Legends of Mirandis Academy

Chapter 27: The Girl in the Mask

It was the closest thing Kelam could find to a woman in a suit. The coat flowed down past the girl's knees with a flaring red skirt just barely poking out beneath. Her plain dark boots were impossible to discern as heeled or not, and even as he kept looking, he was no closer to figuring it out. She was so confident and comfortable walking in them, they must have been flat—not that it really mattered otherwise, but height was one of Iridia's most obvious identifying traits. Her hair was tied up very simply, but the bright blonde was clear to the eye. This had to be Iridia, he was certain.

She was just people-watching, leaning against a wall off to the side, hands in dark red gloves clutching each other. The music had been relatively slow, and while very few couples were dancing, many people were swaying to the melody in their conversations. He approached her from the side.

"Good evening," he said with a smile and reached out his hand, "may I have this dance?"

"Kelam? What are you...?" Her voice was quiet and timid, hardly even audible. He was reading her lips more than hearing her.

"I know I wasn't exactly invited, but Luna managed to sneak me in. Don't ask about the details," he chuckled, "I'm not sure I can even answer."

The smallest smile pulled at her cheek, slightly shifting the intricate blue mask over her face. She gracefully accepted his waiting hand and allowed him to pull her close as they swayed. It was so much easier this way—because no one could tell it was Iridia, no one was looking at her. She was so much more comfortable in his hold than she'd been at homecoming. His heart felt lighter than air.

"This is nice," Iridia whispered. He could feel her smile, and he was sure he wasn't imagining this one. "You're a good dancer."

"Thank you." Even with how comfortable she was with him, she still spoke so quietly. His cheeks flushed, and he leaned closer. He cleared his throat. "Listen, I wanted to apologize for my actions the other day. I wasn't watching my words, and I feel terrible that I upset you. I know you didn't mean to snap at me, but even if you did, you were well within your rights to do so."

"Ah..." Iridia said, slightly louder. It almost harmonized with the cello. He wished her words were clearer, more confident. He also wished that her outfit was just a bit thinner so he could feel the curve of her spine, or her waist as vivid in his touch as it had been before. The structure of the coat made holding her feel somewhat different. "Well, thank you. I appreciate it."

They continued dancing for a few more swells of the strings. The music poured through speakers on the wall, rich and vibrant; their bodies pressed almost entirely together. The world felt warmer than it did when he'd stepped in the building. After this dance, he thought, it could be a perfect time to sneak the two of them away from the crowds. To talk. Maybe more. Hopefully more.

"I do want to ask," she broke the silence. "Why are you here?"

"I came for you, of course." His heart skipped a beat watching her turn away to shyly smile. "It was obvious you were going to be here, so I wanted to come."

Iridia softly chuckled. "Well of course I'd be here. It's my house."

He paused. Stiffened. "What?"

She pulled back, obviously confused at his sudden rigidity. "What do you mean 'what'? I live here, why wouldn't I attend?"

"Are you...? But I thought..." He breathily chuckled, nervous and confused. "Iridia?"

She stepped fully out of his hold. She was much clearer when she spoke this time: "Excuse me? You thought I was Iridia?"

"Y-yes!" He gestured to her outfit. "Why wouldn't I? I thought you were over there in—"

The girl he'd been looking at before was not where he'd last seen her. She wasn't anywhere that he could see—until no, there she was in a back corner leaning against the staircase railing, empty cup in hand. She tensed whenever dancing couples got too close. Her fingers twitched and tapped against the cup. She was searching the dance floor, and his heart sank realizing she was probably searching for him, all while he was with the wrong dance partner.