It was his first time in a limo, he honestly didn't see the point. It took up so much unnecessary space on the road.
"So what exactly is this event?"
Morgan looked at him before smiling, which in all honesty made him nervous.
"Technically it's a ball, but in reality it's a way for clans to pitch some new ideas they want to make happen.. I'll actually be pitching my own, so make sure you pay attention okay?"
So it was a party for snobs.
He was already dreading the social interaction that may take place. All he could do was pray to the dead gods that people avoided him.
When they got there, he could already hear the chatter from inside. Suddenly Morgan dismissed the armor part of her dress, letting only the dress stay.
"What was the point in summoning it anyways then?"
She stepped out of the limo before offering him a hand, as if he was a noble lady and she was a knight.
"Just to see which you would prefer."
He ignored her hand, stepping out before heading inside. She rushed towards him, grabbing his hand right before they walked in. He tried to pull away, but the grip of her gloved hands was stronger than the grip she had when she held her sword.
The entire room's chatter stopped as everyone's eyes found them—mainly Morgan, but eventually him as well. Seeing their hands clasped together, the murmurs started once more.
Mostly everyone knew who he was by now, the outskirt rat of Changing Star's cohort. Despite being a Master now, his origins remained the same. How did he know they were talking about that? Well, it was because he was getting the same looks he got back at the academy.
It was almost nostalgic in all honesty. Whether that was good or bad nostalgia, he didn't know. Morgan squeezed his hand before giving him a glance and taking strides through the parted crowd.
She leaned down slightly due to their height difference before whispering in his ear.
"I have to go prepare for my part of this, so behave for me."
He snarled, letting go of her hand.
"What am I, a dog? I'm always on good behavior."
She smiled at him before walking off. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice call out to him, one he hadn't heard in a while.
He saw Kai waving him down while sitting at a table. He wasn't alone though—Effie, Cassie, and for some reason Aiko were there as well. He hurriedly walked over to escape the stares. His luck was turning around!
"What are you guys doing here? I thought this was an event for like legacies or something."
Effie gave him a confused look before she spoke.
"Did you forget about the group chat? We made it like a week ago, you doofus. We got invited because we're Changing Star's Cohort."
Huh?
"What group chat are you talking about?"
Effie, Cassie, and Kai froze before Effie spoke in a slightly worried voice, which was unusual for her.
"Do you have amnesia or something? You spoke in it all the time! Also why are you still standing, sit down already."
He sat in the chair next to Cassie before taking out his phone. Wait, there really was a group chat.
"I've never even seen this! I never sent these messages either!"
Cassie sighed, taking a sip of whatever was in her glass.
"I had a hunch, but I brushed it off.. I think Morgan was texting us as you this whole time.. it's no wonder 'you' kept asking things about yourself."
Effie shook her head and clicked her tongue before pointing at him.
"That girl is cray cray, dude. You really attract the weirdest bunch, you know that right?"
Of course he did. He was friends with her after all.
"I know what you just thought. Do you want to die, doofus?"
"No ma'am."
He turned to look at Aiko. He could almost see the money signs in her eyes as she looked around at the ballroom—marble floors, chandeliers made of gold and accented with gems. To him, the scenery was obnoxious.
"What are you doing here anyways? Last time I remember, you aren't a part of Neph's cohort."
Kai scratched his cheek, a slight blush on his face as he spoke.
"We attendees were permitted one guest, so I brought her.. as my date.."
Sunny leaned back in his chair, a slight smile on his face. So they ended up getting together just like he had planned. Get nice and experienced, Kai, so I can use you until you're dry.. that sounds wrong.
"Makes sense, after all these two are friendless."
Cassie stepped on his foot as Effie kicked his leg from under the table. Luckily, he had already expected it, so his shadows were wrapped around him.
Effie sent him a glare before taking a sip from her glass—and by sip, he meant guzzling it down in one gulp and grabbing three more glasses off the platter of the person passing by.
"Wait.. are you drunk? How is that even possible, unless you've drank like 40 glasses."
Actually, knowing her.. that may not be too far off.
Cassie spoke, her speech very polite here unlike when they were alone together.
"Masters can get drunk without an insane amount, they just have to allow themselves to. Either that, or drink an insane amount, which Effie did a bit of both."
He took one of the glasses in front of Effie, which caused her to hiss at him, but he ignored her and took a sip. How would one allow themselves to get drunk?
In the middle of that thought, a voice coming from behind him said something that caused him to pause.
"Why would Lady Morgan bring a rabid animal in here.."
He turned around, but only saw everyone taking glances at him from time to time. For someone like Master Jet, whose past or present wasn't very public, she wouldn't receive scrutiny. But due to the Forgotten Shore movie portraying him like it did, along with his past, his credibility as a Master diminished and his former self as an outskirt rat was highlighted.
Still, he couldn't care less. Let them stare and let them talk. The only people whose opinions he cared about were either at this table, or not at this ball in general.
Suddenly a soft sensation grasped his face as Cassie turned his head to face her.
"Don't listen to them okay?"
It was a simple request, but he didn't really understand why she was telling him that in the first place—or why she was holding his face.
"Wasn't planning on it."
Suddenly her hands squeezed his face like he was a ball. For someone so dainty, she was quite strong.
"Ah sorry, I wasn't talking to you, rather myself.. and I didn't want to break my glass so I grabbed onto something I didn't mind breaking!"
Next time they're in the Chained Isles, he should push her into the sky below for a month or two.
A booming voice came from a stage at the very back of the ballroom, a man he recognized as Madoc, the uncle of Morgan.
"Thank you all for coming. I'll only be speaking for a second, as soon my niece will take over with a big announcement that will change the course of awakened history. Today I not only stand here as a proud leader of this Valor project that will shape the future, but also as a proud uncle to witness this. So without further ado, Morgan of Valor, please come out."
Morgan strutted out, her walk confident, donning the partly armor and partly dress outfit once more. She shook Madoc's hand with a smile. It was her usual smile, but he couldn't help thinking of the one she gave him the night they played the board game.
Suddenly a screen dropped down as the lights in the ballroom dimmed. He thought she said multiple people were going—this seemed like a big show for herself instead. The screen glowed as an image appeared.
The image shook him to his core. It was something he recognized all too well, but something he hadn't seen in quite a while.
It was a picture of the outskirts, in multiple areas across the continent.
"Valor is launching a complete restoration of the outskirts, and a complete humanitarian aid campaign for those living there."
...
"I will be funding this entire campaign myself, which is why I'm presenting this. Anybody who would like to be a part of this restoration project can donate towards it, or even provide aid if needed."
Morgan clenched her fist at the crowd as photos of those living in the outskirts passed by.
"What is the reason for all of this? If we have the supplies, if we have the capabilities, and if we have the will, why have we been standing around and doing nothing?"
Suddenly the screen switched, containing three pictures.
One of them was him.
Another was Master Jet, and underneath the third picture it read: Broken Sword—Nephis's father.
"All three of these people were from the outskirts. One is someone who to this day is held as one of the strongest Saints in history, and the other two are some of the strongest Masters in history."
Switching once more, it scrolled through photos of the inhabitants again.
"A large reason for death in the outskirts is due to people not being able to receive proper supervision or preparation before being infected, transforming into nightmare creatures and causing mayhem. How many awakened, Masters, and Saints have we possibly let go by letting the outskirts go to waste?"
The symbol of Valor appeared on the screen, a symbol that had been the hope of both mundanes and awakened alike.
"But most importantly.. how many fellow humans have we let die when we could have done something? Us awakened have the duty to protect everyone. Only recently I was reminded that doesn't mean just fighting nightmare creatures. It means helping those who are less fortunate than us. It means for those of us born with all the resources needed to thrive in this chaotic world to make those resources available to everyone!"
Their eyes caught each other. He wondered what kind of face he was making, and how he was feeling right now as well. She smiled at him—not the smile she gave the crowd, but a smile meant for him, and him alone.
"I, Morgan of Valor, announce the Outskirt Restoration Project!"
He didn't know what he expected. Some claps came, but less than half the room joined in. Murmurs filled the ball, and yet Morgan's light didn't dim for a second.
The stage curtains closed and the lights came back on, followed by an eruption of chatter.
Kai, Effie, and even Aiko were talking about what had just happened, but he couldn't understand anything they were saying. His entire world drowned in memories—of watching legacies walk past alleyways, sometimes committing horrors as if they were animals to be hunted for sport.
Then, as if he was seeing Cassie's visions, images of a possible future appeared. One where kids wouldn't have to live in fear, knowing the next day might be their last—only for that fear to never come true. And that it not coming true was a worse fate than it coming true in the first place.
A tension he didn't know he was holding released as he stood up. Effie was about to say something, but Cassie stopped her.
He walked into the crowd—not leaving, but searching for someone.
In the middle of his search, music started playing and dancing began. People twirled and moved back and forth while holding their partners' hands. It felt like going through that car wash he once went through with Master Jet.
Through that veil of flesh and fabric, he saw a gloved hand. He wasted no time grabbing it and pulling its owner into the empty space he stood in.
"May I have this dance, Lady Morgan?"
She smiled at him, once again a smile reserved only for him.
"Of course, Master Sunless. Though I'm trusting you'll take the lead, right?"
He smiled—an innocent smile.
"I have no clue how to dance!"
Before she could reply, he spun her around, using Shadow Dance to copy the movements of those around him.
"Luckily I'm a fast learner."
It was going to be a long night. After all, they had a lot to talk about. Little did he know, the night would be far more eventful than he was planning.