The Crimson Waltz

The people inside the Banquet Hall quickly moved to the other side where the King and Queen stood. The Royal Couple understood Shin's intention to avoid inciting further panic, trusting in his actions as the chaos unfolded.

Guild Master Davis formed a wall with his guardsmen and adventurers. The Queen conjured a shimmering barrier surrounding the nobles and those who could not fight, her hands glowing with divine magic.

The guests obeyed, but as blood and dying screams filled the air, their childlike wonder gave way to horror. Reality set in as the illusion of grandeur shattered beneath the weight of death.

The ornate doors of the Banquet Hall burst open, and Shin and Laverna continued their deadly, coordinated Kenbu. Shin's swordsmanship flowed like poetry in motion, slicing through the attackers with a deadly rhythm, while Laverna danced with savage grace, her claws flashing like lightning and her every move echoing through the chamber.

Their movements were a ballet of destruction. Every spin and leap was purposeful, each footstep causing the floor beneath to crack or the chandeliers above to sway, filling the hall with the sound of creaking metal and breaking stone.

Blood painted the marble tiles, soaking into the once-pristine white linens and splashing across noble gowns. Still, they moved in perfect harmony, the artistry of their combat captivating and terrifying all who watched.

As one invader attempted to retreat, Laverna launched forward like a predator, tearing through flesh with her bare hands. Her elongated nails gleamed like obsidian as she carved through the assailants, painting long streaks of crimson across the ballroom's golden décor.

Shin moved swiftly to shield the fleeing guests, carving a path between them and the assassins. Each strike of his katana shattered weapons and armor alike, sending jagged pieces flying like shrapnel that embedded in walls and pillars.

A sadistic grin stretched across Laverna's face. Her pupils dilated, hair curling into wild waves as her Kitsune form fully surfaced, her presence warping the air with primal tension.

Her eyes glowed an unearthly red, her fangs glistening under the flickering light. She growled with delight, her instincts urging her forward with bloodthirsty anticipation.

A beastly purr escaped her lips before she dashed into the fray once more. Throats were torn open, spines ripped free with terrifying precision, and laughter—not hers entirely—echoed like a haunting song of death.

"PLEASE DON'T PLEA!" Her voice rang through the hall, twisted and giddy, reverberating off the marble walls. She dropped a lifeless man with ease and whispered, "I'm sorry. Too slow."

Cracking her back, she sighed in pleasure as if stretching after a pleasant nap. She kicked the head of a fallen assassin before calmly walking back toward the main room, her steps unhurried, deliberate.

The closer she got, the louder the cries and whimpers became, a symphony of helplessness. Her muscles twitched with anticipation, a craving yet unsated.

As her gaze fell on a group of women screaming in fear, her lip curled in disgust. Their terror irritated her more than the assassins' blades ever could, for their weakness offended the beast within.

Blood dripped from her fingertips as she imagined silencing them. Her beast purred louder, hungering for one final act of savagery.

Her fangs bared in a snarl as she stepped toward them, each movement tense with intention. The image of slashing their delicate throats flashed vividly through her mind.

She glared at one group, hatred boiling behind her red eyes. But just as she prepared to leap, Shin appeared between them like a phantom.

His warm fingers gently caressed her cheek, brushing aside a stray lock of blood-matted hair. His calm gaze met hers, and he smiled without fear, unwavering and true.

Moonflower filled her senses, grounding her in his presence like the gentle weight of a blanket. His voice flowed like water, soothing the chaos storming inside her mind.

She placed her trembling hand on top of his and took a deep breath. Her mother's voice echoed in her mind, helping her center herself through the comforting fog of memory.

Her fangs shrank, her claws dulling back to their natural state. The beast within whimpered and receded, soothed by Shin's silent strength and unwavering presence.

After their deadly performance, Shin's clothes were soaked in their enemies' blood, clinging to his skin like a second layer. Shin looked at Laverna with pride and satisfaction, his gaze filled with warmth.

Despite the blood staining them, he still smelled of Moonflowers. The mixture of his scent and the metallic tang of blood sent a strange euphoria through her, something she'd never felt before, experiencing it for the first time.

Her heart beat a little faster as she leaned in, drawn to that calming presence. Something about the way he simply existed made her feel alive, even amid chaos.

He reached out and whispered, "Well done." His voice held no mockery, no pity—only sincerity.

The Queen finally lowered the barrier with trembling arms, her strength nearly spent. The King commanded his men with a booming voice to defend the Kingdom as soon as the shield fell.

The guardsmen, soldiers, adventurers, and Guild Master Davis charged into the corridors. Outside the Banquet Hall, battle cries and steel clashing against steel echoed through the palace, a new war erupting beyond the walls.

The final stragglers were dispatched with ruthless efficiency. Healers moved in swiftly to treat the wounded, while others counted the dead and gathered fallen weapons.

Captured enemies were bound and taken to the dungeon below. The aftermath left a haunting silence where music once reigned, and the smell of carnage overpowered even the incense in the hall.

Laverna stood in the blood-soaked aftermath, longing for the quiet sanctuary of their modest tavern room. It wasn't grand, but it had become a shelter from chaos, a nest they'd built together without even realizing it.

It was a bubble of safety she had unknowingly built with Shin, and now more than ever, she needed it. Despite the bloody display they had just given, there was beauty in the way they moved together, something neither she nor Shin had expected.

The grand hall, soaked in crimson and strewn with fallen enemies, looked almost like a twisted masterpiece. Some of the nobles watching—even in their horror—felt a deep, hidden urge to preserve the moment as a work of art, their souls unknowingly tainted by the macabre elegance of the scene.

And somewhere deep within, she realized Shin had become her tether to humanity, a reminder of the warmth she never thought she'd feel again.