In what felt like centuries, the day of the ball came.

Everyone dressed in their new attire that they had recently picked up from the Tailor’s.

Erebus complained about how restricted his suit was. How was he supposed to fight with this on!

“You’ll make it work,” Frize spoke nonchalantly as they headed towards the domed building made purely out of crystal and glass.

Just looking at the venue of the ball made the wallets of some people cringe and shrink.

“Waste of money,” Lilian spoke.

“Right. What’s the point of making it out of that kind of material... what a terrible idea.” Vyne responded in an equally disapproving tone.

Erebus and Frize didn’t even bat an eyelash.

Of course, they didn’t see what the big deal was.

Something like this could be made easily, only a few million gold, right?

Tear, too, could care less. Currently, her arm was entwined with Erebus’ and she was rubbing her head lovingly on his shoulder. To her, this was an absolutely perfect day. A monumental occasion!

The tailor had made it so everyone was color-coordinated with their partner! It wasn’t as if they were wearing them obviously, but there were hints of it that made them match. The woman wore the color as her base while the males had it as accents on their suits.

For Erebus and Tear, their color was dark red. Frize and Seira, a rich violet. Vyne and Lilian wore a pastel green. And finally, Weryn had cream.

When they arrived at the double-doors that were made out of frosted glass, they stood in the line of people waiting to get in. Behind them, more people filed in.

“There're more people than I was expecting to be here,” Erebus admitted while looking around.

“Well, a lot of people came from other continents just for this party. What would you call it? The event of the year for the rich?” Frize, too, cast his gaze around.

There were angels, demons, beastmen, dwarves, elves, humans, a few members of humanoid monster races...

The only thing that was missing was the merfolk, simply because they had a policy of isolationism and rarely interacted with the other races after the wars that completely ruined them.

As the line continued to flow, the seven made their way all the way up to the door where four guards waited.

The entrance to the ball was simple. You had to pay the measly price of 5,000 gold per person, and allow yourself to be scanned with a magic detector that would pick up signs of any type of weapons.

Frize footed (was forced) the entrance fee of 35,000 for seven people.

Outrageous price for such a ball full of rich people with terrible senses of humor and pissing contests between men who wanted to dance with a beautiful woman.

The guards smiled kindly at them and allowed them to enter before sucking the next group dry of their money.

“35,000,” Seira muttered under her breath. “That’s just... how much money do these people have?”

Even as a princess, she couldn’t understand these prices! Her clan was not focused on things like money, so they never had anything like this. For them, 50 silver was a rip-off.

No wonder why there were barely any groups over three people! The majority belonged to couples and singles.

Anyway, they entered the ball without any trouble.

A group of seven made the eyes of even the richest widen a little. What was with their outrageous amount of money? Only extremely powerful and wealthy royalty could pay that much, and the faces of these people were unfamiliar.

Inside was an image that some could only see in their dreams:

A live orchestra played beautiful songs with sound enhanced by magic.

Couples were dancing in the sky due to air magic. The skirts of women spun and shimmered due to the jewels placed on them.

On the ground, people were dancing, too.

Many were also casting their own magic whether they were in the air on the ground, so it turned into a spectacle. Some had a flame fire ignite under their feet as they glided, other crystals of ice sparkled and glimmered around their bodies. Those on the ground cast earth magic that created pillars under their feet and sent them into the air as the spun and twirled. There were other types of magic being used for appearance, also.

There were sculptures made out of ice, some made out of precious gems and minerals. Fountains spurted out crystal clear water, tables were full of delicious looking food and dessert.

Erebus let out a low whistle. Seems like the host of this ball had a taste for flair.

“Well, if it was anything less than this, it wouldn’t be nearly as popular,” Frize said.

Touché.

Just as they began to make their way through the thickening crowd, two figures pushed through the crowd and dropped to their knees.

Both were youthful males who looked to be in their early twenties. Their faces were generic but handsome.

Actually, their faces were the exact same. Both had stubborn jaws, pretty blue-green eyes, and golden hair.

Twins, it would seem.

“Second Dragon Frize and Fifth Dragon Erebus, if we had known you would attend this humble affair we have sponsored, we would’ve made it far more suitable for your taste,” one of the twins spoke in the language of the dragons.

They had attracted the attention of everyone else, even the orchestra had stopped playing to stare.

These two were none other than members of the esteemed dragon race, everyone here knew that. Yet they were kneeling, kneeling to an unknown group of people.

Frize and Erebus didn’t respond.

“The young one, Weryn, we have heard about is here, too? The one who is blessed with the opportunity to be the student of Fifth Dragon Erebus,” the second twin spoke.

“I am,” Weryn said in his native tongue. “A lovely ball you two have helped create.”

“Your words are too much,” the twins spoke in unison this time.

Even though they acted so respectfully, it was clear to the two ancient dragons that the other two were afraid.

Two members of the Dragon Council were here. And the twins had participated in illegal affairs.

Had they caught on?

Did they know?

“Rise up,” Erebus said tiredly in the human tongue. “No need for your dramatics right now.”

The two dragons swallowed and stood up. “Yes, Fifth Dragon Erebus.”

A kind-faced round man accompanied by a thin-faced man walked up to the dragons.

“Ludis and Syron, who are these people to illicit such a response?” the kind-faced man asked with a laugh. His face had deep laugh lines and his smile was genuine. It was easy to tell he was a nice fellow.

“I agree, King Rupert. Who are they?” the thin-faced one followed up. His name was King Quinn. Respectively, they were the rulers of Milon and Eururia. They ones who had launched the attack on Erebus’ castle!

“They?”

“These people?”

Syron and Ludis hissed respectively.

“Show respect, humans!” Syron, the one who had addressed Erebus and Frize first, barked.

“Maggots, learn your place,” Ludis, the second twin, shouted.

Everyone gasped a little and drew back.

The two king’s faces drained of color.

“O-our apologies, we simply wished to know who, um.” Rupert gestured to the seven.

If it was anyone else, they would have their heads. But these were dragons, no one dared speak out.

Frize spoke in an annoyed voice, “I do believe you two were told to stop with the dramatics.” His eyes focused in on the twins, who flinched at his glare.

Normally, he wouldn't be bothered by their melodramy. But, since they had betrayed the Dragon Council and their laws, Frize felt as if they were mocking the their elders. For the first time in his life, he truly wanted to kill. Sadly, he wasn’t allowed to until they confessed their crimes.

“Apologies.” Ludis looked down at his shoes.

“The beings you have the honor of observing are the Second Dragon Frize! The Fifth Dragon Erebus, and his disciple Weryn,” Syron boasted after an awkward moment of silence.

Everyone in this world should know of the name Erebus and Frize.

Frize, the one who had attempted to negotiate peace during the First War! From there on, he acted as the diplomat for the dragons.

Erebus, dubbed the Destroyer by all. He was the one who ended the wars that the dragons found annoying.

How many had died at the hands of that dragon.

“And the others are?” King Rupert managed to say in a slightly even tone.

“A survivor of the High Humans, Tear of the Moon Goddess.” She curtsied mockingly towards the two kings.

“Demon Noble Vyne.”

“Princess of the dark elven clan Hikyun, Seira.”

“Master Necromancer Lilian.”

Though they had not heard of the others, Lilian was a famed necromancer! She had disappeared centuries ago.

She was one who stood at the top of the necromancers! Lilian was said to be the most powerful necromancer in the world. She had completely destroyed the coven that had nurtured her.

The demons and angels had heard of the name Vyne before, he was a descendent of the pure-blooded nobles! A descendent of the Lost Empress Laufeia.

Hikyun was a clan famed for their immense strength and skill.

Finally, a High Human. The race said to have died centuries ago!

This ball had gone from the event of the year, to an event that would undoubtedly be recorded in history.