Isole's hand felt small and cold in his. As she stood, the whispers from the surrounding nobles grew into a low roar of gossip. The Saintess's daughter, a girl they had spent years ignoring as a defect, was being led to the center of the floor by the most controversial student in the academy.

Vane led her to the polished marble, his heart thumping against his ribs. He had fought monsters that could swallow him whole, but the prospect of moving in time to a three-four beat was currently more terrifying. He placed his right hand on her waist and took her other hand in his, trying to remember everything Valerica had shouted at him during their training sessions.

'One, two, three. One, two, three,' Vane repeated the mantra in his head.

The music swelled. Vane stepped forward, and Isole mirrored him. He was stiff, his movements carrying the rigid precision of a soldier rather than the grace of a dancer. He nearly stepped on the hem of her lavender dress within the first ten seconds.

"You are thinking too much," Isole whispered. Her eyes were fixed on his chest, her face still slightly flushed from the encounter with her mother.

"I am trying not to break your toes," Vane muttered back. He executed a turn that was a bit too fast, forcing Isole to lean into him to keep her balance. "I only learned this three days ago. Valerica is a harsh teacher, but I am a slow student."

Isole let out a small, genuine laugh. It was a light sound that seemed to surprise even her. "It does not matter if you are bad at it. This is the first time I have ever been allowed on a dance floor. My mother always said that someone with my eyes would only ruin the symmetry of the Silver Wood's public appearances. I was always left in the library during the festivals."

Vane looked down at her. Her mismatched eyes were bright, and for the first time since he had met her, the haunted look of the Oracle was gone. She was just a girl enjoying a song.

"Then we will ruin the symmetry together," Vane said.

He relaxed his grip slightly, letting his Rank 3 mana flow more naturally through his legs. He used a tiny fraction of the Sovereign's Glide to smooth out his steps. He was still far from a master, but he stopped looking like a wooden puppet. They spun past the Imperial delegation, and Vane caught a glimpse of Isadora. The Queen was still near the buffet, currently forcing a piece of cake into Isaac's mouth, but she gave Vane a small nod of approval as they passed.

As the song ended, Vane bowed to Isole. She curtsied, her smile wider than he had ever seen it. Before he could lead her back to the pillar, a hand settled on his arm.

Valerica stood there, her silver gown catching the light. She looked at Isole and gave her a supportive nod before turning her golden eyes toward Vane.

"My turn," Valerica said. Her voice was calm, but there was a challenge in her gaze. "I need to see if my lessons actually stuck, or if you were just pretending to listen."

Vane wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Isole survived. That should be enough of a recommendation."

"Isole is kind. I am not," Valerica replied.

The next song was faster, a complex piece that required much more coordination. Valerica was a perfect partner, her movements so fluid that she practically guided Vane through the steps. She corrected his posture with a sharp poke to his ribs and whispered instructions whenever he hesitated.

"Your footwork is sloppy," Valerica noted as they spun toward the center. "But your lead is strong. Most commoners would be shaking right now, but you are holding me like you own the room."

"I have learned that if you look like you know what you are doing, people are too afraid to ask questions," Vane said.

"A true noble sentiment," Valerica joked. She looked toward the dais, where Princess Anastasia was watching them with an unreadable expression. "The Empire is confused, Vane. They see a monster dancing with the daughters of the Great Houses. They do not know whether to arrest you or invite you to dinner."

"Let them stay confused," Vane said.

When the song ended, Valerica stepped back, her breathing perfectly even. She didn't let him rest. She gestured toward the edge of the floor where Ashe was standing, looking bored and slightly agitated.

"Go," Valerica commanded. "If you don't dance with her, she will probably start a fight just to relieve the tension."

Vane approached Ashe, who was currently nursing a glass of dark red wine. She looked at him and snorted.

"You look like you're working harder than you did in the Hub," Ashe said, setting her glass down.

"It is a different kind of exhaustion," Vane admitted. He offered his hand. "Are you going to make this difficult?"

Ashe grinned, showing a hint of her sharp teeth. "Always."

Their dance was less of a waltz and more of a controlled wrestling match. Ashe didn't follow his lead so much as she competed with it. She moved with an aggressive, predatory energy that forced Vane to use his full physical strength just to keep her in the frame. They moved across the floor like two storms colliding, drawing stares from the more traditional couples who were used to a more sedate pace.

"You're getting better," Ashe said, her red eyes gleaming. "Your mana is steady. I can feel the Gate pulsing in your core. It's annoying."

"Everything I do is annoying to you, Ashe," Vane replied.

"True," she laughed. "But at least you're not boring. Look at these people. They're all terrified of the North, but they're still trying to count their coins in their heads."

Vane looked around. He saw his three teammates, all of them looking more alive than they had when they entered the ballroom. He saw Isaac, who had finally escaped his mother and was standing awkwardly near a fountain. And he saw the Imperial Grandmasters, who were still watching him with calculating eyes.

As the dance with Ashe ended, Vane walked back toward the center of the room. His suit was slightly rumpled, and his legs ached more than they did after a training session, but he felt a strange sense of accomplishment.

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