THE BANQUET PART 2

Keiji glanced at the crowd, then at the red-haired lady and gave her a small nod. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, her presence commanding immediate silence as she began speaking to the gathered nobles in a calm, authoritative tone.

“Follow me,” Keiji said quietly, slipping through a side corridor. I trailed after him the sound of music fading behind us until we stepped out onto a wide balcony. The night air was cool, and the view of the Fountain below majestic. 

We didn’t speak at first, the silence between us was louder than my own heart beat.

“Nice robes,” I said finally, grinning. “Kryxx’s hand-me downs?”

Keiji’s mouth twitched like he wanted to smile, but didn’t. “They’re… ceremonial.”

So much for breaking the ice.

“Who was that beautiful redhead? She must have made quite the impression on you.”

“That…was Eliorynna,” he said, his brows slightly raised. “The princess of Halvas.”

She certainly looked royalty. And from the way he said it, they were a lot closer than I’d guessed.

“I assume you wanted to ask me about something?” he said, finally turning to face me

I rubbed the back of my neck, exhaling. “You got me. I need help. It’s a long story, but I’m looking for a shield that belonged to a former hero.”

“And how can I help?”

“I’ve got a tip it’s somewhere in the Palace,” I continued. “I just need your help getting in.”

For a long moment, Keiji just looked at me, the silence stretching until I felt he was staring at my soul.

Then he shook his head. “No.”

“No? Like you can’t or its risky?”

“I can’t help with any of it,” he said sofly.

Suddenly I felt this huge wall between us. It made my stomach sank.

“…things are different now,” he added. “ I can’t just drop everything and go quest hunting with you.”

“Why not?” I blurted. “Didn’t we promise to find the Orchestrator? Now I have a strong lead and you can’t help?”

“It’s…it’s not that. So much has happened….you weren’t there, Ash. You can’t understand….”

“You’re right. I wasn’t there. I didn’t see it. But it’s why I came back. I can feel it….we’re getting closer to finding some answers. We can do this Keiji….”

“Stop.”

He met my eyes but there was something different about his glare, it wasn’t just resolve but distance. “I am glad you survived. I am. But I can’t.”

I stared at him, stunned. “But…we said we’d figure out this world…this game together. Doesn’t that mean anything?”

Keiji turned away, gripping the balcony rail before facing me again. “It does. But there’s another way now….a way to fix everything. For this world and mine. There are things in the Dungeons we are after.”

My throat burned. “By ‘we’ you mean the Church right?” I laughed bitterly. “Guess, there’s no room for a lowly grave digger in your circle, huh?”

“It’s not like that,” he said frowning. “You’re the one who wanted to remain in the shadows. Or have you changed your mind?

“Maybe. Seems to be working out for you.”

His expression hardened and before I knew it, he pushed me back. “I never asked for this. I’m just doing what I can.”

I wanted to laugh, but the sound wouldn’t come. There was an unnerving silence again, both of us sat side by side on the balcony rail.

I didn’t remember my life before I became a grave digger but right now, it felt like I just had a fight with my brother.

“How’ve you been?” he asked, quietly staring at a fountain below.

I smirked, shrugging. “Other than missing my shovel? Not terrible.”

Keiji’s laugh was sudden, breaking the tension like glass shattering. I found myself laughing too.

When the laughter faded, so did the moment. His smile disappeared like a shadow retreating from the sun. But for a moment, it was almost like old times.

“I should go,” he said finally, standing.

He hesitated, like there was something else he wanted to say then turned and walked back into the hall

“Wait.” I stood after him. “When I told you about the Shield hero, you weren’t suprised. You already knew didn’t you?”

He didn’t turn. “Yeah. Draken told me.”

“I see.”

I stayed there long after he was gone, staring at the golden trees swaying in the wind below. My emotions were at war inside me— part anger, part grief and part something I didn’t have a name for.

I was happy for him. I was. But a bigger part of me just wanted things to go back to how they were. Keiji had built something for himself — glory, purpose in this kingdom — and I was still the outsider, looking in.

Fine. Whatever Keiji was chasing, whatever his better way I couldn’t understand. I’d find my own answers. And we’d see whose way was better.

I turned stepping back into the light, my hands in my pocket — only to feel a hand hook my arm and yank me sideways.

“Huh....Lira?!”

“Quiet,” she hissed, dragging me down a narrow corridor lined with a candle attached to a wall. Her boots clicked on the floor, echoing far too loud for my comfort.

“Face forward. I’ll explain when we’re somewhere safe.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I straightened my collar. “What were you doing, lurking around? Are you one of the Church’s spies?”

She stopped so abruptly I almost tripped over her. Then she spun and punched me in the arm.

“OW.....what was that for?!”

“If I was one of Lucien’s angels,” she hissed, her rune flickering. “I would’ve reported you for your resonance ability.”

I froze. “…..So you know about resonance?”

She rolled her eyes and kept walking. “You’re not as mysterious as you think, Ash.”

We emerged into the courtyard where a wide fountain spilled glowing golden water into a carved basin. I had to resist the urge to taste it because I saw Thomlin and Verra sitting on the edge.

“So,” Thomlin said casually, “that went well.”

“I....wait, you two know each other?”

“Thomlin was my teacher when I was very young,” Verra said simply.

Their explanation didn’t make much sense at first—but apparently it was Verra and Lira that had registered Thomlin as my official contact before they left on their mission. All this time, they’d been secretly exchanging messages through a transcription spell. These three had been conspiring behind my back —everything from the Thrallship to the Palace tip.

And apparently, tomorrow night, we’d be breaking into the Palace vault but first we needed something from the Silver Ring.

Why does it feel like I’m in someone’s else story.

****

While we plotted by the fountain, Keiji and Draken were somewhere else in the banquet, speaking in hushed tones.

“Well?” Draken asked without looking at him, swirling the wine in his glass.

Keiji blinked, as though pulled from his thoughts. “What?

“Was I right?”

“Yeah.” Keiji exhaled and sat down. “He wanted the Shield. How did you know?”

Draken took a slow sip of wine, savouring it. “I have a few networks of spies scattered through the Ring. They informed me a mage had been asking about the Shield for a while, supposedly to buy it. But I knew it was a lie….because I happen to know that mage.”

“Who?”

Draken’s grin was wolfish. “An old friend of yours. Thomlin. Or as I knew him, Hareeth Kassim.”

Keiji froze. “Thomlin? Are you sure?”

Draken chuckled. “He fooled everyone to believe he was a washed-up mage. Truthfully, I thought he was dead. He fooled me as well, I suppose. And now I hear he is using your friend to get the Shield.”

Keiji’s jaw tightened.

“So tell me,” Draken continued, setting his wine down with a soft click, “is that going to be a problem?”

“No. I took care of it.”

“You misunderstand me, Tanaka.” Draken turned slightly, so that only Keiji could hear him. “I mean, will he be a hindrance to the plan? Because if he is…”

“No!” Keiji’s answer was too loud, drawing a glance from a passing servant. He lowered his voice, almost growling. “He and the others are off-limits. That was the agreement.”

“Fine.” Draken leaned back, unbothered, though his eye still glinted with quiet threat. “But it does make you wonder…what does Hareeth hope to gain from him? He is just a scrap picker, isn’t he?”

Keiji exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing before smirking. “Honestly, he’s just another backgrounder. You saw how he took months to heal from the smallest wounds. Barely has any Magna. I think we’re good.”

Draken finally stood up turning his gaze back to the banquet, watching the crowd with the faint grin. “Good. Still…Eliorynna’s guards will be doubled. When Hareeth makes a move….and he will…we will take him and his allies out.”

“You look troubled,” a voice came from behind.

Keiji turned to see Eliorynna smiling.

“Did you talk to your friend?” she asked.

Keiji nodded once. “Yes. It wasn’t….a bad talk.”

She touched his hand, gently shifting his chin toward her until their eyes met. “I still don’t understand what you see in him. Is he worth angering the Church?”

Keiji chuckled. “Yeah. He’s my best friend after all.”