We reached the forty-seventh floor in the evening and honestly, I felt like I just stepped into a world I wasn't meant to see. They gave us our ceremonial outfits. They were white sleeveless robes and sandals that hugged my feet just right.
I threw it on and for once, I let my hair down. Crimson strands poured down past my shoulders, past my back, and brushed against my knees. I never really paid attention to how long this body's hair was until then. Phasnovterich had been having this much hair the entire time and I just hadn't bothered to notice? Seeing it flow freely instead of tied up in a knot was something else.
Thales gasped beside me, squinting at me like he had just seen a spirit. Then he grinned that cocky grin of his and laughed.
"Holy shit. You know, if you cosplayed as a girl, you would pull it off easily."
"What?"
"I'm serious. Look at you. The hair, the robes, that face, you would destroy half the population just by walking into a room. Honestly, I think you look better than half the women here."
I smacked him in the back of the head before he could go on.
"Don't. Just... don't think about it."
Thales winced but laughed anyway, rubbing the spot I hit like it was a badge of honor.
"Alright, alright, fine. But I'm not wrong."
I wanted to argue but when I caught the reflection of myself in one of the polished silver trays being carried by a servant, I froze.
He wasn't wrong.
The person staring back at me wasn't me. No wonder people back on Earth were obsessed over him. I now understand why forums lit up with endless debates about his nonexistent romance routes.
And then there was Thales.
He didn't even need the hair. He has short platinum locks, platinum eyes and the kind of smirk that made women drop their glasses and men question their self-esteem. He is the kind of handsome that didn't need explaining. And sure enough, when we walked into the ceremonial hall, every single woman in sight turned.
Their gazes flicked to Thales first, obviously. But then they saw me, and it was like the room forgot how to breathe. Fans fluttered. Cups paused midair. Servants missed steps carrying trays. A whole group of younger women by the far side of the room straight-up started giggling and blushing like they were in some drama series.
Back on Earth, I heard about the Phasnovterich fan base. They were the loud minority in the fandom. They practically begged the developers to make him a romance option and give him story arcs beyond the main plot, to let them "save him" or "be saved by him." When the devs ignored them, they rioted in threads, made memes, wrote fanfictions and even petitioned. Phasnovterich ended up ranked as one of the most attractive characters in gaming history not just because of his looks, but because of his mystery and nature. He topped lists, won polls, got compared to celebrities, and carried that "untouchable" energy.
And now I was living it and it sucked. Thales, of course, was thriving. He leaned closer with a grin and whispered.
"If you looked at yourself in the mirror right now, you would definitely fall in love with yourself. Don't lie."
"Shut up."
"Come on, admit it. One glance and that's it. I mean, look at you."
I couldn't even respond. My face heated, not from embarrassment but from sheer second-hand cringe. Who the hell says that out loud? Who the hell says that to someone's face to another man?
The ceremony hall itself didn't help with the pressure. The forty-seventh floor wasn't just some fancy ballroom. The ceiling wasn't really a ceiling at all but an open view of the night sky. Pillars lined the perimeter, etched with hieroglyphs that glowed faintly. The floor was wide and polished so smooth it looked like water under moonlight. At the far end, a throne sat upon a dais, draped in silks and surrounded by incense burners that released sweet-smelling smoke. Tables lined the edges of the room, piled high with food that looked too perfect to eat.
It was part gala, part ritual, part birthday, part festival. It we like someone smashed together every kind of "important event" and somehow made it work. And despite how overwhelming it all was, I liked it. In the game, MoDS never really touched on this. The Spring Ceremony was background lore at best. It was a passing mention in a codex entry. This was a living, thriving piece of culture that I never got to see from behind a controller.
The ceremony had just started humming into motion when I noticed him.
A man as tall as me walked toward us through the throng of guests. He wore regal robes cut in the style of his House with deep golds and whites lined with golden thread. His skin was a rich dark brown, his hair thick and curly, and his almond-shaped eyes gleaming.
If Thales looked like the perfect knight, this man looked like the perfect prince.
When he stopped in front of us, I already knew who he was before he opened his mouth.
"Welcome. I never expected the heir of the House of Argemenes and one of the heirs of the House of Erdict to attend our Spring Ceremony."
"Phasnovterich Argemenes," I said, offering a short bow. Might as well play the noble card when it's dropped in your lap.
"Thales Erdict," Thales added, just as confidently, though he smirked like always.
"A rare sight, indeed. My name is Asmarion Ahmose Rameses, heir of House Rameses."
Asmarion. It fit him perfectly. If MoDS had given him a route back on Earth, I had no doubt his fan base would have been massive. He had that kind of charm quiet princely, "I'll protect you" energy that always pulled people in.
Asmarion gestured toward the tables at the far side of the hall.
"You shouldn't stand here in the middle of the floor. Allow me to host you properly. It is an honor to welcome you as guests."
We followed, though in the back of my mind, I cursed myself. I hadn't introduced myself to Nefira of all people. She had been our guide and I hadn't even bothered with the basics. Some heir I was. The table was carved from marble, rimmed with gold, and surrounded by members of the House of Rameses. The moment we sat down, I noticed it.
Asmarion's eyes lingered on me. He felt my Xana. For a second, his gaze sharpened, like he was trying to figure me out and measure how deep that well went. Then it softened. He said nothing and I didn't mind. Curiosity was better than hostility. Still... I filed it away. As soon as we settled, the whispers started again. A group of women sat close by, their eyes flicking toward us. Asmarion chuckled, as if used to this kind of attention. He turned to the women beside him and gestured to us.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is Phasnovterich Argemenes and Thales Erdict."
They were five women with the same regal bearing as their brother. Their robes shimmered with slight variations of color, but the core of House Rameses' gold and white unified them. Why did they look almost the same though?
"These are my sisters Hinesia, Radellei, Phyri, Vilythe, and of course, Nefira, whom I believe you've already met."
They all greeted us warmly, though I couldn't ignore the glint in their eyes. Hinesia, I think, tilted her head and smirked.
"So this is the Argemenes heir I've heard so much about."
Radellei smiled, but her gaze flicked to my hair. "I've never seen crimson like that. Beautiful."
Phyri whispered something behind her hand to Vilythe, who laughed. Nefira just smiled. I lifted my hand and gave a small wave. She waved back. The sisters noticed. Their expressions shifted in an instant, their eyes darted between her and me like predators catching the scent of blood.
Thales leaned closer. His smirk we obvious even without words. I ignored him. Instead, I sat back in my chair, lifted my cup, and took a sip of whatever golden drink they set before me. It was sweet, rich and almost addictive but I wasn't focused on the drink. I wanted to know why were they interested in me. Was it the House I came from or the Xana they sensed? Or was it just that Phasnovterich had the kind of gravity that pulled people in, whether he wanted to or not?
Either way, if I had to act friendly, so be it.