"Why are you so excited?"

Erin was holding Gerald's hand as they sat below deck, waiting for the ship to land. He had been grinning for the past half hour, and finally, curious, she had asked him about it. She felt his hand squeeze her own as he considered her question.

"We're so close to landing. It's been months since I last saw the Ellurine Alliance... my home."

"Do you miss it?"

He smiled at her. "A bit... the countries aren't that different, but there was quite a few things I had to get used to... especially the food." He chucked. "It's so bland! But mostly, I miss my family."

Erin nodded slowly, thinking it over. "You said you have two sisters right?"

"Yes, they're awesome, you would really get along. My oldest sister Catherine... she's tough, threw away the throne, her station, my parent's approval, all for love." His smile faded a bit, and he sighed. "I don't know if we'll get to see her much. She and my parents still weren't talking when I left."

"What about your younger sister?" Erin prodded him, hoping to cheer him up.

"That brat? You'll love her. Six years old, no powers yet other than wrapping her older siblings around her fingers. She's adorable and knows it... I hope she's been doing okay since Catherine and I moved out." He rubbed his forehead, obviously worried. "She only has Richard and they've... never really gotten along."

"That's your younger brother, right?" Erin asked, wrapping his hand tightly between her own. "The one who..." She trailed off, embarrassed.

"The fiancé stealing one, you mean?" He laughed, but the sound was slightly bitter. "I should be grateful, he did me a favor in the end. I would have regretted marrying that woman, but..." He looked down at their hands, his expression hidden. "He's my brother. I should be able to trust him with my life."

"..." Erin didn't know what to say in response to that, so she just continued holding Gerald's hand until they heard the shout that the ship was landing.

As they climbed up the stairs to arrive on deck, Erin took her first look at the Ellurine Alliance. The whole place seemed busy, alive in a way that Erin's hometown never really was. Everywhere she looked there were people... talking, laughing, bartering, shouting. Children ran down the road, kicking a ball between them. Women in colorful dresses flitted from store to store like butterflies, carrying large bags bulging with purchases. Stalls showing all sorts of goods lined the paths their owners calling out to pedestrians to try ut their wares. The whole port was decked out with bright streamers and lights. The shore was crowded as people gathered to stare at the big ship as it docked. It was all very bright, noisy... overwhelming.

That was when she heard a scream.

Startled, everyone looked towards the source of the noise, a very tall woman in a bright red dress. With a quick wind spell, she lifted up into the air, landing on the deck before throwing herself at Gerald, knocking him back a few feet. She was still making noise, something Erin realized now was more of an excited squeal rather than the scream of terror she initially had mistaken it for.

"GERALD! YOU'RE HOME!" The woman hugged him tightly, lifting the young man off the ground, a feat only possible since she was taller than him by a good few inches.

"C-Catherine?" Gerald stammered, smiling brightly. "I didn't realize you were picking us up!"

Catherine, as in, Gerald's older sister? Just as Erin was catching up, Gerald had been set back on his feet with a loud thump, the woman grinning at him. "Of course I came to pick you up! You think I would just let my little brother come back with no one to welcome him?!"

Her gaze moved over, settling onto Erin. Before she could react, she was enveloped in an enthusiastic embrace. Swung in a circle, Erin was too disoriented to object.

"Ooh I like this one! Can she be my new sister-in-law?" Erin heard Catherine ask above her head and, embarrassed, tried to pull away.

"Cat! Let Erin go! She's not good with being hugged by strangers and I don't want you scaring off my girlfriend." He reached out and tugged Erin out of his sister's grasp, giving her a quick hug before setting her down beside him.

"Girlfriend?" Catherine sounded disappointed, and Erin's heart dropped for a moment, until she heard the follow up question: "Why is she just your girlfriend?"

"Catherine, what kind of ruckus are you causing now?" A good-natured voice called out. A short, handsome man boarded the ship, standing by Gerald's sister with a lopsided grin.

"I'm not causing a ruckus at all, dear!" Catherine sniffed. "I'm simply greeting my little brother and this lovely girlfriend of his." She then grabbed Gerald and pulled him close, her face sympathetic.

"So... couldn't get her to marry you, huh?"

"Catherine!" her companion groaned, pulling her back. "Not everyone is as crazy as you, proposing to someone on the first meeting!"

"..." Erin and Gerald looked away, smiling.

"What?! It worked!" Giving the man a quick kiss, she then turned to the group as a whole. "Now, introduce me to all your friends."

Startled, Olivia, Frederick and Matthias stepped forward to greet her.

"Well, welcome all of you to our country." Catherine smiled, the expression stunning everyone around her. "Now that all the different academy representatives are here, we'll be having the welcome ball tonight at the palace. You are all the royal family's guests of honor tonight."

"A formal party, sis?" Gerald grumbled. "We just got here!"

"The opening ceremony is tomorrow." Catherine shrugged. "It's not my fault you arrived at the last minute."

Erin glanced around, smiling as she saw Aunt Elsinore hanging out in the back of a ship, looking like an elderly woman. She knew that to disguise herself, Elsinore had worn an illusion artifact that would prevent her from being recognized by others. As she looked away however, she felt her wrist being grasped and a wind spell lifting her off the ship. Her instinct was to fight, and she began gathering an overwhelming fire spell.

"What are you doing with Erin?!" Gerald's voice was more annoyed than frightened, and she realized that the person who had grabbed her was none other than his older sister. Olivia had also been nabbed, her hand grasping Erin's sleeve tightly, her face pale with fear.

"I'm kidnapping your girlfriend and her friend, brother!" Catherine shouted gleefully, running away. "See you at the party."

As she was half carried/half dragged towards the palace, Erin couldn't help but laugh and think:

Is everyone in this family this over the top?

Once they arrived in a isolated wing in the palace, Catherine set Olivia and Erin down, acting the proper host as she brought them tea and snacks. Sitting down across from them with a smile, she spoke calmly, as if she hadn't dragged them halfway across town by force.

"Forgive the mess, ladies. My husband and I were granted these rooms for the duration of the tournament, and we're still settling in."

Her smile turned mischievous. "Gerald never would have left me alone with you, Erin, so I had to take the chance while I could."

Leaning back, the young woman studied her carefully. "Why are you dating my brother?"

Erin stared at Catherine in shock for a moment. Is this an interrogation?

"What do you mean, why? Are you insinuating that Erin is after him for his money or something?" Olivia looked angry, jumping in on Erin's behalf. "I'll have you know, Erin spent the first few months refusing his proposals and they're dating now only because he wore her down."

Catherine's eyes narrowed. "Why did you refuse him? Is my brother not good enough for you?"

"Wh-what?" Olivia's eyes were wide. "How dare...!"

Erin put out her hand, touching Olivia's shoulder with a smile. "Thanks, I got this." She turned back to the other woman, silent for a moment.

"... I initially asked Gerald to find someone else. I'm not well suited to help him with his goals. He would be a good king, and being with me may only hold him back."

"So why are you dating him now, then?" She didn't seem angry, simply curious.

Erin smiled. "He knew everything bad, and despite this wanted to stay by me." She shook her head. "I may not be the best one for him... but I care for him. I will do everything in my power to make sure he doesn't regret this."

She reached out and grabbed Catherine's hand, taking her by surprise.

"I want him to be happy too."

"..." Catherine stared at her for a moment. Then, showing a happy expression, she reached over and hugged Erin tightly.

"Good." She sniffed, pulling away. "You remind me of me and my darling. That's a good thing." Winking she stood up, moving to the closet on the side of the room. "Now let's find you two something to wear tonight."

She started pulling dresses out of the closet, throwing them on the couch behind her while she spoke. "Erin, for you we're going with something fierce...something that says: 'I'll kill you if you mess with me.'" Several dresses flew through the air, forming a pile in front of the two girls.

"Olivia... what kind of dress do you want?"

Olivia stood up, a strange light in her eye. "Frills."

"What?"

"I. Want. Frills."

Catherine grinned, "This is going to be fun."

Several hours later, the girls were ready and headed toward the central wing of the palace, where the welcome ball would be held.

"I'm not sure about this." Erin grumbled as she looked down. She was pleased with how the dress looked, high necked, it was cut out over the shoulders, leaving the skin their bare before rejoining into long slender sleeves, the wide cuffs hanging over her wrists. The skirt was full, swaying as she walked. The whole dress was black with silver embroidery, and Erin thought it was beautiful but... It would be hard to fight in.

"Who are you going to fight at a party?" Catherine asked her, exasperated.

Erin chuckled. "You'd be surprised."

"Oh yeah, you stopped going to school parties after you kept getting challenged to duels." Olivia jumped in, nodding. She was smiling from ear to ear, occasionally spinning and stopping to admire her green dress, which came, to her great delight, with a good number of frills.

Both of the girls were wearing their red uniform sashes, which would serve to identify them as competitors in the upcoming tournament.

"Well, no one should be fighting at this particular party." Catherine followed closely behind, wearing another bright red dress. It seemed to be her signature color.

As they entered the ballroom, Erin was quickly overwhelmed with the sights and sounds of the people around them. Everywhere she looked, people in brightly colored formal attire were talking, dancing and laughing. Here and there were other students wearing sashes. Erin recognized the colors from one of Frederick's rants: blue would be the Royal Academy of the Ellurine Alliance, Green was the color of the magical academy of the small country of Merion. Black... black was from the Sionelle National Military academy. Erin marked where the students in formal military dress and black sashes stood, and resolved to stay far away.

"Hey sis." Matthias walked up to them, dressed in a formal blue suit and sporting his own bright red sash. He stopped just a few feet away and smiled and the two of them. "Hi Erin."

Erin nodded, subtly shifting away to put a little more distance between them. Erin felt bad, but ever since their first meeting, something about him had made her uncomfortable. She kept her distance, and hoped the feeling would go away eventually.

"Hi losers." Frederick joined them with a smirk, looking irritable.

"Why so cheerful, Frederick?" Erin asked, half joking.

Frederick paused for a moment, before nodding, his eyes flashing with enjoyment. "You noticed... one of the military academy guys spilled punch all over himself. His humiliation soothed my desire to watch people I don't like suffer."

"You're weird, you know that?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Look who's talking."

Matthias seemed almost bored, watching Erin with an intense expression. Eventually he reached out a hand, holding it out to her.

"Would you like to dance?"

Erin stepped back further. "Sorry, no."

"..." Matthias stared silently for a moment. "Why?"

"Because I don't want to."

"..."Everyone glanced around the room, not looking at eachother.

"Come on." Frederick grabbed Matthias' arm, dragging him away. "Let's go mingle, I'll teach you how to damage your opponents psychologically with cutting sarcasm."

Matthias hadn't looked away from Erin yet. "Sarcasm? I don't know if I could do that."

Frederick simply pulled harder, a grim smile on his face. "Then learn from the master."

"Try not to make too many people cry!" Olivia called out. "I don't think I would believe it, but Frederick might be a good influence for my brother."

"He's something all right."

Erin chuckled, but stopped when she felt a light tugging on her sleeve. Curious she turned, only to see a short girl with bright green eyes and dainty features staring up at her with a grin.

"Can I have this dance?"

Startled, Erin found herself nodding, and followed the little girl onto the dance floor, where several couples spun around them to a lively song. Erin reached down, grabbing the girls hands and spun in slow circles around with her, occasionally grabbing her and spinning her quickly, her feet flying through the air. The girl laughed, seeming delighted with the activity, and Erin found herself smiling as well.

"What's your name?" Erin asked, curious as to why such a young girl was at this party.

"Maddie." The girl frowned. "Well, it's Madeleine, but no one calls me that but Richard. Everyone else calls me Maddie."

"Can I call you that as well?" Erin asked.

"Yes please!" Maddie's smile revealed several baby teeth in the front had been lost. "I'm happy you danced with me! I'm been so sad since my big sister got married and moved away. Then my big brother also left me alone... I didn't have anyone to play with."

"No other brothers or sisters?"

"There's Richard, but he doesn't count. My brother says that he is secretly a cranky old man on the inside who hates kids, so it isn't my fault that Richard doesn't like me." Maddie giggled. "Richard hates it when he says that."

"Well, I'm sorry you've been lonely. I won't be here too long but I'd be happy to play with you when I'm free." Maddie strangely reminded Erin of herself as a young girl, starving for friendship and approval.

"Really?" The little girl was thrilled, "That's great! I really wanted a new friend!" As the song ended, the girl grabbed her wrist and pulled her off the dance floor. The resolute way the young girl dragged her around strangely reminded Erin of Catherine for a minute. "I want you to meet my brother. I think you would like him."

"Wait, what?!" Erin panicked, not realizing that socializing was going to be part of this.

"Brother! Welcome back!" The girl called out to a boy Erin couldn't see through the crush of bodies. "I found you a girl to marry!"

"Wait, what!" Erin almost shrieked in her shock. Since when am I getting married to her brother!

A young man in a black suit picked Maddie up, hugging her tightly while swinging her around. "That's so sweet of you, Maddie! But I already have a girlfriend that I'm still trying to convince to..." He trailed off, smiling, and with a shock Erin recognized Gerald in formal clothing. He embraced Maddie again, laughing. "Good work, Maddie! Your brother will do his best to marry her."

Maddie nodded seriously. "I like her, and she will play with me. So if she marries you and becomes my sister it would be best for everyone." She patted him on the shoulder and the two siblings nodded conspiratorially. Erin could now clearly see the resemblance and shook her head, groaning.

"Wait! What did I just hear?! Who on earth was good enough for Maddie to decide she could marry you..." Catherine butted into the conversation, and then saw Erin standing there, before bursting out laughing.

"Good work sis." All the siblings, high fived before turning to face Erin with expectant faces.

Oh no. Erin thought with horror. It's so much worse with all three of them together. Before she could find her way out of it, however, a soft voice interrupted the three's gleeful laughter.

"Gerald! It's been so long." A beautiful girl in a long white dress and a blue competitor's sash walked up to Gerald, stopping before him with a smile and holding out her hand with the palm down. Surprised, Erin realized the girl expected him to kiss it. She glanced over at Gerald and felt a small amount of relief at the uncomfortable expression on his face. He reached out and awkwardly shook the hand she offered, releasing quickly.

"Isabelle." He looked around. "Where's my brother?"

Irritation flickered in her eyes. "How should I know?" A sweet smile came across her expression, hiding the former bitter look. "I'm much more interested in finding out when you're returning home permanently."

His face was cold. "I don't see how that's any of your business."

"Oh dear, after everything we have been through? I remember, so of course you have to remember." She reached out towards Gerald again, as if to touch his arm.

Erin realized that who this girl was, of course. Given the awkwardness of the situation, there was very little room for doubt. Working on instinct, she reached forward, grabbing the hand that was reaching out for Gerald and pumping it up and down in a friendly shake. As the other girl released, confused, Erin stepped closer and introduced herself politely. "I'm Éirinne de Roderick, one of the competitors from St. Jullienne's."

The other girl blinked, "I'm..."

"Of course, I know who you are." Erin stepped a little closer, her face cold despite her smile. "You're Gerald's former fiancé."