The bright lights of the hall illuminated the extravagant colorful dresses that spread before me. Tiny glitters from the glass made the surrounding dreamy in contrast to my mood.

Parties, I dislike parties, there’s too much people and they often gossip. It’s horrifying.

In the corner of my eyes, I glimpsed at Lord Mastris’ daughter, she wore a high quality white dress, I know nothing about fashion but she truly looked adorable. As I sent my silent praises to Lady Paige, my eyes were caught by that woman. Her light blue dress suited her well, or I should say: she looked beautiful. She looked like she came out of a painting and it felt like anything she wore would still be a masterpiece.

“This doesn’t change the fact that she’s still suspicious.”

I grumbled as I saw her mingle as if she was used to it. Her every movement caught the eyes of men surrounding her. But even though she was surrounded by pompous noblemen, she kept to herself, she smiled and answered when prompted but she stood behind Lady Paige like a wallflower, garnering peeks from both men and women.

“Hmm… what is she up to?”

I took a glass of juice from a passing servant and returned to my post while I continue to observe the hall and the guests present.

“Sir Henry, captain asks for you to check the surroundings. I’m sorry, I’m an earth mage but I’m not that good at geo-tracking.”

A young man in a simple waistcoat with short caramel hair scratched his head, Arlo looked dejected due to his inability to control his magic.

He’s usually training in frustration but since he went out with that woman, he’s mellowed out a little bit.

Am I wrong to still think suspiciously of her?

“Then take my post, is his high— *ehem* is Theo with Liam?”

At my question he nodded enthusiastically. Is it fine to leave him, this kid? I was reluctant to leave him alone but he made me open the glass door directly to the garden. There, I found His highness and Liam surveying the area. The garden was dark, but the lights from the hall passing through the glass doors dimly lit the flowers like colorful lanterns floating on greenery.

“Enjoying the party, are we?”

A man with cerulean hair beside his highness noticed me and asked, I answered with scowl. Chuckles rang in the garden and his highness patted my back.

“It’s okay, just stay here. Even Liam ran away from it.”

He pointed at the guilty knight.

“Anyway, mind checking the area for me?”

Liam coughed trying to change the subject. I noticed he still wore his hair in a top knot but at least, he shaved his beard for tonight. We’ve known each other since young and there wasn’t even a time where we haven’t seen each other for more than a day. We were even in the same order after the knight’s training, so I know full well how he hates parties too.

“I don’t mind, but you could’ve tried staying inside longer.”

I gave them a wry smile and got onto business. I crouched and placed my hand on the ground. The feel of the earth, the tumbling of rocks, the sway of grass and trees was channeled through me. A reverberating beat echoed in my head as I called mana into my fingertips.

“i imperium terrae.”

I whispered and the mana I plunged forth allowed me to see and hear everything the earth did. For now, I started looking for people who aren’t supposed to be here.

This all started when that woman made a commotion two days ago. She didn’t explain much but the lord perfectly understood her intentions and promised that he was prepared for it. Security was tight for the past few days and in the end, the lord asked for our help tonight because nobles were in attendance.

“Well?”

Liam asked. I lost focus for a moment but I sensed a couple of them heading straight through the hedges.

“I can’t believe that woman was right. Several men are coming here in a couple of minutes and they’ve brought mages.”

And right at that moment, even though there was no wind blowing in the garden, the bushes rustled. The three of us drew our swords and soon several men from every direction entered the garden.

“Tsk. Isn’t this too many and too early?! You said a couple of minutes!”

Liam complained, he held his sword tightly seeing the number surrounding us. Indeed, it was too early but I didn’t sense this much people!

“They're illusiosn! I told you, there were mages!”

Cold sweat ran down my face. Illusions were hard to fight against because it can change form to confuse us. All four elements could very well make illusions by themselves, but illusions as perfect as these needs at least three elements.

“Aren’t they made of four?”

His highness said sheathing his sword. A magic circle appeared underneath and as if it followed his highness’ fingers, symbols and words were written and the magic circle expanded throughout the garden. The expanding light from the circle waved and swayed with the wind.

“Elements Dispel”

His highness was called a genius due to his precise use of other elemental magic aside from his. Most magic that are used are often invoked with chants or chantless magic, which only allows the mage to use their own specific elements.

However, in his highness’ case, even though he can only use light magic, he made use of light to invoke other elements. Thus his use of magic circles, these circles are often placed on magic tools to invoke specific elements needed for it to work. With a completed magic tool, all you need to do was supply it with mana.

This technique needs to be calculated well before use in order to avoid any magic rebounds. Which is why he was called a genius, his immediate calculations of magic circles exceeds one’s limitations.

When the light shone brightly and the magic invoked, the illusions that surrounded us was dissolved, and only a dozen or so of enemies were left.

“Oooh! Great work as ever!”

Liam ran up to one man and cut him down with much enthusiasm. His downward cut was met with a barrier that deflected his sword with a burning fire.

“Tsk. Looks like we’ve got some talented mages here. No matter—! sit fluxus aquae!”

Drops of water gathered to his sword and slowly wrapped it with a bubbly edge. As soon as he finished casting, he ran up with a thrust, breaking the fire barrier and creating steam as his sword pierced through the enemy’s abdomen.

After a pull, he continued to slaughter those with fire barriers without prejudice. Seeing that scene, we did our part. I don’t have much strength unlike the two but I had my speed. I delivered multiple slashes to the enemy in front of me and moved on to the other.

Due to the number of enemies, we barely noticed the commotion happening inside the hall. Screams, smoke and metal hitting each other rang inside while we tried to get out of our own mess.

“Tsk. Looks like they’re busy inside too. Should we finish up?”

Liam looked at the fiasco inside. But at that moment, a wind mage casted a spell that sent him flying towards the venue. A loud crash rang and a destroyed glass door, scattered broken glass on the marble floor.

“Liam!”

I turned around and saw a mirror in front of me. Different colors of light were reflected on the mirror.

Mirror? No. It’s not a mirror, it’s a puddle of water. A continuous ripple stirred the lights and I felt my consciousness fading.

“Henry! appello lucem!”

I hear his highness cast magic, but it was too late. I closed my eyes and saw my reflection in front of me. When I opened my eyes, in my hand was my sword and my target was… his highness.