Chapter 10: Dreaded Banquet

Jash noted the odd behavior of the two women but chose to focus on the form of Caera. 'She is too excited to meet Ziva...'

'Maybe she'll answer,' thought Jash, hoping to get some answers from Ziva in response to Caera's questions, as he was curious too.

It was definitely not because she teased him instead of answering when he asked her a couple of minutes back. 

'As if that ain't enough! This troublesome girl used mana ink to get my face scribbled!'

Mana ink, as its name implies, can only be used and removed by someone who can harness mana. Thus, the removal of the ink from his face by Ziva led Jash to realize that she had awakened.

"Caera, my dear, give the girl some time to answer, alright?"

Jash stiffened slightly at his mother's smile, even though it was directed at his sister, not him.

"...Yes, mom!" Caera nodded with a serious expression, not wanting to get her mother's ire.

Now that the room turned quiet, Jash and Caera's curiosity piqued as they stared into Ziva's eyes to get her to answer.

On the other side, Ziva gulped, seeing the twin's stares. She didn't know how much time was left before they had to enter the banquet.

Of course, her presence wouldn't be known to others as only her mother would be attending the banquet.

"Ahem" Ziva cleared her throat before answering the questions one by one,

"First, I went to him because I heard he was sleeping. So, don't you think he deserved a lil' punishment?"

Jash's lips twitched in response to seeing his sister nod to Ziva's mischievous words.

'How cruel!' If not for his curiosity, he might have clutched his chest, pretending her actions hurt him deeply.

"And yes!! I missed you too! A lot! I couldn't wait to come here..." Caera pounced on her, hugging her tightly, cutting her off, just like a certain someone tried to hug Evelia when she arrived.

Reciprocating the warm hug, Ziva continued, "I awakened successfully! So mom was super strict and didn't even allow me to come here!"

"I barely convinced her! Just to surprise you two!"

Finally, Ziva's eyes darted to Jash, who merely smiled at her.

"Ah, right! Before I forget..."

"Happy birthday to you two!! It's your 12th birthday today!! Soon, you can awaken!!"

Ziva congratulated them excitedly. Caera almost bombarded her with questions again, but Jash cut her off, saving Ziva.

"Thank you," Jash said, bowing in a gentlemanly manner, surprising everyone.

'Do you guys really consider me a deadbeat?' He couldn't help but wonder at the apparent disbelief painted on their faces.

Yes, he was lazy.

Yes, he slept during classes.

Yes, he hated studying.

But none of it meant that he didn't do it! He just didn't want to be tied to do all of that and that's why skipped it mostly.

'Maybe I should rethink life,' he thought, wiping a fake tear from his eye. He pretended to be hurt, but they just rolled their eyes at him.

"Yep, that's the you I know!" Ziva gave a thumbs-up at his exaggerated acting, eliciting a chuckle from Jash and Caera.

After the short interlude, the trio chatted a bit.

Well, more like just the two girls chatted as Jash soon felt left out with the girls' unending chatter almost giving him a headache.

—Clap

However, he was saved as Sera clapped her hands to get their attention.

"Alright, alright. That's enough for now!"

"Both of the stars of the night are busy here while the banquet is already starting!"

"Let's go, shall we?"

While her actions and words sounded polite, the twins knew better than to refuse her when she was serious about something and so they decisively left.

Ziva waved at them until they left, then turned to her mom with a glint in her eyes.

"Mom. This dress..."

"Ahem" Evelia coughed, interjecting her daughter, "Oh dear! Look at the time! I should be at the banquet too."

With that, she left the room swiftly.

Ziva sighed in resignation, knowing her mother would most likely not answer her yet she wanted to ask.

After all, she had already noticed the similarity in their dress and didn't really mind it. 'I already agreed to the engagement...'

Unaware that it was Sera forcing Evelia into making Ziva wear this dress, she continued to wonder what it meant.

'For one, it could be a statement... But I am not even going to attend the banquet...'

She didn't know what to make of it, her mind already a mess from the previous quarrel with Jash.

"Ugh! I even teased him!"

She covered her face with her palms as she felt embarrassed, just remembering how she had asked him to look for her if he wanted to sneak out of the banquet.

"I am so stupid..."

Ziva mumbled to herself as she had a nagging feeling about him seeking her out.

"There's just no way he would stay in a place he deems boring for long..."

"Maybe, I shouldn't have come..."

The moment such a notion came to her mind, she immediately rejected it vehemently.

"That's the best spot to be!"

Deciding her next plan of action, she immediately stood up and left the room, heading towards a specific garden.

***

Sera dragged Jash by the wrist after catching him when he tried to scurry away even before entering the banquet.

Usually, he wouldn't do that.

'At least not so early. Only after mom gets busy,' he completed the thought in his mind.

He didn't dare to say it out loud, given Caera was super excited to be at the banquet and be everyone's center of attraction.

Unfortunately, he hated that.

Even though he didn't know the reason, he just felt uncomfortable being stared at and it was actually pretty common in this time and day.

'There are just too many damned Hunters and they like the fame and respect they gain. Though I'd rather not have that.'

Recalling his forced classes and summarizing them as he saw fit, he was almost near the dreaded banquet hall.

The hustle bustle, the silent chatters, the show-offs, the highs and the lows...

He could see and hear them vividly despite all of it being enclosed in a noise cancellation barrier, preventing any noise from leaving the banquet hall.

The cost to maintain just this barrier alone would bleed the lower ranked nobles dry, let alone the several protection barriers in place.

Admiring the luxurious door and the reflection of his sister and mother on its shiny surface, Jash couldn't help but comment,

"Damn! We are filthy rich!"

Hearing his comment, Sera stopped in her tracks and stared straight at him.

Unaware of the looming danger because of his words, Jash continued admiring his reflection in the door as if it were a mirror.

Suddenly, he felt a chill go down his spine and turned around to locate the potential source, only to see his mother's death stare, making him gulp in nervousness.

"Behave inside." That was all she said and he involuntarily nodded.

The air around him changed from that of a slouch, deadbeat noble to an elegant and graceful one, just like he ought to be.