The Banquet was held in the Arcrite Hall, deep within the Holy Land. It was where the highest members of the Church of the Arc would gather. From deciding Church laws to fate, its doors would open for the Starless. Ester had received her dress alongside Saphy, and now maids fastened and examined them both, making sure they fit perfectly.
"Too snug?" A young maid with short black hair and oversized spectacles asked as she tightened the dress.
Ester shook her head, though she could barely breathe. "It's...fine." She winced.
The young maid smiled and loosened the lacing slightly. Then she stepped back, inspecting every detail with unsettling intensity. Her eyes traced each seam, each fold, lingering far too long.
Ester shifted uncomfortably. "U-um…"
The maid snapped back to focus. "Ah, forgive me milady!" She attempted a smile. "I just need to be sure it's perfect."
Ester looked down at herself. At the dress. It looked fine to her. After all, she didn't see the big deal.
She looked back at the maid. "Why is this banquet so important?" The question came out earnestly but the tone made the maid wince.
The maid's eyes shot up, disbelief plastered across her face. She glanced toward the entrance, then leaned closer. "Please don't say that, milady…" Her voice trembled. "His eminence...the Arcon will be there."
Ester's mood soured. How had she not heard anyone mention that important detail...as if no one wanted to be reminded. The head of all Churches in Geneeva would be attending."
"Your first impression before his eminence is everything," the maid continued. "Otherwise you'll be signing your own demise."
First impression, she said. There was no way the Arcon didn't know who she was...what she did. Even though it was thanks to Lucius that she'd been spared from the dungeon...or worse, how she conducted herself tonight would determine everything going forward. Her chest tightened.
"All done." The maid stepped back, giving Ester one final inspection. "Perfect!" Whether the comment was directed at Ester or her own handiwork was unclear. Either way, Ester was finally allowed a glance at a mirror.
It took a moment to fully comprehend the person staring back at her.
The black dress was fitted at the bodice, full at the skirt, sleeves reaching her wrists. Her hair had been done in a way that made her look so much more mature, she could hardly believe it. The same girl who had entered the HoS smelling like death and dirt now stood before that mirror with a royal radiance.
She couldn't help but think herself breathtaking. Something she hadn't thought about herself for a while.
"Wow…" It was the only thing she could mutter before the door swung open.
Saphy appeared in the doorway, her frizzy brown hair moulded into a beautiful afro. Her dress was similar to Ester's yet without the sleeves, and a deep shade of green, the frills of her dress melting into a pinkish colour. Little green decorations adorned her hair as well, giving her a fairy like appearance.
When she saw Ester, her eyes widened, then narrowed in surprised disbelief.
"Ester?" she whispered. "Oh...wow!"
"You look beautiful, Saphy." Ester grinned, unable to contain it.
"So do you!" Saphy hurried over, clasping her hands as she bounced giddily. Their excitement didn't last long before Saphy froze, worry spreading across her face.
"...Are you ready?"
The question was daunting. It didn't matter how she felt, this was something they had to do. The only thing she could do was steel herself.
"...I am." Ester said. "You?"
Saphy nodded confidently, a cheeky smile spreading. "Of course! Do you see how I look?" She gave a quick twirl, letting the dress flow around her. "The Starless Banquet better be ready for me!"
Ester gave a quick round of applause, which was immediately cut short by the maid's sharp cough.
"Ahem!" The maid straightened. "While you both look fantastic...I urge you to be on your utmost behaviour." She didn't need to say more. Her words carried weight. "Whenever you are ready, please head outside and join your fellow Starless."
She gave a gracious bow and exited, closing the door behind her.
Ester stared at the door for a moment. A part of her would have liked it if the maid had stayed.
"Hey, Ester!" She turned to find Saphy rummaging through the drawers of their dorm. "Is...this yours?"
The thin chain glimmered an expensive shade of silver as she held it up. The pendant held an encrusted emerald that glittered under the Flo light. It was almost the same shade as Saphy's dress.
The officials had confiscated the necklace when Ester was arrested, and for some reason had given it back when she left the dungeons. She remembered the pudgy little official's jealous look as he handed it back to her. She'd stuffed the necklace in a drawer the first moment she got, not wanting to hold onto it any longer. She still couldn't come to terms with it. She couldn't even provide Saphy with an answer. Was the necklace truly hers? Did it really belong to her? Denying it would mean denying what had happened, acknowledgment meant she did what she did… All she could do was stare at it.
At her necklace.
Ester nodded, eyes meeting the floor. Saphy turned back to necklace, noticing the change in her demeanour. "Oh…" She put the necklace back in the drawer. "Bad?"
Ester nodded again. Saphy pursed her lips. "Why...don't you throw it away?"
"I...can't…" Ester said, looking at the worried Saphy. "It's my curse."
Saphy edged closer, yet there was a slight guard in her approach. "Wanna talk about it?" Ester thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. "If I did, it'll just put us both in a worse mood for the Banquet." Saphy let out a soft smirk, the worry in her eyes subsiding. "That's true…" She turned toward the door. "Shall we?"
Ester nodded. Before she opened the door, Saphy stopped. She turned her attention back toward the drawer that contained the necklace.
"...It sure is beautiful," she muttered listlessly. "…Whatever happened...whatever that necklace meant to you, doesn't change the fact that it's still yours."
She turned to face Ester. "And what a shame it'll be if you never wore it again…" There was a certain fire in her eyes when she said this, as if she saw something special in Ester. Ester's throat tightened, watching Saphy open the door. She knew Saphy meant well, but it didn't make what she said any less painful. Ester took one last look toward where her necklace lay, then followed Saphy out of the room. The door closed behind them with a defiant CLICK.
Upon exiting the Starless building, they were greeted by a few Starless already mingling with one another, nervous chatter spreading through the crowd as they showed off their outfits. Ester couldn't help but stare, everyone looked distinguished.
One figure stood out, arms crossed as he waited silently for the Starless to appear. Instructor Markos was dressed in an expensive blue suit, lined with gold. Thick black boots and a cape hung off one shoulder. For some reason he wore a black eyepatch over his left eye. Medals upon medals shone on his chest, a serious expression etched on his face.
He perked up, feeling Ester's gaze, turning his good eye toward her. His mouth twisting into a tight-lipped smile.
An acknowledgement? Just how much did the one eyed king know?
She pondered possibilities until Saphy grabbed her arm, pointing at two Starless in the corner.
"Look!" she exclaimed.
Kris looked stunning. A grey vest and a black tie over a brown long sleeve shirt, rolled up at the elbows. His hands were buried in the pockets of grey trousers that seemed too baggy for him. It looked unconventional, but he pulled it off surprisingly well. His hair was slicked back into a small ponytail, allowing bangs to fall across his pale face.
He looked annoyingly mature.
Then Ester's heart melted when she saw the shorter one.
Ezekiel turned around after multiple nudges from Kris, a scowl on his face that dissolved when he realised who stood in front of him.
"Oh wow…" he muttered.
Saphy punched him, making him yelp. Then she embraced him.
He got flustered, possibly because a girl was hugging him, but he accepted it nonetheless. Saphy couldn't stop smiling. It might've looked strange to the other Starless, but it didn't matter. They didn't know what they had been through.
He wore a grey overcoat over a wool-coloured suit. The tie was a sort of brownish colour, the pants the same grey as his overcoat. One accessory that stood out was the bandage wrapped around his head, replacing his headband. His hair still retaining its spikiness. In his own Ezekiel way, he too carried an air of distinction, maybe because of his heritage.
He glanced over at Ester, the same stupid smile on his face and a flash of his eyebrows as if to say I know you were worried about me.
It annoyed her. But she gave him a hug anyway, surprising them all.
She didn't know why, but she felt he'd deserved it. After all, Ezekiel did die trying to help Lin Hua. Speaking of Lin Hua, Ester hoped she was okay. She asked Ezekiel her condition, he just pursed his lips, eyes unable to find hers.
Before she could question him, they heard it, screaming and loud murmurs as a crowd began to form.
"Ugh...so loud," Ezekiel cursed, lifting a hand to his temple. He still hadn't recovered fully, in fact, he was advised to skip the Banquet, but he refused.
Ester was curious to find out what was making such a commotion. The others followed her.
Getting closer, she then understood.
A boy stood at the centre of the crowd, tall, maybe Kris's height, with dark red hair that seemed to get brighter under the torch's embers. His skin was slightly tanned, sun kissed in such a way that made him look like a deity's son. He wore a formal black suit with golden accents. The tailcoat stretching behind him. A single golden medal rested on his chest.
Then she noticed his face.
Beautiful was too generous of a word. Looking at him was like staring into the sun. A sharp jawline, warm eyes, and a smile as if to say he was embarrassed by the attention but didn't know how to make it stop.
Ester glanced at Saphy, she didn't say a word, her mouth agape and her eyes wide in awe. Kris looked like he was admiring, a slight raise in his eyebrows and Ezekiel...Ezekiel's face was twisted in a way that showed he was blatantly jealous, arms crossed as he looked at the golden boy. Ester could barely look at him for too long without having to avert her eyes.
The way he smiled, the way people looked at him as if he was someone sent by the gods. She had seen it before. The same way crowds would flock to her uncle as if he was goodness incarnate. It made her sick. It made her apprehensive.
"Is that him?" she heard Ezekiel grunt behind her.
"Arthur Ren of Leria..?" Kris said quietly. "Yeah, that's him." He pointed at the mark on his forehead.
His eyes swept across the crowd, taking in faces that surrounded him with a polite smile until they did a double take on Ester.
He paused for just a second, eyes blinking as they matched gazes. She looked away first. Kris noticed this, glancing at Ester, yet he said nothing.
Markos took the opportunity to rein in the crowd.
"GUYS!" he bellowed, clapping his hands together. The noise died, though eyes still lingered on Arthur. "As you know, we are about to attend a Banquet with the Arcon of Geneeva...If you know what is best for you, you will be on your best behaviour!"
He let his words linger.
"There will also be two other people attending the Banquet." He laid a hand on Arthur's shoulder. "Starless Arthur Ren of Leria...the Phoenix Avatar."
Arthur shifted his weight, a smile laid uncomfortably on his face as gasps, murmurs and grunts rippled through the crowd.
"And of course...his cousin."
Markos and Arthur looked up, past the Starless and they did the same. Turning around to see a silhouette descend from the night sky, landing softly.
The murmurs died instantly.
He was a small boy, around Saphy's height, wearing a white robe that pooled around his feet. A green and gold outer robe was worn over it, giving him an air of untouchable importance. His white hair cut incredibly low. The top half of his face hidden behind a red veil.
Jewellery adorned almost every visible part of him. Rings on fingers, rings lining his left ear, a golden choker around his neck.
He didn't acknowledge the crowd. Didn't turn his head. Just stood there, blind and silent, radiating something that made every Starless hold their breath.
Even Ezekiel, who never shut up, said nothing.
Ester's chest tightened. This was him...The legend in the making. Her sole reason for freedom…
He raised a hand, turning it sideways as a greeting.
"Hey."
Silence again.
"… Starless, meet the Arc's authority," Markos sighed, gesturing toward him. "Lucius the Praised."