“Professor Sesillian?”
He vanished, just like that, leaving behind an empty space where he’d been standing moments before. His warmth still lingered from where he’d hugged me, but now he was gone, as if the air itself had swallowed him whole. How did he manage to disappear so quickly?
“I’m really sorry, Kayla. I messed up big time, I know, but it’s not entirely my fault. Those people are really blocking my way.”
“Can you shut up for once? It’s because of you that I’m in this mess!” Kayla shot back, her voice sharp and venomous. Her finger jabbed toward her nose, now crooked and wrapped in a thick bandage. Bruises darkened the skin around her eyes. “If you’d just shown up a bit sooner, my nose might’ve been fine! But no, you didn’t!”
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s not my fault those bastards blocked the road, keeping my car stuck there for hours! It’s their fault for being there, not mine!”
Their argument kept escalating, their voices a harsh clash amidst the murmurs of the crowd. As this heated exchange unfolded, Leon, who had slipped out of the ballroom earlier with Professor Rose after speaking with her family about taking her as his wife, made his way back into the room with confident, unhurried strides.
“Oh, looks like the real party is finally starting,” he remarked, a smirk playing on his lips.
A sharp, resounding clap echoed through the room, cutting through the noise. It came from the upper platform. At the top stood a woman, her curves accentuated by the fitted dress she wore, the fabric hugging her voluptuous figure. Her white hair shimmered under the lights, framing a face so striking it commanded the attention of everyone present. Even I couldn’t tear my gaze away.
“Hello, everyone!” she called out. “Sorry to interrupt the festivities, but I need your attention for a moment.”
“Huh? Who’s that?”
“No clue.”
“Another new face? Why’s a party for nobles bringing in outsiders like her?”
“Maybe she’s like the owner of Leonamon?”
People murmured, trying to figure out who this mysterious woman was. She seemed almost otherworldly, making it difficult to place her.
“Wait, doesn’t she look like Sesillian’s sister?”
“You mean that lunatic one?”
“Yeah. Sara, if I remember right.”
“What the hell is she doing here? Where’s Sesillian? He should keep his little sister from making a scene.”
Suddenly, everyone’s eyes were on me. I flinched under their stares, but I just shook my head. I had no clue where Professor Sesillian had gone—he just disappeared right beside me.
“Everyone, please. I want all of your attention on me. Can we please stop the chatter and nonsense noises for a moment.” With a clap of her hand, the woman managed to catch all the people present in an instant. “Good.” she said with a smile on her face.
“Everyone, please. Focus on me. Can we stop the chatter and pointless noise for just a moment?” With a snap of her fingers, the woman’s voice took command, silencing the room in an instant. “Good,” she said, a faint, unsettling smile curling on her lips.
“Now then, you might be wondering what I’m doing here, and why I’m addressing all of you instead of letting you enjoy the party. I do apologize for the interruption, but let me ask you something first.” Her expression darkened, her grin spreading into something wicked and teasing. “Have you ever wished that the light would just… disappear?”
“Huh?”
“What is she talking about?”
“I have no idea.”
“Light? Disappear? What does she mean by this?”
Another sharp clap broke through the murmuring, demanding attention once more. “I’m speaking metaphorically. If you had to choose between what’s good and what’s not, what would you prefer more—the light or the darkness?”
Silence fell over the room, her question hanging in the air, heavy and cryptic.
“Come on, this is as simple as choosing between day and night!” she coaxed, her voice lilting like she was playing some twisted game. “It’s an easy one!”
The crowd shifted uncomfortably, exchanging uncertain glances. Soft murmurs spread like ripples, everyone trying to figure out what to answer. Oddly enough, the question wormed its way into my mind too, making me ponder.
Which would you prefer, light or darkness?
If I had to make a choice, I’d go with darkness. Sure, light has its place, but darkness? Darkness is where you find rest, where the world grows quiet, and shadows stretch long across empty streets. It’s that comforting weight that settles in, letting you shut your eyes, knowing the only thing that pulls you back is the return of daylight. Most of the people here probably feel the same—drawn to the night more than the morning. They despise the jolt of waking up to another grind, counting down the hours until the sky dims. Even as they go through the motions, the thought of night lurks in their minds, urging it to come quicker so they can finally unwind. Her question was so simple, so obvious.
“Of course, I prefer darkness,” Sirches declared, his voice carrying through the space. He looked up at the woman on the platform, his grin mirroring the wicked twist of hers. “It’s calmer, quieter in the dark! When the light’s around, it’s full of people, and those self-righteous assholes always flock to it!”
“That’s right! A brilliant young man, right there!” the woman said, clapping her hands together with a sharp, echoing snap, her smile widening into something almost predatory.
Voices started to rise from the crowd, each adding to the swell of agreement.
“It’s better in the dark! I can focus without all the noise and bullshit!”
“I prefer darkness!”
“Sometimes, I just wish the light would fuck off for good! I’d rather sleep all damn day!”
The room filled with a chorus of answers, each one leaning towards the shadows. Not a single soul dared to pick light.
And before I knew it, I found myself speaking up, “I like the darkness. It’s way better than being out in the light! It’s calm, it’s quiet, and I hate dragging my ass out of bed every morning, just to wait for night to come again! I wish the night would stay forever, and the light would just disappear.”
The words tumbled out, raw and unfiltered, and I didn’t even know why they came so naturally. They felt like they slipped through some part of me I didn’t fully control.
As the answers filled the air, one man just stood there, silent amidst the rising murmurs. His eyes were shadowed, his expression unreadable, like he was seeing something the rest of us couldn’t.
“Be careful what you wish for.”
