The Dreamer's POV

The woman was right there, just in front of Theo, and all I needed to do was just to reach for her, and that I did.

I stormed at her, my face contorted in rage.

"Like I'll let that happen."

'How did she get in? Black? The knights are they…'

She smirked at me and let the boy go, and immediately a light of blue encompassed her and she disappeared.

She had used <teleportation>, and I had no idea of where she went.

The nobles screamed seeing such an alien display of magic before them, meanwhile I stood at where she was, brooding and enraged about how I had missed her.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I was so close." I mumbled with my fists clenched. I wasn't going to stand for it.

I turned to Theo and crouched to him, he wore a frown and I was a little taken aback. Surely, the frown wasn't for me.

"Are you okay?" I asked, ignoring his countenance, and instead of replying, he turned, and left me. Drius stood, appearing to be confused and then decided to go with his young lord.

I let out a sigh, feeling a little defeated. If she had teleported out, there was a high chance she teleported in, I thought of my link with my minions, and they were all active, none had been attacked, and that confirmed my thought, she had teleported in here.

I trailed Theo, keeping a distance, but still in sight, there could be something else installed for him, and for the lady to have picked him, meant that he was a target or…

"They are after me. They want to use him to get to me." I realized, and it all made sense then.

Yes, they sought to use him against him. He was a thread that I had left loose, an opening they could exploit, and my carelessness was revealed to me.

I clicked my tongue, feeling frustrated by my actions these past few days, it was very unlike me, and I didn't like it very much. I shouldn't have grown an attachment with the Lyma family, everything was all a mistake.

However now, I would have to wait, and protect what I could. I wasn't going to let Seraphina down, not yet at least.

The rest of the ball went without skirmishes of any sort, the guards had come to inspect the scene of the ladies disappearance, they asked me questions and I answered appropriately, attributing my presence to the duke of the Lyma region grace. They also asked me of why I had approached the lady, and I explained that she seemed dangerous.

"I did anything a noble butler would do, and that was to try and protect my lord."

They left soon after, and the festivities resumed. The King soon demanded to see the successor of the Lyma region, and Theo went to meet him at the elevated platform that led somewhere in the palace.

After a couple of minutes, the young duke went down the stairs and then joined his peers, he didn't think to spare a glance in my direction.

"I can't imagine what parenting feels like, but this feels awfully close." I said with a sigh. Everyone had lasted longer, the palace hadn't gone kaboom just yet, had the threat been neutralized? I couldn't be certain.

And then the ball was over, I had protected Theo and Drius from the explosions but I didn't learn anything new, I didn't see any other participants present, which meant that she was alone in the assault, that was if she was responsible for it at all.

Theo reluctantly took a hold of my hand, so that I could use <Greater Teleportation> to get us out of here. He was still upset at me for supposedly embarrassing him in the middle of the nobles, a trait he shared in particular with the teens of Earth, it was partly cute, but mostly annoying.

I squeezed his hand as soon as I caught it, and yelled,

"Greater Teleportation." And the three of us turned into a flicker of light, disappearing from the scene.

******

Above, in the palace, and in one of the rooms, a man was present, his eyes blue, and his hair blue. There was also a mask on his face, and though he had been present in the ball, he had done his best to stay clear of Luke's or rather Mikey's prying eyes, and he had been successful.

Killing Theo had never been a part of the plan, he wasn't even aware of Mikey's proclivity for the little boy until tonight, and he kept his glowing blue eyes on them almost throughout.

He had on an elegant purple suit, and looked as perfect as any noble could be, however this man, this ranker, was far from one, in fact, he craved to see all the nobles murdered, that had been a secondary goal, but Mikey's presence would complicate things, and so it was forfeited, however the primary plan was still on.

A woman gracefully approached him, her heels tapping the ground and breaking the silence, and she stopped by his side.

"The boy, he's the new duke of the Lyma region, where Ahmad and the others died, I suppose this Mikey guy was responsible. He's powerful after all, perhaps even more than I am."

"Don't say that! He might be higher leveled, but your skills are much superior."

"You think so?" He turned to her, and she nodded affirmatively.

"Is that so? Hmmm… Perhaps. Yes!" He wore a wide grin.

"You may be able to see the end Mikey Rael, but I can see everything." His blue eyes gleamed.

"Lizbella, let the place sing."

"Yes Francis." she responded, and the ranker disappeared.

Lizbella clutched her dress and walked forward, her eyes moved, and then she began to sing.

Yes, a song was necessary for their plan, there was no better way for a monument to fall than through a beautiful voice.

And then suddenly, everywhere went boom.