Next Level

Gather one, gather all

For here tonight is a grand ball

A ball, you say, like no other I bet

And full of all the people I’ve met.

How many people, you say?

Well, as many as can find their way

Through the thorny bushes and over the snowy hills

All to see what ills I will.

Ills to will? You say this a ball?

Hardly! This isn’t a ball at all!

This is folly, scoundrel go away!

Nay, I shan’t, I am here to stay.

To stay, to play, to dance, to merry

Though all of you should be wary.

Wary?! So, no ball is it at all?

Do you take me as a fool?!

A fool, no sir, not one whit

For I implore you to have grit.

Grit and grin with my teeth bare?!

You, you scoundrel, should be aware!

Aware?! Of what, pray tell?

All I wanted was to wish you well.

Wish me well? Like Hell you did!

Now, begone, goodnight I bid!

Very well, good sir, for now

I shall go and settle down.

But one day, my friend, the ball shall begin

And restore all that once had been.

“A rather cryptic poem that all but confirms our fears,” John mumbled, putting the anonymous note on his desk. “Honestly, all of this vague nonsense and nothing to go on.”

A ball…what could that mean?

***

“Are you sure this is wise, Lis?”

“We can’t cancel such an important event just because of Madam Rose,” answered the Queen.

“…You know she’ll try and destroy it.”

“I know, and that’s what I’m counting on.”

“…Lis…you can’t…we can’t use the people as bait.”

“If we don’t, Olivert, she’ll continue to reign havoc and madness everywhere she goes. At least, this way, we can prepare. Once the trap is set, we’ll need to be careful in our choices of who to include as hunters.”

“…I’ll consult Chairman Kingsley right away.”

“See to it.”

The Grand Masquerade Ball - a celebration like no other that only comes once every generation.

My father discontinued the tradition after the multiple attempts on my life, but I won’t run away.

Not again.

Not from you, Madam Rose.

You’ll know it’s a trap.

You’ll know we’ll struggle to defeat you.

But you’ll come all the same.

“Because that’s who you are.”

***

“Was it okay to reveal so much to them, Onee-sama?”

“Are you doubting me?”

“N-n-no! Not at all! It’s just, I thought you would want to keep Pandora’s Box a secret for longer or do something more in the shadows first with it, a-and then boom! Big reveal! Like that?” Samantha laughed nervously. “I wasn’t doubting you!”

Rose lightly giggled. “I know, sweetie.” She stroked the vampire’s cheek. “It’s fine. Let them speculate and try to figure out what my real goal is.”

I doubt they’ll even get close to it.

Not any of them.

***

“Father.”

“Alice? How rare. What brings you to my room so late at night?” He gave her a reassuring smile. “Is it because of her again?”

Alice shook her head. “No. Well, maybe to an extent, but…have you ever wondered…what…what if-?”

“No. Not once.”

“I haven’t even finished asking the question.”

He laughed. “Alice, it’s written all over your face.” He walked up to her and hugged her tightly. “Lady Rose saved your life and gave us all of these wonderful years with you. I’ve seen you grow up, fall in love, dance, fight, and become someone that I am truly proud of from the bottom of my heart.

“Yes, I must admit, there was a part of me that always questioned the fortuitous timing of Lady Rose’s rescue, but I don’t care why she did it. You’re my little girl, you’re safe, alive and…well, I hope one day you can be happy.”

“Dad…”

Alice clung to her father’s shirt tightly and began to weep softly.

“It’s okay, sweetie. Let it all out.”

So, she wailed.

Loudly, without a care as to whom might see or hear her.

“I…really…really loved…her.”

He stroked her back.

“Even now…even though I know…I know what…who she is…all she’s done…all she’s going to do…everything, I still…I can’t hate her. Why not?! It’s not fair! Why does it hurt so much, dad?”

He didn’t say anything, but kept his hand firmly moving up and down her back, and kissed the top of her head.

“I want to hate her! I want to, but…but-!” Alice kept crying and wailing long into the night, all while her father hugged her and didn’t say a thing.

***

“I’m surprised you didn’t resign, Miss Emilia.”

“Well, Chairman Kingsley, staying close to the kids is my best way of finding that bitch Samantha again, and her boss.” Emilia spat and hit her fist against her open palm. “It’s their fault that I’m like this and that I can’t see my friends and family. I’ll make them suffer and get my life back!”

“Killing Samantha might not-”

“Killing her won’t, but Pandora’s Box might do it.”

“…That’s a dangerous path to walk down.”

“One I intend to, but only for a short while.” She snarled at him. “I’m sure you can overlook that, can’t you?”

“If that’s all you intend to use it for, then that could be permitted. However.” He stared daggers into her very soul. “If you even show the faintest signs of abusing that power, I’ll rip your heart out.”

***

“Reiss, are you okay?”

“Huh? A-ah, yeah, I’m fine.”

“You sure? You’re not focusing much on classes lately, so we’re worried about you.”

“D-don’t worry, I’m-”

“I know you can’t talk about what happened on the HMS Virgina but just know that we’re here for you. All of us are here, night and day, if you need someone to talk to or just to be with. We don’t mind.”

But I do.

Reiss Sunderland - no, Aoi Yamada - was unable to focus on anything, not just his classes.

He didn’t train anymore.

He didn’t pursue the bond events with his friends or potential harem.

Hell, he’d even forgotten that his dream in this life had been to acquire a harem.

Rose knew who we were.

She has a magical reliquary that can store an infinite amount of power in it, and she could destroy the whole world if she wanted to.

“Keep it a secret to prevent panic,” they said. What a joke! I’m panicking already!

Frustrated with himself, Reiss excused himself from classes and locked himself away in his dorm room, much like he’d always done.

He’d returned to who he used to be, not who he wanted to be.

But Aoi didn’t care.

He was safe here.

Here, not even Rose and her box could get him.

***

“How does it feel knowing someone far weaker than you had the guts to do something you’re scared off?”

Stephan’s last words had haunted Risa.

No, that wasn’t quite right.

They annoyed her.

They angered her.

But she had no one left to take her rage out on.

Within the Pentagram, there was freedom to move somewhat independently, but Risa wasn’t allowed to just go onto the streets and kill whomever she liked.

No, she had to contain it.

But there was something far more about Stephan’s arrogant final question that upset her.

He had been right.

She was scared.

Whether or not Rose held Pandora’s Box, she was power incarnate.

There was only one possible way Risa could ever even hope of rivalling Rose’s strength, and that was to take Pandora’s Box for herself.

But that will never happen…will it?