My mind was still in a muddled riot after all I heard from Maximillian's mouth last night, and we had been scrambling ever since to confirm and deal with all the sudden information we'd received.

But we unfortunately had to pause by the time the sun set, because the awaited first Nights of Masquerade, the introductory event of the two hundredth and nineteenth Banquet of Concordia was about to begin; an event I despised even more now, since not only will it hinder my search for Eve, but would now halt our preparations for what I classified as vital work for the continued survival of all I held dear.

Sighing in exasperation as several maids from the Shade Corps helped me slip into the costume prepared for me by the Astrapi kingdom, I looked at Isaac through the reflection of the full body mirror before me, and asked in hope "How goes the search? Have you found a trace of her yet?"

Isaac awkwardly bowed, but did not say a word, it was clear that he did not desire to admit to his continued failure.

Sighing yet again, I seriously said with a chillingly resolute voice "Keep at it, we can not afford to not find her."

"I understand sire, but..." He hesitated to finish his words.

"But what, Isaac?" I urged, my eyes still locked onto him in the reflection.

"Sire, have you considered the fact that her majesty might not be present in the Banquet?" He trepidatiously queried.

His words were an unintended lash of barbed wire, for he had just said out loud the one thing I feared the most. This life's Banquet was completely unalike the one I knew of from my past one, so it was completely plausible for her to not have attended, despite the apparent interest she told about.

"Just keep searching." I curtly answered, my tone seemingly plunged in arctic chills.

"Of course, my liege." Isaac replied with another bow, though his mounting unease and frustration were beginning to bleed into his languid actions by this point.

Noticing his mounting vexation, I say "I know that what I'm asking of you Isaac feels akin to ordering you to capture a fleeting shadow; trust me I understand. And I'm not blind to your or the Shade Corps' efforts, or the possibility that I've been sending you into a wild goose chase for months now, while simultaneously ladening your backs with even more responsibilities, such as keeping an eye on the various dignitaries in the event, but either way we must still try, even if it is seen as a foolhardy attempt. The day you meet her, you too will understand why as well."

Isaac looked at me in shock for a moment, not expecting such words from the usually cruel and uncompromising me, but then his trade mark smile returned to him, as he replied "Please worry not sire, for it is our duty to make possible the impossible in your name; and I assure you that we will not laze on any of our tasks, and we will especially never rest until her majesty is found, no matter the cost of time or the weight of sacrifice that must be offered."

His words caused a light smirk to emerge upon my lips, as I slowly closed my eyes; but then, before anything else could occur, the maids around me finished their work and stepped back, letting me look upon the completely black attire that was littered with ruinous iconography of devastating dragons, that covered me from the base of my neck to the soles of my feet, with the sole exception of my arms, who were left bare and were only adorned with black leather vambraces.

Looking upon my nearly completed set of garments, that only lacked the final addition of the mask, I momentarily questioned the purpose of a costume and even the functionality of the entire masquerade party, for if the night's attire was going to so bluntly reflect the person's identity, then wasn't that utterly counterintuitive to the very core of such a festivity?

But then I answered my own queries and doubts of the event, by reminding myself that despite this place being the home of this century's Banquet of Concordia, the hopeful breeding ground of peace and harmony amongst the world's leaders, doubly so in a masquerade ball, where social norms could be slightly slacked even more than usual; it must still be remembered that it is also the most fertile fields in which spite is most easily fertilized, as the clashing egos of demi-God kings and queens were easy to wound and difficult to mend, so to avoid repeating such incidents from the past who only led to sanguineous results, the hosts of the Banquet absolutely must keep a certain presence of the societal laws that govern this world, and keep it all afloat by reminding the fool and the reckless of who they can never cross or displease.

Isaac then approached me with a beautiful black ornate box in hand, one that was adorned with intricate designs and littered with a handful of precious gems, that were placed artistically upon the lid and sides of it.

He then carefully unlocked it and I beheld an exquisitely crafted dark mask on a velvet bed of imperial purple, with even more disastrous dragon inspired symbology upon it, giving it a truly terrifying appearance, which only heightened in effect when coupled with the rest of my outfit.

Lightly picking it up, I inspected it and then asked "They are certainly sticking to a theme."

"Indeed they are sire, and the same is true of their highnesses garments as well." Isaac replied.

"Speaking of my brothers, have they finished donning their wear or are they still not done?" I asked, as I calmly equipped the final piece of my allocated costume.

"I will go check on them sire." Isaac replied, as he bowed and made his way to the door.

Once he was gone, I turned to the mirror again and observed myself one last time, checking that all is well, before I then too headed to exit my room, wanting to get this night over with, so that I could return to the overwhelming tasks at hand that were starting to overflow.

As soon as I was out, Abraham and Horus flew to my flanks, as we made our way to my brothers' rooms, but before I could reach them they, along with Isaac, appeared before me.

The first to catch my eye was Cyrus, who wore a costume made of lion pelts and other animal hides, all died golden, that much like my own garbs, covered him from head to toe with the exception of his arms, and completed with a majestic lion's mask. Nizam on the other hand was dressed in long greyish blue robes with scale like patterns adorning them, while a snake's mask covered his face, only leaving his sharp emerald eyes peering through it.

'How...appropriate.' I thought as I saw them.

"Brother... must I attend the masquerade in... this?" Cyrus awkwardly asked, as he gestured to his gaudy clothes.

Letting out a short laugh, I wanted to answer but Nizam beat me to it "I'm afraid so brother, it was provided for us and it would be rude to refuse their hospitality." He said as he resentfully looked at his own clothes.

"Easy for you to say big brother, your wear is at least somewhat normal looking!" He roared back in reply, his face clearly flushed behind his lion mask.

"Normal looking?!" Nizam screeched back in appal, his eyes widened in surprise, as he looked at our little brother as though he was a deviant.

"Alright alright, I will speak with king Aegaeon tomorrow and have him change your costumes if you find them so repulsive." I quickly said, placating the two before they spiral into an unending argument with each other.

"Really?!" They both jumped with sparkling eyes at me, their excitement almost palpable behind their masks.

"A trivial matter, and I hear that queen Aella personally created these costumes we are wearing tonight, on account of her great sense of fulfilment and glee for the craft of sewing and designing clothes, so I think she would be delighted to have more reason to practice her hobby." I said nodding, knowing full well that many of the other attendees would also request changes or modifications for their wear; either for novelty's, competition's or simply due to their own spoiled temperament's sake.

"Great!" Cyrus cheered, glad to only having to endure these embarrassing clothes for a single night.

"And what about you brother? Will you change your own?" Nizam asked a second later, eyeing my own appearance.

Shaking my head, I apathetically reply "No, I won't."

"Oh." They both mouthed, suddenly feeling embarrassed by their own earlier outburst.

But before they could say anything further, Isaac cautioned as he checked the clock "My apologies to interrupt your majesties, but we are going to run late if we dally any longer."

Hearing his words, I sigh in slight frustration, thinking of all the troubles that are about to come my way tonight, as I was certain that more than a few annoyances would approach me this evening, before I resolutely commanded "Let's go then."