The Anomaly's Path

The path leading to the main grand plaza was lit by glowing lanterns hanging along the arches. As Malva and I reached the center, I spotted the rest of our group waiting near the marble fountain.

Roan stood out first, leaning lazily against a pillar with a smug smile on his face.

He wore a dark green suit with a silver shirt and a grey vest that looked good with his pale skin and silver hair. A grey cloak hung loosely over his shoulders, swaying in the breeze. He looked every bit the arrogant elven prince he was, and he knew it.

Beside him stood his sister, Lyssaria, looking elegant in a green and gold dress that matched her soft eyes.

Next to them stood Princess Cordelia, holding herself with stiff, royal poise. Her strawberry-blonde hair was pinned up with silver pins, and her sharp green eyes scanned the crowd with natural authority.

She wore a dark blue silk dress with silver crests at the shoulders, a look that fit her proud, royal presence.

Standing behind Cordelia was Riven, looking like he was at a military inspection instead of a banquet.

He wore a sharp charcoal suit with a black shirt, a dark vest with a high collar, and a red silk tie that matched his cold steel-red eyes. His dark ash hair was brushed back neatly, free of its usual mess. He stood with his arms crossed, giving off the stiff, unyielding presence of an elite noble warrior.

Then my eyes shifted to Alice. I had to suppress a chuckle.

Alice looked like she was thinking about murder. She had been forced into a dark red gothic dress with a black corset, big flowing red sleeves, and a heavy velvet skirt in dark blue and black. It brought out her wild red hair and amber eyes, making her look like a terrifying warrior queen.

She kept fidgeting with the heavy fabric, glaring at anyone who looked at her too long.

"Stop staring at me bastard," Alice growled, her voice dropping into a harsh mutter as Malva and I walked up.

"I didn’t say a word," I smiled innocently, raising my hands. "Though I have to admit, Mom’s taste is impressive."

"Grr... she does have taste, but I’m not used to such clothes," Alice grumbled, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

A few seconds later, hurried footsteps echoed from the western path. Caster arrived, looking surprisingly neat in a brown suit with polished brass buttons. His messy hair was combed down as much as possible.

Walking nervously beside him was Julia, wearing a soft pink dress that matched her fluffy hair. She was using Caster as a shield from the passing crowd.

"Julia," Cordelia called out, her stern face softening as she stepped forward. "You look lovely tonight. Don’t let these loud idiots bother you."

"You look beautiful too, Princess..." Julia mumbled, letting out a small breath of relief as she moved closer to Cordelia.

"We made it," Caster panted, wiping his forehead. "Julia almost turned back twice, but I dragged her here."

"I... I didn’t turn back," Julia mumbled, her face flushing as she shrank behind Caster’s shoulder.

"Right, right," Roan chuckled, pushing off the pillar and flipping a silver coin before catching it. "Now that everyone’s here, where’s our favorite bloodsucker?"

As if on cue, Elisabeth stepped out from the shadow of a nearby archway. Her silver-white hair fell over her shoulders like moonlight, and her deep violet eyes scanned the group with cold detachment.

She wore a sleek black and purple gown that hugged her pale frame. She didn’t say a word, just gave a brief nod and stood at the edge of the group.

"Alright," I said. "The doors are opening. Let’s move in."

As our group began walking toward the grand palace entrance, everyone naturally paired up to head inside.

Roan casually held out his arm for his sister, Lyssaria. Caster was already walking beside Julia to keep her calm, while Cordelia walked right next to them like a protective shield. Malva fell into step beside me, and Elisabeth, completely indifferent to anyone else, simply strolled ahead by herself.

That left two people standing at the back: Riven and Alice.

Riven stood stiffly in his perfect ash-grey suit, his steel-red eyes scanning the crowd with his usual cold look. When he realized he was the only one without a partner, his gaze slowly shifted to Alice. Alice looked at Riven. Riven looked at Alice.

"..."

"..."

For three long seconds, silence hung between them. Then, at the same time, both of them gagged.

"Eww," Alice sneered, making a face as if she had just swallowed a mouthful of ash. "Hell no. I’d rather walk in with a mud-troll."

"The feeling is entirely mutual," Riven replied coldly, his upper lip curling in disgust as he straightened his collar. "I would prefer not to stain my suit by standing within five feet of a noisy savage."

"What did you call me, bastard?!" Alice barked, her amber eyes blazing as she clenched her fists.

"You heard me," Riven said smoothly, turning his head away with disdain. "Your posture is an insult to basic etiquette."

"Why you—!"

"Alice, Riven, cut it out," Lyssaria sighed softly, rubbing her temples as if dealing with tired toddlers. "Every other team is walking in paired fashion. If you two cause a scene right outside the entrance doors, you will draw unnecessary attention from the seniors."

"She’s right," Roan added, a massive, mischievous grin spreading across his face as he looked at the two of them. "Come on, Riven. Be a gentleman and take the lady’s arm. You two look so lovely together."

"Shut up, Roan!" Alice snapped, her face turning bright red from a mixture of sheer embarrassment and fury.

"I will ignore that remark for the sake of my sanity, Roan," Riven said through grit teeth, his cheeks flushing with a rare hint of color as he stiffly extended his left elbow toward Alice. He looked away, staring stubbornly at the ceiling. "...Make it quick before I regret this."

"Touch me gently..." Alice threatened under her breath.

She slammed her gloved hand onto his arm with enough force to rattle his shoulder, glaring daggers at the side of his head. Despite their sharp insults and furious expressions, the contrast between Riven’s stiff posture and Alice’s dangerous gothic dress made them look remarkably striking together.

"See? That wasn’t so hard," I smirked, leading the group through the massive doors of the central palace.

_

The moment we stepped inside the main banquet hall, the sheer scale of the place took my breath away.

The hall was huge. Floating crystal chandeliers cast warm golden light across the polished white marble floors. The high ceiling was covered with painted scenes of the academy’s founding.

Long tables with red silk cloths lined the walls, piled with roasted meat, fruit, and drinks. Hundreds of students from all three years were already mingling, their formal clothes creating a sea of colors under the light.

The hall was already full of students, their chatter and laughter echoing as they moved toward the food and lounge areas.

Elisabeth quietly slipped away from the group as soon as we entered, vanishing into the crowd near the upper balconies without a word.

We found a large round table near the eastern side. Cordelia sat beside Julia, placing herself like a shield between Julia and the busy crowd. Caster sat on Julia’s other side. Roan, Lyssaria, Alice, Riven, Malva, and I took the remaining seats.

"Finally, real food!" Roan declared, reaching over and piling three thick cuts of roasted meat and a tower of honeyed pastries onto his plate. "I was beginning to think they were going to make us listen to speeches before we could eat."

"Have some manners, Roan," Lyssaria murmured, though she quietly took a small glass of berry wine for herself.

"Manners don’t fill my stomach," Roan retorted, shoving a whole pastry into his mouth.

While the rest of the table settled in, my gaze quietly scanned the wider room.

My mind couldn’t fully relax. Behind my calm face, my senses stayed sharp. The rumors about the Fallen hung over the academy like a shadow. The teachers had reinforced the outer guards, but a room full of noble heirs and students was a perfect target.

Across the hall, near the main seating, I spotted Arthur. He sat at a central table with Amelia and Nyra. Amelia handed him a plate with a bright smile, while Nyra sat on his other side, awkwardly trying to use a silver fork with her beastkin hands.

Arthur looked like a man in a warzone. He kept shifting in his seat, trying to give equal attention to both girls while keeping a polite, frozen smile.

I looked at Amelia for a moment. Once, she had been my fiancée, a political arrangement tied to my past life’s identity.

But looking at her now, sitting beside Arthur, I felt nothing. No anger, no bitterness, no regret. My past was a Chapter I had already made peace with and left behind. I had my own path to walk, my own people to protect, and my eyes were fixed forward.

Just then, a sudden quiet fell over the hall. The doors at the back swung open. Three figures stepped out onto the upper platform.

Walking in the center was Elian Silvanis, the Student Council President. He wore a white and gold coat over a perfect suit, his long silver hair tied loosely behind him. His warm golden eyes had a lazy, confident look as he gazed down at the crowd.

To his right stood Sylvia Celestial, the Student Council Vice President — my sister.

My eyes stayed on her for a moment. Sylvia wore a stunning white-and-silver dress with blue embroidery along the hem and sleeves. Tiny silver threads in the fabric caught the light, making her look royal and almost glowing.

Despite her beautiful appearance, her face stayed calm, sharp, and professional as she stood beside Elian.

And to Elian’s left stood Seris.

My breath caught slightly. Seris wore a sleek dark red dress that hugged her slim frame, standing out against her pale skin and black hair. Her deep red eyes scanned the hall with a calm, unreadable look. She looked cold, distant, and completely mesmerizing.

"Tsk," I muttered quietly under my breath, leaning back in my chair. "She really knows how to command a room."

Before the crowd could get louder, an energetic voice cut through the air. "Welcome, students of Aegis Academy!"

Stepping up to the front podium was Cynthia, the third-year host. She wore a loose black coat over a sleek violet dress, her long purple hair tied up in a high ponytail. Her eyes sparkled with dramatic flair as she spread her arms wide to address the hall.

"Tonight, we celebrate the new term and welcome our newest class!" Cynthia announced, her voice full of energy. "Look at all of you! Dressed up, looking sharp, and pretending you don’t have tough exams on Monday!"

Laughter and groans spread through the crowd.

"We have our esteemed Student Council President, Elian Silvanis, and our Vice President, Sylvia von Celestial, watching over tonight’s festivities," Cynthia continued with a playful wink toward the stage. "So try not to burn the hall down!"

Roan, who was currently biting into a pastry, yelled out across our table, "We love you, Cynthia!"

Instantly, every head at our table turned to glare at him in complete embarrassment.

"Roan, shut up!" Alice hissed, kicking him under the table.

Lyssaria covered her face with her hand, letting out a long sigh. "I am going to pretend I don’t know him."

Cynthia laughed from the stage, then raised her hands for quiet. "Now, save your energy! Before we open the floor, the Student Council has a special highlight for tonight! The dance floor is officially open!"

She snapped her fingers, and on cue, team of academy staff began passing out elegant masks to the tables.

"For those who wish to dance, take a mask and join the floor!" Cynthia declared enthusiastically. "And remember, tonight is about breaking barriers, enjoying the music, and letting the night take its course!"

As the announcements wrapped up, the central floating lanterns dimmed slightly, casting a warm, romantic glow over the vast marble dance floor. Soft, grand orchestral music began to swell from the elevated balcony where the academy musicians sat.

Pairs of students began standing up, putting on their masks, and making their way toward the center of the hall.

Over at Arthur’s table, Amelia immediately stood up, pulling a flushed, hesitant Arthur by the hand toward the dance floor. Nyra watched them go from the table, her grey wolf ears drooping slightly, before Arthur paused, looked back, and offered his other hand to pull Nyra along too.

Roan stretched his arms, grabbing his silver mask with a smirk. "Well, I suppose it’d be a crime to let my dancing skills go to waste. Lyssaria, come on."

"Don’t embarrass me, Roan," Lyssaria murmured, but she took his hand anyway.

Even Caster gathered up his courage, offering a nervous hand to Julia. "U-Uh, Julia... do you want to step closer to the edge? We don’t have to dance hard, just... get away from the crowd."

Julia nodded quietly, her face pink as she took his hand. Sitting at our table, only Malva and I remained. I picked up my smooth black mask, fitting it over my eyes and securing the strap behind my hair. Then, I turned toward Malva.

She was watching the couples flood onto the dance floor with her usual blank gaze. I knew she had likely practiced basic footing, probably forced by Lyra, even if formal dancing was entirely alien to her background.

I stood up smoothly from my chair, adjusting the cuffs of my white silk coat, and extended my gloved right hand toward her.

"Malva," I said softly, a small, genuine smile on my lips. "May I have this dance?"

Malva blinked, her sharp black eyes looking at my outstretched hand for a brief second. She didn’t hesitate or panic. She reached out, placing her pale hand lightly in mine, and stood up.

"I am not responsible if I step on your shoes," she said, her deadpan voice completely flat.

"I’ll take that risk," I chuckled gently, leading her onto the floor.