Demon's Tea Party

“Settle down, settle down,” Professor Oria raised his voice to be heard above the chattering student body. “It’s time for class to begin,” he waited for the noise in the room to dial down. “Thank you for your cooperation. We’ve analyzed the results from your evaluations, and have finished creating the groups that you will be in for the rest of the year.” He turned to the chalkboard behind him and danced a piece of chalk across the board.

Lilac strained to see what was being written on the board. Every minute or so, the teacher stepped to the side, revealing what he had barely written.

Group One - Magically Adept. Group Two - Physical Prowess. Group Three - Well-rounded. Group Four - Mediocre. Group Five - Skill Issue.

He whirled around to face the class again. “These are the five groups we will be organizing you into for training days. Don’t boast about what group you’ve been placed in. Just because someone is in a different group doesn’t mean they are any worse than you. Except for those in group five. You’re surprisingly untalented. Now, it’s time to announce the results. When you hear your name, please stand so the rest of your group know who you are. In the first group–those of you who are magically adept but lacking in weapon skills,” he pointed to the words on the board that matched his words. “We have Ella Elhart, Lilac Astrine, Mesa Hellex, Charles Vindom, Talon Manador, Lisa Keffle, and Sariah Belshain.”

Lilac stood and investigated the room with her eyes for the others in her group, taking note of the individuals that stood with her.

“Group one, you may sit. For group two…” The teacher continued listing the names of students until every student was organized into a group. Unsurprisingly, Alan was placed in the well-rounded group three. She heard Scarlett’s name called among others in the fifth group, and the girl stood with the most defeated posture. Her crush, the prince, was also in Alan’s group.

“He’ll never look at me again…” Scarlett muttered under her breath, quiet enough for only Lilac to pick up on her words.

“Thank you all for your patience. These will be your groups for the rest of the year, so please get to know each other,” Professor Oria advised. “You’ll be working together quite a bit from here on out.”

Lilac was eager to talk to the other members in her group–exlcuding Ella–and make some new connections. It was also a perfect opportunity to invite someone to join her at Emmalyn’s tea party the next day.

Turns out, all of the students in her group declined her invitation. After class, she walked down the hall with Scarlett by her side. A sigh escaped her.

“Is everything alright?” Scarlett asked.

“Yes, I’m okay. Thank you,” Lilac smiled at her. “I’m just a little bummed that no one wanted to come to Emmalyn’s tea party with me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry…” Scarlett said. “That’s not a good feeling.”

“It’s okay, really,” Lilac assured her. “I don’t mind too much. They must have their reasons.” She looked ahead and noticed the burly Vance heading toward them. “Oh, Vance!” She darted over to him, leaving Scarlett in the dust. “Hey!”

He flinched out of surprise at Lilac’s quick approach. “Lilac! fancy seeing you here.”

“Same to you! How’ve you been?”

“Good,” he said. “How is the academy treating you so far?”

“Class is fun!” She smiled. “I didn’t know what to expect when I first got here, but I enjoy it!”

“That’s good to hear.” He glanced up to see Scarlett following after Lilac. “Afternoon, Scarlett.”

She paused behind Lilac and glanced away. “A-afternoon to you as well…”

An idea sparked in Lilac’s brain, jolting her upright. “Oh! Emmalyn is hosting a tea party tomorrow and she wants me to invite someone to come along. Would you be interested in being my guest, Vance?”

He scratched the back of his head. “I’m flattered you thought of me, but… aren’t tea parties usually girls only?”

“Are they?” Lilac pondered for a moment, trying to recall if she heard any similar information from Jharis. “Well, I’m sure Emmalyn won’t mind!”

“If you insist,” he said. “I guess I’m free. What are the details?”

“It’ll be around this time tomorrow at the gazebo behind the academy,” Lilac repeated the information to Vance with a grin. “Thanks for accepting my invitation!”

“No problem. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.” He gave each of them a nod and continued on the path he was on before being interrupted.

“I’m excited for the party tomorrow!” Lilac jumped with newfound energy.

———

Several girls sat around a round white table, decorated with ceramic tea cups and a platter of treats, underneath the domed roof of the gazebo. They all stared in shocked silence at the guest standing next to Lilac.

“Uh… Hi everyone. I’m Vance. Lilac invited me here.” He leaned over to whisper in Lilac’s ear. “I told you these are usually girls only.”

“Sorry!” Lilac whispered back. “I didn’t know they would respond this way.” She pulled out a chair from underneath the table and took a swift seat. “Hi everyone! I’m Lilac. Emmalyn invited me here,” she unintentionally stole Vance’s lines.

Emmalyn chuckled. “I suppose it’s my fault for not being specific when I asked Lilac to bring a friend,” she explained to the rest of the assembled girls. “It’d be rude to turn Vance away after he went through the trouble to come here today. So welcome, please have a seat.” She motioned to the seat next to Lilac.

The other girls relaxed a little after Emmalyn’s welcome, but they still remained stiff. A rather small girl with wild brown hair seated to Emmalyn’s right whispered something in her ear. Emmalyn replied with another whisper, to which the girl clicked her tongue in irritation and snatched a cookie from the center of the table to pop into her mouth.

“I can leave if I’m making you all uncomfortable,” Vance said. “I don’t want to ruin this event.”

“No, it’s okay.” Emmalyn smiled at him. “Please, join us.”

“Alright,” he sat down, his movements affected by the awkward energy that filled the air.

“Here, let me get some tea for you,” Emmalyn stood up, grabbed the teapot off the table and walked around the table to fill both Vance and Lilac’s teacups. “There, now it’s a proper tea party.” She danced back to her seat. “We’re at the beginning of a new school year. Does anyone have anything exciting to share?”

The girls around the table all remained quiet, averting eye contact with anyone. Cricket… Cricket… Nothing but silence.

“I just started my first year here!’ Lilac piped in to break the awkward silence. “It’s really fun so far! I’ve been learning so much already.”

“Wonderful!” Emmalyn clapped. “I’m happy you’re enjoying the academy so far. I’ve loved my time here. Life feels more free than it did back home.”

“I get what you mean,” Vance nodded in agreement. “Back home it was always about preparing to inherit my father’s wealth. Most of those responsibilities don’t reach me here. I get to decide how to spend my time.”

“Exactly! Even with classes and studying, I still have plenty of time on my hands to do things. Like hosting these tea parties, for instance.” Noticing that the tense atmosphere wasn’t easing, Emmalyn decided to take a pick to the ice. “How about we all introduce ourselves? We can’t make new friends if we don’t take the opportunity. Emilie, why don’t you start us off?” She asked the girl with unkempt hair beside her.

Emilie huffed. “I’m Emilie Von Plunia.”

“Could you tell us one thing about you?” Emmalyn pushed with a smile, to which Emilie rolled her eyes.

“This is my second year at Silverten Academy. That’s enough, right?” She stared daggers into Emmalyn.

“That’ll do, thank you. Next?”

The next girl–a blonde with a more mature look–bowed her head to show politeness. “My name is Lucy Mellow. I like to admire nature’s beauty from time to time.”

It was now Lilac’s turn. She copied Lucy’s dip of the head. “Lilac Astrine. I’ve never actually been to the city before I enrolled here.”

“Never?” Lucy gasped. “Does that mean you’re a lower ranking noble from the outskirts?”

“Um, yes.” Lilac lied. “I’ve never been able to leave my domain until now.”

“Guess that means I’m next,” Vance started. “Hello everyone. I don’t usually give my last name, but since everyone else has, who am I to withhold it? The name’s Vance Greyhelm. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance. If any of you need help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

The remaining two girls between Vance and Emmalyn introduced themselves. Next to Vance was Caroline Tholen, who was almost as tall as Vance. Her blonde hair was the only thing that kept Lilac from thinking she looked like she could be Vance’s sister.

Next to her was Trina Forwall. Two long black braids draped from the back of her head to her front.

“And of course, I’m Emmalyn,” Emmalyn finished with a wink. “Now we all know each other!”

Lilac eyed the tea in front of her. Steam rose into the air from the caramel hued liquid as if a mini Jharis was about to appear.

“Please, enjoy the tea. I had my maid prepare my favorite for today’s party,” Emmalyn said.

“So, Emmalyn. What led you to host tea parties?” Vance asked.

“That’s simple!” She took a sip of tea. “I love tea parties, and I love meeting new people.”

“I was the first person she ever invited,” Emilie boasted.

“Emmalyn invites everyone,” Caroline said, reaching for a pastry.

“I don’t invite everyone,” Emmalyn giggled. “But everyone is welcome. By the way, there’s a play I want to see on the weekend. Would any of you like to come?”

“A play?” Lilac munched on a buttery cookie, spilling crumbs around her mouth.

“It’s a romance,” Emmalyn explained.

Trina sighed. “I would, but I’m supposed to go home for a few marriage interviews.”

“Oh, that’s okay. Do you know any of your prospective husbands?”

“Only one. But I’d much rather choose on my own,” she said.

“You’d have to seduce someone here to fulfill that wish,” Lucy stated.

Lilac gulped down the rest of the cookie. “I’ll go with you, Emmalyn. You had me at romance.” She still didn’t know exactly what a play was, but she assumed based on Emmalyn’s response that it was a story, much like her books. “Are you going to go?” She asked Vance.

“You know what? Sure. It’s not often I hang with anyone other than Glenn and Alan.” He agreed.

“Anyone else?” Emmalyn looked to the other girls, who all shook their heads and gave various excuses. “It looks like it’s just us three. I can’t wait!”