Touch of Power (Alythian Legacy #1)

The day of the ball finally arrives. All of Glasswood hums with excitement for this chance to let loose and party with one another with no other commitments dragging everything down. Not only that, for five days everyone doesn't have to attend practice which has the majority of students sleeping in at ungodly hours.

Even though I could tell Kit wanted to continue expanding our powers, even he said we should take these couple of days to rest and recoup like the rest of the school. Which is why I spent the entire day working in Miss Carter's shop to make my one of three dresses I've bought since arriving here at Glasswood look new and special without purchasing anything new.

"Freya darling," Miss Carter says from across the sewing room. "You can start cleaning up. Your dress is ready."

Sighing of relief to myself after hours of sorting different kinds of fabric ordered by the wealthier students here, I place everything back into their respective places and in no time I'm ready to head out.

"All set," I smile as I head over to her spot against the wall.

She looks up from her spot and rises, shoving the dress into my arms. "Good, good. Now have a great night tonight."

I nod in thanks but as I turn to leave, I stop dead in my tracks as I study the dress. "Miss Carter. There must be a mistake."

Turning to face her, she waves her hand at me. "No mistake. That's your dress."

"B-but," I stutter. "This is too much. I can't afford all the alterations on this."

Miss Carter comes out from behind her desk and touches the fabric in between her fingers. "I did this as a favor, Miss Ellis. I want you to enjoy the night without worrying about what you can or cannot afford."

"But-" I try again.

"Go already," she says as she physically turns me around and forces me forward. "Have a great night and have fun."

Glancing in between her and the alterations she did to my dress, I choke up at the kind gesture. "You are too good to me, Miss Carter," I tear up.

Her painted lips grow into a smile. "Go, Miss Ellis."

As I hold back the tears, I bow deeply to her. "Thank you." Before I make a fool of myself, I race out of her shop and run to my quarters to get ready.

***

The ballroom that was used for the Blue Moon Festival is once again decorated to perfection, this year's more elegant due to the Royal guests in attendance. The King and Queen had business in a nearby town so they won't be here tonight but the Crown Princess and the Prince will be both arriving.

Just like the Blue Moon Festival, both genders of the student body wear their finest clothes to impress the Royal Siblings. Their excitement bounces off the walls as I walk through the crowds, scanning for my friends. As most shuffle away from me, I still can't find any of them. Jun promised she wouldn't be late tonight and this is the exact reason I wanted to go with her. Now I'm stuck looking like a fool.

Next time I see Jun, I'm going to strangle her.

Giving up that none of my friends are going to be on time, I find a spot that I can still scan the room and also be out of the way. In no time the room stops snickering about me being here alone yet again to hushed mumbles of the Royal Siblings making their grand entrance. Though Kit has been present figure for the past couple of weeks, Scarlett rarely shows her face amongst the students. And from what Kit has told me about the Crown Princess, she'd rather keep it that way.

Our eyes briefly meet just like they did at the Blue Moon Festival and even from here I can tell the Crown Princess does not hold me in high regard. She ignores me well enough as she finds a random group to talk to and I couldn't be more relieved. The last time I saw Scarlett, I was eavesdropping on her conversation with Kit and I do not want her to be reminded of that incident.