I reend listening to this music: Fairy Tale Ball By: FanTasia Ambience

  Start at 1:58 (Birds Of Paradise)

  I was listening to this while writing this story and the musiposed captured my heart. So if you would like to be immersed into the royal ball I would highly reend listening to this. - <3

  As the music began, my eyes met Elnora’s.

  “Would you like this dance, Lady Kirkwood?” Alex asked, extending his hand.

  “Perhaps,” she replied with a smirk and a light blush before pg her hand in his. Together, they walked onto the ballroom floor.

  Elnora and I remai the table, speechless.

  My heart began to race.

  I had danced before—many times, in this life and the one previously.

  So why was I so scared to dah her?

  “Good evening again, Sir Ashford.”

  The voice made me turn. There, in her golden-yellow dress, stood a. She bowed.

  “It would be lovely to dah you,” she said with a graceful smile.

  I gnced back at Elnora, my hesitation evident, but before I could dee, she interrupted.

  “He’s all yours.” She said, her voice firm.

  I turned around my hand to a, bowing slightly. As she took it, I caught a glimpse of Elnora, standing alo the table.

  The music picked up, and we began to dahe steps were familiar—cssic, slow, elegant.

  I twirled a, pulling her ba, but her movement were forceful, like a duel.

  She tried to lead, but I took trol, guiding her rhythm.

  “You dance as well as you fight, Sir Ashford,” she mused. “But… may I call you Ryn?”

  No, I would prefer that she didn’t.

  “S-Sure, if that’s what you desire your excellence.”

  “No need for formalities. Please, call me a,” she said smiling.

  Of course, sedu.

  “O-Okay. a. What would you like to talk about?” I asked, keeping my voice low as we moved with the music.

  “You saved me. You defeated that dungeon master. But I would have never guessed the shy boy I onew from my childhood could do it.” Her voice dropped, being serious. “The kingdom needs someone like you Ryn. I need someone like you.”

  I spun her again, the urmuring with admiration.

  “This kingdom is rotten—corrupt beyond saving, especially from the church.” Her words were sharp, edged with desperation. “If someone like you stood by my side, we could ge the power bance. We could save it.”

  I remained silent as we danced.

  “In a year or so, everything will fall apart,” she tinued. “But with you… Ryn I could give you the power you desire.”

  I exhaled sharply, gripping her hand firm but gentle.

  “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I want nothing to do with kingdom or its politics,” I said, keeping my tone polite but resolute. “I uand your duty, but I have my own at the moment.”

  She went silent.

  Her heels glided across the polished marble floor, yet every step felt forced.

  She pushed forward, attempting to lead again, but I tered.

  The crowd watched in awe, drawn in by the tensioween us.

  Was this a dance or a battle?

  Each step was a challenge.

  Eaent. Was a sileiation.

  When I dipped her, she barely flinched, her golden dress casg like an o wave.

  I held my ground.

  She smiled—whether in amusement or frustration, I couldn’t tell.

  By the final, spin I was in trol.

  The music slowed.

  The danded.

  I bowed before her. She bowed back.

  Appuse erupted.

  Whispers flooded the ballroom.

  “Sir Ryn, would you dah me?” a woman called.

  “Oh, Ryn! Over here!”

  “Sir Ryn!” More voices echoed out.

  But then, through the noise, one voice reached me.

  Soft.

  Clear.

  Like wind chimes bringing me peace.

  “Ryn…”

  I turned immediately.

  “Yes!” I called back, pushing back the crowd.

  There, standing in her emerald-green and white dress, was Elnora. A siear glistened her eye.

  “Y-you heard me,” she whispered, smiling softly despite the sadness on her face.

  I extended my hand toward her cheek.

  Wiping away the tear.

  “It’s okay to cry. I’m here,” I whispered telepathically.

  Then, l myself onto one knee, I extended my hand once more.

  “Would you give me this dance?”

  Elnora’s lips curled into a soft smile as she bowed.

  “It would be my pleasure.”

  Go to 5:17 on Fairy Tale Ball By: FanTasia Ambience If you want to be immersed into the Royal Ball.

  She slowly pced her hand in mine, and together, we stepped onto the ballroom floor.

  Around us, couples twirled gracefully, lost in the melody of the music.

  The song began softly, a delicate waltz that guided us into a simple sway side to side.

  “I—I’m sorry I left you back there,” I murmured, guilt pressing against my chest.

  “I’ve been leaving you alone a lot, haven’t I?”

  She smiled, small and uanding. “Yeah… but you ’t help it.”

  Her reassurance was warm, but there was quiet longing in her eyes.

  The melody shifted, deepening into something richer, more vibrant.

  “But you owe me,” she teased, her fiightening slightly around mine.

  I extended my hand, allowio spin slowly before returning to my embrace more.

  “Oh?” I asked, my cheeks tinged with warmth.

  “And what do I owe you?”

  She blushed, mirr my expression. “A good dance.”

  I smirked, raising an eyebrow. “Do you believe you keep up?”

  “It looks easy enough,” she replied, her voice light, fident.

  The song swelled.

  Our daransformed.

  It was as if two doves had taken flight, s effortlessly through the air.

  Each step we took aligned perfectly with the melody, our feet tapping the floor in seamless harmony.

  There was ation.

  No misstep.

  Only, fluidity, as if we had daogether tless times before.

  “Wow.. yood at this,” I said, ughing softly. “Are you sure this is your first time dang?”

  She giggled. “Y-yeah I practiced a little bit with Lilli.”

  I spuhe fabric of her dress fanning out like waves in the wind.

  Then, catg her by the waist, I lifted her gently, her weight as light as air.

  She nded gracefully, and with a fliy wrist, I spun her once more.

  One hand behind my back, the uiding her, I twirled her effortlessly, drawing her close to my chest.

  “Whew…I’m a bit dizzy,” she said, ughing breathlessly.

  “Oh? Wao do it again?” I teased.

  “Oh, hush you,” she replied.

  We danced, lost in each other, unaware of the growing silen the room.

  Unlike a, who fought for trol.

  Elnora moved as if she knew every step before I took it. She didn’t and the dance—she pleted it, adding a grace that made every movement feel natural.

  Then, familiar voices drifted from behind us.

  Alex.

  Lilli.

  I turned slightly, realizing we were not the only ones left dang.

  The ballroom floor beloo the four of us now.

  --Alex, Lilli, Elnora, and me.

  We spun the girls, trading partners in perfect rhythm.

  “Is Alex taking good care of you, or is he being a pain?” I asked Lilli as I guided her into a dip.

  She chuckled. “Oh, he's tolerable at the moment.”

  Alex smirked. “So how is it going with Ryn?” He asked Elnora.

  “He... He’s like a fairytale,” she admitted softly.

  Alex’s expression softehe’s return you back toward your prince.”

  With that, we exged partners once more.

  Elnora spun bato my arms, her body falling effortlessly into my grasp.

  The room gasped.

  The way we moved—it was something from an era long ago.

  A dance of legend.

  Of unspokeion.

  For a moment, the only sound was the beating of our hearts.

  Our eyes locked.

  And as the final notes of the song whispered through the air, I dipped her o time, holding her close as the world faded around us.

  For a moment, we didn’t let go even after the song ended.

  Our hands lingered, our eyes locked, as if the world around us was invisible.

  The crowd erupted into cheers—louder than those a and I had received.

  Yet, we ighem, lost in each aze.

  But the moment was rudely interrupted.

  “You call that a dance?”

  A voice dripping with mockery, echoed through the ballroom. From the crowd, my brother, Aric emerged, dressed in an outfit like mine.

  He smirked, his presence alone casting a shadow over the celebration.

  “Hah! Pathetic. As always little brother.” He crossed his arms, his voice filled with pt.

  “Are we really supposed to believe that this weaklied a Dungeon Master? Are we certain?”

  The crowd fell into an uneasy silence, hanging onto his every word.

  “How is it fair,” Aritinued, stepping forward, “that you—born after me—somehow possess magic powerful enough to defeat a Dungeon Master? That a weakling suddenly stand tall, fearless, with women by his side?

  His words were ced with envy, his gaze darkened.

  “I don’t believe it for a sed. And those who do—” he scoffed, shaking his head, “—are fools.”

  His eyes flickered toward Elnora, slowly trailing up and down her form.

  He licked his lips.

  My stomach twisted in disgust.

  “I shall teach you another lesson, my dear brother,” he sneered, stepping closer to me. “Did you fet who beat you before?” He turo the crowd. “Yes, people I have bested Ryn Ashford—the so—‘ great hero’—before.” He chuckled, the sound grating.

  “You’re nothing but a putrid spawn.” “Something that should have ceased to exist.”

  His words barely registered as I ched my fists.

  Then, his smirk widened. “Brother, I challenge you to the Polemos.” He leaned in, his breath hot against my skin. “And if I win, your little Elnora will be mine.”

  Elnora tense behind me, her fingers gripping my sleeve. His hand shed out, spping me across the face.

  Mmh.. As usual..

  And then—

  A voice echoed in my mind. Not his. Not mine.

  Quest:

  Re-educate the fool: 0/2

  Win Polemos: 0/1

  An interfaotification spoke. Demanding punishment.

  The very thought of my brother ying his disgusting, lustful gaze on Elnora burned deep into my soul. Without hesitation, I raised my hand—

  CRACK!

  My ha his jaw with bone—snapping force.

  Aric stumbled backward.

  He clutched his face, eyes wide in shock. Blood trickled from his mouth.

  Gasps filled the room–some horrified, some in awe. A few nobles even turned away, retg.

  I felt nothing.

  My mana fred slightly, raw power c through me, my gaze growing cold.

  Ari his knees, looked up at me in horror, his once-mog grin shattered.

  “L…little…b-brother..” he stammered, his jaw grotesquely mis-aligned.

  Lèse-majesté.

  The phrase echoed in my mind.

  I took a step forward, the weight of fury pressing down on the room—

  But then, a geouch.

  Elnora’s hand ed around my wrist. She pulled me close, whispering telepathically.

  Don’t. Not. Here.

  The ess in my vei away enough for reason to seep ba.

  I exhaled, sharply my fist ung.

  Aric gritted his teeth, staggering to his feet. “H..how dare you! He hissed; voice slurred from his ruined jaw. “I-I’ll tell Father!” He turned and stumbled away, disappearing into the crowd.

  The ballroom remained silent.

  Then whispers—

  “What force...”

  “Did you see that mana?”

  “He almost took his head off with orike.”

  And then—three slow cps.

  In the ter of the room, Prince Lucas stood, a smug smile on his lips. His short blonde hair swayed slightly as he tilted his head, mismatched eyes—one blue, one green—gleaming with amusement.

  “It isn’t a ball without a little bit of drama,” he mused, letting out a ugh. He raised his hand, summoning his spell bde—a spear. His spear fred with fire magistantly iing the bloodstains on the floor.

  “Their. That mess is ed up,” he said smoothly, sheathing his on.

  “Now then…” His expression tightened for a moment before he forced a pleasant smile.

  “My sister will begin handing out the reward for our valiant heroes. “He gestured toward a, his toraying irritation.

  “Go on, sister.”

  a straightened; her expression unreadable as she unrolled a dot.

  “e forward, the valiant party known as The Phantoms.”

  The rooms attention bore down on us as the four of us slowly stepped forward.

  A/N: I deeply loved writing the beautiful chemistry between Alex, Lilli, Elnora, and Ryn during the Royal Ball chapters. And I hope you all e as much as I did! If you guys have any questiarding the series let me know in the ents. Thank you, for reading again!

  Chapter: 19. Training