Looks like it's time for the depressing, obligatory prom plot. Huzzah.

Urainia dreaded the event, and she was starting to miss Umbrum. Even as she planned out the outfit, she was still worried that Umbrum was in trouble, that he had ended up getting hurt on the way.

Astera and Portia were arguing over if Urainia should even attend the prom, Astera for it, Portia against it.

"She agreed to the deal, and she has to pay her part of the bargain."

"No! If she doesn't want to, she doesn't have to. Maybe she can feign sickness?"

Urainia cleared her throat, getting both of the star spirit's attention.

"I can't back out now. I need to pay my part of the bargain."

Astera looked to the ground as Portia rushed to the side.

"You don't owe her anything! She's not even your friend."

"I gave her my word, I can't let her down, or I'll forever be known as a dishonest and unreliable goddess. I want the other gods to like me, so that maybe some of that goodwill will extend towards Umbrum."

Portia hugged Urainia. "I understand, but I can't let you go on your own. Can I accompany you?"

"Of course, Portia."

Portia looked over to Astera, glad she finally got something over her finally.

Esper poked her head out of a nearby hallway.

"Can I come, too?"

Portia shook her head. "No, unless you want everyone to judge you."

"Why? Parties should be fun."

Urainia said "This one isn't, but I owe Philliana a favor."

"Well... I hope you have a fun time despite that!"

Urainia knew that Esper was being sincere, but she couldn't shake off the dread she felt.

Before she left, Astera gave her a hug and a few words of encouragement.

"You can do this, the guests have to be nice to the host, anyway."

Urainia nodded. "I'll keep my chin up as best I can."

She arrived at Philliana's island, her chariot drawn by Felagi and Folki.

Philliana greeted her with a hug.

"You're here! I'm so glad you're here!"

"I gave my word, how can I just not show up?"

"That's why I like you, Rainia! I've met tons of people who'd not show up and give a weak excuse later."

Urainia nodded. She was still feeling out of place.

"Where's Umbrum?"

"He...he's on a trip..."

"And he just left you like that?"

"It's a bit more complex than that. I wasn't dumped, he's just gone up to Ravenfell to start up his cult."

The thought of Umbrum having a following disturbed Philliana. "When will he be back."

"It's a 3-day trip, so he should be there by now. I'm sure he'll send a messenger soon, probably tomorrow."

Philliana gave Urainia another hug. She was a love goddess, she couldn't deny that Urainia and Umbrum loved each other.

"If he has any sense, he will. Let's go inside."

Urainia pulled her shawl over her shoulders, tight.

The ball itself went well. The attendees were friendly and didn't pry into Urainia's love life. It's almost as if none of them knew.

Things went downhill when Cumulus and Iris showed up. Dressed impeccably as always, there to see how the ball was going.

"Oh, look, Cumulus, it's Umbrum's girl!"

"Still can't believe that brute was able to wrangle one."

Philliana waved at the couple. "Hi, glad you could come!"

Urainia sighed. She wasn't sure that she could keep it together with them around.

Portia agreed.

"Let's hope they'll only be here for a while."

"Ah, Urainia, who's that at your side? Is it a replacement for Umbrum?"

Portia and Urainia looked to each other, and then to Cumulus. Iris rushed in to apologize.

"Sorry, Cumulus likes to poke into other's businesses."

Urainia nodded. "This is Portia, my star spirit. Umbrum is on a trip right now."

Iris was pleased to hear that. "Good, I won't have to put up with the sight of that monster."

Urainia spoke up. "Are you keeping a grudge because Umbrum broke your husband's wrist?"

"Among other reasons, yes."

Portia stared straight into Iris' eyes, and said, "I guess those other reasons have to do with you hating his guts, and hating that Urainia loves him."

"You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough."

Philliana steps in before it escalated further.

"This is a ball to celebrate young love. Please don't ruin it with your grudges!"

Iris looked to Urainia, and then went with Cumulus to the other side of the ballroom.

Philliana noticed Urainia starting to withdraw from the party, Portia comforting her.

In an effort to improve her mood, Philliana gave her a cream puff. Urainia was happy, but Portia wasn't.

"If this is an effort to seduce Urainia..."

"No, no, of course not! I'm a love goddess, and I'm not in the business of being a selfish cur."

Portia was skeptical. "You didn't stand up for Urainia earlier."

"I couldn't. It'd look suspicious if I was defending Umbrum in front of Iris and Cumulus. They've decided that he's a terrible, evil monster, and nothing will change their minds."

"Nothing? Well, you're very optimistic!"

Urainia began to eavesdrop.

"I get where they're coming from, but I know that the truth is a lot more complex, interesting, and genuinely sweet. But they won't listen to that, and Umbrum sucks with anything that isn't bloody and fatal."

Portia agreed. "I wish I could say that you're wrong, but I can't. But Urainia has to befriend others, and the thought that someone hates her breaks her heart."

"Hate? That's stronger than I'd put it, but she'd only be redeemed in their eyes if she left Umbrum, and gave him a good beating."

"So it's hopeless?"

"Absolutely."

Urainia missed Umbrum every passing second. She wondered about what he'd have to say about this hopelessness. Would he argue Philli's point, or resign himself to the fate of being the hate sink for the whole of Illuminana and most of the world?

At this time, Umbrum was looking at the night sky, thinking of Urainia. He proudly wore his new tunic, a brighter blue than he usually wore.

Dag approached him, and Umbrum instinctively reached for his mace. Though he relaxed when he saw it was Dag.

Dag was initially off-put by Umbrum's fondness of the stars.

"If you hate light so much, why are you star-gazing?"

"My lover is the goddess of the stars, and I can't help but think of her when I see them.

I miss her..."

"You have a lover!? From your lack of manners and social conventions, I thought you were a bachelor!"

Umbrum blinked. "'Bachelor' means 'unmarried man', yes?"

Dag rubbed the back of his neck.

"Uh...it has some less charitable interpretations..."

"What are they?"

"Nevermind that! The point is, you can't be a bachelor and have a female lover!"

Innocently as ever, Umbrum asked "Why that, specifically?"

"I'll go over that later, considering you had to ask. The point is, you need a new tunic! It's too short!"

"But I'm not married-"

"Unless you want prying questions from your worshippers, you need to get a new one!"

Umbrum grumbled, but went along with Dag. The length of the tunic went from over the knee to under the knee.

Manx approached him later. "Looks like trying to be Noctarian is going to be a pain in the ass."

"I'm a god, I'm sure they'll give me the benefit of the doubt."

"I'm sure they won't. You'll have a lot of pressure to represent the people of Ravenfell well, be courteous, well-mannered, and not a grumpy recluse who's terrible with people."

"If you keep complaining that I suck with people, why don't you handle them?"

"I can try, but you can't always delegate tasks you don't like to others. Eventually, you will have to have good people skills, and the stakes will be high."

"The situation would have to be very dire if it ever came to that, Manx. But I will ask Urainia for help when I see her.

Speaking of which, here's the letter to her."

Manx took the letter, glanced over it, and gave it to a crow to deliver to Ravenfell.