Good evening and welcome to my home, Witchrift. It is truly a pleasure to have such honored guests and friends among us tonight. Your presence here brings life to such a quiet home and it does wonder to have you among the few chosen.

  Every one of you were invited for very specific reasons, and to be celebrated, in this once-in-a-lifetime event. None are welcomed twice and as many of you have come to realize, a difficult event to explain once you have left. Take heart, for it is meant to be this way, and indulge as you wish. It’s a time for us to come together, to connect, and to enjoy each other’s company.

  Throughout the evening, I encourage you to mingle, make new acquaintances, and know that your identities will remain your own so long as the masks remain over your eyes.

  So, without further ado, let’s raise our glasses and toast to a wonderful evening of mystery, magic, and secrets. May this be a night to never remember.

  Byne would have loved this. The space within the Manor was much like the exterior and held some form of whimsy and magic in just about any color that Raelin looked. The colors of the event were vibrant and ethereal, with dancing stars and crystals reflecting all sorts of light around the room. Byne was more of a rainbow child than Raelin was, and it hurt to see it fade away so quickly.

  With a shake of their head, Raelin refocused on what was in front of them, letting the sounds of the party below hide their intent.

  It was a party much like any other party, but somehow not one voice was familiar, not one type of dress stood out from another, and every attendee’s identity was completely hidden. Whether it was the magic of the mask, or they took the intent of the events to heart, Raelin felt like an interloper and could not help the growing anxiety that they were not supposed to be there. It was evident to them down to the very well worn boots on their feet.

  However, if any of them noticed, it was the kind of polite society where such a scandal would be spoken about behind closed doors or during exchanges in the privy. It would be worth following such conversations if there were reason to gather all the rumors.

  This was why Raelin stood above the ballroom floor among one of many protruding balconies that could easily survey the area. For intimate moments, secret whispers, or a small reprieve for those who could become overwhelmed by the number of people but did not want to disconnect completely from the party. Raelin was standing there for none of those reasons, but as a solo attendant, perhaps the latter was the reason. Perception was a funny thing, but it served their purpose for the time being.

  Doing a small headcount, just in case it was important later, Raelin resolved themselves to know that there were 130 people in attendance, 131 including themselves. There were no latecomers as the gates were closed per the invitation, so it felt like a fair number. There were at least ten couples of two, two groups of three, and a smattering of individuals here on their own. At least, that was the best guess on style and mask. Similar masks seemed to indicate partners, or couples, while those that circled closed together at first gravitation also showed a form of unity. It was nothing out of the ordinary, but it was curious. Why had all of them been invited?

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  It was a curious puzzle that Raelin wished they had time to puzzle out, but there was a task at hand.

  Comfortable enough that no eyes were gazing up in their direction, Raelin slowly walked back from the railing and found the nearest corridor beginning the internal mapping within their mind. How far was the exit, the ballroom, and just how many doors down were the privy and the private quarters that would welcome more than a person over the course of the night? Anonymity often leads to some rather precariously ludicrous situations among the elite, and tonight was the perfect exception.

  Where is it?

  Allowing the thought to permeate Raelin’s intent, each scan of a room started to become more painstakingly detailed. They had an idea of what they were looking for, but the problem was that it was merely an idea. This entire place had all but promised a lack of reliability in memory for what was held within, so even that idea was untrustworthy.

  Room after room, each one unique in color but similar in style and make-up, there were trinkets in every room, but none to the memory of the idea or promise of magic stronger than life itself.

  It was so frustrating!

  It was not a container, though it could be contained in one. No vase or tray. It held no jewels but was contained in precious metals, much like gold and something like silver. It wasn’t platinum, but it reflected the glow of the night moon on a winter's night. Jewelry was a possibility, but one did not leave out a necklace or a ring for one to simply stumble upon, yet it was something on display.

  The search continued, and time lost meaning. A dinner bell may have rung but Raelin was lost in the puzzle to have noticed. Had they noticed perhaps they would have timed the possibility of someone searching for them. Then when their name was spoken within the silence of the room, Raelin would not have startled so much that they had not knocked over the small mirror sitting upon the small table.

  “Master.”

  Crash.

  “Fuck.”

  A quick turn found the same old man standing in the doorway to the room, with the same stoic expression with the exception of a raised eyebrow. Likely from the curse, though the broken mirror was rather ominous.

  That the mirror broke at all meant that it t was not the magical item that Raelin was looking for. With a deep internal sigh, Raelin plastered a classic sheepish smile of innocence.

  “Sorry, sorry. I get easily startled. I’ll be happy to pay for the repairs.” Lie. “I was trying to decide which room I wished to invite another to unless you have a suggestion for the one with the best bed?” Also a lie.

  The older elf only lowered an eyebrow and gazed from the shattered mirror parts and then back to Raelin. Raelin gave a bit of a chuckle and tried to continue the sheepish laughter with a bit of an embarrassed scratchy of their head.

  “The Lady would like to speak with you.”

  The Lady.

  There was only one Lady, and the sheepish disposition changed instantly.

  “The Lady? What could she want with me? Is it not dinner soon?”

  “Dinner has already been served, Master Raelin. The lady awaits your attendance.”

  “Now?” There was a wince and quiet in the way Raelin asked. Raelin knew staff like this. They were as good as the force and voice of those they served.

  “Now.”

  Steeling themselves to the possibility of being tossed out for the evening, or worse, Raelin had no other here to help them escape the encounter. So, with no resistance, Raelin followed.

  Praying that the pretense of which they had entered remained.