The first to enter the room was Lucius. He was the shortest of the three, though he still stood half a head taller than Jaziel... who, until now, had been the tallest man in the room.
His complexion was a warm olive beneath the candlelight, silver eyes catching it with a faint, playful shimmer. Auburn hair fell in loose waves around a quietly handsome face, his pointed ears visible through the strands. A crown of silver branches rested against his head.
His attire stood in stark contrast to the rigid fashions of Gildan. Deep blues and twilight purples draped across his frame in layered fabrics, silver accents woven throughout. Though more formal than the clothing of most Sullivians, the exposed shoulders and relaxed silhouette still revealed far more skin than any noble in the room would consider appropriate.
He paused for a moment and offered the woman a hand. She took it and walked in next.
The woman, Quinn, stood noticeably taller than Lucius. The moment she entered, people couldn't help but stare.
Quinn's skin was a deep, warm brown, luminous beneath the candlelight. Ink traced across the bridge of her nose and up her exposed leg beneath the asymmetrical folds of a deep blue and plum dress threaded with gold. Feather earrings swayed from her pointed ears, while black braids gathered high atop her head cascaded down her back, softening into beaded curls near the ends.
"ᚷᛟᛞᛋ, ᚤᛟᚢ'ᚱᛖ ᛋᛏᚢᚾᚾᛁᚾᚷ..." (Gods, you’re stunning…) Lucius murmured as he lifted her hand and pressed a gentle kiss against the back of it. Quinn's lips curved into a smile, her forest green eyes bright with amusement, before she turned her attention toward the last man entering the ballroom.
Shin stalked in behind them, silent as the night. He was the tallest of the three, forced to dip his head slightly as he entered the room. His skin was a deep, cool-toned brown, absorbing the candlelight rather than reflecting it. A jagged scar stretched across the bridge of his nose while crimson eyes surveyed the room with quiet intensity.
Thick auburn locks were pulled loosely behind him, exposing long pointed ears. Unlike Lucius and Quinn, his attire carried little trace of ceremony. Dark leather fitted close to his frame, practical and well-worn, while a polished blue stone with bronze tassels hung from one ear, the only ornament he wore.
No one in the room took their eyes off the three strangers, yet no one moved forward to greet them. The room had gone still, every gaze fixed on the towering trio.
"ᛏᛟᚢᚷᚺ ᚲᚱᛟᚹᛞ..." (Tough crowd…) Lucius murmured, leaning just slightly toward Quinn.
Shin sighed as he took in the crowd's panicked faces.
"ᛏᚺᛖᚤ ᚨᛚᛚ ᛚᛟᛟᚴ ᛚᛁᚴᛖ ᚱᚨᛒᛒᛁᛏᛋ..." (They all look like rabbits…) Shin murmured in response. Quinn answered both men with a glare, sharp and immediate.
A small giggle escaped Jamila's throat at the remark. Jaziel glanced at her, utterly confused.
A moment later, Jamila stepped forward. Her brother's hand caught her arm before she could take another step, the grip tighter than necessary.
"They are my guests..." she said gently, resting her hand over his. Her eyes were firm but reassuring.
Jaziel sighed and released her a second later.
"I'm surprised you all dressed up," she said, warmth threading through her voice.
"Well, it's not every day one turns eight. Or one is greeted by a goddess."
Lucius spoke Gildan fairly fluently, with only the faintest hint of an accent. His silver eyes gleamed with amusement as he took her offered hand and brushed a quick kiss across the back of it.
Quinn sighed beside him, and Shin shot the man a weary glare.
"I apologize for my mate's stupidity," Quinn said as she stepped forward in turn. Her accent was thicker but still understandable.
Jamila's laughter was soft and brief as Quinn pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
Finally, her attention shifted to the last of them.
Her lavender eyes lifted to meet his, which was quite the task. His gaze softened for a moment as he took her in. She extended a hand, slightly less steady than she intended. A smile tugged briefly at his lips before vanishing once more.
"ᚤᛟᚢ ᛚᛟᛟᚴ ᛒᛖᚨᚢᛏᛁᚠᚢᛚ, ᛈᚱᛁᚾᚲᛖᛋᛋ..." (You look beautiful, princess…) Shin murmured as he took her hand. His hand nearly enveloping hers. He lifted her hand slightly higher and bent at the waist, his eyes never leaving hers, then he placed a kiss to the back. It lasted slightly longer than necessary.
Jamila's face never faltered but a blush of pink colored the tops of her ears and shoulders. Shin pulled away but she could still feel the sensation.
"I had no idea we would be expecting such... colorful guests," Jaziel said as he came to stand beside Jamila. His dark lavender eyes lifted to Shin, hostility carefully concealed beneath practiced courtesy.
"Also... I would appreciate it if you spoke Gildan while you are here. Not everyone can speak your tongue." He continued glancing at the three guests before returning his glare back to Shin.
"Unless you can't speak Gildan." He smiled patiently.
Shin raised a brow and leaned back, crossing his hands over his chest.
"I can speak it just fine... Your TONGUE is easy." He replied with the smallest smile. He spoke the words perfectly, as if they were native to him. Jaziel smiled politely in return, but a slight twitch in his jaw gave away more than he intended.
Jamila and Quinn sighed in unison as the guests began to murmur among themselves, the distance between the two groups seeming only to grow. Jamila placed a hand on Jaziel's chest, causing the man to turn his attention back toward his sister.
"I'm so glad you seem to be getting along so well with the Dignitaries already." Jamila said with a bright smile. Jaziel's mouth hung open for a second before he sighed.
"I hope you all enjoy the party..." He said as he offered the three guests a practiced bow. His jaw however remained tight.
She had invited them.
She had invited savages into Gildan territory... no, into the palace itself. He was beginning to question her sanity.
He turned and walked away in search of a much-needed refreshment after dealing with... that.
Some of the tension eased from Jamila's shoulders, but she couldn't help noticing the people still watching cautiously.
Quinn caught sight of her attention and gently elbowed a very amused Lucius in the ribs.
His eyes widened in mock offense, but he quickly caught on and began scanning the crowd.
"You sir! You look like you have excellent taste in wine!" Lucius exclaimed, spotting what was quite possibly the pinkest man he had ever seen. A smile broke out over a few of the people's faces.
"Why yes... I do... You have a keen eye." The man hiccupped. Lucius took it as an invite and strode closer. This time, no one flinched.
"Oh Gods good! Could you help a way-too-sober man out?" He asked. The pink man laughed.
"Follow me, sunny! I'll show you the good stuff!"
Lucius immediately fell into step beside him. Several of the men peeled away from their conversations and followed after them, equally curious about what constituted "the good stuff."
A few moments later Lucius was pouring the men a round of wine.
A smile reached Quinn's lips as she took in her already slightly pink mate. She then turned her attention to Shin and gave him a pointed look. Shin nodded and retreated to the nearest corner of the room, leaning against the wall.
Several women visibly relaxed.
"My goodness, how did you manage to get such a vibrant blue from your dress?" one finally asked, eyeing the dark jewel tones.
"Are those actually in your skin?" another woman, much younger than the first, asked, staring at the markings on her leg.
"And how did you braid your hair like that?" a third added, openly admiring the intricate style.
Quinn answered patiently with every question.
Not everyone had been won over. Quite a few men and women still watched the Sullivians with open distaste, Jaziel among them. Still, Jamila couldn't help but feel proud of the progress they had already made.
Perhaps... one day this kind of interaction with their neighbors would be normal.
"My it's been a while... and still no princess?" A woman asked. The sudden question brought Jamila's attention back to the present. The Empress smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"I believe she's just... preparing herself for the evening." She replied to the older woman. Her voice pitched just slightly.
From his place against the wall, Shin noticed. A slight lift of his brow was his only reply.
"Ah- so she's pouting," Lucius laughed, the sound filling the hall as he and some men sipped another glass of wine. Quinn shot the tipsy man a look, her eyes noticeably sharper this time.
"I'm sorry about my mate..." Quinn said with a sigh, the apology aimed mostly at Jamila.
"I suppose even Sullivian husbands can be idiots at times!" The oldest lady of the group replied. The men stared at the giggling women in shock.
The butler cleared his throat, catching Jamila's attention.
Jamila excused herself from the conversation, moving toward the doorway just as the butler excused himself. Her hand reached back, finding a much smaller one. It was cool, hesitant, adorned with a clear crystal bracelet that shifted in blues and purples as the candlelight hit it. Jamila stepped forward again, gently drawing the young girl into the light.
"Now introducing... The star of our empire. Princess Shani."
Shani stepped into the light. Jamila positioned the young princess in front of herself, hands gently placed on her shoulders.
Soft ivory wrapped around Shani in quiet layers, the fabric flowing gently even as she stood. A muted violet ribbon rested at her waist, the only color that dared stand out. Her hair had been carefully styled, small braids pulled from her face and fastened with delicate gold, the rest falling in thick curls around her shoulders.
She looked beautiful.
But her face held no light.
"Happy birthday princess Shani!" Voices rose around her, practiced and polite, the room filling with well-wishes. She barely heard them. A small nod was all the reply Shani could muster.
"Look at all those gifts people brought you!" Jamila whispered next to her daughter's ear. Shani stared at a table that had been piled high with boxes, dolls, and anything else a child may like. But her expression didn't change.
"Can I go sit down now?" Shani asked, staring up at her mother.
"Of... of course my dawn..." Jamila replied and Shani curtsied before excusing herself to the back of the room as the adults forgot about her and began to mingle amongst each other once more.
Jamila's smile faltered for only a moment. She motioned for a maid to bring a slice of cake to Shani, then turned back to the party at hand.
There was too much to do.
Too many eyes watching.
The sound of the room swelled again. Her ears twitched at every laugh, every compliment about how much she resembled Jamila, every whispered remark. There was so much noise.
She stared down at the cake resting in her lap, her eyes darkening.
"I want to go to my room..." she mumbled to herself as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. But she knew she couldn't. Jaziel had explained earlier what was expected of her tonight, and hiding in the back of the room seemed the safest option.
"Happy birthday, Shani."
The voice was soft, gentle. It broke her out of her spiral. Shani looked up. Quinn knelt before her, a small smile resting on her lips. She extended a small box in her hand.
Shani took it carefully. Opening it without thinking, she pulled out a perfectly smooth rounded crystal. It had a golden sheen to it.
"Thank you..?" Shani replied, her voice quiet but polite as she studied the strange crystal. Quinn couldn't help but giggle.
"It's called Astralite... Put it on a window sill and that night it will glow." Quinn explained. Shani simply nodded her understanding. Although she tried not to show it, the young princess's eyes gleamed with wonder.
She looked up at Quinn once more, this time she noticed the woman's ears. Long and slender that came to a delicate point. Nothing at all like her own ears which were smaller and shorter.
"You have... pretty ears," she said after a moment.
Quinn's smile widened.
"My, thank you."
Slowly, she reached forward. Shani stiffened, anxiety flashing through her as Quinn's hands gently cupped her ears. She knew the woman would feel them. Her breath caught.
"You have lovely ears as well," Quinn said softly. There was something in her tone; warm... and faintly sad. She withdrew her hands.
"Well... I need to go check in on my mate." Quinn quickly bowed to the young girl and excused herself.
Shani blinked quickly, the sting of tears rising before she forced them away. She raised the orb, staring at it under the candle light. Her mouth hung open slightly as she watched it shimmer. When she lowered her arm, she felt it before she saw it. A presence... She turned slightly.
Shin stood beside her.
Still.
Silent.
A plate rested in one hand, meat stacked in flat bread as he took a bite. His gaze remained fixed on the room, tracking movement, watching everything at once. Shani looked back down, rolling the crystal between her hands.
"Not going to join in?"
His voice was low, barely cutting through the noise. She glanced up. He hadn't moved, but his eyes had shifted to her.
Red.
Sharp.
And... somehow warm. He didn't seem scary at all despite his size.
"No... I don't like crowds," she admitted, her voice small, her gaze drifting back toward her mother. Something in his expression softened, just slightly.
"Aren't you going to join in?" she asked, echoing him. A faint smile touched his lips.
"No." He replied softly.
"I don't like crowds either."
The silence that followed settled gently between them. Not empty, not uncomfortable. Just... quiet.
Neither of them moved away.