Radiance - The Alight Archives Book #1

98. Tainted

Much like Fearne, Custas, and even Kliff, Elaine stood by the entrance of the Aire Club room, her brow furrowed in bemusement as she scanned the festive scene before her. At the center of the room, a large cake adorned with swirls of pink and white frosting sat prominently on the table. A piece had already been cut from the confection, revealing layers of fluffy vanilla sponge.

Beside the cake was a glass jug filled with a fruity, red-colored juice, two stacks of paper cups-one set bright pink, the other stark white-and neatly organized plates and cutting utensils. Colorful streamers and ribbons hung from the ceiling, swaying gently with the occasional draft, while celebratory posters adorned the walls, filled with encouraging messages and witty slogans that encapsulated the spirit of the Aire Club.

Their club leader, Casey, was sprawled across the table, one foot casually dangling off the edge as she kicked back, a mischievous smile plastered across her face. Blissfully, she chewed on a piece of cake. Standing beside her like a silent sentinel, Raine maintained a stoic posture, his arms firmly pressed against his sides, his expression as passionless as ever.

When Elaine first received the message that Casey wanted to hold a "mandatory Aire Club Assembly," she feared it might be related to a pressing issue. However, as she observed Casey leaning back in her chair, savoring the sweetness of the cake, Elaine realized that her attitude hinted at anything but seriousness. It was only when Custas firmly shut the door behind him, a soft click echoing in the room, that Casey finally glanced up from her indulgence. Spotting them, she greeted them with a wide, unbothered grin. "Well, well, if it isn't my favourite club members."

Custas frowned. "Aren't we your only club members?"

"You guys kept me waiting, you know. I thought you weren't going to show up, or that those stickler Gray Cloaks were forbidding you from leaving your dormitories. That would have seriously dampened the mood," she continued, wagging her fork at them playfully. "But, now that all of you are here, we can officially call this meeting to order."

"Right, you say this is a "meeting" but this kind of looks more like a hastily-put-together house party," Kliff said, observing with a light chuckle. "You're obviously in a good mood. May I be so bold as to ask why?"

"Oh, come on, Dresden! Are you being for real?!" Kliff had no response to her, nor did Elaine herself, and when Casey caught on to their confusion, she let a tired sigh stream out of her lips. "Light and shadows, do I really have to spell this out for you? We've won, guy! Like, shouldn't that have been obvious?! And even after I went through the trouble of setting it up like this. For Aeris' sake, people these days have no gratitude." Raine didn't react to Casey's exclamations as she glanced for him, looking for support. "Anyways, today's supposed to be a happy one. What are you waiting for? Grab a seat and get yourself some cake."

"This is all well and nice, Casey, but perhaps you can start by explaining-"

"Wait, hang on a second, Kliff!" Elaine said swiftly, the boy stopping midsentence as she raised a hand in front of him. "We can at least sympathize with all of Casey's efforts. I mean, that cake sure does look inviting. We wouldn't want it to go bad, would we?"

Kliff stuttered. "Well, sure, but aren't there more pressing matters to be concerned about?"

"Sure, there are, and we'll discuss them all thoroughly with a plate in our lap and a fork in our hands!" Elaine exclaimed.

Before Kliff could voice any further objections, Elaine sprang towards the wooden table, her movements quick as she snatched a paper plate from the stack. Her eyes widened with delight at the sight of the exquisite dessert. It was a sumptuous two-layered cake, festooned with swirls of white frosting that glistened tantalizingly. Tiny flecks of red, resembling festive confetti, were speckled generously across the surface, and nestled atop the layers were plump berries-raspberries and blueberries.