STAGE SIXTEEN: THE NIGHT’S HERO

STAGE SIXTEEN: THE NIGHT'S HERO

Standing alone, on the deck of a luxury ship bound for the northern continent, Freyja took a deep breath and shouted. "Hah! That felt good." She stretched her arms out. Memories of her dancing with Kirin six years ago, on board a luxury airship made her giggle. Back then, she was thirteen, so naïve and easily flustered. Just thinking about it made Freyja's heart throb. Because tonight, just like six years ago, a ball will be held onboard. Its going to be fancy, and she is determined to prove Kirin that she is no longer the same little girl she was. "Go Freyja! You can do it! You are twenty years old!" She cheered herself on until Kirin's presence made her jump in surprise. "You can do what?"

"Oh! It's um… nothing! I'm just talking about my swordsmanship that's all." She lied, scratching the back of her neck with an awkward laugh. Then, she excused herself and rushed away, making Kirin even more suspicious.

Freyja felt the need to loosen up. They've been fighting countless enemies lately, she wanted to 'recharge' for at least one night. The ball with Kirin six years ago was a memory she treasured. Freyja wanted more. Immediately, she headed to the ship's onboard stores and salons to prepare. Determined to surprise Alaric, Keon and most especially, Kirin, she insisted to go by herself.

"The dress fits you perfectly!" The maids she hired did everything they could to beautify her. They made her skin extra soft and fair, her hair straight and shiny and her cheeks and lips were pink. They chose an empire-cut, pastel blue silk gown for her dress and adorned her hair with silver, diamonds and ribbons. "I asked them for a dress that would hide my fats, and a hairstyle that won't make my face look like a meat bun… now let's see…" Freyja felt so confident, until she faced the mirror and saw herself. "Miss, aren't you cute?" The maids giggled while Freyja turned pale in despair.

"I SAID MAKE ME A LADY! NOT A PRINCESS-Y CUTSEY KID! This attire doesn't look a bit mature!!!!" She complained, but was ignored by the giggling maids. "But miss! You can't force a look that doesn't fit your natural physique! You look good! Trust us!" The head stylist insisted, making Freyja resign to her fate.

"Or maybe it's just my face, goddammit." Looking at the clock, she sighed. "Now miss you need to get going!" She wanted to hide herself, but the maids pushed her out of the room, to where Kirin, Alaric and Keon are waiting.

"You look so cute Freyja. Shall I escort you to the ball?" Alaric courteously bowed before her with a charming smile on the rune master's face. Freyja is already used to Alaric acting like this. And with that sweet smile on his face, she was sure it's something that he'd say to anyone, or to her even if she's wearing a potato sack.

Now that the four of them took their seats, Freyja decided to wipe her anxiety away by eating her favorite dishes. "If I'm not mistaken as a dude, then as a kid. And if one bastard calls me Kirin's sister again, I swear I will make sure all hell break loose." She mumbled while chomping on a roasted chicken and scooping cups of sorbet. And true enough, it didn't last a minute when a swarm of noble ladies sat beside them, with their eyes on Kirin and Alaric. They found Keon cute too, but his default dark expression was just too scary for the refined young women. "Um, is it okay if we dance tonight?" One gorgeous woman with long chestnut hair and red ball gown shyly asked. Feeling a bit possessive, Freyja grabbed Kirin's arm, but it backfired. "How cute your little sister is, she looks just like you." Another woman tried to strike a conversation with Kirin by complementing Freyja with obvious lies. "Excuse me, are you blind? Which part of us looks alike?"

"Pardon me, as much as I wanted to dance with you, I am quite exhausted right now. But if I recover, I will never let such lovely ladies by themselves." As usual, even Alaric��s polite refusal made the woman swoon. "What a flirt." Keon mumbled. "Yeah, get used to it." Freyja joined in. Because the ladies kept on bugging Alaric, he was forced to dance with them. He politely excused himself and joined the ladies on the dance floor. Feeling her something funny in her stomach, Freyja stood up and excused herself.

"My tummy hurts. I must have eaten quite a lot." She said with a sigh.

"You'll be fine by yourself?" Kirin asked.

"Geez, it's just the toilet. I'll be back really quick." She turned her back, leaving Kirin and Keon behind.

After using the toilet, Freyja headed to her room to fix herself up a bit. Seeing the tempting comfort of the bed, she jumped onto it and relaxed. "Ah, my plan failed! I don't want to go there anymore, I feel so out of place. I really am not fit for this thing!"

"Hey, let's play." The door suddenly opened. Keon let himself into her room, and carelessly sat on the bed before pulling out a deck of cards from his sleeve. "Do you know pairs?" He asked while shuffling the cards. Freyja nodded excitedly. "What, do you want to challenge me?" She asked, all smug. "I wouldn't be too sure if I were you." He started. Keon and Freyja started playing, they forgot the time.

Freyja's competitive spirit is in full force, trying to beat Keon who is quite the formidable foe—something he mastered in his pirate days. But still, in four consecutive games, Freyja won much to his disappointment. "I WON AGAIN!" She cheerfully shouted, proud of herself. "You're really good at stuff like this, aren't you?" Keon sighed as he began shuffling the cards again for another round. But while shuffling, he straightforwardly asked Freyja something so awkward. "Hey Freyja, you're feeling awkward a while ago, right?"

"Well yeah. Who wouldn't?" She looked away with a pout.

"You seemed pretty excited a while ago. But yeah, same here. I never really liked parties anyway."

"I was hoping to sweep Kirin off his feet but dang, my plan failed." She blurted out. Keon chuckled.

"Then are you giving up? It's not like you to give up so easily, you know." He said, looking at her intensely. Freyja looked away, a bit flustered. "Well, learn to accept defeat, I guess?"

Keon stood up all of a sudden, with a full-blown smirk plastered on his face. He grabbed Freyja's hand and led her outside. "Come on, let's go get him, I have a plan!"

"A plan?"

"Yeah. So, wipe that gloomy face off, okay?" Keon let go of her. "Go to the deck Freyja and wait there." Albeit a bit confused, Freyja nodded and headed straight to the deck excitedly as Keon said.

"Where is Freyja and Keon?" Alaric asked, returning to their table. Kirin restlessly started looking around. He was about to stand up when the lights suddenly went off. Worried, Kirin dashed outside, looking for Freyja first thing.

After a couple of minutes, the lights turned on and the music played again. Kirin saw at the corner of his eye, Keon, jumping stealthily from the cabin's upper floors. It didn't take much before he realized that it was Keon's doing. Still worried about Freyja, he looked for her and found her at the deck all by herself.

"Keon?" She guessed, but she was wrong. It was Kirin.

"So, you were here. What were you two doing? You suddenly disappeared and now you're here alone. The lights just went out." Kirin scolded with his arms crossed, standing beside her.

Just then, the music from the hall played so loud, it can be heard from the deck. Not only that, Freyja immediately recognized the score. It was a piece that she especially loved.

"Come to think of it, this feels so much like when we were in the airship six years ago. Do you remember?" Kirin began, surprising Freyja how they are both thinking of the same thing. "That was the first time I danced in a ball. And we ended up dancing in the deck too, right?"

"Wow. You remember Kirin?" Her eyes lit up, her lips curled to a smile.

"What do you think of me? A geezer who forgets things that easily?"

"You are a geezer." Freyja's mumble was heard by Kirin. He pinched her cheeks hard as punishment. "Ouch! It hurts!" But as soon as Kirin let go of her cheeks, he suddenly knelt before Freyja, his hand out.

"Kirin?"

"Let's dance again… like that time. Don't you want to?" Looking at Kirin flustered, made Freyja so happy. Kirin was almost never flustered, she felt so proud. She took his hand right away with a big, satisfied smile. Kirin led the dance marvelously, as usual. And Freyja couldn't help but admire Kirin's beautiful face, listening to his melodious ice-cold, husky voice. With Kirin holding her back and her hand, it just felt so different that she grew stiff. Kirin suddenly flicked her forehead, cutting her off her awkward gaze. "Ouch! Why did you hit me!?" She exclaimed with her hands on her red forehead. "You're so conscious! It makes people feel awkward, you know…"

���And whose fault do you think it is that I'm feeling like this?" She murmured with a pout.

"You're especially cute today." He complemented, a smirk on his face. "Is that look for Alaric? For Keon?" He whispered into her red ear.

"…"

"Well?"

"Don't ask embarrassing questions. The answer is obvious."

"No, it isn't." He teased.

"Yes it is!"

Then, Freyja calmed down. This made her remember all the things they went through. From the first time they met, finding the celestial guardians, memories after memories, her 'death', how she lived for years without Kirin. Remembering all these, Freyja squeezed Kirin's hand, making sure that she'll never be apart from him from now on. "Thanks." Was all she could say, a sweet smile on her face.

As they danced in the tune of one of Freyja's favorite songs, Keon carefully watched over them from above, a smile on his face. "The things I do for you." He sighed.

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