The feast ended, but the night inside the palace was still alive.
Guards led me, Emilia, and Renji up a long flight of marble stairs. The other Cleaners passed out from exhaustion back in the dining room. So we were led to our dormitories first. My legs burned, but I kept moving. Renji walked next to me, quiet as always, his pointed ears twitching when a cold draft slipped past. Emilia followed close behind, her copper hair catching the torchlight.
Boots echoed all around. The smell of smoke and warm stone filled the air.
More footsteps came from below. I turned my head. Another group of Cleaners was climbing the same stairs, not far behind us. Five of them. Three boys and two girls. Their voices carried upward, low and teasing.
I guess we weren't the only ones still sober from the exhaustion.
They laughed in the back, continuing to walk.
When we reached the top, a large door swung open to a lounge lit by fire. A sunken pit burned in the center, sparks floating into the air. Soft chairs and long couches circled the flames. Tapestries of Aeranthia's old battles covered the walls.
The other group walked in right after us.
They looked like they belonged in a painting.
The first boy was tall and strong, with pale blond hair that brushed his jaw and eyes a deep forest green. A thin scar cut across his lower lip. He stood like he owned the room.
The second boy was broad-shouldered with storm-gray eyes and dark hair that fell into his face. He wore a heavy silver ring that caught the light every time he moved.
The third boy was shorter and slimmer. Black hair with a streak of white ran across the top. His narrow eyes flicked around, sharp and fast.
One girl had skin the color of bronze and a long black braid tied high. Gold hoops dangled from her ears. Her eyes glowed like molten metal.
The other girl was sun-brown with a scatter of freckles and bright blue eyes. Her smile looked playful, but it felt dangerous.
The tall boy gave a slow grin. "Well, well. So you're the recruits everyone's talking about." His gaze locked on me. "What was your name again… Chris Jackson, the irrelevant?"
The others burst out laughing.
I stopped walking. "Irrelevant? Nice."
The gray-eyed boy leaned against the wall, still smiling. "You're the Cleaner who tried to fight an orca and a gator at the same time, right? Thought you'd be bigger. Or smarter."
The smaller boy joined in. "Didn't think anyone could be that stupid and still live."
Their laughter filled the lounge.
Renji stiffened beside me.
The golden-hoop girl flicked her braid over her shoulder. "And you brought an elf," she said, her voice smooth and sharp. "Wait..." She paused, "An elf being a Cleaner. Wait, that's the failure from the elven empire!" They all started to laugh.
"Goes to show how much your kind has fallen." She let her eyes slide over Renji. "Insignificant disgraces."
What do they mean by failure? There's something about Renji I didn't know. That he's clenching his fists as his head leaned downwards in front of them.
The freckled girl giggled. "Imagine being thrown out of your own kingdom. What did you do, forget how to shoot an arrow?"
Renji's jaw clenched, but he stayed quiet.
The tall boy looked him up and down. "Tell me, exile. Did they kick you out because you were weak, or just tired of you?"
I stepped forward. "You done?"
I don't know what Renji has done, but he's been a pretty cool guy, somebody I wish I could've had with me back in my old world.
"Not even close," the gray-eyed boy said. "This is fun."
The small one smirked. "Seriously, Mr. Irrelevant. A Cleaner with more guts than brains. Think that makes you a hero?"
"More like a future corpse," the freckled girl added, voice light and cruel.
The tall boy's grin never faded. "Aeranthia must be desperate if this is the best they can find."
Heat rose in my chest, but I held my ground. "Say what you want. We're still here."
The tall boy straightened, towering over me. The fire threw hard shadows across his face. "For now," he said. His tone was calm, but it felt like a threat. "Tomorrow, we find out who actually belongs. Remember that, Chris."
I met his eyes. A spark passed between us, a silent promise that this wasn't over.
Emilia stepped forward. "That's enough."
The smallest boy leaned back, a slow grin spreading across his face. "And who's this pretty girl?" He tilted his head, lazy and sure of himself. "Why stay with outcasts like them? Come with us instead. We know how to treat someone like you."
The tall boy gave a soft laugh. "Yeah. Why waste your time with a human and a failed elf?"
Emilia smiled, warm but firm. "I'm in love with someone else, silly."
The room went quiet. Even the fire seemed to pause.
The gray-eyed boy blinked. The golden girl's brows lifted. Then the tall one chuckled, low and deep. "You would rather waste time with those guys than come with us? Serves right for a whore." he said as they let out a slight giggle. "See you at the academy gates, Chris Jackson."
As I stepped in, Emilia stopped me while smiling.
"Don't worry about it..." They walked away. Emilia's saddened face stared into my soul.
We'll see who comes out on top in the end.
The guard at the door stepped in. "Dormitories are ready. Follow me."
The five strangers left first, moving like they owned every step of the hall. As they passed, the golden girl threw me a glance full of challenge. Then they disappeared, their laughter echoing down the corridor.
Our dorm room was a short walk away.
The guard pushed open a heavy oak door. Moonlight spilled across polished stone. Three beds stood against one wall, each piled with thick quilts. Pillows and soft blankets were stacked across a wide rug. A low fire burned in the hearth, warm and steady.
Renji dropped onto a bed with a sigh. "They're going to be trouble."
"They're just noise," I said, though my heart still beat fast.
Emilia grabbed a pillow and tossed it at Renji. "Stop pouting."
He caught it, blinking. "What was that for?"
"For letting them bother you."
Renji grinned and threw the pillow back. It hit her shoulder with a soft thump.
She gasped and snatched another pillow, hurling it at me.
Feathers flew.
I swung back, catching Renji on the side. He laughed, low and easy, and launched two cushions at once.
Soon, the room was a blur of flying pillows and shouts. Feathers drifted through the silver moonlight like snow. Our laughter bounced off the stone walls until the memory of those five strangers faded away.
For a while, there was no king, no trial, no rivals waiting for dawn. Only us three friends, breathless and grinning while fighting a quiet war of feathers under the watchful moon.