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Kae's stomach did flips as she fidgeted with the pen in their hand, their vision slightly blurring as their gaze unfocused from the blank sheet of paper in front of them. The metal can beside her was filled with scrunched up paper all addressed to one receiver.

Pur.

Why was this so hard? It's not as if she was asking them to be their date. Just to go to the ball as friends. Were they even that far yet? So many questions ran through her head as their heart painfully thumped in their chest.

She set down the pen and stood up, pacing back and forth as she clenched and unclenched their hands. Breathe. She took in a shaky breath and exhaled slowly, before sinking down into the chair and tentatively took hold of the writing tool. Quickly and neatly, she wrote a brief note, trying to ignore if it sounded silly.

Dear Pur,

I was hoping you and I could go the ball tonight as friends, since we don't have someone to go with. No worries if you have someone to go with — I know this is a bit last minute.

Thanks, Kae
This was ridiculous. But she shoved those thoughts to the back of their mind, quickly hurried to Pur's door and slipped the note through the gap between the door and the floor. She let out a quiet gasp. She had actually done it.

And regret immediately took over. Pur would never agree. What had she done?

---

The haon listened to their peers' suggestions before moving to head back to their dorm room with a smile. They were careful not to accidentally knee another passerby on their way back, not wanting to cause any injury to the shorter students. Reaching their room, Pur pushed open the door and set to work gathering small pouches of different flavors of tea leaves. Various blends and combinations cluttered their desk before they stood back to admire their work.

Assembled in a small handmade wicker basket, neatly adorned with a blooming vine wrapping around the handle, sat a teapot, a water bottle, and a variety of various tea blends. Pur smiled at their work, contemplating on whether or not to change their outfit or add anything else to the basket.

Wandering thoughts were pulled back to reality by the sound of footsteps and shuffling paper eyes wandering over to their door and the note that fluttered underneath. Picking it up and letting their eyes wander through the carefully written letters, they gave a soft smile. With all honesty, they had only planned to attend simply for formalities. Every student talked of this event from even the beginning of the year, so there was no reason for the larger student to really miss it, whether attending with someone or not.

Gathering the basket and smoothing out their skirt, they tucked the note into the basket with gentle hands and left to meet back up with Kae in the courtyard as planned.

---

Trixie decided to follow. She didn't give a sh*t.

"Aw, Ay-ay, you're choosing little miss prissy instead of me? I'm a lot more fun, Ayran~"

She giggled.

"I'm not going anywhere to find my knight- he's right here~!"

---

The Graduation Ball had arrived... Girls were flitting about getting ready with makeup, hair, dresses, shoes, and jewelry... Boys were bragging about their dates or chatting with each other while making sure their chosen outfits were pristine... If Emika didn't know any better she'd say it was tastelessly annoying.

Hidden in her dorm room, Emika meticulously prepped for the Graduation Ball alone. Dressed in a Gothic Suit-Dress, matched with her favorite black boots, she sat at her vanity, doing her strawberry red hair into a Half-Up Bouffant Ponytail and adding touches of makeup as well. Once she was satisfied with her hair and face, she couldn't help but look at her reflection. As she stared at the reflective surface, she momentarily can see HER... right behind her... A smiling shadow gripping her shoulders... With a blink, the shadow is gone... Emika won't let the shadow win... Not again. She forced herself up and exited the room...



Auntie was, indeed, ecstatic when Eris let her know the exciting news of the Ball and her date. Auntie asked a thousand questions to get as many details she could to send the perfect outfit, accessories, and makeup for her niece. Dressing in a white into orange ombre dress, slipping on the white into orange heels, Eris was giddily nervous. Her mind raced as she did her snow white hair into a Soft Chignon style and painted her face with butterfly wings eyeshadow and orange lipstick. Her excitement did melt a little when she remembered her Tarot reading. Something would happen at the Ball... Eris prayed it would go well and she and Leonidas... And everyone else... would be able to enjoy the evening. Double checking her reflection, Eris smiled and headed out.

Luckily she and Leonidas had agreed to meet at the entrance to the dorms so she wasn't going to mindlessly wander around looking for him. Eris soon spotted her date, his flame colored hair standing out amid the students...

On this momentous day of finality, Adara starts the day like any other. Seems like the overwhelming atmosphere of anxiety, tear-ridden goodbyes and painful decisions of what dress to wear just flies over the future village leader like leaves from a tree... so she starts the day as any other.

Wash your face, slap it twice to wake up properly, put on the leotard, check height and weight... perfect, still a perfect 173 kg. Then, her workout starts: Run a lap around Banarit, done in around two minutes. Then at least permanently damage one training dummy... hope they don't mind it missing its head. Eh, she puts it next to it, they'll figure out anyway. Then, a more endurance-based jog around and through the whole academy grounds, with the occasional village mantra thrown in there.

From hottest hells to coldest winters, the village stands with no one to hinde. I protect it with my final breath, Sala and their traditions will not be forgotten, protected by will and strength. (Translated from her home language, so it doesn't rhyme perfectly.)

When reciting her mantra, even her chitinous antennae "crown" recites it... but only insects and such would even notice. And this is how she runs through all the facilities, twice.

---

Greeting any underclassmen he came across,Leonidas was basically beaming,smiling from ear to ear. Given how many highs and lows,mostly lows,he had during his time in the academy,to say that he was overjoyed that its conclusion would be among the highs is an understatement. He was still in disbelief that THE Eris agreed to go on the ball with him. He was truly ecstatic.

As soon as he stepped outside,he almost immediately spotted her. Leonidas couldn't help but gape at how beautiful she looked. The white dress leading to a nice red accent,the elegant eyeshadow. What was there not to like?

Of course,he too tried to look his best. Wearing a black suit that almost gave off a gentlemanly feel to it,though its purpose was to emphasise his hair he was most confident in and overall facial characteristics,and matching pants,Leonidas really tried his best not to let Eris down. Coincidentally,his black suit and her mostly white dress matched in a way. Though thay could just be Leonidas' subjective opinion.

He gently approached her,though it appeared his rather bright hair gave him away. "Good morning." he curtsied. "You look..." he prolonged,trying to quickly think of what Ayran would say in this situation. "You look phenomenal." he tried to put the necessary amount of emphasis in that last word. He was really in awe.