They reached their party in one of the side rooms in the palace.
Ryan stood near the window, his new armor polished to a shine that suggested he'd spent considerable time on his appearance.
ToraX lounged on a chair too small for his bulk, yet retained its stability perfectly. At the same time, VICE examined his bow with the intense focus of someone checking their equipment for the hundredth time. HazyNova sat in the corner, so still and quiet that Lumi almost missed them entirely.
"Lumi! Lena!" Gabriel's face lit up as they entered. "Perfect timing. I was just explaining court protocols."
"Did you tell them about etiquette?" Lena asked seriously. "Because if you did, you'll need to say it again. I've been mentally practicing but it hasn't gone very well. Please teach me. Is there a secret handshake?"
Gabriel only blinked once before responding. "There's no secret handshake. Though there are specific ways to bow depending on your rank and relationship to the crown."
