“Svanda…” Nina said as she strode towards her, eyes locked on the subdued expression that was reflected in the mirror. Svanda’s eyes flicked up to meet hers when she heard the words, but instead of a reaction that Nina would expect, her gaze seemed distant. It was almost as though the person in the mirror was someone that Nina had never met before; a secret twin that had been locked up in the castle while Svanda had been left to freely roam the plates. The discarded black fatigues which were hanging on the back of the chair beside the dresser, however, told her that it wasn’t the case. This was Svanda, and although she looked a little different, it was still the same person who she had last seen not even an hour ago.

Apparently, a lot could happen in an hour.

Wearing a sleeveless black dress of satin that hung down to her ankles, Svanda slouched in the ornate timber chair. Streaks of purple streaked across her torso before plunging down towards the hem, and the effect reminded Nina of the angry skies just outside the windows. Exposed arms that usually accented Svanda’s powerful build now featured purple armbands of lace that were wrapped around each bicep, while on her wrists she also wore thin but intricate silver chains. What Nina found most surprising, however, was Svanda’s face. While her short silver hair had been swept back in a more formal manner than usual, her face had also been powdered white to contrast with two thick purple wings of eyeshadow that swept upwards towards her temples. Matching them were two thin streaks of paint which stretched down from the corners of her eyes before stopping in line with the tip of her nose, her lips also painted the same shade. It was an almost haunting appearance, Nina thought; one that she would probably never forget.

“If you’re going to laugh, now is a good time,” Svanda said with a tinge of sourness, eyes returning to her own reflection in the mirror. “It wouldn’t go down very well if you did it in front of someone else.”

“I think it’s cool,” Saela said as she appeared beside Nina. Nina had been so focused on Svanda’s new appearance that she hadn’t even sensed her approach, but now that she was here, Nina was glad that someone else had found the words that she had struggled for. Svanda’s current demeanour made it painfully obvious that she wasn’t pleased about her new makeover, and Nina suddenly felt compelled to give her all the support that she could. It did raise yet another set of questions about Svanda’s relationship with her family, but that would have to wait for another time. No point kicking something home if she was already feeling down about it, especially when Nina had no clue about what she would be getting herself into.

“A bit intimidating though,” Saela added after a brief pause. “But I’m guessing that’s the point.”

Svanda nodded absentmindedly before standing up, her dress on full display as she walked over to the sofa setting which sat by the bed. Two small cream loveseats were placed on each side of the low coffee table; the plates of cakes and sandwiches that Nina had spotted earlier somehow looking even better than they had before. The setting was rounded off by two smaller armchairs that were placed at each end, and Nina noted that Svanda’s feet were bare before she joined her at the table. If anyone else had been present she would have thought twice about sitting unannounced, but Svanda was still Svanda, not some snobby aristocrat. Saela soon flopped down on the loveseat opposite them with a yawn, and while Nina struggled to find the right words, Svanda beat her to it.

“It’s a remnant from the clan wars,” she said with a sigh as she pointed to her face before reaching for a bottle of cloudy liquid, pouring the contents into an empty glass before sitting back. “Ridiculous, isn’t it? Warpaint from another era, yet we still wear it in tribute to how our ancestors fought for what the clan is today. That’s what they say, at least, but I don’t believe it. Everyone who fought for Daerx back then wore this mask, Qualified or not, yet for some reason it is only us that can now be remembered for it. Hundreds would have died for every member of the clan during those times, and now their contribution is ignored so that we can wear it around like we’re better than the rest. I never wanted to play a part in it, but what can I do?”

“You don’t need to play a part,” Saela replied nonchalantly, reaching for a small cake on a silver tray without asking. “The quicker you get what you’re here for, the quicker we’re out of here. Speaking of which, do you have any guesses for that? Can we get out tonight?”

“Not tonight,” Svanda said with a shake of her head before taking a glance towards the large door that separated them from the hall, her unease evident. “The morning session is the only time to make official requests, and we’ve already missed todays. Assuming negotiations go well in tomorrow’s session, we could be out of here at this time tomorrow.”

“And if they don’t?” Nina asked.

“Then we’ll have to wait until the day after that, or perhaps even the following one,” Svanda answered with an apologetic shrug. “There’s only so much that I can do.”

“Great,” Saela mumbled through a mouth full of cake, the sarcasm in her tone impossible to miss. “A sleepover in a creepy castle full of people that hate me was just what I always wanted.”

“We could hide in here the entire time,” Nina suggested before Svanda felt the need to apologise once more. “It’s quite comfortable and we wouldn’t be disturbed, would we?”

Svanda frowned at the question before reaching for a cake of her own, buying a moment by taking a small bite before resting it on her knee. Nina wouldn’t have risked it if she was wearing such a nice dress, but Svanda didn’t even seem to notice. There was probably a hundred more if it got dirty, now that she thought about it, so she decided to just let Svanda think through whatever was going on in her head without interrupting her. Saela didn’t seem to want to push the issue either, which she was thankful for, although Nina suspected that it was more because it allowed her to squeeze in a second helping of cake instead of genuine concern.

“You can’t,” she finally said with a sigh. “Not because I say so, but because there are customs that need to be followed.”

“Like what?” Saela asked.

“Meals, for one,” Svanda replied. “Everyone has to be at the hall, guest or not. Unless, you’re in the kitchens, that is, but you won’t be, will you?”

“If it’s just a meal, we’ll manage,” Saela said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “What else?”

“The Evening League,” Svanda continued with a sigh. “It’s a nightly session for Daerx Clan members where internal issues are discussed, along with a few other bits and pieces. That in itself is fine, but the problem for you is that Unqualifieds are kicked out of the castle while it runs. You’ll be on your own for at least a couple of hours, but sometimes it can run late into the night before the gates reopen. I’m sorry, but there isn’t much I can do until the session is complete.”

Nina frowned, but remained silent. There was no point complaining if she wouldn’t be able to change anything, so instead she considered her options for how to pass the time. At least she wouldn’t be alone, although Saela wasn’t exactly the best company. What went on inside that head of hers was anybody’s guess at times, and at other times she wondered if anything went on up there at all. Despite that, however, it was certainly better than being thrown out on the street by herself. Someone confrontational like Saela also dragged attention away from her, and she planned to take advantage of that fact right up until the castle was out of sight.

Until then, she’d simply keep her wits about her and take things one step at a time.

“Hiding in here isn’t an option?” Saela asked, pointing towards Svanda’s bed. “We could just hide in the bed, or behind the curtains if somebody came. There’s the cupboard in the err… our bedroom as well.”

“They’ll check,” Svanda replied. “Especially considering that you’re both new Unqualifieds. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had the cleaners turn these two rooms upside down, to be honest, and you certainly don’t want to be caught where you shouldn’t be. I certainly don’t want you caught either, because ultimately, I’m responsible.”

“That much effort?” Saela scoffed. “You’d think they had better things to do.”

“There’s nothing better than enforcing the rules,” Svanda said before turning her attention to her glass. “In their eyes, at least. Small infringements are the first step towards progress.”

About to open her mouth, Nina paused as the door to Svanda’s room was thrown open to reveal three women who stepped inside without a word. The two women with grey pixie cuts and simple purple dresses were not people that she recognized, but the woman who walked in the centre of them was. Dressed in the same outfit that she had been wearing when they met at the entrance to the castle, the woman in cream didn’t even spare Nina a glance as she crossed the room, her elegant yet cold demeanour seeming to freeze the atmosphere as she approached. Nina thought that she heard a small sigh escape from Svanda’s lips, but she wasn’t sure. There wasn’t any time to ask any questions either, because before she knew it, the trio had stopped before them.

“It never ceases to amaze me, you know?” the woman said as she took a quick glance at the food which sat at the table, her eyes flicking over the empty cake wrappers in front of Saela. “How you share your table with people like this without concern. Your mother said that it’s poor for your League prospects, if you didn’t need any more convincing, and that’s including what damage limitation she’s already applied.”

“I’m not interested in the League,” Svanda said with a wave of her hand, turning back to face the table instead of their visitors. “What are you here for, Celine?”

“This one isn’t bad,” Celine replied, ignoring the question as she turned her eyes to Nina, the intelligent pools of green seeming to peer right inside of her. “She’s young enough, so maybe she’d be acceptable after she learns her place. Certainly a better prospect than that other trash you used to bring.”

“She isn’t trash,” Svanda said with a noticeably firm tone. “Tell me what you’re here for before I report you for entering without permission.”

“You wouldn’t report me,” Celine smiled. “And you know that just as well as I do. To humour you, however, I will say that I am here to see if you needed my help again. I don’t even need to look under the sofa to know that you’re still in bare feet, and I thought that you might want to be briefed on tonight’s proceedings too. You’re not particularly good at these things, after all.”

“Then shoot,” Svanda replied nonchalantly.

“Of course,” Celine said as she rounded the sofa to stand by the corner of the coffee table. “But first, surely you understand that this information can’t be shared with outsiders.”

Nina and Saela both frowned at the same time as a thin smile curled up at the edge of Celine’s lips.

“Dismiss your attendants. Only then will we talk.”