Click.
Her footsteps echoed across the hallway.
She moved in a dignified manner, carrying herself with so much pride.
"Wow, she is stunning."
"I hope she looks our way."
Seris's eyes shifted towards their direction.
Her cold, piercing eyes seemed to peer into their souls as she stared at them in disgust.
Yet—
"She looked towards our side!"
Two maids whispered excitedly to each other.
"She noticed me," one of the staff members said to the other.
'Leeches who give no crap about us.'
Creak.
Two maids opened the doors for Seris, who walked in gracefully.
Beyond the doors lay the dining hall.
The hall was adorned in grandeur. The chandelier lights shimmered brilliantly, their colours shifting like the turning of the four seasons.
Sigh.
"Same as always."
Seris said with a sigh.
The curtains were made of fine, thin fabric, laced with flickers of Arcana energy.
Seris ran her fingers over the fine linen covering the dining table. The fabric felt slick and smooth beneath her touch.
The table was filled with platters of food, extravagant enough to grace the tables of kings and queens.
There were roasted meats glazed with sweet herbs, vibrant fruits carved into intricate designs, and enchanted desserts that shimmered faintly with magic.
"How is everything, Miss Seris?" the chef asked.
"...."
"Miss Seris?"
Despite the chef's words, Seris's attention remained fixed on the centre of the hall.
A symbol she knew all too well.
Her family's crest.
The Ashen Phoenix.
A single voice lingered in Seris's mind.
'Protect the image at all costs.'
"You don't have to tell me."
The gift—or curse—of House Althorne.
Her affinity was fire, the same as her father's and her siblings', except for her mother and older sister, who both possessed deviant abilities.
Despite that, the Althorne flame could stand toe to toe with the abilities of those who possessed deviant affinities.
How?
By working hard.
Extremely harder than everyone else.
"Okay, is everything set up?"
Seris's voice was calm, yet it carried an unmistakable authority.
"Yes, ma'am."
The head maid stepped forward, replying to Seris's question.
"Okay. Tell them to make it more sparkling."
"Why?"
"Because Father will be coming home today."
"What?"
The moment Seris uttered those words, the hall abruptly fell silent, as quiet as a graveyard.
No one dared to make a sound.
"You should all make sure everything is perfect."
The maids exchanged glances before quickly returning to their duties.
Seris's eyes flickered towards the corner of the room, where a guard stood waiting patiently for her to finish.
"If you'll excuse me."
Seris turned towards the head maid.
"Make it worth his time."
"Yes, ma'am."
Seris followed the guard out of the dining hall.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Your mother wishes for you to accompany her to pick up your father, Miss Seris."
"Okay. Lead the way."
Click.
The moment Seris left, the entire hall erupted into a frenzy.
"Quick! Make it sparkle!"
"Check the food and make sure it suits his taste!"
"Move quickly!"
The maids hurried from one end of the hall to the other, determined to make everything perfect before Lord Zedric Althorne arrived.
Ci-Clank.
The doors to the master bedroom opened as Seris and the guard stepped inside.
"Leave us now, Charles."
"Yes, ma'am."
Click.
The door closed behind him.
"Why did you want to see me, Mother?"
Standing before Seris was a woman with white hair. She looked so regal and astonishingly youthful that people often mistook her for a young woman, despite being the mother of three children.
"We need to see your father, Seris."
"Okay. I'll be waiting downstairs."
"Stop."
Seris halted in her tracks at her mother's words.
"Why?"
"You know that we only do what we do because we love you."
"Understood, but that doesn't explain why you made me stop in my tracks."
"Okay, fair enough."
Slump.
Seris's mother slumped into her chair before pulling an envelope from her bag.
"Take it."
She tossed the letter towards Seris, who caught it and opened it.
Her eyes moved across the words, reading each line with a determined expression.
[ THE UNION ]
Office of the Ten Seats
Official Union Correspondence
To: Lord Zedric Althorne
Subject: Official Announcement of the Annual Hunt
To Lord Zedric Althorne,
The Union hereby announces the commencement of this year's Annual Hunt, an event held to assess the strength, potential, and character of the next generation of talents within our territories.
As a noble house that has benefited the Union for ages, House Althorne is formally invited to participate.
The Union has granted House Althorne permission to bring one participant to this annual event.
The identity of this participant shall be determined by your house.
[ ANNUAL HUNT — SCHEDULE ]
Location: Astralis Hunting Grounds
Arrival: 6th Day of Frostveil
Opening Ceremony: 9:00 a.m.
Hunt Begins: 10:00 a.m.
Duration: Three Days
Conclusion: 8th Day of Frostveil
All participants are expected to arrive before the opening ceremony and abide by the regulations established by the Union.
The Hunt is more than a competition.
It is an opportunity for the Union to observe those who may one day become the pillars upon which our world rests.
By Order of the Ten Seats
[ THE UNION ]
"So, what do I do with this information?"
Seris asked Belle, her mother, who had just finished preparing herself.
"Okay… Your father and I have been discussing something."
"Yes?"
"We have come to an agreement that you will be representing our family at this event."
Seris glanced down at the letter once more before raising her eyes towards her mother.
"Yes, ma'am. I will not fail you."
Belle smiled sheepishly before speaking up.
"I know you won't."
She rose from her chair and adjusted her clothes.
"Let's go pick up your father."
"Of course, Mother."