The Graduation Ball night had finally arrived in Edin.
And the atmosphere was electric.
The chilly night saw light snowfall, while the full moon spread its cool and calming light over the capital. Edin citizens felt excitement and vibrancy as they prepared for the event of the year.
The Grad Ball was held in a floating white palace in the skies above the Edinnica Arena, and it was truly a sight to behold. The palace was grand and opulent, made of white marble and white tiles that gave it a one-of-a-kind look.
Various kinds of runes were etched over these tiles as if it was a form of a delicate tapestry. Water-element fountains were scattered throughout the palace, creating a lively atmosphere. The fountains were paired with light-element arrays to make the waterworks stand out even more.
At the center of the palace was a giant dome-like structure made of wind-element magic that let the moonlight in. Surrounding the dome were four towers that gave the palace an even grander appearance. The palace was kept aloft and moving by anti-gravity runic arrays beneath it, which made it seem like it floated effortlessly through the sky.
The graduate rankers and their plus-ones were teleported directly to the entrance of the white palace with the help of teleportation arrays and fixed spatial portals placed at various corners of the city. Some rich graduate rankers preferred to use their own flying vehicles to get to the floating white palace. This added to the magical atmosphere.
The graduate rankers and their plus-ones dressed to impress, wearing formal outfits from suits and tuxedos to long coats and formal shirts. Each one looked dashing and sophisticated, their outfits accentuating their professionalism and success.
The female rankers were no less impressive, with their dresses and accessories exuding elegance and grace. They wore a range of jewelry and footwear that complemented their outfits perfectly, making them look like true stars at the event.
The palace was three times the size of the Edinnica Arena. As the night progressed, it traveled slowly to various districts of the capital city of Edin. Edin citizens looked on in awe as the palace passed by, wondering at the splendor of the Grad Ball event.
Inside the palace, the atmosphere was just as electric as outside. The water-element fountains sprayed misty water into the air, while light-element arrays bathed the palace in warmth. The graduate rankers and their plus-ones mingled with each other, dancing and laughing as they celebrated their achievements.
As the guests mingled and celebrated their achievements, they were treated to a feast fit for royalty. The food choices were diverse, with delicacies from all over the world. The dishes were plated in such a way that they looked like works of art, tantalizing the guests with their unique flavors and aromas.
The drinks flowed freely, with an array of wines and spirits to choose from, each adding to the already enchanting atmosphere. From elven ales of various mild and strong effects to Darwen whiskeys and rums, the event catered to almost every ranker's tastes and drinking preferences.
The talk of the town was Eren and his entourage of beautiful ladies. The news of his plus-ones spread like wildfire because of Altashia. Her beauty, talent, and family background made her a household name in Edin.
So it was no wonder when citizens started talking about Eren- the man who dared to date Altashia while being adored by other ladies. All while remaining friendly with the Crimson Ghost– Altair Argas.
Eren's "multi-partner policy" ignited excitement among male graduate rankers. They took it as a competition or challenge. They sought out various female rankers in the capital city to secure their own group of plus-ones for the Grad Ball.
Most male graduate rankers were good-looking and high-spirited. They were highly accomplished entities with a bright future ahead of them. They came from affluent families or received prominent designations in the kingdom. It was easy for them to get multiple partners for the event, as their accomplishments spoke for themselves.
The event's management staff found it difficult to say no to these graduate rankers. Eren's case had already set a precedent, and management did not want to be seen as biased. They wanted everyone to have a memorable time at the Grad Ball, and denying these requests would have been unfair.
The number of guests for the Grad Ball event shot up crazy amounts because of this phenomenon. At this point, almost half of the male graduate rankers had come with their own entourage of beauties surrounding them. These male rankers greeted each other with open arms and fist-bumped each other for their "great haul" for the night.
There was a certain unwritten code of conduct observed by these promiscuous male rankers who considered each other brothers-in-arms. They treated each others' plus-ones as prohibited zones.
After all, there was plenty of prey available for those who knew how to hunt. So there was no point fighting each other.
Of course, most female graduates treated these promiscuous male rankers as men with inflated egos. They blamed Eren Elijah Idril for starting this trend. Almost no female ranker could get a single fellow male graduate as their plus-ones because of this highly contagious virus Eren had injected into their minds.
Male graduate rankers did not prefer female graduate rankers as plus ones for one simple reason. They insisted on being the only plus one the male rankers would have for the night. As a result, most male rankers sought out other young ladies who might not be as successful as their female graduate counterparts. However, they were equally beautiful and willing to be "a part of the group."
The spearhead of this highly controversial trend did not know he had caused such a nuisance to a large group of female graduate rankers. He didn't want to start a trend either. He only wanted to have multiple plus-ones at the Grad Ball because it made sense to him.
The Grad Ball atmosphere was very tense and lively because of such undercurrents. Things got more interesting as the night progressed.
There were only a few minutes left for the Grad Ball event to officially begin. And just when the tower clock was about to sound a bell at 9 PM, there appeared a man high in the sky with wings of wind and fire.
Blitz. Swoosh. Zoom.
The man in the sky disappeared mysteriously as he had appeared. And the night sky became clear again. However, the rankers present at the venue observed that a singular entity was added among them.
Eren appeared at the Grad Ball smoothly, without grandeur or controversy. The man himself was a walking controversy and contrast that kept growing around him. He did not need to add anything to it.
