After his performance, Cale felt a weight lift off his shoulders—but the night wasn't over yet. There were still people to greet, especially the ones who could make or break his future. Fixing his suit, he headed toward the most intimidating cluster in the hall: the Thirteen Crowns.
Amaryllis was the first to notice him. The tall woman with crimson hair didn't hesitate—she pulled him into a tight hug, as if they'd known each other for years.—"What a charming performance," she said, stepping back to give him a once-over. "I told you Poro would turn you into a little prodigy."
Cale returned the hug, smiling.—"Thank you for coming, Lady Amaryllis. It was an honor to play tonight."
—"The honor's ours, little violinist." Amaryllis glanced to the side, toward her son, Alice, who stood silently, arms crossed, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
—"Alice, why don't you spend a bit of time with Cale? I think you two might get along." Her tone made it sound more like an order than a suggestion.
Alice scowled, not moving an inch.—"I don't waste time on meaningless things," he said flatly.
Cale didn't flinch. He'd met enough self-important demons to know the drill. He gave a calm, almost amused smile.—"Then it's not meaningless if you enjoy it, is it? You're welcome to join in, anytime."
Alice looked at him, quiet. He didn't say anything, but something in Cale's laid-back tone seemed to catch him off guard. Without a word, he nodded once and walked away. Amaryllis gave Cale a wink.—"Have fun, Cale. Our doors are always open to you."
Feeling a bit more at ease, Cale made his way to Poro Amduscias, his ever-theatrical teacher, who stood waiting with a sly grin. His green hair and single horn caught the light, and his expression was somewhere between mockery and affection.
—"Master Poro. Thank you for coming," Cale said, with a mix of pride and anxiety. "May I ask… what did you think of my performance?"
Poro tilted his head and squinted at him.—"Hmm... about what I expected from someone trained by me." He scratched his chin as if deep in thought. "Although... I'm not sure I can call it good. It was, perhaps, almost acceptable—if we're being generous."
Cale's stomach tensed, but Poro wasn't done. His smirk widened.—"That said, I suppose I shouldn't let your lack of brilliance stop you. Out of the kindness of my heart—" (he was clearly enjoying this), "I'm officially accepting you as my student. Be grateful, brat. Few get the privilege."
Cale laughed. Exactly the kind of nonsense he expected from Poro. He dropped to one knee, overly dramatic.—"This disciple salutes his master."
Poro laughed out loud.—"Oh, now you've done it. Get ready, kid. If you think I was hard on you before—starting tomorrow, the real lessons begin."
—"Understood, Master." —Cale stood, smiling.
Poro gave him a half-mocking, half-proud look.—"Now go enjoy yourself. But don't embarrass me. That's rule one."
Ameri was in the middle of chatting with some noble girls when Cale appeared, standing tall and wearing a playful grin.—"Ladies, would you mind if I borrowed my sister for a moment?" —he asked, his tone just formal enough to be charming, just casual enough to feel natural.
The girls exchanged glances. One of them, a blond in a white gown, looked genuinely smitten.—"Go ahead..." she murmured, cheeks flushed.
Cale offered Ameri his arm, and they moved to the center of the ballroom. He gave a short bow.—"Miss Ameri, may I have this dance?"
She raised an eyebrow, catching his tone instantly.—"It would be my honor, young Master Cale."
They danced with effortless precision, their years of practice showing in every step. Their timing was perfect, and the small crowd watching applauded enthusiastically when the music ended.
From a shadowed corner, Henri watched them, a quiet smile on his face.—"Your mother would've loved this," he whispered to no one in particular.
After the dance, Cale and Ameri joined Kira, who was happily eating at the banquet table, tiny feet swinging under his high chair. They stayed there for a while, sharing food and conversation. Later, they mingled with guests: Lord Sullivan, Berry, Alice, and other important names. Cale even danced with several noble girls, and at one point, just to cause a stir, he invited Kira onto the dance floor, earning laughs and cheers from the crowd.
As the night wound down, Cale finally climbed up to his room, tired but content. Kira was fast asleep in his arms, and Cale, not even bothering with a bath, slipped into his white pajamas and crawled into bed.
Ameri came in later. She saw him already asleep, sighed, and headed to the bath. When she came out, she tiptoed to bed—only to wrinkle her nose.—"Seriously? You didn't wash?" —she muttered, nudging him away and grabbing a pillow instead.
Half-asleep, Cale instinctively reached out. He found Kira, hugged him like a stuffed toy, and pulled him close. Kira squirmed a bit, then sighed in defeat and went back to sleep.
That night marked Cale's first real step into demon society—a night of introductions, expectations, and unexpected moments. The bonds he'd started to form might not seem like much yet, but they would soon become the foundation of everything ahead.