Chapter 3: The Soiree

  The Fenralis gardens were a marvel of natural beauty aiculous design. T trees with silver-barked trunks and luminous leaves formed a opy overhead, their branches iwined like the vaulted arches of a cathedral. Beh them, pathways of polished stone wound through beds of exotic flowers, their petals glowing faintly iwilight. The air was thick with the st of night-blooming jasmine and the distant hum of cicadas, a symphony of nature that seemed to harmoh the soft murmur of the gathered nobility.

  Above it all, the night sky of Fenris Lupus was a breathtaking vas of stars aial wonders. But tonight, the heavens were dominated by two colossal figures, their silhouettes looming in the distance like a gods. To the east, the Drais Leviathan hung in the sky, a monstrous starship the size of a small moon. Its sleek, obsidian hull was adorned with glowing crimson runes, eae pulsing with the energy of a thousand suns. The ship’s design was both elegant and menag, its sharp angles and serpentine curves evoking the image of a dragon coiled in the void. From its underbelly, a faint gravitational pull could be felt, a reminder of its immense mass. The Leviathan was a symbol of House Drais’s military might and political ing, a silent warning to any who might threaten their delegates on the p below.

  To the west, the Sorius Radiance floated in serene majesty, its golden hull shimmering like a sed sun. The ship’s design was a masterpiece of celestial engineering, its smooth, flowing lines resembling the rays of a star. Glowing patterns of light danced across its surface, f intricate steltions that shifted and ged as if alive. The Radiance was a testament to House Sorius’s mastery of magid teology, a bea of their power and influence. Like the Leviathan, it geed its own gravitational field, a subtle but stant presen the night sky. The Radiance was more than just a starship—it was a symbol of the God-Emperor’s divihority, a remihat House Sorius ruled not just by might, but by the will of the heavens themselves.

  The soiree was held in the heart of the gardens, where a vast clearing had been transformed into an open-air ballroom. Lanterns hung from the trees, their light casting a warm, golden glow over the se. At the ter of the clearing stood a raised dais, its surfaid with intricate mosaics depig the history of House Fenralis—wolves howling at the stars, warriors silver armor, and starfres bzing against the night sky.

  The attendees were a riot of color and opuleheir attire a blend al grandeur and vibrant hues. The men wore long, flowing robes in deep jewel tones—emerald greens, sapphire blues, and ruby reds—ated with metallic embroidery that shimmered iern light. Their shoulders were draped with capes of iridest fabric, eae bearing the crest of their house. The women’s gowns were no less extravagant, with yered skirts that seemed to float as they moved and bodices adorned with intricate beadwork aones. Headpieces resembliial s or animal motifs—wolves, dragons, and starbirds—pleted their ensembles, making them look like figures stepped out of a myth.

  Garrett stood at the edge of the clearing, his hands csped tightly behind his back. He wore the traditional Fenralis attire—a high-colred coat of deep blue, embroidered with silver thread, and a sash bearing the family crest. The outfit was meant to vey strength and dignity, but Garrett felt like an imposter. He could feel the weight of the nobles’ gazes as they passed, their eyes lingering on him just a little too long. He knew what they were thinking: There he is, the sed son. The one who ’t wield magic.

  “Garrett,” a voice called, cutting through his thoughts. He turo see his sister, Cassia Fenralis, striding toward him. Cassia looked every bit the perfect heir, her posture fident, her smile easy. She cpped a hand on Garrett’s shoulder, her grip firm but friendly. “You’re not hiding in the library, are you?”

  Garrett forced a smile. “Not this time. Though, to be fair, the library doesn’t judge me for being terrible at small talk.”

  Cassia chuckled. “Fair point. But tonight’s important. You know that, right?”

  Garrett hough the reminder only made his stomach . Tonight was his formal introdu to the noble families of the Celestial Empire. It was his ce to prove himself, to show that he was more than just the “other” Fenralis heir. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was walking into a trap.

  Their father, Duke Alden Fenralis, stood at the ter of the clearing, surrounded by a group of high-ranking nobles. His presence was anding, his sharp features and icy gaze drawing attention even in a crowd of powerful people. As Cassia and Garrett approached, Duke Alden turo them, his expression unreadable.

  “Cassia,” Duke Alden said, his voice carrying the weight of authority. “You’ve been speaking with the God-Emperor’s delegate?”

  Cassia nodded. “Yes, Father. He’s expressed i in our test trainihods. I think he’s impressed.”

  Duke Alden’s lips twitched in what might have been a smile. “Good. Keep him engaged. We need his support.”

  Garrett shifted unfortably, waiting for his father to aowledge him. When Duke Alden finally turned his gaze to him, it felt like being scrutinized under a microscope.

  “Garrett,” Duke Alden said, his toral. “You look... presentable.”

  Garrett swallowed hard. “Thank you, Father. I was going for ‘less awkward than usual,’ so I’ll take that as a win.”

  Duke Alden’s expression didn’t ge, but Cassia stifled a ugh. Duke Alden studied Garrett for a moment lohen nodded. “Tonight is an opportunity. Don’t waste it.”

  The words were curt, but Garrett khey were as close to encement as he was likely to get. He nodded, his throat too tight to speak.

  As Duke Alden turned back to his versation, Cassia leaned in close to Garrett. “Don’t let him get to you,” she said quietly. “Father’s just... intense. He wants what’s best for us.”

  Garrett nodded again, though he wasn’t sure he believed it. Cassia was the golden child, the one who could do n. Garrett, oher hand, was a stant reminder of the family’s imperfe.

  The sound of trumpets echoed through the gardens, signaling the start of the evening’s formal proceedings. The crowd turned as oheir attention focused on the raised dais. Duke Alden stepped onto the ptform, his presenanding silence.

  “Lords and dies of the Celestial Empire,” he began, his voice resonating through the clearing. “Thank you for joining us tonight. It is an honor to host you in our home.”

  As Duke Alden tinued his speech, Garrett’s attention wandered. He sed the crowd, his eyes nding on a group of nobles from House Sorius. They stood apart from the others, their golden robes and serene expressioing them apart. At the ter of the group was the God-Emperor’s delegate, a tall, elegant man with silver hair and pierg blue eyes. His name was Lord Valerius Magnus. He was fnked by two attendants, who stood beside a massive, cloth-draped object that could only be the Sorion.

  But what caught Garrett’s attention was the small figure standing beside Lord Valerius—a boy no older than nine, dressed in an absurdly orfit of gold and white silk. His hair was a messy mop of ptinum blond, and his face was round and cherubic, but his expression was anything but i. He looked bored, impatient, and utterly entitled, as if the entire soiree was beh him. This rince Lu Horus Sorius III, the 438th prince of the Celestial Empire and a member of the ruling House Sorius.

  Garrett’s stomach dropped. He had heard rumors that House Sorius would be presenting a gift tonight, but he hadn’t expected it to be so... spicuous. And he certainly hadn’t expected the prio be the one presenting it.

  When Duke Alden finished his speech, Lord Valerius stepped forward, his movements graceful and deliberate. “Duke Fenralis,” he said, his voice smooth and melodic. “On behalf of His Divine Radiahe God-Emperor of the Celestial Empire, we present a token of our friendship and respect.”

  He gestured to the attendants, who pulled away the cloth with a flourish. The Sorion stood revealed, its sleek, golden frame gleaming iern light. The croed, their murmurs of admiration filling the air.

  But before Lord Valerius could tinue, Prince Lu stepped forward, his small hands csped behind his ba a mockery al poise. “I’ll take it from here,” he said, his voice high-pitched but dripping with arrogahis is my gift, after all.”

  Lord Valerius hesitated for a moment, then bowed his head and stepped back, clearly used to the prince’s antics. The crowd fell silent, all eyes on the young prince.

  Prince Lu turo Garrett, his lips curling into a smug smile. “You must be Garrett Fenralis,” he said, his tone desding. “The one who ’t do magic. How... quaint.”

  Garrett’s heart raced. The Sorion was a masterpiece of celestial engineering, a symbol of House Sorius’s power and iy. But it was also a on, ohat required a strong affinity for celestial magic to operate. And Garrett... well, Garrett couldn’t even light a dle with magic.

  The prince gestured grandly to the Sorion, as if he were presenting a toy to a child. “This is for you,” he said, his voice loud enough for everyoo hear. “A Sorion. The fi me the empire. Of course, you’ll need magic to use it. But I’m sure you’ll figure something out. Maybe you push it around like a wheelbarrow.”

  The crowd tittered nervously, unsure whether to ugh asp at the prince’s audacity. Garrett’s face burned with humiliation, but he forced himself to step forward and bow his head. “Thank you, Yhness. I am... honored.”

  As he straightened, he caught a glimpse of his father’s face. Duke Alden’s expression was unreadable, but Garrett could see the tension in his jaw, the faint flicker of anger in his eyes. He knew what this meant. House Sorius had just pyed their hand, and House Fenralis was now on the defensive.

  Cassia stepped forward, her smile easy but her eyes wary. “A generous gift, Yhness. My brother is truly fortunate.”

  Prince Lu smirked, clearly enjoying the attention. “Of course he is. After all, it’s not every day someone like him gets a gift from someone like me.”

  The crowd erupted into polite appuse, but Garrett barely heard it. His mind was rag, his thoughts a whirlwind of panid frustration. He knew what this olitical ploy, a way to undermine House Fenralis by exposing Garrett’s weakness. And there was nothing he could do about it.

  As the soiree tinued, Garrett found himself drifting toward the edge of the clearing, his mind a storm of emotions. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice Cassia approag until she was standing beside him.

  “You okay?” Cassia asked, her voice low.

  Garrett shook his head. “Not really. They’re trying to humiliate us, and I’m the ohey’re using to do it.”

  Cassia’s expression darkened, her usual calm demeanor crag for a moment. “That little brat,” she muttered, her voice dripping with venom. “I’d like to see how smug he is after a few rounds iraining yard. Maybe I’ll teach him some manners.”

  Garrett blinked, caught off guard by Cassia’s sudden anger. “Cass, you ’t—”

  “Don’t give me that look,” Cassia interrupted, her tone sharp but her eyes bzing with protectiveness. “You think I don’t see what they’re doing? They’re trying to make a fool of you, and by extension, all of us. But they’re the fools. They think they embarrass House Fenralis a away with it. Well, they’re wrong.”

  Garrett stared at his sister, surprised by the iy in her voice. Cassia was usually so posed, so polished. But now, aloh Garrett, she let her true feelings show—fierce, protective, and unapologetically loyal.

  “You’re smarter than they are, Garrett,” Cassia tinued, her voice low but fierce. “You’ve always been. You’ll find a way to turn this around. And if you don’t...” She trailed off, her eyes flig toward the Leviathan and the Radian the sky. “Well, let’s just say House Drais isn’t the only oh a starship.”

  Garrett bliaken aback by the iy in Cassia’s voice. “You’d really go that far? For me?”

  Cassia’s expression softened, but her eyes remained fierce. “You’re my brarrett. I’d do anything for you. Even if it means starting a war.”

  For a moment, Garrett didn’t know what to say. Cassia’s words were a lifeline, a remihat he wasn’t alone. But they also made him feel guilty. Cassia had always been the perfect heir, the one who could do n. And Garrett... well, Garrett was just trying to keep up.

  As the night wore on, Garrett found himself standing in front of the Sorion, its golden frame gleaming iern light. He reached out, his fingers brushing against the etal. It was a beautiful mae, a testament to House Sorius’s skill and iy. But it was also a reminder of everything he couldn’t do.

  “Maybe,” he thought, his internal monologue tinged with sarcasm, “I’ll just use it as a very expensive paperweight. Or maybe I’ll figure out a way to make it work without magic. After all, I’m the one who reads books, right? Maybe I art them. Or, you know, actally blow myself up. That’s always an option.”