A scream could be heard ripping through the adjoining room, though in the room all the guests had found themselves it was a muffled distant cry. Nonetheless, it was heard, and all that were present grew even more fearful with its occurrence. It was a mark of the continued struggle, and an additional reminder as to how fragile their perfect lives could be when confronted with the wills of 'lesser' men... or each other.
To Edmund, however, it was a mark of reassurance. Any cry that came from the other room put the conflict solidly on the other side of the wall, no matter whose it was. The situation was indeed being dealt with, though the progression of said situation could still be called into question.
Edmund still allowed himself to drop his vigil, not completely reassured but a good deal more than he had been.
With the absence of his concern for the conflict infecting this room, Edmund found himself concerned with another matter of far greater importance. This time, as his eyes scanned the room, the young man kept watch not for the gleam of a weapon but the familiarity of a set of black locks that framed a pale face he was desperate to see. Through the crowd he moved, the Morealis slave close in tow, as the caretaker looked urgently for the only person that mattered at this moment. Now that Edmund was descending from the height of his adrenaline, he was cursing himself for his completely erroneous arrangement of priorities. It could hardly be believed that he had let himself slip so drastically.
He found her standing gracefully on her own, purposefully avoiding company as he delicate head turned to survey the room. She, too, must have had similar thoughts. Their gazes met, and the two hurried across the room to embrace each other.
An apology seemed necessary, yet no words seemed appropriate for such magnitude.
"It is alright," Amarantha assured him, as if reading his mind as she often seemed to do. "There were other affairs on your mind. You were merely being responsible, just like the older brother you are."
Immense was Edmund's relief at hearing his younger sister share these words, and their embrace tightened for a moment. It was something they did frequently together, a gesture meant to keep the other there, as if to request the other to stay close. Neither dared refuse such a request when expressed in such a way. With the lifting of his heart, a comfortable smile rose to Edmund's face.
"It relieves me to no end to see you safe, sister," Edmund said to Amarantha as they broke their embrace, remaining close still as they looked around the room at their unsettled company. "None of these people caused trouble for you, did they?"
"No, Eddie," Amarantha answered, resting a hand on his arm in order to relax him. It worked. "Everything is fine now. Whatever has transpired during our separation, we are both here now and we are both okay. Please do not worry yourself."
Those words were all that Edmund required to relax. A weight lifted from his shoulders as he was finally content that his sister was well and would continue to be.
However, as Edmund was beginning to find, one concerning matter was soon to be replaced by another. In this particular instance in time, it was a rather pressing one as well. This was, of course, the ensuing discord and subtle signs of panic from those who likely had not understood the gravity of the scene they had until recently bore witness to and indeed still might be dragged back into. People were very much like animals in that whenever presented with a sudden and startling change to their environment they were often left uncomfortable and struggling to make sense of it all, which was the cause for the violent whispers Edmund could overhear all around him.
As much as Edmund was loathe to confront a herd of perturbed animals, there was no denying that he held some responsibility in current matters. Perhaps there was even an opportunity to be had here, not to mention the euphoric feeling of exercising his will that he was slowly becoming addicted to.
Before Edmund managed to open his mouth, however, he heard a familiar voice try to take control of the instability. It was no other than Adelaide, the caretaker of the Sitai household. Though perhaps not the first person Edmund would have thought to handle such a predicament, she appeared to be doing an admirable job, and it impressed the young Morealis how she reacted in the face of uncooperative guests. Such was to be expected in any amount of confusion, but for Adelaide it was quite a feat to accomplish what she did. Though he missed his opportunity to exercise his will, he felt oddly proud that it was Adelaide who had instead.
As the music started up soon after, Edmund turned toward Amarantha again and was surprised to see a greater smile of familiarity on her own face. It must have been in regards to Adelaide, though Edmund was not sure what could have prompted such a reaction. He asked out of curiosity, "What is the matter?"
Making no effort to hide her smile, Amarantha's smile turned toward her brother. "Adelaide is a great person, to take on the responsibility of putting an entire party at ease. I hope she is successful."
"As do I." Edmund was slightly taken aback at how familiar Amarantha seemed with Adelaide, but there would be time to question further later. For the moment, it looked as if Adelaide's plan had seem partially, perhaps largely, successful. With herself leading the way, many other couples took to the floor and began to dance to the lively music being played, quite disjointed from the atmosphere that permeated the setting. At least a semblance of normality had been restored, but even an aloof drifter would be able to notice that the heavy ambiance persisted.
While the immediate crisis was averted and Edmund could let things be until the conclusion of the wedding, it would be very unkind to leave everyone so uncertain and leave both Dynasties to the mercies of the inevitable rumors. Not to mention the wedded couple - an already uncomfortable arrangement must have become terribly miserable for the both of them. Usually Edmund did not entertain such generous thoughts, but the thrill of his recent use of Hypnotism was still in him and he had the inexorable desire to exert his will.
Fortunately, he had an idea.
Unfortunately, it required Amarantha.
Uncertain in his own thoughts and feelings about the plan forming in his mind, Edmund gave a quick glance to his sister close at his side. The internal debate did not take the form of words, merely two opposing emotions that wrestled with each other, an internal struggle between two partially conflicting natures. All it took was that one glance, though, for Amarantha to catch on.
"What did you have in mind?" the young woman asked, her shoulders squared and her head cocked curiously. It was a familiar stance, though Edmund wished for once that he were not so susceptible to it.
Unsure as to whether or not he should tell her, in the end he relented to her curious gaze. "If you could sing a special song for the assembly of guests, perhaps with the aim to relax them or dispel their fears, then an actual party may yet commence." Though Edmund did not explicitly state what he intended, they both knew what he meant. They grew up together, both using this art, and had learned to keep it a tight secret in front of anyone whose names did not include Morealis. Rare was the occasion when they needed to discuss this, and even rarer was the occasion when Edmund would make a request concerning this to his sister, but their current circumstances warranted entertaining it as an option.
That did not necessarily make it an appealing option, though. Edmund was still fledgling at the craft and horribly unpracticed, but even he was aware of the strain that so many people would put on Amarantha. To be putting that much intent into an entire song would be taxing to say the least.
"Listen, Ammie," Edmund began, his features a picture of worry, "it was just an errant thought. It was a bad idea from the beginning. You should not be putting yourself through such an ordeal on the behalf of these people whom you barely know." Disappointment in himself began to rise again, as he had once more let himself become distracted by his whimsical thoughts from that which was important. This was the result of him trying too hard to use this art which is sister gifted to him, and the caretaker was thoroughly ashamed of himself.
Amarantha, however, was not of the same mind.
"I think it is a wonderful idea," she said sincerely. Immediately Edmund was opening his mouth to protest, but Amarantha quickly clung to his arm to silence him. "Allow me to finish. I think it is a wonderful idea because then these people might be able to enjoy themselves once more. It was responsible for you to think of it, and I should be equally responsible in carrying it out."
Unlike earlier when Edmund was first searching for his sister, this time he was not so easily assured. Whereas before where she was simply assuring him of her well-being, along with appearing to be perfectly fine, this course of action would certainly result in a great stress on Amarantha and possibly lead to a lasting injury. Regret for his suggestion began to rise, but Amarantha spoke again.
"Brother, I am not weak." Indeed, the look in her eyes when she met his gaze was gentle yet resolute. "Allow me to bear a little hardship so that I may set their minds at ease. You would do the same."
Not only did Amarantha tell the truth, but her expression was not one that Edmund could refuse easily. As much as he wanted to keep his younger sister safe from all potential harm, there was naught he could do to stop her from doing as she wished. Especially if she pressed him as she often did.
With a soft smile, Edmund accepted her embrace once more. "It is not as if I could prevent you from doing as you wanted, Ammie."
"It feels good to have your agreement," she replied, resting her head momentarily on his shoulder. "I am not sure whether I would be able to push myself to do it without your approval."
Their embrace lingered for a few ticks before Amarantha broke away to get started. They shared a smile, and then the young pale girl began making her way to the musicians with Edmund and the family slave close behind. Despite his reluctant consent, Edmund was not going to let his sister leave his sight again, especially as he would likely be needed to help once Amarantha finished with her song. Together they edged along the makeshift dance floor, weaving between the dancing couples and the uncommitted louts that clung to their crowds and rumors. Edmund nearly stopped Amarantha at that point, but she was resolute and Edmund still at some level felt compelled to encourage her. After reaching the four instrumentalists by the edge of the floor, the jaunty tune had progressed to a near-closing point as the intensity increased tremendously, which was the perfect opportunity for Amarantha to make her request.
The moment the four finished their song, the young Morealis woman quickly approached them and told them of what she had in mind. Not a chime later, the instruments were heard again resounding throughout the large room, this time playing a more relaxed and tranquil tune that was bright despite its slower pace. Edmund looked around at those in attendance and their troubled looks, not counting those who had been dancing. These people had begun a slower step, what appeared to be a waltz if Edmund was not mistaken. Which he could very well be.
Then Amarantha began to sing.
Being versed in Hypnotism allowed Edmund no quarter when faced with the powerful magic that Amarantha was releasing into the crowd. An overwhelming sense of calm and serenity washed over him, his worries paling in the face of this new emotion and nearly relaxing him to a ridiculous extreme. All around him, Edmund could see the effects of Amarantha's djed affect the crowd and dancers, the latter lagging in their waltz for a tick before picking it back up with a much more easygoing mood. Rumors slowed to a halt in the grand room, everyone's interest retreating into their own personal tranquility for a moment before turning to the recent singer. Amarantha was receiving a lot of deserving attention, and a part of Edmund swelled with pride.
Another part waited anxiously for her to finish, and the consequent actions that would be needed.
To Edmund, however, it was a mark of reassurance. Any cry that came from the other room put the conflict solidly on the other side of the wall, no matter whose it was. The situation was indeed being dealt with, though the progression of said situation could still be called into question.
Edmund still allowed himself to drop his vigil, not completely reassured but a good deal more than he had been.
With the absence of his concern for the conflict infecting this room, Edmund found himself concerned with another matter of far greater importance. This time, as his eyes scanned the room, the young man kept watch not for the gleam of a weapon but the familiarity of a set of black locks that framed a pale face he was desperate to see. Through the crowd he moved, the Morealis slave close in tow, as the caretaker looked urgently for the only person that mattered at this moment. Now that Edmund was descending from the height of his adrenaline, he was cursing himself for his completely erroneous arrangement of priorities. It could hardly be believed that he had let himself slip so drastically.
He found her standing gracefully on her own, purposefully avoiding company as he delicate head turned to survey the room. She, too, must have had similar thoughts. Their gazes met, and the two hurried across the room to embrace each other.
An apology seemed necessary, yet no words seemed appropriate for such magnitude.
"It is alright," Amarantha assured him, as if reading his mind as she often seemed to do. "There were other affairs on your mind. You were merely being responsible, just like the older brother you are."
Immense was Edmund's relief at hearing his younger sister share these words, and their embrace tightened for a moment. It was something they did frequently together, a gesture meant to keep the other there, as if to request the other to stay close. Neither dared refuse such a request when expressed in such a way. With the lifting of his heart, a comfortable smile rose to Edmund's face.
"It relieves me to no end to see you safe, sister," Edmund said to Amarantha as they broke their embrace, remaining close still as they looked around the room at their unsettled company. "None of these people caused trouble for you, did they?"
"No, Eddie," Amarantha answered, resting a hand on his arm in order to relax him. It worked. "Everything is fine now. Whatever has transpired during our separation, we are both here now and we are both okay. Please do not worry yourself."
Those words were all that Edmund required to relax. A weight lifted from his shoulders as he was finally content that his sister was well and would continue to be.
However, as Edmund was beginning to find, one concerning matter was soon to be replaced by another. In this particular instance in time, it was a rather pressing one as well. This was, of course, the ensuing discord and subtle signs of panic from those who likely had not understood the gravity of the scene they had until recently bore witness to and indeed still might be dragged back into. People were very much like animals in that whenever presented with a sudden and startling change to their environment they were often left uncomfortable and struggling to make sense of it all, which was the cause for the violent whispers Edmund could overhear all around him.
As much as Edmund was loathe to confront a herd of perturbed animals, there was no denying that he held some responsibility in current matters. Perhaps there was even an opportunity to be had here, not to mention the euphoric feeling of exercising his will that he was slowly becoming addicted to.
Before Edmund managed to open his mouth, however, he heard a familiar voice try to take control of the instability. It was no other than Adelaide, the caretaker of the Sitai household. Though perhaps not the first person Edmund would have thought to handle such a predicament, she appeared to be doing an admirable job, and it impressed the young Morealis how she reacted in the face of uncooperative guests. Such was to be expected in any amount of confusion, but for Adelaide it was quite a feat to accomplish what she did. Though he missed his opportunity to exercise his will, he felt oddly proud that it was Adelaide who had instead.
As the music started up soon after, Edmund turned toward Amarantha again and was surprised to see a greater smile of familiarity on her own face. It must have been in regards to Adelaide, though Edmund was not sure what could have prompted such a reaction. He asked out of curiosity, "What is the matter?"
Making no effort to hide her smile, Amarantha's smile turned toward her brother. "Adelaide is a great person, to take on the responsibility of putting an entire party at ease. I hope she is successful."
"As do I." Edmund was slightly taken aback at how familiar Amarantha seemed with Adelaide, but there would be time to question further later. For the moment, it looked as if Adelaide's plan had seem partially, perhaps largely, successful. With herself leading the way, many other couples took to the floor and began to dance to the lively music being played, quite disjointed from the atmosphere that permeated the setting. At least a semblance of normality had been restored, but even an aloof drifter would be able to notice that the heavy ambiance persisted.
While the immediate crisis was averted and Edmund could let things be until the conclusion of the wedding, it would be very unkind to leave everyone so uncertain and leave both Dynasties to the mercies of the inevitable rumors. Not to mention the wedded couple - an already uncomfortable arrangement must have become terribly miserable for the both of them. Usually Edmund did not entertain such generous thoughts, but the thrill of his recent use of Hypnotism was still in him and he had the inexorable desire to exert his will.
Fortunately, he had an idea.
Unfortunately, it required Amarantha.
Uncertain in his own thoughts and feelings about the plan forming in his mind, Edmund gave a quick glance to his sister close at his side. The internal debate did not take the form of words, merely two opposing emotions that wrestled with each other, an internal struggle between two partially conflicting natures. All it took was that one glance, though, for Amarantha to catch on.
"What did you have in mind?" the young woman asked, her shoulders squared and her head cocked curiously. It was a familiar stance, though Edmund wished for once that he were not so susceptible to it.
Unsure as to whether or not he should tell her, in the end he relented to her curious gaze. "If you could sing a special song for the assembly of guests, perhaps with the aim to relax them or dispel their fears, then an actual party may yet commence." Though Edmund did not explicitly state what he intended, they both knew what he meant. They grew up together, both using this art, and had learned to keep it a tight secret in front of anyone whose names did not include Morealis. Rare was the occasion when they needed to discuss this, and even rarer was the occasion when Edmund would make a request concerning this to his sister, but their current circumstances warranted entertaining it as an option.
That did not necessarily make it an appealing option, though. Edmund was still fledgling at the craft and horribly unpracticed, but even he was aware of the strain that so many people would put on Amarantha. To be putting that much intent into an entire song would be taxing to say the least.
"Listen, Ammie," Edmund began, his features a picture of worry, "it was just an errant thought. It was a bad idea from the beginning. You should not be putting yourself through such an ordeal on the behalf of these people whom you barely know." Disappointment in himself began to rise again, as he had once more let himself become distracted by his whimsical thoughts from that which was important. This was the result of him trying too hard to use this art which is sister gifted to him, and the caretaker was thoroughly ashamed of himself.
Amarantha, however, was not of the same mind.
"I think it is a wonderful idea," she said sincerely. Immediately Edmund was opening his mouth to protest, but Amarantha quickly clung to his arm to silence him. "Allow me to finish. I think it is a wonderful idea because then these people might be able to enjoy themselves once more. It was responsible for you to think of it, and I should be equally responsible in carrying it out."
Unlike earlier when Edmund was first searching for his sister, this time he was not so easily assured. Whereas before where she was simply assuring him of her well-being, along with appearing to be perfectly fine, this course of action would certainly result in a great stress on Amarantha and possibly lead to a lasting injury. Regret for his suggestion began to rise, but Amarantha spoke again.
"Brother, I am not weak." Indeed, the look in her eyes when she met his gaze was gentle yet resolute. "Allow me to bear a little hardship so that I may set their minds at ease. You would do the same."
Not only did Amarantha tell the truth, but her expression was not one that Edmund could refuse easily. As much as he wanted to keep his younger sister safe from all potential harm, there was naught he could do to stop her from doing as she wished. Especially if she pressed him as she often did.
With a soft smile, Edmund accepted her embrace once more. "It is not as if I could prevent you from doing as you wanted, Ammie."
"It feels good to have your agreement," she replied, resting her head momentarily on his shoulder. "I am not sure whether I would be able to push myself to do it without your approval."
Their embrace lingered for a few ticks before Amarantha broke away to get started. They shared a smile, and then the young pale girl began making her way to the musicians with Edmund and the family slave close behind. Despite his reluctant consent, Edmund was not going to let his sister leave his sight again, especially as he would likely be needed to help once Amarantha finished with her song. Together they edged along the makeshift dance floor, weaving between the dancing couples and the uncommitted louts that clung to their crowds and rumors. Edmund nearly stopped Amarantha at that point, but she was resolute and Edmund still at some level felt compelled to encourage her. After reaching the four instrumentalists by the edge of the floor, the jaunty tune had progressed to a near-closing point as the intensity increased tremendously, which was the perfect opportunity for Amarantha to make her request.
The moment the four finished their song, the young Morealis woman quickly approached them and told them of what she had in mind. Not a chime later, the instruments were heard again resounding throughout the large room, this time playing a more relaxed and tranquil tune that was bright despite its slower pace. Edmund looked around at those in attendance and their troubled looks, not counting those who had been dancing. These people had begun a slower step, what appeared to be a waltz if Edmund was not mistaken. Which he could very well be.
Then Amarantha began to sing.
Being versed in Hypnotism allowed Edmund no quarter when faced with the powerful magic that Amarantha was releasing into the crowd. An overwhelming sense of calm and serenity washed over him, his worries paling in the face of this new emotion and nearly relaxing him to a ridiculous extreme. All around him, Edmund could see the effects of Amarantha's djed affect the crowd and dancers, the latter lagging in their waltz for a tick before picking it back up with a much more easygoing mood. Rumors slowed to a halt in the grand room, everyone's interest retreating into their own personal tranquility for a moment before turning to the recent singer. Amarantha was receiving a lot of deserving attention, and a part of Edmund swelled with pride.
Another part waited anxiously for her to finish, and the consequent actions that would be needed.
And I will be prioritizing the quest I am currently involved in! So, sorry everyone!
