Whoa, another chapter so fast? Stop the fucking presses!

So, here's a question: how do you guys feel about a party? Do you like parties? Good.

Hope you enjoy this new installment of our heroes adventures! :)

The Grand Assembly

"That is a lot of people."

Yosuke's words were met with a round of agreeing nods, all eyes drawn to the spectacle of the city below.

Every rooftop was done up in the colors of Arvorod, slanted shingles painted in streaks of blue and white in patronage to their city while banners dyed in fiery hues were strung between the walls over the great streets. The noise was tremendous, enough that they could hear it clearly from their perch, every gust of wind carrying the sounds of shouting and singing and screaming as the citizens prepared themselves for the big day. Further down, along the untouched banks of the lakeshore outside the city proper, massive tents had been erected against the wind, draped in colors of all sorts and big enough to house hundreds of people. They could see the shadows of people flitting between the great pavilions, which teemed like an anthill, smoke continuously streaming into the sky from great cooking fires as food was prepared in droves, ready to feed the masses gathering in the city. The gatehouse had been opened as well, and they could see a seemingly never-ending procession of people walking across the massive bridge to the castle. Horse-drawn carriages rode between stately knights that walked afoot, a flock of squires and servants at their heel, and at each of the procession's head, one chosen knight strode ahead with a banner lifted high, each dyed a different color and bearing a unique sigil.

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, the other kingdoms had finally arrived.

"Of course!" Rhysana trilled as she seated herself on the marble banister, watching the parade with eager eyes, "The Grand Assembly happens only once every few years! Everyone turns out for it!"

Yu nodded slowly, still taking everything in. The castle had been abuzz since the night before, never quite still or quiet as servants worked late into the night to prepare for the day. They'd all felt the energy brewing ever since the week's beginning. Now, it had reached a peak, and Yu himself felt the excitement in the air as if it were his own.

"Does it always get so full?" Rise asked.

"Usually. It'd be strange if it didn't," Rhysana replied, idly swinging a leg, "This marks a special day in all of Endrivan's history. Doubly so, now that the World Wound is closed."

"Can we go down there?" Teddie asked, jumping up and down, "I wanna see the kings and queens up close! And the festival! And the food!"

Rhysana chuckled in amusement, but shook her head, "I get the feeling, believe me, but right now, it might be best to stay low. Especially since Yvir's gone and dragged half our party down to the city under the claim of 'fetching supplies'."

She scrunched her fingers in the air twice, tone dubious but brushed with amusement.

"Well, that kinda sucks," Chie commented, looking forlornly at all the tents by the lake, "It looks like it'd be lots of fun . . ."

"Yeah. And with so many people, there's bound to be all sorts of interesting performers and shops open, too" Rise said, frowning.

"Indeed. I would have liked to have browsed some of the curios," Naoto mumbled.

The rest of the group sighed in unison. It really was quite disappointing . . .

"Oh, stop with the long faces!" Rhysana admonished, "This festival lasts a whole week! Who said we were going to keep you cooped up in all that time?"

Yu looked up at her, "Really?"

"Of course, Nyras wouldn't have it without rules, and regulations, so take that with a small pinch of salt," Rhysana added, leaning back against the balustrade.

Yu' s shoulders sagged. Ah, of course . . .

"You say that with such disdain."

Everyone turned around, eyes falling upon Nyras as the ranger walked over to them with surefooted steps. Rhysana smiled, "I mean it in an affectionate way, cross my heart.~"

Nyras let a light chuckle slip as she turned her gaze to the gaggle crowding along the barrier, "So, enraptured by the revels, are we?"

"Well, who wouldn't be?" Yosuke asked, gesturing to the crowds below, "Everyone's been talking about this for the past week!"

"Indeed they have," Nyras agreed, stepping up to the ledge herself to peer beyond, "Every native of this country holds this occasion dear to their hearts. Unfortunate that the first day must be marred by storm clouds."

Everyone's eyes glanced upward. Unlike the frivolity below, the sky was gray and dull, the clouds having amassed heavy in the night. Light and sporadic sprinkles had broken every now and again all morning, dampening the colors of the city and dimming it's glow.

"Why's it bad?" Kanji asked, looking bemused, "Its just some rain."

Nyras smiled fondly, "Korval would say the same. However, storms have always been a tiding of ill-fortune to the superstitious, and as this is the first Grand Assembly held since the World Wound's closing, unpleasant rumors have begun to spread."

Yu frowned. It could all be hogwash . . . but given what they knew, it could also not be . . .

"Do you believe it?" He asked.

Nyras' answer was a neutral one, "I try not to jump to conclusions without solid evidence supporting it."

"I wouldn't worry about it overmuch!" Rhysana chimed in, throwing her legs over to the opposite side of the barrier so she was facing inward, "The main ceremony is happening indoors; a welcoming feast for all the dignitaries who've arrived. They'll be food, dancing, singing, and gossip of all sorts!"

"That sounds wonderful, but aren't we supposed to stay away from all that stuff?" Yosuke asked. He waved a hand over his face, "Cause, you know . . ."

Rhysana grinned, "Oh, but that's where you've got it wrong! See, this little party happens to be the sort where the mystique of masks are popular to the gentry! And we've worked out a little loophole for you!"

At this, everyone's faces brightened in excitement.

"For real?" Chie asked, beaming, "We can go?"

"So long as you adhere to a few rules we've set . . . yes, you can," Nyras said, "You've all put much hard work into your training, and you've improved exceptionally these past few days. Consider this a kind of, reward."

"Yes!" Teddie cried, pumping his arms into the air.

"Awesome!" Kanji exclaimed.

Rise clapped her hands, delighted, "Oh, this is going to be so cool! Going to a ball in a fantasy world, its like every little girl's dream!"

Yu placed a finger to his lips, thinking hard, "Hm, I wonder what mask I can wear?"

"Dude, that's what you're thinking about?" Yosuke asked, incredulous.

"It's a masked ball, Yosuke. I have to impress," Yu replied. Honestly, it was a very simple answer in his opinion, and if masks were to be involved, he wanted his to be awesome.

"Do you think feathers would be in, Yu-kun? Or something colorful?" Yukiko asked him, looking as if she was putting just as much thought into it as he was. A wise course of action.

"Hold on, now, before you get too involved in your costumes . . ." Rhysana held up her hands, "You should probably hear the rules, first."

Everyone stilled, waiting.

"Alright, first off!" Rhysana jumped down gracefully from the ledge, "You'll have to-"

"Hey! There you are!"

Rhysana flagged in her speech, rolling her eyes as she leaned to her left to look down the corridor. Everyone else followed her gaze, and saw that Korval was headed their way. He was out of his intimidating armor, instead donning a more relaxed leather jerkin and pair of boots that looked for more comfortable in Yu's opinion.

"Huh, speaking of devils . . ." Rhysana murmured.

Nyras turned to face the oncoming half-orc fully, smiling, "Did you need us for something, lieling?"

Korval returned it with a toothy grin, "Fitting, if you'll believe it."

"Wow, you got the runes done that quickly?" Rhysana asked, looking impressed.

"Well, he's always been exceptionally skilled with a needle, Rhys, as you well know" Nyras said, turning to the other woman with a smile laced with teasing, "You do commission his services quite often, after all."

Korval chuckled as Rhysana turned away in a pretend pout, arms crossed and huffing, "And I thought you were too good for gabble, but I guess I was wrong. You're supposed to keep a customer's requests covert and need-to-know, Nyras!"

"Ya make it sound like I run a spore ring, or somethin'," Korval grunted, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.

Meanwhile, all of this was just flying over their heads. Runes were not unknown to him by this point, but Yu would certainly like to know why exactly they pertained to the situation now. And fitting?

Nyras saw the questions in their eyes, "There's a reason Rhysana told you not to delve too far into creating any outfits. Korval's been managing that for you."

That was met with a brief and baffled silence until Yosuke piped in with a slight grimace, "Okay . . . why?"

"Well, one, we had to make something simple in a week, and two, whatever was made, I'd have to fix it up with a rune anyway," Korval said, shrugging, "Better if I just take care of it on my own instead of sorting through seven different orders." p

"Besides, something simple stands out far less in a ball," Rhysana said, "The gentry has eyes on every other noble in the court, so dressing like you're highborn will just get you a target on your back. The squires and servants, on the other hand, get an essential free pass so long as they keep to themselves and do their jobs."

"So . . . we're going as servants?" Chie questioned, looking measurably less excited than she was before.

"It makes sense," Naoto spoke up, nodding her head, "As we are, we'd already attract enough attention with just our looks. Not standing out would be ideal."

"I guess . . ." Rise sighed, "Man . . ."

Beside her, Teddie slumped, "Aw . . ."

"So much for that," Yu mumbled. He had really been looking forward to a fancy mask.

"I am a little curious . . ." Naoto continued, turning her attention to Korval, "What was this about a rune?"

"Ah, it ain't anythin' super fancy," Korval replied, "Its just a rune to help you understand the language. No offense, but you could all still use some work, and if you hung around speaking that weird language all the time, people are gonna notice."

"Oh, so its like a translator-thingy?" Teddie asked, perking up in interest.

"I guess?" Korval shrugged.

"So is it real magic, then? That you sewed into the clothes?" Yukiko asked, looking interested.

"Basically. My ma specialized in that sort of thing, and I picked it up from her," the half-orc replied, a note of pride in his voice.

Kanji was staring, looking enthralled, "That is really cool . . ."

Korval's grin grew bigger, and he reached out to give a firm pat the boy's shoulder, "Hey, stick around long enough, and I could show you the basics!"

Kanji's eyes widened, practically glowing as he replied, " . . . that would be even cooler."

"So, anyway!" Korval turned to them all, "You weren't doing anything important out here, right? I wanted to make sure everything fit before the feast tonight."

Yu shook his head, "No, we were just watching the city. Nyras was telling us how people are nervous because of the clouds."

At that, Korval grunted, "Bah, its just some rain. Come on, let's get this done with."

He gestured for them to follow, just as another light sprinkle began.

"So, did you make all the clothes yourself?" Rise asked, trying to make idle conversation as she walked with the rest, a cool, rain-scented breeze stirring her hair.

"I had some help," Korval replied, "The royal tailor's a bit stiff, but he knows what he's doing. His husband happens to be an arcanist too, so he helped me get the inks I needed."

There was a very long pause, most everyone pursing their lips and giving the half-orc a double take. The silence persisted long enough that the Champions even began to throw each other puzzled glances.

Then, Yosuke quietly spoke up, "His husband."

Korval quirked an eyebrow, "Uh, yeah. Did I stutter or somethin'?"

"Uh, well, I-I mean . . . it just kinda caught us off guard? I mean, wasn't that stuff illegal in places like this?" Yosuke went on, much to the confusion of the three adults present.

"Illegal?" Rhysana echoed, "Hardly. Arvorod isn't like, say, Rothvigot. Anyone can marry anyone."

Soft, wondering murmurs went up around Yu, who nodded along to her words. It did come as a slight surprise, , but he had to remind himself that his assumptions of how things worked socially were based on truths from a very different world, and it didn't really have a place here.

Yosuke looked like he was having a particularly hard time wrapping his head around it, gnawing at his bottom lip as his eyes wandered to the marble pillars, "Huh . . . weird."

Korval's eyes narrowed, turning in full to face him, "Why's it weird? They're just married."

By now, everyone had stopped walking, Yosuke fidgeting in place as all eyes turned on him, running a hand through his hair as he parsed, other hand gesturing uselessly, "But they're . . . you know . . . guys."

Out of the corner of his eye, Yu thought he saw Kanji roll his eyes.

"Yeah. They're guys. So what?" Korval continued, not letting off, "Why are you so hung up on that, anyway? You practically flipped your lid when Tirin messed with you in the wagon, too."

"H-hey, that was an invasion of personal space!" Yosuke snapped, arms going stiff at his sides as his face reddened.

"He didn't even touch you."

"Mental space, then! Its just weird to me, okay!" Yosuke said, arms curling over his chest defensively, "A-and I'm not 'hung up' on it! I'm just not into that!"

Korval held his hands up, looking well and truly fed up, "Who said you were? Gods, people have more important things to worry about these days! Sides, if anyone gets 'hung up' on anything around here about that sorta thing, it'd be race!" He suddenly thrust his arm in Nyras' direction, and in a fit of peak, proclaimed loudly and for all to hear, "If Nyras had been a man when we got together, people still woulda been more hung up on the fact that I'm a half-orc!"

. . . Complete, complete silence followed.

Oh no, was the only thing Yu thought.

He could only watch as the gears finally clicked in Korval's head, and the half-orc's face paled, voice bouncing in the very silent hall, "Oh . . . shit."

Very slowly, Nyras pressed a finger to her temple and shook her head, inhaling strongly through her nose and breathing out through her mouth. Beside her, Rhysana's mouth fell open, stunned. Then her expression shifted, looking very upset as she stomped her foot against the ground and yelled, "Are you serious?! Agh! I owe Tirin two platinum pieces now, because of that! Damn it, Korval, why do you have to be such a moron!"

Korval sputtered, "H-hey, I wasn't the one who told you to make any stupid bets!"

"Well, forgive me for having faith that you would be a little bit more intelligent than that!"

The IT, meanwhile, was still a little catatonic. Oh boy, this was going to fall apart faster than the King's Game, Yu could already tell.

"U-uh . . . I-I . . ." Kanji was officially broken, face as red as a beet, so red Yu could imagine steam coming out of his ears courtesy of his totally fried brain.

Naoto, on the other hand, took the initiative, despite her very, very bright face, "N-now wait, b-before anyone jumps to any conclusions! K-Korval-san was simply providing us an example," she put a lot of stress on that word, tone a little more high-pitched than normal, "To help us better understand the workings of this world! There is nothing more to it than that, regardless of wording! Right, Nyras-san?"

She looked to her counterpart with hope, but instead all she got was a very weary sigh and a curt response, "No. Everyone's initial assumption was the . . . correct one."

Behind him, he heard Rise trill in delight.

"W-what? B-but-," In a very rare display of complete and total loss of control, Naoto flushed scarlet and stuttered, "Th-that couldn't possibly be-I mean-the chances of that are-" she pointed at herself suddenly, "H-how could that happen?! Kanji-kun doesn't even like me in my world!"

"Th-THAT AIN'T TRUE!"

All eyes turned to Kanji, who went as white as a sheet under the attention. His jaw moved, struggling to find words and explain, but when his eyes locked with Naoto's startled stare, all courage seemed to desert him. Breaking out into a sweat, he gave a panicked lurch sideways and shouted, "I-I GOTTA GO!"

And then he was gone.

"I-I must leave as well!" Naoto said just as suddenly, taking off the other way with long, and slightly panicked steps.

There was a moment of quiet after the two departed (i.e fled), until Yu broke it with a soft, "Well, they're broken now. We'll never see them again."

"Yeah . . ." Chie said slowly, nodding but looking completely thrown for a loop.

Yosuke was looking back and forth where the two had ran, positively bewildered by what had just gone down, "Did that . . . really just happen?"

Nyras sighed again, "Yes, it did. And it could have gone much better. And more tactfully."

"Sorry . . ." Korval said, abashedly scratching the back of his head.

Behind them, Rhysana was still muttering to herself as she shifted through the contents of her purse.

"So, is it true?" Rise piped up, clapping her hands together and hardly looking surprised by this development, "You two are totally together in this world?"

"They're married," Rhysana called out, and both Nyras and Korval shot her a stern look which the bard summarily ignored.

Mouths dropped open, even as a delighted Rise squealed, "Aaaah, yes! One down, two to go!"

"No way!" Teddie balked, hands pressed to his cheeks dramatically, "Nyras-chan and Korval are scoring?! The scandal!"

"Oh, shut up," Korval growled, and the blonde clapped his hands over his mouth.

"Wow . . ." Yosuke mumbled, looking winded, "Who would have thought that could happen . . ."

"Up yours," Korval snapped, pointing a green finger accusingly at him, "This is partly your fault, too."

Yosuke pursed his lips, but decided against arguing with the clearly displeased half-orc.

"Wait, so . . . Nyras-san and Korval-san are together here, but Naoto-kun and Kanji-kun aren't . . ." Yukiko mused to herself. Looking up, she added, "Is this a foreshadow of the future, I wonder?"

"I would not call it such," Nyras said, "But next time you see them, do try not to pressure them into anything."

"Uh . . . yeah . . . if we ever see them again," Yosuke said.

"Never again," Yu replied. Of this, he was certain. For all his efforts to keep the team from falling apart, he had failed, and now must suffer the consequences.

"So . . . you two are the only ones, right?" Chie asked suddenly, shifting from foot to foot uncertainly, "I mean, like . . . romantically? Wow, I never thought I'd say that . . ."

All three Champions froze.

"Ha, so there is more!" Rise shouted, jumping on them and pointing with a demanding finger, "Spill!"

Yu perked up a little. This was new territory for him. He knew of Nyras and Korval (may the others never find out), but he hadn't actually considered the possibility of anyone else being hitched . . . huh . . .

He had to admit, he was a little curious.

"Uh, do we really wanna know?" Yosuke asked, looking wary.

"You? Probably not," Korval grunted.

"And just what is that-?!"

Before Yosuke could finish, Nyras stepped between them with a sharp and commanding, "Enough! Two distressed children is all I wish to deal with today! There will be no more of this!"

Everyone shuffled awkwardly where they stood, admonished to silence. Nyras made herself pretty damn clear . . . she did not want to talk about this anymore, and she didn't want anyone else talking about this anymore.

Korval, who was staring after where Kanji had run, frowned, "Damn . . . I still need to get them fitted . . ."

(*)

Night descended upon them quickly, and given how awkward the rest of the day had been after the mess that morning, Yu was quite relieved. Rise, Teddie and Yukiko had done nothing except debate who else could possibly be together, Yosuke, Chie and himself kept trading awkward glances with each other while they did that, and Kanji and Naoto had flat out disappeared.

He'd had quite enough of it. So when the time came for the feast's preparation, he was more than happy to don the suit he'd been given and busy his mind with other things.

It was a nice suit, even if it was supposedly fit for a someone of lesser birth. It was comprised of a long-sleeved white under shirt that was surprisingly comfortable to wear, along with a well-tailored blue waistcoat over that. The material was smooth and decently thick to supply warmth, the small wooden buttons lacquered with gold dye. Black pants fit snug around his waist via ties, and the boots were elegantly simple, laced tight up the sides. To accompany it was a simple black mask with a gold trim to cover the upper portion of his face, which would serve him well later.

There would be many others dressed similarly to him, enough so that no one would believe him to be a noble. Realistically, it did make the most sense to keep anyone from noticing them at the party, and while maybe he wouldn't get to dress up in any fancy attire with fancy masks, at least he'd get to see what passed for fun amongst nobles and kings.

It wasn't all bad, though. They were supposed to act the part of young squires in service to some of the knights of the Queen's Guard, and as such, the rule was to be respectful, be polite, and be courteous. And always bow. Always bow. But other than that, they would have free reign of the place.

The ballroom itself was massive, at least the size of their high school soccer field in length and width. Every surface was varnished with black, gold, and blue, sparkling brightly under the heavy trio of chandeliers hanging from thick cords on the ceiling. Each curved arm was cast with bronze, sapphire and diamond pendalogues tinkling along their lengths as the heavy candles shed their light on the floor below, flickering within the petals of their flowery glass cups. The entryway was a pair of double doors that stood open and bare, elevated on a balcony with duel grand staircases twining down on each side to the floor below, the better for the gentry to make an entrance, he supposed. Two guards flanked the doors, dressed in shining armor and carrying spears, the emblem of the teardrops emblazoned across their breastplates. Other such guards stood at intervals throughout the hall, there to offer security for the assembled nobles.

Most of the ballroom floor was bare, leaving space for the party-goers to dance and make merry. However, two long tables had been set along each wall, the places where the nobles, honored knights, and squires would sit once the feast proper was underway. As of right then, only cutlery was present. On the right wall, a large glass causeway opened out to a lovely terrace with arching, ivy-covered pillars and numerous plants and benches, all carefully maintained and groomed to perfection for this night. On the left wall, tall and narrow windows were lined up all the way down the ballroom, affording a clear view of the city and the cloud-covered sky, and between each a flag had been hung, eight in all. One he recognized as Arvorod's, done up in blue and gold with the teardrop emblem sewn into the fine silk, the first thing you saw when you entered the doors. The other seven all fell in line behind it; the purple-black boar of Steinhalten, the red-gold winged serpent of Rothvigot, the green-brown oak of Riftvale, the yellow-white lion of Stentlant, the gray-ice blue crescent moon of Kolgore, the green-white knight of Fessix, and the silver-black tower of Kennebrecht. Already, numerous people dressed in beautiful finery of all sorts meandered about the ballroom floor, some wearing masks, others going without, talking and laughing over cups of honeyed wine. None even spared him a glance. Other squires dutifully followed their lords and masters, while servants flitted between the attendees with ease, offering platters of luscious smelling h'orderves before whisking them away elsewhere. All the while, more people filtered in, the portly Master of Ceremonies dutifully ringing out each and every name with vigor. Which for once he could understand, courtesy of the small rune sewn under the hem of his collar. It was strange at first, being able to listen to a conversation and not be completely lost on its subject. It was all clear to him, and Yu found he enjoyed that new freedom immensely.

On the opposite end of the ballroom, far from where he stood, a slightly curved three-tiered row of cushioned benches sat. The highest bench, overlooking the entire hall, was reserved for the kings and queens, the banners of each hung below every seat. The row below that was the place where the Champions would be seated, and the final row was for the honored guests selected by the royals themselves. All the seats were empty, however, as none had yet to make an appearance, which struck Yu as odd. But then, it was still very early yet.

"Seen anything interesting?"

Yu looked to his left as Yosuke came to stand beside him, watching as the other boy fiddled with the placement of his mask.

"Well, that would depend on your definition of interesting," Yu replied, "Because right now, I think its all interesting."

"You got me there," evidently giving up, the other boy let his hands drop as a more mischievous smile came to his face, "Hey, did you see Kanji and Naoto earlier?"

He had. Whether on some sense of duty or they were coercioned into doing so, both of them had reappeared as people filtered in, and were now avoiding each other like the plague. Rise was trying to get them to talk, bless her heart, but he already knew it was not going to happen tonight. If ever.

"Man, I still can't believe that Nyras and Korval are married in this world! Gotta wonder how that happened," Yosuke went on, musing thoughtfully.

Yu shrugged, "Honestly? Who knows. Perhaps one day we can ask."

Yosuke snorted, "Yeah, that's gonna be one hell of a story, I bet."

Both boys lapsed into silence as another name was called, watching as a regally dressed couple descended the stairs.

"I wonder where the kings and queens are?" Yosuke wondered, "And our counterparts. I thought they'd be here before anyone else showed up."

"The night's still young," Yu reminded him, taking a small cucumber sandwich as it was offered to him by a young serving girl. He nodded his thanks, but she was already moving away. After a shrug, he popped it into his mouth, the finely cut vegetables crunching juicily between his teeth.

That was when a trumpet sounded over the entire hall, and all present fell silent.

The Master of Ceremonies cleared his throat, standing to attention as he then bellowed out, jowls shaking, "And now, presenting to you-"

The guards all stood at attention, and as one the crowd parted like a sea. At the same time, both Rise and Teddie suddenly popped up beside both of them, faces peaked with interest and excitement.

"They're coming, aren't they?" Rise whispered excitedly, brushing a hand almost self-consciously along the body of her skirt.

"Shh!" Yosuke hushed her, but he was unable to tear his eyes away from the stairs and the portly man went on.

"Firstborn of Landear, Heir to the Throne Beside the Lake and Guardian of Beacon's Light; Your royal majesty, Queen Edda the Second!"

And the Queen appeared not moments after her name was called. She was not wearing a ball gown, but instead an excellent silk brocade of blue with golden trim, the tear symbol of her city sewn over the chest with a silver scabbard strapped to her side. A crown of wrought gold was perched upon her head, an icy sapphire as bright as her eyes set at its heart between two curled tines, and she looked down with the noble bearing one would expect of a warrior queen.

Everyone clapped loudly as the woman descended the stairs, never ceasing even as the Master continued.

"And accompanying Our Queen, the Gold Heart of Arvorod, ancient protector of the lake and her people, daughter of the great wyrm Sylandria; Tiruviel!"

The dragon clad in the beautiful shape of a woman came next, dressed in her finery of sun-spun gold and (ironically) a mask resembling a dragon's head, and the applauding grew louder. Yu heard several of the gathered whisper, but they were too quiet to catch.

"Presenting next: Their royal majesties of Steinhalten, King Adalbert the Third, Slayer of the White Demon, and his Queen, the royal Elena of Edlewood!"

Next came two new faces, and Yu was immediately drawn in with curiosity; one was a man of rugged make, his face set into a stony scowl as he surveyed the room before him. His hair was black and silver and incredibly long, fashioned into a tight braid that coiled around his neck like a snake, just over the purple half-cape he wore over his broad shoulders. A black chainmail shirt hung loosely underneath it, a wickedly curved axe swinging from the supple leather belt around his waist. A black eyepatch was tied over one eye, heavy iron crown settled upon his head, free of any real adornments save the small onyxs embedded into the tips of each tine. His heavy black beard was trimmed neatly, well groomed even though he looked as if he wished he were anywhere else but here. Beside him stood a waifish woman that was as petite as she was pretty, looking many years younger than her grizzled husband. Her dark hair was pulled up in a plaited braid, a multilayered dress of black and purple silk hugging her small frame, swishing like gossamer with every step he took. She had a hand over her husband's arm, whispering to him softly as she smiled sweetly to the people below.

"Wow, how old is he compared to her?" Rise questioned, looking a little grossed out.

"I'm thinking you shouldn't ask," Yosuke said.

"Now presenting-" the Master continued, and they fell silent, "Their royal majesties of Rothvigot, King Friedrich the First, Pontiff of the Chantry of Ardella, and Queen Gisela! Accompanying, the brother to the Queen, First Hand of their majesties and protector of the crown, Lord Geroff Stannis!"

The trio that emerged was about what he'd expected. The King of Rothvigot was older, head balding and touched with wrinkles, but his face was kinder than the last one's had been. His heavy robes and cloak were lined with white fur, and a large adornment of gold hung from his neck, the image of a serpent emblazoned in red over its surface. The Queen was younger, but not by much, braided brown hair touched with grey. Her features were as sharp as a razor, with a narrow chin and high cheekbones, a large crystal diadem encircling her brow. Her golden corset had rubies sewn along its collar, droplets of blood along her fair neck, and the scarlet cloak she wore was clasped tight to her throat by a pendant of silver. Flanking her as close as her own shadow was a man who shared her features, brown-haired and sharp of face. He was dressed in resplendent armor of gold, pauldrons flaring out into the image of open wings, gauntleted hand pressed over the scabbard of his sword. He watched everyone closely, eyes flitting from one face to the next as the king and queen began to descend the steps.

"Yeesh, he looks paranoid," Yosuke commented softly. Yu nodded.

"Now presenting: Her royal majesty of the Green Wood of Riftvale, wisest in the land, Queen Ida!"

A much older woman, the oldest by far, stepped through the double doors. She was hunched over, back stooped and legs trembling as if she were carrying the weight of the world, but she walked forward as if her age did not plague her. A shock of white hair was on her head, which was tied back into a thin ponytail that draped over her bony shoulder. The only thing Yu could make out was the rich green cloak she wore, its edge sewn with an ensemble of colored leaves that fluttered with her moments. A heavy wooden staff of ancient redwood was in her hand, its gnarled head the size of a coconut, and upon her brow was a circlet of lacquered twigs that were spun together with expert skill. She grinned, all gums and no teeth, to more applause.

"She looks nice! Like the little old shopping ladies at Junes!" Teddie said.

"Don't try and beg her for treats," Yosuke said, very firmly.

By then, Yukiko and Chie had found them, and he nodded his greeting as the Master carried on;

"Now presenting: His royal majesty, thrice defender and honored hero of the realm, King Borris of Stentlant!"

The next man to come through lumbered in at a slow and trudging pace, and the first thing Yu noticed was the king's massive girth. His rotund stomach bulged under the resplendent black velvet shirt he wore, rolling ungainly with every step he took. His head and chin were covered in a thick, heavy mop of dark brown hair, and sweat was clinging to his brow. Despite the labor of his efforts, he brusquely waved away any help, looking unimpressed and a mite bored as he clambered down the steps. It was only on his way down that Yu saw his crown, fashioned of stark-white metal with sharp, pointed tines all around its circumference. The king was holding it in his hand rather than wearing it on his brow, and every now and again, he'd reach around with it and use it to scratch his ass.

"'Thrice defender and honored hero of the realm', huh?" Chie whispered, looking highly unimpressed.

"It is a bit disappointing," Yukiko murmured.

Yu wrinkled his nose a little. The man did come off as a little . . . repugnant. Whatever he'd been, his adventuring days were far behind him now.

"Now presenting: Their royal majesties of Kolgore, King Meinrad the Eighth, and Queen Amalia of the Vales!"

The next couple was an attractive one; the man was tall, smartly dressed in an icy doublet lined with white and a velvet cloak trimmed with gray fur, with ashen hair and sharp blue eyes. Beside him, the woman was just as attractive, hair as bright as a sunbeam and coiled high upon her head, held in place with a bright silver tiara speckled with jewels. Her dress was plush, blue and grey and studded with rhinestones, sparkling under the chandelier lights. They held their heads high as the audience applauded, then descended the steps together in perfect unison, arm-in-arm and smiling all the while.

"Do they come off as a little creepy to anyone else?" Chie asked, frowning.

"They're probably going to be the stuck-up ones, just watch," Rise warned, looking sure of herself.

"Guys, be quiet before someone hears you!" Yosuke hissed.

"Now presenting: his royal highness of Fessix, staunch commander of the Knights of the Tempest and bane of the Naedarish, Prince Roland!"

That caught Yu's attention, even as the newcomer emerged into the galley. He was tall and lithe and rather young compared to the ones who'd come before him, shoulders back and head held high under the stares of those present. He was wearing armor, polished white with enameled scales all down the breastplate, a cloak of sea-foam green thrown over his shoulders. A scabbard stylized with engraved depictions of war swung from his hip, the crest bearing the embattled knight symbol of his kingdom. He walked with a warrior's stride, a sense of pride and honor in his gait as he followed the rest of the royals.

"Ooh, a warrior-prince!" Rise trilled, "I wonder what his story is?"

Yukiko giggled, "You sound almost exactly like Rhysana-san, Rise-chan."

The other girl smiled slightly, "I guess I kinda do, huh?"

"Now presenting: His royal majesty of the rekindled Kennebrecht, The Iron King Stephan!"

And the last of the royals appeared, a man of short stature and lanky appearance. No hair crowned his head despite him not being of old age, face gaunt and lean, nose as crooked as a hawk's beak. His attire was simple, black and grey and somber, a band of wrought iron and silver encircling his brow. He departed the balcony as quickly as he'd stepped upon it, striding to the other end of the hall with nary a turn of his head to the gathered assembly.

"He looks friendly," Chie commented.

"He looks scary . . ." Teddie said.

Yu said nothing. His eyes were on the royals as they ascended the side stairs to their seats, as regal and illustrious as he'd imagined royals to be. Queen Edda sat in the center, Tiruviel beside her, and the rest of the kings and queens fanned out across the top. But the rest of the nobles around them did not move to take their own seats, not quite yet.

The reason why became clear as the Master of Ceremonies bellowed, "And now, presenting to you, your Champions of the World Wound-"

All his friends (the ones present, anyway) straightened, eyes all flying eagerly to the balcony above them. A buzz of excitement filtered throughout the hall, the nobles whispering to one another in renewed fervor.

"Scion of the Church of Irun, Silver Blade of Dresden, bane of demon-kind, Lord Yalathas!"

The people cheered even before Yalathas stepped through the doors, and Yu could see the man smiling in amusement even from his position down below. His brocade was snowy white and gilded with silver along the collar and sleeves, his sword girded at his hip. He had chosen to wear a mask, it seemed, a grey one with white feathers fletched at the corners. Not that it mattered since everyone knew him, but maybe that was the appeal.

"Ooh, he looks nice," Rise commented.

"So feathers were in," Yukiko mumbled to herself, nodding.

"Child of the Green Wood," the master droned on, "Born of tempest blood and gifted sorcerer of the eight realms, Lord Yvir!"

Yvir followed suit, the sunset hued tailcoat he wore burning bright against the cooler colors of the hall. A half circlet of gold encircled the back of his head, the end of each curling down just around his ears before they could cut through his elegant birthmarks. Aife perched majestically upon his shoulder, a small harness tied around his torso, spreading his vibrant wings as his master descended the stairwell to the awed shouts of the people.

"What does 'child of the green wood' mean?" Yosuke wondered, looking puzzled.

Yu shrugged, to intent on watching to answer.

"Born of the Dragon Spine Mountains, esteemed monk and slayer of the dreaded Chimera, Lady Cahira Simorn!"

Cahira burst in with just as much energy as he would expect, grinning as the people cheered on. Unlike most present, she was dressed fairly simply, a humble robe of green cloth with a black sash tied around her middle and wooden sandals on her feet. Like a monk, he realized belatedly.

Chie nodded, looking pleased. Perhaps it lived up to an image she had in her head, but he couldn't be sure.

"First of the House of the Sun, child of the elves, Healer of Sacred Fire, Lady Ylvaria Illumvanvi!"

Ylvaria was stunning as she emerged onto the balcony. Her dress looked spun of living fire, the dyed shades of orange, red and gold rolling seamlessly together with every twist of her skirt. Her red bodice was fletched with feathers as dark as ebony, and a mask of gold was perched over her face, the nose elongated to resemble a bird's curving beak. She curtsied before the audience, the picture of sophisticated grace, then made her way down the stairs.

"Oooh . . ." Teddie murmured, staring.

"I like her mask," Yukiko said, "I wish I could have worn something like that."

The Master roared on, "Master of the Verse and Singer of Dragons, the beautiful Lady Rhysana Tylvanni!"

The whole audience fell hush as the bard stepped out into the hall, as radiant as an evening sun. Her hair was done up in bountiful curls that had been dusted with a shimmering powder, her dress a fuchsia pink and bearing a garland of roses sewn in from shoulder to hip. She gave a graceful spin, the silk skirt flaring out around her legs, glittering with the same shine as her hair before she headed down to the floor below.

"Wow . . ." everyone murmured.

"Battle-born in spirit, The Hammer of the Champions and Howler of Dresden, Lord Korval Crewlys!"

Korval emerged right after, hair groomed nicely but looking a bit uncomfortable in his fine vest and pants. He continuously fiddled with the embroidered cuffs of his sleeves, even as he gave a curt nod to the Master of ceremonies. Unlike the rest, he did not immediately leave the balcony, and the reason why became apparent as the portly man beside him carried on.

"-And his wife, daughter of the esteemed House Theron and Hunter of Demons, Lady Nyras Theron!"

The ranger was a picture of loveliness as she emerged, hair free of its confines a swooped back into an elegant bun. Her dress was a dark, dark blue, the top of her skirt studded with small, clear crystals and strangely reminiscent of a star speckled sea. Without hesitation, Korval extended a gentlemanly arm, which she accepted with a smile.

"Oh man, Kanji and Naoto definitely saw that," Chie commented, watching the display a little awkwardly. She was most certainly right, and Yu felt a little bad for the two who were still hiding away somewhere in the crowd.

"Aw, they look so happy," Rise said with a pleased grin.

"Still kinda weird to watch . . ." Yosuke murmured, rocking on his feet, "I mean, how in the world did that happen?"

"Oh hush, you just don't understand how love works," Rise said dismissively.

"And finally, Scion of the Shadows, The Cloaked Dagger, Lord Tirin!"

The gloaming hopped out into view with a grin and a bow, his sparkling gold doublet a vivid turn-around from his dark armor. With ease, he jumped onto the stairwell banister and slid down to the ballroom floor, earning several cries and cheers from the onlookers.

"Show-off," Yosuke said.

Teddie huffed, "I could have done that too!"

The other boy scoffed, "Sure."

The Master continued to below out names, but Yu's eyes followed their counterparts as they took their places at the high bench. How striking an image they cut, and how strong the crowd seemed to adore them. It was strange to know that in this world, this was his life. In some way, he was sitting up there, overlooking a crowd of nobles not because of birth, but because of heroism.

The people around them began to move, and Yu realized they were taking their seats. Quickly, he and his friends monopolized a corner for themselves, near the back but still in clear view of the high bench and its occupants. A few minutes later, Kanji and Naoto were escorted over by one of the handmaids assigned to their watch, neither saying a word to anyone as they took their seats on opposite ends of the row, far from each other.

"Well, what can we expect?" Yosuke murmured to him.

Yu nodded, "Yes, this did all happen very suddenly for them. All we can do is hope they recover."

There was a clamor down the end of the hall, and all eyes were drawn to the high bench as Queen Edda gracefully rose to her feet. It was only when the nobles had fallen silent, so silent you could have heard a pin drop, that she spoke, her voice strong and clear as it echoed down the hall, "My fellow kings and queens, my high lords and ladies, welcome! On this day, we gather together in remembrance of our sacred truce, the alliance brokered by our ancestors in a time of great strife and torment! Centuries ago we were broken. But centuries since, we have stood together, our flags raised proudly in defiance to the evil that would see us fall," she gave a grand sweep of her arm to the flags lined along the walls, voice climbing, "This day reminds us of our age-old promise, of our unity, and of our strength to stand as one against a plague that threatened us all. And now, at last, we can come together without fear! For three years ago, our enemy was defeated, the World Wound sealed! Three years ago, our long war came to an end, and peace returned to our shattered realm! And three years hence, on this day, we honor the ones who made it possible! Rise now, our Champions, and let your people see you!"

As one, the eight gathered on the bench below rose, and the hall was filled with cheers. Nobles all around the hall stood from their seats, bellowing loud and rancorously, the noise swelling so high Yu heard nothing else. Yet, he found he couldn't stifle the stirring in his own heart as he watched these people scream praise and adulation to ones who shared their faces, feeling their thanks rise like a swelling tide. So powerful was this force, he imagined it pushing him out of his seat to stand, clapping with the rest as a haze of revelry filled him.

It went on for several minutes before the queen at last waved everyone to silence.

"On this day," she continued, and her voice seemed smaller compared to the power of before, "We stand together and remember those who were lost along the way. May their souls forever rest, knowing their sacrifices were not in vain, and that their families and loved ones may bask in a world free of the scars that had haunted this land. And now, in their memory, the memory of our ancestors, and the memory of our ancient vow-" she held her arms up, hands raised towards the sky, and bellowed, "May the Grand Assembly begin!"

(*)

Night had fallen, yet the city below was alight with carousing, every tavern lit, every chimney smoking as the festive cries of the people rose up and away on the wind.

She looked over it all from her place on the bridge, watching for a time. Such small lives, theirs were, and so simple. Their days were filled with toil, their worlds comprised of their families and their jobs, with simple pleasure sewn between. It was only on nights like these that they partook of something more.

Poor little things . . . they had no way of preparing for the storm.

But it was not her place to worry. Brushing out her skirt to restore a semblance of order to her chosen attire, she turned and made way for the castle proper. She had a party to attend.

Above her head, the clouds rumbled, and a streak of white fire lit the sky.

Here's a second question: are you ready for shit to get real?

Hee hee hee. :3