Chapter 192 (1/2)

Chapter 192

Chapter 192: Eat, Drink, Be Merry

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After another failed atte to coerce Sylvie to take a break and come join h the towering double doors of stained wood, opened for uards clad in silver, my worries were replaced by wonder It felt like I had stepped into a different place

Maybe I had

I looked back over h a teleportation gate disguised as a doorway Confir that I was still indeed inside the Castle, I took hts, sounds, and aro roo extraordinary, the details in the decoration tookitself made this room feel like a separate structure fro orbs above brought to life a scene straight out of a princess picture book

Unlike the flamboyant party where the witch-like retainer’s frozen body had been showcased as a morale booster for the many noble houses that attended, this event emitted a cozy, intimate atmosphere—with a little sprinkle of a surreal fairytale lasses of whatever lavish drink the purple liquid ht be from a meticulously-dressed butler poised al one of them to Emily, as besides me

When my sister tried to take one as well, I pulled her back “It’s alcohol”

Ellie clicked her tongue and continued walking It didn’t take long for her discontent to diffuse

“Everything looks so…ical!” Ellie marveled, unable to for in here, but where’s all the food?”

“This is still a dinner, not a party,” I explained, pointing to the long rectangular table covered with a seaed eht out once everyone’s here and seated”

The alcohol—I noted with ae wooden kegs

“I’hed, nearly drooling

I nodded in agreement The air was thick with a concoction of spices, sauces and herbs that strangely seeside each other rather than clash To blend and ether was the subtle oaky scent of the fire crackling and popping in the hearth at the far corner of the cozy dining hall

Ellie pulled on my sleeve “Are you sure we didn’t need to dress up for this?”

“The place is a lot fancier than Virion had led on, but yes I’m sure,” I assured “This is supposed to be a coo back out to the field, my dearest sister”

“I’azing about

“Then you know I’ the truth,” I said blandly

Ellie let out a groan at ine how ‘comfortable’ it’ll be already… with the Council, the lances, and the elders all gathered in one place,” Emily chimed in, her sarcas off from the two of the one of the last to leave, Emily, my sister, and I were the first to arrive

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As I sat in the back to enjoy the war inside escorted by Hester Both wore evening gowns that, while ant… and expensive

Ellie and Elares as they saw this,me for their comparatively inforlass, now half-elass slightly as well, s her attention to Emily and lass in hand as well “Seems like you’ve already made yourself coht this was supposed to be a casual dinner,” I sniffed, holding lass out toward her

“Is this not casual?” she slass with hers in a casual toast before the two of us took a sip

“Casual is wearing your slightly larger pants so that you can coe in whatever exquisite cuisine we’re presented with tonight,” I said with confidence

Hester looked at et that you’re not from a noble house, no offense”

I chuckled “None taken It’s always a to hide their conte blatantly ‘irained in everyone since infanthood,” Hester admitted “My mother would faint if she saw you in that attire at an occasion like this”

“Truth be told, my mother would probably faint as well if she kneas attending this kind of dinner wearing this,” I chuckled, feeling a pang of guilt and sorrow at the mention of my parents

We sipped our drinks in silence for a bit, watching the chaotic move off the last of my purple liquor, I asked Hester a question that had been on my mind since I first , what is your relationshi+p to Jas the fire as intently as I had been, shi+fted her gaze to me “You two are acquainted?”

I nodded

She took a few h “Then I guess it’s safe to assuative iotten a little better since I hter ofthe relass

Hester proceeded to tell me a little about the Fla I hadn’t already been told or guessed er brother—the one with the ht of Jasmine as an embarrassment to the Flamesworth house At first, he did all he can to try and draw out any latent potential in fire-affinity, hopeful that she ht even be a dual-elementalist Once her father realized that as the only affinity that his daughter had, he isolated her until she was old enough and kicked her out soon after

Hester’s rehout the story helped quell soer I had toward their family, but there was still a bitter taste in my mouth

“Your brother, where is he now?” I asked

“Trodius is a captain, his division being one of the main forces at the Wall,” she answered “You don’t plan on—”

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“No, I have no intentions of har back to see some familiar faces “I was just curious Oh, and about your corained in theh the doors While Camus wore a traditional elven robe, Buhnd had apparently decided to attend the event disguised as what seeaze, rolled her eyes as she saw the dwarven elder finish a glass in one gulp and proceed to grab twoto us “There are always outliers”

I chortled “An outlier indeed”

It didn’t takein Virion congratulatedand a snide coreeted Merial and Alduin Eralith, Tess’ parents cordially, exchanging a few pleasantries Alduin sort of digressed, talking about the war and so the elven ar about that here and dragged hi Blaine and Queen Priscilla—or is it Mr and Mrs Glayder? Although the royal fas and queens, it was always unco how to exactly address them—were even more succinct While Kathyln’sof Sapin still found it uncomfortable to be around me; a human that became a lance for the elves Most likely sodo and toasting (thereby drinking) with the elders and the Council ree It was only noticeable toand repeated that ‘there were no hard feelings’ The lance tried to pry hi attention but I utilized one of the techniques I had learned from Ca real life applications for spells is the next step inreet Varay and Aya The two lances had just come back frohtings of another retainer Unfortunately, the final retainer was gone by the ti until an unexpected surprise showed up Garbed in a bright yellow dress that looked like it ed to a child was Mica

“Mica!” I exclai everyone’s attention to the entrance The dwarf, obviously unaccustomed to such a fluttery dress, flushed at the attention Rather than shrink, however, the dwarven lance stuck out her chest and held her chin up and , which was a little aard considering she was about half ht Virion came by and placed a hand on her shoulder