mey lectured in the background.
“It’s so good!” Nate sighed, picking up another piece of chicken.
“You’re making me sick,” Eve said, wrinkling her nose in disgust. Then, she turned to look at Lionel, who had hardly touched his food. He was too careful, so taken aback by everything that he almost seemed paralyzed by it.
“Are you okay?” I asked, and he looked bewildered at me.
“It’s… I’ve never seen such food,” he murmured. Realizing how weird he might’ve sounded he scratched his head nervously and continued eating.
“I hope it’s all to your liking,” Nicron said, surveilling us politely.
“Yes!” Nate exclaimed.
“No complaints here,” Ashley agreed, taking a piece of bread next.
After we had practically emptied their dining hall, Nicron guided us towards the inn. On the way, we saw someone using air magic to dry their laundry, and earth-wielders planting seeds out in the fields.
It was odd, seeing how many different ways there were to use magic, while all we had gathered was the threat of it.
“Are we free to look around before the ball?” Nate asked and Ashley almost skittered with excitement.
“While you’re free to peruse these parts, I’d suggest you don’t stray too far from the inn, we wouldn’t want any trouble to occur,” Nicron smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
“That was a yes,” Ashley decided for herself.
“Don’t cause trouble,” I yapped at her and she gave me a disappointed look.
It had already begun to darken. Some torches were lit, but the night sky was still visible, without a cloud in sight.
The inn was a large building too, not the same size as the main structure in the center, but it was clearly bigger than the regular houses we had passed by. It had its own little stone fence, decorated with flowers. It was built with light wood, darker pillars holding up the roof.
Nicron took the lead, talking to the innkeeper who had a wary look in her green eyes.
“This is Inrelle, she owns the inn,” Nicron explained. “If there is anything you need, please inform her.”
She bowed her head slightly, her blonde hair falling forward. “I’ll prepare a room each.”
“Thank the gods,” Eve muttered, but Ashley almost looked disappointed instead.
“You can share with me if you’d like,” Mey offered and Ashley jumped at the opportunity.
“We have a few bathtubs, I can make three available for you, that way you can all get a turn during the evening to refresh,” Inrelle suggested.
Ashley and I gaped. “Bathtubs? Like actual warm water!?”
Inrelle was visibly sweating as she tried to keep her faint smile in check. “Yes.”
“I’ll go first!” I shot out. The others played rock, paper and scissors to decide their order. I guess I had an advantage, since I was the one who would actually take part in the trials.
Inrelle was a great hostess. She took her time to show us around, patiently answering all our questions and chuckled at our eagerness. As we walked around, I only saw two other guests, perhaps she didn’t have customers very often? Or maybe they simply stayed out of our way.
However, all of my worries disappeared as soon as I sunk into the bathtub. I had never had the luxury of bathing in warm water, only lukewarm at best.
I had to admit, it was hard not to like this place, so far they had shown us nothing but the utmost care. Yes, it was only because we posed as magic-wielders, but still.
Was this what it was like, before the war broke out? Could everyone live like this, farm the lands and live with an easy smile on their lips every day? But Lionel hadn’t been smiling… he was probably the only one not letting himself feel comfortable here.
Even Eve seemed more relaxed than him.
My heart felt heavy, not knowing if our friendship could ever recover completely. The longer my thoughts dwelled on it, the more uneasy I felt, making it hard to continue to enjoy the warm bath. Instead, I got out and headed to my room, giving up the bathtub for someone who could enjoy it properly.
My room was small, with a dresser with drawers, a double-sized bed and a round table to place my belongings on.
Before I had gone to the bathtub, I had hidden all my weapons underneath the mattress and they were still there when I got back.
My dirty leather clothes had been neatly folded in a pile and a dress was lying across the bed.
It was a beautiful burgundy one, with small straps and a heart-shaped bust. The fabric felt smooth to the touch, and as I pulled it over my head, it flowed nicely along my body.
It wasn’t tight by any means, however it still showed off my figure, making me a bit embarrassed.
I took a deep breath and went to meet up with everyone else.
The moment we stepped through the arched double doors, the scent of enchanted roses struck me first, sweet, heavy, almost dizzying. I thought it was too late in the season for roses? Perhaps they were able to plant anything all year around, using their magic.
The ballroom was like something out of a fever dream; vaulted ceilings with chandeliers of floating crystals, scattering soft light like captured stars. A marbled floor, clean and polished, faintly mirroring the shapes above it.
I caught our reflections in one of the gilded mirrors and almost didn’t recognize myself.
The burgundy dress made me feel naked, the skirts whispering with every step.
The color made my dark brown hair look more vibrant, as it flowed straight behind my back.
Ashley smirked knowingly at me from my left, all mischief and danger in her black and silver gown that looked like smoke when she moved, more combat-ready than court-appropriate, but very much her.
Malakai stood on my right, as if he owned the space, black leather uniform exchanged for a dark suit with silver-thread embroidery that gleamed whenever he walked.
He looked infuriatingly at ease here, like he belonged among the polished marble and sparkling lights, like this was his world, not ours.
His gloved hand brushed mine as we entered, whether by accident or design, it sent an unwanted shiver up my spine.
Lionel followed a step behind, his jaw tight, posture perfect but cold as the steel at his hip.
He looked every inch the soldier forced into finery.
He had a crisp white shirt, black vest, and no smile.
His eyes slid briefly to mine once, they showed something sharp, wounded, and protective all at once, before he averted them again, scanning the room like he was expecting a threat to materialize any second.
Mey was the picture of quiet elegance, draped in a gown of muted blue, her brown hair swept back with silver pins.
She leaned lightly on her brother’s arm, a bit taken aback by all the beauty inside the room, before her excitement exploded and she dragged him forward with her.
Nate played the fool as always, whispering something in her ear that made her roll her eyes but smile all the same.
Eve was in the rear, and I felt the prickle of her stare between my shoulder blades. She wore pale gold, a calculated choice to catch the light, and her hair was pinned perfectly. She laughed a little too loudly at something Lionel said, or pretended to anyway, and my stomach twisted.