There was a face she never thought she would ever see again - and even more, that she would be glad to see it: Kamille almost choked on her drink when a Phantom of the Opera poked at her shoulder.

"This is a haunting night after all.... So many ghosts from the past. Good evening, wretched ex-fiancee."

It was Baram, a ghost from the past in person. Kamille was bound to find someone in the capitol that recognized her, but she would never thought it would be her former rival. Distance was a curious thing, and while their childish rivalry took a different shape, over the years, with an extensive exchange of letters, it felt more like... comradery.

"No better night to be haunted by the ghosts of the past... Good evening, damned ex-fiance...

It's been a long time since they didn’t catch up in person, and while their upbringing had them both fight for their Master's attention, it became clear they were, deep down, good friends. Or had the possibility of being such, if not for the drama at Court surrounding all of them.

The quest to find the princess was suddenly put to a halt, as a ghost from her previous life dragged her to a couple of drinks. Baram was one of those people that managed to keep up to her in drinking, even when they were younger. Truth be told, there was not a single aspect in life they didn’t compete when under Valadar's wings.

"But let's be real.... truly...." Baram started, after their seventh round. Or was ir the eighth? They were both incredibly resistant. "I'm still the better dancer. You stepped on my feet all the time."

"Preposterous! That was on purpose, obviously!

"While I believe it, the truth still stands... I'm the better dancer."

"This must be a joke! Here! Let me show you!"

And then, still bickering and complaining, the Queen of Hearts and the Phantom of the Opera took the dance floor as the waltz begun; two mages once under the same Master, still competing for everyone’s eyes once again.

Vasilia took a stroll around the sides of the room and then looked out upon the dance floor to see the Queen of Hearts and the Phantom of the Opera on there having a little prance around. She swore she had just seen them bickering a moment a go.

At this point Vasilia recognised it was Kamille as the Queen, but she didn't know who the Phantom was? Was this Kamille's lover? How ripe.

The angelic Vas gazed over and felt the air was full of intrigue. Perhaps it was time she took to the dance floor.

She stepped out and found a companion instantly, just a noblemen, but someone she could cruise with until she found another dancer on the floor equal to hear. They rotated around until she steered him close to the Queen and the Phantom. Perhaps it would be fun to see what kind of pair they were.

“You've got a nice dance partner there Kamille...” whispered Vasille as the two sets of dancers moved around each other and the elf could get close enough to Kamille's ear earshot.

Vakker gently placed an empty wine glass onto a passing server's tray as he strolled through the crowd toward the dance floor, his hooves gently clicking with each step. From his tall height looking over the top of the crowd, he could see many people were already swaying to the music. He felt like a dance would be a fun change of pace from all of the networking and business talk he'd been doing tonight.

He also loved a little drama, and he could see one couple that looked to have plenty of it between them. They danced as if they were competing with each other. A queen of hearts and a masked phantom. He was very tempted to go try and cut in and see what would unfold, but he controlled himself. He'd start by dancing with someone else and wait for a good opportunity. He spotted a woman dressed as an angel. How fitting a dance partner for him, dressed as a demon. But, she already had a partner. Maybe later.

Finally he spotted a lone woman with brown, wavy hair in a skinny yellow dress and a hat resembling the stem of a banana on her head. A banana costume? How cute. Vakker was certainly fine with dancing with a banana, and she seemed to be looking around for a dance partner as well.

He approached her and gave a slight bow, one long, goat-like leg slightly forward, his hand on his chest and a warm smile on his face. He extended his other hand for her to take and asked.

"May I have this dance?"

Living at Court came with its perks. Both Kamille and Baram were excelent dancers, compeled to show each other who's the best, briefly working together... to stick it into the other's face. They managed to exchange a few words while spinning and turning, the several layers of her flowing dress beautifully swooshing around them. The Phantom's cape completed the movement, symmetrically opposite to her.

And then, Kamille heard a familiar voice, almost twisting her neck to take a look at Vasilia. Her surprise was only matched by her delight in seeing her old friend wearing a costume.... of an angel. What an irony! She almost laughed out loud - last time she met Vasilia, both of them were dressed as ladies of the night of the higher calliber. And her choice of costume was just too perfect now.

".....Why! You look gorgeous, Vas! I assume that is you saying you want him? Here!"

.....But something went wrong in her calculations - and later she would blame the alcohol. During a twist, when she bumped her hip against Vasilia's, taking her place in front of the nobleman, Baram actually went to the other side, puzzled as he found himself paired with another person entirely.

Vasilia, on the other hand, also twisted to displace another couple, taking the place of another dancer.............

The Queen of Hearts spoke and what she said was music to the angel's ears. Of course she would swap into that pairing, why not...perhaps a chance to learn some juicy gossip about Kamille's love life. However something went array as Kamille came round and Vasilia got booted away by Kamille's hip into the way of another couple. Vasilia stumbled in her heels and saw the yellow mass of something fast approaching.

Then Vasilia saw it, it was the large costume of a yellow banana who she now pushed aside as she stumbled into the embrace of yet another dancer, this time the red shape of a devil. Her white gloves hands held those of the devil's as she saw the banana fly off into another group of dancers.

Kamille had started a domino effect and now multiple characters changed dance partners. As the devil and angel moved around Vasilia's eyes locked with Kamille's

Then at this point Vasilia made her secret symbol with Kamille so she could read her thoughts in her mind.

- Don't think you're getting away with this...dumping me with a red devil goat! - thought Vasilia internally.

Now Vasilia looked back to her new dance partner, someone she was not familiar with.

“It seems the queen of hearts pushed me into the arms of a devil...you are?” she asked trying to gauge this devil. Internally she was sending daggers to Kamille. The night was young and the dancer floor was large, she would have her revenge. Vasilia started to build the speed of the couple.

Vakker was a bit surprised to have the banana shoved away and replaced with the angel he had spotted earlier, but he was also a little happy. He had wanted to dance with her. However, she didn't seem particularly enthused to be dancing with him from her glares toward the queen of hearts that had caused all the exchanges.

He just replied to her with a small chuckle and tried to put on his most charming smile. Maybe she'd get over the unexpected situation and come to enjoy his company if they just danced.

"Yes, and she gifted me with the presence of an angel. I'm Vakker. Care to dance?"

He started to dance along to the music with her in his arms before she could even answer. He moved surprisingly gracefully for someone with a goat's legs and hooves. He just hoped she would follow suit with him. If not, maybe he could just find that banana again and apologize for the mix up.

Meanwhile, the nobleman that had been dancing with Vasilia seemed to be getting a long rather well with the banana in his arms. The two even silently thanked the queen of hearts for pushing them together.

-> (ENTRANCE) A Princess Stumbles onto the Dancefloor

Someone grabbed his hand.

Swept away from the chaos and confusion, the damsel in distress tumbles into the clasp of someone who is neither Zarius nor Bellighul; his head is still spinning, and the sharp anxiety of being the unfortunate object in a tug-of-war between the two headstrong men still lingers in his throat and chest as he tries not to trip over his own boots. His new captor's outfit is a deep red, blurring between the motion of dancers as they stumble through them.

He can't quite tell who they are, or what they are; not until they stop.

Cantio staggers to a halt, his boots clunking heavily against the dancefloor. He uses the stranger's shoulders as a support; he feels their hand clasp his own, the other rests against his waist. He looks up, frantic; his heart in his chest, and his mind spinning— he feels like he's just a few seconds from having an ill-tempered outburst about how sick he is of being pulled about like a ragdoll, but then—-

shock silences him.

He finds himself looking into such familiar sapphire eyes; glittering deep like the night sky; and he knows who she is, before she even speaks. For just a moment, the past overlaps in the present.

"Finally, I found you, princess! It is I, a ghost from the past!"

"Kamille!?"

Her lovely flushed face, and her bright smile, almost instantly wipe away the anxiety and stress of his previous situation with his previous dance partners; the guilt he feels for leaving the two men to stew in whatever weird rivalry they're having (certainly not about him though, right?) is washed away.

He pulls Kamille into a hug as she sways them into the lead of the waltz, certainly interrupting the flow of her movements; but he pulls himself back a moment later, golden eyes bright.

He allows Kamille to continue leading their dance without complaint; resting his hand on her shoulder, and clasping his hand in hers as he looks down for a beat, trying to catch up to her motions. He looks back up to her after a moment, his face beneath the mask flushed, and a bright smile on his face. "My gods, how long has it been? You're as stunning as ever, Kamille! Truly, my knight in shining armour tonight—- how have you been? I can't believe you're here!"

He's rather handsome, don't you think...?, was the only response Vasilia would get for the moment.

For a few moments, while they gracefully danced across the ballroom, Kamille started to act rather... strangely. She looked up the shoulder of her new partner a lot, guiding rather oddly amidts the other dancing couples.

Her intentions became clear when she came back, a couple of moments later, with another partner! This time, she choose to steal a red tiefling dressed as a princess! She seemed to even forget all the drama that has transpired, as she was clearly showing to be the happiest she was ever seen so far. They embraced like old friends as she threw her arms around his neck to pull him into a warm hug.

"I've been searching for you everywhere since I knew you were here! How you've been? Oh, it's been sooooooo long! You're gorgeous! Look at you!"

Despite the warmth and the smiles, however, they both have changed. They were both failed apprentices when they met in that same town and now... Well, she was excited to hear what has changed in Cantio's life aside from what Ulrich have told her, but as for her, something was clear: she seemed to have, indeed, outgrown her apprentice phase. Her eyes carried the weigh of the world and the stars, a blue nebula swirling inside, dense with power.

A lot has changed...

"Ulrich is here too, you know? He got worried when I told him I was going to get you into trouble.... again."

Now, Kamille took the lead once more, guiding Cantio through the ballroom with the expertise of one who was born for it. Certainly having learned much of what she knew at Court, dance was only one of its perks. The dresses of the princess and the queen swooshed around them in harmony to the music, their feet following each other.

Edward was watching the ballroom, sipping on his wine as he looks at the dancing in partial boredom. It seems so tedious but it seems fun to others, although he doesn’t understand why. Then he sees some commotion coming from a group that is surrounding a particular woman. She surrounded by what seems like a place elven woman, a satyr in some kind of suit, a elven man who looks quite baffled by having his dance partner taken from him, and a old friend, Cantio. They seem to be fighting over the dancing rights of this woman, whoever she is.
Edward walks towards them, curious about this commotion. He approaches Cantio and the woman. “Hello there, my name is Edward. I’m not sure what is going on here but it seems like you all are disturbing this woman and my friend Cantio. May I ask for all your names so we can sort out this situation? You’re drawing eyes, you know. It seems rude to be causing a commotion at this prestigious event.”

Vasilia glided with Vakker across the floor in silence and it seemed he was rather enjoying himself. She noticed the chuckle and his charm, none of this was lost on her. She tried to contain herself in that moment and just simply enjoy the dance floor for what it was it. Vakker himself was graceful and knew how to dance. She held his hands and glided for now, whilst she watched the rest of the dancers.

Then her eyes widened as she saw a new contender enter the caught. It was Cantio in a deep red, hovering over with Kamille. How did she manage to sweep him out? She watched them move together and it was so natural. Her careful elf ears picked up his polite conversation and his compliments.

Then a little frustration overtook Vasilia as she heard Kamille in her head, taunting her a little and her eyes narrowed once more. Her lack of concentration on her own dance with Vakker meant she misread the sequence a couple of times and she felt like it was time to jump ship. The red tiefling was something not ordinary and she couldn't miss up the chance to dance with him.

At this point Vasilia saw a new person enter the dance floor and it seemed like there might be chance now. This Edward was just the distraction she needed and she heeded none of what he was talking about. She was more reckless than the others.

“Thank for the dance Vakker, unfortunately I'm just an innocent angel...this isn't anything personal” she said as she swung round Vakker, releasing with some momentum and danced her way over to Cantio and Kamille who had been disturbed by Edward. Before anyone could stop her she took Cantio's free hand and pulled him away from the commotion. It was all momentum.

“Hi...your red really caught my eyes...” said Vasilia as she pressed up to Cantio and started him off to her dance rhythm. Her elven eyes looked deeply into his and she looked at his very beautiful face. Her white attire contrasted markedly with her red.

“...Ive missed you” she then added sending a new look to Kamille of glee over the shoulder of Cantio. The dance floor suddenly went up a few degrees.

Vakker was a bit displeased, being abandoned by his dance partner so quickly. She'd never even given him her name. He watched as she stole away the red skinned Tiefling from the Witch of Moonglade. Well, he might as well take advantage of this opportunity to dance with someone so prestigious. He'd get back at that no-name angel later, and it would be entirely personal.

He glided around to stand in front of her and Edward. He glanced at the man in the harlequin costume before turning to face Kamille. He bowed slightly with a smile that feigned being a bit hurt by the angel's leaving and offered his hand to her.

"It seems we've both just lost our dance partners. Does a prodigious alchemist like yourself have a remedy for that?" he said innocently, looking over his shoulder at the angel dancing away with the Tiefling in a princess dress.

Meanwhile, the banana and the nobleman she had been suddenly paired with who was in a bear costume were quite happy. One could practically see the hearts in the air around them. It looked like they had no intentions of switching dance partners for the rest of the evening.

Kamille had little time to catch up to her friend, although certainly the night was far from over. She was genuinely incredibly happy to see Cantio again - and once more, she was probably a little drunk. After a couple of moments as they started to dance and talk like two giggling girls, they were stopped on their tracks by someone. And as they stopped and another one stepped in, she felt the princess being snatched away from her, his skirt fluttering behind him as the fluffy feathers of the mischievous angel could be seen in between...

That was my princess, you know..., Vasilia could hear Kamille's voice in her head, as the Witch squinted her eyes in their direction.

Next, she used the same Message spell to send a message to Cantio himself, that only he could hear.

This angel is no true angel, princess... Just in case I'm not able to save you, I'll be at the bar later on. I want to hear all the hottest of gossips you have...

What appeared, outwardly, to be a moment of silence and glaring on the part of the Queen of Hearts, was actually her trying to communicate to both Cantio and Vasilia. But she was not without manners, so she quickly turned to both the devil and the harlequin before her. After the shock had passed, the light of recognition lit up her eyes. Like a proper lady, she offered them both a curtsy.

"Sir Edward, what a pleasure! I've heard about your heroic deeds before, so good to finally meet you in this splendid event! You don't need to worry about this, it will get solved - one way or another."

She glared at Vasilia, but then turned to offer Edward a bright smile.

"I hope we can maybe have a couple of drinks or a dance, I'd love to hear your stories... But right now, I think this poor devil is heartbroken and needs my help, but I'll be glad to meet you afterwards."

Once again, she offered him a perfect curtsy, before turning to the devil with a mischievous smile. She raised her hand. He knew who she was, addressing her as an alchemist - but she didn't know him. And yes... he was even more handsome from up close.

"What a dissappointment! Sadly, there's no cure for a broken heart... But I hear a dance may soothe your heartache..." then she got up close, almost as if to whisper in his ear, "...and maybe a bit of mischief to get back at a rejecting partner."

“Kamille, had I known you were looking, I would have made myself infinitely easier to find!” he laughs as he withdraws from their warm hug; his golden eyes glitter, delighted at the reunion with an old friend. They had met so many years ago, by such a swing of fate; a couple of failures at the time; each unhappy with their own situations to some degree, yearning for a change. “Look at you!! Goodness, Kamille, you’re as stunning as ever!”

Kamille’s eyes are the same as he remembers, yet different: they are just as deep as he remembers, but they reflect starlight within them. He feels she has much to tell him, when they can finally catch up. “Ulrich is here?” he repeats, looking surprised as Kamille takes the lead; he sways elegantly into the waltz with her, and laughs. “Did he?” he remarks, a smile curling his lips upwards. “Eh, well… everytime I meet him, it seems like something absolutely insane happens…”

Cantio is eager to prattle about everything; it’s been a long time since he’s thought about Kamille, in all honesty. She was, indeed, a ghost of his past: but he had only the fondest memories of his day spent with her. There were times he wondered how she was doing, and times he wondered where she was, now... and to see her here?

It's exciting!

Mid-conversation, as Cantio is laughing giddily with Kamille, he hears someone speak. He blinks, looking at the stranger in the harlequin mask with a smile, when— “Oh!”

Someone takes his hand, and the princess is stolen yet again.

Why does this keep happening!?

He stumbles on the dancefloor, almost bumping into his new dance partner, as she presses up to join him in the waltz. He finds himself lead now by an angel, and a light flush crosses his face as she compliments him. “Oh, thank you, I—” he trails off when Kamille’s voice enters his head, and he looks towards her, breathing a soft laugh.

Oh dear… Of course I’ll come and find you. We have so much to catch up on!

His eyes fall back to his angel, and the princess offers her a smile as they sway to the sound of the orchestra. “Your outfit is just lovely; what’s your name, if I could ask?”

Vasilia seemed a little bemused that she had managed to pull off that little trick in the middle of the dancefloor and saw a glare from Kamille which made her laugh internally. This dancefloor was so full of intrigue and vice. Sometimes people just had to let go of the ones they cared so deeply about. They couldn't always have it there own way.

“Why thank you...my name is Vasilia, but my close friends call me Vas. I hope I didn't annoy Kamille too much by stealing you away. I couldn't resist” she said in a slow and lustful voice.

The two did a couple of spins around the floor and moved gracefully.

“Tell me, does she care greatly about you?” asked Vasilia in a musing fashion. This was too much fun and she couldn't resist extracting a little information. Her white feathered wings fluttered as they move along the floor.