Tristan, Riot, and Lenora had arrived at the Main hall, and throughout the entire evening, Riot and Tristan had stuck close to Lenora, but Lenora had seen this as an opportunity to get closer to Tristan. At first, she asked Tristan to stay very close on the flimsy excuse that the attacker might try stabbing her from the back, and not long after that, she asked if both she and Tristan could lock arms together, and not wanting to seem harsh, Tristan agreed to the proposal. Every guy in the room held great envy and hate towards Tristan, but Tristan didn't care, as this was very normal to him.
As children, Lenora often held Tristan's Arms and took baths together, so Tristan didn't feel any emotion, as this was normal to him.
"You two sure are close," Riot said in an awkward, jealous tone as he enviously stared at them, wanting a girl to cuddle him as well.
"Really, this is actually kind of normal to me… why do you ask?" Tristan questioned Riot's statements, not knowing what he really meant by those words.
"Sir Tristan, can you not feel the animosity directed towards you?" Riot asked.
"Oh, you mean these faint black lines oozing out of their life force, of course I can," Tristan replied as he looked at the onlookers' life force, as small traces of the usually white life force turned into a faint black colour.
"Wait, hold on, you… Can you see an aura?!" Riot asked, shocked by what Tristan said. His expression was calm yet still showed surprise.
"So that's what it's called…Yeah, I can. I just learned about it tonight, but I don't quite get it yet. Could you please explain it to me?" Tristan asked as Lenora stared at the two of them, carefully listening to their conversation.
"Aura is a power system derived from people's life force and emotions. The concept is widely known amongst fighters as it is used to boost their skills drastically," Riot explained.
"So it's like magic reinforcement," Lenora said.
"Not quite, unlike magic aura is something everyone can learn, but it takes time, aura is something you have to unlock through various steps, for example, daily training and meditation could be another way for someone to get aura… but another way is to be exposed to aura so deadly it force's the aura in you to activate," Riot explained like a teacher talking to his students.
"Well then, it's that easy to obtain it using the second method," Lenora said with a smile. She looked like a kid who had just solved a difficult question in class.
"Not quite…it's also a dangerous method that could easily kill," Tristan said with a serious voice. He sounded like a person who had gone through a lot of pain.
"From your tone and expression, I take it you had undergone that method," Riot said in a tone that only carried pity but kindness as well.
Lenora quickly grabbed Tristan's face, looking for any bruise, like a mother worriedly checking for ailments on her child; "He looks okay to me." Lenora said, looking back at the riot in a confused tone, clearly not seeing any injury on him.
"Well, of course you won't see anything, it affects the life force… anyway, let's focus on anything could happen, so we'd best be on the lookout," Riot said, bringing their concentration to the matter at hand.
For a while, the party went on as it was, and it seemed nothing was going on till all the lights suddenly went out, turning the once vibrant room into a dark, cold place. Murmurs erupted as people were left confused as to what was happening. The uneasiness settled on everyone as the room turned loud with complaints.
"What's going on?" Riot asked.
"I don't know, but whatever it is, we'd better get ready for what comes next," Tristan said as he and Riot went on full alert. Tristan wasn't quite sure, but there was this nagging feel that urged him to look toward Lenora, and when he did, he noticed she was missing.
"RIOT LENNY IS-" but before he could finish his warning riot was gone gone as well, the uneasiness Tristan felt kept growing and then he felt something horrendous behind him it felt like daggers piercing his soul, the same feeling had when Linda's overwhelming aura consumed him but this one had more hate and viciousness in it and the next thing Tristans body screamed was quite simple yet grand at the same time, it told him to move, and the second he did a blade passed by him and as he turned around to see who had just attacked he found out it was shadow.
The same person who attacked him at the exam festival was now standing in front of Tristan; the aura emanating from him was filled with poisonous animosity, and those near him fell to the ground from the pressure.
"Yo, long time no see," Shadow said as the room was filled with panic as nobles ran helter-skelter, looking for a safe place to reside.
"You…what are you doing here?!" Tristan asked as his tone carried a hint of hatred and curiosity. He was puzzled as to how this bastard was here.
"Oh come on, I just came to stop by and give you a little greeting, that's all," Shadow said in a mocking tone as he pulled out his two daggers. He had a sly grin on his deranged face that looked as if he was enjoying the moment.
"Cut the crap, asshole, and just answer the question before I beat it out of you," Tristan said as he looked pissed- no more than pissed, he looked like he was about to kill someone.
The two stared at each other, not moving an inch; they were like hunters waiting for their prey's next move. Their eyes studied each other as people ran away from the scene, but no one dared cross their path. As soon as the hall was empty, the lights came back.