Darren's POV
I watched the crowd surround her, congratulatory words filtering through the noise. The music picked up again, and a few dancers walked in, taking the now-empty stage.
They wore a bright mix of red and white, their feet bare and their faces covered with masks. I focused my attention on them, their performance keeping me rooted in the hall. In the corner of my eye, I noticed Balthazar walk off, grunting in annoyance with each step he took. Aside from me, he was the least excited to be here.