"There we go," Pheros chirped, pulling off the bandages, "How does it feel, Hon?"

Robin flexed her left arm, experimentally closing and opening her palm. For being the first time moving it properly in a couple of weeks, it actually felt pretty natural. Even her arm had minimal damage, the only scar being a large section of new skin that wrapped around her arm. Thanks in no small part to Pheros, her healing and rehabilitation had no doubt been crucial to the healing process.

"Never felt better, Pheros," Robin said confidently, practising a few spell gestures, "Thanks for all the help!"

"I'm just glad it worked," Pheros admitted, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead, "This is the first time I've tried to completely heal a partial amputation. Given all the nerve and tissue damage, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that this is a miracle."

"Well, if it is, I'm thoroughly glad it happened," Robin piped, "Doing paperwork with one hand is a lot harder than it looks."

Pheros laughed, covering her mouth as she rocked back in her chair.

"You recover and yet the first thing you can think of is your work," She chuckled, wiping a tear from her eye, "That's so typical of you, Hon."

"Why wouldn't I?" The tactician asked, shrugging her shoulders, "The ball and banquet are barely a moon from now, we have a lot to prepare."

"Haven't you already settled most of it though?" Pheros questioned, throwing the bandages away, "You have already sent the invitations, decorated the venue and prepared the catering, have you not?"

"Of course," Robin replied, arms akimbo, "But what I mean is that I haven't laid the trap yet."

"Ah, you mean the one for our special guest," Pheros said, nodding her head, "What's your plan to catch them?"

Robin looked to the side, nervously twirling her fingers together.

"I don't really have a specific plan per se..." Robin mumbled sheepishly, scratching the back of her head, "I was originally going to just mingle in the party and take note of any suspicious people or behaviours."

"Well, I guess that can work," Pheros mused, scratching her chin, "After all, there's no guarantee that the culprit will show up or make any moves."

"But he has to!" Robin cried, her head snapping up to face the cleric, "That's the whole point of this ball!"

"Not from where I'm coming from," Pheros chuckled, a smile upon her face, "It may have started out like that, but over the past couple weeks, the amount of attention you have put into the planning it has made me think otherwise."

"That's not true!" Robin protested, folding her arms, "I was just... I mean... it wouldn't be a very convincing trap if the party was poorly arranged right?"

"Of course not, Hon," Pheros replied drolly, rolling her eyes, "It's not like our culprit could possibly be tricked by anything less than the best ball in all the land."

"Hmph!" Robin grunted, turning away from Pheros. She curled over, pouting as she scowled at the wall of the room. Pheros sighed, chuckling as she walked over to the sulking tactician.

"Awww... don't hate me, Hon," She cooed, wrapping her arms around her shoulders, "You know how much I love you."

Robin felt the comforting embrace of Pheros as the blonde woman hugged her, the pleasant warmth calming her frazzled mind.

"Alright, alright," Robin sighed, tapping the other woman's arm, "Thanks for helping me remove the bandages. I last minute arrangements that need finishing."

"Of course, Hon, I shan't keep you any longer," Pheros said kindly, pulling away from the tactician, "Do remember not to overwork yourself."

o - o - o - o - o - o - o

Robin shivered as the cold wind blew past her, telling of the onset of winter. She looked down at the courtyard, leaning over the balcony as she surveyed the ground below her. The sun had just begun to set as a wave of carriages pulled up at the castle gates. Nobility from all around poured out from the vehicles, their fancy dresses and suits catching the eyes of the many soldiers stationed around.

"Looks like everyone came," Robin muttered to herself, thinking back to the letters of invitation she had to write, "Glad that my effort didn't go to waste."

"Of course it didn't," A voice called out from behind her, "Why, the decorations here look stunning!"

Robin turned around to see Cherche standing in the doorway behind her, her usual pleasant smile on her face. Her clothes however, were far from her usual attire. She wore a regal navy blue dress that ran from her shoulders to her feet, intricate gold patterns running down the length of the fabric. The dress accentuated her figure as it hugged her body, her neckline showing off her modest bust. Her puffy, sleeves flowed down to her wrists, ending at her black gloves. Upon her head, she wore a black headband detailed with gold lace, the beautiful headpiece bringing out the lustre of her pink hair.

"Cherche!" Robin exclaimed running over to the wyvern rider, "You look gorgeous!"

"Thank you, Robin," Cherche replied giving the tactician a hug, "I see your arm's no longer in a cast."

"Yep! Fully recovered," Robin practically shouted, flexing her arm, "Where's Virion?"

"Oh, he decided to go find Walhart," Cherche said offhandedly, releasing her hold on the smaller woman, "Said something along the lines of 'He needs more help than you do.'"

"Pfft, he may be right," Robin giggled, remembering how the big man was struggling to move about in his attire earlier, "Are the wyverns growing up alright?"

"They've never been better," The pink-haired lady replied radiantly, her face lighting up at the topic, "Ever since you started coming over and playing with them, they've been looking forward to your visits!"

Robin laughed, remembering back when she almost wet herself from seeing Minerva. After interacting with them, she found that they were nothing more than a bunch of oversized reptilian pets. They enjoyed being scratched under their bellies, they purred when they were happy and they wagged their tails when excited.

"Ha ha! I miss them too," She chuckled, closing her eyes, "I can't wait to see them again."

She suddenly remembered something, breaking away from the wyvern rider.

"Oh yes, how did you find your way here?" Robin asked, "This balcony isn't exactly the easiest place to find."

"I brought her here," Pheros said, coming out from the doorway with Elaine in tow, "I thought that you might be here."

Pheros was in a stunning red gown that was held by a knot over her left shoulder. The fabric shimmered in the sunset as it flowed down her body, giving her a luminescent, shining aura. It was pinched together at her hip with a gold sash, tied in a bow at her side. Her bare shoulders flaunted her perfect complexion as they transited into her cream gloves that extended to her elbows. Her flowing blonde hair was now braided with white flowers that were interspersed throughout her curls, emphasising the gold tiara that sat upon her crown. An elaborately designed necklace graced her collarbone, the centrepiece being a flawless ruby encrusted in the middle.

Elaine too had dressed up for the big event. A bright red bow sat atop her short cyan hair, a stark contrast to the rest her mostly blue outfit. Her sky blue dress had puffy sleeves and an equally fluffy hem that billowed out beneath her like an azure cloud. For jewellery, she wore a bangle on her left wrist and a gorgeous silver necklace around her neck.

"Pheros! Elaine! It's so good to see you both!" Robin chirped, moving over and giving the two girls a hug, "You both look wonderful as well!"

"Thank you so much, Robin!" Elaine squealed, grabbing Robin and bouncing up and down, "I'm so excited for tonight! The culmination of all our blood, sweat and tears!"

"Indeed, Elaine, let's make this a night to remember!" Robin cheered, punching a fist in the air.

"Hold on, Hon," Pheros said, placing a hand on the smaller girl's shoulder, "Are you truly intending on going dressed like that?"

"Why not?" Robjn asked, shrugging her shoulders, "It's fancy enough right?"

The other three women stared at Robin, their mouths agape. She was wearing her white villager's frock with her standard coat over top and a pair of leather boots. Her frock had not faded into a slight cream colour from her frequent use of it during outings, her boots still had some dirt on them from the last time she went out and her coat was practically in tatters. To her benefit, she did try to slap on a white corsage to make herself more presentable.

"Hon, I cannot, in good conscience, let you go down in that attire," Pheros stated flatly, furrowing her brows at the tactician, "It's against my pride as a woman."

"But why not?" Robin asked, throwing her hands in the air, "This attire is comfortable and easy to move in."

"It sure ain't easy on the eyes," Elaine remarked, squinting her eyes at her superior, "Is that dried blood I see on your coat?"

"It's probably just some dirt," Robin said dismissively, dusting off her person, "My coat is just a bit well-worn, that's all."

"Saying that is well-worn is the understatement of the century," Cherche commented, pinching one of Robin's sleeves, "The threads are practically falling apart."

"Well, in any case, I'm not changing," Robin declared pulling away from the other three, "Those fancy dresses are too stuffy and constricting anyway. My outfit is just fine as it is."

"Elaine, Cherche, you both take one arm each," Pheros instructed, snapping her gloves tight, "I'm going to get one of my dresses and a sewing kit."

"You got it," Both ladies replied, setting their sights on the tactician. Each of them with a feral smile on their face.

"Wait, stay back!" Robin cried, backing away from the smiling women, "I refuse!"

"Refusal's not an option, sweetie," Cherche purred, her smile getting wider as she crept closer, "Just sit tight and let your older sisters help you out."

"No! HELP!" Robin screamed, running away from the two ladies, "I don't want to wear a ballgown!"

o - o - o - o - o - o - o

Walhart heaved a sigh as he tugged uncomfortably at his collar, nodding politely to a guest as he walked past him. He had been standing in the same place in the throne room for the past hour or so, just waiting for the event to start while greeting guests as they came in.

He was not used to being in anything other than his armour, let alone some fancy noble's suit. He felt suffocated as the white belt he wore constricted his midsection, compressing his stomach in on itself. His white dress shirt barely fit his broad chest, the buttons fit to burst as the collar threatened to choke him whenever he took a breath. The tailors had to adjusted his red overcoat to match his broad shoulders but the mobility they afforded was next to none. The overcoat was buttoned up in the front, thankfully much looser than his shirt so that it looked like he was actually wearing the coat and not being stuffed into it. From the neck of the overcoat, sprouted a white clump of fabric. A cravat, or so he was told. Apparently, it was the height of fashion at the time, but it still looked like a bib to him. His white pants were a lot looser much to his relief, allowing him to walk around unobstructed.

He gave a regal nod to another guest, this time the maiden bowing deeply as she hid her blush behind a fan. His cold white eyes surveyed the throne room, watching all the nobles from across the land mingling about in the large space. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cervantes talking to a few of the nobles, twirling his moustache as he stood in his regal uniform. A stark difference from his usual shell of armour. He spotted Excellus as he pranced through the crowd, parading himself in his ridiculously gaudy outfit as if he were the ruler of the world.

Robin had done an excellent job of furnishing the room in preparation for this event. The previously bare walls were now decorated with red and blue banners, symbolising Valm and Rosanne's alliance. The room now had multiple long tables at the side, acting as serving tables for refreshments while the centre of the room was left open for dancing. Butlers and maids waited on the guests consistently throughout the crowd, assisting them whenever possible without being too much of a nuisance.

"I must say, the venue looks as picturesque as I had envisioned it," A voice said from behind Walhart, snapping him out of his reverie, "Your tactician is most gifted in the area of planning and preparation."

Walhart tilted his head to the side to see Virion walking up to him, waving a hand. The teal-haired man was dressed in a more fancy version of his usual attire. He wore a full navy overcoat instead of his usual dark blue vest, complete with ivory cufflinks and a beautiful white design embroidered into the front. His standard riding boots were replaced with a sparkling pair of white shoes, a click-clack noise resounding as their metal soles rapped on the marble floor. Even his cravat seemed to have gotten an upgrade, with an intricate blue pattern instead of his usual plain white.

"Indeed she is," Walhart rumbled, returning to his original position, "I have her to thank for Valm's current prosperity."

"I see even you have changed your threads for today," Virion commented, a sly smile on his face as he came to a stop next to the big man, "Perhaps for a certain someone?"

"I only changed because I was told it was necessary," Walhart replied, the duke's jab completely going over his head, "I absolutely detest these clothes, they serve no tactical purpose in the slightest. A suit of armour carries far more beauty than these."

"Well, they may not defend you in a war I suppose," Virion admitted, shrugging his shoulders, "But they can give you an edge in a battle for one's attention."

"Sometimes, the things you say baffle me," Walhart sighed, shaking his head. Virion mimicked the action, however for a completely different reason.

"Anyway, have you been conversing with your guests?" Virion asked, sweeping his hair back, "I'm actually surprised to see such a wide variety of nobility in one place."

"No, that job belongs to my tacticians," The big man replied, resuming his observation of the room, "I am merely here to... observe..."

"Hah... you really do rely on Robin a lot, don't you?" Virion sighed, throwing his head back, "I mean, Excellus seems to be having more fun flaunting his obese self rather than listen to the other guests."

"Hrm... I guess I do," Walhart rumbled, falling silent as he reflected upon the past year or so. Ever since Robin became tactician, he really did leave everything to her. She alone settled any hiccups and problem in the governance and also implement pre-emptive measures against any future dissonances. Her knack for planning also extended to the military aspect of the army, displayed when she led them through the fight against the bandits and the risen.

"Ah! Dearest Nelson!" Virion called out, bringing Walhart back to reality, "I see you too have elected to join the party as well!"

"Yes, I have," Nelson groaned, ambling over, "After all the begging Robin did, how could I not?"

Walhart blinked at the lanky man, doing a double take at his appearance. He had changed his image completely. His face had an unusual glow to it, presumably the use of cosmetics. He wore a smart, crisp black uniform, by the looks of which, had been made just for today. On his shoulders were two silver epaulettes, a symbol that used to be part of the military. He too was wearing a cravat, the bib-like piece of fabric sprouting forth from the neck of his collar. Thick silver threads were weaved around the hem of his clothes, adding a fine detail to his pockets and sleeves. His usual slouch was now gone, replaced with a regal posture that would put most royalty to shame. He slicked his neatly combed hair back with a gloved hand, touching up his look even more as he approached them.

"Oh, I'm sure she begged you," Virion drawled sarcastically, a coy smile on his face, "Did the maiden beg you to come in your best attire as well? Why, I don't think even I could polish your appearance any further!"

"Shut your trap," Nelson snarled, glancing at the wall, "I just thought it would be rude if I attended the ball in sloppy attire. Robin did put her best effort into planning it."

"Let's not have any secrets between us, my good man," Virion said slyly, spreading his arms, "Your affection towards the young tactician is plenty obvious."

Walhart raised an eyebrow at this. Nelson? Of all people? Was experiencing love? From what little he had heard of the subject, it could supposedly change a person entirely. Was this change a cause of that effect?

Before Walhart could ponder any further, he had to seize Nelson by the arm before the mage could grab hold of the duke that was taunting him.

"Let me go you oversized lobster," Nelson growled, a slight blush on his furious countenance, "I must skin this deluded blue-blood before he spreads any more lies."

"You will not cause a ruckus here," Walhart rumbled, ignoring the smaller man's snide remark, "I will not have Robin's or the planning team's efforts go to waste."

"Speaking of which, where is she?" Virion asked, looking around, "She should be here by now. If my memory serves, she's meant to present an opening speech before we officially begin."

"She should be coming soon," Nelson muttered, wresting his hand free from Walhart's grasp, "No doubt in her usual clothes. She's never been the type to care too much about her appearance."

At that moment, one of the side doors were flung open with a bang, catching the attention of everyone in the room. The woman Walhart recognised as Cherche walked in first, alongside the cyan-haired girl that was Pheros' second-in-command. Halfway through their entry, they halted, sighing as they turned around to pull another woman out from the hallway.

Walhart's eyes widened as he saw Robin, or at least a goddess that looked like her, enter the room. A beautiful strapless silk gown was wrapped around her petite frame, hugging her body unlike some of the more flamboyant and conspicuous dresses that some of the other guests were wearing. The glossy fabric shone with a beautiful sheen as it transitioned from a sparkling, translucent white at the bust to a jet black at the hem. She wore black, arm-length gloves and a white band on her arm, covering her scar and replacing it with a pristine white corsage. Her usually unruly hair was now braided up into a small ponytail that sprouted out from the back of her head, showing off her neck where she wore a thin silver choker. She looked like a rich princess' doll that had been given life, her porcelain skin glowing with a youthful radiance. Her fringe that usually hung in front of her eyes was now pinned to the side, perfectly displaying her blushing face to the crowd. Black lipgloss gleamed in the light she nibbled on her lip, her purple eyes nervously glancing around the room.

Her heels audibly clacked on the marble floor as the nobles watched her awkwardly make her way to the centre of the room. At points, she almost lost her footing but Pheros caught her, subtly supporting the tactician by her side. Once she had reached the centre, Robin turned to face the crowd, clearing her throat.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen," She began, her voice wavering slightly from her nervousness, "I-uh thank you all for coming tonight."

An awkward silence permeated the room.

"My name is Robin, one of the tacticians of Valm and the... um... host of tonight's event," She continued, looking around the room, "We are gathered here today to celebrate the creation of the Valm-Rosanne Alliance, a pact between two great nations."

The silence was broken as the crowd began to mutter amongst themselves, whispering to one another.

"Some of you may wonder why this is such a momentous occasion," Robin started again, her voice firm and loud, "Allow me to explain, Valm has long been a lone wolf. Keeping to herself as the world continued to move around her. This is because our emperor believes that we be able to defend ourselves by our own might, not being overly reliant on others for help. While that is not to say that help from other is unnecessary, but more of being able to fend for ourselves should the situation call for it."

Walhart nodded his head in approval. Robin did understand his reasoning well, better than most people. Well, it was to be expected. She was his genius tactician after all.

"As such, Valm making the effort to reach out to her neighbours is a great step for us. Not just merely reaching out for trade or commerce, but to seek a mutual relationship with them, sharing governing practices and conducting military exchange exercises," Robin explained, her initial uneasiness being replaced with confidence as she went on, "And while this may not concern all of you at the current moment, Valm may very well seek out your hands in the near future. That is why we are gathered here today; to bear witness to the birth of a great alliance that will no doubt continue to grow over the years. I hope you all will join us in this venture."

The end of Robin's speech was met with a loud applause, with some whistles and cheers of joy sprinkled between the clapping. Robin bowed meekly, quickly moving out of the spotlight and to the side of the room.

"My, my, not too bad," Virion mused, scratching his chin, "For a first speech I think she did quite adequately."

"Indeed," Walhart agreed, "She managed to address her guest properly and finish on a good note."

Nelson said nothing in reply, his eyes still glued onto the tactician.

"Oh come now, Nelson," The duke laughed, slapping the mage on the back, "I know she has polished herself much more than anticipated, but there's no need to gawk."

"I-I wasn't gawking!" Nelson blurted, his former dignity forgotten as his cheeks tinted red, "I was just... thinking... she looks better without her coat, that's all."

"Right. Smooth," Virion scoffed, shaking his head, "Why can't you be honest with yourself?"

"What's the matter Virion?" Cheche asked, politely bowing as she approached the trio, "Something bothering you?"

"No, it's nothing," The duke said dismissively, straightening up, "I was just wondering what to do with this stubborn fool I've found."

Before Nelson could snap at the snide remark, a soothing symphony began to fill the room. Virion turned to his attendant, a big smile on his face as he took her by the arm.

"Shall we dance, dearest Cherche?" He asked, a glint in his eyes, "It has been a while since I've had the pleasure of having you as my dance partner."

"Oh please, we danced together just the other week," Cherche giggled, rolling her eyes.

"Ah, but a week is far too long," Virion sighed, pulling Cherche into a waltz hold, "After all, I do dance with quite a lot of different partners in a week."

Walhart shook his head as the pair began to spin, joining the other couples that had also started dancing in the room.

"What an intolerable man," He rumbled, straightening out his suit.

"For once, we agree on something," Nelson growled, rolling his eyes, "That fanciful snob is too insufferable."

The two of them stood at the side, watching as the other guests danced around the room, their movement slow but elegant. Walhart found his eyes falling on Virion most of the time, although he could not stand the duke, something about the way he danced commanded attention. Like a champion on the battlefield, his powerful steps demanded the audience's attention as he twirled his partner around.

"That duke's something else, isn't he?" A voice muttered, growing louder as it approached the big man. Walhart turned his head to see Pheros strutting up to him with Robin in tow.

"Pheros, Robin," Walhart greeted, nodding respectfully, "That was a good speech earlier."

"Really?" Robin mumbled, nervously rubbing her hands together, "I honestly thought it could've been better."

"You damn right it could've been," Nelson muttered looking into the crowd, "What happened to you in the beginning? That nervousness ain't like you, Robin."

The tactician curled in on herself as if she had been shot by an arrow, her face wincing as the mage accurately pointed out what she already knew.

"Nelson! Can you lay off?" Pheros snapped, glaring at the mage, "She just came up with it yesterday! She didn't even have time to practice!"

"It's alright Pheros," Robin said weakly, her face obviously deflated, " I know my speech was bad."

"I never said it was bad," Nelson mumbled, a tint of red coming to his face, "I just said I think you could've done better. All in all, it was not too bad."

Robin's head snapped up, looking at the sorcerer. A small smile spreading across her face as she walked up to the lanky man, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks, Nelson," She whispered, "Even if that was a really odd way of giving a compliment."

Walhart shifted uncomfortably at the sight. He frowned as he checked his person, patting himself down. Was his shirt getting smaller? He felt a tightness in his chest he could not explain.

"Well, now that you've made up, why don't the two of you join the crowd?" Pheros chirped, giving the two mages a playful shove.

"But wait! I don't know how to dance!" Robin protested, almost tripping over her heels. Before she could fall, Nelson caught her, supporting her as he lead her to the centre of the room.

"I know how," He said bluntly, pulling her into the correct posture, "Just follow my lead and you'll be fine."

"Wait, how do you know how to dance?" Robin asked as she was whisked off into the waltz, joining the other couples that were already circling around the room.

"She sure has grown up uh?" Pheros whispered, folding her arms.

"She has," Walhart rumbled, his eyes watching the tactician as she awkwardly danced with Nelson around the room, "From a nameless nobody to the tactician of our royal army. In addition, she is a true warrior, capable of fighting in the frontlines. The depths of her talent is honestly unfathomable."

"Really makes you wonder," Pheros mumbled, "If she's so gifted to begin with, why haven't we heard of her before?"

o - o - o - o - o - o - o

Robin felt her body sway with the melody of the classical music as Nelson carefully guided her across the floor, moving slowly so as not to trip her on her own feet.

"I know how to dance because it's common etiquette to do so," Nelson explained, gently moving back and forth, "Amongst nobility, it's almost as basic as table manners or how to carry oneself."

"But you were a soldier before this, weren't you?" Robin asked, trying her best not to step on Nelson's feet.

"Yeah, I was," The lanky man agreed, shrugging his shoulders, "But I learned how to after you transferred me out to become the head of finance. Figured it would be good to learn how to do it, though I never expected to be performing so soon."

"Well I think you're doing quite well," Robin murmured, mincing her steps as the pair waltzed amongst the other nobles, "But I mean, I'm not an expert on the matter or anything like that."

A short silence fell upon them as they continued to awkwardly dance, shuffling back and forth. Robin chanced a look around, trying to find a familiar face in the crowd. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Elaine dancing with Dalton, a wide grin on the cyan-haired girls face as she spun around the floor. Virion and Cherche were dancing alongside them, flashing Robin a smile as they blew right past her. She caught sight of Pheros and Walhart in the side of the room, simply sharing a small conversation as the dance went on.

"Why'd you change out of your usual kit?" Nelson asked flatly, breaking the silence, "I thought you didn't care how you looked?"

"I don't!" Robin cried, shifting her arm, "I was going to come in my coat but the girls wouldn't let me. Instead, they forced me into this uncomfortable gown."

"Who's gown is it anyway?" Nelson inquired, "I don't think we have random gowns just lying all over the place."

"Pheros'," Robin answered a slightly bitter look on her face, "Ugh, they had to adjust it so much too."

"Is it really all that bad?" Nelson asked, his eyes darting around, "Looks pretty okay to me."

"They had to bring the hem up by at least two inches," Robin deadpanned, her tone void of emotion, "And as for the rest of this outfit? These heels are a no go, my feet feel like they're going to drop off anytime. Plus they had to pull my hair so tight in order to do the braid. And you have no idea how troublesome it was to wear this. They even had to make me change my smallclothes to a corset."

"That last bit was a bit unnecessary..." Nelson mumbled awkwardly, looking away as his face flushed red.

"Oh, right," Robin muttered, her cheeks flushing as the realisation of what she had just said began to sink in.

Silence once again came over the couple, Nelson growing more and more aware of Robin as they continued. He smelt the faint scent of flowers as they carefully stepped back and forth, his palms beginning to sweat as he held her thin waist. He could not tell whether it was the make-up or the atmosphere, but Robin seemed more elegant and attractive than she usually was.

He jolted upright as he felt Robin's heels stomp on his foot, the surge of pain causing him to break his hold.

"Oh Naga! I'm so sorry!" Robin apologised, closing her hands over her mouth, "Are you okay?"

"Obviously not," Nelson groaned, resisting the urge to curl up and grab his foot, "Gods that smarts! You should classify those shoes under weaponry!"

"But that would be such a shame," Virion interjected, walking up to the pair, "After all, those are a fine pair of heels if I do say so myself."

The two looked up as the duke and his attendant walked over to them. The pair made to walk over to them, but was halted as Nelson buckled, letting out a grunt as he struggled to keep his balance.

"You should probably rest at the side," Cherche suggested, looking at the mage, "It may be worse than you think."

"What? Out of commision from a dancing accident?" Nelson asked incredulously, "What kin of weakling do you take me for?"

As if to prove himself, he stood up on both legs, only to be forced to take his weight off his injured foot, the pain being too much for him to bear.

"Trust me, it is no small accident," Virion said, an almost smug look on his face, "Those heels are as dangerous as they are beautiful."

"Fine... I guess I'll take a break," Nelson grunted, relenting as Virion brought him to a chair.

As the two men walked away, Robin looked around the room, trying to find Excellus. The fat tactician was definitely not up to any good. To her surprise, he was nowhere to be found.

Out the corner of her eye, she caught sight of one of the nobles with a white jacket creeping along the side of the room. It was not as if he was the only one moving along the side of the room, but something about the way he moved seemed... odd. As if he trying not to be noticed. She tried to see his face, but it was obscured by the shadows in the room. Robin watched as the figure quickly snuck into one of the side doors disappearing out of the room.

"Cherche, can you help me watch over Nelson?" Robin asked, "I just remembered I have something I need to do."

"For sure, Robin," The kind wyvern rider replied, smiling at the tactician, "Go do what you, need to do. Nelson might feel a little lonely without you though."

"Hah, he'll live," Robin snorted, moving towards the door, "He has his best bud, Virion, to accompany him."

o - o - o - o - o - o - o

A/N:

Hey guys!

Grazyfish here!

Sadly, I may not be able to keep up with one chapter a week fo this month. Time is getting a bit tight, especially now with Christmas right around the corner. Plus I have some other stuff on my plate. Super Smash Ultimate is soooo fun.

But I will try to upload as often as I can so please do stay tuned!