The Ararat ball

A few minutes later, Ami landed us before a large mansion adorned with white pillars as Gabriel landed behind us a second later. 

"Surprised you kept up," Ami snarled. 

"Well, you certainly made me work for it with all those unnecessary twists and turns you took," Gabriel chuckled. 

"I'm surprised I'm holding up," I groaned as I clutched my stomach. 

"And how about you, gorilla?" Ami growled. 

The captain swayed her head to and fro. "That was... That was- ULP!"

Gabriel recoiled in horror as the captain spun around and clamped her hands down on his shoulders before hurling all over him. 

Not the captain's finest moment, but at least she threw up on Commander Corrupt. 

"My... apologies," the captain huffed as she let go. 

"N- No, you're the lady of the house, and I just a servant, e- Even though in the knights I outrank you," Gabriel nervously chuckled as his face broke out in hives. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I- I must WASH!" he cried before blasting off into the sky. 

We all took the chance to run into the mansion before he got back. The servants didn't seem to pay us the slightest of heeds, which was good for us, but still a little unnerving at the same time. 

Eventually, we reached a fancy set of doors where a frail man with short wavy indigo hair clad in a brown dress coat, and a fat man with sideburns and a white powdered wig clad in a frilly red dress coat stood.

"Ah, great witch of the amethyst, an honor to have you here at my fine estate. I'm Duke Ham D' Ararat, head of House Ararat," the thin man smiled.

"Huh!? A witch!? We can't have one here!" the fat man cried as he pulled out a gold cross.

"Duke Mannelig, we have different views on magic here in Blintz. Though I'd say Ami here is more an inventor," Duke Ararat chuckled as he began tapping the fat man's shoulder with his fingers.

"Tch, you'd better reign her in... OH! Is this Shamir!? She's more beautiful than I imagined!" Mannelig gushed. 

"A pleasure," the captain snarled as she did a curtsy. 

"So sorry about that scary shouting, but you should know that as a bishop of the Church of Sirupus, I deem all witches to be an affront to humanity," Mannelig swooned as he waddled up to the captain.

"Piss off, you pig." 

"OHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSS! WHAT A DEFIANT WOMAN! AH, I WANT TO FULFILL OUR SACRED DUTY TO SPREAD THE SEEDS OF HUMANITY! OH! AND YOU BROUGHT ALONG ANOTHER WOMAN FOR ME-"

"This is my subordinate. Put your hands on her and I cut them off."

Mannelig grimaced. "That's not how the play is supposed to work. Ngh, I'll be sure to punish you for that."

"Punish me all you want, but lay a hand on anyone else or turn your blade on Blintz, and I will run my blade through your fat neck."

"HAM!"

"My apologies, my daughter is under a curse of loyalty to Blintz as way of my eccentric father," Duke Ararat sighed as he tapped on Mannelig's shoulder again. "Perhaps Shamir will clear her head in the ballroom. Right this way, everyone. I'll escort you myself."

"Don't need it. I'm smart enough to figure this place out myself," Ami smirked as she stepped in front of us and whipped out her wand.

"BLASPHEMOUS! MAGIC WAS WHAT CAUSED OUR WORLD TO FLOOD! YOU BLINTZIANS AND BLINISH SCUM NEVER SHOULD HAVE SURVIVED THE FLOOD! ONLY US PURE OVA SFONGIANS DESERVE THE WORLD!" Mannelig roared.

"Now, Ami, do put the wand away. In fact, weapons of any kind are forbidden, so please deposit them to the servant at the door," Duke Ararat chuckled.

"And will I get it back?"

"I'LL SNAP THAT-"

"Yes... on my honor as a noble."

Ami shrugged and twirled her wand around on her fingers before handing it to the servant standing nearby.

"I don't trust the witch! Search her! SEARCH HER!" Mannelig shouted.

"Touch me and I leave," Ami glared.

"It is fine. I trust Ami," Duke Ararat chuckled as he began tapping on Mannelig's shoulder again, this time with a bit more ferocity.

I have no idea what he's saying, but it's pretty dang obvious it's code for something.

"Ngh... Hmmm... I despise your methods," Mannelig mumbled as he turned around. "Shamir! Are you ready?" he swooned.

Shamir gave a slight nod.

"Then let us enter!" Duke Ararat cheered as he pushed open the great doors himself.

Stepping inside, we were greeted with a large golden ballroom with three stories of balconies to gaze down from along with a dazzling chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling. As for the ground floor, guests covered nearly every inch of it along with tables of gourmet food. There was also an orchestra playing as well as what appeared to be a stage.

"Ah, do you mind if we eat first? I have thing for eating before important moments you know," Mannelig giggled as he waddled over to a table filled with pies and began devouring them.

"Fat oaf... Well, it matter not. I've waited so long for this, I can wait a little longer," Duke Ararat muttered under his breath.

Shamir attempted to follow after Mannelig, but was stopped by Duke Ararat. "No, no, no. You stick with me," he chuckled as he began leading her to the stage.

As he did, I quickly took notice of servants beginning to block off the doors.

"Looks like it's almost go-time. Good thing he's so fixated on me to the point where he'd bend over backwards just to keep me from leaving," Ami smirked.

Once Duke Ararat and Shamir were on the stage, Duke Ararat raised his hand, bringing the music to a stop. "Everyone, your attention please. I have an important announcement to make. Tomorrow morning, my daughter and sole heir, Shamir, shall marry Duke Mannelig! This will mark the extraordinary union of two esteemed noble families, each from different nations. Ah, but first, my dear daughter, Shamir, do you have anything to say?"

"Yes, I accept this marriage proposal and shall happily wed Duke Mannelig tomorrow," Shamir flatly proclaimed.

A deranged grin lit up on Duke Ararat's face. "Then the conditions are met..."

Everyone began screaming as a dybbuk suddenly flew out of Duke Ararat and hovered before Shamir.

"M- MONSTER!" Mannelig cried as he fell onto his bottom.

"It's me, Pompi, you fool! You know, commander of the Church of Sirupus' Inquisition!" the familiar voice of Pompi erupted from the dybbuk. 

"No... You were posing as Duke Ararat too!?" Ami cried as she began to tremble. 

"Yes, I've been controlling both him and Dalphon all these years in order to undermine Blintz and more importantly... finally get my chance to finish you off!" 

I went on guard, but before I could make a move, Pompi dove into Shamir's mouth, causing her to let out a bloodcurdling scream before going silent.

"Impossible! Dybbuks can't possess women!" Ami cried. 

A soft chuckle escaped Shamir's lips as her head slowly rose. "Oh, but they can, but only if it's the night before their wedding. And tonight, is the night before the wedding of Shamir D' Ararat, Blintz's strongest female warrior. Now, Ami, it's time to finish the job," the possessed Shamir grinned as she ripped off a part of her dress and drew her sword.