Gilded Ashes: When Shadows Reign

Atman didn't hesitate this time.

He stepped through the gate first, posture straight, energy oddly restored, and pushed the doors open with excitement.

Raizen followed right behind him.

The moment he crossed the threshold, he stopped.

It wasn't a training hall. Not even close.

It was a ballroom.

Raizen read about large rooms before. And saw some on his slate: Grand halls, ceremonial chambers, places built to impress.

But this felt different. The space was wide and open, with a high ceiling.

The walls were made of white marble, smooth and shiny, a weird contrast to the wooden corridors they just came from.

Tall pillars supported the sides, wrapped with subtle golden metal.

There were no floral patterns anywhere. (That alone made it feel strange)

Along the walls, small fixtures held white flames. They didn't flicker wildly or crackle like normal flames.

They moved slowly, rising and falling in a steady rhythm, brightening and dimming in time with something Raizen hadn't fully processed yet.

Music.

At the far end of the ballroom, four people stood in a line, playing string instruments carved from pale wood. The sound was clear and layered, familiar in a way Raizen didn't expect.

It was the same style he heard in the Ruler's room the night before. The same kind of music that felt natural without being simple.

In front of them stood a young man with white hair.

He couldn't have been much older than Raizen.

Nineteen, maybe. He held a thin wand in his hand, and every time he moved it, the music shifted perfectly with him. It looked like he was leading music itself.

When his hand rose, the quartet followed. When it slowed, the rythm softened.

Even the white flames along the walls responded, their rhythm changing with the motion of his wand.

Raizen noticed something else then.

The students.

The center of the ballroom was filled with them, arranged in pairs of boys and girls. Each pair stood close, arms placed in a formal dance stance.

They moved together in clean patterns, stepping, turning, spinning in unison. Every pair followed the same sequence, adjusting naturally as the music changed.

No one broke rhythm.

Raizen realized he and the others were standing at the edge of the room, just inside the doorway. The gate they entered from wasn't meant to be the main entrance. It was a back door.

He stayed still.

He didn't want to disturb whatever this was.

The chandeliers above reflected soft light from the weird flames across the floor, crystal drops scattering it gently.

Everything in the room felt balanced. Nothing pulled attention too hard.

Raizen watched without thinking.

He wasn't sure how long passed. A minute, maybe two.

The music built slowly, then eased into a clean, final chord. The white-haired conductor raised both hands and closed his fists.

The flames changed immediately. They stopped moving in rhythm and settled into ordinary light, still glowing white, but no longer reacting to anything.

The students finished together, ending with a synchronized bow.

The conductor tapped the wand against his wrist and smiled.

"Well done! Splendid! See you all next week, because there won't be courses during the Firefly Festival" he said, delighted. "Dismissed!"

That was all it took.

The room shifted all at once. Students relaxed, laughter replacing silence. Pairs broke apart, conversations overlapping as they moved toward the exits in small groups.

The order vanished instantly, replaced by easy chaos. A few students noticed Atman and waved as they passed.

"Professor Atman!" one called. "You're late!"

Another laughed. "Did you get lost again?"

Atman pointed at them with mock offense.

"Watch your tone."

They laughed and ran off anyway.

Within seconds, the ballroom emptied completely. The music faded, leaving a quiet hum in the air. Only a few people remained: Raizen, Saffi, Kenzo, Atman, the conductor, and the four musicians, who were already setting their instruments aside.

Atman stepped forward, clearly pleased.

"Sang" he said. "That was excellent."

The conductor turned toward them. Up close, Sang looked younger than Raizen expected, but his posture was confident, and his eyes were sharp.

"I deeply appreciate that" Sang replied. "Provided we agree to ignore the minor… Hiccups."

Kenzo frowned, and whispered in Raizen's ear, just like Saffi did. "He talks like that on purpose, doesn't he?"

Raizen barely reacted.

He glanced at Sang's wand. "The flames" he said. "That was you?"

Sang nodded calmly. "Indeed, I find it to be a most sublime skill"

Raizen absorbed that quietly. The way Sang talked was weird, but it sounded very distinguished.

Atman sighed. "Ahh... We missed the class because the entrance was blocked."

Sang's expression didn't change much. "That's very unfortunate."

Saffi stepped forward, curiosity winning over restraint. "Why dancing, though? Is it cultural?"

Sang laughed softly. "Not at all, my dear!"

He gestured toward the empty floor. "Heaven forbid, my dear! Dance is the exquisite marriage of harmony, poise, and precision. One masters coordination with one's partner simply to replicate it with the beasts. Once they achieve true harmony, the bond with their creature becomes utterly unbreakable"

Raizen nodded slowly. That made sense.

Saffi leaned closer to him, lowering her voice. "Do you know how to dance?"

He blinked. "Nope..."

Then, without hesitation, as if she prepared what to say before his answer:

"Could you teach me?"

He stared at her. "I literally can't. I have no idea how to dance."

She quickly looked away. "Right. Never mind."

Suddenly, Atman's head snapped toward them.

"Oh" Atman said cheerfully. "Why don't the two of you try, then?"

Raizen froze. "What?"

Kenzo laughed. "Come on. There's a first for Everything!"

Saffi looked like she wanted to disappear, cheeks red.

Sang smiled. "Indeed, that would be delightful."

He returned to his position, lifting the baton again. The quartet straightened, instruments ready.

Raizen raised both hands. "I can't dance."

"At the Academy" Sang said, "that simply means you haven't yet."

Raizen felt pressure in his chest.

He glanced at Saffi. She looked nervous, but also excited, like she didn't quite regret asking.

Kenzo crossed his arms, clearly enjoying this too much.

Raizen stepped forward reluctantly.

He didn't know the steps. He didn't know where to put his hands. He didn't even know why he was agreeing.

Sang raised his hand, ready for the first beat.