Valedictory Ball

Finally, it was time for the awaited night. The hall was lustrous, fitting with the graduates in their best clothing, all chattering with excitement and thoughts for the future.

The beginning of the night was simple. Each graduate sat at their tables with their beverages, and one by one went up to the front of the hall when called. This is where they would receive a certificate indicating the school, the courses and the student as proof of graduation.

These certificates were mainly used for the nobles who wanted to inherit their parent’s position which, in a way, is to prove they were worthy. Though, the nobles who do not have a certificate by the age of 25 are looked down upon and socially deposed. Other uses were for those who needed credentials to get hired by other nobles—for example, a position in bookkeeping, treasury or a general secretary.

The graduates would hold the certificate, and a mid to high level magician would imprint the student’s mana into it. In all honesty, this was done just for formalities. The mana imprinting was done the week before, when the actual graduation happened. The certificates were then inconveniently recollected for the purpose of the second half of the ceremony. Though, since the mana had been imprinted, the retrieval process was quite simple.

Then a speech would be presented by the principal. It was the typical, ‘congratulations and farewell’ one you hear in these sorts of ceremonies. August attentively listens to those types of speeches, but just this once he could not focus. He could not wait for the speech to be over and the dance to start.

“—I look forward to your future successes. Please enjoy tonight!”

In all actuality, there was another reason as to why August was looking forward to tonight. The ceremony would always have an opening dance between the two most talented students who are willing to go. Typically it would be the one most talented at the sword with the one most talented at magic. August was invited as the former, and he expected Heilke to be the latter. Since she had said she was going to the ball, it meant they were the opening dancers.

August looked around for the light green hair.

“Marquess Vin Gardner.”

It was Heilke, wearing an indigo dress. It was speckled with a certain magical shimmer, almost as if Heilke herself was the vast midnight sky. Her hair was styled, more wavy than usual. As for the accessories, August spotted a silver necklace, shaped into the branch of a willow tree.

“May I have this dance?” Heilke asked with an outstretched hand.

August took her hand, somewhat disappointed she did not use his gift. However disappointed, August’s beating heart would overwrite it in milliseconds.

With the gentle violins playing, August and Heilke spun in succession, demonstrating a controlled waltz. Seriously, how was she that talented in everything?

August looked into her eyes, which were focused on the direction they were going, like a textbook example for the dance. Strong, determined, yet a bit withered, as if she had experienced this all before. August wondered if he had that same gaze.

Everyone joined in after the first few minutes, where the first clause of the song transitioned to the next. And as if taking a cue, Heilke moved to the edge of the floor.

“Thank you for the dance, Marquess. I will take my leave now.”

She ran off faster than August could bid her farewell. He stood in the ballroom, overthinking what he should do in that situation. He did not like leaving the end of the interaction on a one sided goodbye, where he did not even get to see her off. So, he went to find her.

He walked across the hallway that was lit from the moon and starlight, alert for hints of Heilke. It could be then, where he felt something off, though he ignored it in pursuit of her. He hastily walked into the garden where the path to the exit was, noticing not a trace of her.

He heard a rustle in the bushes. It was unnatural, inhuman. August held onto a nearby branch, imbuing a strengthening spell into the stick, as he positioned himself to be ready to fight. A muzzle stuck out, reminiscent of the ones he saw at the crystal. Indigo, clawed.

He was handicapped with a stick as a sword, whereas the monster was part of the same vein as the one that killed him. Before any of the two could attack, though, an aqua aura enveloped the wolf. It froze in place, unable to move. It was Heilke's aura. August scanned the area for the source of the magic, and noticed a subtle glow in the annex of a thin building. Temporarily forgetting the existence of the monster, he ran towards it, hoping he would catch Heilke.

He reached the door of the room, and saw a flash of deep purple through the cracks.

“Heilke!” August yelled, as he pushed open the door.

Heilke stood there, looking out the window. It must have been the moonlight which illuminated her outfit that made her feel distant. August walked towards her.

“Marquess. What are you doing here?”

August looked out the window, to where the monster would have been. There was nothing resembling the shape of a large wolf, just smoke, sparkles and a deep violet with a hint of magenta. The same aura as the one in the crystal. 

The mastermind behind the monster attacks, the one who controlled the crystal.

August hoped it was not her. It could not be her.

“Lady Crowell,” August said.

Heilke faced August, wondering what made him change the way he addressed her.

“Is that purple aura yours?” he asked.

She blinked. “What do you mean?”

August searched for the right words, but they would not come out. He could not make eye contact.

“If you do not need me anymore, I’ll leave now,” Heilke said.

As she stepped towards the door, August grabbed her wrist.

“You may not believe me for this,” he said, steeling his resolve. “But I’ve seen the future.”