"Now THIS is a ball!"
The freshmen cried out in awe as they were greeted by the bright lights in the lecture hall and the sound of music. Every guests were present dancing, chatting and some surrounded the tables which was covered with food.
"Oho. The hall looks just as beautiful as when we first saw it." Malleus looked around rather impressed.
"How invigorating it all feels. Why, I'd say the space is more dignified than ever!" Rook complimented the room's clean appearance as she walked in with the others.
"Everyone's wearin' the same kinda fancy duds we are. I still look the coolest, of course!" Grim boasted as he looked around.
Seeing everyone had already donned on their masks, Yuu smiled, "You guys look great in your masks."
"He's not wrong. You look right at home in a ballroom."
The looked up and found Peony walk over to them in her dancer dress and mask. Ignoring her, Malleus thanked Yuu, "I noticed this yesterday, but you look quite different in a mask as well, Yuu. It really suits you."
"I'd prefer to make my face known to our fellow arcane academy peers, but we must follow the dress code." Azul sighed in disappointment.
"This mask rules. It's like my life preserver in this loud sea of people." Idia smiled wide finding his call.
Rolling his eyes, Jamil grumbled, "I can't imagine just wearing a mask over your eyes would affect things that much..."
"Seeing everyone here wearing masks..." Malleus noted, "It reminds me of how people danced in their masks at Topsy-Turvy Fest yesterday."
"Oh yes, the idea there was that the masks concealed your true identity." Azul sighed, "That festival feels like so long ago now..."
"I cannot blame you for feeling that way. We had a very long night." Malleus nodded his head in nostalgia.
"Ugh. I already put in overtime. If only we didn't have to do this offline meetup ball with a bunch of partiers..." Idia grumbled to himself in his usual fast pace tone only to be bumped by a Nobel Bell student who had been laughing too much.
"Oh, pardon me. I didn't mean to bump into you." A Nobel Bell student apologized to him.
"EEP!" Idia nearly leapt back in shock before uttering nervously, "Uhhh, s'cool..."
"Hello there! Lovely evening, isn't it?" A student from another magic school approached him.
That student's friend handed Idia a cup of juice and cheered, "I know we haven't officially met, but we should celebrate making it through that awful ordeal together!"
As they left on their own business, Idia muttered in horror, "This place is swarming with sparkly, cheerful normies!"
Seeing everyone laughing and having fun, Silver wore a small smile feeling somewhat happy, "All these people are still smiling, thanks to our group."
"This is going to be a lovely ball. Just seeing all this merriment makes everything we went through worthwhile." Riddle nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, for sure. And as long as there's food, you won't hear any complaints from me." Ruggie came back with a large plate piled with food.
Looking around, Jamil noticed how everyone was having fun chatting away as he suggested, "Since we're all wearing masks, you can't tell who anyone is. So I say we just eat and dance the night away."
As soon as he said this, the sound of a small bell could be heard as everyone paused and looked for the source of the sound. Grim raised a brow and leapt onto Yuu's head for a better look, "Hm? What's with that bell?"
Looking around, they found the source to be the vice-president who announced with a wide smile, "Allow me to thank you all for coming. The Noble Bell College student council president and organizer of the first Promising Young Mages' Social would like to say a few words."
Rollo stepped up and began, "Good evening to you all. First, I offer my deepest apologies for the recent, unexpected incident and the distress it caused you all. However, we rallied and fought off the impending-disaster together... And in doing so, I believe the bonds between all of us promising young mages have become stronger than ever before."
Still upset, Sebek grumbled, "Listen to how calmly he spouts that drivel... He's the very definition of brazen!"
"I still find his mental fortitude impressive." Azul hummed curiously, "He must be racked with anger and guilt, yet he hides it so well. You'd never guess just by looking at him."
"He's definitely got guts and nerves of steel, I'll give him that. It's actually kinda scary." Idia shuddered at the mention of it.
"Now, I'd like to acknowledge the ones who tackled this unprecedented disaster head-on..." Rollo snapped his fingers as the spotlight shone on the group, "...The students of Night Raven College!"
Everyone was shocked as Rollo clapped his hands, "Let's give them all a big round of applause."
Cheering echoed in the halls as one of the students next to the vice-president exclaimed in awe, "So those are the guys who saved Fleur City!"
"Wow, how striking are they? Okay, now I know who they are. I'll have to dance with them later!"
One of the Royal Sword Academy students cheered, "Thanks for saving us, Night Raven College guys!"
"Dude, he's singling us out! What's even the point of these masks then?!" Idia hissed in horror, "Is this his idea of revenge?!"
"You're the only one who views positive attention that way." Azul secretly rolled his eyes.
"It's embarrassing, but people would expect something like this from the student council president who saved the school." Jamil whispered.
"This throws off my plans a bit, but that's all right. It saves me some work." Azul smiled as he walked past Yuu and Grim.
"What're you talkin' about?" Grim tilted his head in confusion.
"Excuse me, President Flamme!" Azul called out as he walked up.
"Yes, Housewarden Ashengrotto?" Rollo raised a brow curiously.
"Thank you for your kind remarks." Azul wore a friendly smile, "Might we also be permitted to share a few words before the party resumes?"
"What? I'm afraid that won't be possible; we simply don't have the time." Rollo frowned.
"Oh, there you go again." The Aide chuckled, "Heheheh, such a stickler for punctuality."
"Come on, these guys worked alongside you to save the day." The vice-president persuaded, "This would be a great chance to affirm our newfound friendship."
"Thank you kindly!" Azul smiled and got up onto the stage, "In that case—Malleus, would you care to step up on stage? You can stand where Rollo is. Now is the time for what you arranged. Remember, it's important to maintain a tight grip once you've hooked them. Make this count."
Hearing this, Malleus smiled wide, "Of course. You needn't remind me."
Suddenly, murmurs broke out the moment Malleus opened his mouth and began walking toward the stage.
"Wait, those horns aren't part of his costume, are they? Is that Malleus Draconia from Night Raven College?!"
"Oh my gosh, it IS! I can't believe we're actually meeting a celebrity!"
"He's pretty intimidating, but WOW, can you feel that power?! I'm so glad I came to this social!"
The crowd of people quickly moved out of his way forming a path as he continued.
"The crowds all parted the moment Malleus started walking..." Epel muttered in awe as the group slowly quietly followed behind him.
"I guess even people from other schools respect him." Deuce hesitated nervously, "That makes me feel proud...and like I shouldn't let him hog all the spotlight."
"Ah, my liege. How he shines when everyone's eyes are upon him! The humans here will surely pass down tales of his magnificent visage to their descendants for all eternity!" Sebek expressed with pride.
Idia wanted to hide in a hole as he grumbled, "Could someone please do something about the Draconian turbo-simp...?"
"...Step right up, then." Rollo relented after seeing the group walk up to the stage much to his reluctance. He could hardly fathom what plans they have to have made this day worse for him.
Unaware of his thoughts, Malleus smiled wide and before turning to the crowd, "Thank you, Flamme. It gladdens my heart to see us all gathered together this eve. Some among you may be speculating about who I am... But right now, we are all equals at this masquerade ball—we're "promising young mages." I ask that you treat me as simply another mage. I wish to express my gratitude at being invited to this delightful gathering... So I've prepared a gift for you all."
A nobel bell student next to another arcane student muttered in confusion, "A gift...?"
His friend turned to him in confusion, "Does he mean, like, an actual gift? And we can just...have it?"
"Everyone's nervous...and I can't really blame them." Jamil snickered.
"Haha." Ruggie gave a nervous laugh, "Malleus sure knows how to keep an audience on the edge of their seat."
Nervous, Rollo frowned as he glared at them, "What is this gift? What's your game?"
Realizing that Rollo was still hesitant and cautious from what happened the day prior, Azul laughed, "Come now, no need to get worked up. We spent a good amount of time arranging this gift, in the spirit of friendship. The rest of you have but to relax and enjoy the ball."
"I can't... This is too much...!" Idia cried out shivering in his shoes.
"Are you all ready?" Malleus smiled wide, "Then let us kick off this night to remember. Everyone, enjoy!"
The music began as the guys got to their position and began to sing and dance. Hearing this music, Peony noted in surprise, "Oh! So, he knows about this song too?"
The song began with Malleus, Azul, and surprisingly Idia doing a vocal piece following the music as the group danced with the three on stage. The choreography was decent while the music was on point. For someone singing and dancing to this music for the first time, it was done rather well. Curious, Xiao Li questioned her, "What song is this?"
"'Make A Wish'." She replied with a chuckle as she leaned against the pillar with a bright smile, "A song sang by the kind bell ringer as he gone to ring the bell. However, it is said that this song has gone through many changes over the time to become like this. As expected, Malleus was put in for the solo piece. Looks like he's put in more effort than the others."
"He must've really looked forward to this trip then." Xiao Li whispered in confusion, "Even though we warned him. The people here sure know how to have fun."