The Dance of Blades

"To wear a crown in public, you must first bleed in private."

Location: The Royal Winter Ball – Palace of Mirravel

Once a year, the empire's elite gathered for the Winter Solstice Masquerade a night of music, power games, veiled threats, and silent assassinations wrapped in velvet and gold.

The ballroom shimmered.

Mirrors hung from every wall enchanted to show not reflections, but hidden truths.

One showed you as a child.

Another as a corpse.

Another… as who you might become.

The Guests Begin to Arrive

Nobles twirled in stardust gowns.

Courtiers whispered behind crystal masks.

Assassins watched from balconies.

Then the trumpets rang:

"Announcing Cael Thorn of House Vareth, Top Scorer of Nirael Academy!"

Aelios stepped into the ballroom, masked in onyx and silver, cloak lined with ash-gray flame silk.

Eyes turned.

He bowed like a noble.

Moved like shadow.

Even the prince seated on the throne dais narrowed his eyes.

The First Dance ;A Trap

He was not even ten steps in when a girl approached him.

Slender. Silver-eyed.

Draped in midnight blue silk.

Masked… but familiar.

Seren.

"One dance," she said softly. "Then I take you in."

"One dance," Aelios replied, "and you'll remember who you are."

She didn't answer.

Just stepped into position.

And then, the music rose.

The Dance ;Tension, Memory, Seduction

It began like any noble waltz.

But their movements too sharp.

Their feet too swift.

Their eyes too locked.

"You're playing a dangerous game," she said beneath her breath.

"I was born inside the flames of it."

Their bodies turned.

Spun.

Blades flickered.

Her dagger pressed to his waist.

His ring ignited faint heat against her ribs.

"You think the Codex makes you king?"

"No," he said. "My blood does."

"And your death?"

"Will be legend."

Then her hand faltered.

Because her mind remembered.

A courtyard. A child.

A fire that had shielded her once long ago.

She had met him before.

Before her memories were stolen.

She had loved him.

Just a spark. But it was enough.

The Fire Message

Aelios suddenly twisted not to escape her, but to step to the center of the ballroom.

He raised his arm.

Snap.

Flame ignited in the air above.

And from it formed a sigil the lost crest of the Flamebearers.

A forbidden symbol.

The Veil's agents screamed.

The prince stood.

The mirrors cracked.

"I am Aelios.

I claim no throne…

But I carry the fire of those you erased.

And I am no longer hiding."

Gasps. Shouts. Steel drawn.

Aelios threw down a crystal

BOOM.

Light. Smoke. Fire.

And vanished.

Seren Did Not Follow

She watched the smoke.

Held her blade.

But didn't move.

Not because she couldn't.

But because her heart refused.