The party truly got out of hand after that.
Viego and Zephyr danced and sang together. They ate everything in sight; at one point, Zephyr mentioned my cheese on toast, and the Pope had it made immediately.
Soon enough, Zephyr proclaimed, "Alright, you pick who is next, big brother." He maintained his attitude as a loving sibling, simply enjoying the admiration and praise of his elder.
"Mario! Come here!" His Holiness shouted.
Commander Mario Shelling —a shoulder-length, black-haired, brown-eyed tall man in the same white-on-blue armor, except his featured a double-moon insignia, the same as on my jacket—was quick to appear and listened intently.
"Zephyr, this man right here is Commander Mario Shelin," Viego announced.
His name was actually Shelling, but he was smart enough to stay silent. He looked up toward Zephyr. "Great Lord, it's an honor—"
"Oy! Enough already, get up! My neck hurts," the Pope cut in, and the table laughed at his remark.
Mario stood up while the room quieted immediately. In Viego's drunken state, it was a death sentence for some poor soul who ignored him or was just a little late on his big night.
"Tell me, Commander, are you afraid of heights?"
"Uh, no. I—I don't think so," Mario stuttered slightly.
After this, you might think otherwise.
"Brother, hand me that bottle." Zephyr turned around. He included Viego in everything, making it feel like this entire spectacle was also his achievement. He was a master manipulator.
He took the bottle and put a hand on Mario's shoulder. I knew what was coming.
"Take a deep breath, and don't panic."
Mario nodded, and after a few tries, he took a big one.
Zephyr looked back over his shoulder. He winked at a very happy Viego. "Take them out to the garden."
[SWOOSH]
"Hahaha!!!"
The Pope got up, stumbling and howling, boxing the air.
"By Ehlite, touching the stars!" Gilly grabbed my arm and exclaimed.
The room was in a frenzy, looking everywhere but up.
"OUT! To the gardens!" The Most Holy Father bellowed.
He ran ahead, followed by a small army of archers and us with his retinue. The King's family were the last to follow the hundreds of people all pushing together, trying their best to reach the cold outside.
I ended up next to Princess Isabella Cortez, the soon-to-be bride.
"Lord Em," she acknowledged me.
"Princess."
We'd never talked, and I only remembered her as a toddler. But my family had been the first donor and helpers since the first Pope. We basically helped them keep control of the country that rightfully belonged to her family. Her attitude mirrored that.
Outside, the people followed the Pope, who gazed up at the heavens.
"Haha! Where? Where?"
He was having quite the fun trying to pinpoint them. Boy, Zephyr must have taken him for a ride.
"""There!"""
Two people simultaneously noticed the white of Commander Mario's uniform as he fell like an arrow pointed down. Some ladies who understood what was happening were immediately concerned, but soon enough, something dark appeared by his side.
[SWOOSH]
A very cold and frightened person arrived with a smiling devil. The Commander fell onto the ground, shaking like a leaf, while Zephyr rolled and patted himself down. He lifted the frozen, clearly empty bottle, the idiot having finished it mid-flight. He was definitely drunk; no one of his tolerance could drink that much and stay sober.
"HAVE YOU EVER FUCKING SEEN A LIKE!?"
He was lifted by the Pope himself and spun around as the crowds cheered him.
"A-amazing! Marvelous!"
Little Isabella was enchanted, like many, many others. I was glad once again for Lylly's absence; Zephyr would suffer for this, whether it was his fault or not.
He wasn't allowed to rest and took both the Queen and Saint Yolanda up. Viego himself went up twice more. Despite the cold, they all had the time of their lives.
Mario, after his initial shock wore off, quickly became a fan. He even showed off, taking down half a dozen sober archers with nothing but his legs. He demonstrated skill and grace, drunk and under pressure. The archers, like all soldiers at heart, were intrigued. Everyone had legs and knew how to kick, and yet, without his footwork, it was meaningless and very... human.
After what must have been the hundredth applause, we were inside once again. Everything was the same, except even those who had kept their distance before shed their previous distrustful behavior and surrounded Zephyr like honeybees surround a flower.
"I can understand your calm demeanor," Gilly and I stood far away at the end of the table, giving our space to my parents. "With him by your side, anything seems possible."
I looked at the young enigma, surrounded by the cream of the nation, hanging on his every word and action.
"I told you, he is the man I entrusted my dreams to, and he will deliver."
"And he wants nothing in return? Nothing at all?"
I turned and poured her another glass. We Em's were blessed with a superior tolerance, otherwise, we'd both be unconscious already.
"You remember that white mask with the three black lines? The Ancients' mask? He said he wanted that. But I have a feeling it's for the silliest of reasons," I explained the best way my hiccups allowed me.
"That useless ornament? If we could have melted the material, I would have long turned it into something useful, like a blade. What silly reasons are you thinking?"
"Like... for his daughter, or Lylly, maybe?" I had a little chuckle, thinking how possible that sounded. "Lylly often tells him to cover his face. Could be that. Either way, it was long ago, and since then, he's proved it time and time again he considers us, with Ciren, as family."
"What a strange young man. Where is that Emet Village of yours?" Gilly asked, trying to hide her interest.
"Want to relocate? Hmm? The mountain air would nourish your soul. Hahaha."
I felt myself loosen up as well. I mean, things were going incredibly well.
He'd done half the plan already, and there was no reason to believe the other half wouldn't be just as easy. My love waited for me, and in just a day and a half, I'd get to see her. I felt for the ring inside my jacket pocket, feeling even calmer with it resting there.
"I would like to see the woman who stole your heart... well, both her and her daughter, in person. I can just imagine him around people he actually loves, and it makes me wonder. Once the snow melts, I want to meet your future wife and his family."
"I'm looking forward to it," I said, lifting my glass toward the ceiling.
This journey was something else. A lot of good came out of it: new friends (both good and bad), new residents, new plans, new futures. But most importantly, we were one step closer to saving Juan.
The plan was already in motion.