Chapter II A Party to Remember

Yorgil Zuiken entered the Great Hall of Prontera Castle. It was still early but a lot of people were already there. Pronteran music played by a large orchestra filled the whole room. He scanned the hall for familiar faces. He saw Derek and Sileo lounging on a make-shift bar. He went to where the two were.

"At long last. I was starting to think you'd never come, Yorgil." Derek patted his colleague's back.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Yorgil retorted jokingly. "Sileo, you didn't notify me of your arrival. I was thinking that you'd be staying there for a whole month."

Straight faced, Sileo reached for his side pocket and withdrew an envelope. He gave it to Yorgil.

"From the master?"

Sileo nodded.

Yorgil Zuiken

Confidenziale

Yorgil raised his brows and grimaced. "I'll save this for later then."

Just then, the king came to their circle, the new councilor beside him. "Ah, Yorgil… you're still as lean as ever, I see. I'd ha' thought that all that business you'd been running would earn you this," the king patted his pot belly. The king laughed at his own observation. "Baron, I'd like you to meet my newly appointed councilor, Voltaire Kinsley."

Councilor Voltaire Kinsley stepped forward and bowed to the group. The group nodded in return. He wasn't what Yorgil was expecting. The councilor looked no younger than him, albeit shorter by a few inches.

"I have some matters that I need your opinion with, Baron. Do come to my throne room later," the king requested.

"I thought you already have a new councilor to aid you, your majesty," he said, nodding towards Councilor Voltaire.

"Ah, but this is no councilor's matter. How about the two of you have a chat? Nothing like meeting new friends, eh, Baron? "

"As you wish, your majesty," Yorgil bowed in acquiescence.

Finished with his intention, the king went his way to the other guests. The group, including the councilor, talked shop for the next few minutes.

"Please excuse me. I think that was Lunette who just came in," Derek said in parting.

Sileo also mimed his intentions of leaving and went out of the Great Hall.

Yorgil ordered a drink for him and for the councilor from the bar. Behind him, he heard a girl excitingly shout Sileo's name. He stiffened at the sound of the voice. Any second now…

"Yorgie!"

Yorgil flinched at Arethusa's shortening of his name. He decided to ignore it by introducing the councilor to her. "Councilor, meet Lady Arethusa Fellini – wizardess and descendant of the Aster Magus Clan. Arethusa, the new councilor – Councilor Voltaire Kinsley."

"Enchanté, mademoiselle." Councilor Voltaire lightly brushed his lips on Arethusa's knuckles.

Arethusa blushed at the gallant declaration the councilor gave. She murmured an incoherent reply.

Yorgil coughed. He stood up from where he sat. "I've got to go. The king issued a summons for me."

"B-b-but… but…" Arethusa stared frustratingly at Yorgil's retreating back as he walked out.

"Er… I have to go too, Councilor. I have to look for my friend."

"When the dance begins, save one for me," the councilor replied, a mischievous grin alight his face.

"I can't believe he's avoiding me!" Arethusa seethed with anger. "Look at all the preparation I've done. I even bought this dress for him!"

"But he's always avoiding you," Crystal remarked.

"Oh, Chrissie what did I do wrong?" She sniffled.

"Uh… I guess the baron doesn't want a fan's club."

Arethusa's lips pouted. "I'm going to look for him."

Yorgil went out of the Great Hall and into one of the small corridors of the castle. He was about to turn right into the main hall when he felt an invisible force tug at his mind. Curious, he entered the path that led to the east wing of the castle – the path where he felt the force was stronger. There was only one door. He opened it. The room was badly lit so he left the door slightly open. He went inside.

He felt disturbed when he got in. Somewhere in the room, he knew that some dark presence lurked. He just couldn't pinpoint where it was exactly. He trained his mind to relax as to help him sense his surroundings.

Left on her own, Crystal stood there in her formal guardian's clothes – a maroon, form-fitting cotehardie modified to let the wearer move with ease and a wimple secured on her head by a Circlet of Kirin – a gift from her ancestors. Her cotehardie was laced on both her sides, accentuating her slender hips. Thigh high velvet boots could be clearly seen from a pair of big slits on either side of her hem. A belt with zodiac signs embossed on the soft leather wrapped around her small waist. A gold sundial bracelet circled her right wrist.

Her unusual outfit was not left unnoticed. Uneasy with the stares she was receiving from the crowd, she tried for one of the balconies that surrounded the Great Hall. When she got there, she was surprised to see a lone knight that had his back pressed against the castle wall. More so, in fact, when she recognized that the knight was Sileo.

Crystal approached him shyly. "Good evening, Sir Sileo," she said with a short curtsy.

Sileo gave her a smile and bowed in return.

An awkward silence between the two followed thereafter. Crystal thought of something to say. "I-it's noisy isn't it?" She said, referring to the loud orchestra music and the crowd's babble.

Sileo nodded. He offered his hand up to Crystal with amusement gleaming in his eyes. Crystal put her hands in his even though she was unsure of the knight's plan. He led her down the outdoor stone steps and into the rich gardens below.

Where is he?

Arethusa walked the dimly lit corridor of the east wing of the Pronteran Castle. She was lost. All she could remember was Yorgil opening the door that led to the minor rooms of the castle. She thought it peculiar that he didn't go for the main hall since she thought that it was his intention. She stopped on a door that was left ajar. She looked about and saw that it was the only door on the whole corridor. But then, some invisible force compelled her to go inside.

Yorgil's train of thoughts was broken when he heard the door creak open. He slowed his breathing. He swiftly channeled his spirit within him so that the intruder would not be aware of his presence. He went into the darker part of the room and blended himself to his surroundings.

Arethusa's eyes squinted inside the dim room. She didn't know what invisible force dragged her into the room but she could feel it. She went to what she hoped for was the center of the room.

"Tribuo mihi os." Give me sight.

A cylindrical shaft of white light centered on Arethusa and swiftly distended to encompass the whole area in a matter of one second. There was nothing in the room save for a solitary window on one of the walls. The room glowed a dull red and slowly went back to its original dim self. The spell exposed Yorgil silently treading out of the room.

She wasn't able to notice him go because her attention was caught by an orb floating on the solitary window on the wall in front of her. It was the size of a marine sphere that rapidly changed into a multitude of colors every now and then. It emanated a dark, potent energy. Its colossal power encompassed her, luring her temptingly. She took her first step towards it...

Crystal and Sileo sat side by side on one of the stone benches that lined the garden. She felt uneasy with the silence around her. She thought it better if they had stayed on the balcony. She stood up and looked at the star-lit heavens.

A sense of disquiet entered Sileo's mind. He looked at Crystal who took a few steps away from him and stare at the moonless sky. He heard a rustle behind one of the trees. There was no wind.

Crystal breathed in the wonderful scents of the flowers. She closed her eyes while she savored the feeling. A steel band of arms circled around her and pulled her back just in time to avoid an arrow that whistled past her. She turned her head sideways and looked up to Sileo's emerald eyes. They both breathed heavily.

Behind them, more rustling was heard. High-pitched, maniacal laughs came from the bushes and trees. Sileo let go of Crystal and drew out his sword.

The large north exit gate of Prontera Castle slowly opened up and allowed entrance to a hundred small, masked creatures. Each and every one of them carried a weapon in their hands. The front runners killed the two town guards on post with their dirks and flails. They entered the castle.

A/N: I am so sorry for the bad spacing and format 'cause I have really no idea how to fix this. Seems my asterisks -- is gone! See doesn't work! Huhu TT