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"Yes, I am Gusion of the House Paxley, pleased to meet you," he repeated the exact words he said just moments ago. Always the same affirmation for the same greeting. None of the conversations went longer than a few lines.
"Oh, you're Duke Paxley's brother!"
Not again. He smiled at the old lady, kissing her hand as a courtesy. Her jewelry bore the insignia of her noble house, but he couldn't care to know what her name was. "I hope you're enjoying your stay in Castle Aberleen, madam."
"I haven't visited for many years. You used to be so small!" She exclaimed, lifting her hand to her shoulder to show Gusion his old height. "You boys grow up so fast." She gave him an affectionate tap on the shoulder.
Gusion smiled - it was something different that evening. Sixteen years old and six foot tall was a little better to be known for.
"You're so handsome like your brother."
His smile faded. He gathered the last bit of his self-control to keep the facade. "Thank you, madam." He backed away with a slight bow, hoping to slip out of the crowd before more old ladies approach him with unwanted comparisons to his brother.
Thankfully, the drums rolled, signifying the start of the dance. All the attention was diverted to the main hall, most especially the group of ladies and young men confined in their groups. To approach the opposite sex before the dance commences would be seen as improper, and now they have their chance. The girls tried to conceal their delight with fans covering their faces, while the boys adjusted their ties nervously.
Gusion estimated at least three hundred ladies alone that night - their colorful ballgowns were easier to count in the crowd of men in dark suits. There were so many of them that looked beautiful, all expecting which Gusion hated doing - a dance. Before the ladies could approach him, Gusion quietly slipped further to the back, using a group of older men to conceal himself in the crowd.
“Gusion.”
A hand grasped his shoulder from behind. “Aamon,” he replied as looked back, acknowledging his elder brother, the master of the castle.
“Having fun?” Aamon started with his usual, affectionate, brotherly smile.
Gusion shrugged. He didn’t want to complain and cause a reaction from his brother, the most important man in the event. “I’d say this is a success. Everyone thinks highly of Duke Paxley”
Aamon nodded, his lips showed a smile but his eyes looked so weary. “Gusion? How about one name?”
“One name?”
“Get to know someone new at least. Just one?” Aamon raised a finger. “That shouldn’t be hard. For our family, please.” He tapped Gusion’s shoulder and attended to a Baron trying to get his attention.
“Not interested,” Gusion whispered while Aamon walked away.
The guests moved towards the center of the castle, the great hall famed to rival that of the royal dwelling in Lumina. Murmurs and giggles could be heard in the crowd before loud applause drowned the music. Ladies held back their squeals of delight as the Lord of the castle, the Duke, and his older brother, Aamon Paxley stepped into the light.
He clapped his hands along the crowd as an obligation before he escaped. The corridors were still busy, filled with servants bringing more wine and some couples sneaking away to do who knew what - they eyed him, obviously curious why he was sneaking out. As Gusion pushed the final door, the fresh night air of Aberleen’s gardens rushed against his face. The teenager closed his eyes and took a deep breath, so sweet and refreshing - no smell of tobacco, heavy perfumes, and fried meat. There’s so much space to stretch his legs. How tempting it was to take off his shoes and just lay down on the grass to sleep.
“Gusion, do you want the guests talking about your absence?” He mumbled to himself, imitating Aamon’s voice amidst the faint noise of the party he left behind. No doubt his brother will notice him missing in the next few minutes. If not his brother, his older sisters will.
But this is freedom. There was no need to act like Lord Paxley. He looked around for any potential witnesses before whispering a magic spell. A short sword materialized in the air, right into his grasp. He twisted and tossed the weapon, infusing it with magic. Yesterday he couldn’t do it beyond his line of sight, but with enough practice, he was able to take it further.
There was a movement in the grass and Gusion stopped to check the intruder, expecting one of the family servants to usher him back to the hall. “Oh?”
A lone hare stood by the bushes, chewing some of the herbs in the garden. Normally, servants would get rid of what they considered pests, but not Gusion - these animals give him an opportunity. To have fun. Gusion smiled as an idea formed inside his mind. He threw his sword right next to the hare, startling the creature. With magic, Gusion vanished into the air and materialized right next to the sword. Picking the blade, Gusion repeated the process as he tried to chase the hare deeper into the Aberleen woods.
Gusion threw the dagger the fourth time, but he was still not quick enough to catch the hare. “Oh come on!” He groaned in frustration. It’s made especially more difficult due to the darkness and thickness of the elven trees.
Back when his mother was living, she would tell him the story of how Paxley matriarch Valentina ordered the fields of Aberleen to be turned into forests. All for her elf husband, Irlan. Their love story was commemorated on a plaque at the entrance of the forest, but most of the residents of Aberleen, including the knights and servants, fear the place. Throughout the generations, mothers would scare their children about the angry ghosts of slain elves and soldiers haunting and seeking justice.
But to Gusion, the fear of the forest made it his perfect hideout and playground. No one would ever tell him what to do or how to act properly. No one would fuss about his magic purposefully different from the rest of the family. Here, he could run, leap and fly, breaking the limits.
By the ninth throw, Gusion made it just in time to grab the hare and take it in his arms. “I won! You think you can escape me? Huh?” He laughed and gloated at his victory over the beast, spinning it around, watching it struggle in his arms to break free. Gusion kept the hare as his trophy as he walked triumphantly in the darkness, and with a simple spell, was able to calm it down.
Wait. Something wasn’t right. Gusion, instinctively summoned a dagger in his right hand, while the hare remained with his other arm. In between the trees, there was a bright, violet light, pulsating in intervals. After sixteen years living in a household of mages, Gusion knew this was not of his family, or from anyone of their subjects living near the castle. He approached the light carefully, his heart throbbing in excitement as he saw a figure moving from a distance - it looked female. Is this one of the ghosts his mother had talked about? Perhaps a fairy or an elven goddess? Or maybe, something sinister?
It was a magical rose - a giant, violet flower, rising several meters up into the air like a fountain. Gusion walked towards it as a moth attracted to a flame, mesmerized by its beauty. At the top of the rose was a woman with curly hair tied with ribbons and a dress with a large violet skirt that opened up just like a blooming flower.
Gusion quickly looked away blushing. He wasn’t here to peep. What of his manners? The light disappeared and that’s when Gusion noticed that he was spotted. He panicked as the female stood there staring at him. Above her was a clearing and the full moon revealed her shocked face, and reddish curls reaching her shoulders. She looked to be someone close to his age or a bit younger.
“You saw that?” The girl asked, looking annoyed.
Gusion shook his head as a reflex, unsure of what to say. After a long, awkward silence, he asked. “Are you human?”
The girl snorted and put her arms on her waist. “Of course I am! What’s with that question?”
“It’s just that…” Gusion stepped back, trying to save face after realizing the stupidity of his question. His eyes scanned the girl’s clothing - it bore all the signs of nobility. Being flabbergasted, he could not recall the family name behind the girl’s coat-of-arms. Something about it reminded him of fencing. “It’s just that a lady like you shouldn’t be here at this hour. I thought you’re… something.”
Then she laughed, eyebrows raised in amusement. “Then what are you doing here? Hunting in fancy clothes? You’re going to eat that rabbit?”
“No, I won’t!” Gusion quickly tossed the hare to the ground and watched it hop away into the darkness. He realized his blade was still in his other hand and the lady was looking at it with curiosity. With a short spell, the dagger vanished into thin air. “I apologize for that, I hope I didn’t frighten you, my lady.” He bowed down as courtesy, as instilled by years of training and discipline. He wished to put aside his embarrassing actions earlier and move on. Playtime was over. “I apologize that I disturbed your peaceful time alone. I would like to offer myself as your escort on your way out.”
The lady sighed. “Playtime is over for me, I guess?” She mumbled, mirroring the words in Gusion’s mind. She approached him slowly, her eyes fixated on his face and clothing as if trying to figure out his identity. If she was nobility, it wouldn’t be difficult. “I knew you a long, long time ago, back when we were younger. After so many years, we finally meet again.” She said, smiling.
Gusion couldn’t recall but he nodded slowly in response. Was it someone’s birthday? A winter ball? Royal proclamation in Lumina City? “Please, my lady, it’s cold tonight.” He took off his coat and offered it to her. She accepted with a courtly nod. He draped the coat all over her shoulders before taking her arm for a stroll back to the castle. “I would say the same to you, miss. It’s been a long time.” He told her, not wanting to appear like a fool.
The girl grinned. “So you know who I am?”
“Yes… of course.” Gusion coughed. There were so many questions he wanted to ask the girl, but the most important thing was to exit the forest without any incident as much as possible. Others could be looking for both of them at this moment.
“So what’s my name?” She asked, playfully, nudging his arm slightly.
Gusion almost cursed under his breath. He was being toyed with. He tried to remember all the houses pledged to the Paxleys, and all the surrounding Duchies and their respective subjects. He looked again at the lady’s insignia and style of clothing, desperate for clues. She was not from any of the magic houses. “And, I suppose you know mine?” He asked back, as one desperate move to turn the game around.
“Of course, I know.” She laughed softly and bit her lip.
He coughed and his heart raced a little. “I’m Gusion of the House Paxley,” he answered, denying the girl the pleasure of guessing his name correctly.
“I can see that.” She brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face. “Hey Gusion, can we keep this a secret? Please don’t tell anyone what you saw.” She asked gently, in a different tone from her playfulness earlier.
Gusion raised his eyebrow at the way the girl called him. First name, just like that? Interesting. Here he was with a girl whose family he couldn’t quite remember, wandering alone in the woods to practice secret magical arts. “I promise I won’t. It’s none of my business.”
“Thanks, I owe you this one, Gusion.” She gently squeezed his arm.
“What title should I call you, my lady?” Gusion asked, hoping that the girl in violet would slip her name absentmindedly.
“Oh?” She hummed. “I thought you knew?”
“You’re bored of the party, aren’t you?” Gusion asked, diverting his gaze, and his cheeks feeling hot. He tried to remember all the noble ladies on his brother’s list of marriage prospects. One name would do. Nobody rang a bell. “Why else would you be here?”
The girl nodded, her lips a bit pouty. “Father is finding a husband for me as we speak. Every time he takes me to parties like this, it feels like he’s trying to sell me off. I couldn’t bear it anymore.” She raised her voice, and her jaw tensed. “He keeps on telling me to stop learning martial arts and magic. ‘Oh darling, no man would like to marry a woman who will scare them.’” She imitated a man’s voice as she ranted. “It’s so annoying! I just needed some air to breathe.”
“And feel free, even for a little while,” Gusion added and his companion nodded, her full attention captured. “I didn’t like it there either. Feels like I have to act and talk a certain way all the time.”
“Be the perfect lady,” Guinevere curtsied and mocked the practice.
“Yeah, I don’t get how people have fun with parties like this,” Gusion grumbled. He resisted ranting about his famous brother, afraid that this girl might end up being one of the ones admiring him. “I can understand why you would rather practice your spells. But aren’t you a family of swordsmen?” He eyed the symbol of the saber on the girl’s coat of arms.
“We are, but I don’t care. I love magic. I’ll do what I want and nobody can stop me.” She looked him straight in the eyes.
“I-” Gusion failed to speak seeing such conviction in someone else’s. How he wished he could say the same without faltering.
“Sad my brother Lancelot isn’t here, he’s my perfect target practice. I could see him bouncing up and down the air with my spell earlier.” She laughed out without restraint, losing all her demureness. “But how about you, Gusion?”
“Me? About what?”
“You’re hunting rabbits with your sword?”
“No!”
The girl laughed out loud. She was playing with him again. “Paxleys don’t use swords, you’re the very first one I know. But really, what’s with the rabbit?”
“I’m just testing my speed. Breaking my limits.”
“Oh? Breaking limits?” Guinevere cocked her head. “I’m interested. Can you show me?”
His eyes lit up. Nobody had ever asked him to demonstrate. His heart quickened with the girl’s request. He broke away from her with a grin on his face. “Okay, okay I’ll show you.”
He summoned his blade into his hands and twirled it, trying to impress her with his stunt. She was staring, rubbing her chin to show curiosity. He then threw the blade into one of the trees and activated his spell. In a blink of an eye, he was already right beside his dagger. His sole audience clapped at the demonstration and Gusion felt his cheeks grow warmer. “I can also enhance the blade ten times its sharpness. Normally it cannot cut through wood like that, but with my magic, I could probably tear a hole right through the trunk.”
“I’m honestly impressed. Teleportation magic infused with weapon enchantment, that’s pretty advanced,” she praised. "My professor said they're too advanced for me, but I proved him wrong."
Gusion felt a rush of pride at that moment. “Well, I figured everything out by himself.” He coughed. “Sadly, my family does not approve of my use of physical weapons. They think it makes our magic impure.”
“Your family sounds so boring.”
“Imagine living with them.”
“While mine constantly wants me to be married as if they want to get rid of me. As if I’m only worth as a bride and nothing else.” She stretched her arms and let out a big sigh.
“Old people are so obsessed with marriage,” Gusion remarked in agreement. “I never saw the appeal myself.”
“For family, my father always says. Ugh!”
“Same with my brother.”
The girl looked around. “They’re probably sending servants to look for us now. Perhaps we can take this chance to have fun?” She took off Gusion’s coat, a mischievous smile on her face. What was the meaning of it? Gusion couldn’t speak while his heart hammered against his chest. The girl walked towards him and raised her chin, tossing back the coat to its owner. “I’d like to see that magic of yours go against mine. What do you say, Gusion?”
Gusion blinked at the suggestion. A duel? “I-I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Oh you silly boy, of course, we won’t go that far!” His opponent fixed her hair. “Just a game of tag, you said you like testing your speed? If you can catch me before I exit these woods, then you win.”
“Challenge accepted.” Gusion adjusted his tie and collar. “I never back down from anything.”
“Good.” Miss Violet giggled. “If you win, I’ll finally give my name. If you lose, how about you take me out on a date?” She teased him and winked.
Before Gusion could even react, the girl vanished into the darkness, leaving a trail of violet magic and glowing rose petals. He ran after her, his pulse racing fast and his skin flushed against the cool night air. She was definitely faster than the hare earlier. The only other person that Gusion had trouble chasing was his brother Aamon.
Gusion decided to use his sword to get ahead, throwing it in the trajectory the girl was going. In a flash, Gusion was able to get ahead by a few meters. He reached out to touch the girl, who seemed to be oddly calm as she was about to lose. But as soon as his hand touched the image it dissipated into mist.
“Gusion! I’m here! Ohoho!” The female mage called from another direction. She waved her hands, teasing him.
The clearing of the forest was close. It would only take a minute or two before his opponent reaches the exit. “Break the limits.” He muttered and summoned three swords in total. Never in his life had he used so much. He had to throw them precisely where he needed to be. The girl’s projecting spell was advanced and difficult - she would not be able to repeat it over and over without depleting her energy.
One. Gusion threw near a stone arch. He materialized next to the girl and tried to tag her, but just like earlier, it was nothing but an illusion. The trail of violet roses pointed him to the next location. Second. He felt his magical energy fading with another teleportation. Again, the girl vanished into the dark, laughing as she danced and evaded her pursuer. The exit was close. He couldn’t lose.
His final sword plunged through the last tree before the exit where the girl was running to. With all the momentum, he lunged to catch her. Just one touch to victory. Gusion reached out with both his arms, his fingers grasping the magical trail of violet roses. Then his hands touched the fabric, then skin, and soon Gusion lost control and tumbled down with another body.
“Oof!” Gusion groaned as he rolled on the grass, the stars in the skies blurred with red hair waving in the air. A heavy body crashed on top of him until they stopped with a thud. He opened his eyes to see the girl straddling him, her disheveled hair accenting the infectious laughter on her face. He laughed as well, wheezing and massaging the part of his head that hit the hard ground.
After his heart has calmed down and his breathing had deccelerated, Gusion was suddenly aware of the awkward position they were in. Above him was this cute girl laughing, fixing her ribbons and the strap of her dress. Her weight and contact against his torso were filling him with heat. He’s never been so close with another girl. Gently, he put his hands on her waist and lifted her off to his side.
“Alright, I’ll get off.” She giggled and sat beside him. “But that was so fun, wasn’t it?”
“It was.” He sat up, face flushed, and took time to recover his breath. He won, right? “So mind telling me your name now?”
She cocked her head and bit her lip, smiling. “But I won. Didn’t we have a deal?”
“I caught you.”
“Perhaps,” she reached out and brushed the dust off Gusion’s shoulders. He took a deep breath as her hands fixed his tie. Her eyes were so mesmerizing. “If you claim victory, then I guess you won’t get a date. So what will it be?”
“What-” Before Gusion could speak, noises from the castle interrupted their conversation. A few servants with the lamp were shouting in the dark, searching for one person: Lady Baroque.
So that’s the name of Miss Violet. But this was not her real name.
“Goodbye, Gusion, we will see each other again!” As she ran off towards the servants, Gusion's vision was suddenly obstructed by a random cloth. Lady Baroque was gone by the time he figured out what was thrown on his face - a pearly white handkerchief embroidered with roses and smelled strongly of lavender, the same as the girl's perfume.
He resisted every inch of his body to follow her. If he revealed himself, the whole castle would talk about it, embarrassing the lady and probably ruining her reputation. He may not care much about tradition, but he cared enough for Miss Baroque that she would not leave the castle with a scandal.
Gusion walked back to the castle dazed, gently holding the handkerchief in his hand. Some of the servants were already waiting for him at the castle’s entrance. To his surprise, his brother Aamon was among them. He didn’t look worried or angry.
“Gusion, you missed the grand ceremony. You’re the only Paxley who wasn’t there.” Aamon said in a cold tone.
Gusion hid the fabric in his pocket and pulled off a small twig caught in his hair. “Well, you told me to learn at least one name.”
“Oh? How did it go?” Aamon raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.
Gusion smiled smugly. “Still in progress.”