
Was he truly ready? Aven tapped his foot impatiently on the roof of a nearby building, staring indecisively at the stadium. He'd been in the middle of training in the Courtyard of the Alveron Estate, when Lucy interrupted him with the delivery of a letter. The maid hadn't been especially happy about the identity of the sender, treating the envelope more or less like a dirty piece of laundry, but it was delivered all the same; even with her eccentricities, Lucy knew not to tamper with the Family's correspondence. He'd been in the middle of a set, attempting to push the limits of his new magic power, but still, he didn't receive many letters, so the occasion stood out.
Occasion, of course, was the key word, and a pit had formed in Aven's stomach, one that remained there to this very moment. Whether by choice, or by necessity, he'd abandoned his Team on a crucial mission, left them to fend for themselves without even a word of warning. He'd only been to the guild once since then, and it'd been mostly empty, his only encounter being a young woman named Valery.
Aven pursed his lips tightly. That was right; he had more to apologize for than just abandonment, didn't he? All that time knowing her, and all he'd ever done was toy with Nessa, errantly push the boundaries of what could have been a great friendship, devoid of the complications of 'man and woman'. Looking back, he wished he could take all of that back, and just be the friend Nessa wanted, the one that had promised to stay by her side.
He took a seat on the edge of the roof, one foot dangling off the side. Knowing what he did now, there was a small hope inside of him: it was possible that all of this was just a one-sided drama, just an Aside to the audience of the grand Stage Play he was performing in, and when he turned back to Nessa from the crowd, she would be none the wiser. That could be best, he thought, if what Nessa truly wanted was simply a friend, and Aven knew what could happen if the two of them crossed that line of companionship. He was a man of his word, it's was the Alveron way, and to even entertain an action that could force him to break his promise; it was almost unthinkable. Almost... he clutched tightly at the silky white button-down draped over his shoulders. That word hurt to ponder, but the pain was no greater than the ache in his chest, as he resolved to bottle up his feelings.
Strength, he knew, came from a clear mind, and thus, he fought to purge his thoughts of doubt. Aven would keep his promise, not just because it was his oath as an Alveron, but because it was the most he could do for both Nessa, and himself, to be a good friend. After all, in less than a month, he would be twenty-four years old: it was about time he let go of the past, and forge a better future. A few pats to his cheeks did the trick as he stood, skipping off the roof and onto the cobble below, only meters away from the Stadium, a small tuft of light escaping the bottom of his foot as his magic shielded his body from the impact. The breeze wafted past, causing his shirt to wave backward like a misshapen cloak, revealing the numerous lines of Radiant magic that wandered wantonly over his toned chest. He glanced down, a smile beginning to form. He hadn't been to the beach since his encounter with Grim Heresy, and now was as good a time as any.
The venue was just as spectacular as he'd imagined, a number of wizards already congregating for the festivities. Glancing around, he saw a surprising number of familiar faces; Little Arcadia was there, Mura and his spirits, even the Guild Master of Silver Wolf, Leona Jarnefeldt! The light pulse of his Radiance lines grew steadily quicker, in response to the level of concentrated magic power in the area: whether intended or not, this was a gathering of transcendentally powerful Wizards, the energy from Leona far greater than he remembered from their Duel. He smiled a bit brighter at the thought of a rematch, someday.
As his gaze and senses shifted, the surprises didn't end. Over by a large pile of presents was none other than Samira Nasaar, in the flesh. He'd never seen her in person, and admittedly, she appeared much more slender and beautiful than he'd imagined someone with such a monstrous magic presence to be. Perhaps, a few months ago, Aven would have frozen in place, stunned at being so close to the pinnacle of magical achievement: however, his stride was unbroken. He stood nothing to gain by being timid, nor shying away from strength. Perhaps, he would introduce himself later; there were any number of things he could learn by speaking with a Wizard of her caliber.
The next patron he spied, however, did give him a small bit of pause, and for good reason. It was Amalie, the wizard with a stare as icy as his mother's; or, at least, what his mother used to have. Drani Alveron had lost a bit of her edge, as of late, a detail easily lost on Aven. He walked onward, a bit wary to keep his gait at a pace to stay clear of the wizard. He was here to attend Nessa's birthday, after all, not feud with a cranky middle-aged woman. On the same token, he stealthily sneaked behind a few of the awnings of the beach area to avoid the other dangerous middle-aged woman in the vicinity. Getting spotted by Antoinette would be more trouble than he wanted to deal with at the moment, when he still hadn't found Nessa in the crowd. She'd eventually sniff him out, but for the time being, he was careful to bide his time. Mr. Lux was cooking up some food, as well, he'd definitely have to make a stop for a burger or something, as directed by a short rumbling from his stomach.
There were several other wizards present that he didn't recognize, all of which he made a point to introduce himself to later. It would be useful to know as many Wizards as possible, and this casual party setting was a great place to make new friends and allies. Finally, of course, he spotted Nessa among a small gathering of guests, and as they parted, Aven strode forward. His smile was different now, somehow: the gentleness that had been his signature for so long was less prominent, an air of confidence now equal in measure. Nevertheless, it was a bright and friendly as ever, perhaps even more so as he met her eyes.
"It's been a while, Nessa, Happy Birthday; and just when I thought I would've caught up to you, you've gone grown even more." Aven shook his head in mock shame, glancing at Sebastian.
"Wasn't it your job to keep her small and cute forever, Sebastian? She's growing up, what happened?" He settled for making a few jokes; here was no reason to damped the mood of the party with an apology, he wanted Nessa to have a great time at her party. Maybe, some time later, they could talk, but for now, he was going to enjoy himself.