The party itself was being held in one of the upper levels in a grand ballroom. Everything was ornate to the point of being visually confusing with the incredibly intricate rug being the standout. It had images of gods, kings, and monsters locked in struggles or simply posing in the most grandiose way imaginable. The weaving of it must have taken a decade.

The guests that had already arrived were mingling and laughing and there was a general air of cheer all throughout. I had the distinct impression that we were earlier than was expected, despite arriving very close to the time listed in the King’s invitation.

We found a corner and settled in to watch the various nobles find their way inside. Most entered without much fanfare, but between Hrig, Kyren, and I, we were able to identify almost all of the family colors and crests. Others were announced as they entered, typically with an overlong list of titles and honors. One particularly egregious example was the entrance of ‘Lord Benjamin Gledron-Hamilton Bressington Esquire of the Verdant Peaks and Whitecastle Lakes by the Fives Great Oaks III. Son of Duke Benjamin Gledron-Hamilton Bressington Esquire of the Verdant Peaks and Whitecastle Lakes by the Fives Great Oaks II and father of Master Benjamin Gledron-Hamilton Bressington Esquire of the Verdant Peaks and Whitecastle Lakes by the Fives Great Oaks IV’. By the end of his entrance I swear most guests had managed to finish an entire drink.

Eventually enough guests had arrived that the party began to start in full. Entertainers of various types began to file in. There were musicians playing music that managed to somehow be loud enough to follow you throughout the party, but soft enough to be easily spoken over. There were acrobats dancing across silk ribbons that glided about everyone, and there were even fire breathers and sword jugglers performing their arts to the delight of easily entertained nobles.

Hrig and Stone went to sample the various trays of food that were floating around, and in Stone’s case I expected a rather large tithe to be given to Kyren by the end of the night. Kyren and I began mingling, her with the ease of someone trained for court and me with the stiff manners of someone who knew the rules, but rarely used them. I was finishing a light conversation with another man that had worn a suit of armor to the party, Baron Kievan, when I heard a voice behind me.

“Sevald?”

I froze. I recognized the voice, or rather, Sevald did. I nodded at Kievan to excuse myself and turned around. Behind me stood an older woman, with brown hair tinged with gray, wearing the distinct black and gold of the house Senturius. Next to her was a similarly aged man, with steel blue eyes and long white hair swept backward. They each wore masks I had memories of playing with in my childhood and their clothes were dated, but well maintained.

“Mother, Father, it’s good to see you.” I fell into formality with them, just as Sevald himself would’ve done. Manners were a safe bulwark from which to approach complicated relationships.

“It’s good to see you too, Sevald,” said Sevald’s mother. “We’ve been hearing a little about your exploits. Dungeon clearing, goblin slaying, and Duke Ellis sent us a lovely letter about you.”

I nodded and we stood there awkwardly for a few moments. I was lucky Sevald was already awkward around his parents or it probably would’ve been suspicious. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“We were surprised as well, but we received an invite from the King himself!” Sevald’s father beamed with pride. “He said that some noble houses shouldn’t be kept from the capital simply because they lack funds, especially one with as storied a past as ours.”

“That’s very kind of him.” I looked around. “Are my brothers here as well?”

“No they’re still at the estate, they never really had the same taste for travel that you did.”

The term ‘the estate’ brought memories of a dilapidated castle that barely stood and the meagre five servants they could afford for its upkeep. When a family has more sons than servants, there’s typically an issue with priorities. We continued standing, they took small sips of the drinks they were holding and nibbled on a bit of food. Finally Ser Senturius broke the silence.

“Son, I know we’re not the best at this,” he laid a hand on my pauldron, “But we’re proud of you.”

I felt the part of my essence that was Sevald roil at that statement and memories of his began to overwhelm me. His mother helping him onto a horse for the first time, sitting sandwiched between his brothers as his father told him stories of his heritage, holding his youngest brother after he was born, the stern looks of disapproval he got when he left home, the bitterness he felt that his other brother had joined the army and received no such disappointment, but his leaving was somehow worse. I realized I’d been standing still for some time.

“Thank you father, that means a lot to me.” And it did. Sevald would have truly appreciated hearing that, and I saw no reason to break his parents' hearts today.

“We’ll, we’re going to mingle a bit more and then retire for the evening.” Sevald’s mother was flustered, they all were, and she seemed eager to take a break from the high emotions. We exchanged some firm handshakes and they walked to talk to some of the other guests.

I began wandering the party, still trying to sort through the new depth of Sevald’s memories and impressions that the conversation seemed to have unlocked. Eventually I found myself watching a fire breather. She was quite impressive. I could actually feel the intense heat of the flames she was blowing out and she had incredible control over it. She held the flame for what must have been thirty seconds before pausing. She was wearing a simple red mask with flames licking up the sides of it. It beautifully emphasized her golden eyes.

I went still. The woman made brief eye contact with me and smiled before unleashing another wave of fire into the air. I forced myself to take a relaxed stance and then started looking for my companions. Kyren was already approaching me and I made my way to meet her, moving at what I hoped was a leisurely pace.

“Sevald, I saw someone with golden eyes.”

“Me too, the firebreather right?”

Her eyes widened. “No, the man with black lion mask.” She gestured to a man wearing a silver doublet.

“We need to find Hrig and Stone.”

It didn’t take us long to do so as they were already looking for us.

“Lad, there’s a man with golden eyes serving food.”

“And there’s one juggling swords near the stairs,” said Hrig.

“Kyren and I have each seen one as well. There’s definitely something going on.”

Before we could exchange any more information a horn sounded. We looked to the top of the stairs. Two men stood there with a servant about to announce them. One wore a stunning golden doublet with black accents, wearing a mask in the shape of a dragon, very similar to my own except colored gold. The other wore a simpler black outfit and was wrapped in what looked to be a black leather cape. His mask was orange and in the shape of a fox, it matched the color of his hair.

“His Majesty King Caedus the XXXIV, King of Caedun, Ruler of the Middle Kingdom and his guest of honor newly recognized Ducal Heir Talen of Cirros.”

I clenched my fist and felt the group tense up.

“Ducal heir?” I asked no one in particular.

“He used to fuss about being a royal bastard, but I always thought it was to make himself seem important,” said Stone.

“Even if it’s a lie, if the king recognizes him that makes him the Duke’s son, whether it’s true or not,” said Kyren.

The King and Talen began walking down the stairs. As they got closer I was able to see Caedus’ face and I realized his eyes were the same shade of gold as Talen’s. Hrig sucked air through her teeth, noticing at the same time I did. Talen flashed a sharp toothed grin in our direction before he moved to mingle with several guests, though some were giving him dirty looks. Clearly his reputation had preceded him.

The King headed straight for us.

“Kyren, Hrig, Stone, Sevald, welcome!” He said with a smile that could only be described as kingly. “Are you enjoying yourselves so far?”

Kyren managed to keep her expression neutral. “Yes your eminence, it’s been fabulous so far.”

“Good! I’m glad to hear it!” He gave me a once over, stopping at my mask. “It would seem we had the same idea.”

“More the artist’s idea than mine actually.”

“Well, maybe we should talk about it. Can I borrow you from your companions for a few moments?”

I looked back at them, they didn’t look happy with the idea. I then looked back around the room. At least six children of Aurum at the party. If I went all out, I may be able to take two or even three, but the collateral damage would be massive. Not to mention the fact that regicide was not the safest thing to attempt regardless of circumstances.

“I prefer not to be kept waiting. Or, it’s more like I’m simply unused to it.”

I nodded at him and we began to walk through the party. He nodded at various guests, made small talk with a few others. Eventually we were just strolling through the party together without interruption.

“So, how are you enjoying the masquerade so far?”

“I would’ve liked for it to be a bit more exclusive. Seems you’ve invited too much family for other guests to feel comfortable.”

He smiled. “You’ve already killed two of my brothers and cost my sister her little fleet. Seemed stupid to approach you alone.”

“It would’ve been.”

He shook his head. “Listen, I think my brother has given you the wrong impression of us. If you’ll allow me to explain a few things, maybe we can put a pause on trying to kill each other.”

I looked over at my companions, they were still grouped together, trying to position themselves in such a way that they could come to help me if I needed it. “Go ahead.”

“Thank you. We children of Aurum are not bloodthirsty monsters. Well, some of us are, but that’s kind of my point. Being a child of Aurum simply makes us more of what we already are, gives us a chance to be something greater.”

“What does it actually mean to be a child of Aurum?”

“It’s exactly what it sounds like. Our father is Aurum. Not our direct father mind you, but he’s our ancestor. He left little pearls of essence in all of those descended from him, though not all of his descendants are capable of accessing them. Only those who have potential as his heirs.”

“His heirs?”

“Yes, those of us capable of taking the place he once held.”

“Which is what, godhood?

“That’s the general idea. The point I’m making is that while Talen may be your enemy, I’m not.”

“You seem to have just given someone you know to be my enemy quite the gift. Forgive me, but that makes me suspicious.”

“That’s certainly fair, but I had to give it to him. It’s a compromise of sorts. You don’t need the details. What I’m trying to tell you is that I’m the more reasonable of us.” He looked over to my friends, his golden eyes twinkling as light touched them. “They don’t know what you are, do they?”

‘“No,” I lied.

“That’s all I needed to know. Just know I’ll protect them from Talen. I may need their help to rid me of him after all. All I need is for you to get out of the way.”

“What are you talking abo-.”

He placed a hand on my back and I felt an incredible pain shoot forward from his palm through me. I looked down and realized I was in some kind of arcane circle, draconic runes lit up. They had been mixed into the ornate rug so thoroughly that they were entirely invisible before they’d begun glowing. I felt incredible pain and suddenly found myself opened. The seams between my armor, my faceplate, all of it was separated as far as it could go and the void within me was visible to everyone that surrounded us.

“Monster!” yelled Caedus, backing away from me.

Talen threw himself at me shoulder first and I clattered across the hall even as I started to pull myself back together. The party devolved into chaos.

I gritted my metaphorical teeth and pulled myself together. Talen stood across from me, a silver handled sword pointed in my direction. I launched myself at him, but was suddenly struck by a sword with such force that it actually pierced my side. A sword juggler with golden eyes flashed me a smile as he readied another throw.

Hrig didn’t let him get the chance, she slammed into him in a tackle and brought him to the ground. She was unarmed, but she managed to take a sword from the juggler's own kit before he pushed her off of him.

Kyren and Stone moved to face the juggler, but the firebreather chose that moment to put a wall of flame between me and my companions.

“Wait, wait!” Caedus yelled at them, “Spare them, they knew not that their companion was a monster.” I doubted anyone else could see him through the flames, but I saw him choose that moment to wink in my direction.

Talen lunged at me with his sword and I didn’t have time to draw my own sword through the peace knot so I removed the sword from my side, bringing it up just in time to stop him from running me through.

“You will pay for what you did to my brother,” said Talen through gritted teeth, his golden eyes shining in the firelight.

I pushed him back. “Why do you care? You didn’t seem to care much about the green one.”

He stabbed at me multiple times, forcing me back as I parried. “The green one was only a brother to me through Aurum. Donyin was a brother to me through Aurum and through bloodshed. We raised each other up, helped each other survive. I don’t expect a monster like you to understand that though.”

I threw the juggler’s sword at him, but he dodged it as it embedded into the pillar behind him. I noticed that despite the king's words, Hrig, Stone, and Kyren were still locked in combat with the other Children of Aurum, even though they seemed to be focused on simply keeping them away from me.

Talen launched himself toward me and I wasn’t able to dodge feeling my already damaged essence recoil as his sword buried itself in my breastplate where a heart would have been. I was hurt, and there was no way I could defeat Talen and his allies in the state I was in, but there did seem to be a way I could at least save my companions. I grabbed Talen by the shoulders and pulled him closer, hearing the sound of his sword tearing my steel skin, and I headbutted him. He took a few steps back and released his grip on his sword, giving me the space I needed.

I ran and jumped through the fire toward Kyren who was the closest to me. She held out her hand to help me up. I grabbed it, twisted her around, broke the peace knot on my sword and held it to her throat. I squeezed her hand two times, the same signal we’d used to indicate poison.

“Stay back!” I yelled. The two performers hesitated, and the guards that had been trying to intervene got closer, but kept some distance. Hrig and Stone looked over to us confused expressions on their faces. I began backing toward the nearest window.

I whispered to Kyren. “I don’t know any other way we can survive this aside from this one. You have too much to lose, there are too many Children of Aurum here for us to defeat and even if we win the fight we’d still lose everything else. You didn’t know I was a monster and neither did Stone or Hrig. I’m going to make a run for Usulaum.” I looked for a moment at Hrig, “I will return.” I reached the window, my back clanging against it. Kyren gave my hand a squeeze and began muttering in elvish.

“What did you do to my son, you monster!” yelled Lady Senturius, her voice cracking as she did so. Ser Senturius was holding her back, keeping her from running at me.

That hurt worse than anything Talen had done to me. It was deserved though. “He was too strong for me to leave alive, but he made a fine meal.” I yelled to her, hoping that playing the villain may allow them some peace. I saw Talen and Caedus standing next to one another. Talen was smiling with a cruel look in his eyes and Caedus gave me another wink.

“I’m sorry, but we have to make sure they believe it,” whispered Kyren, unleashing a blast of holy energy.

I was thrown through the window in pieces. I felt myself fall as each of my different parts, then I felt myself land as each of them. The effect was disorienting and the damage I took severe. I had just enough time to reassemble myself before I heard the approach of guards. I checked my internal compass, removing Talen’s sword from my chest as I did so, and started running East.